Dr. Shen smiled softly. Guo Lian's head was resting on his shoulder, warm and heavy. Peaceful.
He looked up and noticed something. The rain had stopped. The sound on the roof was gone.
He turned to look at Guo Lian. "Hey. The rain stopped. Let's leave now. I'm sure those men are gone. We can find help."
Silence.
Dr. Shen's smile faded. "Guo Lian?"
No answer.
He shook him gently. "Guo Lian? Wake up. We need to go."
Nothing.
His heart started pounding. He shook harder.
"Guo Lian! Wake up! Please!" His voice was getting louder, scared. "Stop playing games. This isn't funny. Wake up!"
Still nothing.
Dr. Shen grabbed his face, turning it toward him. Guo Lian's eyes were closed. His lips were pale. He wasn't breathing.
"No." Dr. Shen's voice cracked. "No, no, no, no, no."
"No!" He started shaking him harder. "Guo Lian! Wake up! You promised! You said you'd stay! You said you'd grow old with me! WAKE UP!"
Tears were pouring down his face. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think.
"Please," he begged, his voice breaking into pieces. "Please, please, please. Don't leave me. Not now. Not when I finally said it. I love you. I love you so much. Please wake up. Please. I'll do anything. Just open your eyes."
He held Guo Lian's face in his hands, kissing his forehead, his closed eyes, his cold lips.
"Come back to me. Come back. You can't go. Not like this. Not when we just found each other."
He was sobbing now, great ugly cries that tore from his chest.
"We were supposed to grow old together. Walk on the beach. Drink tea. Adopt that stupid dog. Remember? You said yes. You said you wanted that. So fight. FIGHT!"
Nothing. Just silence. Just cold.
Dr. Shen collapsed against him, holding him tight, crying into his neck.
"Please... please don't leave me alone..."
BANG!
The hut door burst open. Bright light flooded in.
"Well, well, well," a rough voice laughed. "Look what we have here. Little mouse is hiding in this old hut."
Dr. Shen looked up, tears still on his face, eyes wide with shock and fear.
Men. Four of them. The same masks. The same cruel eyes.
One looked at Guo Lian's still body and kicked it roughly. "Looks like one already left us. Too bad. He was fun."
"NO!" Dr. Shen threw himself over Guo Lian, protecting him. "Don't touch him! Don't you dare touch him!"
The men just laughed.
"Protective little thing, aren't you?"
A strong hand grabbed Dr. Shen by the hair and yanked him up. Hard. Pain shot through his scalp.
"LET GO OF ME!" Dr. Shen screamed, struggling. "GUO LIAN! GUO LIAN!"
The men laughed harder as they dragged him toward the door.
"Stop calling him. He's dead, old man. Can't hear you."
"GUO LIAN! PLEASE! WAKE UP! HELP!"
He twisted, trying to look back at the hut, at the still body of the man he loved, lying alone on the cold floor.
"GUO LIAAAAAN!"
They shoved him into the back of a waiting car. The door slammed. Locked.
Through the window, Dr. Shen could see the hut getting smaller as the car drove away. Guo Lian was still inside. Alone. Dead.
"No..." he whispered, tears streaming. "No, no, no..."
The men in the car laughed and talked, but he couldn't hear them. All he could hear was his own heart breaking.
All he could see was Guo Lian's face. His smile.
All he could feel was emptiness.
The car disappeared into the trees, leaving behind the small hut, the body of a man who finally learned to love, and the sound of rain starting again, washing away footprints and blood and the last traces of hope.
The SUV bumped along the dirt road, the engine rumbling low as rain began to patter against the windows again. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of sweat, smoke, and malice. Dr. Shen huddled in the back seat, his bare chest rising and falling in slow rhythm. Tears still streaked his face he stared blankly at the floor, Guo Lian's name a silent chant in his mind, but the men's laughter drowned out even his thoughts.
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, his masked face twisting into a leer. 'Look at this pretty man. Shirt off and everything. Bet he's got more to show."
One of the men in the back seat beside Dr. Shen reached over, grabbing a fistful of his hair and yanking his head up. "Yeah, crying like a bitch over that dead fucker. Time to make you forget him." The man was burly, his breath hot and foul as he leaned in close, the other three men shifting to surround him in the cramped space.
Dr. Shen recoiled, his body trembling. "Please... no... let me go. He needs help... Guo Lian... he's..." His voice broke, sobs choking him.
Another man, sitting on his other side, slapped him hard across the face, the sting blooming red on his cheek. "Shut your mouth about that corpse. You're ours now." He grabbed Dr. Shen's exposed chest, pinching a nipple roughly between his fingers, twisting until Dr. Shen cried out in pain.
The first man laughed, shoving Dr. Shen's legs apart. "Let's see what he's hiding under those pants." Rough hands fumbled with Dr. Shen's belt, yanking it open, then tore at the zipper. Dr. Shen thrashed, kicking futilely against the men pinning him down.
"Stop! Get off me!" he screamed, his voice raw, but a fist to his stomach knocked the air from his lungs, leaving him gasping.
They dragged his pants down to his ankles, exposing his underwear. One man hooked his fingers into the waistband and ripped it away, leaving Dr. Shen completely naked from the waist down. His cock hung limp between his thighs, vulnerable in the cold air of the SUV.
"Look at that. Soft little thing. Bet we can fix that." The burly man beside him unzipped his own pants, pulling out his thick, hardening cock. He grabbed Dr. Shen's hand still bound but loose enough and forced it around his shaft. "Stroke it, doctor. Or we'll make it hurt worse."
Dr. Shen whimpered, trying to pull away, but the man squeezed his bound wrists until he thought the bones would crack he cried out in pain. Reluctantly, his fingers moved, trembling as they slid up and down the hot, veined length. The man groaned, thrusting into his grip.
From the other side, the second man did the same, freeing his own erection and shoving it against Dr. Shen's thigh. "Me too, bitch." Dr. Shen's other arm was pinned, so the man wrapped his own hand around Dr. Shen's, guiding it to pump his cock in rhythm.
Tears poured down Dr. Shen's face as he was forced to jerk them off, the men's hips bucking against his palms. The driver watched in the mirror, one hand on the wheel, the other stroking himself through his pants. The fifth man in the passenger seat twisted around, leering. "Don't forget his mouth."
They shoved Dr. Shen's head down roughly, forcing his face toward the burly man's lap. "Open up" the man growled, slapping his cheek again. When Dr. Shen clamped his lips shut, the man pinched his nose until he gasped for air, then rammed his cock into Dr. Shen's mouth.
Dr. Shen gagged, the salty taste flooding his tongue as the thick head hit the back of his throat. He tried to pull back, but hands held his head in place, fingers tangled in his hair. The man fucked his face brutally, hips snapping forward, balls slapping against Dr. Shen's chin with each thrust.
"Yeah, suck it good. Use that doctor tongue." Spit drooled from Dr. Shen's lips, mixing with his tears as he choked and sputtered. The other man beside him kept forcing his hand to stroke, pre-cum slicking his fingers.
The SUV hit a pothole, jolting them, but the assault didn't stop. The man in his mouth came first, grunting as he held Dr. Shen down, hot spurts of cum shooting down his throat. Dr. Shen coughed and retched, but they didn't let him up until the man was spent, pulling out with a wet pop and smearing the last drops across Dr. Shen's face.
"Good boy. Now the ass." They flipped him roughly onto his stomach across the seat, his face pressed into the upholstery that reeked of old cigarettes. They twisted his hands painfully behind him. One man knelt between his legs, spitting on his hand and rubbing it roughly over Dr. Shen's hole.
"No! Please, not that! I'll do anything else!" Dr. Shen begged, kicking, but a boot pressed down on his calf, holding him still.
The man laughed, lining up his cock still slick from Dr. Shen's mouth and shoved in without mercy. Dr. Shen screamed, the burning stretch tearing through him as the man buried himself balls-deep in one brutal thrust. Blood trickled down his thighs, mixing with the spit.
"Fucking tight. Bet that dead lover never got this." The man pounded into him, each slap of skin echoing in the confined space. Dr. Shen's body rocked with the force, his own cock grinding painfully against the seat.
The second man grabbed Dr. Shen's hair, pulling his head up and forcing his mouth onto his cock next. "Keep sucking while he fucks you." Dr. Shen's cries muffled around the shaft as he was spit-roasted between them, the SUV's motion adding to the relentless rhythm.
The other men watched, stroking themselves, waiting their turn. One reached under Dr. Shen, grabbing his balls and squeezing hard enough to make him buck in agony. "Make some noise for us"
Pain and grief twisted inside Dr. Shen like a knife. Guo Lian's face flashed in his mind warm, alive, loving but it shattered with every thrust, every slap, every degrading word.
The man behind him came with a roar, flooding Dr. Shen's ass with cum that leaked out as he pulled free. Before Dr. Shen could catch his breath, the next man took his place, slamming in with even more force, using the mess as lube.
They took turns like that, rotating positions. One in his mouth, one in his ass, hands everywhere pinching, slapping, pulling. Dr. Shen's throat was raw, his hole torn and throbbing, cum dripping from both ends. The driver pulled over once, joining in by forcing Dr. Shen to his knees on the floorboard, face-fucking him while the others held him down.
By the time they finished, Dr. Shen was a broken heap, covered in bruises, bites, and sticky fluids. His body ached everywhere, his mind numb except for the hollow ache of loss. The men zipped up, laughing as they wiped themselves on his torn clothes.
"Not bad for a start" one said, patting Dr. Shen's ass like he was property. "We'll have more fun at the cabin."
The SUV lurched back onto the road, rain sheeting down the windows. Dr. Shen curled into himself, whispering Guo Lian's name like a prayer, but the only response was the men's crude jokes and the endless dark of the woods rushing by.
Meanwhile – Back at the Mansion
Zhiyuan slowly walked downstairs. His body was weak from fever, his face still pale. He held the railing tightly, each step taking effort.
Yichen was already downstairs, talking to someone on the phone. His face was serious, worried.
Then the front door opened.
Xiao Xue and Miss Zhang walked in. Their faces were pale. They looked scared and shocked.
Zhiyuan froze on the stairs. "Xiao Xue? Miss Zhang? What happened? Why do you look so scared?"
He hurried down the rest of the stairs, almost falling. Yichen ended his call quickly and rushed to them too.
Xiao Xue's eyes were red. She looked like she had been crying. Miss Zhang held her tight, her own face full of fear.
"Talk to me," Zhiyuan said, grabbing Xiao Xue's arms. "What happened? Where have you been?"
Xiao Xue opened her mouth but no words came out. She just started crying.
Miss Zhang spoke, her voice shaking. "We were attacked. On the road"
Zhiyuan's eyes widened. "What? Are you hurt?"
"We're okay. The car windows saved us." Miss Zhang took a deep breath. "We called Dr. Shen. He came to help us I guess with guo lian. But then... they never arrived."
Yichen stepped forward. "What do you mean never arrived?"
"They were coming to get us," Miss Zhang explained. "We waited and waited. They never came. Your men picked us up instead."
Zhiyuan's face went white. "Where are they now? Did you call them?"
"I tried," Miss Zhang said. "Many times. No answer."
Yichen's jaw tightened. "I've been trying too. Their phones are off. Both of them."
The room went silent.
Xiao Xue finally spoke, her voice small and broken. "What if something happened to them? What if those men got them too?
Zhiyuan stood frozen. His body was weak, his heart was breaking, but something else was building inside him. Anger. Fire.
He turned to Yichen. "Find them."
"I'm trying—"
"FIND THEM!" Zhiyuan shouted, his voice cracking. "I don't care how. Call everyone. Search everywhere. I already lost my dad. I can't lose them too. I CAN'T!"
Yichen grabbed his arms, steadying him. "I know, bao bei. I know. I'm already on it. My men are searching. We'll find them."
Zhiyuan's legs gave out. Yichen caught him, lowering him to the couch.
"You're burning up," Yichen said softly. "You need to rest."
"I don't need rest," Zhiyuan whispered, tears falling. "I need my family safe. I need everyone to stop dying."
Xiao Xue crawled over and hugged him. They held each other, two broken people holding onto the last pieces of their family.
Miss Zhang watched with concern Yichen turned away, pulling out his phone again.
"We'll find them," he said quietly, to himself, to everyone. "We have to."
Minutes later, Yichen's phone rang. He picked it up quickly.
"What did you find?" he asked.
He listened for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "Okay. Keep watching. Don't move until I get there."
He hung up and turned to everyone. His face was serious.
"I got news," he said. "My men found the nurse. The one who killed Zhenlong."
Zhiyuan's head snapped up. "What? Where?"
"He was picked up by a bike two streets away from the hospital. The same bike stopped outside an underground fighting area. The bike is still there." Yichen looked at his men standing nearby. "You two. Keep searching for Guo Lian and Dr. Shen. Miss Zhang, please take care of Zhiyuan."
He started walking toward the door.
Zhiyuan jumped up and grabbed his arm. "Where do you think you're going?"
Yichen turned, surprised. "I'm going to check out this fighting place. Someone there might know something about the nurse."
"No." Zhiyuan's voice was sharp. "You're not going anywhere."
"Zhiyuan, I have to—"
"I said NO!" Zhiyuan shouted, his face red with fever and fear. "You can't leave! What if something happens to you too? I already lost my dad! Dr. Shen and Guo Lian are missing! I can't lose you too!"
Miss Zhang stepped forward. "Zhiyuan, maybe Yichen should—"
"You stay out of this!" Zhiyuan snapped, then immediately looked guilty. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But I can't... I can't let him go."
Yichen sighed. He looked at Miss Zhang, then back at Zhiyuan's desperate face.
"Okay," Yichen said softly. "Okay, bao bei. I'm not going."
Zhiyuan blinked. "Promise?"
"Y—yeah if it upsets you this much." Yichen cupped his face gently. "You have a high fever. You're shaking. I'm not leaving you like this."
Yichen kissed his forehead. "Now let's get you to bed. You need to rest."
Zhiyuan nodded weakly, still holding Yichen's hand tightly. They walked upstairs together, leaving Miss Zhang and Xiao Xue in the living room.
Miss Zhang watched them go, then turned to Xiao Xue. "Come on. Let's go to the guest room. We need rest too."
Xiao Xue nodded,
They walked to the guest room, holding each other, the weight of the night heavy on their shoulders.
Upstairs, Yichen helped Zhiyuan into bed. Zhiyuan still held his hand, not letting go.
"Stay with me" Zhiyuan whispered, eyes already closing from exhaustion. "Don't leave me."
"I'm right here." Yichen lay down beside him, pulling him close. "I'm not going anywhere. Sleep now."
Zhiyuan lay in bed, still holding Yichen's hand. His eyes were heavy from fever, but his mind was still racing.
"Yichen," he whispered.
"I'm here, bao bei."
Zhiyuan turned to look at him. His eyes were tired, sad, broken. "Let's leave this country."
Yichen blinked. "What?"
"Let's leave everything behind. The company. The money. All of it." Zhiyuan's voice was weak but clear. "I don't want anything from this place anymore."
Yichen looked at him with concern. "But... you worked so hard for your company. It's your legacy. Your father's legacy."
Zhiyuan shook his head slowly. "I don't care."
"Zhiyuan—"
"I don't care about the company." Zhiyuan's voice cracked. "I don't care about the money. I don't care about any of it. Look what this life has given us. My dad was killed. Dr. Shen and Guo Lian are missing. Xiao Xue and Miss Zhang were almost killed today."
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I don't want this life anymore, Yichen. I don't want anything. I just want... I just want peace. I want to go somewhere far away where no one knows us. Where no one wants to hurt us."
Yichen's heart broke seeing him like this. He pulled Zhiyuan closer, wrapping his arms around him, stroking his back gently.
"Okay," Yichen whispered.
Zhiyuan looked up. "Okay?"
"Okay." Yichen kissed his forehead. "Whatever you want. We'll go anywhere you want. Leave everything behind. Just you and me."
Zhiyuan's eyes filled with fresh tears. "Really?"
"Really, bao bei. Soon. When all this is over, we'll go somewhere beautiful. Somewhere quiet. Just the two of us."
Zhiyuan nodded weakly, finally relaxing in Yichen's arms. "Just us."
"Just us."
Minutes passed. Zhiyuan's breathing grew slow and even. He was asleep.
Yichen stayed still for a long time, holding him, watching his face. So peaceful in sleep. So broken when awake.
Carefully, slowly, Yichen moved. He slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake Zhiyuan. He pulled the blanket up, tucking it around him.
He walked to the door and looked back one more time.
"I promise," he whispered. "I'll make this right. Then we'll go. Anywhere you want."