Chapter 5: …That Kind of Drug?

Chapter 5: ...That Kind of Medicine?

Qin Yan, dressed in a bathrobe, sauntered over all casual and carefree, a smirk still tugging at the corner of his mouth.

His eyes lazily swept the room before finally landing on the frail figure by the doorway.

Su Zhiyu knelt on the ground, his lips purple and bruised, his brand-new pajamas covered in all kinds of grime, and two dirty footprints stamped on his shoulder.

Even looking this wrecked, those clear eyes stayed stubborn and icy, like a pure white angel dragged into the mud by a demon, neither cowering nor yielding.

The fake smile Qin Yan had put on froze on his face.

A wave of inexplicable rage shot straight to his head.

Damn it, these bastards were bullying the Omega lead again—were they trying to make his death even worse later?

Seeing Qin Yan arrive, the crowd's faces flickered with unease, and, as always, they scrambled over to tattle to him first.

"Master, this piece of trash did it on purpose. He knew you were resting and deliberately came out and stomped around making noise, just to mess with your sleep."

Su Zhiyu pressed his hands against the floor and answered flatly, his face blank: "I didn't. I just wanted to get a glass of water."

He swallowed, his dry throat burning with a dull ache.

He knew explaining wouldn't help, but he said it anyway.

The maid shot back: "He's still lying—"

"Shut up!"

Qin Yan's smile dropped, his eyes dark and heavy on the maid who'd started the trouble: "I didn't hear him making noise, but I sure heard you lot cussing up a storm. Enjoying yourselves, huh?"

"Master, I—"

"You're the one who deliberately woke me up, aren't you? As of today, you're done. Settle your wages and get the hell out."

Everyone froze.

Even Su Zhiyu looked up at him in shock.

Is he... pulling some new stunt again? Doing another cosplay bit?

His acting's getting better and better.

Su Zhiyu lowered his head, unwilling to look at that face again. The dull ache in his knees made it hard just to stand up.

"No one else is allowed on the second floor without my permission. Otherwise, all of you can get out—understand?"

Hearing that, everyone was too scared to say a word.

No one had expected the master to stand up for Su Zhiyu, let alone fire a servant over it. Hadn't he always just let them bully Su Zhiyu without saying anything?

When the master saw a scene he liked, he'd even hand out big red envelopes as rewards.

So why did things suddenly change?

"What, not leaving? Waiting for me to carry you down?"

His cold, flat voice made everyone flinch, and they scrambled downstairs.

Watching them vanish down the stairs, Qin Yan quietly exhaled and unclenched his fist—his palm was slick with sweat.

He was just a regular guy, suddenly a rich young master with zero memories of the original body's owner.

That impulsive outburst probably just wrecked the original character's image, and only now did the fear and nerves hit him.

"Hah..."

A muffled, pained gasp hit Qin Yan's ears, making his already frayed nerves tighten even more. He noticed Su Zhiyu's movement and quickly bent down to help: "Are you okay?"

Su Zhiyu looked at him with a complicated expression.

At this moment, he couldn't tell if this was another act or the real deal—was Qin Yan really that scared of him dying here?

When Su Zhiyu didn't answer, Qin Yan remembered his character again.

He yanked his outstretched hand back and snorted coldly: "These idiots are giving me a headache. Don't kneel here and shorten my life—just get out."

Su Zhiyu didn't move.

Qin Yan: "? Well? Didn't you want water? Waiting for me to feed you myself?"

Su Zhiyu's fingers went white as he gripped the doorframe.

He didn't say a word, trying to push himself up using the doorframe, but the second he got up, pain sent him toppling forward.

"Careful!"

Qin Yan instinctively reached out and caught him, pulling him flush against his chest.

Su Zhiyu let out a sharp hiss of pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Qin Yan noticed his legs shaking and frowned hard: "What's wrong with your legs? Come on, let's get you back to your room to change clothes."

"..."

Qin Yan carried him back into the room. By the time the doctor came for the third time, he was rolling his eyes so hard they nearly popped out.

Once they were done.

Qin Yan and Su Zhiyu sat staring at each other in awkward silence.

Su Zhiyu quietly fiddled with the blanket, turned his head to the wall, and said softly, "Thanks."

"Hm?"

Qin Yan, spaced out, hadn't caught a word. He just heard a sound and asked on reflex, "What'd you say?"

"..."

Su Zhiyu pressed his lips together and said coldly, "Nothing. I'm heading downstairs to rest."

Like the other servants, he lived on the first floor of the small villa, in the smallest maid's room—no real window, just a tiny hole.

The second floor was Qin Yan's territory alone.

But he liked to call Su Zhiyu upstairs to take his abuse and humiliation, like calling a dog—it felt good.

Qin Yan knew this well; the comic had shown it more than once. Qin Yan would stand arrogantly at the top of the stairs, casually waving down: "Su Zhiyu, crawl up here."

Pervert.

Qin Yan shot to his feet, his expression cold as he blocked him from getting off the bed. "You're sleeping here. This is your room from now on."

"?" Su Zhiyu's expression showed a slight crack, a flicker of panic and unease.

Qin Yan got it.

Yeah.

He was scared this beast was going to do something to him again.

Qin Yan put on an annoyed glare. "When I call you, you'd better show up immediately. I don't have the patience to wait for you to crawl up here at a snail's pace."

"Sit down!"

Su Zhiyu paused briefly, then answered calmly, "Yes."

Qin Yan crossed his arms. "I'm in a good mood today, so I even had some medicine prepared to help fix you up. I'll go get it now."

Su Zhiyu's fingers slowly clenched.

Medicine...

Was it *that* kind of medicine?

Could it be that because he passed out last night, ruining his fun, he was now planning to force-feed him the drug and have his way with him again?

"Drink it while it's hot."

The door was suddenly thrown open, and Su Zhiyu flinched in fear, his back going rigid.

Qin Yan didn't notice his tense expression. He cheerfully handed over the dark, murky herbal medicine, raising an eyebrow with pride. "I specially prepared this for you. Drink it up?"

Specially prepared?

Sure enough, he hadn't given up. He still wanted to claim him!

Su Zhiyu's calm demeanor shattered. Recalling the humiliations from before, and last night—last night he had almost...

"Why aren't you drinking?"

Seeing that he still wouldn't take the bowl, Qin Yan pushed it a little closer, pouting. "Want me to feed you? Fine, I'll do you the favor."

Qin Yan sat on the edge of the bed.

Smash.

A sharp sound exploded in the room. Qin Yan's eyes widened as he watched the medicine bowl fly past him and shatter into pieces.

Su Zhiyu seemed just as startled.

He looked at Qin Yan in fear, and when he saw no sign of rage or fury in his eyes, his frantic heart suddenly steadied.

He raised his chin, his voice as cold as ever. "What do you want to do to me now?"

Qin Yan: Excuse me? Are you for real?

The atmosphere in the room fell into an eerie silence again. Qin Yan couldn't help but take a breath, gritting his teeth. "You're as skinny as a rail. What could I possibly do? Are you scared I'm trying to poison you with that medicine?"

"..." Yes.

Qin Yan saw the affirmative answer in his eyes.

Oh my god.

He was so wronged.

"Fine. Let's just see if you drop dead after drinking this bowl of medicine!"

Qin Yan stormed off.

When he came back, he was holding another bowl of medicine. He was pleased to see Su Zhiyu's pupils contract, and he even shrank back toward the middle of the bed in fear.