EIP 24

It felt more like flirting than a search. Zhou Jun used the same tricks he had once learned from women, this time on Major General Yong. He held Yong Jin’s hand, his fingers sliding from the palm up into his sleeve, where he felt the cool surface of a watch. Smiling, he said, “Nice Swiss watch,” then slipped it off Yong’s wrist and brought it to his ear.

As the quiet ticking filled the space between them, Zhou Jun tossed the watch aside. Yong Jin’s gaze darkened slightly.

“What’s wrong? Do you think something’s hidden inside?”

Zhou Jun shook his head. His hand slipped under Yong’s clothes, exploring the warmth of his skin inch by inch. He searched his upper body thoroughly, unfastened the belt, and tossed it aside.

This time, the major general didn’t stop him. He looked amused and said, “You’ve stripped me bare. That isn’t fair.”

Zhou Jun pulled two small knives from Yong Jin’s boots. They fell with a metallic clatter onto the pile. He raised a finger and gently wagged it. “Major General, once an arrow is loosed, it can’t be called back. Same with a bet. It’s not my fault you didn’t set the conditions.”

Taking his time, he ran his hands over Yong Jin’s chest, his abdomen, his thighs, and arms. From head to toe, inside and out. One by one, he removed the remaining items, Gloves, pen, until there was nothing left to take. At last, he said with satisfaction, “I’ve searched through everything.”

Yong Jin leaned back in his chair. “You lost.”

Zhou Jun looked at the pile of things and didn’t believe it. He was sure he hadn’t missed anything. But then Yong Jin raised his hand and waved the blood-red gemstone ring in front of him.

“This too?”

The ring concealed a slender needle. A gentle tap against skin would pierce it, releasing a neurotoxin that killed within moments. Yong Jin didn’t explain any of this. He simply revealed the needle, then began calmly returning the items to their places. The watch, the pen, the brooch on his collar, each one had been deliberately designed.

It was unclear whether Zhou Jun truly understood the lethality of these objects. Whether intentional or not, the whole exchange seemed suspicious. Yong Jin suddenly found the situation amusing. Perhaps Zhou Jun had lost the bet on purpose. Maybe just to wear a cheongsam at his place. Or maybe simply to have an excuse to go home with him.

Zhou Jun paid no attention to Yong Jin’s expression. He looked annoyed with himself for falling for it and seemed unwilling to wear a cheongsam. He turned toward the car window in silence. The scenery outside became more familiar with each passing moment, until he realized they had pulled up in front of his apartment building.

He turned to look at Yong Jin with a hint of surprise. “Were you joking with me?”

The thought that he might not have to wear a cheongsam lit up his face. He even reached out to touch Yong Jin’s cheek, lightly scratching his chin. “Good night.”

Just as he turned to leave, Yong Jin grabbed him from behind, arms wrapped around his waist. Mimicking the same gesture, he scratched Zhou Jun’s chin and said, “No need to come to my place. I remember you have a few at home, don’t you?”

Zhou Jun’s eyes widened slightly. He froze as Yong Jin’s hand brushed his lips, and heard him whisper in his ear, “Last time I went to your place, didn’t you welcome me with lipstick and stockings?”

Young Master Zhou kicked his legs restlessly, still held in Yong Jin’s arms. The blood-red ring glinted under the light, its shifting gleam reflected across Yong Jin’s expression. Not knowing the danger it held had been one thing. Now that he did, a chill ran down his back. Every hair on his body seemed to rise.

Valuing his life, Zhou Jun pushed his hand away. “That thing scares me. Take it off.”

Yong Jin laughed softly. The sound echoed in his chest and passed into Zhou Jun’s back. He let his hands fall to Zhou Jun’s abdomen, then slipped the ring from his own finger and placed it on Zhou Jun’s ring finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for him.

Zhou Jun felt like his heartbeat had stopped. He stared in a daze at the ring. A man like him, who had never given a ring to any woman, now had one on his ring finger, and it wasn’t just a ring. Its killing power far exceeded a gun.

With a gunshot, there might still be time to call for help. But with this, once the poison entered the bloodstream, death was inevitable. He couldn’t quite put his feelings into words. All he knew was that he wasn’t happy. He thought Yong Jin had taken the joke too far. Someone as composed as him wasn’t supposed to act like this. It was like he had been swept up in some kind of heat and lost control. That wasn’t wise. But then again, right and wrong have never had simple answers.

Zhou Jun turned to look at him, as if trying to find a clue hidden in his expression. Yong Jin had striking lips, a delicate cupid’s bow, a fuller lower lip tinged with color. At that moment, it seemed like they were softly inviting a kiss. His eyes were deep and black, filled with a dangerous sort of gentleness.

Zhou Jun’s hands trembled. When he came to his senses, he pushed Yong Jin away and got out of the car. The night wind rushed into his robe as he darted toward the dark stairwell. He wasn’t thinking clearly. It felt like he was running away from something he shouldn’t have touched. He had always seen himself as just a player in someone else’s game, but now, caught in the middle of it, he realized he might have set himself on fire.

He didn’t take the elevator. He ran up the stairs instead. Though from a wealthy family, Young Master Zhou was surprisingly fit. He climbed quickly, barely slowing down. The stair lights came on one after another as he passed, until he reached his floor. Out of breath, he looked up and paused. Yong Jin was already there, leaning against the wall with a cigarette in his mouth. He had taken the elevator.

Zhou Jun stopped about five steps away. He heard Yong Jin call him naughty and say that what he said didn’t count. Zhou Jun lowered his gaze, removed the ring, and held it out. “I don’t want it.”

Yong Jin didn’t take it. Instead, he told him to go open the door.

Seeing Zhou Jun’s reluctant face, Yong Jin said shamelessly, “I can open it for you.”

He had done it before. Zhou Jun wasn’t surprised that he had a key, but now that Yong Jin had gone inside, it felt ridiculous for him to remain standing out in the hallway.

Inside, Yong Jin acted like it was his own place. He poured himself a glass of red wine, sat on the couch, and tilted his chin slightly to signal that Zhou could go change.

Zhou didn’t own a cheongsam. All he had were a few women’s items. Seeing that Yong Jin wasn’t planning to take the ring back, he slipped it onto his finger again and walked over to the cabinet. He opened the top drawer.

He only meant to take a quick glance, but everything that had been there before was gone. The women’s things had been cleared out and replaced with new items. A deep red cheongsam, sheer stockings, lace garter stockings in the same shade, lipstick, blush, an eyebrow pencil, and perfume.

Zhou Jun glanced at the ring, then at the clothes. They were clearly made for a man. He understood the kind of possessiveness this represented. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What happened to the things that were here before?”

Yong Jin leaned back on the sofa, looking thoughtful. Then he smiled innocently. “Maybe Xiao Chen lost them.”

Zhou Jun nearly rolled his eyes. He didn’t bother replying. Instead, he yanked off his tie and pulled off his jacket. The red color of the items made him think of Shirley Chen. When they first met, she had worn something similar—deep red, striking, bold. Perhaps this color was Yong Jin’s preference. The thought soured his mood. Everything in the drawer suddenly looked unappealing.

After a moment of thought, Zhou Jun asked, “Why is everything this color? Do you like it that much?”

Yong Jin rested his arm along the back of the couch. His index finger traced lightly over his lips. Noticing the unhappiness on Zhou Jun’s face, he looked directly at him and replied, “Yes. I really do.”