The atmosphere downstairs had transformed from the previous frenzied revelry to one of vibrant excitement.

“Place your bets! I bet Han-ge will lose tonight.”

“Impossible! Have you seen who we’re talking about? Whoever Han-ge wants to seduce, it’s as easy as beckoning with a finger. Tonight will definitely be a passionate battle!”

“I played an extra in the crowd scene tonight. I think I did pretty well. Do you think I should pursue acting?”

“I have a question: aren’t you worried that nouveau riche will find out?”

“Han-ge just returned to the country. Not many people recognize him, so there’s no need to worry.”

“What are you worried about? Even if he’s discovered, do you think he could escape Han-ge’s grasp? That man’s mind is extraordinarily complex. Few people can handle him.”

…

The group of rich second-generations was all betting on how things would turn out after tonight when suddenly, someone who had drunk too much shouted, “I bet Han-ge will go seven rounds tonight!”

The party host, dressed in red, drained his glass upon hearing this and stood up, ready to throw a punch. However, those around him held him back.

But he still felt uncomfortable and couldn’t help cursing, “Fuck, Chen, what’s wrong with you?”

But the guy surnamed Chen was completely oblivious and suddenly lunged at the party host, making as if to kiss his face while mumbling, “I know you’re upset. The cabbage you’ve been raising for so long is about to be dug up by another pig tonight. Your little cabbage doesn’t love you, but I love you the most, my big cabbage.”

“Fuck! Who let Chen Yifan in tonight? Someone get him out of here right now!” Xu Ruchu used his arm to fend off the large living creature that was trying to kiss and embrace him.

In response, the crowd looked up at the sky, down at the ground, at each other – anywhere but meeting Xu Ruchu’s eyes. No one dared to deal with Chen Yifan, who was sprawled on the sofa, nuzzling and calling out “big cabbage.”

Xu Ruchu was at a loss for words. Tonight, he already had a troublesome brother who acted on every whim to worry about, and now he had an even more annoying stupid dog, Chen Yifan, to deal with.

“You, come with me,” Xu Ruchu said, grabbing Chen Yifan by the collar and starting to walk away.

Chen Yifan stumbled along behind Xu Ruchu, bent over awkwardly. Suddenly, he grasped Xu Ruchu’s hand, earning a glare from the other man.

“Tired,” Chen Yifan whined pitifully.

“Shut up!”

“Oh.”

As the two walked away, the group remarked, “How is it that Chen Yifan never learns his lesson?”

“If he learned, would he still be Chen Yifan?”

Everyone nodded in unison. “True enough.”

Li Qingci once heard that a cigarette after sex was better than meeting an immortal. When they paused midway, he wanted to light a cigarette, but his hand trembled uncontrollably. His arm gave out, and the cigarette fell beneath the bed. Then, the beauty flipped him over.

The beauty shed tears, licking Li Qingci’s collarbone and looking up at him with piteous, enchanting eyes. “Why do you want to smoke? Are you unsatisfied with me?”

Li Qingci’s hand shook as he wiped Xu Jinghan’s tears away. He didn’t want Xu Jinghan to cry; it made it seem as if he had bullied him. Li Qingci had never been one to take advantage of the weak. His voice quavered as he replied, “No… mmph… not at all.”

The beauty was godlike above the waist, but his lower body was like a beast.

Li Qingci never imagined that what had started as mutual assistance, a friendly exchange of friction, would somehow transform into a penetrative activity.

Nor did Li Qingci expect to end up on the receiving end. But he wasn’t given much time to react. Conditioned from childhood to respect elders, love the young, and care for the weak, he instinctively began to protect the beauty’s self-esteem.