AATP 6

The car made a sudden stop, pulling Bian Yiqiu back from his memories from two months ago.

He furrowed his brow and glanced at the rearview mirror, meeting Zuo Cheng’s innocent face, which was as expressionless as ever.

“Red light,” Zuo Cheng said.

Bian Yiqiu couldn’t be bothered to respond. He turned his head to look out the window at the busy city street and finally realized they had returned to the city. Not far away, a grand building with a unique twisted design shot up into the sky. Four neon characters at the top blinked brightly, flashing a dazzling light that stood out against the city’s glowing lights, bold and eye-catching.

He Sheng Media.

Ke Mingxuan’s kingdom.

On the massive LED screen, He Sheng’s recent big news was playing in a loop. Even in his plain business attire, Ke Mingxuan’s sharp, dominating presence couldn’t be hidden, much like his building, bold to the point of arrogance, flaunting itself in a way that was almost outrageous.

He never asked questions, nor did he ever seek others’ opinions. It was as if everything that came out of his mouth was either a declaration or an order, and others could only obey, unable to refuse.

Bian Yiqiu’s first reaction to hearing those words was to instinctively look at him, hoping to spot any trace of a joke on his face. However, to his disappointment, the man sitting on the sofa locked eyes with him, his gaze intense, without a hint of humor.

Honestly, when Bian Yiqiu first met Ke Mingxuan, he was indeed somewhat entranced by those mesmerizing peach blossom eyes. If he hadn’t known the other’s preferences and methods, he might have immediately transformed into a wolf and pounced without a second thought.

But the crux of the problem was that, over this period of time, Ke Mingxuan had shown his unpredictable moods and unscrupulous behavior in full force. Bian Yiqiu didn’t believe that just because Ke Mingxuan had treated him to a meal, their relationship would instantly escalate to the point of jumping into bed together.

The only explanation was that he had no idea what kind of trick this person was trying to pull.

Bian Yiqiu asked, “Who’s bottoming?”

Ke Mingxuan replied, “What do you think?”

Oh, damn.

Bian Yiqiu smiled gently, but inwardly, he cursed viciously. So, this brat was coveting his ass.

With a forced smile, he said, “I’ve never bottomed.”

Of course, if Young Master Ke insisted on having a go with him and was willing to obediently lie down, as a pure 24K gay, Boss Bian naturally wouldn’t refuse.

But Ke Mingxuan half-smirked, arrogantly spitting out, “How would you know you’re not cut out for bottoming unless you try it?”

Bian Yiqiu sneered inwardly, Why don’t you try?

However, to avoid ruining the relationship that had finally started to ease, Bian Yiqiu didn’t directly retort. Instead, he said, “Young Master Ke, if you’ve had too much to drink, you’d better go to bed early,” and then turned to pull open the door, ready to leave.

“We’ll settle it with a fight, and the winner gets to be on top,” Ke Mingxuan suggested from behind.

Bian Yiqiu froze mid-motion, his hand gripping the door handle. The suggestion was just too damn tempting.

He turned around, glancing at Ke Mingxuan’s leg, which had just recovered. “Are you sure?”

“Of course.” Ke Mingxuan grinned smugly, spreading his arms. “Come on, baby…”

Bian Yiqiu looked at the dazzling smile on his face and narrowed his eyes. He thought to himself, not only would he beat this man until he couldn’t get up, but he’d also make sure Ke Mingxuan wouldn’t be able to get out of bed afterward.

However… reality was far harsher than his expectations. A few minutes later, Bian Yiqiu truly understood what it felt like to be struck by a thunderclap.

The past was too painful to look back on…

Bian Yiqiu raised his hand to wipe his face, hearing Zuo Cheng ask where he was heading tonight.

He snapped back to reality and noticed that he was the only one in the backseat, not even remembering when He Xu had gotten out of the car.

Zuo Cheng, as if reading his confusion, spoke up, “Lawyer He got out at the last intersection.”

“Oh.” Bian Yiqiu nodded, “Let’s go back to Yuelu Villa.”

“Okay.” Zuo Cheng responded, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. “You look really tired today.”

“A bit,” he replied, then thought to himself, it wasn’t just today; he’d been tired since last night. Ke Mingxuan had been like a wild animal, screwing until dawn without stopping. He had almost been worn out to the point of no return in that villa.

Bian Yiqiu wasn’t someone who couldn’t handle defeat, but he just couldn’t understand why he kept losing, time and time again, to that person with the surname Ke.

After that time in the parking lot, when he had easily flipped Ke Mingxuan over, Bian Yiqiu held onto the heart of a typical gambler. Every time Ke Mingxuan called for him, he’d eagerly run over, always thinking he’d have a chance to turn things around. But each time, he ended up losing even more thoroughly than the last.

The reason gamblers can’t stop at the casino is mostly because they’ve tasted the sweetness of winning. But they don’t realize that those little victories are intentionally given by the house. If the house didn’t offer a few wins, they wouldn’t be so eager to bet all their chips, hoping for a chance to break even.

Bian Yiqiu was the same. He had beaten Ke Mingxuan before, and he knew how satisfying it was to bring that arrogant man down to the ground. So, when Ke Mingxuan proposed the glorious and irresistible reward of “whoever wins gets to be on top,” Bian Yiqiu didn’t hesitate for even a second. He foolishly walked right into the trap Ke Mingxuan had set.

If his first loss was due to being careless and underestimating his opponent, the following losses were simply a matter of lacking the skill. His fighting style had no structure, no strategy, he just fought recklessly, throwing everything he had into knocking his opponent down.

Ke Mingxuan, however, was different. His father had once led the most formidable Dagger Unit in the military region, specializing in lethal techniques designed to incapacitate an enemy with a single strike. The hand-to-hand combat skills were personally taught by his father, honed through real combat training and modifications within the unit. Ke Mingxuan was always able to force his opponent back with relentless speed, brutal strength, and precise angles, until they were left with no power to retaliate, whether in a physical fight or a metaphorical battle.

After two months of this, however, Boss Bian, who had been on the receiving end, felt deeply unsettled. He felt that Young Master Ke was being unfair, treating him like a class enemy with no mercy. After being overpowered so many times, why couldn’t the tables turn just once in his favor?

The more he thought about it, the more Bian Yiqiu felt that Ke Mingxuan was a complete scoundrel, rotten to the core. He gritted his teeth and thought, since I can’t beat you, fine, I’m done playing. Every gambler has a moment of realization, doesn’t Boss Bian deserve to give up on your precious self? There are so many young, handsome guys waiting for my favor, so why the hell should I focus my energy on fighting with you? Getting beaten and being fucked—I’m not a masochist.

With this thought, Bian Yiqiu felt at ease. When Zuo Cheng drove him back to Yuelu Villa, he got out of the car humming a tune.

Zuo Cheng watched him silently as his figure disappeared through the door, reversing the car into the garage. In his mind, he muttered to himself: Boss’s singing is as terrible as ever.

But when Boss Bian decided not to concern himself with Young Master Ke anymore, he seemed to forget that just two hours earlier he’d agreed to go off-roading with him.

So, after Bian Yiqiu spent a carefree week, he received a call from Ke Mingxuan and was stunned on the spot.

Ke Mingxuan was steering with one hand and holding his phone with the other, “We’ve already set off, where are you? I’ll swing by to pick you up.”

Bian Yiqiu, who had just finished a late-night romp with a blonde, blue-eyed foreign beauty, answered the phone still half-dazed, his mind not fully awake from sleep. He groggily muttered, “In bed.”

“What?” Ke Mingxuan didn’t quite catch that.

“I said, I’m fucking in bed. Who is this?”

Ke Mingxuan narrowed his eyes, his voice turning icy as he coldly said, “Bian Yiqiu.”

The sudden chill in the tone snapped Bian Yiqiu out of his drowsiness. He stared at the caller ID on his screen and cursed, “Why the hell is it you?”

Ke Mingxuan’s voice turned even colder. “What day is it today?”

“What day?” Bian Yiqiu, completely caught up in his carefree state, took a moment to remember. “Saturday? Damn, how’s it already Saturday?”

“Where are you?”

“I haven’t even woken up yet, I’m not going.”

“Bian Yiqiu.” Ke Mingxuan slammed the gas pedal, speeding past the traffic light at the last second. “Do you know what happens when you stand me up?”

Boss Bian, already irritated from being woken up, was even more pissed off when he heard those words. “Ke Mingxuan, don’t threaten me. I’ve been alive for over thirty years and never been scared of anyone.”

“Fine.” Ke Mingxuan said, about to hang up the phone.

“Hey, wait!” Bian Yiqiu quickly called out to him. “I’m at the club… the hotel upstairs.”

A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Ke Mingxuan’s lips. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Hello, I still need to take a…”

Bian Yiqiu didn’t finish his sentence before the sound of the phone being hung up echoed in his ear.

“…bath,” he insisted on completing his thought. He placed the phone on the nightstand to charge, then, out of habit, lingered in bed for a while before sluggishly getting up and heading to the bathroom.

Ke Mingxuan waited downstairs for half an hour before finally seeing him arrived with a sullen face, walking like a wandering soul, with a diligent tail following behind him.

Bian Yiqiu opened the passenger door, turned back, and told Zuo Cheng, “Take two days off. Don’t follow me.”

Zuo Cheng said, “Things are unsettled recently. Old Qian’s people are pressing hard. I’m not at ease with you going out alone.”

“If you keep following me, he’ll kill you,” Bian Yiqiu pointed to Ke Mingxuan, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

Ke Mingxuan greeted the stoic bodyguard with a smile, “Hey.”

Zuo Cheng’s mouth twitched involuntarily. After a moment of thought, he probably decided that, with this young master around, his boss’s personal safety should be fine. So, he silently turned and left. Little did he know, his boss’s safety was only ever at risk when he was with this person.

Bian Yiqiu got into the car and casually took a sip from the coffee placed beside him.

Ke Mingxuan started the engine and drove off, saying lightly, “That’s mine.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I do.”

Bian Yiqiu couldn’t understand at all. “What’s there to mind? You’ve already drunk my saliva, so what’s the big deal if I have a sip of your coffee?”

Ke Mingxuan was amused by his irritation. “Fine, go ahead and drink.”

So, Boss Bian complied and took another sip. “Is it just coffee? Anything else?”

“What else do you want?”

“Breakfast.”

“None.”

“Park the car, I’m getting down to buy some.”

“You can’t park here.”

“When did the great Mr. Ke start following traffic rules?”

“In your eyes, what kind of person am I?”

“Young master, spoiled rich kid, crazy, rogue, bastard. Which one do you prefer?”

“All of them are fine.”

“Seems like Mr. Ke has a pretty good self-awareness.”

“I have a better understanding of you.”

“Such as?”

“Like how certain places are especially deep.”

“…”

Bian Yiqiu used all his self-control to stop himself from throwing the coffee in his hand at Ke Mingxuan.

When they arrived at the agreed location, several cars were already waiting for them. As soon as they heard the roaring sound of Ke Mingxuan’s Hummer, a few men standing nearby, smoking and chatting, all turned to look at them.

Bian Yiqiu hadn’t gone off-roading before because he honestly couldn’t understand the appeal of driving out to some desolate place just to suffer. Probably just this group of rich young masters who had never known hardship—they led such smooth lives that they couldn’t relax unless they found some thrill to shake things up.

As for why he agreed to go with Ke Mingxuan, well, he might have been out of his mind.

Ke Mingxuan stopped the car, opened the door, and jumped out.

Bian Yiqiu, hungry and exhausted from lack of sleep, didn’t feel much more awake after finishing the large cup of coffee. But out of courtesy, he still got out of the car and followed Ke Mingxuan.

“You finally made it, huh? We’ve been here freezing our asses off for half the day, and you won’t even pick up your phone?”

The person speaking had a rather sharp tone, and Bian Yiqiu thought to himself, Someone actually dares to talk to Young Master Ke like that? Now that’s a first. He couldn’t help but feel a little smug as he glanced at Ke Mingxuan.

The latter didn’t respond to him, merely replying indifferently, “Didn’t hear you.”

The strange thing was that the man didn’t continue to yell at Ke Mingxuan. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Bian Yiqiu. “Who’s this?”

“Bian Yiqiu,” Ke Mingxuan gave a brief introduction, then pointed to the people standing beside him. “Fang Rui, Zhao Bin, Liang Ziyue, Ruan Chengjie, Li Ze.” Finally, he pointed at the man who had just spoken, “Lin Jiayan.”

“Bian Yiqiu? So you’re President Bian from Jiu’an,” Zhao Bin, who was slightly big than the others, seemed a bit surprised when he heard the name. He spoke while glancing at Ke Mingxuan, as if trying to gauge something.

Bian Yiqiu smiled and shook hands with the chubby man. “President Bian sounds a bit awkward. Just call me by my name.”

“Jiu’an, the one that competed with Huarui for the 7-15 plot last time?” Liang Ziyue, who appeared quite refined, was also a bit surprised.

Bian Yiqiu, rarely feeling humble, responded, “Huarui is a real estate giant in Z City. How could Jiu’an compete with them? They probably just didn’t care for that plot.”

“Not exactly.” Ruan Chengjie, standing next to Bian Yiqiu, took a drag from his cigarette. He let the nicotine linger in his lungs for a moment before exhaling. “I’ve had my eye on that plot for a long time. But losing is losing. You’ve got some skills.”

“…This is awkward.” Bian Yiqiu couldn’t believe he was meeting a rival here of all places. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Ke Mingxuan had set this up on purpose.

Li Ze let out a chuckle and said, “You two consider yourselves to be fated to meet. In the business world, there will be plenty of chances to love and kill each other. Let’s set off now. It’s already almost ten o’clock. If we keep delaying, we definitely won’t make it to Luwei Slope before dark.”

Meanwhile, Ke Mingxuan, who had been whispering with Fang Rui, raised his head and, with full energy, said, “Let’s go.” The group began to joke and laugh as they walked to their respective cars.

Suddenly, Lin Jiayan walked up to Ke Mingxuan and said, “I’ll ride in your car.”