Night covered everything, dispersing the heat of the day.
Moonlight like silver threads spread across the window panels, with only a strand slipping through the gap and falling onto the entangled shadows.
The dim room was filled only with heavy breathing and swallowing sounds.
Lin Zhiji was held onto the table by Xie Yi, his upper body pressed down, spine tightly against the cold jade surface—but the stone quickly warmed from contact with skin.
His hair ornament had fallen to the ground at some point, black hair like raven feathers spread out. His pale skin flushed with enticing red, wrists firmly pinned above his head by one large hand.
Xie Yi suppressed the surging desire in his eyes.
Veins bulged on the back of his hand, sweat trailing down in glistening paths under the moonlight.
He had always been composed, calculating everything in advance, yet at this moment he was nearly at the edge of losing control.
Lin Zhiji felt as though he had been thrown into fire.
His whole body burned as if licked by flames, yet there was an even hotter sensation rising from the deepest part of him, with nowhere to release.
Instinct told him danger was near; he tried to struggle, but with his wrists held down by Xie Yi, he could not escape.
He wanted to beg Xie Yi, yet did not even know what he should beg for.
Suddenly, his body trembled slightly, instinctively arching his back to escape—but he was still too late.
Xie Yi leaned by his ear, letting out a soft laugh. “Little Zhiji is more honest than you.”
Lin Zhiji: !!!
He wriggled and whimpered, trying to escape, but it was futile.
Xie Yi’s palm pressed down. Lin Zhiji let out a broken cry, tears of physiological response falling uncontrollably, only to be kissed away before they reached his hair.
Like a fish out of water, Lin Zhiji could only survive on the small relief given by Xie Yi’s touch.
And Xie Yi was no better.
The effect of Zhaosui gradually faded, but a new kind of pain erupted, making him crave even deeper, even more.
But the last trace of rationality held him back.
Not the time yet.
Wait a little longer.
He released Lin Zhiji’s wrists, lifted his face in both hands, and his voice was hoarse: “Zhiji, look at me.”
Lin Zhiji frowned and slowly opened his hazy eyes.
Just in time to see the black in Xie Yi’s left eye fade away. The eye, filled with gray haze, looked almost beast-like and emotionless—yet carried an overwhelming, suffocating desire that made one’s heart tighten in alarm.
—
Lin Zhiji rolled over for the 108th time in bed.
Three or four days had passed since that night, but he still had not recovered from the impact.
In truth, after Xie Yi helped him that day, he had carried him away to clean him up and did not go any further. In the end, Lin Zhiji had even handled the rest himself.
But Lin Zhiji knew—he was no longer a purely straight man.
He could still lie to himself before, saying the earlier kisses and embraces were just part of missions.
But now, that self-deception had completely fallen apart.
After all… truthfully… in the end… he had actually found it a bit pleasurable.
Lin Zhiji buried his face in the blanket.
It’s over.
Mom, your son has become gay.
So… does that mean he should date Xie Yi?
He flipped over and stared up at the bed canopy.
He wasn’t the type to use someone and discard them, and in that situation, Xie Yi had restrained himself and done nothing further. That consideration and respect—he could feel it.
He wasn’t unaffected.
But… he had to leave eventually.
And he was hiding so many things from Xie Yi. Based on these recent missions, his so-called “villain redemption system” might not even be entirely trustworthy. If Xie Yi found out, he would never forgive him.
Lin Zhiji sighed.
At that moment, a knock came at the door. He shot upright in shock. “W-who is it?”
From outside came Luo Zhitang’s gentle voice: “Young Master Lin, it is me.”
Lin Zhiji let out a breath of relief.
He couldn’t tell whether he felt relieved or disappointed.
He climbed down from the bed, put on his shoes, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.
He invited Luo Zhitang in and poured him tea.
Luo Zhitang glanced at his expression. “Young Master Lin hasn’t been sleeping well these past few days?”
Lin Zhiji: …
Not at all.
Every time he closed his eyes, that night replayed itself, and he would end up rolling around in embarrassment until exhaustion forced him to sleep. Sometimes he even had nightmares.
“I-it’s fine,” he laughed awkwardly. “Did you need something?”
Luo Zhitang said, “I simply noticed Young Master Lin hasn’t been going out much these days. Is something troubling you?”
Lin Zhiji: …
He wasn’t going out because he was avoiding Xie Yi.
And he hadn’t even dared to do missions these days.
But he couldn’t say that, so he improvised, “M-maybe it’s just the heat. I don’t really feel like going out.”
“It is indeed very hot this year,” Luo Zhitang said, not exposing him. “I will have some ice sent over.”
Lin Zhiji relaxed slightly. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. It is the master’s order,” Luo Zhitang added with a smile. “All thanks to Young Master Lin’s miraculous disguise mask—now the master no longer has to suffer from Zhaosui’s torment.”
Lin Zhiji: …
If Luo Zhitang didn’t know the truth, this would almost sound intentional.
He forced a laugh. “That’s good… that’s good.”
Luo Zhitang paused, then hinted, “Does Young Master Lin have anything else to ask me?”
Lin Zhiji immediately shook his head. “No, nothing.”
Luo Zhitang could only swallow the rest of his words. “Since Young Master Lin is fine, I will take my leave. Ice will be sent shortly.”
After sending him off, Lin Zhiji let out a long breath.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to ask about Xie Yi—it was just…
Sigh. Avoidance was shameful, but useful.
So he lay back down again.
He didn’t know how long passed before the door was knocked again.
Thinking it was ice delivery, he called out, “Just bring it in.”
The door opened. A cold night breeze carried a chill into the room.
But Lin Zhiji abruptly sat up.
On the table were the ice blocks—and beside them, Xie Yi, whose expression was as cold as the ice itself.
“W-why are you here!”
He jumped off the bed and instinctively tried to run, but Xie Yi caught his waist and pulled him onto his lap, locking him firmly in place.
Lin Zhiji froze, not daring to move.
His obedience eased Xie Yi’s anger slightly.
“Enough hiding?” Xie Yi asked.
“I-I wasn’t hiding,” Lin Zhiji stammered. “I was just thinking about things…”
“Not hiding from me?” Xie Yi pressed.
Lin Zhiji shook his head quickly. “Of course not.”
“That’s good,” Xie Yi said coolly. “Otherwise I would think I was not doing a good enough job.”
Lin Zhiji: !!!
What are you even saying?!
Xie Yi lifted his chin. “Are you satisfied, Young Master Lin?”
Lin Zhiji felt like he was about to faint.
Only after he squeezed out a barely audible “satisfied” did Xie Yi finally let him go.
Lin Zhiji blushed furiously, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Fortunately, Xie Yi did not push him further and instead shifted to recent matters.
Lin Zhiji was not entirely uninterested; he had actually tried to extract information from 03, but 03 had been missing for days.
Xie Yi explained that the main force of Chixialing had already been secretly relocated outside Qingzhou and could strike at any time. The forces currently seen were only decoys meant to confuse the Kou family.
At the same time, Xie Yi had obtained crucial intelligence.
“They are not descendants of the Kou family from Tanzhou?” Lin Zhiji was stunned.
Xie Yi had long suspected that the Xu and Kou families in Qingzhou were not simple.
The Xu family was indeed local, but the Kou family had migrated here. Normally, noble families would never casually change surnames unless expelled.
Yet the Kou descendants had no such lineage traceable in Tanzhou.
Everything was contradictory, hidden beneath layers of deception.
Lin Zhiji frowned. “So if we open the Kou family’s secret chamber, we’ll know what they are hiding?”
“It does need to be opened,” Xie Yi said casually, playing with Lin Zhiji’s fingers. “But the chamber is not in the Kou residence.”
Lin Zhiji blinked. “Huh? Why?”
Instead of answering, Xie Yi took out an invitation.
It was the wedding invitation between the Kou Seventh Miss and Xu Fifth Young Master. Almost everyone of status in the city had been invited.
Lin Zhiji blurted out, “A banquet of murder!” Then immediately reacted. “You’re going?”
“Of course,” Xie Yi said. “Precisely because it is a banquet of murder, we must go. Not only me—you will go as well. Stay with Luo Zhitang and do not leave his side.”
Though Xie Yi spoke lightly, Lin Zhiji still sensed seriousness in his tone.
He nodded firmly. “Alright.”
—
On the day of the banquet, Lin Zhiji changed into new clothes and went with Luo Zhitang to the Xu residence.
The golden plaque at the entrance stunned him.
He had assumed the Xu family was nouveau riche, but inside it was unexpectedly elegant.
Lin Zhiji’s current identity was Luo Zhitang’s younger cousin. He didn’t need to speak much—just follow and greet politely.
Meanwhile, Xie Yi went as the Xu Fifth Young Master’s friend, accompanying him to the Kou residence for the bridal escort.
The wedding was held at dusk, and the banquet began at that time.
Shortly after sitting down, 03 finally came online again.
It immediately exclaimed: 【Where did your points go?! How are there so few left?!】
Lin Zhiji: …
03 really never missed an opportunity to hit a sore spot.
He naturally couldn’t admit he had used points to buy Xie Yi a disguise mask. After all, 03 had strictly warned him not to “raise a male lead with points.”
He still had some dignity.
At that moment, his mission list flickered.
He straightened instantly.
As expected, new words appeared.
【Main Mission Three: Rescue the severely injured villain.】