Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 31

Punishment

Shen Zhiyu opened his eyes. The pure white ceiling swayed and rippled in his vision before slowly coming into focus.

“You’re awake?” A hoarse voice came from beside the bed.

“Mhm.” Shen Zhiyu saw the IV needle in his hand and realized, “My low blood sugar acted up again.”

Shen Zhiyu had fainted on the tea mountain in the pouring rain, nearly scaring Jiang Zhou to death.

Fortunately, the production crew staff arrived in time with umbrellas, and everyone worked together to carry him down the mountain.

Jiang Hua’s home was not far from the foot of the tea plantation mountain. Shen Zhiyu was settled there nearby, and a doctor diagnosed him and put him on a drip.

When Jiang Hua heard that Shen Zhiyu had fainted due to low blood sugar, he pulled Jiang Zhou aside and severely reprimanded him.

Jiang Zhou was filled with self-reproach and didn’t dare utter a sound.

Luckily, Shen Zhiyu woke up shortly after, and the doctor came to remove the needle. Jiang Hua expressed his concern a few times before leaving the room.

Shen Zhiyu sat up on the bed, his gaze slowly sweeping across the bedroom.

The entire room was very simple, with a light green background. A row of wardrobes was built into the north wall, and next to the bed was a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf integrated with a desk. The shelves were packed with books, some of the covers yellowed, suggesting they were quite old.

“Is this your room?” Shen Zhiyu asked.

“Yes.” Jiang Zhou answered distractedly.

He was still shaken by the fact that Shen Zhiyu had fainted in front of him.

His father’s scolding was justified; Shen Zhiyu’s collapse was all his fault.

He had clearly promised to take good care of Shen Zhiyu in Taoyuan, but in the past few days, in order to avoid the other man, he hadn’t just skipped his morning run—he had also hidden back in his room immediately after making breakfast, completely failing to notice if Shen Zhiyu had eaten.

He knew Shen Zhiyu had low blood sugar, and he knew Shen Zhiyu had fainted on stage multiple times, so how could he make such a basic mistake?

Jiang Zhou could not forgive himself.

He had to make himself pay an even more painful price to remember this lesson.

Thinking this, Jiang Zhou unconsciously clenched his left hand, allowing his sharp fingernails to dig into the wound that had only recently healed.

“Jiang Zhou!” Shen Zhiyu suddenly raised his voice, calling him by his full name in a sharp, stern tone.

Jiang Zhou was startled, abruptly releasing his hand. Only then did he belatedly feel the pain.

This kind of physical pain offered a slight relief to his guilt and self-reproach.

But it was only a little—it wasn’t enough.

Shen Zhiyu suddenly seized Jiang Zhou’s left hand.

Jiang Zhou squeezed his hand shut, trying to prevent him from seeing.

But traces of blood seeped out from his palm, exposing his self-harming action completely.

Shen Zhiyu was so angry he laughed, “Jiang Zhou! Do you like Yuan Chong that much?”

Jiang Zhou said, “Huh?”

He didn’t know why Shen Zhiyu was bringing up Yuan Chong now.

“Just because I hugged you, you feel guilty toward Yuan Chong and have to pull this stunt again?”

Jiang Zhou understood Shen Zhiyu less and less.

“If things went further, how else would you hurt yourself?”

Jiang Zhou seemed to vaguely grasp Shen Zhiyu’s meaning.

Shen Zhiyu had always assumed his self-harming behavior was due to Yuan Chong, so he naturally attributed his recent actions to that.

But Jiang Zhou was still confused about what Shen Zhiyu meant by ‘hugged.’

Back at the tea plantation, he had clearly fainted directly into his arms; there was no mention of a hug.

“Hmm? Not speaking? Didn’t think you’d still be afraid to say it?”

Jiang Zhou opened his mouth, “I…”

He actually intended to speak!

Shen Zhiyu’s eyes turned red with fury. He violently flung away Jiang Zhou’s hand, then grabbed the back of his neck with a dominant force that brooked no resistance. His other hand fiercely clamped down on Jiang Zhou’s jaw, forcing him to lift his head and look him straight in the eye.

His vision was suddenly magnified.

Jiang Zhou saw Shen Zhiyu’s beautiful fox eyes, churning with a rage that threatened to incinerate everything.

Before he could react, before even a gasp could escape his throat, hot, angry lips crushed down hard.

This was not a kiss; it was more like a looming storm, an invasion and a warning.

Hot, heavy breathing, like a sudden storm carrying volcanic ash, violently intruded, bringing with it a faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood.

All unvoiced cries were swallowed and annihilated by this blaze. The passing rage, carrying a world-destroying possessiveness, broke all boundaries, branding a scorching mark onto every inch of perception.

All struggle was futile against this forceful domination. A sense of suffocation surged over Jiang Zhou like a tide. The edges of his vision blurred and darkened, leaving only the unconscious slight trembling of his body.

After an unknown length of time, the almost brutal crushing finally retreated, leaving behind only a burning sting and a metallic sweetness like rust.

The scorching breath still lingered close.

Besides anger, it was laced with a deeper, heavier roar.

Jiang Zhou’s vision had not fully regained focus, his consciousness still trapped in a mire of oxygen deprivation and dizziness.

The grip on the back of his neck had loosened at some point, carrying a hint of unconcealed tremor.

“I told you…”

“The next time I catch you, there will be a punishment.”

—-

The heavy rain lasted for an entire day.

Jiang Hua asked Shen Zhiyu to stay the night at their house.

Shen Zhiyu did not refuse and occupied Jiang Zhou’s bedroom.

Shen Zhiyu was wearing Jiang Zhou’s loose-fitting loungewear. The height difference between the two wasn’t too significant, so it fit him reasonably well.

The rain finally subsided around nine in the evening.

Shen Zhiyu accompanied Jiang Hua, chatting in the courtyard.

Jiang Zhou did not join them. He hid in Jiang Yue’s room, secretly glancing at them twice.

They seemed to be enjoying the conversation, exchanging pleasantries and laughter in a harmonious atmosphere.

Jiang Zhou watched Shen Zhiyu, his gaze unconsciously drifting to his lips.

Shen Zhiyu, who was mid-conversation, seemed to sense his stare and looked up toward the second floor.

Their eyes met across the distance.

Jiang Zhou hurriedly retreated into the room. Amidst his chaotic heartbeat, the sensation of the kiss from that morning vividly resurfaced.

That was Jiang Zhou’s first kiss.

Perhaps it shouldn’t even be called a kiss, but rather the “punishment” Shen Zhiyu had mentioned.

Because it was devoid of any tenderness, containing only a near-mad plunder and crushing force.

Yet, precisely within this brutal invasion, an indescribable pleasure arose in Jiang Zhou. He even harbored the delusion of sinking into it, willing to be utterly consumed by that raging fire.

In the past, if such greedy and sordid thoughts arose, Jiang Zhou would surely have used self-harm as a penance.

But now, Shen Zhiyu had intervened between him and himself. Shen Zhiyu would inflict a more severe punishment for Jiang Zhou’s self-punishment.

The two formed a cycle, an unsolvable paradox.

This was the first time Jiang Zhou had not self-harmed after generating a transgressive desire.

He didn’t dare, and he couldn’t.

He was always obedient to Shen Zhiyu.

—-

Shen Zhiyu was wide awake. He lay in Jiang Zhou’s bed, wearing Jiang Zhou’s clothes, tossing and turning. The surroundings seemed saturated with Jiang Zhou’s scent, lingering persistently.

His fingertips still retained that slick sensation, his lips still held the illusion of softness, and in his ears, that uncontrollable sound seemed to echo again.

He was truly too sensitive. Just a light touch would spread a flush of crimson and trigger fine tremors.

That kiss was like a stone dropped into a deep pool, stirring up a profound resonance in his heart.

Only after tasting it did he realize how sweet it was.

Shen Zhiyu, having acquired a taste for it, repeatedly savored the memory, regretting only that he hadn’t gone deeper that morning.

But dealing with a creature like a cat required extreme patience and skill. Too fast, and it would bare its claws; too slow, and it would turn and run away.

He could only patiently lure it, proceeding slowly and deliberately.

—

After the sudden heavy rain, Yongnan Village continued to rain for two more days.

The tea bud picking competition was hastily concluded due to the downpour, ending without a clear winner. Cai Zhiyang suggested that everyone draw lots to fulfill a guest’s wish.

The production crew sealed everyone’s written wishes into eight identical boxes, arranging them neatly. The guests had to draw them sequentially and fulfill the wish contained inside.

The drawing order was decided by rock-paper-scissors, and Jiang Zhou was the first to step forward. He drew Hua Qian’s wish and read it aloud: “I want to watch the sunrise with everyone.”

“Hua Qian, your wish is too simple. Can’t you make it more challenging?”

“You think everyone is like you, trying to seize every opportunity to gain something. Let me guess, your wish isn’t to win a volleyball match, is it?”

He was actually right. Cai Zhiyang stated matter-of-factly, “So what! Is that not allowed?”

“Fine, fine,” Zhang Qian suppressed a laugh, “Then you’d better pray Brother Yu draws your wish.”

Next, Shen Zhiyu selected a box, unfolded it, and read: “I want to win a volleyball match.”

“Hahahaha! Heaven helps me! Brother Yu, you are my god!” Cai Zhiyang smugly jutted his chin at Zhang Qian. “See that? That’s called skill.”

“Just enjoy it while you can.” Zhang Qian then drew a box, which surprisingly contained a blank wish card.

“No wish? Whose is this?”

Jiang Zhou stepped forward. “It’s mine. I’m already very satisfied to participate in the show with everyone; I don’t have any other wishes.”

“Look at CEO Jiang’s perspective.”

“I’m not looking, not looking, mind your own business.” Cai Zhiyang drew a box himself, and it was another blank card.

“What’s going on? Another blank one? Is everyone this modest?”

“This makes me look so inconsiderate.”

The other guests chimed in, implying: As if you’ve ever been considerate.

Shen Zhiyu glanced at Jiang Zhou and smiled slightly. “This one is mine. Like CEO Jiang, I’m already very satisfied to participate in the show with everyone; I don’t have any other wishes.”

Cai Zhiyang was utterly defeated. “You guys, one after another, are making it really hard for me to save face!”

Zhang Qian egged him on, “Then you should cross out your wish too.”

“No way!”

“Brother Yu, don’t listen to him, you can’t go back on your word!”

The remaining guests successively drew the rest of the wish boxes.

The other guests’ wishes were simple, such as wanting to watch a movie or do crafts together.

Since most of the wishes involved “doing things together,” it didn’t matter who fulfilled whose wish. Everyone simply arranged the next two days’ itinerary based on these wishes.

On the third day, the sky finally cleared.

Everyone accompanied Cai Zhiyang for another volleyball match, blatantly throwing the game, but Cai Zhiyang didn’t mind and remained in high spirits. That evening, he personally cooked a barbecue for everyone.

However, his cooking skills definitely needed improvement; he nearly “sent everyone off” to the afterlife.

Since they were going to watch the sunrise the next day, Cai Zhiyang suggested they skip going back to sleep and just head straight to the observation deck to wait all night.

The production crew, as always, was accommodating and quickly prepared pillows and sleeping bags, arranging them neatly in a circle.

After more than twenty days of living together, everyone had developed a tacit understanding based on their “family” units, naturally lying down next to their respective roommates.

Jiang Zhou had no choice but to lie down next to Shen Zhiyu.