At that moment, Leo couldn’t help but interrupt, his tone teasing. “Well, well… I’m so jealous of Dean…” As he spoke, he casually draped his arm around Ted’s, wearing an exaggerated, almost girlish expression of envy. His eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was an underlying sincerity to his words. He dramatically sighed, as though he, too, were caught in this “romantic” whirlwind, which only made the others chuckle at his playful antics.Next, Chen spoke up, his voice calm and thoughtful, as though he were carefully weighing his words. “At first, I was just curious. Truly curious about what kind of person could drive Damon Greyson to this extent.” He continued casually, “He’s even managed to take down an elder of the Dragon Gang with his own hands, breaking all the previous rules. What’s even more curious is that the moment Dean saw me, he mistook me for Damon. That’s when I felt compelled to observe him, to see how long he’d keep up that misunderstanding. But more than that, I wa
Dean froze for a moment, a sudden thought rising in his mind. "Is this... Chen's mother?"But before he could voice the question, Chen was already staring at the gravestone, his voice steady as he spoke. "Mom, this is Dean Harrison, the one I love."The words hit Dean like a thunderclap, striking straight to his heart. His eyes widened in shock, his face flushing with heat, and he stood frozen in place. He hadn’t anticipated Chen would say something like that, especially not in such a setting, so suddenly.Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Chen continued, his tone unwavering. "But, Mom, your precious son also happens to like him.""Your precious son?" Dean was caught off guard, the words sending his thoughts into complete disarray.Chen seemed to notice his confusion. He turned to glance at Dean, a hint of playful amusement in his eyes. "Damon," he said casually. "The one Mom always doted on, the one she missed the most."Dean finally began to piece things together, though the r
Dean looked at him, a flicker of curiosity crossing his mind. “So why has it changed? Why does it feel so warm now?”Chen lowered his head, a small smile tugging at his lips, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. “Because I wanted to bring you here. I wanted to share with you those memories that are special to me. As for you... I’m not sure if you still remember the ones that are special to you.”Dean frowned slightly, confusion tugging at him. “What memories?”Chen let out a soft sigh, his voice carrying a trace of distant nostalgia. “We once went to a deserted island. We stayed there for three days and two nights. I built a small shack on the island, but you couldn’t sleep at all, not used to the unfamiliar place. I thought maybe tonight, we’d stay here, so I went ahead and prepared a bed for you.”Dean felt a sudden warmth, but as soon as he heard "spend the night," his eyes widened in surprise. "Sp... spend the night?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.Chen gav
Dean froze, utterly at a loss for words. His thoughts spiraled into chaos as he lowered his head, unable to come up with a retort. Instead, he instinctively shrank back slightly. “I… How would I know if you’d keep your word?” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.Hearing this, Chen’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, a sly smile tugging at his lips. “Well then,” he said lightly, “how about I prove it to you? But first, let me ask you something.”Dean blinked, caught off guard. A sudden sense of foreboding crept over him, making him hesitant. “What do you want to ask?” he managed, his voice uneven.Chen leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a soft, magnetic murmur. “May I kiss you?” he asked, the question tender yet startlingly direct, as though he were seeking an answer to something far more profound.Dean froze, his heart racing like it might leap out of his chest. The sounds around him faded into a distant hum, leaving only the sharp clarity of the moment. He stared a
Abruptly, the car came to a halt. Damon stepped out, opening Dean’s door without waiting, and pulled him along once more, his grip just as firm. They walked a short distance before the surroundings came into focus—a cemetery.Dean stopped in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat. His voice faltered as he spoke, unsure of what to make of this. “A cemetery… again?” he asked hesitantly, his words tinged with confusion. “Are we here to see your dad?”Damon let out a cold, mocking smile, a hint of scorn in his eyes. "I'm not like Chen, useless enough to rely on elders to win your favor," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.Dean looked confused. "So, who are we meeting then?""Your parents," Damon answered without hesitation.Dean furrowed his brows slightly. "Aren't they elders too?""Not the same," Damon’s tone grew sharper. "He’s trying to please his mom. As for me, I’m looking to confront your parents."Dean froze, a look of confusion spreading across his face. "Huh?"As soon as t
Laughing and playfully teasing each other, the two finally got suited up and made their way toward the ski slopes.On the beginner slope, Dean stood nervously in the snow, his skis strapped tightly to his feet and poles clutched firmly in his hands. His body was stiff as a board. He couldn’t help but swallow hard, his voice trembling slightly. "We really have to ski down like this? What if I just tumble down the hill…?"Damon stood behind him, his hands gently resting on Dean’s shoulders, his tone light and reassuring. "If you fall, I’ll fall with you. Relax, just follow me." With that, he guided Dean’s waist, helping him ease into movement.Dean tried to shift his feet, but the skis wouldn’t budge as he wanted. He barely managed to slide a few meters before losing his balance and crashing into the snow, face-first. He lay there, stuck in the soft snow for a moment, before bursting into laughter. "Hahahaha... This is way harder than I thought!"Damon approached, pulling him up from th
"Train?" Damon raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with hesitation. "I’ve never been on one.""Me neither," Dean replied, a spark of excitement flickering in his eyes. "But that’s exactly the point. We get to try something new together." He was naturally curious about new experiences, and the idea of sharing this first-time adventure with Damon made it all the more thrilling.Damon couldn't help but catch his enthusiasm, nodding in agreement. They quickly split the tasks—Damon would handle the ticket booking, and Dean would focus on researching the train's services and cabin details.However, when Dean began reading aloud various online reviews and recommendations with a serious expression, Damon’s mind started to spin. He threw his hands up in frustration. "Forget it, let’s just go with the most expensive option. First-class—the kind where you can sleep!"Dean blinked, then couldn’t help but smile in resignation. "The logic of the wealthy is so simple and straightforward."Under the
The air was oppressively silent, the only sound being Shawn’s heavy, uneven breaths. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as he gently took Dean’s hand. Despite the faint tremor, his grip was firm and resolute."Dean," Shawn said, lifting his gaze to meet his, his eyes brimming with an unguarded mix of guilt and affection. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hitting you. I’m sorry for hurting you with a whip. And... I’m sorry for what happened at the pool."Dean looked down at their joined hands, his expression unreadable. Shawn’s hand was warm and strong, but Dean could feel the undercurrent of pain running through his touch. His grip was tight, almost desperate, as though he feared Dean would pull away. Yet it was also restrained as Shawn used every ounce of strength to hold himself back.Shawn didn’t wait for Dean to respond. He silently led him into the adjacent room. As the door creaked open, Dean’s breath caught. The room was filled with
As they drove, Dean couldn’t help but guess their destination. Greg wouldn’t have called him out without a reason—there had to be something special planned. But no matter how much he thought about it, Greg remained tight-lipped, offering no clues, and even went so far as to blindfold him.It wasn’t until the car stopped that Greg’s hand gently covered his face, his voice a whisper in his ear. "Don’t rush. When we get there, I’ll let you see."In the darkness, his senses heightened. Greg’s fingertips carried that familiar warmth, and his voice, low and steady, made Dean’s heartbeat quicken ever so slightly.Greg led him forward, his steps steady and unwavering, carrying an unspoken gravity. They passed through a narrow corridor, climbed a few stairs, and then descended several slopes. Throughout it all, Greg never let go of his hand. The warmth of his palm brought a sense of quiet reassurance to Dean."Where exactly are you taking me?" Dean finally couldn’t hold back.Greg chuckled sof
Shawn chuckled softly, his voice low and warm. "There are several orphanages nearby. Today, the children will gather in the hall for a small event. I thought I'd make some food for them. Would you be willing to help?"Dean’s heart jolted at his words.The disappointment he had felt just moments ago was now replaced by a deep sense of shame.It turned out that Shawn hadn’t brought him here for romance or excitement, but for these children.Of course, he would help. Without hesitation, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing the veins running clearly along his forearms, and answered with sincerity, "Of course."In the kitchen, the steam rose, the crackling sound of the fire filled the air, and the scent of food gradually began to drift around them.Shawn took charge of the meat, his knife moving swiftly and decisively, cutting with precision. Dean focused on the vegetables, washing, chopping, and carefully selecting the seasonings, making sure every detail was perfect.At times, they worked
The same deserted island they had once visited together.As the sea breeze swept across the deck, Dean stood at the railing of the cruise ship, watching the familiar island gradually emerge from the horizon. He froze, unable to look away."Do you remember this place?"Chen stood beside him, his tone soft but with a hint of hidden anticipation.Dean turned his head slightly, glancing at the man next to him. Under the night sky, Chen’s profile appeared particularly gentle, but the glint in his eyes held a playful, tender warmth that was uniquely his."Of course I remember," Dean replied with a light laugh. "But... why bring me here?""You'll understand once we set foot on the island," Chen said with a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, it won’t be as chaotic as last time."Dean raised an eyebrow, curiosity growing in his chest.As soon as his feet touched the island, he realized that things had quietly changed.Though the island still retained its untouched, natural beauty, there were now
Dean froze in place."Hey! How could you just leave like that?! What am I supposed to do?!"He tried to shout at Damon, but the man didn’t even look back, vanishing quickly down the slope.Frustrated, Dean stomped his foot. But the snow wasn’t kind enough to let him act on impulse. With a resigned sigh, he steeled himself and began making his way down the mountain, slowly and cautiously.True to form, he ended up falling several times, his backside almost sore from the repeated tumbles. By the time he finally reached the base of the mountain, he was fuming, ready to catch Damon and give him a good scolding.But when he looked up, everything changed.The snow-covered landscape, once barren and untouched, had been transformed into a dreamlike wedding venue.A deep crimson velvet carpet stretched across the white snow, flanked by golden candelabras and pure white roses. Warm light illuminated the scene, casting a soft, sacred glow across the entire place.And standing at the center of it
He had completely forgotten one thing—these four men were not the type to play by the rules!Before the plan even began, they united to scrap it completely."I don’t accept this three-month rotation business. I want to see him every day," Damon said confidently."Me too," Chen agreed without hesitation."Exactly, three months? Are you kidding me? We're not in a long-distance relationship," Shawn scoffed.Greg crossed his arms and added lazily, "And who can guarantee there won’t be any 'accidents' during those three months? If one of us does something to Dean, the other three will be disadvantaged."Dean was speechless, "...???"Weren't you the ones who came up with this plan?And now you're all in agreement to completely scrap it?But reality turned out to be even more absurd than Dean had imagined—Not only did they not rotate, but all four of them stayed.They immediately offloaded all the affairs of their gangs onto their subordinates and stayed by Dean's side every day, without a
But at that moment, his heart felt more at peace than ever before.Once the four of them were settled back in bed, Dean stood by their side, looking at each of them—still battered and bruised. Though they could speak and laugh, their faces were pale, their weakness evident, and it made his heart ache.He let out a soft sigh and was about to find a place to sit and rest for a moment when a familiar set of footsteps echoed from the doorway.Leo and Ted had arrived, followed by Linda and Tara."My dear little brother, are you alright?" Linda walked straight in, her gaze immediately scanning Dean, her eyes filled with concern.Dean flashed her a reassuring smile and shook his head lightly. “I’m fine. They protected me.”Tara’s eyes swept over the room, landing on the four men in bed, and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “I can tell. But you need to eat and rest too.”As she spoke, she pulled out a bowl of porridge from the thermos bag she was holding and handed it to Dean.Dean bli
Dean pressed his lips together, his eyes cast down, a faint, rueful smile tugging at his expression. “I just feel... a little greedy. And... I’m sorry for them.”The Messenger’s fingers lightly tapped on the desk, a sound that felt like both a reminder and an awakening. “Didn’t they say they don’t mind?”Dean fell silent for a moment, then gave a helpless smile. “But I’m supposed to be a decent man.”At his words, the Messenger let out a light chuckle. “Seems like you still don’t understand.”Dean looked up in confusion. “Understand what?”The Messenger’s smile faded, and his gaze grew intense as if he were peering into the depths of Dean’s soul. “Why are they all part of the mafia?”Dean froze, his breath momentarily catching in his chest.He had never truly thought about that question before.Why weren’t they ordinary people? Why weren’t they doctors, lawyers, professors, or even just regular businessmen?Why, of all things, were they in the mafia?Dean opened his mouth, but no word
Chen paused for a moment, then spoke in a low, steady voice. "Shawn wasn’t a coward. He knew the final blow would be the hardest, so he let us take the first hits."Greg picked up where he had left off, his voice calm but carrying a weight of its own. "He even predicted how Ricky would plan things. That’s why he made preparations on our way there."Dean’s pupils constricted slightly, and his mind buzzed with confusion.He remembered the blood, the agonizing screams—the ten shots Greg had taken, the hundred blows Damon had endured, the thousand punches and kicks Chen had absorbed.He even recalled the image of Shawn being dragged behind the motorcycle, the blood and flesh grinding into the pavement, leaving a glaring, gruesome trail.If what they said was true, then what about Shawn?What kind of resolve had he carried to endure all of this?As Dean’s thoughts spiraled into chaos, a cool hand slowly rested on the back of his hand.Dean snapped out of his reverie, looking down in surpri
Chen’s vision was still blurry, but he tried to focus. When he finally saw Dean clearly, a barely perceptible smile curved his lips. His voice was so weak, it was almost like a whispering breeze. “...Are you crying?”Dean sucked in a sharp breath, quickly wiping the moisture from the corner of his eye. He shook his head. “No... not at all...”Chen let out a soft chuckle, a hint of weary affection in his eyes. “You little fool.”Dean’s nose tingled, and he quickly lowered his head to pour water, trying to hide the overwhelming emotions that were about to break free.But just as he was handing the water to Chen, a muffled groan suddenly came from the other bed in the room.Dean’s head snapped around, and sure enough, he saw Damon’s fingers twitch slightly, his brow furrowed.“Damon!” Dean rushed over, his steps quickening. One moment, he was tending to Chen, and the next, he was kneeling at Damon’s bedside, his eyes filled with urgent concern.Damon slowly opened his eyes, his gaze daze