Chapter 17

The moment their gazes met, Xu Ye quickly looked away. He raised his eyes to Marvin in front of him and replied in a low voice, "Yes, sir."

Everyone noticed that his eyes no longer wandered, becoming steadier and sharper.

"How many?" Marvin pressed on.

"One, sir." Xu Ye's responses were consistently respectful, expressing his desire to be accepted through his courteous tone.

"Why did you break up?"

Hearing this question, Xu Ye's eyelashes trembled slightly. Marvin's probing questions served a purpose. As a dom, he was testing Xu Ye's boundaries, but he was also subtly signaling that if Xu Ye wanted to belong to him, he'd need to show loyalty—even in front of his former dom. Xu Ye had anticipated this question and prepared a straightforward answer. The simple phrase "we were incompatible" could have easily settled everything without issue.

But he changed his mind.

It was because of that glance, because of Chu Yu's gaze on him, and because of the man at Chu Yu's side. 

Xu Ye straightened up and smiled at Marvin. He heard his own voice, calm and composed. "All the past was just a prelude. It all led me to this moment with you, sir."

This slightly poetic response, tinged with sentimentality, hit just the right note. Marvin hesitated for a moment, and the others on the sofa turned as one to look at Chu Yu, who sat calmly, his face hidden behind the mask, betraying no emotion.

"An interesting answer," Marvin drawled, his tone slowing. "But… do you think your former dom would be angry if he heard that?"

Xu Ye pursed his lips and answered, "I don't think so, sir. He likely has a better sub by now. Moving forward is what everyone should do; clinging to the past isn't healthy."

Marvin laughed heartily. "Are you accusing me of being too nosy?"

"No, sir. You have the right to know everything about me." Calm and courteous. Xu Ye tried his best to shake off the emotional entanglements, to present himself as poised and at ease—especially in front of Chu Yu. But this mental fortitude crumbled the instant he heard the next command. He stared at Marvin, frozen.

"That blank look—is it necessary for me to repeat myself?" Marvin said patiently, repeating his first command, "Take off your clothes."

"Sir, the club's rules state that nudity is prohibited in the venue," Xu Ye replied, his voice dry.

"Correct. It seems you've studied the regulations closely," Marvin smiled. "Then you must also be aware of the additional clauses regarding Platinum Members' privileges."

Xu Ye's expression darkened. He had indeed seen those clauses. Platinum Members, mostly shareholders and club veterans, held numerous privileges, including unrestricted actions within designated areas. This meant that if Mr. Lion requested him to undress in the sofa area, it was within the rules.

"Privilege is a nuisance, isn't it?" Marvin remarked teasingly before snapping his fingers to summon a young sub, instructing him, "Pull down the curtains. Our friend here is feeling a bit shy."

In moments, white curtains descended from the ceiling, enclosing the entire sofa area in a secluded space, cutting off all external view. Xu Ye hadn't realized that the VIP section offered more than just a sofa—it could transform like this.

But it wasn't the people beyond the curtains that troubled him; it was the person inside. His gaze wandered from Marvin to the side, and the moment their eyes met, he instinctively looked away again.

Chu Yu was watching him.

A faint blush crept over Xu Ye's ears. Gritting his teeth, he swiftly removed his clothing as if ripping away a bandage. Since he was the one who initiated this with the lion, there was no point in being coy now. Despite his constant self-reminders, he hesitated when he reached his briefs. Just as he resolved to strip them off, Marvin suddenly stopped him.

"That's enough." Mr. Lion smiled, looking at him with a hint of amusement. "I didn't actually intend for you to strip completely, but I believe if I had, you would have complied, wouldn't you?"

"…Yes, sir." Xu Ye stood in the center of the circular area, now clad only in deep green boxer briefs. The club's air conditioning wasn't particularly warm, so he felt a chill against his bare skin, and the gazes fixed on him brought a light flush to his face.

"Second command," Marvin said, patting his knee. "Come here and kneel."

Xu Ye breathed a quiet sigh of relief. This was a standard request for a sub, much simpler than some of the more unusual commands.

Marvin sat with his legs spread wide, exuding strength in his posture. After a moment's hesitation, Xu Ye knelt between his legs, looking up at him.

He waited for the final command.

Marvin narrowed his eyes and, with a smile, asked, "Didn't your former master teach you what to do when he sits like this?"

Xu Ye paused, then quickly glanced sideways before replying, "No, sir."

Jerry, the attractive man who had previously remarked on Xu Ye's "delicate looks," suddenly burst out laughing. "Ah, sorry! His bewildered look was just too cute—I couldn't hold it in…" he said, waving a hand. "With such an innocent face, how can you bring yourself to do this, Lion? Don't be too harsh."

"Every demon dreams of defiling an angel," Marvin replied, leaning forward until his towering figure nearly blocked out the light above. With a smirk, he regarded the nearly naked man before him. "Since he didn't teach you, I'll have to reluctantly speed up your basic training." With that, he lifted Xu Ye's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze, and spoke slowly and deliberately, "Typically, when a master sits like this, it's a signal for the sub to serve him in his preferred way—like using this." He tightened his grip on Xu Ye's jaw, compelling him to open his mouth.

Xu Ye stiffened, his eyes wide with alarm. Marvin released him, reclining on the sofa and looking down at him. "This is my third command: use your mouth to please me."

Xu Ye had willingly signed up to be Marvin's sub, fully aware that this might lead to difficult situations. But he hadn't expected this type of command. For many subs, performing oral service on a dom was commonplace. Yet he had never done it, much less in front of an audience.

His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms with painful force. At that moment, the emotion welling up within him wasn't so much regret as it was disappointment—disappointment in himself. He was frustrated with his inability to stop glancing at Chu Yu, to stop thinking about Chu Yu, to stop caring about Chu Yu.

Xu Ye's gaze shifted from Marvin's face downward, stopping at his legs. His bangs shadowed his eyes, and his bare chest trembled with each breath. Time seemed to stand still, the enclosed space steeped in silence. Despite Jerry's earlier jest, this was strictly a matter between him and Marvin. No one had the right to intervene. The onlookers waited quietly for Xu Ye's reaction.

After a prolonged silence, Xu Ye finally moved. He reached for Marvin's leather belt, fumblingly unbuckling it, then undid the button and unzipped the dark blue jeans. His nervous fingers brushed against the warmth beneath the man's underwear, causing him to withdraw his hand.

"Sir…" Xu Ye's voice was barely audible as he lifted his head, eyes filled with pleading. "Can we move somewhere else?"

"Why?" Marvin asked.

"There are too many people… I can't do this."

"Too many spectators?" Marvin regarded him with interest. "So, who would you like to leave?"

Xu Ye paused, glancing sideways before lowering his head and murmuring, "I didn't mean it like that… I've never done this before, so…"

"Ah, a first time." Marvin chuckled. "Too bad I'm not the sentimental type, nor do I have time for your deliberation." He grabbed Xu Ye by the nape, pulling him forward and pressing his face directly into his lap.

Xu Ye gasped, his hands instinctively pushing against Marvin's thighs.

"I'll give you one last chance before my patience runs out," Marvin warned, his dark brown eyes glinting with a dangerous gleam. "No more games. No more bargaining."

Staring at the man's arousal inches from his face, Xu Ye closed his eyes, feeling a pang of hopelessness. 

"I can't do it."

Marvin stood, adjusting his clothes. Then, in an even tone, he spoke. "I knew you couldn't. Because you're only looking for a dom, not me as your dom. The third command I gave you wasn't actually about making you do anything. If you had gone through with it as readily as you removed your clothes, I would've stopped you at the last moment. You don't trust me, and that means you'll never meet my standards. I won't be your dom." He paused, adding, "Xu Ye, I'm not your tool to forget someone else. If that's what you're looking for in a dom, I suggest you stop."

With that, he lifted the curtain and left with his sub. Tom and Jerry exchanged a glance before slipping away as well. The Pharaoh rose and turned to Huamei, instructing, "Come with me."

Huamei hesitated, glancing at Chu Yu, who remained seated, his gaze fixed on the bare-chested man. Her heart sank as she rose and followed the Pharaoh out.

Now only two people remained within the curtained-off space.

Xu Ye got up, one by one retrieving his clothes from the floor and putting them back on. Just as he was about to leave, a deep voice broke the silence. "Stop."

Xu Ye paused, his hand hovering over the curtain. With a blank expression, he turned back. "Are you calling for me, Mr. Chu?"

"Come here."

The commanding tone annoyed Xu Ye, and he glared coldly at the man without moving.

Chu Yu stood and walked over to him slowly, his eyes, dark as ink, studying Xu Ye. They locked eyes briefly before Xu Ye looked away, lips pressed tight. It seemed like every clash of their gazes ended in his defeat. Xu Ye gave a bitter smile and attempted to sidestep, but a firm grip on his wrist held him in place. He tried to pull free, but the man's grip was painfully strong, and he couldn't help but cry out.

"Chu Yu!" Xu Ye shouted his name for the first time, "Let go of me…"

But the man didn't loosen his hold; instead, he tightened his grip and forced Xu Ye onto the sofa, pinning him with a knee to keep his legs still. In a low, unhurried tone, he asked, "How's the game of switching doms working out for you?"