"A passionate night?"
Yun Che's face instantly drained of color, as if doused in ice water. "What did you say?!"
Ye Jin extended a finger with elegant precision, lightly touching a spot near Yun Che's collar on his neck. There, a suggestive, dark red mark stood out starkly against his pale skin. "The love bite is showing," he said, his voice laced with knowing amusement. "It looks quite fresh, like it was left last night... Didn't you notice?"
Yun Che's heart plummeted! He remembered! That damned bastard last night had left hot, wet kisses on the nape of his neck! He'd felt nothing but humiliation and disgust at the time, never imagining it would leave a mark. Distracted and unsettled during his morning routine, he hadn't checked carefully.
A wave of violated fury surged through him! He clenched the steak knife in his hand, knuckles whitening. The sharp blade scraped viciously across the fine bone china plate before him, emitting a piercing screech. Yun Che hissed a low curse through gritted teeth: "Bastard!"
Ye Jin pretended not to hear the curse, smiling as he pressed, "Bambi, what did you just say?"
Yun Che took a deep breath, forcibly swallowing the rage churning inside him, quickly covering: "...Nothing."
Ye Jin seemed disinclined to pursue it further. He swirled the deep red wine in his glass, the liquid catching the light and reflecting in his fathomless crimson eyes. "I had no idea you had a girlfriend... Oh, apologies," he paused, feigning contrition, "I shouldn't assume your orientation. May I ask, was the companion who shared your passionate night... a lady, or a gentleman?"
Yun Che felt a knot of frustration tighten in his chest, choking him almost to the point of internal injury. He couldn't deny it! That cursed hickey was like a brand of shame, glaringly obvious! Even if he insisted it was an insect bite or a scratch, Ye Jin's inherent suspicion would only deepen.
That man... was likely one of the guards from the conference room yesterday! If he managed to get to Ye Jin and expose his identity... he was finished!
To avoid further complications, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and humiliation, forcing the words out between clenched teeth: "A... boyfriend."
"Oh? A boyfriend." Ye Jin repeated the word with interest, as if savoring it. He took a sip of wine, continuing his inquiry: "What kind of person is he?"
He's a blackmailing, threatening, psychotic bastard! Yun Che screamed internally.
Outwardly, he remained vague: "He's... just an ordinary person."
"Appearance?" Ye Jin seemed intensely curious about this "boyfriend."
Appearance? Yun Che sneered inwardly. If he'd gotten a clear look at the bastard's face, he swore he'd find a way to eliminate him at any cost, dump the body in the most desolate ravine for the wolves!
"Looks... very ordinary," Yun Che replied, his voice flat.
Ye Jin nodded. Then, unexpectedly, he reached out, his fingertip deftly flicking open Yun Che's shirt cuff. Exposed on his wrist was a distinct red mark – the lingering imprint from the metal handcuffs that had bound him the night before.
"It seems this 'ordinary' boyfriend has quite a dominant personality," Ye Jin murmured, his fingertip ghosting over the red mark, his smile radiating knowing amusement. "Does he like... tying you up in bed?"
"..." Yun Che gritted his teeth hard enough to splinter bone. Overwhelming humiliation flooded him, blood rushing to his head. He felt like he might vomit blood any second. He forced the words out: "Yes... he... has unique tastes." Each syllable felt like it was being ripped from his throat.
Ye Jin seemed to finally drop the subject, mercifully ceasing his excavation of the "damn bastard." Soon, the main course arrived – thick, premium steaks exuding a mouthwatering aroma.
Yun Che, however, had no appetite. He picked up his knife and fork, mechanically cutting into the steak. The sharp blade sliced through the thick meat, revealing vivid red, distinct muscle fibers beneath. Dark red juices slowly seeped out, soaking into the plate.
The sight... instantly overlapped with the bloody execution from three years ago!
He remembered that subordinate who had betrayed Ye Jin. Favored by Ye Jin, he'd foolishly conspired with rebels. After capture, Ye Jin had ordered him executed by lingchi – death by a thousand cuts. That brutal, ancient punishment, abolished in the Human Federation, remained legal in the Demon territories. Yun Che and other subordinates had been forced to witness the two-hour ordeal – the slow, meticulous slicing of muscle, dismemberment of bone, unending screams, rivers of blood, ending in a mutilated corpse.
That hellish scene had haunted Yun Che's nightmares for days. Ironically, Ye Jin hadn't even bothered to watch, discarding the man like useless trash. Yet, during Yun Che's nightmare-plagued nights, Ye Jin had come to comfort him, offering a rare hint of apology, saying the "observation" was meant as a deterrent, but Yun Che was too young and sensitive to have been subjected to it.
Ye Jin had treated him well. But Yun Che knew better than anyone: if his spy identity were exposed, all that warmth would vanish instantly. His fate would be no better than that man's three years ago!
The image of the knife cutting the steak merged relentlessly with the memory of the gory torture. Yun Che's stomach churned violently. He slammed down his cutlery, fighting the urge to vomit. He glanced furtively at Ye Jin, only to meet his gaze – eyes that seemed to pierce through him with knowing clarity.
Ye Jin's lips curved slightly. "What's wrong?"
Yun Che hesitated, then decided on a proactive approach. Ye Jin hadn't mentioned yesterday's communication records. Only two possibilities: First, his "suicidal gambit" had completely cleared suspicion. Second, Ye Jin was biding his time, waiting for him to slip up. Given Ye Jin's cunning, the first was highly unlikely. If it was the second, it meant the so-called "evidence" wasn't conclusive yet – there was still room to maneuver!
"Yesterday..." Yun Che's voice regained its calm, "Those communication records you mentioned... they are definitely a frame-up. I will investigate immediately and give you a full report."
Ye Jin didn't respond immediately. He meticulously cut his own steak into perfectly uniform pieces, then slid the plate in front of Yun Che. He took Yun Che's haphazardly cut steak in return. Then, picking up a pristine white napkin, he elegantly wiped his hands, his tone unnervingly placid: "There might indeed be some misunderstanding here. Bambi, I trust you. Don't be afraid."
"And if... it really is me?" Yun Che ventured, throwing out the most dangerous question. "If I really am... a spy? How would you deal with me?"
Ye Jin sighed softly, the sound tinged with what seemed like regret. "Bambi, betrayal and deception are unforgivable crimes in my eyes." His ruby gaze fixed on Yun Che, the voice still gentle but carrying an icy weight. "Remember that man from three years ago?"
Yun Che's hand beneath the table clenched the tablecloth draped over his lap, knuckles white, trembling slightly. "I remember..." His voice tightened.
Ye Jin watched Yun Che's eyes, struggling to maintain composure. The smile on his lips deepened, taking on an almost cruel tenderness. "You've seen a traitor's end firsthand. Without exception, it's... extremely grim." He paused, his tone shifting, adopting a note of indulgence. "However... you're still young. Mistakes happen. Perhaps... I would make an exception for you? After all... I've always been... partial to you."
It sounded like Yun Che held some special privilege with him. But Yun Che's gaze involuntarily flickered away – a tiny betrayal of his profound distrust. This was just sugar-coated bait, a probing lure!
Ye Jin didn't miss that fleeting evasion. "Don't believe me?" he countered.
Yun Che lowered his eyes, masking the turmoil within. He speared a piece of the steak Ye Jin had cut for him and shoved it into his mouth. He chewed mechanically, tasting nothing, muttering, "No. Traitors deserve death. And... I would never betray you."
Ye Jin emitted a low chuckle, rich and ambiguous. He leaned back casually yet elegantly in his chair, picked up his wine glass, and raised it towards Yun Che in a silent toast. The deep red wine swirled within, mirroring the depths of his crimson eyes, which held laughter but were utterly unfathomable.
"Thank you for your... loyalty, dear Bambi."