Dangerous Liaisons - Chapter 25

Chu Yu slowly awoke from a sea-like exhaustion, still nestled in his embrace. Fragments of the previous night flashed through her mind—how she had begged and wept under his teasing—and a flush of crimson rose to her cheeks.

He knew her body far too well, beyond anything she had imagined or could endure. A fleeting memory surfaced of something she had once read about desire: The more one falls, the more captivating one becomes.

Chu Yu stirred, and Lu Zimo immediately opened his eyes. In that instant, a chilling aura of lethality radiated from him. She shrank under his gaze before reaching up, as if unable to bear it, and covered his eyes. Some things seemed ingrained in his very bones. Was this the only moment when his true self surfaced?

He remained still, his body gradually relaxing under her touch. Suddenly, the door was pounded loudly: “Get up. Time to move.”

Lu Zimo rose, pulling Chu Yu with him. When she tried to straighten her clothes, he stopped her, gripping her wrist as they stepped out of the wooden cabin. Outside, the sky had cleared at some point. The blinding sunlight made Chu Yu dizzy, and she instinctively raised a hand to shield her face. As her vision adjusted, she realized she and Lu Zimo had become the center of attention for the group outside. Their gazes were greedy, blatant, and full of ill intent as they raked over her body.

Rama, already seated in a jeep with his legs propped on the door, grinned at them. “Quite the wild night, huh?”

The men burst into suggestive laughter. Chu Yu lowered her head. Since leaving the gold mining camp, she still wore Lu Zimo’s jeans, her top replaced by one of his oversized shirts that draped loosely over her frame, making her appear delicate and vulnerable. The open collar revealed the graceful curve of her collarbone, leading to deeper, more enticing shadows, her fair skin marred by bruises left by a man’s rough hands. Her entire body, under Lu Zimo’s deliberate design, exuded an aura—subtle, provocative, and tantalizing.

The convoy pressed on, Rama deliberately avoiding main roads in favor of remote mountain paths. The rough terrain jolted them relentlessly, and the post-rain sun blazed mercilessly by midday.

By afternoon, they reached a small town bustling with a market day. The narrow streets were packed with locals and tourists alike. Rama parked the convoy on the main street. Hungry and exhausted, the group dispersed to find food. The market offered everything, including local delicacies catering to the recent influx of visitors.

Rama motioned to his men, who immediately surrounded Lu Zimo and Chu Yu as they stepped out. Beto, standing behind Lu Zimo, gripped something hidden in his jacket. Unfazed, Lu Zimo led Chu Yu to a nearby shop—a华侨-run eatery famous for its beef noodles.

The men sat around them, Rama taking a seat directly across from Lu Zimo. The shop’s wooden doors were wide open, the noise of the market blending with the clamor inside. The aroma of food filled the air as Lu Zimo ruffled Chu Yu’s hair. “Eat well. Who knows if we’ll get another meal tonight.”

Rama smirked, ordering his men to buy provisions before turning back to Lu Zimo. “I hear that batch of goods is nearly half of Jin Ye’s fortune. Surprising he still trusts you with it after all this time.”

“In my hands, it’s as good as in Jin Ye’s,” Lu Zimo replied calmly.

Rama toyed with his lighter. “Never thought about taking it for yourself?”

“A man should know his limits,” Lu Zimo said, a faint, eerie smile curling his lips. “I don’t have the stomach for something so heavy. Heard the Burmese market doesn’t favor ambitious young snakes. You should be careful—too much of a good thing can be deadly.”

Rama laughed. Just then, steaming bowls of noodles arrived, carried precariously by a young server. Lu Zimo subtly pulled Chu Yu closer. As the boy neared, he yanked her down—just as gunfire erupted.

Chaos exploded. The “server” had pulled a gun, firing at Rama, who barely dodged. The crowd panicked, stampeding in all directions. Lu Zimo seized Chu Yu’s hand, dragging her through the throng, evading both Rama’s men and the attackers.

They ducked into a narrow alley, breathless and drenched in sweat. Lu Zimo swiftly pulled a small metal cylinder from his coat, activated it, and wedged it into a crack in the wall.

Seconds later, Beto and his men cornered them. “Leaving without saying goodbye, Lu? Rude.”

Chu Yu’s heart pounded. Lu Zimo squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It’s fine.”

“One more stunt like this,” Beto hissed, “and I can’t guarantee she’ll be fine.”

Lu Zimo’s gaze turned icy. “You?” he sneered. “Pathetic.”

Beto’s face purpled with rage, but Rama intervened, wrenching the gun from his hand. “Try running again,” Rama warned, “and I’ll put a bullet in her. And don’t forget—I still have Ba Yu.”

The group hastily left the town, now in chaos. Rama’s jeep sped away, crushing bodies under its wheels. His mood was foul—Lu Zimo’s allies had arrived too soon, and this skirmish would draw unwanted attention.

By nightfall, they reached an abandoned temple deep in the mountains. The grand structure, shrouded in ancient trees, exuded an oppressive aura. Inside, the walls were adorned with intricate carvings—tantric deities in explicit embraces.

Rama smirked. “This was once a fertility temple. Legend says monks raped women here until the villagers slaughtered them all—along with their victims and offspring. Now, only outlaws know this place.”

Chu Yu shuddered, pressing closer to Lu Zimo. His gaze burned into her, reigniting memories of the previous night. Around them, the men grew restless, the temple’s erotic art fueling their frustration.

The group settled in, Rama taking one side chamber, Lu Zimo and Chu Yu the other. Inside, he pulled her onto the stone bed, his touch searing. “Come here,” he murmured, his voice a dark lure.

For a fleeting moment, Chu Yu wondered if he was a demon in human form—one that feasted on women like her.