Seeing the drink Xie Yu pointed at, not only did Shen Ci freeze, even the shop assistant was stunned.

"You're the first guest tonight to order milk," the assistant joked as he poured it. "Bringing your boyfriend on a cruise just to drink milk?"

Shen Ci paused. "No..."

He was just Xie Yu's contracted partner—hardly a boyfriend.

But Xie Yu said, "His stomach isn't good. He'll throw up if he drinks."

The assistant had worked on the boat for years and seen all kinds of guests. His gaze swept over Shen Ci and Xie Yu—seeing Xie Yu dressed in fine clothes, decked out in luxury brands, even his watch studded with gemstones, then looking at Shen Ci's plain attire, he understood most of it. Smiling, he said, "Maybe not a boyfriend now, but who knows about later."

Xie Yu chuckled. "He's thin-skinned. Don't tease him."

Milk didn't need mixing; it was ready in a dozen seconds. Xie Yu took it and handed it to Shen Ci. Warm steam rose, carrying the scent of milk. Shen Ci held it through the sleeve, warmth spreading through his body.

Lowering his eyes, he said softly, "...Thank you."

"It's nothing." Xie Yu glanced out at the river. "My family's yacht is here. Let's get ready to board."

Half an hour later, Shen Ci sat inside Young Master Xie's private yacht, holding the takeaway hot milk. Beneath him was a soft fabric sofa—so soft that even sitting on the edge made him sink in.

Looking out through the yacht window, he could see another ship gradually receding into the distance—the one they had just left. That ship was awash with flashing lights and liquor, glaring neon reflecting off the nearby river into something gaudy and decadent. The one he was on now, however, had a clean cabin, warm yellow lighting, and was gliding steadily across the water. The distant dock was already faintly visible; at most, ten more minutes and they would arrive ashore.

Shen Ci felt a little dazed.

He had left that ship so easily, without paying any price.

When he first met Xie Yu, Young Master Xie had set a Safe Word, saying that if he couldn't endure it, saying that word would make everything stop.

Shen Ci had taken it as a clumsy joke. He didn't believe a mere word could restrain Xie Yu, nor did he believe the arrogant Young Master Xie would care about his feelings. It was nothing more than a typical tactic of those in power—like a cat playing with a mouse, giving cheap hope only to take it away, watching the weaker party struggle in vain for amusement.

But perhaps it was the towel placed over his head in the rain, the lollipop handed to him during low blood sugar—after just a few days together, Xie Yu was far less violent than rumored, and had never used any real means against him. Shen Ci gradually lowered his guard. And so, on that isolated cruise ship, in that smoke-filled private room, he spoke the word—like a drowning man grasping at the last straw.

In the few seconds when Xie Yu looked over in surprise and then fell silent, Shen Ci thought his struggle must have looked pitiful and laughable.

Like fish on the chopping board, yet still trying to call a halt to the butcher's game.

But it actually worked.

Xie Yu seemed to have only brought him along to show his friends, to make an appearance. After Shen Ci said the word, he took him away—without even asking for a reason.

That Safe Word... was actually valid.

Incense burned in the cabin—agarwood sandalwood. Along with the gentle rise and fall of the river, it evoked the feeling of a forest after rain or an ancient mountain temple. As if people were sleeping in tents by a fire, listening to a soft autumn drizzle.

Wrapped in the soft sofa, Shen Ci grew drowsy.

This was a novel experience. By Young Master Xie's side, he had always been tense, ready for sudden trouble. Even on the first night in the hotel, he had only dozed, never truly slept.

But now, it was as if the bottomless abyss suddenly had a limit. As if the toy had suddenly grasped the stop button of the game.

And so he relaxed.

Shen Ci raised his eyes. Xie Yu sat opposite him, still with his usual sloppy posture—slumped into the sofa, long legs loosely folded, idly scrolling through his phone. His bearing was noble yet languid, like a boneless big cat.

Yet beneath that calm exterior, Xie Yu's mind was in chaos.

"Ahhh, Host!" the System screamed.

"Host, what are you doing?!"

"Tonight is an important plot point! You still have so many lines you haven't said!"

"It's collapsing! It's collapsing! Completely collapsing!"

"At this rate, you're going to fail!"

A vein throbbed on Xie Yu's forehead. "Can you calm down?"

The System was furious, like a melodramatic heroine from old romance dramas. "How can I calm down?! How am I supposed to calm down?!"

Xie Yu felt a bit conflicted. He hadn't even developed anything with the protagonist yet, but here he was exchanging cheesy romance lines with an electronic lifeform. Pressing his forehead, he said, "Think about it—wasn't I doing this for my character setup?"

"Ha? What character setup?" the System scoffed.

Patiently, Xie Yu guided it. "Shen Ci just used the Safe Word. In this kind of game, what does a Safe Word represent?"

"?"

It hesitated. "A bottom line that cannot be crossed?"

"Exactly. Shen Ci used the Safe Word, and I'm a very ‘professional' person. So according to ‘professional' standards, what should I do?"

"...Stop the game immediately, remove the submissive from the scene, and if they're still on the verge of collapse, comfort them."

"I stopped immediately, took Shen Ci away, and bought him hot milk to comfort him. Isn't that professional conduct?"

"...?"

Since when did this kind of thing have professional standards?

It felt a bit confused and couldn't argue immediately. It just said, "I'm still deducting your points."

It began listing Xie Yu's issues: "You skipped a lot of lines. The protagonist felt embarrassment and humiliation, but not strongly enough—didn't reach the threshold. Also..."

Xie Yu was shocked. "There's a threshold for that too? Isn't this a bit much?"

The System replied righteously, "We are a serious system! We have strict evaluation standards!"

"Fine... what else? Go on."

"Your physical contact is also far below standard."

The original text had many detailed descriptions of physical contact. Tonight, Xie Yu had only grabbed a wrist—far from enough.

Xie Yu knew he was in the wrong and waved it off, letting it deduct as it pleased. His previous two scores had both exceeded sixty; averaged out, it wasn't a big problem.

Just as the argument ended, a long horn sounded. The ship trembled slightly as staff secured the ropes—they had docked.

Xie Yu stepped ashore and found his family's Bentley. Since he had been drinking, he couldn't drive, so he called a driver, who had already arrived. Xie Yu tossed him the keys and opened the rear door.

The original owner had a high alcohol tolerance, built from indulgence in nightlife with bad company. Xie Yu's tolerance was average. Mixing champagne and red wine had already left him somewhat drunk. Half-reclining against the cushion, he closed his eyes to rest.

The front seats were occupied by the driver and an empty passenger seat. Shen Ci hesitated slightly, then got into the back with Xie Yu.

Xie Yu lifted his eyelids, half-drunk like a lazy cat. Thinking about the unfinished plot, he suddenly tapped the System. "Hey, System. That physical contact requirement—it can be done anytime tonight, right?"

Still sulking, the System replied flatly, "Yes. You were supposed to stay on the ship all night and disembark at dawn. Anytime would have worked."

Xie Yu chuckled. "That's easy, then."

The rear of the Bentley was spacious. He and Shen Ci sat on opposite sides, minding their own business—until Xie Yu raised a hand and rubbed his forehead, pretending, letting out a soft sigh.

Hearing movement in the back, the driver asked, "Young Master Xie, are you alright?"

"Mm, I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy from drinking."

Shen Ci, who had been sitting quietly, turned his head at that, glancing over. His gaze lingered on Xie Yu's face for a moment before quickly shifting away.

The driver, however, didn't want to miss a chance to curry favor. "There's a pharmacy ahead. Should I get some hangover medicine?"

"No need. I'll just lie down for a bit."

"The rear seats can be adjusted to a reclining position. Shall I help you—"

Before he could finish, Xie Yu leaned sideways and collapsed onto the person beside him, resting his head on his thigh just like that.

Startled, Shen Ci raised a hand to push him away—but Xie Yu wouldn't allow it. Rubbing his forehead, he muttered, "This alcohol really gives me a headache."

Half-drunk, he murmured complaints in a soft tone. Shen Ci paused, his hand hovering a few inches above Xie Yu's forehead, before pressing his lips together and lowering it.

Remembering his unfinished lines, Xie Yu half-opened his eyes and said with dissatisfaction, "Teaching Assistant Shen, what? Can't I rest on your leg?"

Shen Ci lowered his eyes to look at him, saying nothing.

This line was from the original text. Back then, Shen Ci's expression had been as cold as ice. He hadn't given Young Master Xie any face at all—using the excuse of going to the restroom, he directly pushed him off his lap.

Naturally, the original Young Master Xie couldn't swallow that insult. He grabbed Shen Ci by the collar and slammed the back of his head against the wall, leaving him dazed. Still not satisfied, he grabbed Shen Ci's throat and drove a knee into his abdomen. Shen Ci immediately vomited from the pain, curling up—only to be dragged and thrown onto a chair, stripped in front of everyone.

Xie Yu still remembered that description—Shen Ci's hair being yanked, forced to bow his head, his neck and back forming a beautiful curve, skin like warm jade exposed to the air, raising goosebumps, tempting people to grasp and play with.

Usually, such descriptions didn't affect Xie Yu. But now, slightly drunk and resting on Shen Ci's thigh, his gaze drifted over his collarbone and neck—and he could indeed sense a bit of that allure, a faint stirring of desire.

After all, Teaching Assistant Shen was truly good-looking—clear, cold features, composed and dignified. Standing there, his porcelain-white skin resembled an expensive antique displayed behind glass.

If one could hold such "porcelain" in hand and toy with it, it would surely be a great pleasure in life.

Xie Yu silently scolded himself—what sin, thinking like the pervert in the original text—and quickly reined in his thoughts, continuing his lines.

"Teaching Assistant Shen, according to our agreement, not just your leg—every inch of your body belongs to me."

According to the script, Shen Ci should struggle fiercely. But after waiting for a long time, Xie Yu got no reaction.

"?"

He continued acting, narrowing his eyes slightly with a dangerous expression. "Teaching Assistant Shen, don't forget—who gave your grandmother that spot—"

In the novel, this line was a trump card. Every time Xie Yu said it, Shen Ci would immediately submit. This time should be no exception—he should stiffen, then go limp like a soulless puppet, staring emptily into the distance.

But before Xie Yu could finish, Shen Ci suddenly sighed.

He pressed his legs together, letting the most cushioned part support Xie Yu's head more steadily. Then he turned his head away, looking out the window unnaturally, and said evenly, "If you want to lie there, then lie there."

Xie Yu blinked. "Huh?"

That completely stunned him.

His mind, dulled by alcohol, struggled to process it. ‘...What the hell? Since when can I just lie here if I want?'

He frowned, waiting. But this aloof, upright good student really did allow him to use his lap as a pillow—his straight legs resting obediently, unmoving.

Xie Yu: "..."

Honestly, if Shen Ci had struggled desperately, resisting to the death, he could have fully immersed himself in the bully role and finish the scene. But with Shen Ci letting him lean like this, he felt awkward instead.

The legs beneath him were long and straight, well-proportioned, with just the right amount of softness—not too thin, not too bulky. Very comfortable.

Shen Ci didn't have good clothes—everything was worn and loose, failing to show his figure. But just imagining it, Xie Yu knew how good those legs would look in a suit.

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, he asked, "Shen Ci, I bought you clothes. Why don't you wear them?"

Trying hard to stay in character, he added, "Wear them when we get back. I want to see."

Shen Ci looked down at him, saying nothing.

Xie Yu pressed on. "Remember this—if I want to rest on your leg, I will. Anytime, anywhere."

This was also a line from the original text.

Shen Ci glanced at him again, still silent.

Xie Yu: "..."

Now his head really hurt. Dizzy, he felt something was off, and stopped bothering Shen Ci, weakly instructing the driver, "Driver, hurry home. I'm really sleepy."