{Note:- 'Past' arc will give a bit more information about Zhu Shen till the time he met YiJun. The 'Present' arc picks up right after Wangji leaves Shen and Zhau to talk about the murders happening in the city. 

The next update will be the Part 5 of In 'Pain' and In 'Pleasure'}

Past

When Zhu Shen was young, he often used to think that his life is better than the fairy tales his mother used to narrate to him. He had parents who loved him and a younger sister who adored him. His days were spent in fake swords play with his best-friend only interrupted by study time, which he used to enjoy as well. 

He was, after all, the Prince of his tribe. Studying texts about his people, and the do's and don't's of how to effectively guide his people was something expected of him in the future. Zhu Shen, however, never thought about the future. 

So, at the age of twenty-eight, when he had returned home from a hunting expedition with his best friend and found out that while he was away, his sister as well as the women and children of his village, were abducted by the King of Wang empire, he was angry and heartbroken. 

He had asked permission to attack the King, but his father had refused, "He has our women and children. She had no choice but to marry him." His father had said, leaving young Shen fuming. Shen knew that his father was right. He knew that it would be wrong to attack the Wang Kingdom when all the women and children of his tribe were being held hostage by him. So he swallowed his anger.

A year later, YiJun was born, and the King had set all the women and children he had held hostage, free.  

Though his sister was miserable with the King, Shen knew that she had remained with him for YiJun's sake. 

As time passed, his sister started visiting again. YiJun always accompanied her. Shen started smiling once again, for YiJun was bright and beautiful. With him, Shen had found a reason to smile again.

Then one day, the King had come to the tribe and challenged him to a duel; Shen had accepted. 

The King had cheated, and eventually, after overpowering Shen and killing his best friend, the King had left Shen for dead.

What the King didn't know was that Shen was not dead: He was transforming. His heartbeat had become faint and slow. That is when Princess Su Shin, who was passing by, had found him. Weak and dizzy, Shen did not stand a chance against her power of persuasion.

Shen didn't know how, but the moment the Princess had smelled his blood, she knew what he was. And for the next fifteen years or so, she had used and abused him.

Then one day, he had heard the Princess speak of YiJun. She was planning to do to YiJun what she had done to him. 

He couldn't let that happen. He had somehow escaped from Shin's clutches and headed to warn YiJun. But in the end, he had failed, and both YiJun and Xian had paid the price.

Because of the mental and physical abuse it had suffered at Su Shin's hands, Shen's wolf was scarred. Both Shen and his wolf had given up hope of ever finding someone who they would belong to, someone who would call them: Mine.

Present

'A split second before the bullet is fired, Zhau's brain and heart scream, 'MINE!' He doesn't hesitate before shielding Shen's body with his.

"Officer Zhau!" Shen screams as the silver bullet hits the officers shoulder, and Zhau falls. Shen, however, holds him before he hits the ground.

"Shen, a... are you ok?" Zhau asks, before falling unconscious in Shen's arms.

"Officer... Officer!?" Shen checks Zhau's pulse. The sight and smell of Zhan's blood catches him by surprise. He slows down his breathing and looks around. The shooter, whoever it was, is long gone. 

He inspects the wound; the bullet, he realizes, is laced with Silver, and some unknown substance.

Shen picks up the unconscious man in his arms and carries him to the jeep. He finds the keys in the ignition; Zhau had not expected this turn of events. Thus, with the scent of Zhan's blood still in his system and with a strong need to protect the unconscious man lying in his arms, Shen drives them to the Lan Mansion. 

On the way, he makes a call to their family doctor, telling him to come to the mansion immediately. 

When Shen reaches home, the doctor is already waiting for them. 

Shen carries Zhau to his room and instructs the doctor to follow them. 

Once in the room, the doctor and the staff get busy; within minutes, the whole room is converted into a makeshift hospital ward.

The doctor examines Zhau and removes the bullet lodged in his left shoulder, before dressing the wound.

"Shen, this man is indeed lucky. The bullet missed a major artery. I have disinfected it. There is no silver in his blood. He should regain consciousness within a few hours."

Shen nods and sighs in relief; the doctor picks up the bullet and bags it, "I will get it tested and get back to you at the earliest." he informs. 

"How should I take care of him?" Shen asks, walking over to the bed.

"Now that I have removed the traces of silver from it, his blood won't hurt you anymore. And you know how to take care of flesh wounds better than I do." The doctor pats Shen's back and leaves.

When Shen had arrived home, he had expected to find Wangji there, for he had forgotten about the auditions. On enquiring, when he is informed of Wangji's whereabouts, Shen calls him, "YiJun, be careful. I was attacked an hour ago, but I am pretty sure you were the target." he guesses.

"Uncle, are you alright?" Wangji asks, his voice laced with concern.

"Mn. The stupid human shielded me with his body; he has taken a bullet to the shoulder. I have brought him home. By the way, the bullet was laced with Silver and something else I couldn't recognize. I have sent it to the lab." Shen informs. 

Shen pauses for a second and sits on the bed next to Zhau, whose shoulder is bandaged. "YiJun, he didn't even hesitate... He just saved my life." Shen says slowly, subconsciously touching the unconscious officer's cheek with his fingertips.

"Uncle, silver is not deadly to humans. He will be fine." Wangji says, trying to make Shen feel better. His uncle is not used to being saved: He is more of a savior.

"Mn. What are you doing in the hall? The judging is not going to start for the next couple of hours." Shen asks.

"I am at the office." Wangji lies. He doesn't elaborate, and Shen doesn't push him for more.

"Mn. Stay inside. Don't let your guard down." Shen warns, before cutting the call.

*Lan Hall, Before the start of Auditions*

When Shen had called him, Wangji was sitting in his car with binoculars. As soon as he had left the two men to their own devices, Wangji had hurried home; he had first gone to Xiao Xian and kissed his cheek before getting changed. Then he had driven to the Jiang residence, where he had watched as the family of three had breakfast together.

Thereafter, he had followed Xian discreetly till the Lan Hall; and was about to follow the boy inside, when he had received a call from Shen.

Now that Wangji was aware that he was probably being tailed, he turns the car around and parks it in his usual parking space inside the hall. He hopes that he was not followed. 

When Shen had told him about the attack, the first thought that had crossed his mind was not his own well being but Xian's, "I hope no one followed me there." He had thought to himself. 

Once he had made sure that Wei Xian was safe and surrounded by people, he had settled into his office and started going through the names of the shortlisted candidates handed to him.

He had never heard this Xian sing. He was both excited and worried; worried, about Xian's safety. Wangji had realized that Xian would be an easy target standing on stage. Completely unprotected.

But all thought had left his mind when Xian had taken the stage and started singing. Wangji realized then that Xian had not been lying when he had told Wangji that his voice was magical. So when the hall filled with praises for Xian, Wangji felt angry and jealous.

{Note:- Word count 1400

This chapter can be read before Part 4 of In 'Pain' and In 'Pleasure' as some events occur simultaneously. 

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Thank you for reading. 

 Have a nice day.}