Yichen's lips trailed from Zhiyuan's mouth, pressing soft kisses along his jaw, down the column of his throat. Each one sent sparks racing across Zhiyuan's skin, making him tremble. Yichen's hand at his waist tightened just enough to hold him steady, while the other roamed higher under the t-shirt, fingers splaying across the smooth plane of his stomach.
"You're so beautiful," Yichen breathed against his neck, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through Zhiyuan's chest. He nuzzled into the sensitive spot just below Zhiyuan's ear, lips brushing the skin there. "I love you. Every part of you."
Zhiyuan's breath came in shallow pants, his body already responding to the worship in Yichen's touch. He tilted his head back, giving Yichen more access, a soft whimper escaping as teeth grazed lightly over his pulse point. Yichen's hand slid lower, dipping beneath the waistband of Zhiyuan's loose sleep pants, fingers curling around the hardening length of his cock.
The direct contact made Zhiyuan jolt, hips bucking forward instinctively. "Y-Yichen..." he gasped, his voice breaking on the name.
"Shh, I've got you," Yichen murmured, his own arousal pressing insistently against Zhiyuan's thigh through his boxers. He shifted, freeing his hand from under the shirt to tug Zhiyuan's pants down just enough to expose him fully. Cool air hit Zhiyuan's heated skin, but Yichen's warm grip chased it away immediately, stroking slowly from base to tip.
Zhiyuan's hands fisted in the sheets, his sensitivity amplifying every slide of Yichen's palm. It had been too long since they'd been this close, and his body was a live wire, every nerve ending firing. Yichen leaned down, kissing a path across Zhiyuan's collarbone, then lower, pushing the t-shirt up to expose his chest. His mouth latched onto a nipple, tongue flicking over the pebbled flesh before sucking gently.
A cry tore from Zhiyuan's throat, his back arching off the bed. "Ah—too much," he whined, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he threaded his fingers into Yichen's hair, holding him there.
Yichen released the nipple with a wet pop, his eyes dark with adoration as he looked up. "I love how you feel under me. So responsive. So mine." He kissed the other nipple, lavishing it with the same attention, while his hand continued its steady rhythm on Zhiyuan's cock. Precum slicked the way, making each stroke smoother, firmer.
Emboldened, Yichen reached down with his free hand, shoving his own boxers aside to free his thick cock. It throbbed in the open air, already leaking at the tip. He wrapped his fingers around both lengths together, pressing them side by side, the heat of their skin mingling as he began to jerk them in tandem.
Zhiyuan's eyes flew open wide, a shocked moan spilling out. The friction was intense—the slide of Yichen's hard cock against his own, the shared grip pumping them both. "What—oh god, Yichen, that's..." He couldn't finish, words dissolving into gasps as pleasure coiled tight in his gut.
Yichen's mouth moved lower, kissing over Zhiyuan's ribs, his abdomen, worshipping every inch with open-mouthed presses. "I love you," he whispered between kisses, tongue dipping into his navel before trailing to the crease of his hip. "Love your body, how it trembles for me. Love making you feel good like this."
Zhiyuan was lost, his hips rolling up into Yichen's fist, chasing the building pressure. His sensitivity made everything sharper—the rough texture of Yichen's palm, the vein pulsing along his length rubbing against Zhiyuan's smoother skin. Yichen's kisses peppered his inner thighs now, breath hot against his balls, but he didn't go further, respecting the boundaries they'd set after the miscarriage. No penetration, no risk—just this intimate connection.
"Yichen, I'm—it's too intense," Zhiyuan panted, his thighs quivering. He felt something building, different from his usual release, a deep ache that bordered on overwhelming.
Yichen lifted his head, capturing Zhiyuan's lips in a deep kiss, swallowing his moans as his hand sped up. Their cocks slid together slickly, the lewd sounds filling the quiet room. "Let go for me, love. I love you so much. Come with me."
The words, the worship, the relentless stroking it shattered Zhiyuan. His body seized, a sharp cry muffled against Yichen's mouth as he came hard. But it wasn't just cum spilling over Yichen's fingers a sudden gush followed, warm fluid squirting out in pulses, soaking Yichen's hand and the sheets beneath them.
Zhiyuan froze, eyes wide with shock as he pulled back from the kiss, staring down at the mess. "W-what... what was that? Oh god, did I—?" His face burned with embarrassment, confusion swirling in his hazy mind. He'd never done that before, never felt anything like it.
Yichen didn't stop, his own release hitting moments later, hot spurts mixing with Zhiyuan's as he groaned into his neck. He slowed his strokes, milking every last drop from both of them, then gently released, pulling Zhiyuan into a tight embrace. "That was perfect," he murmured, kissing his forehead. "You squirted, baby. It's okay—it's hot as hell. Means I made you feel that good. I love you."
Zhiyuan buried his face in Yichen's chest, heart pounding, still reeling from the unexpected intensity. But the reassurance in Yichen's voice eased the shock, leaving him warm and cherished in the afterglow.
The next morning, the breakfast table was quiet but tense. Zhiyuan was wearing a soft, high-necked sweater.
Dr. Shen noticed first. "Are you feeling cold, Zhiyuan?"
"No, I'm fine," Zhiyuan said quickly, taking a seat. He avoided looking at Yichen, who was sitting stiffly beside him, his own ears slightly pink.
Zhenlong cleared his throat, getting down to business. "My men reported in. Ruifen is moving. She's searching all of Wenhao's old properties. His private bank vaults. And she's captured all the household servants from the main house. She's hidden them somewhere."
Zhiyuan's spoon clattered against his bowl. "Meilin! What about Aunt Meilin?"
Zhenlong's face was grim. He nodded. "She's among them. Captured."
Dr. Shen frowned deeply. "But what is she looking for now? The USB… we think it was destroyed."
Zhiyuan's head snapped up. "Destroyed? What do you mean?"
Dr. Shen sighed. "After we escaped here, Ruifen set fire to the main wing of the Liang Group headquarters. Your father's office, the attached room… it's all ash. She told the press you were inside, that you were critically injured in the hospital. It's her cover to take full control."
Zhiyuan clenched his jaw so hard it ached. "She's crossing every line. But why burn it? If she had the USB, why destroy the place?"
"I Think to erase any other possible evidence," Zhenlong said darkly. "To make sure no one else could find anything. But that leaves the question… what is she desperately searching for now? It's not the USB."
He was quiet for a long moment, thinking. Then his eyes widened slightly. "Could it be… could she be after the gold bars?"
Dr. Shen looked confused. "What gold bars?"
"When Wenhao and I were together," Zhenlong explained, his voice growing nostalgic and hard at the same time. "We were young. We didn't trust banks fully. We saved money. A lot of money. I converted a big part of my early… earnings… into physical gold bars. We hid them. For our future. For his future security, if anything ever happened to me."
He looked at his son. "It was my promise to him. A nest egg no one knew about."
Zhiyuan nodded slowly, his mind working. "That makes sense. But… how does she know about them? Did anyone know about it?"
"No one," Zhenlong insisted, then froze. His face paled. "Except… except Xinyi."
The name dropped like a stone into the quiet room. Everyone went still.
Dr. Shen spoke the terrifying thought aloud. "But… where is Xinyi? She went missing. We found nothing after about her…"
Zhiyuan's mind raced, piecing it together. He instinctively turned to the person he always turned to for strategy, for a grounded opinion.
"Yichen," he said, looking at him. "What do you think? Could she be after the gold? And where could Xinyi be?"
Yichen flinched at the sound of his name. He hadn't been following the conversation. His mind was still tangled in the warm, intimate memories of the night before, now overshadowed by a thick, cold dread. The dread of his own secrets, of Zhenlong's warnings, of the dangerous world that was closing in.
He looked up, meeting Zhiyuan's expectant gaze, then Zhenlong's intense stare. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He just sat there, stiff as a board, his fear written plainly across his face for everyone to see.
The conversation about Ruifen and the gold bars continued, but it was clear Yichen's mind was miles away. He just stared at his plate, giving short, absent "mm-hmm" or "uh-huh" answers.
Zhiyuan, who had turned to him for insight, felt a spike of irritation and hurt. After everything, he was being ignored again?
"Fine," Zhiyuan said suddenly, his voice cold. He pushed his chair back, the legs scraping loudly on the floor. "If you're not interested in helping, I'll figure it out myself." He threw his napkin on the table and walked out of the dining room without a backward glance.
Zhenlong watched him go, then turned a sharp, disappointed glare on Yichen. He didn't say anything. He just shook his head in disgust, stood up, and followed Zhiyuan out, leaving Yichen and Dr. Shen alone.
Yichen's heart sank to his stomach. He immediately stood up, his chair clattering behind him. He had to go after him, he had to explain he wasn't ignoring him, he was just… scared.
"Yichen, wait." Dr. Shen's calm voice stopped him. The doctor got up and gently pulled him by the arm into the corner of the room, away from the doorway.
"What's wrong with you today?" Dr. Shen asked, his voice low. "You're distracted. You're worrying Zhiyuan." He studied Yichen's flushed face, the dark circles under his eyes, and his general air of panic. A thought occurred to him, and his eyes widened slightly with medical concern.
He leaned in closer and whispered, "You two… did you… do it last night?"
Yichen's entire face exploded in a blush so deep it reached his ears. He sputtered, waving his hands. "N-no! Nothing! Nothing like that! Amm… we just… just kissed! That's all! I swear!"
He was so flustered he didn't notice Zhenlong had quietly stepped back into the doorway, having heard the tail end of their hushed conversation.
Dr. Shen sighed, a look of profound relief on his face. "Good. That's good. His body is still healing internally. It's far too soon for any… strenuous activity. You must be very careful, Yichen."
Yichen nodded frantically, mortified. "I know, I know, we didn't—"
"You two did what?"
The low, dangerous voice came from the doorway.
Both Yichen and Dr. Shen froze like statues, slowly turning their heads.
Zhenlong stood there, his arms crossed, his expression a storm cloud of paternal fury and disbelief. His gaze was locked on Yichen.
The air in the room turned to ice.
The silence after Zhenlong's question was brittle and sharp.
"Boss, it's not what you think—" Yichen started, his voice thin with panic.
Zhenlong didn't let him finish. In two long strides, he was across the room. He didn't shout. The quiet was worse.
"I told you," Zhenlong said, his voice a low, vibrating menace. "I told you to keep your distance. I told you the world you bring to his door is death."
"We just kissed!" Yichen pleaded, holding his hands up, backing away until his back hit the wall. "Nothing more! I would never hurt him, you have to believe—"
"Your existence hurts him!" Zhenlong roared, the control finally snapping.
His first punch was a brutal, efficient blow to Yichen's stomach, driving all the air from his lungs with a sickening whoosh. Yichen doubled over, gasping, but didn't raise a hand to defend himself.
Dr. Shen jumped forward. "Zhenlong, stop! He's telling the truth!"
Zhenlong ignored him. He grabbed Yichen by the hair, yanking his head up. "You selfish, lovesick fool! Do you think your puppy love is stronger than a bullet? Than a knife? No! You know that. And you're still clinging to him?"
"I'm sorry," Yichen choked out, tears of pain and shame in his eyes. "I'm so sorry…"
"Sorry doesn't keep him alive!"
Zhenlong's knee came up, smashing into Yichen's ribs. A crack echoed in the room. Yichen cried out, slumping against the wall.
"Zhenlong, that's enough!" Dr. Shen shouted, trying to get between them, but Zhenlong shoved him aside with terrifying ease.
He grabbed Yichen again, this time slamming his head against the wall. "You will stay away from him! Do you understand me? You will break his heart cleanly, or I will break every bone in your body until you're too broken to go near him!"
Another punch. This time to the face. Blood spurted from Yichen's nose. He slid down the wall, a crumpled, bleeding heap on the floor, making no move to fight back, just taking the punishment he believed he deserved.
The sound of the beating the thuds, the cracks, the pained gasps finally pierced the upper floor.
Zhiyuan, who had been fuming in his room, heard the commotion. His anger evaporated, replaced by a cold dread. He ran downstairs, his heart in his throat.
He skidded to a halt in the doorway of the dining room. The scene before him was a nightmare.
Yichen was on the floor, blood on his face and shirt, curled around himself. Zhenlong stood over him, fist still clenched, breathing heavily. Dr. Shen was kneeling, trying to assess the damage.
For a second, no one moved.
Then Zhiyuan's world snapped into a single, white-hot point of fury. He didn't scream. His voice came out terrifyingly quiet.
"Get away from him."
Zhiyuan didn't shout. The words were ice-cold, sharp enough to cut the thick air in the room.
Zhenlong turned, his chest heaving, his knuckles raw. "Zhiyuan, this doesn't concern you. Go back upstairs."
"I said," Zhiyuan repeated, stepping fully into the room, his gaze locked on his father, "get away from him."
He walked forward, not with fear, but with a terrifying, calm authority. He pushed past the stunned Dr. Shen and knelt beside Yichen, who was trying to push himself up, his breath coming in ragged, wet hitches.
"Don't move," Zhiyuan murmured to him, his voice softening just for that second. His eyes scanned the damage—the broken nose, the likely cracked ribs, the bruising already blooming on his jaw. A cold fire ignited in his gut.
He stood up, placing himself squarely between Yichen and Zhenlong.
"What is the meaning of this?" Zhiyuan asked, his voice still deceptively calm.
"He disobeyed a direct order," Zhenlong growled, trying to regain his paternal control. "He's a liability to your safety. He needs to understand his place."
"His place?" Zhiyuan's calm finally cracked, his voice rising. "His place is with me! By my side! Not bleeding on the floor because of your… your barbaric lessons!"
"You don't understand the danger!" Zhenlong yelled back, the fear making him angrier. "My love for your father got him killed! Can't you see I'm trying to stop history from repeating itself?!"
"By beating the man I love half to death?" Zhiyuan shouted, the raw pain finally bursting out. "How is that any different from what Ruifen does? She uses poison and fire. You use your fists. You're both trying to control my life by hurting what I care about!"
The accusation hit Zhenlong like a physical blow. He took a step back, his face paling.
Zhiyuan knelt back down, ignoring everyone else. He gently helped Yichen sit up against the wall. "Can you stand?" he whispered.
Yichen, his vision swimming, nodded weakly. "I'm sorry… I caused trouble…"
"Shut up," Zhiyuan said, but his touch was infinitely gentle as he looped Yichen's arm over his shoulders. "Don't you dare apologize for this."
With a strength that surprised everyone, Zhiyuan helped the injured man to his feet. He turned one last time to his father, his eyes holding a finality that made Zhenlong's blood run cold.
"You want to protect me?" Zhiyuan said, his voice now quiet and full of a devastating disappointment. "Then protect me from the real enemies. Not from the one person who has proven, again and again, that he would die for me. If you touch him again… you become my enemy too."
Supporting Yichen's weight, Zhiyuan turned and slowly, painfully, walked him out of the dining room, leaving a shattered silence and a father who realized, too late, that his violence might have cost him his son forever.
The walk upstairs was slow and silent, punctuated by Yichen's pained breaths and the heavy weight of what had just happened. Zhiyuan's anger was a live wire under his skin, but his hands were careful as he helped Yichen sit on the edge of the bathtub in his bathroom.
He gathered supplies warm water, antiseptic, gauze his movements sharp and efficient. He didn't look at Yichen's face as he wet a cloth.
"Sit still," he ordered, his voice tight.
He began cleaning the blood from Yichen's split lip and swollen nose. The touch was clinical at first, but Zhiyuan's hands started to tremble with suppressed rage. He dabbed at a cut on Yichen's brow, and a fresh trickle of blood welled up.
"Why?" The word finally burst out of him, harsh and pained. He threw the bloody cloth into the sink. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, you idiot?"
Yichen winced, more from the words than the pain. "Tell you what?"
"This!" Zhiyuan gestured at his injuries, his eyes blazing. "That he was threatening you! That he told you to stay away from me! Did you think I wouldn't notice you pulling away? Did you think I was so blind?"
He grabbed a clean cloth, his grip white-knuckled. "All that stupid talk yesterday… 'whatever I do, I do because I love you'… that was you preparing to leave, wasn't it? Because he told you to!"
Yichen looked down at his own bloody hands in his lap. He couldn't deny it.
"He's… he's your father," Yichen mumbled. "And he's right. My world is dangerous. I have enemies. If they found out about you… because of me…"
"So your solution was to let him beat you into a pulp and then… what? Disappear?" Zhiyuan's voice cracked. He cupped Yichen's chin, forcing his head up. The anger in his eyes was now mixed with a hurt so deep it stole Yichen's breath. "After everything we've been through… you were just going to walk away? Without a word? Without even fighting for us?"
"I was fighting for you!" Yichen argued, tears of frustration mixing with the blood. "By leaving, I was trying to protect you!"
"That's not protection, Yichen! That's a coward's way out!" Zhiyuan shot back. "You think watching you walk away wouldn't have destroyed me? You think living without you, wondering if you were dead in a ditch somewhere, is safe?"
He took a shuddering breath, trying to calm down. His thumb gently stroked the unhurt part of Yichen's cheek.
"The only thing that makes me feel safe," Zhiyuan whispered, the fight draining out of him, leaving only raw vulnerability, "is knowing you're here. With me. We face the danger together. We protect each other. You don't get to make that choice for me. You don't get to decide that leaving is what's best. That's my choice too."
He leaned forward until their foreheads touched, careful of Yichen's injuries. "So no more secret. From now on, we face everything. Together. Promise me."
In the quiet of the bathroom, with the scent of antiseptic and blood between them, Yichen looked into the eyes of the man he loved—fierce, wounded, and refusing to let go. He saw the only future he ever wanted.
"I promise," Yichen