Luo Muchen’s heart pounded in his chest as he leaned in, savouring the warmth of Qie Xieling’s touch and the salty breeze that caressed their skin. Underneath the gentle glow of the moon, their lips met in a tender and passionate kiss. Qie Xieling’s hand cradled his face, deepening the connection between them.

But as the intensity of their embrace grew, an inexplicable sensation rippled through Qie Xieling’s body. In an instant, he vanished, leaving Luo Muchen bewildered and filled with a sense of dread. Panic welled up inside him, and he desperately called out Qie Xieling’s name, his voice echoing over the empty beach.

Frantic, his gaze darted around, searching for any sign of his beloved. His eyes scanned the vast expanse of the sea as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Qie Xieling emerging from the waves. Memories of the last time Qie Xieling almost drowned flashed through his mind. He had struggled against the relentless pull of the ocean’s depths with a block of cinder tied to his legs.

Driven by a mix of fear and love, Luo Muchen’s instincts took over. He sprinted towards the water, intent on diving in to find him. But before he could reach the shoreline, Bo Ailun and his men rushed to hold him, blocking his path with outstretched arms.

"No, Mr Luo! You can’t go in there. It’s too dangerous!" Bo Ailun pleaded, his voice laced with worry. "We don’t know what happened. We need to find another way to find him."

Luo Muchen’s heart shattered into a thousand pieces as he crumpled to his knees in anguish. The pain of uncertainty and loss engulfed him, and tears streamed down his face. He felt as though his world had crumbled around him, leaving nothing but darkness in its wake.

Amidst his despair, haunting voices whispered in his ears, fueling his doubts and insecurities. "See, he would never love you," they taunted, their words like poison seeping into his wounded heart. "He left you behind."

Luo Muchen clutched his chest, his emotions warring within him. Confusion and grief intertwined, threatening to consume him.

***

"There that should do it," said Leong Jinn as he spun in his chair. "I bet if he hates you that deep he won’t fall in love with you in the next world."

Leong Jinn swerved his chair around and popped the cherry lollipop into his mouth and got up with an evil grin on his lips.

He was honestly surprised that Qie Xieling was able to pull through and each time he would sink his talons into that Luo kid. It was quite incredible actually but as impressive as it was it got him even more excited to break them apart. This time though he won’t be able to defy his plans.

With a sinister smile curling on his lips, Leong Jinn approached the game capsule where Qie Xieling was immersed, his expression relaxed but in Leong Jinn’s eyes, he looked like he was mocking him and even gloating.

"This time you won’t win I assure you that," he hissed, reveling in his twisted victory. "Even if you do, you will still be lining my pockets."

Leaning closer to the capsule, he continued his gloating, relishing the thought of his imminent triumph. "I’ve started live streaming this game to my investors, showcasing the full potential of my invention," he boasted. "They love the show, but little do they know, their investment is merely a taste of my true power. Well... I had to dumb it down for them."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Leong Jinn’s face as he glanced at the censorship controls nearby. "If only I could override the censorship!" he yelled at the system that couldn’t do as he asked. His mind was filled with visions of soaring profits. His invention, unshackled by restrictions, would fetch a price beyond his wildest dreams.

Unbeknownst to him, the tides of fate were finally turning against him. His time was running out and he wasn’t aware of it yet.

***

As Wen Qinxi and Qie Ranzhe sat in the car, the streetlights flickered past, casting fleeting shadows on their faces. Wen Qinxi’s mind was eagerly thinking of sexy positions to try out tonight. Ever since he found out how much sex momentarily alleviated the pain he was going through and helped him sleep better he had been getting down and busy almost every night. But as he glanced over at Qie Ranzhe, he noticed a flicker of fear in his husband’s eyes.

It was working well for him and he was sleeping better but Qie Ranzhe was suffering. In the past, he would have to move mountains to lure his husband into extracurricular activity but now he was the one getting hunted.

He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. He was starting to resemble a corpse. Each night, when he suggested taking a break and simply resting early, Wen Qinxi’s longing gaze would reveal his disappointment. When he pulled that long face it was hard to refuse. He clenched the steering wheel and bit his lip before turning the volume down.

"Baby... don’t you want to take a break tonight and maybe sleep early?" He desperately wanted a break.

Wen Qinxi’s eyes widened in disbelief, his expression a mixture of hurt and disappointment. "Fine," he mumbled his voice tinged with sadness. His pouting lips betrayed his unhappiness.

Qie Ranzhe licked his bottom lip slightly as they stopped at the red traffic light. "Baby, are you trying to kill me?" he retorted.

Caught between his own exhaustion and his love for Wen Qinxi, Qie Ranzhe sighed, feeling torn. Reluctantly, he relented, knowing that denying Wen Qinxi’s desires would only deepen the rift between them. Qie Ranzhe realised that compromising, even when he was weary, was the only way to keep their love intact.

"Okay... just a quickie," he said and Wen Qinxi smiled happily. He placed his hand on Qie Ranzhe’s thigh and said,

"Don’t worry. You can just lie there and I will do all the work."

Qie Ranzhe, "..."