Madala was licking Pei Cangyu’s face. Half-asleep, Pei Cangyu pushed the dog away. The sunlight stinging his eyes made him squint, but then someone pulled the curtains shut, plunging the room into darkness. The sudden change jolted Pei Cangyu awake.
He saw Bai Shi standing there in a full suit, hands in his pockets. He looked sharp, refreshed, and composed, looking down at him with a faint smile. Pei Cangyu shifted and realized he was still naked, and his backside felt…
He jumped with a start, hurriedly pulling the blanket over himself. Seeing Bai Shi all dressed up and pristine made him feel deeply uncomfortable. “Cough, do I have…” He paused, adjusting his voice, which was still raspy from yesterday’s shouting. “Do I have any clothes?”
Bai Shi nodded and pointed behind him. Pei Cangyu stood up, wrapping the blanket around his waist. His leg injury made him stumble, and he grumbled, “…Couldn’t you just bring them to me?”
Bai Shi refused. “I want you to linger on the feeling of the present a bit longer.”
Pei Cangyu froze. “…What?”
“What it feels like to have been fucked.”
“You bastard. Dumbass.” Blood rushed to Pei Cangyu’s face. He shoved Bai Shi’s hand away, preferring to hop on one leg. He had learned not to argue with Bai Shi; there was no point in trying to reason with a madman.
Speaking of madmen, Pei Cangyu remembered a time back in school when he was heading home late. A drunk lunatic in an alley had tried to rob him. Pei Cangyu only had a twenty-yuan bill on him, and it wasn't worth getting into a fight over, especially since the guy had a knife. So, he handed the money over. But the madman insisted he wanted a five or ten-yuan bill because he wanted to buy a Coke from a vending machine that didn't take twenties. Pei Cangyu said he only had the twenty, but the man wouldn't have it, insisting Pei Cangyu find change first.
Can you believe it? Pei Cangyu wasted half an hour on that nonsense. Finally, he told the guy he’d go get change, the man lowered the knife, and Pei Cangyu bolted.
Pei Cangyu thought of that lunatic now only to draw a comparison to Bai Shi. You couldn't talk sense into a crazy person. Look at this prick Bai Shi, smiling like a blooming peony, acting like a prince. Did he know he was wrong? He didn't know shit.
Bai Shi’s level of insanity was hundreds of times higher than a drunkard wanting change for a Coke.
So, Pei Cangyu clutched his small blanket tight and went to the back to change. Bai Shi followed him, looking particularly spirited just to highlight how disheveled Pei Cangyu was. He didn't forget to remind him, “You can take a bath. Call me if you need help.”
Pei Cangyu didn't even look up. Since waking up, he hadn't looked Bai Shi squarely in the face.
Bai Shi blocked his path. Pei Cangyu kept his head down and tried to sidestep him, but Bai Shi moved with him.
Bai Shi reached out a finger and gently flicked Pei Cangyu’s chin. “Why won't you look at me?”
“…”
He pinched Pei Cangyu’s cheek. Pei Cangyu’s face turned beet red as he muttered, “You’re so annoying. Are you that starved for affection?”
Bai Shi chuckled and let him go.
Pei Cangyu scurried into the room, clutching his blanket.
The first thing he did was look for the clothes he had taken off. He had hidden his phone in his pants pocket earlier and hoped Bai Shi hadn't thrown them away.
But no matter where he looked, his old clothes were nowhere to be found. New clothes were folded neatly on a chair, but Pei Cangyu didn't even glance at them.
Bai Shi knocked on the door and leaned against the frame. “Do you need help? Your leg needs a splint.”
Pei Cangyu went into the bathroom and shouted back, “No need. Leave me alone.”
He dropped the blanket, deciding to take a bath first and deal with the rest later.
Pei Cangyu sat on the edge of the tub, running the water. He removed the thin wooden splint from his leg. That damn Bai Shi—when he was manhandling his legs yesterday, he had snapped the splint, and he hadn't even cared. All he thought about was getting laid. Bastard. Though Pei Cangyu himself had forgotten about it in the heat of the moment, the fault lay entirely with the perpetrator.
His knee was swollen like a club. He hissed in pain as he peeled off the bandages. Looking at the filling tub, he began to worry. He needed to lower himself into the water perfectly without getting his injured leg wet.
He tried to brace himself against the wall, planning to drop his backside in first, but he nearly slipped. Water splashed everywhere, soaking him like a drowned rat.
Then, there was a sound at the door. Pei Cangyu, still struggling with the bathtub, didn't hear it. He was about to try a hopping maneuver when he felt hands grip his waist. He was lifted up and slowly lowered into the water.
Pei Cangyu stared blankly at Bai Shi. Bai Shi had rolled up his sleeves. He knelt, turned on the faucet, tested the temperature with his hand, and continued adding water. The stream hit near Pei Cangyu’s feet, slightly hot. Pei Cangyu flinched, and Bai Shi helped him prop up his injured leg.
The two remained silent. Pei Cangyu looked down at the water's surface while Bai Shi watched the water level. The only sound was the rushing flow.
When the water reached the chin of the reclining Pei Cangyu, Bai Shi turned it off.
He rested his hands on his knees and stared at Pei Cangyu. “Do you need help washing?”
Pei Cangyu shook his head frantically. Bai Shi stood up, gave him a small smile, and walked out. Pei Cangyu let out a long breath of relief.
By the time Pei Cangyu came out, Bai Shi was brewing coffee. While drying his hair, Pei Cangyu asked with feigned nonchalance, “Hey, did you see my old clothes?”
Bai Shi glanced at him and beckoned him over. Pei Cangyu walked over, puzzled. Bai Shi brushed a bit of lint from his hair and told him, “They’re probably in the laundry room. Why?”
Pei Cangyu realized that asking too much would look suspicious. He draped the towel around his neck and shrugged. “Nothing. What are you doing?”
“Drinking coffee. Want some?”
Only then did Pei Cangyu notice the bloodshot streaks in Bai Shi’s eyes. He looked like he hadn't rested well, his exhaustion masked only by his high spirits. “Did you not sleep?”
Bai Shi nodded.
“Huh? Why didn't you sleep?” Even Pei Cangyu had eventually fallen asleep after their… encounter. He didn't have any trouble sleeping.
Bai Shi turned to stare at him without answering. Looking into his eyes, Pei Cangyu suddenly realized that Bai Shi was filled with a sense of hyper-vigilance and alertness.
“Are you… afraid I’ll run away?” Pei Cangyu asked cautiously.
Bai Shi smiled and spread his hands. “I can't exactly keep you locked up.”
Pei Cangyu suddenly broke into a cold sweat. While Bai Shi’s mouth said "can't exactly," his smiling face screamed "but I could." Pei Cangyu used every ounce of courage to suppress his urge to flee—partly because his task wasn't finished, and partly because he knew he couldn't get away.
Pei Cangyu gave an awkward laugh and scratched his head. “True… haha… locking people up is illegal.”
Bai Shi nodded and turned off the heat. “Want some?”
Pei Cangyu shook his head.
“Locking someone up is illegal, but it’s not a crime if they’re here willingly.” Bai Shi poured himself a cup. The coffee looked incredibly bitter. Pei Cangyu frowned as Bai Shi continued, “You haven't reached that point yet, have you?”
Pei Cangyu laughed in spite of himself. “How could I ever be here willingly?”
Bai Shi’s profile was blurred by the rising steam of the coffee, but his voice carried a hint of a smile. “That’s not necessarily true.”
Perhaps the swirling steam and the temporary peace of the conversation gave Pei Cangyu courage. He suddenly asked, “Bai Shi, have you considered turning yourself in?”
Bai Shi turned his head, his expression still a smile. “No.”
“Why?”
Bai Shi told him, “I don't want to go to prison. I hate being locked up.”
He answered so matter-of-factly that Pei Cangyu was baffled. It was like a child saying they hated a certain flavor of candy—a display of powerful self-will that completely ignored the rules of the world.
Without thinking, Pei Cangyu shot back with a roll of his eyes, “Well, some people hate dying, but you killed them anyway.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a pang of regret. Bai Shi stared at him, unmoving, his expression unchanged.
Pei Cangyu grew tense again. Bai Shi leaned toward him, and Pei Cangyu scrambled back several steps, bumping into the counter. Bai Shi was merely reaching for the sugar cubes.
Bai Shi gestured to him with a smile and turned to add the sugar. He didn't offer any further comment. Using his impaired left hand, he clumsily gripped the tongs. Only now did he seem slightly human as he muttered to himself, “A bit bitter.”
Pei Cangyu’s racing heart began to slow down.
*Now should be the time,* Pei Cangyu thought. He straightened up. “I’m going to do the laundry.”
Bai Shi nodded, then caught his arm. “What do you want for lunch?”
“Um…” Pei Cangyu thought for a moment. “Anything is fine.”
Bai Shi seemed perfectly satisfied with "anything." “Alright.”
Pei Cangyu forced a smile and turned toward the laundry room. If the layout was the same as the other houses, he knew where it was. Bai Shi had given him a cane—an overly flamboyant, gaudy thing—but it was better than nothing.
Sure enough, his and Bai Shi’s old clothes were tossed in a basket. He suspected Bai Shi didn't know how to do laundry and would probably just throw them away in a few days.
He set the cane down and rummaged through the basket. Finally, he found his phone in his pants pocket. Luckily, he’d had the foresight to zip the pocket, so it hadn't fallen out.
Pei Cangyu quickly tried to turn it on, but the screen stayed black.
…
Dammit, it was dead.
Pei Cangyu wanted to howl in frustration, but he quickly shoved it into his pocket. Before Bai Shi could come over, he threw all the clothes into the washing machine and hurried back upstairs.
Bai Shi was sitting at the dining table, studying a cookbook with a serious, frowning face. “Do you like things sweet or spicy?”
Pei Cangyu told him solemnly, “I like sweet.”
Bai Shi made a thoughtful sound, then asked, “Is spicy not good?”
Pei Cangyu sat down. “Sweet.”
Bai Shi looked at him with a smile. “Let’s go with spicy.”
Pei Cangyu got annoyed. “Then why did you even ask me?” He stood up, acting as if he were going to wander around.
As he turned to limp away in a huff, Bai Shi reached out and pulled him back. “Alright, sweet it is.”
Pei Cangyu kept his angry face, acting as if the concession was barely acceptable, but his mind wasn't on the food at all.
As Bai Shi stood up to prepare the meal, Pei Cangyu headed upstairs.
Madala was napping at the top of the stairs. Hearing Pei Cangyu, the dog lifted its head and gave a bark, wagging its happy tail. Pei Cangyu passed by him. “Go back to sleep, I’ve got things to do.”
Madala barked again and went back to sleep, enjoying his innocent bliss.
Pei Cangyu searched room after room for a charger, but he found absolutely nothing.
He also found several old-fashioned rotary phones. He picked up the receivers; without exception, the lines were dead.
The house lacked any modern amenities; it clearly wasn't meant for long-term living. Thinking of this, Pei Cangyu paused. If Bai Shi was downstairs cooking, who had brought the ingredients?
Could it be that while he was asleep, Bai Shi’s subordinates had appeared? Anyone who knew about this place was likely like the man he’d seen in the basement—not exactly a legitimate employee.
In other words, if the police were lying in wait, as long as Pei Cangyu could keep Bai Shi from leaving, they would surely catch the "evil employees" coming to find him. And through them, they could prove Bai Shi’s crimes.
Pei Cangyu convinced himself of this plan. Now, all he needed to do was notify the police.
How did Bai Shi contact them? He must have a phone or something. With that in mind, Pei Cangyu walked toward Bai Shi’s room. There, he indeed found a computer and a phone.
He rummaged through the desk drawers and found charging equipment. Among a pile of dusty data cables, he found the one he needed and quickly plugged his phone in.
…
This phone was truly a piece of junk. It wouldn't turn on while charging, and if he unplugged it, it claimed it didn't have enough power to boot. It was infuriating.
Pei Cangyu had to wait for over a minute. During that time, his biggest discovery was in the bottom cabinet: he found Bai Shi’s unfinished medication.
After a few minutes, just as Pei Cangyu saw the battery bar tick up slightly, he heard footsteps approaching. Those composed, unhurried steps gave Pei Cangyu goosebumps. He quickly yanked the cable, scrambled to shove everything back, and with nowhere to hide and no way to explain himself, he threw himself onto the bed.
Bai Shi pushed the door open and saw Pei Cangyu lying on the bed. “Are you that sleepy?”
Pei Cangyu pretended to have just woken up. “…Ah… what is it?”
“Come eat.”
Pei Cangyu nodded. “Okay.”
The meal was incredibly tense. Pei Cangyu’s mind was entirely on the phone; he desperately needed to see if it would turn on. It would be great if he could get back into Bai Shi’s room later.
Bai Shi, on the other hand, ate calmly and methodically. Pei Cangyu looked at him, unable to believe it. As someone who felt guilty if he owed someone five yuan for more than a week, he couldn't understand a killer who felt no remorse.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Shi wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Did you kill Gao Qian and the others?”
Bai Shi looked at him calmly, his silence a tacit admission.
“And the people at the docks?”
Again, silence.
Pei Cangyu frowned deeply. “Why?”
Bai Shi looked at him. “For you.”
Pei Cangyu glared at him, agitated. “What does that have to do with me?!”
“Gao Qian’s people were looking for you at the same time I sent my men. He wanted you for the docks. They’d been negotiating that deal for a long time, and it had been delayed; they needed someone like you.” Bai Shi watched him. “They also cornered you at school, remember? That night Tu Ziyun was there.”
Pei Cangyu was stunned. “You mean, from the very beginning, it was Gao Qian and his people following me?”
Bai Shi nodded, omitting the fact that his own men had been there too.
Pei Cangyu’s brain worked to process this information. Before he was even done, he looked up and asked, “Even so, there was no need to kill them.”
Bai Shi tilted his head indifferently. “Evil men die in dark alleys. It’s an occupational hazard.”
“What?”
“If you choose to be a villain, you should be prepared to die at the hands of someone even worse. Isn't that perfectly normal?” Bai Shi answered candidly. “There’s nothing 'innocent' about it.”
Pei Cangyu turned away. “By your logic, are you some kind of vigilante enforcing justice?”
“No, I don't have such lofty thoughts.”
Pei Cangyu waved him off. “I can't talk sense into you.”
He stood up to wash the dishes, picking up Bai Shi’s bowl as well. Bai Shi looked up at him, and Pei Cangyu explained, “You can't wash with your hand like that. I’ll do it.”
Bai Shi smiled. “Thank you.”
While Pei Cangyu scrubbed the plates, Bai Shi stood behind him with his arms crossed, watching.
“Hey, what are you planning to do later?” Pei Cangyu asked tentatively.
“Why?”
“I’m tired. I want to go sleep.”
“Alright.”
Pei Cangyu put the clean dishes in the rack and dried his hands. “Then I’m going up.”
Bai Shi nodded.
Pei Cangyu walked past him, swallowing hard. He felt nervous as he headed upstairs. He hadn't specified which room, so he went straight to Bai Shi’s. If he was lucky, Bai Shi wouldn't stop him.
Bai Shi watched his back until he entered the room, but he didn't call out to him.
However, just as Pei Cangyu was about to rejoice and reach for the charger, Bai Shi walked in. Pei Cangyu reflexively rolled onto the bed. “I’ll just sleep here, okay? Where’s your room?”
Bai Shi smiled. “Here.”
“Ah…” Pei Cangyu sat up, pretending to give up the bed. “Then I should give it back to you.”
“No need.” Bai Shi reached out to stop him. “I’m not sleeping.”
Lying on the bed, an idea suddenly occurred to Pei Cangyu.
“Bai Shi, do you remember our middle school class trip? We shared a tent.”
Bai Shi fell silent for a moment.
Pei Cangyu patted the bed. “Do you want to lie down?” He immediately remembered last night, his face flushing red as he added, “Just lying down.”
Bai Shi stared at him, then smiled. “No.”
“Come on, what’s there to be afraid of?” Pei Cangyu patted the soft pillow. “Let’s talk about our dreams.”
Bai Shi hesitated at the door for a moment before finally stepping inside.
Pei Cangyu shifted to make room for him. The bed was large enough for three people, so they didn't have to be touching—which was a major reason why Pei Cangyu had the guts to suggest it.
Bai Shi lay on the bed, his hands folded over his stomach like he was lying in state at a funeral, staring at the ceiling.
Pei Cangyu propped his head up on his hand, lying on his side to look at him. “Speaking of which, in middle school, you weren't even as tall as me…”
“I was only shorter than you for three months,” Bai Shi corrected him seriously. “Then I grew taller.”
“Right, right.” Pei Cangyu played along, laughing. “When you were a kid, you looked like a girl.”
Bai Shi sighed helplessly. “You’re probably the only one who thought so.”
“True. I couldn't tell boys from girls until I finished elementary school.” Pei Cangyu chuckled. “My grandma said I identified people by their scent.”
Bai Shi deadpanned, “…Are you a dog?”
Pei Cangyu reached out and tugged at the hair on Bai Shi’s forehead. He didn't know why he did it, but since he already had, he then reached out and flicked Bai Shi’s cheek, laughing.
“What are you laughing at?”
“I don't know.” Pei Cangyu fell back onto the bed. For a moment—just a fleeting moment—he was genuinely happy because of Bai Shi.
They lay on the bed, chatting idly. Pei Cangyu began to feel drowsy himself, and Bai Shi seemed to have fallen asleep. The house fell into silence.
Pei Cangyu opened his eyes.
***
When Bai Shi woke up again, it was because of a sharp sting in his arm.
He struggled to open his eyes and saw Pei Cangyu holding a syringe, injecting him with something. His technique was clumsy, and seeing Bai Shi wake up made him even more nervous, causing him to push the plunger harder.
Bai Shi lunged forward, grabbing Pei Cangyu’s throat. Pei Cangyu twisted away, scrambling back. “Don't worry… I just put it in your arm. It’s much better than you stabbing me in the neck…”
Bai Shi struggled to stand, but he stumbled and fell to the floor. Pei Cangyu yanked his phone off the charger and backed away. “Crimes have to be answered for… don't worry… try to reform… they’ll be lenient…”
Pei Cangyu’s words were incoherent. Bai Shi tried to stand and move toward him, an aura like a malevolent spirit radiating from him. His teeth were clenched, and the bloodshot veins in his eyes made them look terrifyingly red. Pei Cangyu’s heart hammered; his belief that Bai Shi would spare his life wavered in that moment.
He ran toward the door with his phone, urging Bai Shi not to resist. “You should really rest… seriously… you can't keep going like this…”
But Bai Shi just kept reaching out, walking toward him. Pei Cangyu backed away stiffly until he reached the door. He slammed it shut and shouted through the wood, “Just sleep! Everything will be fine when you wake up, Bai Shi!”
Pei Cangyu limped downstairs, pulling out his phone and frantically turning it on. It finally had 18% battery.
It booted up, but he found there was no signal inside the house.
He couldn't go back upstairs to the signal booster, so he ran toward the front door, thinking there had to be a signal on the street. He leaned on his cane and rushed out.
Madala came jumping over, wagging his tail and circling Pei Cangyu. Pei Cangyu said to him, “Don't follow me. Go upstairs and watch Bai Shi. Don't let him fall down the stairs…”
Madala obeyed instantly, bolting upstairs faster than any human.
Pei Cangyu burst out the front door and stood on the street. Finally, he got a signal. He pulled up Tu Ziyun’s number, but before he could hit the call button, he heard the screech of tires behind him.
He turned and saw a woman in a red dress he’d seen before, smiling at him from a distance. Beside him, a black van pulled up with oppressive force.
He only had a second to be stunned before a hand reached out from the van, covering his mouth. Another hand easily hoisted him up and tossed him into the vehicle. His head hit something hard; blood filled his mouth, and he blacked out.
Just as quickly as it had appeared, the van vanished, leaving nothing on the street but an overly flamboyant cane.
