WCHM Chapter 17

Smiling Tiger: [That’s basically the kind of person I am, joking and laughing with you on the surface, but if I ever get serious, I’ll surpass everyone! You sure you don’t want to add me?]

 

The cat in the profile picture stared wide-eyed into the camera, and, across the phone screen, Liang Zhiyu met its gaze.

 

A long time passed…

 

…Still no reply.

 

Lu Chi, with practiced ease, ignored him once again.

 

Why?!

 

Liang Zhiyu bit through half his thumbnail and still couldn’t figure it out.

 

Just like he couldn’t figure out why he was so fixated on simply chatting with Lu Chi, on just getting a few words in with him. He was clearly a deep, brooding, long-haired guy who liked niche rock bands and punk culture, loved wearing spiked rings, and beating up innocent people… and unlike other long-haired guys, he wasn’t impotent either! He was only eighteen and harder than diamonds, okay?!

 

In his own world, Liang Zhiyu lived a bold, indulgent life. He was doing just fine.

 

Rich.

 

Flashy even.

 

But Lu Chi?! He was just a stripper at a club. So what if he looked a little better than average, smelled a little nicer when he slapped someone, and made him feel a little good after slapping him?!

 

So what if, after slapping him, he personally gave him pain relief?!

 

Liang Zhiyu suddenly felt like he was acting like someone starved for love. That wouldn’t do. After all, being a long-haired rocker was supposed to mean freedom and promiscuity. So he jolted back to his senses and quickly used his bloody finger to type out a post on his Moments feed:

 

[Mom, life is a vast wilderness!]

 

As for Lu Chi, well, whatever. Suppose he didn’t want to add him, then fine. Pfft, like he even wanted to add him in the first place! Honestly, Lu Chi wasn’t even that special! Did he really think Liang Zhiyu liked him?! Had he taken it seriously?!

 

Liang Zhiyu lowered his head and typed again on the blood-smeared screen:

 

Smiling Tiger: [Lu Chi, you’re such a poser!]

 

Smiling Tiger: [I’ve got your number. Just wait.]

 

Still no reaction. Just as Liang Zhiyu was about to send another message to scare him into replying, he realized…

 

He’d been cleanly and efficiently blocked again!

 

So heartless, it made Liang Zhiyu feel like jumping out a window!

 

A sudden laugh came from the other side of the detention cell. Irritated, he glanced over, only to be hit by Gu Yanyan’s sickeningly sweet expression, which made him want to puke. The other boy clearly sensed his gaze and looked up quickly.

 

Their eyes met.

 

Gu Yanyan’s expression turned cold and mocking, like a lapdog sneering at another mutt that couldn’t even manage to beg properly. Then he lowered his head again, cheerfully tapping away at his screen. Liang Zhiyu rolled his eyes and cursed him as an idiot in his mind.

 

The large holding cell fell quiet again.

 

A nearby officer glanced at the two boys glued to their phones. Puzzled, he asked his colleague: “Did the sun rise from the west today? These two aren’t fighting?”

 

One week ago, A City’s central police station received a report of public disturbance. With thunder efficiency, officers promptly arrested Gu Yanyan and Liang Zhiyu on the spot and detained them for fifteen days according to the law.

 

But no one expected that as soon as the two were thrown into the same holding cell, they’d start verbally abusing and physically beating each other, every single day. And the worst part?

 

Both of them had backing.

 

Liang Zhiyu came from the second branch of the Liang family, and Gu Yanyan wasn’t simple either, as the Lin family showed up to visit him on the second day he was detained.

 

So the police were at their wits’ end. All they could do was pray every day that the fifteen days would pass quickly so they could kick them both out.

 

Just then, a long black luxury limo pulled up outside the station. The car stopped, and a man in glasses got out of the passenger seat. He walked up to the officers with a polite smile and extended his hand.

 

“Hello, I’m a secretary from the Liang Group. I’m here today to post bail for our Second Young Master.”

 

Well, if it were the head of the Liang Group who came in person, the police officers might’ve been more guarded, offering polite small talk.

 

But the man in front of them was clearly just someone from a branch of the Liang family, so the officer nodded with a lukewarm attitude and handed over the bail and compensation forms.

 

“Please fill this out. Once the form is completed, you’ll also need to compensate for all the damaged equipment caused by Liang Zhiyu. The payment must be transferred within seven business days.”

 

The secretary maintained a gentle demeanor as he signed the documents, exuding the calm professionalism of a high-level corporate slave. After the paperwork was done, he followed the officer to the door of the holding cell and smiled at the boy inside.

 

“Second Young Master, President Li has come to take you home.”

 

Liang Zhiyu stood up without saying a word.

 

The secretary, seemingly accustomed to the sight, gave a quick glance at Liang Zhiyu’s bloodied fingers, then wordlessly pulled a compact first-aid kit from his briefcase and handed it over for him to treat himself.

 

Liang Zhiyu looked at the bandages, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. Without warning, he threw everything to the ground and viciously kicked over a poor table whose only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His deep brown eyes were full of hostility as he asked: “What’s that supposed to mean?! You look down on me?!”

 

However, it was the police officer who answered him, speaking blandly: “The replacement cost for the table will be added to the list as well.”

 

Pfft!

 

From inside the cell, Gu Yanyan laughed, clearly enjoying the show. The secretary quickly apologized and barely managed to coax Liang Zhiyu into leaving the station.

 

Outside, the black limo was parked by the curb.

 

Without pausing, Liang Zhiyu lowered his head and slid into the backseat with a blank expression. When he saw the tall man across from him reviewing documents, he lowered his eyes and muttered:

 

“Dad.”

 

Li Sheng didn’t respond.

 

Dressed in a crisp suit, he kept his head down, eyes fixed on his paperwork, his rugged features serious. He was truly the image of a man wholly engrossed in work.

 

However, Liang Zhiyu only wanted to sneer.

 

Sneer at him for his cheap imitation, mimicking Liang Mingzhu’s work style. Liang Mingzhu, who held the real power in the Liang Group, was always so busy with her team that she also worked through commutes.

 

A photo once circulated of her hurriedly reviewing documents in her car. It made the front page of the newspaper, paired with a financial report announcing the company’s record-breaking profits. The caption read:

 

“Liang Mingzhu, wholly devoted to her work! Liang Group blooms under her hand!”

 

That month, the newspaper was a hit. Countless entrepreneurs and young people were inspired, sparking a frenzy of “Learn from Mingzhu” campaigns.

 

But Li Sheng had always looked down on a woman gaining such attention, even though he couldn’t go against the tide. So he mimicked her behind the scenes while privately cursing her ruthlessly: “Used a test tube to create a freak like Liang Jiashu, lost her husband too, so what good is success when no man loves you?!”

 

“Just another washed-up old woman!”

 

The car was quiet. Before long, the limo stopped in front of a small three-story villa.

 

Liang Zhiyu got out of the car and silently followed Li Sheng, who had just finished issuing work orders, into the house. There were no servants inside, so it was eerily quiet, just like a graveyard. Even his mother, Liang Qing, and younger sister Liang Yi never came here…

 

After all, that was Li Sheng’s designated place for punishment.

 

Just as they stepped through the door, the next second, a sharp whoosh sounded by Liang Zhiyu’s ear.

 

The blow struck the side of his face, sending the 1.83m tall teen crashing to the floor. His knees and forehead slammed against the cold marble with a sickening thud, as a piercing ringing filled his ears, like needles stabbing his eardrums. Only after a long time did Liang Zhiyu finally, sluggishly, register the searing pain erupting through his body.

 

But just then, his scalp was yanked up without mercy.

 

Liang Zhiyu struggled to open his eyes, warm blood sliding down his forehead and blurring his vision. Through the red haze, all he could see was Li Sheng’s pair of deep brown eyes, identical to his own.

 

Li Sheng stared at him violently, words spat through gritted teeth: “You bastard! Do you have any idea how big a mess you made this time?! The Lin family spread photos of your arrest all over town! The company hasn’t even finished restructuring, and you’re already trying to drag us all to hell?!”

 

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Liang Zhiyu by the hair and slammed his head into the tiles over and over, shouting with each blow:

 

“You’ve got your damn long hair and those jingly trinkets, dressed like some degenerate! What, you think you’re Liang Jiashu?! You think you can be a freak and still live happily?! He makes enough money in a year to buy your damn life!”

 

The sharp crack of bone striking tile echoed through the air.

 

Once.

 

Twice.

 

Over and over.

 

It was almost rhythmic.

 

Clang!

 

Li Sheng finally stopped, panting heavily. He gave the slow-breathing boy a final kick, his broad, powerful chest rising and falling before the violence finally ceased.

 

The villa fell into deathly silence.

 

After resting for a moment, he once again stepped on Liang Zhiyu’s bloody, mangled fingers, grinding them beneath his heel with brutal force. Before leaving, the man gave one last cold warning:

 

“If you pull this kind of shit again, it won’t just be a beating next time.”

 

“Liang Zhiyu, I’ll send you straight to hell.”

 

Click.

 

Footsteps receded. The front door finally shut.

 

Liang Zhiyu lay on the ground like a dead dog. After a long time, he finally gasped for air and painfully rolled over, swallowing down the blood rising in his throat. But the light above was blindingly bright.

 

Blood soaked the floor like the scene of a murder. As always, he stayed still for a long time before dragging himself up with a limp, breathing heavily as he opened the liquor cabinet on the first floor.

 

Under the light, the cabinet was full of chilled champagne, all from the same brand. Liang Zhiyu pulled out a bottle, slumped to the floor with his back against the cabinet, and silently pressed it against his face.

 

The cold glass brought a slight chill to his battered skin, but he couldn’t care less about the blood caking his head and face. After a while, a sudden desire rose in him… To hear Lu Chi’s voice.

 

At the very least, Lu Chi was the only one who had ever given him a taste of sweetness after a slap.

 

“Good kids get rewarded,” he said.

 

So kind.

 

But with Liang Zhiyu’s personality, getting blocked by Lu Chi was honestly expected. In the end, he swallowed two painkillers with no water, then quickly found his phone in a corner, smeared with blood. Lowering his head, he typed with trembling, bloodied fingers.

 

Liang: [Lu Chi, I’m sorry for always bothering you before.]

 

Liang: [I’m sorry. Can you add me back?]

 

Liang: [I just want to hear your voice.]

 

Warm blood continued to drip down his forehead as Liang Zhiyu wiped his face. His long hair had clotted into sticky strands. With no hope at all, he stared at that cat avatar, as if staring directly at Lu Chi himself.

 

Buzz!

 

Liang Zhiyu instinctively looked down. Startled, he saw the cat avatar had, without warning, entered the chat and sent a message.

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [Voice Message • 3s]

 

“…”

 

Liang Zhiyu’s breath hitched. He didn’t have time to think about why Lu Chi finally answered him. Instead, he hurriedly wiped the blood off his phone screen with the only clean patch of his sleeve, then pressed play with trembling fingers.

 

Inside the silent villa, the man’s lazy voice sounded, laced with amusement:

 

“Liang Zhiyu… so you can speak like a human being?”

 

His ears were still ringing.

 

Once the pain subsided, Liang Zhiyu pressed the phone closer to his ear, replaying that message over and over again. After a long while, he finally remembered to respond, rushing to apologize.

 

Liang: [I’m sorry.]

 

Liang: [Transfer: 206,703.00]

 

Liang: [My family froze my cards. This is all I have for now. I can access the rest once I’m back at school.]

 

Liang: [I’ll have more money then, I promise.]

 

Warm fluid mixed with blood dripped down as Liang Zhiyu wiped his face again, his hands smeared with blood and tears. He didn’t care. Clutching that cold champagne bottle, he stared at the screen, full of anxiety and unease.

 

Back in his rental apartment, Lu Chi raised an eyebrow at the chat window and clicked “Refund”.

 

In his mind, the system fretted: [Baby, why didn’t you take the money?! Gong No. 2 is a violent, spoiled, rich delinquent! His money should be distributed to you!]

 

It had gotten quite fluent in cursing lately.

 

Lu Chi chuckled, sipping from his sad little frog cup. [Liang Jiashu told me his cousin had been abused at home for years. Judging by his words and emotional state just now, he probably just got beaten again.]

 

The boy had gone from a childish menace to a pitiful wreck in minutes, practically a different person.

 

The system’s mechanical voice was confused: [So what? It’s not like we beat him. Since he likes you so much, your reply would’ve comforted him! That money is his gratitude fee!]

 

It had followed Lu Chi long enough to understand that 200k+ was no small amount! Totally worth pocketing!

 

But Lu Chi reclined slowly, calm as ever. [Why should I be the one to comfort him?] he asked. There were too many things money couldn’t buy in the world: confidence, happiness, pleasure, even a fleeting sense of peace.

 

But the things that shape a person, their character, their soul, aren’t just built on wealth. A stable home, a healthy body, a nurturing environment… all those matter too.

 

When someone lacked the internal strength to become whole, even mountains of money couldn’t help them crawl out of the abyss. In that situation, everything they grabbed became a lifeline.

 

But Lu Chi wasn’t anyone’s lifeline.

 

He had no obligation to save anyone.

 

With that, he casually sent over a few links and ended the conversation.

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [Grand Opening: Muay Thai Classes, only 999 yuan for a year!]

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [How to obtain a medical certificate to attest in case of domestic violence. Tutorial MV]

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [The Analects: “Do not do unto others…” MV Lecture]

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [Sleeping Kitten.jpg]

 

Liang Zhiyu: […]

 

He stared blankly at the screen, his eyes unfocused and unsure how to feel. Getting abused at home was his most tightly kept secret… and Li Sheng’s. His father cared so much about appearances that, even after marrying into such a powerful family, he still refused to take the Liang surname. Outside, he pretended to be a devoted husband, while inside, he looked down on both Liang women.

 

So Liang Zhiyu was confident that only the two of them knew that secret, and not even his little sister Liang Yi had a clue.

 

So how did Lu Chi know?!

 

Did he have some ulterior motive… like Gu Yanyan?

 

If that was the truth, then… It was something he should be wary of.

 

Yet even as he thought of that possibility, Liang Zhiyu’s hands acted on their own. He quietly stole one of Lu Chi’s emojis and sent it over.

 

Liang: […Good night. I’ll look into it.]

 

Liang: [Lu Chi, thank you.]

 

Liang: [Sleeping Kitten.jpg]

 

No reply came.

 

The champagne went warm.

 

The blood-soaked boy pulled out another bottle, sat beside the cabinet, and replayed the voice message again and again. A bloodstained fingertip accidentally tapped one of the links Lu Chi had sent. In a daze, Liang Zhiyu heard a calm voice in the video explaining:

 

“Do not do unto others what you would not want done to yourself.”

 

Do not do unto others…

 

He paused.

 

After a long time, he slowly clenched his hand.

 

…………………….

 

The Rolls-Royce arrived at the private apartment building. Only after stepping into the elevator did Liang Jiashu notice the photo Lu Chi had sent… Featuring his waist, covered in hickies and bite marks.

 

He stared at the man’s pale, sleek waist, his steps halting outside the door. The urge to get back in the car and drive over to kiss him again was intense.

 

Liang Jiashu closed his eyes and shoved down the thought, stepping into his quiet apartment.

 

LJS: [Very beautiful.]

 

LJS: [Next time, kiss the other side.]

 

But Lu Chi didn’t respond.

 

Liang Jiashu took a bottle of ice water from the fridge and opened the A University forum.

 

As expected.

 

Photos of him fastening Lu Chi’s seatbelt that afternoon had spread across campus like wildfire. In fact, the moment Lu Chi showed up, the forum had already exploded. It wasn’t that students hadn’t seen attractive people before, but someone like Lu Chi? That was rare.

 

Handsome and competent. In class, he spoke with clarity and poise, and even the professor was all smiles, clearly impressed.

 

So everyone was dying to get Lu Chi’s personal contact info, thinking that…

 

…Even if they couldn’t date him, being his dog would do too!

 

But now, such a thought-provoking photo of Liang Jiashu helping Lu Chi with his seatbelt blew up the forum. After all, Liang Jiashu carried too many intimidating titles and, for once, A University found itself resenting the “Heaven-born noble.”

 

Liang Jiashu simply glanced at the sarcastic, passive-aggressive posts targeting him, but didn’t care. He copied several popular threads and forwarded them to Lu Chi.

 

LJS: [Looks like everyone’s talking about us.]

 

LJS: [The Liang Group owns shares in the board of directors. My lab also collaborates frequently with the university’s research institute. I’m not just a student, I’m a partner.]

 

LJS: [So this isn’t a “teacher-student romance.” You don’t have to worry about rumors.]

 

LJS: [I’m not trying to pressure you into anything public. If you’d prefer, I can take down the entire forum.]

 

Still, no reply.

 

Too eager to mark his territory on the first day of kissing… Was he too intense?!

 

Expressionless, Liang Jiashu sipped his water. After a moment, he lowered his gaze, intending to delete the messages.

 

Buzz. Buzz.

 

Finally, a reply.

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [If we go public now, how many people would lose their minds?]

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [Would the A University rooftop be overcrowded? Would the forum crash? How many sleepless nights of heartbreak would follow? I can’t even imagine.]

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [Sorry, Liang Jiashu, but I just can’t bring myself to hurt my fellow students.]

 

Liang Jiashu: “…”

 

……………………………….

T.N: Hello lovely people! I have exciting news to share (at least I’m excited to share them 🤣), but after literally decades of reading BL novels and a couple more years of translating them, I have decided to dabble my little fingers into writing my own ❤️ so I would like to introduce you to my first original novel, Lines That Weren’t Written for Me. It’s a BL, omegaverse novel, and the first 3 chapters are now available on Scribble Hub, Wattpad, and Tapas!

Here is the synopsis, if you feel like it and have a bit of free time, it would make me super happy if you decided to check it out! Thank you all!

 

Lines That Weren’t Written for Me

 

Two ex-friends. One stage. Zero chance of keeping things professional.

Li Zhen, a stoic Alpha sculptor, wanted a quiet return to his alma mater. No drama. No gossip. No ghosts.

Unfortunately, the faculty had other plans, plans that involved Xu Jinli, the flamboyant Omega, ex-actor turned drama teacher, and the only person who had ever accused Li Zhen of betrayal while wearing full mourning attire at a public event.

Now, with a fake dating scandal spiralling out of control, whispered campus gossip, and an end-of-year gala that forces them together, Li Zhen and Xu Jinli find themselves trapped on the same stage once more.

They were the right people at the wrong time. But maybe, with masks slipping and old wounds resurfacing, this second chance will finally stick… if they can survive each other first.

 

………………………..

Enjoyed this chapter of WCHM? You can support me and read up to Chapter 27 here, with 5 new chapters coming next month! Happy Reading!