Author: hoenimochi (Page 2 of 80)

       Chu Yu sat down on the chair next to the bed and handed him a glass of water.

       His black hair had become a little grey under the erosion of the years. His slender figure was not out of shape due to self-discipline and exercise. The gilt cufflinks on the dark blue shirt were fastened meticulously. The previous leader of the Chu family was over half a century old, but he still had a strong aura. His black eyes seemed to be able to penetrate everything. Even if he glanced calmly, it would make people feel inexplicably oppressive.

       In the room, Hei Yu, Bai Xiao, and Du Chuan stood at attention, hands respectfully folded, not daring to make a sound. Bai Xiao, usually lighthearted and quick to laugh, wore a stern expression as if he was about to deliver a presidential speech. Hei Yu, typically stoic, now seemed as rigid as a steel plank. Du Chuan, standing quietly beside the kettle, looked guilt-ridden and uneasy, blaming himself for failing to look after the young master adequately; he had practically faded into the background, blending in with his surroundings.

       Chu Yichen raised his neck and drank the water inside, then lowered his head guiltily, “I didn’t expect to alarm you…it was my fault.”

       “The fault you are referring to is that you made yourself pass out and needed me to take over the work or to make Yunhan jump from the third floor to death?” The man in a dark blue shirt looked at him and asked.

       Chu Yichen’s gaze trembled, “…you know about him.” After saying that, he held the cup and wanted to ask something, but he didn’t ask.

       “You want to ask, when did I know.”

       He nodded.

       “It started when you were captured by the Grey Wolf.” Chu Yu looked at his expression and smiled slightly, “You don’t seem very surprised.”

       “When I was rescued, Hei Yu mentioned that one team deviated from the plan to head north of the warehouse and instead lay in ambush near the flatlands, where they later eliminated Gray Wolf’s main force. The squad leader of that team was one of Uncle Can’s men. I suspect… it might have been under your orders.”

       “Gray Wolf was the final test I set for you, but it’s disappointing that both you and your subordinates fell so short. As the head of the Chu family, you recklessly exposed yourself to danger, fully aware it might be a trap. Utterly foolish,” the man remarked, his gaze sweeping over the bowed head of Chu Yichen before casting a cold glance at Hei Yu and Bai Xiao standing nearby. “And as his subordinates, failing to curb his impulsive decisions, allowing strategic oversights, and even letting him push himself to the point of collapse—it’s sheer incompetence.”

       This sentence was extremely heavy that Hei Yu and Bai Xiao turned pale and knelt down simultaneously, lowering their heads. They had been trained since childhood, much like loyal retainers, bound to the rules of the Chu family: kneeling to the heavens, the earth, and their master. Normally, Chu Yichen would not let them kneel down, but Chu Yu’s words left them so ashamed and speechless that they could only sink silently to their knees. Nearby, Du Chuan stood in a state of uncertainty, but his attention sharpened when he suddenly heard his own name mentioned.

       “Du Chuan.” Chu Yu said slowly, “You have always been prudent in doing things, so I gave Yichen to your care. Now it seems that this job seems a bit difficult for you.”

       “Master!” Du Chuan was so frightened that he almost burst into tears, “I failed to take good care of Young Master. I dare not ask for your forgiveness. I only ask that you give me another chance…”

       “Father…” Seeing them like this, Chu Yichen couldn’t bear it and said bravely, “Everything is my fault. I insisted on…”

       “Of course it’s your fault,” Chu Yu interrupted him. “I originally had no intention of stepping in to help you. Since you’re willing to sacrifice your life for someone else, why should I stop you? Letting you fulfill your heroic death wish would grant your desire. But if you died, your father would be heartbroken.” Then, he looked toward the door and said, “Alright, come on out. You’ve been hiding long enough.”

       Xu Ye, who was wearing the same white shirt as him, walked in from the door. With a bit of embarrassment on his face that he had been exposed for eavesdropping, he said, “You make it sound like you won’t be sad.”

       “Dad.” Chu Yichen didn’t expect him to be here and was a little surprised.

       “Alright, let the children get up; the ground is cold.” Xu Ye’s voice was soft and gentle, like a breeze blowing on the face, making people feel at ease. “You can’t blame them entirely either. Who told you to raise a good son who is just as stubborn as you? They wanted to stop him, but they couldn’t; they tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

       “So it’s my fault, huh.” Chu Yu looked at him and said.

       Xu Ye smiled, “It’s my fault, okay?”

       When he smiled like this, Chu Yu’s expression softened a bit. He knew that Xu Ye followed him because he was afraid that he would blame them. He shook his head helplessly and said, “It’s because you’ve spoiled him.”

       Xu Ye sat down by the bed and said, “Alright, take this opportunity to let Yichen rest well. You can help him manage things. And isn’t there a bored Uncle Tang? Let him teach these two kids; it’s a way for him to still be useful.”

       “You have arranged so well for us. What about yourself?” Chu Yu raised an eyebrow. After being together for many years, this person already fully understands his thoughts.

       “I’ll just take care of you two.” Xu Ye curved his eyes into a smile.

       There was a slight smile on Chu Yu’s lips, and his expression became slightly better when he turned to the two people kneeling on the ground. He said in a deep voice, “Hei Yu, Bai Xiao, for this month, Tang Can will assist you in handling internal gang affairs in the capacity of a consultant. You will follow his lead. If by the end of the month you do not earn his approval, you won’t need to stay by Yichen’s side any longer.”

       “Understood.” The two of them raised their heads and looked at Xu Ye gratefully before leaving.

       “Du Chuan, you are responsible for taking good care of this kid, arranging his schedule, ensuring rest and nutrition. You don’t have to do it if he keeps passing out again.”

       “Understood.” Du Chuan agreed hastily.

       “Go down first. You didn’t get to rest during the time he was unconscious.” Xu Ye said.

       “Alright.” Du Chuan took the tea tray and walked out.

       Only father and son were left in the room.

       Xu Ye touched Chu Yichen’s head, “The doctor said there is no big problem; it’s just due to fatigue. You should rest well for the next few days and leave the matter to your father for the time being.”

       Chu Yu said solemnly, ‘I will only give you a month’s time to adjust, and after a month, everything will be returned to you. You must remember that as a member of the Chu Family, I can accept your adjustment at any time. Still, I won’t do anything like this time of overstepping my bounds in fulfilling the family head’s authority a second time.’

       “Understood, Father.” Chu Yichen sat up straight and replied seriously.

       “Now that the official business is over, next is private business.”

       Chu Yichen knew what he was referring to, lowered his gaze and said, “I will take care of it.”

       Chu Yu slowly said, “I know very well why you took over as the head of the family, and I also know your obsession with Yunhan very well. I once told you that there are always some things in this world that you cannot control and some people you cannot have. If you force it, you will only hurt others and yourself. You replied to me that since you cannot have him, as long as you can see him safe and happy, that would be enough. But you later changed your original intention.” He paused, “Whether out of revenge or jealousy, you got him in your own way and then forced him to become a sub. Chu Yunhan has an outgoing personality, is kind yet weak, and is proud and impulsive—like a tree that grows wildly. Yet you cut off its branches and forced it to grow in the way you need. Yichen, what you really want is a tree or just a bare piece of wood?”

       Chu Yichen’s eyelashes trembled, and he spoke with some difficulty, “I underestimated him and overestimated myself. But aside from this, I don’t know what else to do to keep him. The Gray Wolves, Sheng the Fifth, the repeated betrayals and escapes—I’m afraid that one day he might really do something that forces me to kill him. Or perhaps it’s just my selfishness at play; I want to have him… that’s all.” At this moment, he resembled a lost child, wandering, at a loss, and filled with so much sorrow.

       Xu Ye held him gently, patting his back with a sense of compassion. Time had passed too quickly; the child of years gone by had grown into a young man taller than him. As a father, he watched his son tread a difficult path, saw his smile grow rarer, and noticed the maturity and aloofness that didn’t suit his age as he took on the responsibilities of the entire family. At this moment, his natural vulnerability served as a reminder that he was still a child capable of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

       “I just went to see Yunhan. He only had a few fractures and slight damage to his internal organs. He had surgery and has woken up.” Xu Ye knew that he was worried and that it was hard to ask, so he told him about the situation, “He didn’t say anything to me, just kept silent. I contacted the Zhou family and told them that something had happened to him. I asked them to send Sister-in-law and Jiahui over to see him.”

       Chu Yichen nodded. This was the safest thing to do. Chu Yunhan already wanted to die, and only the presence of someone he cared about could comfort him.

       “Yichen, now that the matter is over, what are you going to do?” Xu Ye asked.

       “…I haven’t thought about it yet.”

       Chu Yu said, “You are the head of the Chu family, and Chu Yunhan is a family member who has participated in the rebellion. It is up to you to decide how to deal with him. We will not interfere, but I hope your decision will not make you regret it.”

 

       After that, Chu Yu began to assist his son in managing matters related to the Golden Eagle, helping to streamline the somewhat chaotic decision-making system. He delegated responsibilities to Hei Yu, Bai Xiao, and other officials, bringing in a group of newcomers trained by Tang Can to minimise the pressure on Chu Yichen as much as possible.

       Chu Yunhan stayed at the old residence to recover from his injuries. His mother, Zhou Yuran, often came to see him, bringing along Zhou Jiahui. Under the careful care of doctors and nutritionists, his health improved day by day, and his spirits lifted significantly. He claimed that he had accidentally fallen from the windowsill, and Zhou Yuran believed him. However, Jiahui was sceptical and, feeling indignant, went to confront Chu Yichen, questioning whether he had bullied her brother.

       Chu Yichen never visited Chu Yunhan but kept asking about his situation from Du Chuan. In his free time outside of official duties, he played chess and chatted with his two fathers, worked out every day, went to bed early and got up early.

       Time flew by. A month later, Chu Yu took the veterans and retreated to the second line, and Chu Yichen returned to take charge of the overall situation. In the evening, he came to Chu Yunhan’s room. Chu Yunhan’s broken hand bones had not yet fully healed, so he hung his arm with a bandage. Seeing his appearance, her whole body stiffened, and she instinctively shrank back.

       The man sat down in the farthest chair from him and said, “I heard from Du Chuan that you can get out of bed now.”

       Chu Yunhan remained silent, his eyes filled with wariness.

       “The relationship between us should also come to an end.” Chu Yichen looked at him and said calmly, “I will give you a chance. Two years ago, the company acquired a department store in the north of the city, but its performance has been poor. I’m assigning you to take over as the general manager. After the three-month store anniversary, if the sales exceed last year’s figures by more than eight percent, I’ll set you free. Conversely, if you fail to meet this target, you’ll obediently come back to be my sub.”

       Chu Yunhan was a little surprised when he heard these words. He was stunned for a while and said, “What you said…is true?”

       “I never lied to you.”

       He pursed his lips uncomfortably, “So these three months…”

       “I won’t touch you, nor will I restrict any of your actions. However, this opportunity will become void if you try to outsmart me with tricks like a ‘golden cicada shedding its shell’ or secretly escaping. You know what will happen if you attempt to cheat or run away and I catch you.”

       Chu Yunhan trembled.

       “You can take office tomorrow, and Bai Yang will accompany you.” After the man said that, he stood up and left without staying for a moment longer. The young bodyguard named Bai Yang saluted him and said, “Young Master Yun, from today on, I am responsible for your safety. You can ask me to do anything you want.”

       He nodded, thought for a while, and said, “Do you have any information about that company? I want to see it.”

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       Time seemed to slow down, and the three-story staircase leading downstairs became lengthy, as if it would never end. Chu Yichen felt as if his strength had been drained; his steps were a little unsteady, and he could only hold on to the handrail tightly. He was used to being calm, used to being expressionless, used to being calm in times of crisis, but at this moment, maintaining these habits became so difficult.

       With every step he took, his heart trembled. He was afraid—afraid that when he got downstairs, he would get a result that he couldn’t accept.

       “He is still alive.” The four words Zhang Juan said made everyone breathe a sigh of relief at the same time. “Fortunately, there are soft shrubs and soil underneath. Judging from the current situation, there may be several fractures. As for whether the internal organs are damaged, I can’t say. I will take him for further examination.”

       Chu Yichen nodded slightly.

       Other doctors there had already carefully put Chu Yunhan into the ambulance. Since there were always injuries and ailments that couldn’t be publicly addressed and needed to be treated in the Black Eagle Groups, the group had a private clinic with top-notch equipment in K City. Zhang Juan wanted to take Yunhan there.

       “Do you… Want to go there together?” Dr. Zhang couldn’t help but ask when he saw Chu Yichen looking like this.

       The man looked in the direction of the ambulance and shook his head.

       Zhang Juan sighed, patted his shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry; I’m here.” Then he turned around and hurried away.

       The car drove away, yet Chu Yichen still stood motionless.

       On weekdays, he was like a clock that ran meticulously and accurately, not making any mistakes for a moment. But now, it was as if all his batteries had been exhausted, and it had completely stopped. He had lost all the ability to think calmly and process, and all that was left in his mind was Chu Yunhan’s expression before he jumped.

       That tired and empty look became a freeze frame.

       Chu Yunhan jumped so crisply, leaving no words behind.

       When bidding farewell to this world, he didn’t want to say a word to him anymore.

       There was a rumble of thunder in the distance. The sky, which had been hazy for a long time, finally started to drizzle. Fine water droplets fell from the sky, swayed by the wind, and fell reluctantly to the earth. Chu Yichen stood silently in the rain with his hands hanging down, the wounds on his fingers still oozing blood. Hei Yu tried to persuade him from the side, but he didn’t seem to hear it. He just stared blankly at the small patch of blood where Chu Yunhan fell, in a trance.

       Hei Yu had no choice but to strictly order his subordinates not to leak any information about what happened today and let them disperse first. Du Chuan held an umbrella for Chu Yichen behind him. Bai Xiao hurried over after a while, as if he was about to say something, but was stopped by Hei Yu. The two talked in a low voice. When Bai Xiao learned what had just happened, he looked at the person standing in the rain in surprise, frowned and continued to discuss with Hei Yu.

       The rain was getting heavier and heavier. Even though he was under an umbrella, raindrops still hit him diagonally. In the blink of an eye, his pants and shoes were wet. The small pool of blood on the ground also melted into the rain, getting lighter and lighter, finally disappearing as if it had never existed.

       Chu Yichen finally made a move. He turned around and looked at Bai Xiao and said, “Speak up. How are things going?”

       “Young master, two ships at the southeastern port have been detained. The cargo has all been declared, and there are no issues with it. However… four crates of smuggled endangered animals were found on those two ships. Both vessels belong to Wang Jin, and it appears he was transporting the goods secretly. He’s currently detained, and the police are awaiting our response,” Bai Xiao summarised the situation concisely.

       “What you do yourself should be taken care of by yourself. Tell them to handle it by the book—there’s no need to give me any special treatment for something like this.”

       “But… Wang Jin has many people under his command. He has always been very kind to the people below him, and he evenly distributes money, so he is quite popular. He is also considered one of the more capable among the fourth-level cadres. I am worried that unsympathetic to push him out will lead to dissatisfaction below.”

       The man frowned and wanted to speak, but he felt a sudden dizziness. Everything in front of him instantly lost colour and then quickly fell into darkness. He staggered, and before he lost strength and fell, he heard Bai Xiao yelling.

       “Young Master! Young Master! What’s wrong with you…”

       …

 

       In the confined room, he was sitting in the corner covered in blood, looking up at the only small window high above. The light streaming through illuminated the dust floating in the air, and he seemed entranced—gazing at it with unwavering focus. Only when the heavy door creaked open did he tear his gaze away, shifting his eyes to the figure of his father as he entered.

       “Do you regret it?” the man asked.

       He shook his head.

       “In this position, there will be many times when you have to get blood on your hands. If you are as indecisive as you were this time, you will pay a higher price.”

       He looked at the person lying in a pool of blood in the corner, lowered his eyes and said, “I understand.”

       Three days ago, he was imprisoned in this secret room with this murderer who was responsible for several lives. The instruction the other party received was to kill him to survive. During the previous two and a half days, he had been trying to find a way for both of them to survive, but he was attacked several times, leaving him severely scarred. In the end, he cut the guy’s throat with the only knife he had during the hand-to-hand fight.

       That was the first time he killed someone with his own hands. Walking out of the dark room with a strong smell of blood, he felt as if he had died once.

       “The Young Master is looking for you.” The butler handed him the phone. He took it with his bloody hand, dialled the phone, and heard Chu Yunhan’s voice on the other end, “You finally called me back. Today is your birthday. How are you going to spend it?”

       “…I forgot.” he said.

       “How can you forget? Then I have arranged a super cool party for you!”

       “There are too many people, and it’s noisy.”

       “Hey, you’re the boss today, and you have the final say. I’ll come and find you first, then we’ll decide. By the way, I’ve prepared the cake for you.”

       “Okay.” After hanging up the phone, he said to Du Chuan, “Prepare clean clothes for me, something with a dark turtleneck and something that can cover the wound.”

       “Yes, Master.”

       “Take out the chessboard.”

       “Yes, Master.”

       The day before his eighteenth birthday, he learned how to become ruthless from the cruel heir education. For more than three months after that, he was plagued by nightmares and woke up countless times in the middle of the night.

       And every time he saw the photos Chu Yunhan posted on social networks, he unconsciously curled his lips.

       Fortunately, I am the one who has to live with all this.

       Fortunately, I am the one who needs to change.

       Fortunately…

       …

       “Yichen…my dad is dying.” On the other end of the phone, his trembling voice was filled with tears.

       “My mother took sleeping pills and is now in the hospital for emergency treatment… Yichen, what should I do…”

       “Yichen… Can you call me back…”

       When that person needed him the most, he was far away in City J, leading his team at a major project bidding event, unable even to receive the call. By the time he tried calling back, there was no answer. It wasn’t until the day before the funeral that he rushed back, only to be greeted by a broken-down Chu Yunhan.

       “I’m sorry, I…”

       “You don’t need to kneel here.” Chu Yunhan’s tone was cold, without any intimacy.

       From then on, Chu Yunhan never called him again.

       His father began to entrust him with some things to do. When he first took over, he was very busy every day. He occasionally visited the person, but he was always turned away.

       …

       In the bar.

       The man was lazily leaning on the sofa in the bar. He was holding the waitress in his right hand and shaking the wine glass at him in his left hand, “Long time no see Yichen, come and have a drink.” The dim, entrancing lights cast a mesmerising glow across that face, adding an almost seductive allure. 

       “Get out.” Chu Yichen looked at the woman with a cold face.

       The escort stood up in a hurry but was yanked back into the man’s arms. “How amusing. The Chu family empire is vast enough for you to manage, yet now you’re here meddling with me as well?”

       “Chu Yunhan, how long will you continue to indulge yourself like this?”

       “What’s wrong? Is it because you think I’ve ruined the Chu Family’s reputation, or is it because you, Second Young Master Chu, dislike me?” Chu Yunhan raised his chin and sneered, “You haven’t even officially taken over as head of the family, and you’re already using me as your first example to establish authority?”

       “Come home with me.”

       The man laughed, looked at him and said, “My father is dead, and my mother is in a nursing home. Where is the home you speak of?”

       He was silent for a moment and said, “You still have me.”

       “Ha.” Chu Yunhan laughed as if he heard a good joke and looked at him sideways, “Chu Yichen, who do you think you are?”

       He turned and left. The bodyguards stepped forward and dragged the yelling young man into the car.

       …

       “The Young Master injured the bodyguard and ran out. Do you need someone to bring him back?” Hei Yu came to report.

       He turned his eyes from the book in his hand to the window, remained silent for a while, and said, “Let him go.” After a while, he added, “Send two people to follow him and protect him.”

       “Yes.” Hei Yu hesitated.

       “What’s wrong?”

       “Eldest Young Master’s temperament has changed a lot, and he is getting more and more out of character. I’m worried…”

       “That’s just his way of exiling himself. Let him be.”

       “Okay.”

       …

       Later.

       “Yichen… I was caught by them… Please, help me…” Chu Yunhan’s voice trembled, helpless and heart-wrenching like the previous time.

       “If you want to exchange his life, come to the warehouse by the sea and do it alone.” Grey Wolf’s voice was harsh and harsh.

       “I will do it, provided you don’t hurt him.” He hung up the phone, turned and walked towards the door.

       “Young Master!” Bai Xiao stopped him in his tracks, “You can’t go! How could the Grey Wolf catch the Eldest Young Master without any movement under our heavy protection? This is simply a trap. Have you ever thought that Eldest Young Master might…”

       He raised his eyes calmly.

       Bai Xiao saw his expression and said in shock, “Young Master, you…”

       “Even if there is a ninety-nine percent chance that he worked with the Grey Wolf to deceive me, as long as there is a one percent chance that he is in danger, I will go.”

       …

       Grey Wolf smiled ferociously and told him that Chu Yunhan had lied to him. He fell to the ground covered in blood, and his only thought before closing his eyes was——

       Fortunately, the man is safe.

       Fortunately…

       …

       Chu Yichen opened his eyes.

       The room was very quiet.

       The man standing by the window turned around when he heard the noise. He looked at him and said, “Are you awake?”

       “…Father.”

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       Sleep was a haven for the exhausted body to resist harsh reality.

       And dreams were hallucinations given by the brain that stubbornly refused to sleep.

       In his dream, there was a spiral staircase winding down in endless circles, descending deep below. Chu Yunhan stood on a step, glancing up with a hint of confusion, yet he could not see the way back. Overhead was a circular patch of sky, hazy and gray, as if a heavy rain was imminent. He lingered there for a moment, dazed, before taking his first step downward. The steps felt cold beneath his bare feet. The spiral staircase seemed endless, but just as he was about to lose patience and stop, he realised he had finally reached the bottom.

       At the bottom of the stairs was a door. A dusty gray wooden door, with mossy green patches crawling up the frame, stood alone at the center of the circular floor. The door was slightly ajar, and a sliver of white light shone through the crack. He reached out to push it, but the door suddenly vanished, and the light that hit him made him squint his eyes.

       The sound of boiling water came to his ears.

       The scene before him was all too familiar. In the kitchen, a middle-aged woman was making soup. She picked up some with a spoon, blew on it, took a sip, and smiled with satisfaction. She turned off the fire, filled two full bowls, and walked to the study carefully carrying them.

       The tall man who was working at his desk raised his head and smiled at the person who came in. The young man reading a book on the side also raised his head.

       “I made sweet soup, one bowl for each person.”

       The young man stuck out his tongue, “…Mom, do you want to poison me and my father?”

       “Ungrateful child, are you going to drink it or not?” she said with mock indignation. “This time, it really turned out well.”

       “Not drinking it… Dad can have both bowls instead.”

       “One bowl per person. If you don’t want to drink, don’t go out tonight.” The man said.

       “Dad! I have something to do tonight!”

       “Then drink the soup.”

       “But I want to live…”

       “That’s not negotiable.”

       “Is there no justice left?” He took the bowl helplessly, smelled it, picked up a spoonful and licked it tentatively with his tongue. He thought it was okay, so he took a big sip and immediately sprayed it out. “Mom, how much sugar did you put in? It’s crazy!”

       “Is it very sweet? The rock sugar was all clumped up, and I thought I’d dissolve a bit of it in the soup. But then the whole chunk fell in, and it was too late to fish it out.” She pursed her lips, “I tasted it just now, and it seemed fine to me. You’re exaggerating.”

       “It’s so sweet that I almost puke!”

       She turned to the man with some frustration, “Is it really not delicious?”

       “It tastes good.” The man drank it all night without changing his expression and said seriously, “Everything you make tastes good.”

       “…Dad, has she tortured your taste buds to numbness?” The young man looked at him in disbelief.

       The man ignored him and continued, “But from now on, just let the cook do these things. I will be worried about what to do if something happens.”

       “Husband, you are the best…” She was so moved that she pounced on him like a puppy.

       “Hey, hey, I’m still here. Can you choose a place where no one is around to show your affection?” The young man shook his head unbearably, put down the bowl and sneaked out.

       “Where are you going? You’re not allowed to go to the bar.”

       “Hey, it’s Yichen’s birthday today. I’m going to prepare a surprise for him.” The captured boy grinned.

       “Come back before ten o’clock in the evening. Otherwise, your pocket money will be gone for the next month.”

       “Got it. So annoying.” He pouted and walked out of the study, passing by Chu Yunhan who was standing by the door. His eyes were bright and clear, with the high spirits of a young man.

       He couldn’t see him.

       Because it was all just fiction. In this way, his brain replayed a long-forgotten memory for him, turning him into a bystander at this moment.

       His father, mother, and his younger self.

       What was once an ordinary scene had become the deepest thought in his memory, making him cry in his dreams. He looked at his father and mother in the study, unable to get closer. He couldn’t move, and couldn’t speak. He could only watch everything turn into blurry smoke, and watch their silhouettes become blurred little by little until they disappear.

       The door appeared again.

       He pushed away eagerly, but his father and mother were no longer there.

       There was a drizzle in the slanting wind, and the raindrops fell on the pond, forming small water ripples that pushed away in circles. Under the corridor of the old house, the young man was sitting on the floor, staring at the chessboard with a frown on his face. After a long while, he sighed in annoyance. He then threw the white pieces in his hand back into the rattan chess jar, and rubbed his hands, “I should have known not to teach you Go, now I can’t beat you.”

       “How about I give you a two-stone handicap?” The handsome young man sitting across from the chessboard smiled.

       “No way. A real man takes his losses fair and square.” He leaned back on the cushion and said, “I prepared a grand birthday party for you, but you didn’t even show your face, and you hid here with the old man. Really… you are always so averse to fun. What will you do in the future?”

       “This is fine.”

       “Okay, if you want any birthday present, I’ll prepare it for you.”

       The man smiled, “No need, just play a few games with me.”

       “…You’re easy to please. I’m too lazy to go back at night, so I’ll crash here tonight; my dad won’t complain. Up for some games later?”

       “Sure.”

       What’s inside this door was that man.

       Chu Yunhan looked at the young Chu Yichen and himself with compassion in his eyes. Which one was more hurtful, the irreversible past or the unsightly present?

       The clock on the wall stopped ticking, its hands slowly turning counterclockwise. Flowers on the trees reversed from wilted back to bloom, shrinking to tiny buds and fresh leaves. The shadows shifted eastward, then vanished. Raindrops flew up into the sky, leaving no trace.

       Snow started to fall aimlessly.

       The boy in the down jacket held the woman’s hand and walked forward. His foot slipped and the Transformer toy in his hand broke his arm. He lost his temper angrily, “I didn’t even want to come! Why make me come? What’s so special about some kid the Second Uncle picked up?”

       The man who helped him up said angrily, “Brat! How can you talk like that!”

       “I don’t want such a bastard to be my brother!” the boy shouted and ran away angrily. He almost bumped into people on the courtyard arch bridge.

       He raised his eyes and met each other’s eyes.

       Another boy.

       The boy had black hair and a fair face and wore a small suit. His expression was calm, studying him with a scrutinizing look. His eyes were dark as if hiding a hidden light, resembling the gem he’d gotten on his birthday.

       The boy was very beautiful.

       He was stunned.

       His mother touched his head and said, “Idiot, this is your brother. Go over and say hello.”

       He didn’t know why he was a little nervous, so he walked over slowly and held it in for a long time before asking, “Well… Do you like Transformers?”

       The other party was slightly startled and then smiled. The gentle brows and eyes were like bringing a gentle breeze, making people feel beautiful.

       “Like it.”

       …

       The world spun, toppled, and crumbled as if it had turned into a huge music box. The white snow in the sky was swaying, making it difficult to open one’s eyes.

       Chu Yunhan woke up.

       There was still dampness in his eyes, and a small patch of wetness stained his pillow. An IV needle was inserted into his hand, and the cool scent of medicinal cream filled the room. The slightest movement awakened the pain along his back, his waist and abdomen sore and exhausted, with a dull ache on his lower body that was hard to describe. He felt as if he’d been broken apart and pieced back together, every part of him worn and numb.

       He curled up and buried his head between his knees.

       It was the safest position for him, yet he still felt so much fear.

       The house he had lived in for a long time had now become a prison, trapping him inside with no way to escape. The person who once talked and laughed with him has now turned into a cruel existence, which frightened him.

       Master and slave. In the shackles of this identity, he would no longer be an independent person from now on.

       Chu Yichen did not break his promise.

       He finally tasted the feeling of ‘having nothing’. He lost his identity, his freedom, his happiness, and ultimately himself.

       If everything was gone, what was the meaning of living?

       Chu Yunhan raised his head and looked out the window.

 

       The sky was grey, probably because it had just rained, and was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

       He pulled out the needle and stood up, struggling to prop up his body with his legs. The dizziness and pain made him hold on to the bed for a while before he recovered. He walked to the window and pushed it open. The strong wind rushed in like a wave, blowing the soft hair on his forehead.

       A flying bird chirped across the sky, and Chu Yunhan kept looking at it until he could no longer see it. He stepped on the stool and stood on the window sill, staring steadily at the direction in which the bird disappeared.

       There was some noise behind him.

       Chu Yunhan turned his head to look. His eyes met the person who walked in, and he trembled slightly. Then, for the first time in his life, he saw a look of panic on that usually calm and indifferent face.

       “Chu Yunhan…” Chu Yichen stood stiffly on the spot, his voice seemed to be shaking, “What are you going to do…”

       He looked at him, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing, only smiled faintly. He turned his head back toward the sky in the distance, lowered his lashes, closed his eyes, and let go of his grip on the windowsill, falling straight down. Like a bird leaving the nest, never to return, without a single look back.

       At that moment, Chu Yichen, who rushed to the window and almost fell down, was hugged by the housekeeper who rushed up at the same time.

       The cry of ‘Young Master!’ was almost shrill. The bodyguards and Hei Yu outside the door hurried over. They saw Du Chuan hugging the man tightly and shouting, “Call Dr. Zhang quickly, the Young Master… is down below.”

       Hei Yu was equally stunned. After recovering, he quickly ordered someone to find Zhang Juan, while he stayed behind, looking worriedly at Chu Yichen, not knowing what to say, and softly called, “Master…”

       Chu Yichen was hugged tightly by Du Chuan, like a body that had lost its soul. His gaze fell to the ground, and he stared at the window blankly. In his desperate grab for the window frame, his fingers had bled.

       In his state, Hei Yu and Du Chuan did not dare to do anything and could only wait impatiently for news. They had followed Chu Yichen for many years and knew his obsession with Chu Yunhan, so they understood better what it meant to him once he lost Chu Yunhan.

       The two looked at each other, each seeing anxiety in the other’s eyes.

       If that person died…

       Then, this man before them might also…

---

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       The temperature-controlled and humidity-regulated basement was eerily quiet. Soft light fell from the top of his head, shining on Chu Yunhan’s bare skin. The skin that had not seen the sun for a long time showed a porcelain-like whiteness, which made the red marks on the back even more eye-catching.

       They were the marks of whip strokes, crossing and slanting from side to side, each one almost equidistant from the other in a parallel reddish colour, but none of them broke the skin or drew blood. He knelt on the carpet, his legs slightly apart, his upper body upright, and his hands hanging by his sides. Because of the pain, his body trembled slightly, and beads of sweat from his forehead slid down his cheeks and dripped on his collarbone.

       He was much thinner than two months ago. His collarbone was obviously sunken, his chin was sharpened, and there were faint dark shadows under his eyes. The whole person looked fragile and tired. Despite having a dedicated nutritionist and chef preparing balanced meals for him daily and eating everything as ordered by the man, his weight continued to drop. He could hardly sleep and spent his days curled up in his room, refusing to go anywhere. His nerves had become extremely sensitive, rejecting all physical contact except from Chu Yichen. Whenever anyone came close, he would instinctively flinch away.

       In fact, what he feared most was his touch, and Chu Yichen knew this in his heart. It was just that this fear was suppressed by other deeper fears in the repeated training. Because of the fear of pain and punishment, Chu Yunhan’s body suppressed his fear of him and turned it into a slight tremor.

       If you stop here… everything will be in vain.

       You made your decision from the beginning, right? Why are you still wavering?

       There’s just one last step left.

       The man sitting on the black single sofa clenched the riding crop in his hand, stood up, walked to the kneeling man, raised his chin with his hand, and said, “What should you address me as? Have you thought about it?”

       Chu Yunhan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and he pursed his lips tightly without saying a word.

       It had been three days. The man’s methods made his life worse than death, but he still refused to call out the word ‘master’. He couldn’t explain why he was still persisting at this point.

       There was obviously nothing left.

       Dignity, hope, and faith were torn apart bit by bit by that man’s own hands, and even his body became completely uncontrollable. What was it that he was still struggling to hold on to now?

       He no longer knew.

       He only knew that he could kneel down to Chu Yichen, cry and beg for mercy, and obey his rules because he knew deep down in his heart that all the actions were forced. But the addressing him as ‘Master’ was different. This means that in addition to giving up his body, he must also give up the person named Chu Yunhan.

       And that was the last thing he had.

       Every night when he couldn’t sleep, he told himself over and over again that no matter what happened in this basement, he was still alive, and he was still himself. He was afraid that under Chu Yichen’s ploy, he would really begin to identify with his existence as a sub and truly become a puppet that only succumbed to sex and lost its soul. So no matter what, he never said it.

       For Chu Yichen, the acknowledgement of identity as a slave was the most important step. He wanted to turn a person who originally had a normal sexual orientation and without any BDSM needs into a pure sub, and Chu Yunhan’s sense of self had to be completely shattered.

       At this point, the two sides fell into a stalemate, like a tit-for-tat chess game, reaching the end. Whoever could persist to the end would be the winner.

       As time passed, the silence became a challenge to patience. The man put down the whip in his hand and said in a deep voice, “Okay. Let’s try and see how long you can hold on.”

       Chu Yunhan, who was pressed face down on the sofa, let out a mournful cry of pain as Chu Yichen’s thick c0ck pushed in from his rear hole without any gentleness.

       Before this, even if it had a punitive nature, the man would do a good job of expanding him when he fvcked him to ensure that he did not harm him.

       But this time, it was different.

       The expansion was not yet in place, and so did the tunnel. Yet the back hole was forcibly stretched to an unbearable range. Blood and lubricant dripped down the thigh from the torn wound. Chu Yunhan’s face turned pale, and his whole body was shaking. The slightest movement of that iron-like c0ck made his teeth chatter in pain. However, the man had no intention of taking pity on him at all, and after a short pause, he started thrusting. He pushed in deeply and quickly pulled out from between the white buttocks. There were faint traces of blood in the slippery lubricating fluid. The pain blurred Chu Yunhan’s vision, and he began to struggle violently. However, his waist was firmly held down. Chu Yichen adjusted his posture and invaded again. One ferocious blow after another pushed Chu Yunhan to the point that he could not even kneel properly, and he fell on the back of the sofa like a broken doll.

       At this time, Chu Yichen put away all his tenderness, like a piece of cold ice, cruelly hurting him with the sharpest shape.

       There was no pleasure at all in such rough sex; there was only endless pain. The pain twisted his world into horrific shapes, “It hurts so much…” His voice trembled like a helpless butterfly in the storm, begging for mercy from the other party, “It hurts so much, Yichen…”

       The man’s movements paused. The blade of flesh broke through the opening and plunged straight to the bottom, “I told you how to address me. If you can’t learn, I’ll do it until you can’t cum out of your front.”

       Tears rolled down Chu Yunhan’s face. He shook his head and begged in a choked voice, “Please… please…”

       He was trapped in a terrible nightmare.

       The pain swept through everything, and his body couldn’t help shaking—the pain seemed to be endless. The vibrator attached to the flesh forced him to maintain an erection while the black leather harness firmly blocked all desires inside. The horrific torture at the front and the ruthless abuse at the back were intertwined as if they were about to tear him to pieces at any time.

       It hurt so much.

       It hurt so much that he wanted to pass out and be done with it.

       It hurts so much that he couldn’t help but let that word out of my mouth.

       It turned out that he couldn’t hold on to anything…

       He closed his eyes. The tears that hadn’t dried up yet shook down on the black sofa with each impact.

       “Mas…ter…” When his dry lips trembled and said this word, Chu Yichen stood up close to him and injected streams of hot liquid into his body. When the man’s c0ck slipped out of his back hole, blood, lubricant, and white turbidity flowed down the inner thigh. The man turned off the vibrator and turned his ravaged body over to face him.

       Chu Yunhan was already exhausted, with wet tears hanging on his pale face. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his eyes were so hollow that there was no light. He said hoarsely, “Please… kill me…”

       He gave up.

       He gave up resistance, gave up struggling, and gave up his own self.

       Chu Yichen’s pupils shrank suddenly, his eyebrows furrowed, and he said coldly, “You can’t die.”

       Chu Yunhan looked at him, with some dim light in his eyes, as if he was about to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. His eyelids closed weakly, and he fell asleep due to exhaustion.

       The man stood in silence for a moment, then took a thin blanket and wrapped him in it. He then took him out of the basement, placed him on his big bed, and said to Du Chuan, “Call Zhang Juan here.”

 

       Wearing a nightgown, Dr. Zhang hurried over and asked nervously as soon as he entered the door, “What’s wrong with you? Something happened again?”

       “I’m fine. He’s the one that’s injured.” Chu Yichen looked in the direction of the bed.

       Zhang Juan relaxed a little and lifted the blanket. He saw the whip marks on Chu Yunhan’s back and the mess between his legs, and frowned, “How did it get like this?”

       “I lost control for a moment.” The man sitting on the sofa had a calm expression, like a lone traveller wandering through a vast desert, carrying with him the weight of dust, desolation, and loneliness yet remaining unreadable to those who looked at him.

       Seeing him like this, Zhang Juan shook his head helplessly. He spread Chu Yunhan’s legs and used an anal expander to open the mucous membrane gently. He cleaned the inside, carefully inspected it, applied medicine, and said, “The sphincter muscle is torn and bruised inside. It’s very difficult to heal the injury there. Don’t feed him hot food for the next few days. His wound needs to be cleaned and medicated every day. If you want him to get better, don’t sleep with him anytime soon, especially in such a rough way.”

       Zhang Juan was born into a family of renowned medical practitioners, but after his father offended a high-ranking official, the family fell into ruin. The Chu family had once extended kindness and protection to him. Upon returning from studying abroad, he stayed on as the Chu family’s private physician. His relationship with Chu Yichen was exceptionally close, almost like brothers, so his manner of speaking was much more casual than that of others.

       Chu Yichen sat silently and said nothing.

       Zhang Juan looked at the man on the bed, then at him, and said, “Are you torturing him, or are you torturing yourself?” Finally, he couldn’t help but add, “I know there are some things I shouldn’t say, but…”

       “Then don’t say it.” The man interrupted.

       Dr. Zhang choked and angrily put the glass bottle on the small table, “Fine, I won’t say anything. The medicine is here, so go ahead and do whatever you want…” and went out angrily.

       Chu Yichen got up and went to the bathroom to get warm water and wiped the sleeping body clean little by little. Chu Yunhan, who was unconscious at this moment, was like a quiet doll, obediently at his mercy. His eyes were closed tightly, and his long eyelashes were stained with tiny teardrops, making him look sad and fragile. His lips were bitten again, red and swollen, and took on a more beautiful colour. The man carefully applied ointment to his injured area, then wrapped the man in a fluffy blanket and carried him back to his room, laying him gently on the bed.

       No light was turned on.

       The moonlight outside the window was bright, spreading a layer of frosty white on the ground.

       Chu Yichen sat by the bed and looked at the sleeping man quietly. He was as still as a statue, and his eyes were swarming with many mixed emotions. They were entangled and swirling, forming a huge vortex that sucked in all the light.

       After sitting quietly for a long time, he made a move and gently stroked the cheek with his fingers.

       “I wish I could just destroy you.”

       Under the moonlight, the man spoke slowly, but his slightly lowered eyes were full of sadness and loneliness.

       He sat by the bed all night.

       It was as if he was a lonely king guarding a deserted city.

---

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