Shou-Switching System Has Been Bound - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Phone Call

Ji Lianyi shook off the lingering numbness in his body, suppressing his desires back to a controllable state.

Xia Xu: “Is Gege coming back today?”

Xia Xu: “Miss you.”

Eating breakfast, Xia Xu glanced at his phone from time to time. Gege hadn’t replied to his message yet, which made him a little worried. Gege’s relationship with his family wasn’t great; according to Gege, it was because they couldn’t accept him coming out.

Gege’s family was in business big business. So when Gege previously mentioned he could open a talent agency for him, he truly had the means to do it.

Every time Gege returned from his family home, his mood would be quite low and listless. Xia Xu felt pained watching him. When he first learned about this, he actually thought that one day Gege’s family would hunt him down and toss a five-million-dollar check at him to make him leave.

But such a thing never happened. Of course, even if it did, he would never leave Gege.

“Coming back.”

After replying to Xia Xu, Ji Lianyi rose and left the basement. The situation with his family was true, though the reasons for their poor relationship were far more complex.

He went upstairs. The curtains were all drawn, leaving the villa pitch black. However, the entire villa was empty, so Ji Lianyi wasn’t worried about bumping into anything.

He walked in the darkness. Like a fish in water.

As for his so-called “going home,” it meant coming to this villa that belonged only to him, taking off his false mask, and letting the darkness swallow him whole. Here, he would fall into a completely relaxed, deep sleep.

Ji Lianyi lay down on the floor and slowly closed his eyes. He gradually curled onto his side, drawing his long legs up toward his abdomen, resting his hands on his legs.

A sleeping posture like that of an infant.

When Qi Youli emerged from the elevator, he looked even more dejected. This night had truly exhausted him physically and mentally. Now, he didn’t even have the energy to be angry; he just wanted to go home and crawl into his blankets for a long sleep.

Opening the door, a chubby little black dog wagged its tail and ran to the entrance. It wasn’t even as tall as his knees, but it immediately started pawing at his legs. One look and you could tell it was a heartless, clingy little thing.

Seeing the little guy, Qi Youli finally showed a hint of a smile. However, he avoided the dog; having been trapped in a public restroom all night, his pants had literally spent time on the floor.

“I’ll play with you after I shower.”

Qi Youli walked toward the bathroom, the puppy following right behind him like a little tail. The warm water washing over his body allowed even his soul to relax. Qi Youli couldn’t help but look back on this thrilling night. He was lucky no one had discovered him, but was that bastard there the whole night?

Thinking of Ji Lianyi, his anger flared up again. He definitely had to f*ck him. He would even take photos and send them to Xia Xu! Hahahaha. He was truly a genius!

Just thinking about it made Qi Youli happy. He fell asleep within two minutes of hitting the bed, still muttering: “Just you wait…”

Under the bed, the little black dog, waiting eagerly to play, slowly stopped wagging its tail. It let out a whimper and lay down, resting its two small paws on its nose. Looking very aggrieved.

After dinner, Xia Xu said he had a surprise for Ji Lianyi and told him to look forward to it. Ji Lianyi waited on the sofa, glancing at his phone. That “puppy” who was always jumping out had been quiet for two days. Had the harsh words from that day been mere talk?

“Gege”

Ji Lianyi looked back toward the bedroom. Xia Xu was wearing a black lace nightgown that contrasted with his skin, making it look as smooth as curdled fat. He stood shyly at the door, looking both seductive and innocent.

Under Ji Lianyi’s gaze, he walked over with an embarrassed face and rested his hands on Ji Lianyi’s shoulders. “Gege, do you like it?” His eyes were full of expectation.

66: “Hold steady!”

66: “Do not be deceived by beauty! He’s the one who gave you a green hat!”

Ji Lianyi leaned back to create distance from Xia Xu. He looked him up and down carefully before speaking: “It looks very good.”

Xia Xu smiled happily. He knew Gege would like it. Even if Gege wasn’t very capable in “that department,” what man wouldn’t like this? His fingers slid slowly from Ji Lianyi’s shoulder down his arm, flirting: “Then does Gege want to make me look even better?” After saying this, he acted as if he had embarrassed himself and didn’t dare look at Ji Lianyi.

That appearance was indeed heart-stirring.

“I’m sorry.”

Xia Xu, having been rejected, looked up in disbelief.

“My state hasn’t been great lately. After all, men become useless once they pass 25, and I’m already 32 this year.”

Xia Xu remembered the words he had said to Qi Youli and felt a momentary pang of guilt. He tried to read something from Ji Lianyi’s face, but there was nothing but frankness. It was a relatively common thing to say; Gege probably didn’t know anything.

He forced a somewhat unnatural smile, walked around the back of the sofa, and sat down beside Ji Lianyi. “What are you saying, Gege? A man at forty is a flower; Gege, you’re still a flower bud~” The sweet words flowed easily: “And I think Gege is very impressive. Gege makes me feel very comfortable every time. Anyway, I won’t allow you to say bad things about yourself.”

66: “He’s such a good actor!”

If it weren’t for the fact that it knew everything, it might have actually been fooled.

Fearing Ji Lianyi might be swayed, it quickly continued whispering: “He’s lying to you, he’s lying to you, he’s lying to you…”

Ji Lianyi rubbed Xia Xu’s head. “Thanks, but I’ve really not been in the mood lately.”

Xia Xu was a bit disappointed, but he didn’t show it, leaning obediently into Ji Lianyi’s arms. “It’s okay. Everyone gets tired. When Gege is tired, just lean on me. You can have my shoulder.” He even patted his own shoulder.

Although both had their own hidden thoughts, the atmosphere they projected was as sweet as ever.

Ji Lianyi suddenly asked: “Do you love me?”

Xia Xu looked up instantly, without a second of hesitation: “Of course I love Gege.”

Ji Lianyi looked at him. Did Xia Xu love him? Based on their two years together, he believed he did. A person’s eyes don’t lie. He had caught countless unintentional glimpses when Xia Xu didn’t realize he was being watched; the way he looked at Ji Lianyi was always full of love and admiration.

In the beginning, the way he looked at him wasn’t like this, it was cautious and fawning. His finger gently brushed over Xia Xu’s cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear. His tone was gentle: “Then love me well.”

And then watch me replace you with another.

In the morning, before leaving the house, Ji Lianyi saw the red dot in his app appearing across from the entrance of their neighborhood.

Qi Youli was sitting in a bun shop, angrily chewing on a baozi. The high-end neighborhood was too strictly guarded for him to get in, so he decided to stake it out first. After the last incident, he considered the guy a bit of a tough character; his revenge plan might have to be a long-term war of attrition.

It didn’t matter. Handsome Qi takes his revenge from morning to night. He wasn’t in a hurry. He. Was. Not. In. A. Hurry. At. All!

Just as he brought the soy milk to his lips, he saw the person he had been obsessing over emerge from the neighborhood gates. Qi Youli quickly raised the steamer basket of buns to block his face, then slowly lowered it, revealing only his eyes.

Wearing a beige trench coat, Ji Lianyi was carrying a cute backpack that didn’t match his image. It was clearly for Xia Xu, who was walking beside him. The two walked side-by-side; Xia Xu was talking, and Ji Lianyi’s gaze remained fixed on him—a look that could melt the chill of late autumn.

The steamer basket in Qi Youli’s hand slowly lowered. The look in his eyes as he watched Ji Lianyi revealed a trace of confusion. He felt like he didn’t know this person. In fact, he didn’t really know him at all; he didn’t even know the man’s name.

As they came out of the gate, Ji Lianyi even put an arm around Xia Xu to prevent him from being bumped by others. It could be said he was extremely attentive and very devoted to Xia Xu. Qi Youli couldn’t help but think of the “Uncle” he had faced it was two completely extreme attitudes.

Before getting into the car, Ji Lianyi even went to the passenger side to open the door for Xia Xu, gallantly shielding his head with a hand as he got in before walking around to the driver’s side. Xia Xu seemed very accustomed to and comfortable with this care. Clearly, this was their daily routine.

Qi Youli watched the luxury car enter the lane, merge into traffic, and move further and further away. The young man stood dazed at the bun shop entrance for a long time, only snapping back to reality when a customer accidentally bumped into him. Qi Youli withdrew his gaze, a feeling he couldn’t describe surfacing in his heart. It was so complex that a breath felt stuck in his chest unable to be exhaled, unable to be swallowed.

Inside the car

“Gege, why did you park the car outside? What were you doing when you went downstairs just now?”

“Went down to park the car outside.” Xia Xu looked at the man holding the steering wheel with one hand, not understanding. A faint smile hung on Ji Lianyi’s face. “Maybe I haven’t fully woken up yet today.” Xia Xu found him adorable; it was rare to see Gege have such a muddled moment.

Ji Lianyi thought back to the dazed puppy at the bun shop. His long index finger tapped the steering wheel in time with a rhythm.

Qi Youli was unhappy, very unhappy. He didn’t know why he felt this way. He closed his shop early in the evening and called some friends for drinks. At a barbecue stall, after a few beers, everyone started bragging. As they say, once the alcohol is down, the world belongs to me.

Qi Youli, who was usually quite talkative, was exceptionally quiet today, drinking gloomily. Beer wasn’t enough, so he added a glass of white liquor. Mixing the drinks made him drunk very quickly. He kept using a tissue to wipe the table in front of him while muttering under his breath.

A friend beside him: “What are you muttering about?” Qi Youli, unable to sit up straight, slumped onto the table and began sliding off his chair. The friend grabbed him and, leaning in close, finally heard clearly what he was muttering.

He said: “Why is no one that good to me…”

The drunken Qi Youli was sent home by his friends.

He kept saying: “I’m not drunk…” Two friends carried him and tossed him onto the bed, huffing and puffing from the effort. Before leaving, they poured him a glass of water on the nightstand and prepared a trash can for him. They patted him, reminding him: “If you want to throw up, use the trash can.”

Qi Youli replied randomly: “Ah, no more eating, I’m full.”

His two friends cursed with a laugh: “F*ck.” Then they went home.

Qi Youli lay there for a while, his head filled with Ji Lianyi. When he tore off the tie covering his eyes, the glimpse of the mole on the man’s nose, the hands that nearly strangled him in the mirror, the gentle smile he gave Xia Xu… He fished out his phone and took a long time just to unlock it. Squinting, he found the contact with the blank profile picture.

He opened his mouth and started with: “I’ll fck your ancestors…”

“You bastard, you impotent old man, just you wait. Revenge is a dish best served cold. I… I… I will definitely fck you to death…” He got excited talking about this and, in his muddled state, clicked on a voice call.

Standing in front of the toilet, Ji Lianyi had just finished listening to the voice message the boy had sent. He was clearly drunk; the insults were weak and slurred. Seeing the incoming call request… He took “it” out. He answered.

“Crying is useless…” The person on the other side had clearly been talking for a while, completely immersed in his own world. “Begging for mercy is useless, I won’t be soft-hearted toward you at all, Uncle.”

“I want you to call me Daddy…”

The drunken man’s breathing was heavy. Ji Lianyi felt as if he could sense the heat and the scent of alcohol through the phone. He heard him mumble: “An old man like you would probably pee after just two rounds, right?…”

“Clearly a piece of trash, yet you dare to… I’m so thirsty, I want water…”

The words of a drunkard lacked any logic. He suddenly shouted for water, but no one responded to him over the phone; he must be home alone.

Ji Lianyi: “Open your mouth.”

Qi Youli, who couldn’t even open his eyes, obediently opened his mouth, waiting for someone to feed him water. He was so drunk he didn’t know where to put his tongue; feeling it was in the way, he stuck it out of his mouth.

The sound of rushing water rang out. Qi Youli, dying of thirst, was terrified of missing a single drop and hurriedly tried to reach the water with his tongue.

Ji Lianyi listened to the sound of swallowing through the phone. It was deafening.

The last drop of urine fell with a slight shake. He asked into the void: “Does it taste good?”

Drunken Qi licked his lips. Feeling even thirstier, he mumbled: “Tastes so good… want more…”

Ji Lianyi: “I’ll feed you again next time.”

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