The Dumped Ex-Boyfriend 5

Ye Ming spent a few days in the hospital. When he was discharged, Qin Yi's bodyguards stayed close, giving him no chance to escape.

[Ye Ming: My Qin Yi is really going overboard. I love him so much—how could I bear to run away from him?]

[888: Put your hand over your heart and say that again. Are you sure it's because you love him, and not because you want to live in a mansion?]

[Ye Ming: Loving him and living in a mansion aren't mutually exclusive. ^_^]

888: So humans really could be this shameless.

An hour later, Ye Ming stood outside Qin Yi's villa looking like a doomed warrior about to embark on his final mission. Under the two bodyguards' cold gazes, he walked inside.

His expression indifferent, his eyes fixed straight ahead, Ye Ming followed a servant to his room. Inside his head, however, it was a different story.

[Ye Ming: Wow, he's so rich! Look at that chandelier! Look at that vase! Look at that painting!]

[888: ...]

[Ye Ming: Finally, I'm free of that rat- and cockroach-infested dump. SoMoved.jpg]

[Ye Ming: I told you Qin Yi loved me. Look how well he treats me! Please, keep humiliating me with money and a life of luxury! I can take it!]

[888: Shut up.]

[Ye Ming: QAQ You're so mean.]

888: Aaaaargh. He really wanted to beat his host to death.

Although Qin Yi had only assigned Ye Ming an ordinary guest room, even the most ordinary guest room here was every bit as good as a room in an upscale hotel! Ye Ming sprawled on the soft, enormous bed and gave a contented little hum.

At last, he was living the happy life of luxury he'd dreamed of. There were cooks and servants to take care of everything. He didn't have to lift a finger. Good food, good drinks, good sleep, a sex life, and money to boot. Could life get any more perfect?

Qin Yi came home every night, but he didn't sleep with Ye Ming every night. He only summoned him when he felt the need.

All Ye Ming had to do was keep up his miserable facade. But the more resistance he showed, the more Qin Yi enjoyed forcing him.

After a while, the darkening score actually dropped another five points, leaving it at just 65.

By now, a certain someone's lazy, pleasure-loving nature had been thoroughly exposed. He wasn't even making much effort on his mission anymore, and 888 finally couldn't stand it.

[888: Do you actually have a plan?]

[Ye Ming: Of course I do~]

[888, sneering: All I see is you doing absolutely nothing. Having too much fun, aren't you? Forgotten all about going home?]

[Ye Ming: Nothing of the sort. I'm letting the emotions build, aren't I? Haven't you noticed how much gentler Qin Yi has been with me lately? Once his darkening score drops a little more, I can find a chance to tell him why I had no choice. If I tell him now, he'll just think I'm making up excuses to fool him again. ^_^]

[888: And if you tell him later, you won't be making up excuses to fool him?]

[Ye Ming: ...]

Ye Ming stood by the window, gazing into the distance with sorrow in his eyes. "Why must you treat me like this? We've been together so long. Is there really no affection left between us? Weren't you the one who came to me about doing these missions in the first place? You're unhappy when I do them, and unhappy when I don't. Nothing makes you happy. Tell me—what do you want from me?"

[888: ...] So now he was the unreasonable one???

Ye Ming sighed softly. "I know you disapprove of what I do. You think I brought all this on myself, but I'm trying to fix things, aren't I? Isn't that enough? A host and a system should show each other a little more kindness, a little more trust, a little more understanding. That's how we make the world a better place and our relationship more harmonious. Don't you agree?"

To his horror, 888 actually thought he had a point. He actually thought this bastard had a point...

Deciding he'd laid enough groundwork, Ye Ming delivered his stirring conclusion. "So all you need to do is trust me! I'll complete the mission, save my experience points and your system performance rating, and lead us both to a win-win future!"

888 felt he needed some time to cool off. Somehow, he seemed to have been talked in circles.

...

Qin Yi came home rather late that night. As the president of a large company, he was extremely busy. Irregular hours were nothing unusual.

In fact, before Ye Ming moved in, he hadn't come home very often. When he worked late into the night, he would simply stay at the office. Tonight, for instance... He could have stayed there, but he had come home anyway.

Qin Yi went upstairs and stopped outside Ye Ming's room. His hand rested on the door handle for a moment before he gently pushed it open.

The young man lay quietly on the bed, his breathing slow and soft. Clearly, he was already asleep.

Qin Yi looked down at him. He must really have been tired. Even in sleep, a lingering melancholy seemed to shadow his brow. Soft black hair lay across his forehead, and his skin was a little unhealthily pale.

One arm rested outside the covers. His pajama collar had slipped open as he moved, revealing the bruises along his collarbone.

For an instant, Qin Yi's gaze grew distant. He reached out and lightly brushed Ye Ming's eyelashes, complicated emotions surfacing in his eyes.

Once again, he remembered three years ago.

Back then, he had loved this man so much that he had broken with his parents and left the city with him just so they could be together.

He knew he hadn't been rational. He knew he had let his parents down. But faced with a choice between practical reality and love, he had chosen to take a chance on love. Perhaps it was the only time in his life he would ever be so reckless and willful, but as long as this man stayed by his side, it would all be worth it.

Those first days had been difficult. Only after losing his family's protection had he learned how hard it was to start from nothing. But they had made it through those days, too...

At last, his career had begun to take off. He had thought their lives would only get better. He had thought they could go on like that forever... Yet just when he had been full of hope for the future, the blow that came had destroyed him.

That day, he had prepared a ring, wanting to surprise the man he loved. But he waited and waited...

And the man never came.

He had simply vanished, taking all their money and leaving only a letter behind.

Even three years later, Qin Yi could close his eyes and recall every word of that letter. Each word was a nail driven into his flesh, leaving him bloodied, mocking everything he had given and the love he had so foolishly believed in.

At first, he refused to accept it. He searched desperately, but found nothing... His last lead was that Ye Ming had left the country. After that, there hadn't been a single trace.

It was as though he had vanished from the face of the earth.

Still unwilling to give up, Qin Yi waited a long time. He kept the same phone number, afraid that if Ye Ming regretted leaving, he wouldn't be able to reach him. He wondered if Ye Ming had been left with no choice, or if he had run into danger... Deceiving himself, he waited for a call that might never come.

Until at last, hope died, and he could no longer lie to himself.

Ye Ming had withdrawn the money himself. He had left the letter himself. There had been no sign of coercion whatsoever. He had coldly left the city, abandoned everything they had shared, and never intended to return.

Qin Yi had no choice but to admit that his love and his trust had both become a joke.

His mother had once told him that this man was only after his money and status. He hadn't believed her then. Who could have known her words would prove prophetic?

At last, Qin Yi went home. He apologized for his mistakes and for hurting his parents, and bowed his head before reality.

He had made a tremendous scene over someone who hadn't been worth it at all. He had disappointed and hurt his parents, driven his friends away... The price had been devastating. But he would never make that mistake again.

He would become a worthy heir, reclaim everything he had cast aside, and bury all his naive fantasies. He would no longer waste pointless affection on people who didn't matter. Little by little, he would harden his heart.

He poured all his time and energy into his career, leaving himself no room to think of anything else. Whatever he did, he would be the best.

Now, he was strong enough. Even if the past repeated itself, he could protect the person he loved. He wouldn't have to leave his home behind, and he would no longer fear society's judgment or its gossip.

But... there was no longer anyone he wanted to protect.

He had everything, yet his heart had long since died. Only his stubborn hatred clung to life, surfacing in the stillness of the night.

Qin Yi lay down gently beside Ye Ming and gathered him into his arms. Such a simple gesture had now become a luxury.

He gazed at Ye Ming's profile, asking him a silent question.

Why did you leave? We could have had a good life. Even without the tremendous wealth we have today, we could at least have been comfortably off and content. We could... have had a good life...

Why was that still not enough for you?

...

When Ye Ming woke the next morning, Qin Yi was already gone. It was as though he had never come home at all.

888 was nowhere to be found, either. Had he really gone off to contemplate life on his own?

A little bored, Ye Ming went downstairs for breakfast by himself.

As always, the exquisitely prepared breakfast looked mouthwatering. To stay in character, however, Ye Ming restrained himself and didn't eat too much.

Qin Yi didn't appear all day, and by evening, he still showed no sign of coming home. Just as Ye Ming was about to head back upstairs to sleep, the butler informed him that Qin Yi wanted him to come out. The driver was already waiting outside.

Ye Ming looked indifferent, but inwardly, he was curious. It was rare for Qin Yi to ask him to go anywhere. What was this about? He called out to 888 in his mind.

[Ye Ming: What's Qin Yi doing right now? Why does he want me to come out?]

It was quite a while before 888 appeared.

[888: A gathering with friends. As for why, how should I know?]

[Ye Ming: Fine...]

Ye Ming changed and got into the car. Before long, he arrived at an exclusive club. He was led into a large lounge, and the instant he stepped inside, he understood.

Men and women sat together amid cigarette smoke, colorful lights, and flowing drinks. Wealthy young men laughed and played with attractive male and female companions in their arms. Quite a few people were half undressed. They were one step away from having sex in public.

Ha... So it was that sort of party.

Ye Ming spotted Qin Yi immediately. He sat there calmly with a glass of red wine, no one beside him. He seemed strangely out of place, a stroke of black amid all the glitter and excess.

Ye Ming now had a good idea of what was happening, but he let displeasure and surprise show on his face as he lowered his head and walked toward Qin Yi.

The lounge was noisy, and at first no one noticed Ye Ming. Only when he sat down beside Qin Yi did the others start in surprise. Was this... someone Qin Yi had brought?!

The rich young men exchanged uncertain looks. Qin Yi hardly ever came to these gatherings, and there had never been anyone at his side. They had even teased him for living like a monk. Had he come to set the record straight tonight?

Although Ye Ming and Qin Yi had once shared a passionate, tumultuous romance, Qin Yi had concealed his background while they were dating. Soon after the truth came out, he had fallen out with his family and left with Ye Ming. As a result, most of his friends had never met him.

Later, when Qin Yi returned to the Qin family, he naturally had no desire to broadcast that painful chapter of his life. Only a handful of people in his circle knew who Ye Ming was, and none of them were here tonight.

So the guests didn't think much of him. Anyone brought to a place like this was just someone paid to provide a little fun. Actual girlfriends had to be wooed and pampered; you certainly wouldn't let them see you behaving so outrageously. This was probably just some new favorite Qin Yi had taken a passing fancy to. He was quite good-looking, though, with those clean, delicate features. So this was Qin Yi's type?

Feeling everyone's brazenly appraising gazes on him, Ye Ming looked deeply uncomfortable.

Qin Yi turned his head slightly, his cold gaze settling on Ye Ming's face. In the dim lighting, his dark eyes seemed like bottomless abysses. He draped an arm around Ye Ming's shoulders and brought his wineglass to his lips.

Ye Ming frowned faintly, but in the end, he didn't refuse. Under the crowd's boisterous scrutiny, he drank from the glass in Qin Yi's hand, then pressed his lips together.

Qin Yi gave a low chuckle, his dark gaze resting on Ye Ming's mouth. The young man's pale lips had taken on a tempting wine-red sheen... Qin Yi bent down and kissed him, pushing him hard against the sofa as his other hand carelessly lifted the hem of his shirt.

There was no respect in the gesture, only the casual handling of a plaything. At the thought of being toyed with in full view of everyone, Ye Ming could no longer hide the shame and anger in his eyes. Hadn't all the humiliation before this been enough? Why did it have to happen here...

Qin Yi held his shoulder firmly and studied the anger in his eyes from inches away. At last, he couldn't help smiling.

Oh... So you do still have a little shame? I was beginning to think you didn't care how you were treated.

Someone like you never deserved respect in the first place. Now that you're staying by my side, you're no different from any other rich man's plaything. No—compared with those who openly sell themselves, a despicable liar like you is even cheaper!

The onlookers held their breath. It was their first time seeing this uninhibited side of Qin Yi, and their faces flushed with excitement. Someone started it, and soon a chorus of jeers rose around them. "Fuck him! Fuck him! Fuck him!"

Hearing the crowd and feeling Qin Yi's advances grow more insistent, Ye Ming finally couldn't endure it anymore. He began struggling fiercely!

He had to get out of here!

"Mmph..." Ye Ming jerked his head aside, dodging Qin Yi's kiss. Anger brought a flush to his face. "Let go of me!"

He had wronged Qin Yi, so he was willing to accept his humiliation. It was what he owed him. But...

Why did it still hurt so much...

Why... did he have to take it this far...

Qin Yi brushed his thumb lightly over Ye Ming's cheek, watching him with mocking eyes. His other hand gripped Ye Ming's wrist, refusing to let him escape. He lowered his head to his ear and murmured with a soft laugh, "Everyone's so eager to watch. Should I give them what they want?"

Ye Ming breathed hard, his hands clenched into trembling fists.

Qin Yi kept Ye Ming trapped in his arms, leisurely studying the despair on his face as though watching prey with nowhere left to run.

Of course, he had no interest in putting on a live sex show. But he did enjoy the pain on Ye Ming's face right now.

I told you... I'd give you everything you wanted. Since you didn't want my love, only my money, you should understand that this is all something bought with money deserves... You ought to get used to it.

Ye Ming's chest heaved. He tried to push Qin Yi away, but Qin Yi's hand clamped around his wrist like iron, squeezing until the joints creaked. Ye Ming went pale with pain. The jeering around him, the filthy jokes, those people's stares... They all filled him with shame. It was as though he stood naked in a cage, forced to wait until someone named his price.

Just then, a surprised voice reached his ears. "Fang Xiao? Is that you?"

Ye Ming froze. He looked up blankly to see a man standing before him. Tall and handsome, dressed in a light-colored casual suit, the man seemed to have just come back inside. His gaze held a complicated mix of surprise, joy, and deep affection.

Ye Ming went completely still.

[Ye Ming: Bro, why didn't you tell me He Shaochen was here tonight too?!]

[888: Why would I need to tell you something so trivial?]

[Ye Ming: Trivial? This is Mars crashing into Earth! Qin Yi must have found out that He Shaochen helped me leave the country back then. He set up this whole banquet trap just for me!]

[888: Oh, is that so? Looks like your romantic debts have finally come due.]

[Ye Ming: ...]

[Ye Ming: You've changed. You used to take your responsibilities seriously. You would never have kept something this important from me.]

[888: I must correct you. I still take my responsibilities very seriously, and I have never neglected my duties. You didn't ask me to keep tabs on He Shaochen, so it's perfectly natural that I didn't tell you. Besides... After thinking it over, I decided you were absolutely right. A host and a system should show each other a little more understanding and a little more trust.]

[888: So now I understand and trust you completely. I'm sure you can handle this little problem. I believe in you! You've got this!]

[Ye Ming: ...]

Author's Note:

Ye Ming: You're so cruel, you're so cruel, you're so cruel-cruel-cruel-cruel-cruel-cruel-cruel!

888: Not even one ten-thousandth as cruel as you.

Ye Ming: ...