toxicbaes | You must like being the victim, you've done nothing to get out

"No way, I don't think you are. You're about as ugly as Chenglei." Xinjia mocked with a small pout, happy enough with Jonathan and almost offended at the idea that he could possibly find anyone but Jonathan hot. The madness! "Only dumb twinks and silly girls like you guys. A real man attracts proper guys. Like me."

He waggled his eyebrows and then picked up his drink, knocking it back eagerly. They were going to party so hard.

Sun Kai. Pretty. All the pretty ones wanted Xue Yang. Of course they did. Meng Yao looked down and awkwardly played with his crutch, not sure what to even say to any of this.

"How did you two meet?" Xinjia asked curiously. "I've never seen him around before."

"He was stalking me so I took pity on him." It was some version of the truth. Xue Yang propped his chin up on Meng Yao's head, since he was keeping it awkwardly ducked anyway.

"...stalking?" Chenglei had secured himself another drink, so he was paying attention to the conversation again, mostly to be weirded out. Not that unusual. "At least you're never boring."

"And never respectful to your elders," Jonathan commented, trying to get a better look at Meng Yao's face still. "Why don't you go dancing, before you say something hurtful? Puppy, you should go too. You need to burn off some alcohol."

"He wants to be rid of you," Chenglei teased, "They probably want grown-up talk. Taxes and what not." That said, he got to his feet. "I think I've spotted my friend, so I'll be back later."

Xue Yang looked at Meng Yao, frowning. "Guess you can't dance with that leg." Annoying.

"I'm not-- I wasn't-- I... no." He wasn't a stalker, why would he tell people that? He blushed furiously and he balled his hands into fists under the table, completely embarrassed. Why did Xue Yang have to embarrass him like that?

"Oh man, is that the underwear guy?" Was all Xinjia said as he got up, not wanting to stick around the adult talk. Instead, he had an arm around Chenglei. "It's a wild story, lemme tell you!"

The two were already off towards the dance floor and Meng Yao watched on in horror. He knew about the boxers? Oh fuck. Great.

"No, I can't." Meng Yao frowned at Xue Yang, knowing he was probably going to hook up now, dancing in a sea of hot men and all. So much for their first time. "Sorry."

"Right..." So what did he do? Xue Yang considered it. Then he leaned in and kissed him. Full on the mouth, deepening it right away. Wanting to make sure it was a kiss that Meng Yao wouldn't soon forget. He had his hand around Meng Yao's throat, not putting any pressure on it, but running his fingers over where he had marked him.

Then he pulled back, looking into his eyes, his voice low. "Wait for me here, yeah?"

That said, he got up and followed behind Chenglei and Xinjia, leaving Meng Yao with only Jonathan. Who lifted a hand to get a waiter's attention. "Do you want a drink? Those kid of kisses make you thirsty."

Xue Yang was a good kisser, he always kissed like he meant it and he took full control when he did it. Was this a kind of promise or an apology? It could honestly have been either. He watched him leave, his heart racing. His first time outside and alone in ... weeks? It had to be weeks, based off his ankle.

"Uh, yes, scotch. If possible." He could really use something strong but slow, something he could take his time with. He was going to be stuck here for a few, wasn't he? He could hardly leave and he couldn't join Xue Yang. "Thank you."

This man was so well put together and he was embarrassed to even be near him.

"Scotch. For both of us." Jonathan ordered for them and then turned his attention back to Meng Yao, especially since Xinjia had vanished in the crowd by now. He liked dancing with Xinjia, but he'd prefer doing it after he had burned off some of his abundant energy. Then he was less likely to accidentally knock his elbow into his stomach or step on his foot, which had both happened before.

"What's your age and full name? I know these kids don't care, but I don't even know how to address I'm Jonathan, English name. Cheng Fengjie. 28."

Meng Yao looked at the man and then wondered how to best introduce himself to this man. He debated for a moment and then decided to use his official name and not his true name. Like he was that same old normal businessman. He missed it, honestly. His job. It gave him something to keep him occupied. Without the Jin Lanling company, he was a freak. He was really nothing without the name.

"Jin Guangyao, I'm also 28. I don't have an English name." He had never been to an English speaking country so it hadn't really been an issue. "Please, just call me Yao." He didn't like the Guang part. It was purposefully cruel. "Where do you work?"

This was almost like a normal conversation. His first one in a long time.

"Then you may just call me Jonathan. I go by that more often." Even his lover called him that, which was adorable, given he still couldn't quite pronounces it right. Jonathan was smiling now, because finally the pieces fell into place. "Jin Lanling, right?"

He remembered now. "You are an excellent worker. I work for Li Holdings. A few years back there was a major deal between the two companies and your help was instrumental."

Their drinks was served and Jonathan lifted his glass. "Cheers. You have changed a lot. Did Xue Yang make you wear this?"

It was not that unusual. Someone that age coming to terms with his sexuality and getting a bit too infatuated with some hot young guy, losing himself in the process.

"Oh. I-- Li Holdings. Oh, the shopping mall contract. Yes, of course, I remember. No one could do the math correctly." He had completely re-written the entire contract for his team because frankly, it was embarrassing. "No one learns statistics properly any more. That's the problem with stuff like R. All flashy looking with no actual substance. I hope the project is running along smoothly."

It had been the last project he worked on before his father loudly told some girls at the company Christmas party about how he wasn't his real son and just some pathetic man he had duped into all of this.

It was a couple of months after that with Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue too.

"It's his clothes. I can't get to mine right now." Meng Yao said without thinking, sipping his drink and looking around for Xue Yang. "I know I look-- unprofessional right now. I think I lost my mind. Maybe it was all the overtime." He laughed to himself as his eyes roamed the crowd. "I'm hoping to pull it together but I'm not sure."

"You are a hard worker. I'm sure you deserve a break. Although I wish more people knew math like you do." He certainly had a lot of frustration arise from that. It would be great if he could get Tao to actually look at any document for more than a minute too. Whatever, best not to think about that right now. "Don't worry so much about it. It's just not your size, but you don't have to look professional here."

Jonathan shrugged, then watched as Xinjia came into view, dancing with Xue Yang right now. Good, nothing he had to interfere with. "Although you should dress Xue Yang professionally. I'd pay to see that."

"I don't think I can make Xue Yang do anything. He's too much of a powerful force, you don't really have any control with him." He had no idea who he was to him, how he actually felt or what he would be willing to let Meng Yao do or not do. He never thought that he'd leave him unattended outside. His eyes wondered to the exit. He could run.

Run away and go to his half brother or go to Lan Xichen and beg for help. But he couldn't. Then he'd lose Xue Yang and he couldn't handle that. Not when he had gotten so far. "I guess unprofessional was the wrong word. I'm trying to be polite as I call myself a mess." Meng Yao half laughed as he ran his fingers through his too long hair. "I don't know how one dresses for a club. I've never been to one."

"Hm." Jonathan let his eyes trail over the crowd a little. There were all types. Some in T-shirt and jeans, some in clothes more clearly made for clubbing. A few mostly in leather and then there were a few with make-up and sparkles and all kinds of things to draw attention. "There's quite the variety. I always go simple myself."

Button-up shirt partially unbuttoned had not steered him wrong yet.

"You look good though so you can turn up in anything." Meng Yao said without thinking before realising himself and holding up his hands. "Sorry, I'm not hitting on you! I just think you are ... whatever. You look good. I like button ups. I would have worn one today, if I could get to my apartment."

He wanted his clothes but Xue Yang seemed to enjoy keeping him in his underwear or making him wear his clothes. He assumed it was a possessive thing. "How long have you been with Xinjia?"

The first time Jonathan had dismissed it as someone too preoccupied with a lover, but the wording was taken note of this time. Again. If he could get to his apartment. Strange. Just what was keeping him? Who, probably. Jonathan decided not to ask and table it for now.

"We've been together... I guess properly together for about a year now. Before that it was a bit rougher." Hard to say when they had started exactly. "He wanted to kill me, so..."

"He did?" Oh God, was he in the same situation as Meng Yao? Did he get it? Xue Yang said he sometimes worked for gangsters, did Xinjia too? "Is he a gangster? I think Xue Yang is a gangster. Partially. He wouldn't be good at following orders but he's very strong and cunning, a good asset, I guess."

Meng Yao was rambling but he couldn't help it, he felt like he had unlocked something. "Did he use a knife?" It was always a knife with Xue Yang. That was his favourite. "Did he... did he hurt you?"

This was interesting. Jonathan was careful, keeping his face almost neutral and sipping his drink as he tried to consider how to answer that. "Let's just say that Xinjia is a much better cook than he'd ever be a gangster. And the other day he burned eggs."

Xinjia was a good cook but not always the most focused. He would be a terrible gangster, which luckily gangsters seemed to understand. "But he did use a knife. He was a bit too drunk to use it properly."

"So not the most vicious sort." Meng Yao supposed that made sense, Xinjia did seem a bit like a soft puppy and not much like Xue Yang. Those dark, shark-like eyes that sometimes glared at him in a way that made his entire stomach drop. He had never met anyone who could be that terrifying and that cute. He played with the handle of his crutch, watching Xue Yang move.

"I've never met someone like Xue Yang. Or like your Xinjia. These sort of... erm, I don't know, gangsterish punks?" They were certainly hard to wrap his head around. "They're hard to predict, aren't they?"

"Kind of. Because he's a puppy. Sometimes I've no idea what's going on in his mind and I don't think he ever knows." So what hope was there to figure him out entirely? Still, that did mean that Meng Yao was right in his interpretation. Although... "Xue Yang is different. He knows how to use a knife."

The most vicious sort. Maybe that. Jonathan hesitated, then turned to look at Meng Yao, a professional smile. "Let me know if you require assistance."

Meng Yao frowned, looking at Jonathan with a confused look. "With what? I-- Oh, I can go to the bathroom alone, I'm good at balancing!" He assumed that was what he meant. He had a crutch and all, people always wanted to help people with crutches. Though now he was a little embarrassed that he jumped to the bathroom thing instead of being helped up. Idiot.

Or... It wasn't about Xue Yang, was it? He looked at Jonathan, trying to understand. "You don't mean... with him, do you?"

"We have worked similar jobs, Yao. I'm sure you can understand. I do not presume, I'm just... offering assistance." Whatever that might entail. Such as the worrisome relationship there seemed to be between Xue Yang and Meng Yao.

He looked back over to the dance floor, seeing Xinjia dance with Chenglei and, ah. "I think the twinks have found him." Xue Yang was dancing with an effeminate man, boy, whatever. Jonathan was trying to figure out if he knew him, but from so far and with make-up, it was hard to tell.

"Thank you. I'll keep it in mind. If ... If I need it." He was sure it was about Xue Yang. It was probably fair. Anyone who knew him must know how unpredictable and terrifying he was. One day, he could be sweet and cute, the next he was dragging him into his murder room and torturing him. "I hope I don't."

He watched Xue Yang, dancing with the other boy, feeling oddly resigned to it. Yes, he was jealous but this was the inevitable part. He was not going to fuck Xue Yang today. Xue Yang was going to fuck him over. "He always pulls, I would imagine. Xue Yang is very handsome. He knows it too, he always makes me call him cute or handsome. He feels he deserves it."

"Hm, yeah. He asks for what he wants." Could not fault him on that. "He does what he wants and he gets what he wants."

Jonathan had certainly observed as much and heard Xinjia talk about it, because he had admired it to some degree. Wanted to emulate it, which was kind of cute. Not that he'd let Xinjia pull. Not that Xinjia wanted to, of course. "Still. I've known these punks for a year now and you are the first time Xue Yang has texted ahead of time to say he was bringing someone. There's not usually anyone. You are someone. That's special."

For better or worse.

"I think I probably am to him, I just don't understand what it means to be special to Xue Yang." He watched him feel up the twink on the face floor and wondered if it was special that he took him here for this. Or maybe all that made him special was that he had let him live as long as he did. He saw him almost as a pet. But people did love their pets.

Xinjia turned away and waved happily over at Jonathan, bouncing up and down to the beat, generally being adorable. "You're boyfriend is cute."

He really was. "You're lucky. To be loved. I don't know what that feels like. I want to find it some day." Maybe he could find it with Xue Yang.

"I never knew I wanted it, honestly." Somehow it had just happened, when he realised he had a puppy on his hand. He smirked as he watched him bounce, charmed as always. "You know, after he passed out when he first tried killing me, the next day I told him he's taken advantage of me. You should have seen his face. Priceless. He felt so guilty."

Jonathan could be a troll as well, much as he knew Xue Yang was. Like right now, glancing Meng Yao's way every now and then while practically dry-humping that guy.

"Guilty? So he felt bad for hurting you... that's nice. I means he likes you." He couldn't say if Xue Yang liked him like that but he did wish it was the case. He watched the humping with a tired expression. He wished he could be confident that tonight would go as planned but it honestly seemed a little doomed to him.

"I believe that Xue Yang thinks all is fair and fine as long as he wants it. Even if he hurts people, it's okay because he wants it." And that was how Xue Yang's world worked. "I wish I could live like that."

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charmingbully - 2025-06-06 22:13 (UTC) - Expand