Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 52

Drowning

A long, powerful hand suddenly seized Jiang Zhou’s waist, dragging him forcefully toward Shen Zhiyu. He was given no chance to struggle or escape.

Another hand simultaneously gripped his jaw, forcing him to lift his face.

The skin beneath the thumb was chillingly cold, and his complexion was deathly pale.

“Jiang Zhou, do you want to die?” Shen Zhiyu’s tone held no trace of concern, only cold scrutiny and an unnerving calmness.

His grip was too heavy, and Jiang Zhou’s lips trembled uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.

Shen Zhiyu held him captive, lifted him, and tossed him onto the bed.

His body hit the edge of the cold mattress, and Jiang Zhou’s vision went black; he nearly fainted.

Before he could catch his breath, the man’s tall body pressed down, pinning him firmly to the bed.

His soaked hair spread across the pillow, leaving a dark, wet stain.

Burning hot lips descended. They carried an undeniable, rage-fueled dominance, marking territory, sweeping through his cold mouth, forcing him to endure, allowing not the slightest retreat.

All whimpers and broken sounds were forcefully swallowed, and the air in his lungs seemed completely stripped away. Jiang Zhou’s vision flashed white.

Just as he was about to pass out, Shen Zhiyu released him.

Jiang Zhou slumped weakly against his shoulder, gulping for air. His mouth was filled with Shen Zhiyu’s scent and the strong smell of alcohol.

Jiang Zhou recovered slightly and tried to push him away. “You’re drunk.”

“Heh—” Shen Zhiyu scoffed, easily twisting Jiang Zhou’s wrist behind his head with one hand, pulling him even closer.

Jiang Zhou clearly felt the equally intense turmoil in the other man’s body, like a storm about to break.

“You’re reacting to me, and you feel ashamed, don’t you?” Shen Zhiyu looked at him, his dark, deep eyes churning with complex emotions of scrutiny and fury.

Even if Shen Zhiyu was right, Jiang Zhou dared not admit it now. He shook his head. “Let go of me first, then we can talk.”

“Kiss me first.”

The current situation was entirely unsuitable for conversation. Jiang Zhou could only try to calm Shen Zhiyu down by following his demand.

They were close. Jiang Zhou tilted his head slightly and kissed Shen Zhiyu’s lips—hot and soft.

Jiang Zhou forcibly ignored all emotions and reactions, looking calmly at Shen Zhiyu. “Is that enough?”

Shen Zhiyu chuckled softly, the anger slightly dissipated by the proactive kiss. He pecked Jiang Zhou’s lips but did not release him.

“I didn’t say I would.”

“You!” Jiang Zhou hadn’t expected Shen Zhiyu to be so shameless.

“I told you—”

“Don’t think too highly of me…” As he spoke, Shen Zhiyu’s fingers traced downward, lightly brushing over Jiang Zhou’s injured palm, arm, cheek, and neck…

Checking inch by inch, confirming inch by inch, and also igniting the seeds of shame that had been forcibly suppressed.

“Are you hurt underneath?” Shen Zhiyu’s hand hovered at the collar of the pajamas.

“No.” Jiang Zhou shook his head frantically. He wanted to stop him, but his hands were restrained. He could only stare up at Shen Zhiyu with wet, deer-like eyes, pleading pitifully, “Truly, no.”

He didn’t know that, in Shen Zhiyu’s eyes, such a look was an absolute catalyst.

“I need to check personally.”

He finally released Jiang Zhou, bracing his hands on the mattress, creating distance between them.

“Will you do it, or shall I?” Shen Zhiyu asked, staring intently at Jiang Zhou, his dark eyes flickering with an undeniable, raging fire.

The coldness on his body had dissipated at some point, replaced by a burning heat.

“There really isn’t anything.” Jiang Zhou still tried to persuade him.

Shen Zhiyu had already begun counting down: “Three, two…”

Jiang Zhou closed his eyes and began fumbling to unbutton his shirt, trembling.

The time was long and agonizing. Shen Zhiyu’s eyes remained locked on Jiang Zhou’s hands, burning him as if they were tangible, causing an uncontrollable flush of red across his skin wherever the gaze lingered.

“See, there’s really nothing.” Jiang Zhou bit his lip, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

“I can’t see clearly.” Shen Zhiyu leaned in, kissing Jiang Zhou again without preamble.

His body instinctively tensed, then softened under the intense pressure. Jiang Zhou’s fingertips dug into the bedsheet beneath him, like the last piece of driftwood grasped before drowning.

The inescapable oppression was like a whirlpool, dragging Jiang Zhou down in a dizzying descent. He was like a small boat about to capsize in a fierce storm, passively enduring the overwhelming tempest, his consciousness slowly dissolving into oblivion.

—-

Daylight filtered through the gap in the poorly drawn curtains, illuminating the dim room. The air was thick with residual, ambiguous moisture.

Consciousness slowly floated up from the chaotic abyss. Jiang Zhou opened his eyes and found himself trapped in Shen Zhiyu’s embrace. The arm around his waist was like an iron chain, firmly secured, and the palm and fingertips retained a noticeable warmth.

Shen Zhiyu’s breathing was steady and deep.

Jiang Zhou didn’t move. His mind was a confused blank, before the memories of last night surged back violently.

He had slept with Shen Zhiyu, more than once.

Jiang Zhou had expected to feel fear, pain, or an overwhelming urge to hurt himself, but now that it had happened, his heart was filled with an unusual calm.

A calmness that even Shen Zhiyu found unsettling.

He spoke softly: “Jiang Zhou—”

Jiang Zhou lifted his head from his embrace, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. “Mr. Shen, you were drunk last night.”

The words Shen Zhiyu intended to say were instantly blocked in his throat by Jiang Zhou’s simple statement.

Jiang Zhou silently pushed him away, got up, and stepped off the bed.

The night’s indulgence had nearly torn his body apart. The moment his feet touched the floor, Jiang Zhou nearly fell.

Shen Zhiyu rose to help him, but Jiang Zhou shuddered and stumbled into the bathroom.

In the flash of white skin as he fled, red marks were clearly visible—a scene of utter devastation.

He hadn’t controlled his strength last night; he had bullied the person too harshly.

Shen Zhiyu casually pulled on the clothes he had worn last night. He walked to the bathroom door, wanting to talk things through with Jiang Zhou. But the other party clearly wasn’t giving him any opportunity.

“Drunken mistake. We are both adults; I understand.”

“I enjoyed it too, so I didn’t lose anything.”

“Mr. Shen, let’s just move past this.”

“Do you truly think that?” Shen Zhiyu stared at Jiang Zhou, not missing the slightest change in his expression.

“Yes.” Jiang Zhou finished washing his face and walked out of the bathroom.

He bent down to gather the clothes on the floor, refusing to spare Shen Zhiyu a single glance.

“Fine.” Shen Zhiyu gave Jiang Zhou a deep look and then left.

The moment he was gone, Jiang Zhou finally lost his strength and collapsed onto the floor. The cool touch brought Jiang Zhou back to his senses.

Jiang Zhou found Yuan Rong’s number. “I’m coming to see you.”

—-

“You said you slept with Shen Zhiyu?” Yuan Rong looked at Jiang Zhou in disbelief.

Yuan Chong had previously suggested this to her, hoping she could persuade Jiang Zhou, arguing that perhaps after experiencing it, Jiang Zhou would be completely disillusioned with Shen Zhiyu.

Yuan Rong disagreed with this approach. Jiang Zhou’s obsession was too deep, and his inferiority complex when facing Shen Zhiyu had reached an uncontrollable point. If they became intimate, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Yes.” Jiang Zhou took a sip of water and nodded calmly.

Jiang Zhou was wearing a knit sweater today, and scattered red marks were visible on his exposed neck. It was clear how intense the situation had been last night.

Yuan Rong regained her composure. “How are you feeling now? Do you have any thoughts of self-harm?”

Yuan Rong had considered the worst possible outcome—that he might die.

But Jiang Zhou just shook his head. He said, “No, I don’t feel like it at all.”

Yuan Rong was somewhat shocked, but quickly thought of another, worse outcome.

“Do you want to do it with him again?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhou’s face flushed uncontrollably.

He nodded honestly.

A physiological dull ache, the aftermath of indulgence, still lingered deep within his body, like a completely torn altar curtain. This physical sensation had become the only anchor point confirming his existence at this moment.

Sacrifice. An extremely absurd thought sprouted in the dead silence.

All the past desires of fantasy, the self-loathing of inferiority, and the punishment of self-destruction had suddenly died out after being pushed to the climax repeatedly.

The value of this body had been briefly confirmed by the high and mighty deity. He had completed one thorough ritual of devotion after another, completely dominated by the other party.

“Brother, you…” Yuan Rong wanted to say something, but realized that anything she said at this moment would sound so pale and powerless.

Jiang Zhou had already stood up, giving her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I just came to let you know.”

—-

Wang Lei came to pick up Shen Zhiyu for filming and noticed scratches on Shen Zhiyu’s arm. “What happened?”

Shen Zhiyu looked annoyed. “A wild cat scratched me.”

Seeing his expression, Wang Lei wisely didn’t press further.

The car drove smoothly toward the destination.

After a brief silence, Shen Zhiyu suddenly asked, “If someone sleeps with another person, enjoys it themselves, but doesn’t want the other party to take responsibility, what kind of mentality is that?”

What kind of mentality could it be?

It meant they didn’t love the person, only wanted physical pleasure.

This “someone” must be related to Shen Zhiyu. Wang Lei didn’t dare say it directly, so he spoke tactfully, “Maybe the other party hasn’t given a clear attitude.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhiyu scoffed. “They don’t even give me a chance to speak, so how am I supposed to give an attitude?”

Wang Lei was startled by the cold scoff and added, “Of course, it could also be that he isn’t ready to enter the next stage of a relationship yet.”

That sounded plausible.

Jiang Zhou had secretly loved Yuan Chong for many years; it would indeed be difficult to shift his affections quickly. They had slept together last night, but clearly, their feelings hadn’t reached that point yet.

Hearing this, Shen Zhiyu scoffed again, his mood inexplicably irritable.

Okay, confirmed that the person in question was faultless.

Who was the other person? Wang Lei thought for a moment. Could it be CEO Jiang?

If it was CEO Jiang.

CEO Jiang was rich and wealthy, and handsome and refined. There were countless women vying for his attention. To impress him…

Wang Lei scrutinized Shen Zhiyu. He didn’t know how much sincerity was involved, but his looks were certainly up to par.

He said the person enjoyed it too, so it was simple. “To impress him, it’s very simple.”

Shen Zhiyu listened attentively.

“Just two words: Seduce him.”

Shen Zhiyu: …

He couldn’t speak his mind.

The person he desired wasn’t him; he was just a humble substitute.