Chapter 20: In Peril

Lucian rubbed his ribs; that hit hadn't been light, and it still carried a dull, throbbing ache.

He didn't leave, however. He remained standing in the corner of the kitchen, watching Sebastian continue to chop vegetables.

Neither of them spoke.

After finishing the green onions, Sebastian moved on to the meat. His movements were swift and practiced, but his shoulders were pulled tight, and his spine remained rigid.

Lucian watched his back, said nothing, and silently walked over to pick up the garlic and began peeling.

Still, silence.

After peeling the garlic, he went to wash the vegetables, the tap water splashing loudly.

Sebastian braced himself against the counter and paused.

He kept his head down, his shoulders slumping slightly, as if his back finally couldn't support the weight anymore.

Lucian saw it.

He set down the vegetables, walked over, and pressed his hand against the man's waist.

Sebastian’s body stiffened, but he didn't pull away.

Lucian’s hand moved slowly over his lower back, stroke after stroke. The pressure wasn't heavy, but it was earnest.

Still, not a word was spoken.

After massaging for a while, Lucian finally broke the silence.

"Go rest."

Sebastian didn't move.

"I don't need to."

"Fine," Lucian said. "Then go ahead and hurt until you die."

Sebastian spun around suddenly and shoved him away.

"Get out."

Lucian took a step back from the shove, standing steady as he looked at him.

He didn't move forward again, nor did he speak.

He turned back and resumed washing the vegetables.

Sebastian leaned against the counter, his chest heaving a few times, before he also turned back to continue his chopping.

The two of them worked separately, neither looking at the other.

———

Lunch was a grand affair.

The round table was laden with dishes, and the various aunts sat in a circle, their chatter filling the room with heat and noise.

"Sebastian, you absolutely must meet that girl this afternoon!"

"Exactly! She drove all the way from the city; you can't let her trip be for nothing!"

"I've already settled it with them. Three o'clock this afternoon, at that coffee shop on the corner!"

Sebastian sat there with a faint smile, nodding and humoring them with vague agreements.

But his back was reaching its breaking point.

He had been standing for too long since the morning, chopping and stir-frying. The muscles in his lower back were pulled so tight it felt like a hemp rope being twisted inside him. He didn't dare move too much, only making minute adjustments to his posture to find a shred of comfort.

"Sebastian, why aren't you eating?" an aunt placed a spare rib into his bowl. "Eat more, look how thin you've gotten!"

Sebastian gave a nod and a smile, picking up his chopsticks.

He took a few bites and set them down.

"I'm full," he said. "I'm going downstairs for a walk."

His mother glanced at him. "Alright, go on."

Sebastian stood up and walked out slowly.

At the door, he braced himself against the frame for a moment before continuing.

The stairwell door closed.

Lucian sat at the table, watching that door.

Two minutes later, he also stood up.

"I'm full too," he said. "Gonna go for a stroll."

Without waiting for a response, he strode out.

———

The small town's food street wasn't long. Usually, it was bustling, but during the New Year, every household was reuniting indoors, leaving the street almost empty.

Rows of red lanterns hung above, swaying lazily in the wind. Scattered remnants of firecrackers littered the ground, being chased about by the breeze.

Sebastian supported his waist, walking slowly.

He had his down jacket zipped tight, burying his chin inside. He kept his head down, watching his own toes as he shuffled forward.

His phone vibrated in his pocket several times; he ignored it.

It vibrated again; he still ignored it.

He just kept walking, not knowing where he was going or how long he would keep at it.

Not far behind, a figure was following him.

It wasn't Lucian.

The person wore a hat and kept their head down, blending in with the sparse few pedestrians, trailing at a steady distance.

Sebastian didn't notice.

He just kept walking, further and further, deep into the deserted food street.

The lanterns swayed in the wind, stretching his shadow long against the ground.

It was only when he reached a narrow alleyway that Sebastian finally realized something was wrong.

That shadow had been following him the whole way, maintaining the same distance. When he sped up, the figure sped up; when he slowed down, they slowed down.

With so few people on the street during the New Year, the footsteps were exceptionally clear.

Sebastian didn't stop, and his face remained expressionless as he continued forward.

Up ahead was a corner piled with a few trash cans, next to a dead end.

He turned the corner and quickly ducked into the shadows.

The footsteps grew closer, nearer, turning the corner—

Sebastian lashed out with a kick.

The person let out a muffled shriek, tumbling to the ground and clutching their stomach, twitching in pain.

Sebastian stood there, looking down at him.

The person lifted a panicked face, gave him a single look, and then scrambled up to run away.

They fled faster than a rabbit.

Sebastian braced his hand against his waist, standing in place as he watched the retreating figure, utterly speechless.

Muggers weren't even waiting for nightfall anymore?

He leaned against the wall for a moment to catch his breath.

His back hurt even more now.

That kick had been too forceful, and the aching stiffness had flared up again. This back injury simply wouldn't heal properly; he truly felt like getting a prosthetic one and being done with it.

Gritting his teeth, he began to shuffle back.

He needed to find that brat for a massage.

Though he hated to admit it, Lucian’s handiwork these past few days had actually been quite effective.

———

Lucian had also returned from the food street, but the two had missed each other. Since the street was empty, he hadn't lingered.

He had sent over a dozen messages without a single reply. He had called several times, and every call went unanswered.

He cursed as he walked—the man’s back was shot, yet he was wandering around. Did he have a hole in his brain?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Lucian swore to himself he would stop caring. Suddenly, he saw a silhouette ahead, walking slowly, supporting their waist with their head down.

Lucian’s eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace to catch up.

Sebastian heard the footsteps.

Footsteps again.

Just like the one before, approaching from behind, getting closer and closer.

He didn't stop walking, but his ears were pinned back and his hand quietly clenched into a fist.

The footsteps were close now, very close—

He spun around suddenly and threw a punch.

"Holy—!! "

Lucian was sent reeling backward by the blow, clutching his face as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Are you freaking possessed by a demon of violence?!!"

He roared so loud his voice cracked, his eyes turning red.

Sebastian froze in place, his fist still raised.

"...It's you?"

"Who else would it be?!!!" Lucian wiped the corner of his mouth. Seeing the blood on his hand, he grew even more enraged. "Why the hell did you hit me?!!!"

Sebastian lowered his hand and supported his waist, his expression stiff.

"Why were you following me?"

Lucian glared at him.

He glared for three full seconds.

Then he saw Sebastian’s waist, the hand supporting it, and the sheer effort the man was putting into holding himself together.

He took a deep breath.

Forget it.

He wouldn't hold it against him.

He walked over and pulled Sebastian into his embrace, his hand reaching directly under the man's clothes to find his waist.

"Where's the brace?"

Sebastian said nothing.

Lucian felt around—nothing. It was empty.

His face darkened.

"You lost it?"

Sebastian remained silent.

Lucian took one deep breath, then another.

He didn't bother asking again.

He pressed his hand against Sebastian’s waist and began to knead.

"Hiss! Gently!"

Lucian didn't hold back his strength at all.

"Now you know what pain feels like?" his voice was stiff. "Didn't I tell you to stop using force? Can't you understand plain English?"

Sebastian leaned against him, silent.

Lucian’s hands continued their work, stroke by stroke. The pressure was heavy enough to be slightly painful, but after the massage, the aching stiffness truly began to dissolve.

Sebastian leaned into him, eyes closed, allowing the massage to continue.

After a long while, he spoke.

"...A little lighter."

Lucian finally eased the pressure.

"If there's a next time," he said, "I'm done with you."