Chapter 88: As Long as You’re Obedient

Yu Chuci and Shen Qingcheng had dinner at a Chinese restaurant with excellent privacy.

During the meal, Shen Qingcheng didn’t mention a word about the Yu family’s bankruptcy. He only talked about his experiences abroad, his humorous and witty words bringing a long-absent smile to Yu Chuci’s face.

“Senior, thank you.”

Before leaving, Yu Chuci said sincerely.

Shen Qingcheng looked at him, his gaze so gentle it seemed almost liquid. “Chuci, you know, I never need your thanks. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, you must remember to come to me.”

Yu Chuci nodded, watching Shen Qingcheng’s car drive away.

However, just as he was about to hail a taxi home, a familiar black Maybach steadily pulled to a stop right in front of him.

The window rolled down, revealing Lu Yanchen’s face, which was so dark and gloomy it seemed it could drip water.

“Get in.”

Two short words, carrying an unquestionable command.

Yu Chuci’s heart tightened. Silently, he pulled open the car door and got in.

The atmosphere inside the car was suffocatingly oppressive. Lu Yanchen stared straight ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were turning white from the force.

Yu Chuci turned his head to look at the receding street scenes outside the window, not saying a word.

“Had a good chat with him?”

Lu Yanchen suddenly spoke, his voice icy cold without a trace of warmth.

Yu Chuci withdrew his gaze and replied flatly, “Yes, my senior is a good person.”

“Senior?”

Lu Yanchen let out a cold laugh and slammed on the brakes.

The sudden inertia threw Yu Chuci’s body forward violently, his forehead almost hitting the windshield.

Before he could react, Lu Yanchen had already pressed over him, his hands planted on either side of Yu Chuci’s body, trapping him in the small space.

“Yu Chuci, have you forgotten what I told you?”

Lu Yanchen’s eyes were sinister, his tone menacing. “You are mine. No one can take you away.”

Forced to look up at him, a flicker of mockery passed through Yu Chuci’s eyes. “Lu Yanchen, what else can you do besides using these kinds of methods to threaten me?”

“As long as it works.”

Lu Yanchen lowered his head and brutally sealed Yu Chuci’s mouth with his own.

This kiss held no trace of tenderness, only a near-mad possessiveness and venting.

Yu Chuci tasted the metallic tang of blood spreading in his mouth—Lu Yanchen had bitten his lip until it bled.

After returning to the apartment, Lu Yanchen directly scooped Yu Chuci up by the waist and strode into the bedroom.

“Lu Yanchen, what are you doing? Are you insane!”

Yu Chuci struggled, trying to get down, but Lu Yanchen pinned him firmly to the bed.

“Yes, I am insane! Driven insane by you!”

As he spoke, Lu Yanchen began tearing at Yu Chuci’s clothes with a frenzy.

…

It was unknown how much time passed before the storm gradually subsided.

Lu Yanchen looked down at the lifeless, vacant-eyed Yu Chuci beneath him, and a sudden, inexplicable panic rose in his heart.

He reached out to hold him, but Yu Chuci dodged his touch with disgust.

“Get out.”

Yu Chuci’s voice was terribly hoarse, carrying a tone of utter despair and finality.

Lu Yanchen’s hand froze in mid-air. After a long moment, he gave a self-mocking laugh, turned, and walked out of the bedroom.

For the next few days, Lu Yanchen did not appear again.

Yu Chuci went to work and painted as usual every day. Life seemed to have returned to normal.

But he knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

One day, after finishing work, Yu Chuci had just stepped out of the art studio when several men in black suits blocked his path.

“Mr. Yu, Mr. Lu requests your presence.”

Looking at the scene before him, Yu Chuci had a bad premonition.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then we’ll have to be rude.”

Yu Chuci took a deep breath and reluctantly got into the car.

The car sped along, finally stopping at the entrance of a private club.

Led by the bodyguards, Yu Chuci entered a luxurious private room on the top floor.

Pushing the door open, a strong smell of tobacco assaulted his senses.

Lu Yanchen sat on a leather sofa, a cigarette between his fingers. Amidst the swirling smoke, his expression was unreadable.

And Shen Qingcheng was kneeling in the center of the room, his hands tied behind his back, obvious bruises on his face.

“Senior!”

Yu Chuci cried out in shock, trying to run over, but was stopped by a bodyguard beside him.

“Lu Yanchen, what have you done? Let him go!”

Yu Chuci turned to glare at Lu Yanchen, shouting in anger.

Lu Yanchen blew out a smoke ring and looked up at him, his tone playful. “Let him go? Sure.”

He stood up and walked leisurely over to Yu Chuci, his long fingers gently lifting Yu Chuci’s chin.

“As long as you behave obediently, I’ll let him go.”

Yu Chuci’s body trembled violently. “You… what do you want me to do?”

Lu Yanchen smiled, a cruel and mad smile.

He leaned close to Yu Chuci’s ear and enunciated each word clearly. “I want you, in front of him, to beg me.”

Yu Chuci’s face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of all color.

“Lu Yanchen, you bastard!”

“Beg me, or watch him die. You choose.”

As he spoke, Lu Yanchen gave a slight nod to a bodyguard nearby.

The bodyguard immediately pulled out a dagger and pressed it against Shen Qingcheng’s throat.

“No!”

Yu Chuci cried out in despair.

Looking into Shen Qingcheng’s eyes, filled with worry and heartache, Yu Chuci felt as if his own heart were being sliced apart.

Shen Qingcheng tried to speak, but the bodyguard gagged him, leaving him only able to make muffled sounds.

“I… beg you.”

Yu Chuci closed his eyes, tears tracing down his cheeks.

“Louder. I can’t hear you.”

Lu Yanchen leaned even closer, his warm breath fanning against Yu Chuci’s neck, yet it only made him feel bone-chilling cold.

“I beg you… let him go.”

Yu Chuci almost ground his teeth to dust to force out these words.

Lu Yanchen smiled with satisfaction. He pulled Yu Chuci into his arms and looked challengingly at Shen Qingcheng, who was still kneeling on the floor.

“Mr. Shen, do you see clearly now? Chuci begged me to save you. Tell me, in his heart, who is more important? Or is it that he is more willing to yield to me?”

Shen Qingcheng’s eyes were wide with fury, struggling desperately but to no avail.

Lu Yanchen waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to take Shen Qingcheng away.

“Now, we can have a proper talk about the meaning of ‘obedience’.”

Lu Yanchen cupped the back of Yu Chuci’s head and kissed him without giving him a chance to refuse.

Yu Chuci was like a puppet drained of its soul, allowing him to do as he pleased.

At that moment, he knew he would never escape the web Lu Yanchen had woven for him in this lifetime.