Once their hands joined, neither seemed willing to let go.
“Brother…I'm a little hot.”
Sheng Linyou paused and instinctively tightened his grip. They had held hands for so long that their palms had grown damp.
He had always hated sticky, grimy sensations like this, yet he did not want to release Yin Xigui. The young man was unbearably clingy. The slightest movement only made both arms wind around him more tightly.
When Sheng Linyou merely curled his fingers, the little fool apparently thought he was about to pull away and latched on like an octopus.
Warm breath washed across Sheng Linyou's face. When he nudged Yin Xigui back, the young man only clung harder. Amused, Sheng Linyou poked him in the forehead.
“Are you trying to murder a lower-tier? Besides, you're the one who said you were hot.”
Yin Xigui's gaze darted away. “I made it up. Brother, you're nice and cool…”
His voice grew smaller until he somehow made Sheng Linyou feel like the guilty party.
“Well, well. Isn't that the Yin family's illegitimate son?”
“Even a bastard gets to own a lower-tier now? Looks like trash really does stick together. Am I right?”
Yin Xigui shrank at the voices. “I-I'm not…”
“Oh? You dare deny it? One look at you—”
The jeering man leaned closer and reached to lift Yin Xigui's chin. A sickening crack cut him off.
“Aah! Help me! Somebody help!”
His screams rang down the street. The tightly packed spectators scattered.
“You want to touch him?” Sheng Linyou growled. “Did you ask me first?”
Another sharp crack sounded. Sheng Linyou released the man, who staggered backward with one arm hanging limply at his side.
The crowd sucked in a collective breath.
Then electricity began to hiss, as though someone had activated a mechanism.
No!
Something pulled taut in Yin Xigui's mind—and snapped.
“Brother!”
Sheng Linyou crashed to the ground. His body convulsed violently, faint arcs of electricity crackling across him.
The collar around his neck was responsible.
“Just a useless dog showing off,” someone sneered. “Trash is trash, and anyone who feels sorry for trash is no better.”
The shrill laughter pierced Yin Xigui's skull like a needle. His eyes sharpened as he reached for the collar.
“What are you doing?”
Lin Zhi.
Damn it.
Yin Xigui's hand stopped less than an inch from Sheng Linyou. It fell uselessly to his side, his fist clenched against the seam of his trousers.
“Young Master Lin, what brings you here?”
“Young Master Lin, w-we were only looking after that little—”
The speaker never finished. He was hurled away with brutal force. The ground boomed beneath him, leaving a deep crater.
Everyone nearby fled in terror until only the three of them remained in the street.
Yin Xigui listened to Lin Zhi approach. He stopped in front of him, bent down, and offered an arm.
“Xigui, get up.”
But Yin Xigui was furious. Lin Zhi had promised to arrange protection, and this was the result. Did he think Xigui had merely taken in some disposable lower-tier?
With a cold laugh hidden in his heart, Yin Xigui rose unsteadily. He ignored Lin Zhi's arm and helped the weakened Sheng Linyou up instead.
“Zhizhi…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have caused you trouble. I know I shouldn't have asked to use those guards.”
A clear tear fell onto Sheng Linyou's eyelid. His eyes fluttered open to find Yin Xigui staring down at him with reddened eyes.
“Why are you crying…idiot?”
“I'm fine.”
Yin Xigui forced a smile, wiped his tears, and turned to Lin Zhi. “If this happens again, perhaps we shouldn't be friends anymore.”
Panic engulfed Lin Zhi.
He simply could not bear watching Yin Xigui revolve around this man. It was jealousy—pure, consuming jealousy.
Why should a lower-tier receive what he could not?
But he could not allow the friendship to end.
Lin Zhi forced a smile and stepped closer. “This was an accident, Xigui…”
A famous noble heir humbling himself before an illegitimate son? Sheng Linyou felt as if he had stumbled upon something unbelievable.
When Lin Zhi tried to approach again, Sheng Linyou forced himself between them.
“What are you trying to do? Is Yin Xigui some toy for you to play with?”
“What business is it of yours?” Lin Zhi frowned at Sheng Linyou, then ignored him and stared fixedly at the pink-haired man behind him.
Yin Xigui sighed almost imperceptibly. He lowered his gaze, the corners of his eyes drooping as he looked at Sheng Linyou.
“Brother…I want to speak with him.”
Sheng Linyou immediately tightened his grip on Yin Xigui's hand.
“Are you insane?” he demanded under his breath.
“I'm not. Wait for me just a little while, all right? I'll resolve this.”
“What can you possibly— Fine. Go, then.”
How could he refuse while those red-rimmed eyes stared at him? Lin Zhi would not dare do anything openly here.
Sheng Linyou watched their backs without blinking, but a large tree obscured most of them.
Behind it, the scene was nothing like the pitiful bullying he imagined.
Smoke curled upward, blurring Yin Xigui's face. Between his fingers rested a cigarette from Old Earth.
“Lin Zhi, you overstepped.”
“He's only a lower-tier! Xigui, is it worth treating me this way over him?”
Yin Xigui lifted a brow as though surprised and blew the acrid smoke into Lin Zhi's face.
“You're questioning me? I haven't yet asked whether you're prepared for the consequences of defying me.”
The cigarette's crimson ember died beneath his shoe.
“Lin Zhi, if you don't want to listen, you may leave.”
“How can you say that? I love you so much, Yin Xigui!”
“And?” Yin Xigui stepped closer and pressed a finger against his chest. “Are you trying to use morality to control me? Or should I ask you this: if I truly were that weak little bastard, would you have already thrown me into Lanxiang House?”
“Neither of us is a good person. So don't try to bind me with a conscience, my dear playboy heir.”
Before Yin Xigui could withdraw his hand, Lin Zhi seized it.
“So you've chosen that lower-tier? What possible use is he to you?”
Smack.
Yin Xigui struck his hand away, leaving the skin bright red. Every trace of softness and weary indulgence vanished from his eyes, leaving only ice.
“Say that to me again.”
“I…” Lin Zhi faltered, then laughed. “Fine. I understand. But Boss Yin, don't forget what you promised me.”
He turned and left. Yin Xigui frowned after him—then a figure rushed toward him.
“Yin Xigui! Are you all right?”
The impact knocked him back a step before warm arms enclosed him.
Yin Xigui's voice turned small again.
“I'm fine, Brother.”