Gu Yi Ming is in his studio. He leans over a light box, carefully perfecting a dragon design for his upcoming client.
The room carries the earthy aroma of sandalwood incense blended with the sterile tang of antiseptic, as soft rock music drifts in the background.
After hours of intense focus, his body is tight with strain, craving a much-needed break.
A ring echoed from the front desk, and only then did he remember the sign was still set to 'Open.'
He lifted his gaze, clearly bothered by the unexpected distraction. He rakes a hand through his hair, unknowingly smudging ink across his forehead.
He walked to the front desk, and as he saw a striking woman, he went from irritated to intrigued in a heartbeat. "We're closed but... I can schedule an appointment for you. Do you have any idea of what tattoo you want and where you want it?"
Unfazed by his obvious interest, Ru Yi answered, "I want a tattoo on my belly. Do you do after-hours service? It's urgent, I have a flight tomorrow morning."
A deliberate, wolfish smile unfurled on his lips as he rose, his height casting a long shadow over her.
Leaning over the counter, his eyes gleamed with curiosity, while the silver rings adorning his fingers shimmered under the studio lights.
"Belly, huh? That's intimate." A rougher, deeper timbre settles into his voice, "Mind if I take a look at the design?"
Leaning closer, placing his elbow on the counter, the artwork on his muscular arms showed through the rolled cuffs of his sleeves.
Ru Yi placed an intricate drawing on the counter and a bottle of mysterious golden ink. "If you can't do it, tell me now so that I can find someone else."
He snatched up the mysterious drawing, his gaze widening as he studied it intently. The golden ink shimmered peculiarly in the light, as if touched by something beyond this world. His jaw clenched tight, his professional pride clashing with a deepening sense of fascination.
"Listen closely, darling," he growls, leaning in so his white hair falls like a curtain framing his face. "I'm the finest in this city. I've created works that would bring other tattoo artists to tears. But this," he says, tapping the drawing with his finger, "this is something truly special. And this ink—where did you get it?"
He lifts the bottle, examining it against the light. "I can't work with unknown things, lest I get sued if something goes wrong."
Ru Yi snatched the bottle and the drawing on the table, "Oh, if you're not comfortable with this, that's okay, no worries — I'll get someone who will be up for the challenge."
His pride ignites behind his eyes, brittle and volatile. Her challenge cuts deep, and he can't help but drum his fingers on the counter, gaze locked on her retreating figure.
"Get on the table." He decided, and there was no turning back.
He walked over to the door, flipped the sign to 'Closed,' and turned the lock.
He snaps on new gloves, his hands moving with confident precision as he preps his station.
Ru Yi passed him the design and the ink, then positioned herself on the table.
Yi Ming rolled her pants down as low as necessary, just enough to reveal her taut stomach.
With practiced ease, he prepped her skin and drew the design.
After comparing it and getting Ru Yi's confirmation, he then reached for the golden ink—pausing to examine its shimmer one last time before loading it into his machine.
The familiar buzz filled the air as he gave it a quick test.
"This will take about 3-5 hours. There is no backing down once I start." He reminded.
Ru Yi nodded and replied, "Go for it."
Hour after grueling hour, Yi Ming carefully works the mysterious golden ink into her skin. The placement of the tattoo forces him to rest his forearms against her inner thighs.
Every quiet whimper from Ru Yi seemed to echo louder in the stillness, curling under Yi Ming's skin in ways he hadn't anticipated.
"Stay. Fucking. Still." His tone, coarse and uneven, revealed more than he meant to. Sweat beaded along his brow, dripping onto his chest, the soaked shirt clinging tightly to his body.
The buzz of the machine masks the sound of his breath, just slightly uneven. He works with precision, but every slow pass over her skin chips away at his composure.
"Almost done," he mutters through clenched teeth. Five hours into the unexpected tattoo session, even his normally steady hands start to tremble.
As he traced the final stroke to complete the artwork, the tattoo shimmered briefly—then vanished. Ru Yi twisted in pain.
The tattoo vanishing before his eyes, followed by her sudden agony on the table, caught Yi Ming completely off guard.
He lunges forward to support Ru Yi before she slips from the table. "What the hell? Hey, what's happening?"
She remained in pain and unresponsive for quite some time.
Though he thought about dialing 120 for medical emergency services, the strange golden ink made him wary. He was scared of potential legal consequences. He scolded himself for not having her sign a waiver before they began.
After what felt like an eternity, the heavy pain lifted bit by bit, and she started to come back to herself. The sheen of sweat covering her made her appear both vulnerable and enticing.
She steadied herself and reached into her bag. She pulled out her wallet. "How much do I owe?"
Yi Ming stood silent for a moment, then snapped, "How much? What the fuck was that? You can't just pay and leave without explaining."
"No, I don't need to explain anything. You only need my payment for your services." She said indifferently.
Yi Ming lost his temper and gripped both of Ru Yi's arms.
She winced in pain, and involuntarily, his gaze dropped to her sweat-soaked chest, the damp fabric clinging to reveal the cleavage beneath her shirt.
Her scent also drifted gently under his nose, awakening a slow, burning desire.