Tao lay on the couch, propped up by the pillows, his eyes glued to his phone. He chuckled softly at the TikTok videos that filled his screen. He seemed oblivious to the impending doom. But Tao was not ignorant of his fate, he had just decided to drown out his worries with mindless entertainment. He felt a surge of anxiety when he received his report card. A B, two C's, two D's and two F's. Kris had high expectations for him. He wanted him to get mostly A's and B's, and only a few C's. And this was not a quarterly report card that could be easily fixed. It was his first semester report card. Kris would be furious.

Tao felt a chill run up his back when he heard the door open. Kris was home. The older man walked in and set his keys on the kitchen counter.

"Hello Taozi."

At least he was in a good mood…

"Did you get your report card today?"

Tao debated on lying but he knew that would only make matters worse for him.

"Yeah…" he said softly.

"Well let me see it," Kris boomed in his deep voice.

Tao wanted to cry, but there would be time for that later. For now, he lifted himself off the couch and made his way towards the stairs. As he ascended to the second level, his body felt heavier and heavier. He could feel his heart dropping to his stomach. What he would do to be someone else right now. He opened the door to the room he shared with Kris and found his backpack. Pulling out his report card his heart thumped even louder. Kris was going to kill him. He was sure of it.

Making his way back downstairs he felt as though he was going to pass out. Kris was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. When Tao reached the bottom step, Kris held his expectant hand out to the piece of paper. Tao handed it to him and his eyes began to sting with tears,

Kris unfolded the paper and Tao witnessed his face shrink into disappointment. He then looked up at Tao with eyes that could cut through a diamond.

"What have you been doing to get these grades?" he asked.

"I don't know," Tao responded in a whimpering voice.

"I asked you a question, Zitao. I expect a better answer than 'I don't know'."

Tears began to fall from Tao's eyes as Kris stared him down. He shrugged his shoulders and immediately regretted it.

Suddenly, Kris grabbed his upper arm and began to drag him up the stairs.

"Gege! No! Wait!"

"I told you when you got your last report card that I better not see these grades again!"

As they reached the top of the stairs, Luhan peaked out from his own room and gave Tao what could only be described as a look of sympathy. Kris dragged Tao into the shared room and turned Tao so that they were face to face.

"You are going to go to that dresser, open that drawer, and bring me the paddle. Do you understand?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Gege," Tao whined.

Faster than Tao could process what was about to happen, Kris turned him around and landed three merciless swats on Tao's bottom.

"OW! Gege!"

"Bring me the paddle. Now."

Tao walked over to the dresser letting his tears flow freely now. He opened the drawer and grabbed the dreaded paddle, then brought it to Kris. Kris grabbed it from him and sat on the bed with his legs spread.

"Come here," he said, pointing at the ground in front of him. When Tao got there, Kris slipped his thumbs inside the boy's pants and briefs and pulled them down in one quick motion.

"Gege!" Tao whined again.

"Stop! If I here one more thing out of you that isn't 'Yes sir' its gonna be my belt. Do you understand?"

"Yes S-Sir," Tao sniffled.

The older man pulled Tao across his waiting knee with the rest of Tao's body laying on the bed. Tao whimpered as Kris started with his hand.

*Smack* *Smack* *Smack* And it only continued.

By the 40th swat, Tao was openly sobbing, but Kris paid no heed. After an additional ten smacks, Kris stopped and folded his hands over Tao's back.

"Now that I've got your attention… What have you been doing to get these grades?"

Tao sucked in a breath and whimpered,

"I just haven't been doing th-the w-work," Tao said, burying his head in his arms. "No more, plea-please," he cried.

"Who decides when your punishment is over?"

"You, S-Sir."

"Good. Now, if you haven't been doing your work, what have you spent your time doing? Hm?"

"Go-going out wi-with fr-friends and video g-games, Gege," the boy sobbed.

"Mmm," Kris hummed

"Well, you're grounded for a month and I'm taking the Playstat-"

"WHAT?! NO! GEG-"

Before Tao could finish, Kris immediately brought his hand down on Tao's bottom.

"DO. NOT. INTERRUPT, ME!" He punctuated each word with a harsh smack.

"GEGE," Tao cried.

"You will not leave this house unless it is for work or school! Is that clear!?"

"Yes Gege," he sobbed.

"Good. Now I'm going to give you twenty with the paddle and you will count."

"Yes S-Sir"

"Good."

Kris rubbed the paddle across Tao's bottom for a quick second before bringing it down.

"O-One," Tao counted.

"Two," he counted again when the paddle dropped once more.

The counting continued until Tao reached twenty, at which point he was in a mess of tears and snot.

"We're all done Taozi. Stand up."

Tao lifted himself off of the bed to stand and Kris promptly settled his clothing back in place. Next, Kris stood, towering over the smaller boy.

"Now, these grades will improve next quarter or this spanking will feel like nothing for than a slap on the wrist compared to what I'll do to you. Understand?"

"Yes Sir," Tao mumbled, still crying.

"Good," Kris said as he brought the younger boy into a hug and rubbed his back

"It'll all be okay, Taozi.