Chapter 36.2 (1/2)
Deep in the Act
Translator: Kotoni
Editor: Cien
Quality Check: Isalee
First Published on Chaleuria
Chapter 36.2
Justin's body moved on reflex. He dodged, a.s.suming that Gao Zhun would attack him out of desperation. But he was wrong: Gao Zhun merely turned the blades on his own tie and began cutting away at the silk with weak, s.h.i.+vering hands. Unfortunately, the edges had dulled with age. If not for the weight of the blades, it would have been impossible even to nick the surface of his tie.
Justin gaped at him, watching in disbelief as Gao Zhun continued his pathetic struggle with the useless antique in his grasp. ”Sir…” Releasing his hold on the tie, Justin leaned forward to try to take the shears out of Gao Zhun's hands. Yet, the older man hung on to them with every bit of strength left in him, refusing to let go. Unable to tell whether he was stung by guilt or gutted by heartache, Justin hollered in distress, ”Sir! Stop cutting!”
Gao Zhun's head shot up in panic. A pair of sculptor's hands loomed before him, lean and strong, with distinct joints and defined sinews. They seized his shears in a flash, dismantled the blades with ease, and thrust the metal pieces tip-down into the floor with a thud. ”Sir…” Justin pressed his lips together in misery and seemed to sniffle a little. ”I'm just in love with you…” He really was just a child. Wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his suit jacket, he knelt on the floor with his arms around Gao Zhun's waist. Burying his face against the older man's belly, he sobbed, ”I'm sorry, Sir… so sorry!”
Gao Zhun parted his lips and drew a ragged breath. His hair, spread loose on the floor, was dirty now. He wanted to get up, but Justin clung to him like a crestfallen dog or cat, making it impossible for him to move at all. ”You get up first.”
Justin did not dare to release Gao Zhun; the young man did not even have the courage to look him in the eye. ”I'll get up if you say you'll forgive me…”
Gao Zhun hated bargaining. ”Will you get up or not?” he asked, his tone cold and sharp. Knowing the older man's temper, Justin got to his feet without another word. Despite his height, he looked meek and subdued as he hung his head and awaited his verdict with unease. Gao Zhun only had two words for him: ”Get out.”
Justin did not want to leave just yet. ”Are you…” he asked, discomfited, ”in that kind of relations.h.i.+p with him?”
Gao Zhun's expression darkened at once. Bristling with the hostility of a th.o.r.n.y bloom or a hook-beaked bird, he lashed out with his brilliant, sensitive plumage aflutter. ”Get out!”
Justin started heading for the door at last. Gao Zhun kept a close watch on the younger man, and was only truly relieved when he heard the clear snap of the lock turning in the door. Instead of leaving, however, Justin lingered in the doorway as if he was unwilling to go. ”Sir…” he entreated in a small, humble voice, ”can you please consider me, just a little…?”
Gao Zhun did not want to spare him even a single look. Forcing down his fear and disgust, he turned his back on the young man. A very long while later, the door clicked shut at last behind Gao Zhun. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the wreckage on the floor. Lying amidst the scattered markers and shears was a pink, unopened condom. He closed his eyes again, but there was no stopping the returning wave of terror within him.
Fear, long rooted in his flesh and bones, crept up Gao Zhun's ankles and spread all over his body. He rushed to lock the door. Then, doubling back to his table, he s.n.a.t.c.hed up his phone and dialed a long string of numbers from memory. Cradling the receiver in his hands, he waited while anxiety burned in his gut. When Gao Zhun heard that the phone on the other end was switched off, he called another number, a landline. His call was answered after several rings.
”h.e.l.lo?” It was his voice, the voice that Gao Zhun wanted to hear the most. Tears streamed down his face, and his voice died in his throat. He could not speak a single word for a long time, but the man on the other end recognized him with ease on a single hunch: ”Mr. Gao?” Though Gao Zhun did not respond, the man lowered his voice in the next breath, sounding m.u.f.fled as if he had covered the receiver with a hand. ”I'm sorry, Mr. Liu. I need to return an urgent call. It should take about five minutes. I'll make up the time for you when I return.” The call ended, and Gao Zhun's phone started ringing a short interval later. He picked up the call at once.
”What happened?” Fang Chi asked in a voice taut with urgency.
Gao Zhun struggled to sound calm. ”Pick me up after work, please?”
Fang Chi did not probe much besides asking, ”Are you alright?” Since Gao Zhun replied in the affirmative, he returned just as briefly, ”Wait for me.” Yet, right before Gao Zhun was about to hang up, Fang Chi added, ”Keep yourself safe. If you're scared, then…” After a brief pause, he concluded with a soft whisper, ”… think of me.”
Fang Chi arrived half an hour ahead of time. Gao Zhun was a lot more comfortable getting into the Volvo this time, but he kept up his pretenses. Feigning fear, he got Fang Chi to fasten his seat belt for him. In the brief moment taken to pull down the strap and latch it in place, Gao Zhun brushed his dry lips across Fang Chi's cheek. Fang Chi, on the other hand, studied him up close. Sweeping his gaze over those reddened eyes, nose, lips, and ears, he could tell that they were all flushed for different reasons - some from shyness, and some from crying. ”Justin?” he asked.
A sense of unease swept over Gao Zhun's features. ”I've settled it. Everything's fine.”
”I need details.” Fang Chi hit the left-turn signal and turned the steering wheel. The car glided along the driveway and turned into a lane on the street.