“Did Xiao Xing… say something inappropriate?”
“Does it not matter to you?” Cen Chi’s voice carried a depth of meaning that was hard to ignore.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Chi Zhan pulled out a recovery patch, tore open the packaging, and began carefully applying it to Cen Chi’s face.
“For example… the part about me being your lover. Why am I only hearing about this now?”
Cen Chi suddenly winced in pain and hissed. Only then did Chi Zhan realize he’d pressed too hard and quickly stopped, but before he could withdraw, his wrist was seized.
Cen Chi’s fingers, cold from the outdoors, clamped down with unexpected strength—not at all like his usual gentle, harmless demeanor.
“Not planning to explain that?”
Chi Zhan barely managed to suppress the flicker of surprise that crossed his face. His voice was calm.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not even close with Xiao Xing. If he said something ridiculous—”
Before he could finish, the world spun violently.
In the next second, he was shoved back into the desk chair. One hand braced against the chair’s back, his legs lifted off the ground with nothing to anchor him. Cen Chi leaned in, his weight pushing Chi Zhan deep into the plush contours of the swivel chair.
For once, there was pressure—real, tangible pressure.
“Is that so?”
But this time, Cen Chi’s smile held none of its usual warmth. His pale gray eyes, shadowed as if veiled by clouds, bore down on Chi Zhan with unnerving clarity, like they could see straight through him.
Chi Zhan’s breath hitched.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of disoriented panic.
Like he’d been completely seen through.
And the feeling… was utterly unbearable.
Just as he’d done to Cen Chi moments earlier, Cen Chi tilted up Chi Zhan’s chin. Chi Zhan turned his face away to avoid it, only to be forced back even more firmly.
“Look at me, Chi Zhan. I don’t care what’s going on between you and Xiao Xing. That guy’s clearly into you, but it’s obvious you don’t feel the same. You used me as a pawn. That, too, I can forgive.”
Cen Chi kept a faint smile on his lips. His tone was calm, devoid of any manic hysteria—but that only made it feel like the ominous calm before a storm.
“But how long do you plan to keep using me? Or… have you already realized what I’ve done to you?”
Chi Zhan didn’t respond.
His fingers curled reflexively, though he quickly forced them to relax—
But that one small gesture, at this distance, did not go unnoticed.
“So that’s it.” Cen Chi’s fingers trailed lazily through Chi Zhan’s hair. “What should I do, then? I wasn’t planning to let you find out just yet.”
A creeping sense of dread twisted tighter in Chi Zhan’s chest. He opened his mouth to speak—but his thoughts were slipping, drifting out of reach. His eyelids grew heavier… heavier…
Under Cen Chi’s gentle, smiling gaze, Chi Zhan slumped back into the chair and fell into unconsciousness.
He hadn’t stood a chance.
The moment he met Cen Chi’s eyes, he’d already walked into the trap.
***
After Chi Zhan lost consciousness, Cen Chi didn’t make another move. Instead, he stepped back, the corners of his gray eyes softening into something resembling amusement as he silently observed him—clearly considering what to do next.
Chi Zhan’s breathing was steady and deep, but even so, it was as though he was still resisting. His lashes trembled ever so slightly, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wake up.
“What now…” Cen Chi murmured as he studied him. “Just how much have you figured out?”
If it were anyone else, it might not matter. But now—at this particular juncture—it was critical. Especially with how close Chi Zhan was to the Crown Prince. If he’d discovered anything… say—
That Cen Chi could manipulate consciousness.
His fingertip traced the curve of Chi Zhan’s cheek, gliding over soft skin and brushing lightly against his parted lips.
“Did you realize I kissed you last night?” he whispered. “And this is your way of pushing me away?”
After today’s training, Chi Zhan had clearly burned through a lot of stamina. His lips were still dry. If one spent enough time around Chi Zhan, they’d realize he didn’t really care about things like quality of life—he ate just for fuel, mostly subsisting on nutrient packs. He barely paid attention to what he wore, rotating between combat uniforms and plain casual clothes regardless of the day. Lip balm? Definitely not something on his radar.
Cen Chi gently rubbed his thumb along Chi Zhan’s upper lip, then leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth. When he pulled back, a hint of moisture now glossed the pale lips, with a faint flush blooming beneath the surface.
Because the hypnosis had been done hastily, it hadn’t gone deep. That light kiss was enough to stir Chi Zhan’s consciousness. His fingers twitched, lifting with effort, struggling to wake himself with external stimulus.
“Shh. You don’t have to think about anything right now. You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.”
Cen Chi deepened the suggestion again.
For the average person, a single-layered hypnosis would be more than enough. But Chi Zhan—he was forcing his way back to awareness by sheer will alone. His mental strength was far beyond ordinary.
In this society, those with exceptional mental fortitude were held in the highest esteem. They had the potential to become commanders, decision-makers—people of real power. To let someone like that be wasted in the Intelligence Division, used as a political stepping stone…
It really did show just how rotten the system had become.
And yet, if Chi Zhan were truly clever, he wouldn’t have discovered his secret. But he wasn’t exactly clever, either. More accurately, he lacked vigilance. He assumed someone like Cen Chi would never harm him…
If the Crown Prince, with his obsessive possessiveness, had his way, he’d probably have stolen Chi Zhan’s first kiss long ago. So taking a little interest now didn’t seem so unreasonable.
Cen Chi couldn’t deny it—he was shameless in his own way. He’d met all sorts of naive people before, but none had gotten under his skin like Chi Zhan. Just bullying him a little left him wondering if he’d gone too far.
And yet, that only made him want to bully him more.
With a faint chuckle at his own childish thoughts, Cen Chi lowered his head, rested his forehead gently against Chi Zhan’s, and closed his eyes.
