The Price of a Promise

Hearing the sound, Su Yan turned his head, only to see Lu Lin leaning languidly against the wall, a smile playing on his lips that never quite reached his eyes.

Su Yan pursed his lips, his striking pupils reflecting Lu Lin’s image entirely. He found himself wondering what exactly Lu Lin had overheard, feeling a surge of relief that he hadn’t, by some stroke of luck, been speaking ill of him.

Lu Lin held his pose, his smile unwavering as he continued to gaze at Su Yan, and in that instant, the dormitory air grew inexplicably eerie.

His deliberation lasted only a fleeting moment.

Without a second thought, Su Yan subtly lifted his gaze to Lu Lin, then blurted out, “I agree to your terms.”

The barely contained exasperation in his voice was palpable, almost overflowing.

The other two roommates remained silent, for with Lu Lin, that imposing figure, present, laughter and horseplay in the dorm were rare, as if they feared he might truly devour them whole.

Indeed, this was no fault of theirs; Lu Lin, beyond his “campus star” moniker, was notoriously ruthless, never bothering to conceal his true nature.

During high school, Chen Xubai had already heard the chilling rumors circulating from Haishi No. 1 High School next door, tales steeped in blood and brutality.

What was even more preposterous was the existence of a leaked video.

Inside the restroom, Lu Lin sat perched on the washbasin, his school uniform collar unbuttoned wide to reveal his pale collarbone. His long legs were casually crossed, and his slender fingers deftly twirled a butterfly knife.

Just as it was now, his smile held no warmth in his eyes.

From the butterfly knife in his hand, crimson drops steadily fell to the tiled floor.

The video captured a boy’s broken pleas for mercy, culminating in the jarring sound of a phone abruptly hitting the ground.

The identity of the video’s recorder remained unknown, and Su Yan, ever immersed in his studies, was completely oblivious to such a notorious incident.

By all accounts, an incident of such gravity should have resulted in Lu Lin’s expulsion. Yet, after a full semester of anticipation from the scandal-mongers, Lu Lin remained entirely unscathed.

He simply grew even more outwardly composed.

Perhaps it was Lu Lin’s exceptional ability to maintain appearances; while a faction of those who disliked him secretly yearned for his expulsion, the majority found themselves offering explanations on his behalf.

The most pervasive rumor claimed that the boy begging for mercy in the video was gay, and after foolishly attempting to get close to Lu Lin, he resorted to sordid tactics, trying to drug him, begging Lu Lin to be with him, to take him.

Yet, the true answer remained elusive to all.

‘Lu Lin: The epitome of pretense.’

His thoughts snapped back to reality. Su Yan had fully expected that lunatic Lu Lin to be thrilled by his answer, so he was taken aback to find him utterly expressionless upon turning his head.

“Agree to what?”

Lu Lin inquired, a hint of deliberate provocation in his tone.

Su Yan’s pale pink lips were almost bitten raw from the sheer force of his clenching jaw. The other two roommates, having overheard the exchange, cast curious glances their way, wondering if Lu Lin was intentionally trying to vex him.

‘Was this the prelude to a tragic romance novel?’

The door shut with a resounding bang.

Lu Lin replied blandly, “The wind is quite strong.”

Su Yan: ‘…What wind?’

Su Yan’s striking eyes, unblinking, scrutinized the other man from head to toe. Finally, he gave his own inner thigh a sharp pinch, a red mark swiftly blooming on his pale skin; only physical pain, he reasoned, could dispel this pervasive awkwardness.

Su Yan, still feeling self-conscious, mumbled, “I agreed to ‘that thing’ of yours.”

Lu Lin raised an eyebrow. “Which ‘thing’?”

The other two roommates: ‘!’

The stares from his roommates felt like sharp blades, each glance a fresh blow to his dignity.

‘This was utterly humiliating.’

“To be together.” Su Yan maintained a composed exterior, yet internally, a chaotic mix of embarrassment, discomfort, and irritation churned within him.

Only then did Lu Lin finally chuckle, slowly twirling the ring on his index finger. His obsidian-like pupils remained utterly devoid of discernible emotion.

He didn’t direct his gaze at Su Yan, but rather lifted his eyes to the other two roommates. “Let me announce,” he declared, “Su Yan is my boyfriend.”

His voice was brimming with laughter, and this time, it sounded genuinely heartfelt.

Su Yan: ‘…’

‘Fine, I’ll just treat it as dog training.’

Chen Xubai, still bare-chested, stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed in utter shock, the hum of the air conditioner suddenly filling the silence with an unusually strong presence.

He eventually turned his head slowly to glance at Song Xingyu, then back at Su Yan and Lu Lin. “Are you two… gay!?”

Su Yan already felt as though he would rather die than live, convinced that everything in the world had ceased to concern him.

‘Farewell, delicious food. Farewell, family. Farewell, friends.’

He picked up the apple from the table and took a bite, his beautiful amber eyes completely devoid of emotion as he replied blandly, “Hm, yes, we are gay.”

The moment Chen Xubai latched onto gossip, he became aggressively inquisitive, seemingly forgetting the fear he had previously harbored for Lu Lin.

From the moment he entered, Lu Lin’s gaze had been fixed on Chen Xubai’s exposed skin. Finally, he issued a cold warning, “I do not tolerate exhibitionists in this dormitory.”

Chen Xubai seemed to suddenly remember precisely why he had been so wary of Lu Lin.

The atmosphere among the three was a peculiar blend of eeriness and subtle humor, but Song Xingyu, standing stiffly to the side, clearly did not share this sentiment.

His complexion had paled considerably moments ago, and he eventually deduced from Su Yan’s tone that he was being coerced. Gathering his courage, he spoke up, “Maimai, you’re being forced, aren’t you?”

Su Yan froze, placing the apple back on the table. He then reached for a wet wipe, meticulously cleaning the sticky juice from his fingers, a single question echoing in his mind: ‘How did Song Xingyu know his childhood nickname?’

The nickname ‘Maimai’ was one Su Yan had chosen for himself as a child, but upon growing older, he deemed it rather childish and had forbidden his family from using it.

‘So, how did he know his nickname? Did they know each other?’

He was about to respond when his words were abruptly cut short by the grating screech of a chair being dragged across the floor.

This lingering question was thus temporarily relegated to the depths of his mind.

Lu Lin raised an eyebrow, a cold sneer escaping his lips. “Song Xingyu, have the injuries on your hand mended already? Or perhaps you’d prefer them not to?”

He enunciated each word distinctly. “Your chosen profession, I believe, is rather dependent on your hands, isn’t it?”

The boy’s voice, clear and melodious, belied the chilling nature of his words, which seemed to wrap listeners in an icy embrace.

It was only then that Su Yan noticed Song Xingyu’s hand was bandaged, though he couldn’t recall when that had happened. Song Xingyu, seemingly aware of Su Yan’s gaze, quietly tucked his hand behind his back.

“Song Xingyu,” Lu Lin continued, “your mother has remarried. You currently possess no standing within the Xie family, with even a bastard child able to lord over you. How does that feel?”

Lu Lin lounged languidly in his chair, his tone as nonchalant as if he were discussing mundane household affairs.

“I genuinely pity you.”

‘His unspoken warning: If you value your life, do not provoke me.’

Su Yan was utterly speechless. He simply couldn’t fathom what went on inside Lu Lin’s mind; the man seemed to operate solely on threats, from dawn till dusk.

He spoke with a chilling edge. “Did you inflict the injuries on his hand?”

Su Yan had resigned himself to his fate; their relationship had reached such a point that it was a choice between death and more death. If that were the case, he resolved, he would drag Lu Lin down with him.

Lu Lin curved his lips, his gaze dropping, and a chill seeped deep into Su Yan’s bones. “Yes, I did it. Why don’t you ask him if it hurt?”

Su Yan recalled the day of school registration when Song Xingyu had accidentally brushed against his hand, though he couldn’t be certain if that incident was the cause.

“Besides,” Lu Lin added, “I didn’t even use much force.”

Lu Lin idly fiddled with a small toy, his voice laced with utter disdain. “How exactly do you intend to help him?”

Su Yan silently transferred ten thousand yuan to Song Xingyu, but Song Xingyu refused to accept the money.

He offered no reply to Lu Lin, knowing that engaging such a deranged individual would only fuel their erratic behavior.

The only recourse was to humor him.

He slowly approached Lu Lin, eventually leaning in slightly, his head near Lu Lin’s ear. The proximity was such that he could discern the faint scent of shower gel emanating from the other’s neck.

‘Apparently, they even used the same brand of shower gel.’

‘Which was perfectly normal, considering he was a pervert.’

Lu Lin raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion in his expression, just as he was about to state, ‘You can’t help him.’

Just then, Su Yan, with a smile, whispered a single word into his ear. Immediately, Lu Lin’s face flushed crimson, and he froze, utterly dumbfounded.

Having delivered his words, Su Yan swiftly withdrew, astonished by Lu Lin’s unexpected innocence; merely calling him “husband” had rendered the man completely bewildered.

‘Perhaps the plan could be subtly altered. If Lu Lin could be reformed, would I then be spared from this impending doom?’

****

Su Yan had initially assumed that once they were together, Lu Lin would coerce him into various intimate acts. To his surprise, however, Lu Lin took several days of leave and didn’t show up at all.

This unexpected absence granted him a much-needed reprieve.

Su Yan had even gone to the trouble of searching online for numerous gay dating guides, primarily due to his persistent illusion that, even if he resisted, Lu Lin would simply strip him bare and toss him onto the bed.

A week swiftly passed. Then, Jian Lin and a few of his close high school friends invited him to hang out.

Upon seeing that the address was a bar, Su Yan initially had no desire to go. However, the others pleaded with such fervent desperation that he was ultimately compelled to agree.

Su Yan, by nature, was quite fond of amusement, and this recent period had nearly suppressed his inherent carefree spirit.

He soon arrived at the bar entrance, yet for some inexplicable reason, a peculiar sensation washed over him—a feeling of being watched from the shadows.

Perhaps it was merely the lingering shadow of Lu Lin’s presence, yet he had taken leave these past few days, so how could such a feeling persist? Was he being haunted?

Yet, once he was seated, he found himself utterly devoid of any real enthusiasm; this period had been far too exhausting.

His mind remained in a state of heightened vigilance.

Su Yan closed his eyes, resting his head gently against the wall. A persistent ache throbbed around his brows, and he couldn’t resist reaching up to pinch his glabella.

The table before them was laden with drinks, and everyone but Su Yan was brimming with excitement.

The ceaseless thrum of the DJ’s music, combined with the mingled scents of smoke, alcohol, and perfume, elevated the unpleasant aroma to a new level, assaulting his senses.

Su Yan nearly covered his nose, while Jian Lin’s gaze remained fixed on the listless Su Yan.

Half of the people at the table were strangers to Su Yan, and at this moment, he felt no inclination to force himself into socializing, content to sit quietly to the side.

He had even styled his hair into a small topknot, making him appear exceptionally docile.

Due to a recent severe drop in temperature, the young man wore a simple black hoodie, which only served to accentuate his already fair skin. His pale pink lips, tinged with fatigue, appeared even more pallid, and when he occasionally spoke, his voice was remarkably clear and pleasant.

“You got an ear piercing,” someone remarked, though he couldn’t tell who.

Su Yan parted his lips slightly, acknowledging, “Mm.”

He wore an ear stud identical to Lu Lin’s, which Lu Lin had forced upon him just days prior.

The ear stud lent him an air of rebellious innocence.

“Do you have a partner?” Su Yan’s brow furrowed briefly at the question. He truly should not have come.

For some reason, the moment that question was posed, Su Yan felt a palpable gaze, sharp and precise, land squarely on the pale skin of his nape.

It was a sensation of danger drawing closer, like a predator observing a defenseless rabbit, contemplating tearing it to shreds.

Su Yan carefully weighed the question on his tongue, then, with a deliberate smile, replied, “I have a boyfriend. Does that count?”

As he spoke, he intentionally tilted his head, looking past the people at the table and out into the distance.

‘I see you, boyfriend.’