Chapter Thirty-Six: What I Taught You

The aftertaste of whiskey still lingered on her lips, but Li Yaodong's kiss had already soured; his hand was now on Cheng Yin's waist. His palm was burning hot, searing her skin through her clothes like a piece of red-hot coal.

"Li Yaodong..." Cheng Yin called him softly, her voice softened by the alcohol.

"Shh." Li Yaodong pressed his thumb against her lower lip, where the whiskey residue still lingered. "Do you remember our relationship?"

Cheng Yin blinked; the alcohol had slowed her thinking.

Li Yaodong's aura enveloped her, the scent of ambergris mixed with strong liquor forcefully invading her senses.

"Eight hundred and seventy thousand..." Li Yaodong's voice was deep as his fingers slid down her spine.

Cheng Yin's back straightened slightly. Of course she remembered their debt relationship, and she remembered him saying, "It's not about buying your body."

But now, his eyes told her that the rules had changed.

Li Yaodong scooped her up in his arms, and Cheng Yin instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. His muscles were tense; the gunshot wound on his right shoulder had not yet healed, but he held her steadily.

The lights in the master bedroom were dimmed. Li Yaodong placed Cheng Yin on the bed and stood by the bed, untying his tie, casting a shadow over her.

"After tonight, the debt will be wiped clean," he said, his voice carrying an emotion that Cheng Yin couldn't understand.

Cheng Yin looked at him quietly. Li Yaodong's features were sharply defined in the dim light, his jawline was taut, and there was a struggle in his eyes that she couldn't understand.

"Okay." Cheng Yin nodded and began to take off her clothes. Her movements were slow, her fingers trembled slightly, but her expression was as calm as if she were completing a task.

Li Yaodong suddenly pressed her hand down: "No need." His voice was terribly hoarse. "I'll do it."

His fingers took her place, unbuttoning her clothes one by one, his fingertips occasionally brushing against her skin, causing a slight shiver.

Cheng Yin's breathing became shallow, her chest rising and falling slowly with his movements, like a feather being blown by the wind.

Her clothes came off, revealing a plain white cotton bra underneath. Li Yaodong stopped, his gaze lingering on her body, from her collarbone to her waistline, and then to her slender ankles, as if memorizing every curve.

"Lie down," he said softly.

Cheng Yin obediently lay down, her black hair scattered on the snow-white sheets, creating a striking contrast.

Li Yaodong leaned down and kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and finally her lips. The kiss was light, like a feather brushing against her, devoid of any passion, more like a farewell.

His hands began to roam over her body, his movements gentle and restrained, as if he were handling a precious piece of porcelain.

Cheng Yin could sense his caution, his restraint, his...pain?

"Li Yaodong..." she called softly, "Are you alright?"

Li Yaodong's body stiffened for a moment, then he kissed her even more forcefully, as if to silence her question. His palm covered her softness, his thumb gently caressing the tip, causing Cheng Yin to tremble slightly.

"Speak," he commanded in her ear, his breath hot, "recite what I taught you."

Cheng Yin's eyelashes trembled, and those vulgar colloquial words surfaced in her mind.

"So...so comfortable..." she tried to say, her pronunciation was standard but her tone was stiff, like she was reading a text aloud.

Li Yaodong's kiss reached her neck, his teeth gently nibbling at her delicate skin: "Continue."

"Mmm...I like it so much..." Cheng Yin's voice trailed off, "'I'm yours, you can do whatever you want with me.'"

These words somehow provoked Li Yaodong. He suddenly stopped, resting his forehead on her shoulder, his breathing heavy. Cheng Yin could feel his trembling, as if he was trying desperately to restrain something.

"Isn't that right?" Cheng Yin asked cautiously.

Li Yaodong looked up, his eyes filled with an emotion Cheng Yin couldn't decipher: "Yes." His voice was hoarse. "Absolutely right."

He continued his movements, his fingers exploring gently. Cheng Yin's body tensed instinctively, and her breathing became rapid.

Li Yaodong immediately noticed and stopped what he was doing: "Does it hurt?"

Cheng Yin shook her head: "It doesn't hurt."

Li Yaodong stared into her eyes, where the calmness was like a thin layer of ice, concealing a bottomless darkness.

"Cheng Yin," he said suddenly, "you can say no."

Cheng Yin looked at him, puzzled: "Why did you say no?"

This question was too pure, too direct, like a mirror reflecting all of Li Yaodong's selfishness and despicable nature. He kissed her fiercely, as if to devour her, yet his fingers moved even more gently, as if handling a flower that might wither at any moment.

"Call me by my name," he commanded between her lips.

"Li Yaodong..." Cheng Yin called out obediently.

"Say it again."

"Li Yaodong."

"Say it again."

"Li Yaodong...Li Yaodong...Li Yaodong..."

Her voice was like a spell, each syllable making Li Yaodong's heart clench. He removed his clothes, his muscles sculpted sharply in the dim light.

When he entered her, Cheng Yin's breath caught in her throat for a second.

Li Yaodong stopped immediately, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead: "Tell me if it hurts."

Cheng Yin shook her head: "It doesn't hurt."

Li Yaodong's movements were slow and gentle, as if giving her time to adjust. His arms were braced on either side of her, his muscles taut, and the wound on his right shoulder throbbed faintly, but he didn't care.

All his senses were focused on the point where he was connected to Cheng Yin; the warmth, tightness, and vulnerability made him want to cry.

"Cheng Yin..." he called her, his voice broken, "Look at me."

"So...so comfortable..." Cheng Yin suddenly spoke in Cantonese, her voice soft, "Brother Dong is so strong..."

Li Yaodong paused for a moment, then thrust in even harder, eliciting a soft gasp from Cheng Yin.

"No need for that," he said through gritted teeth. "No need to fawn over me."

Cheng Yin's eyes were somewhat confused: "But..."

"No buts." Li Yaodong interrupted her, but his movements were even gentler. "After tonight, we'll be even."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Cheng Yin's head.

From that moment on, she owed him nothing, and she no longer... belonged to him.

This realization sent a strange, sharp pain through her chest, like a needle piercing her heart—not fatal, but a persistent ache. She didn't know how to react, so she could only hold onto Li Yaodong tighter, as if that would hold onto something.

"Li Yaodong..." she called out to him, her voice carrying a plea she herself was unaware of.

Li Yaodong's breath hitched, then he kissed her lips, swallowing all her unspoken words. His movements became hurried, as if he were both running away from something and holding onto something tightly.

Cheng Yin let him take what he wanted, her body rising and falling with his rhythm, like a small boat adrift in a storm.

When the climax came, Li Yaodong bit her shoulder tightly, preventing himself from uttering those few words that were about to come out.

Too heavy, too precious, it shouldn't appear in this transactional sex. He could only silently repeat it in his heart, over and over again, like some useless incantation.

After it was over, Li Yaodong didn't leave immediately. He held her in his arms, burying his head in the crook of her neck, his breathing gradually becoming steady.

Cheng Yin gently placed her hand on his back, her fingertips touching the scar on his shoulder blade. The uneven texture reminded her of how many dangers this man had been through.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked softly, her fingers gently tracing the gunshot wound.

Li Yaodong shook his head, but did not look up at her.

Cheng Yin could feel his heartbeat, fast and heavy, vibrating in her chest like a drum.

"I'm going to take a shower," Li Yaodong finally said, getting off her and walking towards the bathroom with his back to her.

Cheng Yin watched his retreating figure; his broad shoulders were covered in scars, like a cruel map.

She heard the sound of water, slowly sat up, picked up her scattered clothes, and put them on.

The marks on the sheets reminded her of everything that had just happened, but even clearer was Li Yaodong's words, "After tonight, we'll be even."

When the bathroom door opened, Cheng Yin was already dressed in her pajamas and sitting on the edge of the bed. Li Yaodong had a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets sliding down his chest, and his wet black hair clung to his forehead, making him look younger and more vulnerable than usual.

"Go take a shower," he said, his voice regaining its calmness, as if he were talking about the weather.

Cheng Yin nodded and went into the bathroom.

When the hot water rinsed her body, she realized that she felt some discomfort between her legs, but it was not as painful as she remembered.

Li Yaodong's gentleness acted like a protective shield, minimizing the damage, but this only made her eyes sting.

When she returned to the bedroom, Li Yaodong was already sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in his bathrobe. "Thank you," she finally said, her voice barely audible.

Li Yaodong stood up and walked towards the door: "You sleep here, I'll go to the guest room."

Watching his departing figure, Cheng Yin suddenly spoke, "Li Yaodong."

Cheng Yin said softly, "Goodnight."

Li Yaodong did not answer, but simply closed the door gently.

The hallway lights were turned off, plunging the bedroom into darkness.

Cheng Yin lay on the bed, where the scent of Li Yaodong still lingered. She kept her eyes open until the first light of dawn appeared in the east, before finally drifting off to sleep amidst the lingering fragrance of Li Yaodong.

In the guest room at the other end of the corridor, Li Yaodong stood by the window, smoking one cigarette after another until the morning light dispelled the darkness, illuminating the cigarette butts scattered around his feet and his bloodshot eyes.