Chapter 21

Qiao Ming pushed his glasses frames up and folded his long legs. "I've heard about it for quite a while now. I only received some new information recently, considering the big news you gave. I was actually planning to invite you over the last couple of days. See, this is fate."

"What do you know?" Li Zekun's eyes were sharp.

Qiao Ming remained silent as the man beside him noticed their conversation and took a step closer, saying "Mr. Qiao."

"Nothing, have you picked the one you want?" Qiao Ming folded his arms and scrutinized him, his words ambiguous: "Show it to me carefully tonight."

Tao Ran shuddered and wanted to grab onto Li Zekun's clothing. Li Zekun pushed him away again with a wave of his hand and said, "Let's talk about the conditions."

"This is not the place to negotiate terms.", Qiao Ming stood up. "Young master Li, wait for me to send you an invitation."

Li Zekun was very abnormal, almost losing his composure: "Qiao Ming, don't be shameless and disrespect my face!"

"It's essential to ask for help with the right attitude. Don't you think?" Qiao Ming smiled indifferently and said, "We're not engaging in an equivalent exchange. But even if you say you don't care and I lose, it doesn't matter. After all, it's been four years, and two more days won't make a difference when we're dead and buried."

"You better have some real thing." Li Zekun stepped back as he watched Qiao Ming walk past him.

"I understand. I wouldn't bother you with this if I had nothing else to do. This isn't Hong Kong after all, and I'm really afraid of getting into trouble." Qiao Ming pulled out a card and handed it to the man. "Jiang Yuan, settle the bill."

Li Zekun turned around and walked away, while Taoran remained stunned there for a moment without reacting. Li Zekun turned back and pulled him, saying, "Let's go!"

Qiao Ming finally looked at Tao Ran with a serious expression and his gaze slightly intensified, "Well, this little kid's school uniform looks quite familiar."

Li Zekun paused his steps and remained silent.

Tao Ran dared not look up, as he felt his legs turn weak under the gaze of Qiao Ming.

Qiao Ming furrowed his brows, and only then did he realize that Tao Ran looked very familiar. He stepped forward to take a closer look at Tao Ran's chin, but his hand was blocked by Li Zekun, who said, "Be careful of your actions."

Qiao Ming didn't lay a hand on him, but he could see Tao Ran's face clearly from the not-so-distant distance. He had a pointed chin and delicate eyebrows and eyes. His face...when he cried, it was truly stunningly beautiful.

"Haha, alright Mr. Li," Qiao Ming laughed as if he had discovered a great joke. "It's been said in the circle that you have high standards, so how did you end up picking up junk from Tan Shijie?"

Qiao Ming slightly tilted his head and looked at Tao Ran with a smiling expression, as if calling him a pet, "Tao Ran...Little Tao, do you remember me?"

Tao Ran could no longer control the frequency of his trembling body. This was a natural instinct left by his body. Pain and punishment are the most profound things that the body remembers, even if the soul has already been replaced in this body. He wrapped his arms around Li Zekun's arm again, and this time Li Zekun didn't dodge. He only stared at Qiao Ming and said, "He is my man."

"Fine, as long as you're happy." Qiao Ming said, and at this moment, Chu Jiangyuan stood behind him with a paper bag in his hand.

"Let's go, Mr. Qiao. We still need to pick up Second Young Master in the afternoon." The man's voice was magnetic and his Mandarin was fluent and standardized.

Qiao Ming nodded and said goodbye to Li Zekun. When he passed by Tao Ran, he stopped by his side and turned his head to whisper softly in his ear, "Bye bye, baby."

Li Zekun's breathing tightened as his chest heaved violently a few times. Ignoring Tao Ran, he left. Tao Ran hurried after him, but Li Zekun's steps were big, and he could only catch up by running. Finally, Tao Ran fiercely embraced his waist from behind and almost pleaded, "Li... Li Zekun..."

"He's a f*cking idiot!" Li Zekun pushed Tao Ran away and harshly kicked his Land Rover Range Rover, leaving a dent in the sturdy car's body. He was venting, whether it was because of that thing or something else, we do not know.

But Li Zekun had no other choice. If this wasn't the capital city, Qiao Ming would not be under his control. Qiao Ming's family is in Hong Kong, and the complexity of their power network is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. After smoking two cigarettes, Li Zekun finally got in the car. When Tao Ran got in the passenger seat, Li Zekun's anger also spread to him.

"You have such a knack for attracting clients, even when just strolling down the street." Li Zekun gritted his teeth, saying, "I just can't keep a hostess man around, especially when he's been played by others. You've made me lose face and disgraceful in others' eyes!"

"No..."Tears welled up in Tao Ran's eyes as he summoned up all his courage and slowly reached out his hand to hold Li Zekun's hand. His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, "Don't be angry..."

Li Zekun forcefully pulls away Tao Ran's hand and says, "Don't touch me! Who the hell is angry because of you?!"

The back of Taoran's hand turned red, feeling very sad and unsure of where to put his hands. He lowered his head deeply, his voice sounding muffled: "Don't worry, you will certainly obtain what you desire..."

Li Zekun slammed on the brakes, on the busy overpass filled with vehicles. He coldly commanded, "Get out."

Tao Ran's body stiffened, somewhat unable to believe what he was seeing. His eyes showed both fear and innocence, like a stray cat in the rain.

Li Zekun's heart suddenly felt a sharp pain, but he forced himself to ignore it. He leaned forward and grabbed Tao Ran's neck, his voice cold: "If you dare to say one more word, I'll either kill you or make you wish you were dead."

Tears welled up in Tao Ran's eyes, large drops nearly hitting the back of Li Zekun's hand. They felt scorching hot and even slightly corrosive, causing a twinge of pain. For the first time, Li Zekun didn't give up halfway. He tightened his hand and waited for Tao Ran to apologize and plead for forgiveness.

In Li Zekun's mind, Taoran had a soft and timid personality like that of a young cat - clingy and gentle, easily frightened but quick to learn. That's why Taoran's stubbornness this time caught him off guard, making him even more irritated.

Tao Ran could barely catch his breath, but his eyelids drooped down as if resigned. He neither begged for mercy nor apologized, emanating an aura of desperate resistance tinged with a heavy sense of death. Li Zekun eventually released his grip, coldly observing Tao Ran's frantic, wheezing coughs. He started the car again, his tone laced with menacing malice: "What I dread the least are tough guys like you. You better not change your mind today."

After arriving home, Taoran was dragged into the bedroom by Lizekun and forcefully pressed onto the floor. He was very scared, because the malice on Lizekun's face was so heavy. Even though they were so close to each other, there was no hint of warmth or ambiguity in the air.

Li Zekun was taking out his anger on Tao Ran, and there was no question of rationality or sympathy. He had a strong grip, squeezing all the soft and vulnerable parts of Tao Ran's body as if he were committing a violent act.

Later, sharp fingernails scratched against the body, and Tao Ran even felt a strange fear that he would be pulled into his heart. It's odd, but in front of Li Zekun, Tao Ran always finds it impossible to restrain himself from revealing his most fearful and vulnerable side.

Tao Ran didn't resist for long before couldn't help but tremble and plead: "I was wrong, I'm really sorry, I won't do it again..."

"I was thinking how tough your bones could be. "Li Zekun gave him a not-too-gentle kick. "Well, it's no wonder you're fit for selling yourself. "