Chapter 10 Flames of Desire
1148 Words
Seeing Gu Ming lounging on the sofa, casually sipping a beer, Su Jiapai couldn’t hide her shock.
This usually reserved and serious boy… here of all places?
“Gu Ming, weren’t you telling me you were preparing to retake your exams? What’s this, one last hurrah before returning to school?”
“Su Jiapai,” Gu Ming began, his tone unusually firm. “Congratulations on getting into Jiajing University. I wanted to tell you something today—I’m not retaking my exams. I’ve enrolled in Jialing University instead.
Sure, it’s ranked over a hundred spots below yours, but hey, at least it’s a first-tier school, right? That’s it. I’m done. You can leave now.”
“Wait… Are you serious? You called me multiple times and even sent me a text, all just to tell me this? Gu Ming, was that really necessary?” Su Jiapai scoffed, shaking her head incredulously. She turned on her heel, ready to leave.
“W-wait! It’s not just about that!”
Before Gu Ming could finish his sentence, two rowdy young men with rough looks appeared at the door, followed by a girl with bleached blonde hair and a nose ring, dressed in tight leather pants.
The sight of them made Su Jiapai uneasy. These weren’t people from her usual circles. She turned to Gu Ming, her expression serious.
“Gu Ming, what’s going on? Are they your friends? Is there something else you need to tell me?”
Gu Ming caught the sharp, threatening glances from the men behind her. Clenching his fists, he bit his lip and said, “Yes, there’s something else I wanted to say. I—”
He stood ramrod straight, exuding an unexpected intensity. In that moment, Gu Ming vowed to protect Su Jiapai, no matter what. If she gave him even the slightest acknowledgment of his feelings, he would shield her from everything.
However, his confession wasn’t timely, nor was it appropriate for the setting. Most importantly, the moment for such declarations had long passed.
“If you’re planning to say something that will make it impossible for us to remain friends, then don’t bother.”
Her words struck him like a physical blow. His mind buzzed, and his ears rang as though the world had collapsed in on itself. For a few seconds, time seemed to stretch endlessly.
So… I’ve never even been on her radar?
Gu Ming’s thoughts spiraled. He stared at the vibrant, youthful girl in front of him, dressed in a denim sundress with spaghetti straps, her lively presence brimming with vitality.
Her expression radiated a kind of pity, as though she were looking at someone helplessly beneath her.
Was she thinking, Ugh, why do guys like this always fall for me?
“Heh…” A bitter chuckle escaped Gu Ming’s lips. He tried to mask the shame and helplessness surging inside him.
He knew, deep down, that he and Su Jiapai belonged to two completely different worlds. Their paths were never meant to cross.
But then, a thought slithered into his mind.
Not necessarily… There’s still a chance.
His eyes darted to the soda on the table, particularly the fullest glass. It was the key to unleashing his hidden, vile desires.
If she drank it, she’d be completely at his mercy. Even if he wouldn’t be the first to have her, just knowing that he could experience this ultimate domination and power—over someone so bright, proud, and seemingly untouchable—would give him unparalleled ecstasy.
In his imagination, the radiant, confident Su Jiapai would soon submit to him in the most degrading way. The thought sent a shiver through his entire body. The dark, scorching flames of his twisted desires could no longer be contained.
“Life is full of things that don’t go your way, Su Jiapai,” Gu Ming said with a feigned cheeriness.
“Sometimes it’s nine out of ten; sometimes it’s ten out of nine. But what’s youth without a little regret, huh? Anyway, since you’re already here, let’s forget about all that. Have a drink, sing a song, and relax. Oh, and I remember how you used to carry that giant 1.5-liter bottle of water during senior year. Good times, right?”
“Wow, Gu Ming, look at you. Back in school, you were such a dull guy, but now you’re pretty smooth with words,” Su Jiapai teased, genuinely amused. “You know, there were even girls in our class who liked you back then.”
She had been worried that her blunt rejection would hurt Gu Ming, but seeing him so relaxed and talkative reassured her. He seemed fine.
“Oh? Really?” Gu Ming slapped his thigh in mock regret. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
He handed her the glass of soda he had poured earlier.
The others in the room exchanged subtle glances. Some peeked at her from the left, others from the right, but they quickly turned their attention back to their microphones, continuing their drunken karaoke.
Su Jiapai took a small sip from the glass and smiled. “It’s true. But you were so reserved back then. You never gave anyone a chance to get close to you. Once you’re in university, you should work on that.”
Gu Ming felt a brief warmth in his heart, but it was fleeting, like a snowflake landing on sun-scorched pavement—gone in an instant.
The dim lighting and poor ventilation of the soundproofed room began to take their toll on Su Jiapai. After a while, she felt groggy, her mind clouded, and her body heavy.
She slid down the sofa until she was slumped against its backrest, her eyes fluttering shut.
The girl with the leather pants and bleached hair—her demeanor hardened by years of street life—watched as Su Jiapai succumbed to unconsciousness. Her expression shifted, as though recalling a similar moment from her own past.
The gang leader, known as Jun, let out a lecherous laugh. “Gu Ming, you sure took your sweet time, but at least you got the job done. Now, let me and my buddy here test the waters first. You can wait your turn.”
The blonde girl scowled. “Jun, you better not forget about me! I was here first.”
“Shut up and stay out of my way. If you’re bored, grab your flip phone and take some pictures. Record a video while you’re at it,” Jun snapped impatiently, waving her off as he pulled off his shirt.
Meanwhile, Gu Ming was drowning in a sea of twisted emotions. He stared at the unconscious Su Jiapai, his mind consumed by the thought of her completely vulnerable before him.
The fire of his depraved desires burned away the last remnants of reason and morality. He could no longer hold back.
Soon…
- Writer
