Chapter 22 You Can't Tell the Difference Between Food and Beverage, Tang Zhilu
There was a sound of rain outside the window. Du Yanze, wrapped in Tang Zhilu's loose white shirt, huddled sleepily on the sofa by the window. His black hair was wet and dripping, and water was on his shirt in patches.
Tang Zhilu came over from behind, stroked his hair from the back of his neck, and laughed. Du Yanze raised his head, the back of his head hit him, and glared at him.
Before, he had pink hair, which made him look very delicate and made him look even pinker. Now his hair has turned black, and Du Yanze thinks it looks good, but he has lost the opportunity to observe his stubble growing out.
There was no point in this boring activity, but he kept thinking about it these days.
The hair dryer blew warm air, and his fingers gently brushed his cheeks, hair and the back of his neck. Du Yanze became more and more relaxed, and by the time Tang Zhilu picked him up, he was almost asleep.
It was not until he reached the bed that Du Yanze opened his eyes with a start. He blinked, and his sleepy eyelids became wide and dazed.
Tang Zhilu found it funny, reached out to play with his eyelashes, then leaned over to kiss his cheek.
He was about to straighten up and leave, but Du Yanze put his arms around him and asked him with half-closed eyes.
"Do it?"
Tang Zhilu didn't answer, so Du Yanze had to look at him. The moment their eyes met, Tang Zhilu kissed him hard, but only lightly.
"That day, you asked me what was in the locked cabinet in the study."
"Do you still want to watch it now?"
Du Yanze smelled something unusual, things might be different from what he imagined. It seemed that everything involving Tang Zhilu could not always proceed according to a prescribed track.
Tang Zhilu took him to the study, flicked his fingers, and entered the password in front of him, and the small cabinet popped out. Du Yanze subconsciously took a step forward and took a closer look.
However, there was only a circle of plain silver rings inside.
It was obviously hand-polished by a clumsy craftsman, and there were scratches on the inside. But Du Yanze suddenly couldn't bear to look at it anymore and put it back in the drawer.
"I'm sleepy, let's go back to sleep." His voice was very low.
Tang Zhilu was not surprised by his reaction. He just held his hand and opened the drawer again.
"It's not well ground, but if you grind it any further it will be too fine and nothing can be carved out."
Tang Zhilu stroked his ring finger, speaking word by word, but his tone was like a pledge of allegiance.
"Yanze, I love you."
"That's enough."
Du Yanze didn't dare to touch the ring he handed over, and dodged back anxiously, his calf hitting the bookshelf at the back. He took a deep breath and repeated it.
"That's enough."
This seems like a complete scam.
Tang Zhilu didn't press him, but just tightened the ring in his palm and waited patiently watching him. Du Yanze lowered his head, and could only see his whorls of hair and the hair falling on his cheeks.
"Han Huai has come to see you, right?"
Du Yanze quickly calmed down and leaned against the bookcase looking at him.
"What did he say to you? The magical effect of high-quality cake, or seek cooperation."
After saying that, he smiled, but it sounded like a sob, but he remained calm.
"Or both."
"Is this the new method you discussed?" Du Yanze did not look at Tang Zhilu, and had no way of knowing his expression.
There was nothing wrong with admitting that he liked Tang Zhilu, but from the very beginning they had lost the possibility of continuing their relationship.
Maybe Tang Zhilu didn't lie, but so what.
I like you, but I can never trust you.
"You win after all." Du Yanze didn't wait for Tang Zhilu to speak, but slowly calmed down.
He knew that he had been completely exposed. If he really didn't like him, he should go with the flow, reveal his real purpose and use him completely.
Maybe he just said things like that on purpose, testing the waters and assessing his leverage.
And he revealed his true feelings that should never be exposed.
Tang Zhilu just shook his head. This was not a means, nor was it an easing of the situation. In fact, he really didn't know what to say.
He should be proud. If the relationship between them was defined as a game, he undoubtedly had the upper hand. The person across the negotiating table had already exposed his weakness.
Maybe I should say something nice, or make a promise, just according to common sense, and maybe I can get past this impulsive moment that shouldn't be happening now.
But during the few days of separation, Tang Zhilu sat alone in the study on the third floor, looking at the rain outside. Countless times, he felt that if he turned his head, he would be able to see the person curled up on the small sofa.
Sometimes she was holding a book but her eyes were closed; sometimes she was curled up with her back facing him and reading the book at an angle, with her long legs draped over her side, as if she had no bones.
However, the rain was still falling, but the third floor had been quiet for a day, and there was not even a trace of smell left. At that time, Tang Zhilu knew that he needed to do something, at least he couldn't indulge him to come and go.
But now that he had really done so, he was completely at a loss. He was an expert at negotiation, threats, intimidation, and consultation.
Tang Zhilu just clenched the ring, walked closer to him step by step, leaned over to hug him, and forced the ring into his palm.
"It's okay. It's okay."
He should have chosen the worst option, acting like a fool and not being able to read the expressions on others' faces.
"Can I kiss you?" Good, he's continuing to say the wrong thing.
He was not wearing glasses, his hair was all loose, and there was a funny mark of glasses on his high nose bridge. Du Yanze didn't remember seeing such a helpless and gentle expression on his face.
"Can't."
Du Yanze told himself that he would kill himself one day... The relationship between them was like that of a leopard and an antelope.
And the next second, when Tang Zhilu just lowered his eyes and showed a little aggrieved expression, he took the initiative to bump into him and kissed his lips.
The ring on his palm was poking at the bookcase, which was shaken by the collision. Du Yanze opened his eyes, but could not look past his gaze and looked away.
Tang Zhilu kissed him hard and eagerly every time, and it seemed that he would only kiss him gently when they were in bed, to comfort him and not bite his lips too tightly.
Smart people know that sincerity is precious and cannot be exposed, for fear that it will be bumped and damaged in the slightest, so they learn to say one thing and mean another, tell lies and test others.
But even so, no one can guarantee a complete victory in this game. So we have to fight to the death, even if it is just a mirage or a dream.
Du Yanze leaned against his shoulder, breathing rapidly, lowering his head to slow his breathing and heartbeat, but he always held the ring tightly.
Tang Zhilu reached out and held his cheek, and rubbed his eyes when he felt the high temperature.
Du Yanze raised his head and looked into Tang Zhilu's eyes, and asked him word by word: "Every time you kiss, do you feel the pleasure of eating or the throbbing sensation?"
"When you touch me, is your heart beating because of love or because of your uncontrollable appetite?"
"The love and affection you expressed is because you are afraid of losing me, or is it Fork's instinct that urges you to leave the delicious meal behind?"
"You can't tell the difference, Tang Zhilu."
"Let's leave it at that for now. If you're telling the truth, let's stop here."
Tang Zhilu's breathing slowed down, his fingers tightened, and he held her tightly to prevent him from pushing her away. Du Yanze didn't give him a chance to explain himself or to talk.
"Then throw away the ring. If you throw it away, I will agree."
Tang Zhilu held on to his words and pressed Du Yanze, refusing to retreat even a step.
Du Yanze just turned his head away and said calmly: "Deng Shan was taken away by the FA. I suspect it was Han Huai but I have no evidence. He sent me a date, which is tomorrow night at nine o'clock."
"He said that only invited guests are welcome. Tang Zhilu, are you?"
Tang Zhilu looked at his tightly clenched hands and answered him in a compromising manner: "Yes. He also gave me the same date."
"I came to you for this, nothing else. Let's just talk about this."
The corners of Du Yanze's eyes, cheeks and nose were still red, but he had completely controlled his emotions.
"I want your invitation. Please name your price, Mr. Tang."
Tang Zhilu laughed, his sharp eyelids drooped neatly at the corners of his eyes, and his three-dimensional eyebrows and eyes made the light in the room cast a faint shadow on his face.
This look was more familiar to Du Yanze. Inexplicably, this dangerous and aggressive look made him feel more at ease.
Behind him was a whole wall of reddish-brown bookshelves, and to the right was the desk. A few days ago, Du Yanze was still lying there, frowning and holding his arm tightly with his backhand, with tears in the corners of his eyes and sweat on his forehead dripping onto the desk.
"Trade is about mutual benefit. What do you think I would want?"
Tang Zhilu's palm rested casually on the table, his fingers slender and his muscles undulating. Du Yanze had supported himself there before, and the smooth and cold tabletop was stained with liquid, which caused the skin to tear painfully when he raised his legs.
"How would I know what Mr. Tang needs?" Du Yanze stood in front of him. After the heat dissipated, he wanted to straighten his collar and subconsciously raised his hands, only to notice that he had been clenching his hands tightly.
"But I don't think you will refuse. Whether I win or FA wins, it will be good for you."
"If I die, eat me, and you can verify the rumor... Hmm."
Tang Zhilu stretched out his hands and grabbed his neck, holding him tightly and pressing him on the table. His face was still calm, but it was obvious that he was really angry, and the muscles on the back of his hands were tense.
"That's all. Don't say anything more."
Tang Zhilu loosened his hand and pinched his cheek again. Du Yanze was forced to open his mouth. His watery red lips, neat white teeth, and bright red tongue looked like a prey with beautiful fur being evaluated.
"Han Huai can offer you this as a bribe. I'm telling you that this is the only win-win condition."
Du Yanze lay on his back on the table, speaking slowly. No matter what Tang Zhilu did, his hands always protected him from hitting the table, and Du Yanze opened his legs and clamped his waist.
"In your bureau, I am the prey, someone who has no right to be at the table."
"Tomorrow night at nine o'clock, Kronos, I am in need of a companion."
Tang Zhilu leaned close to his cheek, his calm eyes hiding burning anger, and repeated every word in a low voice.
"I'll go with you. If you don't agree, don't go. Leave it to the police."
It was useless to repeatedly promise and confess to someone he didn't trust, so Tang Zhilu chose the method he used to do before - coercion, but this time it was more brutal.
"Does this photo look familiar?" Tang Zhilu pulled him up and handed him the photo of a family of three.
Du Yanze took it and slowly stroked the woman in the photo who was smiling helplessly.
"It was given to you by Han Huai."
"There are also records of your training and case participation since you entered the SDD, as well as regular medical examination reports. Do you want to see them?"
Tang Zhilu's tone was cold, and he looked up at his profile.
"From the moment the SDD sent you to China, you have been treated as prey and put on the chopping block."
Tang Zhilu's meaning was very clear. Someone inside SDD had teamed up with FA to weave a huge network from the very beginning, and they couldn't wait to put him on the table.
They even agreed on the seller - Tang Zhilu.
"Are you going to accept your fate and seek your own death now?"
"Since I killed Barnett with my own hands, I have been seeking my own death." Du Yanze laughed. "It's ridiculous, isn't it? He is still my biological father."
"I killed my father myself."
Tang Zhilu had guessed it long ago, but when he said it himself, his heart felt like someone was pinching it and ripping it out.
"He is a fork of the SDD operation team, and his wife is a Cake he rescued. He was a good husband and father until she was 10 years old, until he killed her and ate her with his own hands."
"Right before my eyes, I exposed this ridiculous lie about Fork's loyalty and endurance."
He can’t remember many things about his 10th birthday. He only remembers that his mother came home from get off work early to pick him up after school in the afternoon and went to get the cake.
He kept holding on to her hand in the back seat and would occasionally pull open the gap to smell the sweet scent of the cream, and even wanted to stick a finger in to rub a little to taste it.
"Are you greedy? You can't resist it in just this short distance?" His mother caught him in the act through the rearview mirror.
The dream always starts from here, followed by blood spurting out like blood rain. He stood there in a daze, looking at his mother covered in blood.
"Hide!"
A sound he had never heard before came from his mother's throat, and the hand with the wedding ring, the hand holding his cheek, fell to the ground with a plop.
Behind her was her father, who was lying on the ground, licking the spurting blood and reaching out to grab that hand.
"Walk!"
She slapped him with her only remaining left hand and pushed him out. He woke up as if from a dream, but hoped it was a nightmare.
He was tucked into the tiny cabinet, his birthday hat at hand.
The smell of blood was strong. He tried to wipe the tears from his face but ended up with blood all over it, his mother's blood.
He was not a naturally good Cake, at least not at that time. Mom stood in front of the mad man and cut his throat without hesitation. Blood spurted out, and the endless flow of fragrant blood made him only care about eating his wife.
Forgot that he had a son who was also named Cake.
Du Yanze was trembling all over. He pushed Tang Zhilu's arm away, closed his eyes and tried hard to recall the scene of his father being killed by him and the regretful eyes before his death.
"My father said he just wanted to survive, he was so hungry and greedy."
"Just think of it as you love me, and don't mention it again."
Du Yanze was shivering with cold. He finally let go of his hand and threw the ring back into Tang Zhilu's hand. However, a circle of red marks had already appeared on the palm of his hand, which felt a little painful and a little hot.
"See you tomorrow night."
Du Yanze took a deep breath and turned to leave. He didn't see Tang Zhilu shed a tear. He stared blankly at the wet mark on the back of his hand and stood there for a long time before picking up the ring that had fallen on the ground.
"See you tomorrow night."
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