Author: hoenimochi (Page 3 of 85)

       In the afternoon, there was a negotiation to cooperate with a company in Hong Kong to develop a real estate project. Both sides were stubbornly holding onto their positions regarding the investment ratio and profit sharing, resulting in a prolonged deadlock. Finally, they managed to reach an agreement.

       After it was over, Chu Yunhan entertained the guests for dining and entertainment as the gracious host. In the dimly lit private room, the hostesses sat with the guests. They were all wearing short cheongsams with high slits, and their white breasts and thighs were exposed, exuding an atmosphere of lustful allure. One sat next to him as well, trying to cosy up to him, but a single glance from him made her sit back obediently, eventually hugging a microphone and softly singing to herself.

       When the entertainment was over, and the guests were sent back to the hotel, the sky was already filled with stars. He leaned wearily against the back seat, quietly watching the neon lights flowing in the city at night, but the man’s face always appeared in his mind unconsciously.

       Cold and distant, smiling, locking eyes, asleep—frame by frame, like scenes from a movie. The more he thought about it, the more a faint heat spread over his body.

       What the hell… was he losing it?

       Was he really so sexually frustrated? 

       He shook his head irritably. Ever since the cemetery ambush incident, both of them had been overwhelmingly busy. As a result, he hadn’t made any requests to the other party, and he has been enduring them for over a month. Looking at Chu Yichen’s current state of exhaustion, he had no idea how much longer he would have to endure it…

       He was probably really poisoned by that person. Even at times like this, he wasn’t thinking about finding someone else. He was really eaten to death.

       He smiled helplessly.

       Let’s just bear with it a little longer…

       When he returned to the mansion, the study was still brightly lit. Standing at the doorway, Chu Yunhan glanced in to see the man seated behind the desk, engrossed in writing something with a pen. He had changed into a set of grey cotton pyjamas.

       Apparently, he had fallen asleep but had to get up to work temporarily.

       He frowned, walked in, and pretended to look for books on the bookshelf. While muttering, “Where is it?” he walked to the desk and cleared his throat.

       Chu Yichen looked up at him and asked, “Just got back?”

       “Well.” He glanced at the documents on the table and said, “Aren’t you done yet?”

       “Just a bit more.”

       With nothing more to say, Chu Yunhan casually pulled a book from the shelf and said, “Finally found it. Well… I’ll head back to the room then.”

       The man’s eyes turned from the book to his face, and he smiled and said, “Reading this at night?”

       Chu Yunhan looked down at the book and instantly felt as if his seat were on fire, embarrassment flooding him. The cover of the book, a traditional thread-bound edition, prominently displayed the words ‘Golden Lotus¹Ming dynasty vernacular novel, formerly notorious and banned for its sexual content‘ in cursive calligraphy, with smaller, neatly printed characters beneath that read ‘Illustrated Edition’. His face turned red as he stiffened and said, “Just bored… reading randomly…”

       With a smile on his lips, Chu Yichen put down his pen, turned his chair towards him, and said, “Slave, come here.”

       Chu Yunhan felt his entire body heat up as though it were burning, almost steaming. Swallowing nervously, he stepped over to the chair hesitantly, stealing a quick glance at the door before kneeling down.

       A warm hand caressed his face, fingertips repeatedly rubbing over his lips before the man issued the command, “Suck.” Chu Yunhan parted his lips slightly, taking the man’s index finger into his mouth, his tongue curling around it as he gently sucked. The man gradually raised his finger, forcing him to tilt his head back, exposing the graceful, supple curve of his neck.

       In the quiet study room, the sounds of swallowing and sucking seemed particularly erotic. His Adam’s apple quivered, and his moistened lips turned a deeper red, like petals after rain—soft and alluring.

       This was the first time Chu Yunhan had willingly stepped into the role of a slave outside of the club. He could imagine how he looked right now—kneeling, sucking on another man’s finger, letting the man invade his mouth, completely yielding to his whims. The tension heightened the thrill, and coupled with over a month of abstinence, it didn’t take long for him to become aroused.

       Chu Yichen saw the bulge in his crotch and ordered, “Take off your pants and get on the desk.”

       He shamelessly did as he was told, leaning on the table and raising his fair ass high. The man stood up, but when his hand was about to touch his skin, he suddenly stopped. He frowned, then took a report and threw it before him, saying, “Read it out. You’ll be slapped if you make a mistake in a word.”

       Chu Yunhan had no choice but to obey and read a long paragraph. The man behind him remained silent the entire time, which puzzled him. He turned his head to peek at the risk of being punished, but he heard Chu Yichen say, “Get dressed. Get out.”

       Chu Yunhan froze, sitting up and turning to face him. Chu Yichen was leaning back in his chair, one hand gripping the armrest, the other pressing against the edge of the desk. His face looked a bit pale.

       “What’s wrong?” he asked.

       The man frowned deeply and said stiffly, “Get out.” He closed his eyes, his expression weary, as though he couldn’t even stand to look at him anymore. 

       Chu Yunhan was completely thrown off by Chu Yichen’s attitude. It was like having a bucket of cold water dumped over him, extinguishing all his passion. Frustrated, he said angrily, “What’s that supposed to mean? Do you find it fun to toy with me like this?”

       “Didn’t you say you were leaving? Yet here you are, refusing to go. What, do you enjoy sticking your ass out, begging me to use you? Pathetic,” Chu Yichen’s voice was cold and cutting, every word like a blade.

       Hearing this, Chu Yunhan froze completely, his face flushing red and then turning pale. It felt as if a knife had been plunged straight into his heart, and instead of being pulled out, it twisted cruelly, leaving a mess of torn flesh and blood in its wake.

       So this was Chu Yichen’s true opinion of him.

       So this was how lightly that man regarded him…  

       Chu Yunhan grabbed his pants, quickly put them on, and left the study without looking back. On his way down the stairs, he bumped into Du Chuan, knocking the cup from his hand. The scalding tea spilt onto his arm, but he didn’t even notice. He grabbed the car keys from the driver’s hand, slammed the door, stepped on the accelerator and rushed out of the door.

       He had no idea where he was going, but staying in that house—staying even one more second—was unbearable.

       Only when the car reached the highway did he realise his face was wet.

       Pathetic.

       But everyone else could call him pathetic—everyone except you. 

       It was you who made me like this. 

       It was you who made me unable to live without you…

       Chu Yichen…why do you do this to me…

       The road in front of him was blurred by the tears that kept pouring out. He finally pulled over to the side of the road, slumping forward onto the steering wheel as his shoulders shook with silent sobs.

       When his emotions finally calmed down, Chu Yunhan began to think about what to do. If he had been his proud and haughty old self, he would have left and never returned, preferring to bottle up his feelings rather than face that person again. But after everything that had happened, he had matured a lot compared to before. He didn’t know why the man’s attitude had suddenly changed or what he had done wrong. But because that person was Chu Yichen, there had to be a reason behind it.

       He wanted to talk to the other party and figure this out.

       In the end, Chu Yunhan made up his mind, turned the car around, and drove back to the old mansion.

       Deep down, he knew that he just couldn’t let go.

       Dragging his heavy footsteps to the door, he hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to push it open. But the person in the study was gone. He walked up the stairs dejectedly and came to Chu Yichen’s door. He saw Bai Xiao leaning against the door and asked, “Is he in there?”

       “Young Master Yun, Young Master is resting.” Bai Xiao replied with a face devoid of any warmth, his tone respectful but cold.

       He glanced at the door and asked, “Is he… okay?” He had vaguely noticed Bai Xiao’s furrowed brow earlier. 

       The other party didn’t answer, merely stared at him in silence. 

       Chu Yunhan felt depressed and was about to leave when he saw the door open from the inside. Du Chuan stepped out, startled upon seeing him, and quickly hid what he was holding behind his back before shutting the door. Putting on a perfunctory smile, he said, “Young Master Yun, you’re back.”

       Chu Yunhan didn’t miss the little movements, and he distinctly heard a sound from within just as the door closed—a muffled noise from deep in someone’s throat. Suspicious thoughts swirled in his mind as he stepped closer to the door.

       Bai Xiao immediately moved to block his path. “Young Master Yun, Young Master is resting. It wouldn’t be appropriate to disturb him now.”  

       “Disturb…” Chu Yunhan let out a cold laugh, tinged with bitterness.

       That sound… the muffled groan… was obviously…

       He has another sub. No wonder he said those things earlier…

       Then what does the contract mean? What do they mean to each other?

       Chu Yunhan felt as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar. He was angry and desperate, and his fists clenched so tightly that they shook. He suddenly stepped forward and kicked the door. Bai Xiao reached out to grab him, but Chu Yunhan punched him so hard that he collided with the wall.

       “Young Master Yun!” Du Chuan shouted in desperation, and he rushed in like a tiger.

       Chu Yunhan stormed in, consumed by the thought of catching someone in the act, but froze in his tracks when he saw the scene before him. 

       The room was brightly lit. Three people stood by the bedside, seemingly in the middle of a discussion. Hearing the commotion behind them, they turned around simultaneously. One of them was Zhang Juan, and the other two were his assistants, dressed in pyjamas, clearly summoned in a hurry without even having time to change.

       From the gap between their bodies, Chu Yunhan saw Chu Yichen lying on the bed.

       The man’s wrists and ankles were bound to the bedframe with soft straps. His eyes were tightly shut, a towel clenched between his teeth, and his forehead was covered in sweat. Suppressed groans escaped from deep in his throat, his expression one of profound pain, as if enduring some unbearable torment.

       The sight was shocking enough, but when Chu Yunhan’s gaze fell on Chu Yichen’s exposed chest, he was completely stunned. 

       In his youth, when Chu Yichen would strip off his sweat-drenched jersey, there were always girls on the sidelines blushing and screaming. His skin was flawless, not even a single mole, and his taut muscles perfectly outlined his well-proportioned physique. 

       But now… his chest was covered in hideous scars, crisscrossing in all directions—some long, some short, of various shapes. One knife scar ran vertically downward, disappearing beneath the waistband of his pants, its stitched wound resembling a long, grotesque centipede. The sight was appalling.

       The scene before him hit Chu Yunhan like a bolt of lightning, rendering him completely motionless. He couldn’t even tear his gaze away. Bai Xiao, who had rushed in after him, was about to drag him out when Zhang Juan spoke up, “Enough, he’s already seen it. There’s no point in hiding it anymore.”

       Bai Xiao glanced at the man writhing in pain on the bed, then at the devastated Chu Yunhan, and released his grip. 

       “What… what is going on?” Chu Yunhan stammered, his tongue feeling clumsy.

       While Zhang Juan slowly pushed the remaining transparent liquid in the needle into Chu Yichen’s body, he said, “I’m afraid you have to ask Young Master Yun this question yourself.”

       Chu Yunhan’s heart jolted, his face turning pale as he looked at Zhang Juan. The suspicion that had been lingering in his mind, like wind sweeping sand, became increasingly clear and undeniable.

       At that moment, the man on the bed let out a hoarse sound, his brows deeply furrowed.

       Zhang Juan sighed and said, “How long are you planning to keep this from him?”

       Chu Yichen’s eyes fluttered open slightly, weakly glancing at the family doctor, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. His chest heaved with difficulty due to labored breathing, prompting one of the assistants to place an oxygen mask over his face immediately.

       “I’m really tired of this hide-and-seek game you two keep playing. No one in this house dares to disobey your orders, so I’ll do it myself.”

       Zhang Juan stood by the bedside, pulled down Chu Yichen’s pyjama pants with a swift motion, then grabbed Chu Yunhan and dragged him to the edge of the bed. With a blank expression, he said, “Since you’re here to see, then see it clearly. There are 89 scars on his body in total. These circular ones are from being pierced with an awl. These shallow ones are knife cuts. These small burn marks are from electric shocks, while the larger ones are from scalding. This dent on his thigh? That’s where a chunk of flesh was gouged out. Fortunately, these are all external injuries meant to inflict pain but not fatal. The dangerous ones are twofold. First, this long slash wound—it starts under his ribs and runs all the way to his abdomen.”

       Then, Zhang Juan pressed Chu Yunhan’s hand against Chu Yichen’s chest and said slowly, “The second is a gunshot wound, right here. The bullet entered from his back and exited from the front. If it had been just a little off, he’d be dead. Young Master Yun, can you guess how long it took me to stitch up this body that was practically torn to shreds?”

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       In this battle, the second eldest son of the Sheng family, Sheng Guang, and their third eldest son, Sheng Wei, were shot dead, and more than 200 of their men died. The fifth son, Sheng Ming, disappeared without a trace.

       On the side of J City, military and political leader Old Master Shen suddenly fell ill, and all affairs were handed over to his grandson, Shen Mo, to handle. Sheng Weiyong was arrested for economic crimes involved in smuggling, illegal possession of firearms, and other charges. The eldest son, Sheng Kai, was detained for a murder case. The stock price of Sheng Group plummeted. The Sheng family’s power was on the decline, as if a building was about to collapse, teetering on the edge. 

       The authorities classified this incident as a gang conflict, skillfully avoiding implicating the Chu family, instead announcing that the Chu family was an ‘innocent victim’ who had accidentally become involved in the gang clash.

       In this battle, the Black Eagle Society lost 43 men dead and over 240 injured. The casualties among Chu Qin’s former subordinates who were paying respect at the cemetery were the heaviest. At Qinglan Mansion, besides Aunt Song, the gardener, and a few servants who weren’t there that day, Bai Yang and three bodyguards were severely injured, while Feng Tai, Lan Xin, and others all died.

       Chu Yunhan, who stubbornly insisted on personally visiting the scene, did not speak a word the entire time. He only picked up Feng Tai’s pocket watch and tucked it into his chest pocket, slowly combing Lan Xin’s bloodstained hair, staring at her pale, quiet face for a long time without moving. Finally, he closed his eyes, which were reddened from holding back tears, and had them placed in black body bags and taken to the morgue.

       After returning from the cemetery, he locked himself in his room in the old mansion and hadn’t come out since. The Sheng family still had a lot of fish that might have slipped through the net and could be wandering the city, so Chu Yichen requested that he stay in the old mansion temporarily. But everyone knew the real reason—it was to prevent him from being reminded of the scene at the empty Qinglan Mansion.

       The next afternoon, the door was forced open, and Hei Yu brought a little girl to Chu Yunhan who looked haggard.

       There was finally a flicker of light in his dull eyes. He knelt halfway and said slowly in a hoarse voice, “Yuanyuan, your mother…is gone.”

       “…Where did Mommy go?” There was an uneasiness in the childish voice.

       “…She went to a very, very beautiful place. She wanted to stay there, but she couldn’t stop worrying about you, afraid you’d be lonely…” He did his best to remain composed in front of the child, trying to appear better, “From now on, Uncle will accompany you on her behalf so that she can rest assured, okay?”

       Yuanyuan looked at him and nodded, but tears fell. She was a sensitive and delicate child—her mother hadn’t come back, and neither had Uncle Feng. Many people hadn’t come back. She could read pity and sorrow in the adults’ eyes when they looked at her. She knew her mother wouldn’t return, and from now on, she had no one else to rely on except the man before her.

       Chu Yunhan held her in his arms and comforted her softly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry… Uncle will always be with you and protect you. Are you hungry? Let’s go get something to eat together, okay?”

       He had to pull himself together because someone needed him. He was someone else’s pillar of support. 

       This incident was too far-reaching, requiring a great deal of follow-up work. Both the black and white parties have a lot of things to be busy with, including political negotiations, business operations, internal management, tracing the remnants of the party, providing compensation for the deceased, and treating the injured… Additionally, with many people lost, Chu Yichen was swamped with work. Minran couldn’t be in J City to assist, and even the older generation, Chu Yu and Chu Xuan had to get involved. Chu Yunhan actively took over many of the group’s operational matters and became busy himself.

       The funeral of the deceased was held a week later, and tombstones were erected in the Black Eagle Society’s exclusive cemetery. Although some of the ashes had been collected by their families, their names were still engraved here as a permanent memorial.

       It was an extremely grand funeral. A black motorcade, with large white flowers tied to the front of the cars, slowly made its way along the main road of K City, passing in front of the Golden Eagle Group headquarters. Under the gaze of the golden eagle perched atop the building, the deceased were sent to their final resting place. The long procession attracted numerous onlookers, all of whom knew it was the Chu family bidding farewell to their loved ones.

       The officials and high-ranking members of the Black Eagle Society rushed back from all directions, and the entire cemetery was dark and solemn. Chu Yichen, wearing a black suit, stood at the front. Chu Yunhan and others stood behind him, bowing deeply to the tombstone together. Yuanyuan, who was wearing a little black skirt, held his hand tightly and sobbed softly. After the ceremony was over, he took her little hand and went to Lan Xin’s tombstone. Yuanyuan cried and said softly, “Mom, don’t worry, I will listen to Uncle Chu, and I will come to see you often…”

       Seeing this scene, Chu Yunhan felt extremely depressed. He turned his face and met the eyes of the man standing not far away.

       Chu Yichen was looking at him. The two of them were busy with their own affairs during this period. Even though they lived in the old house, they always left early and returned late. It seemed that they had not seen each other for a long time. At this moment, there were many people between them, and they were looking at each other calmly, and no one looked away. It wasn’t until Yuanyuan grabbed Chu Yunhan’s hand again that he lowered his head, picked her up, and left the cemetery first.

       When people get busy, they tend to ignore the passage of time. By the time all the matters were dealt with and the situation had stabilised, it had already been a month and a half. After winter set in, a few moderate to heavy rains fell, and the weather grew colder day by day.

       Chu Yunhan, who was woken up by the alarm early in the morning, went downstairs with messy hair and yawned. Since Lan Xin’s death, no matter how busy he was, he made sure to set aside time every day to have breakfast with Yuanyuan and then take her to kindergarten. He sleepily walked to the dining room, and when he saw the people sitting at the round table eating, he paused in surprise, his eyes widening.

       Yuanyuan, wearing a little red sweater, reached for the pastries on the plate, but her short arms couldn’t quite reach. She quietly pulled her hand back. Just then, a large hand extended from the side, moving the plate directly in front of her. The girl softly said thank you, took a small cake, and bit into it, with the jam filling spilling out. The man sitting next to her wiped it off with a napkin and said, “Take your time.”

       This scene was strange yet harmonious, leaving Chu Yunhan dumbfounded, unsure whether to walk over. A while ago, Chu Yichen had gone to J City to expand his network, and they hadn’t seen each other for more than half a month. Now, seeing him sitting at the table felt unreal. When Yuanyuan looked up and saw him, she called out, ‘Uncle Chu’, and immediately, the familiar gaze followed.

       Chu Yunhan felt a slight itch on his face, like being swept by a cat’s tail. He coughed lightly, said vaguely “Good morning, you’re back”, and sat down on the other side of Yuanyuan.

       “Just arrived.”

       He was a little cautious for no reason and said, “Over there… is everything settled?”

       “En.”

       “No need to go?”

       “En.”

       “Minran is still there?”

       “Shen Mo is still settling in; there are some things to take care of.”

       “Oh.”

       The exchange was brief and sparse.

       Chu Yunhan distractedly scooped some porridge into his spoon and brought it to his mouth, only to find it scalding. He was caught between spitting it out and swallowing, looking utterly awkward. He hissed through his teeth while sneaking a glance at the other man.

       The man raised the corner of his mouth, sipping milk from his cup without saying anything. However, Yuanyuan next to him looked at him sympathetically and said, “Uncle, eat slowly, hot.”

       “Okay.” His face turned red, and he stirred the porridge in the bowl with a spoon. He said, “I will take Yuanyuan back in two days.”

       Chu Yichen was silent for a while and replied calmly, “Okay, I’ll let someone arrange it.”

       Chu Yunhan didn’t know why he felt a little unhappy all of a sudden. It was as if there was a sudden and uncomfortable feeling in his heart. He said, “I’ll handle it myself.”

       It was quite a blunt rebuttal. Du Chuan, who was standing aside, glanced at the person sitting in the main seat.

       The man’s expression remained unchanged. He slowly took a sip of the milk in the cup and said, “Okay.”

       It was his own suggestion at first, but now that the other person agreed, he felt upset. What was going on? Even he thought he was being unreasonable.

       It was probably because he had been holding back too much lately, and he was a bit emotionally disturbed…

       That must be the case…

       Chu Yunhan felt sullen and had no appetite left. After Yuanyuan finished eating, he said, “I’ll take her to kindergarten,” and left.

       He was in a bad mood the entire way. It wasn’t until Yuanyuan, who was sitting in the back seat, asked timidly, “Is Uncle upset?” did he realised that he had been scowling the whole time and said with some shame, “No, it’s just that the road is a bit congested. I asked Aunt Jing to come after school in the afternoon to pick you up, okay? Uncle has a meeting that might run late.”

       “Okay.” The little girl was always very well-behaved.

       After dropping Yuanyuan off at kindergarten, Chu Yunhan realised that he had been absent-minded and had forgotten a whole folder of materials at home.

       He had originally planned to call Du Chuan to have someone bring them to the office, but since the folder contained confidential business documents, he decided to return them and get them himself.

       He walked into the traditional Chinese-style building with white walls and black tiles, his gaze passing over the study on the second floor. He paused, then turned back.

       Sunlight streamed through the wooden lattice window, casting patterns of shadows on the floor. The tall bookshelf was neatly stacked with books, forming a layered, pixelated 3D image. Amid this, a figure was slouched on the wide sofa, his head tilted to one side. His hand, holding a fountain pen, was limp against the armrest, and the pen had rolled onto the carpet.

       His eyes were tightly closed, and his thick black lashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes.

       Chu Yichen had just… fallen asleep.

       Chu Yunhan stood quietly for a moment, letting out a soft sigh. This was the first time he had observed Chu Yichen’s sleeping face up close. He had always remembered Chu Yichen as strong and cold after reaching adulthood, like a machine, constantly alert and calm. Sometimes, he even forgot that this person was an ordinary human who needed rest.

       His gaze fell on the thick stack of materials on the side table, and he frowned.

       It must take a lot of effort to mediate among the powerful people in J City. This man caught a late-night flight, skipped a good night’s sleep, and was now handling a pile of matters. It’s really…

       He realised that this morning, the man had probably only had a cup of milk.

       He looked at the tired sleeping face of the other party, and somewhere in his heart, a soft, sour, green plum-like emotion welled up, slowly swelling, filling his heart to the fullest. He quickly went to a nearby room and took a soft thin blanket, gently draping it over Chu Yichen. After quietly closing the study door behind him, he turned to see Du Chuan holding a cup of tea and Hei Yu with the materials standing behind him. Chu Yunhan raised an eyebrow and said, “What’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait? Can’t you let him sleep for a bit?”

       This was the first time the young master had interfered with Chu Yichen’s matters, and both Du Chuan and Hei Yu were taken aback, exchanging glances. Hei Yu lowered his head and said, “I’ll report in half an hour.”

       He took a few steps, turned back, and whispered to Du Chuan, “Don’t mention that I came back.”

       “Understood.” The butler responded.

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       His actions greatly exceeded Sheng the fifth’s expectations. The man’s brows furrowed into a deep crease, “Why are you…”

       “My surname is Chu.” Chu Yunhan looked at him.

       “And because you’re a Chu, the only one who can protect you now is me. My brothers will undoubtedly eradicate the Chu family; leaving me is a dead end for you.” Sheng the fifth raised his hand and looked at his watch anxiously. He then said, “Do you understand or not?”

       “I’ve already betrayed once and have no desire to do it a second time.” His voice was unusually calm, without a trace of ripples. “If you still have even a shred of affection for me, let me go and allow me a dignified end. If not, kill me yourself.”

       The man stared at him stiffly, with the corners of his mouth tightened. In addition to sullenness, heartbreak and sadness were in his eyes, and he whispered, “…Is it necessary to be like this?”

       Chu Yunhan didn’t know where he got the courage. He pressed his finger tightly on the trigger, lowered his eyes slightly, and said word by word, “It has to be like this.”

       Sheng the fifth was silent for a while, then punched the roof of the car with a gloomy face, gritted his teeth and ordered, “Let him through.”

       “Fifth Young Master!” Surprised, the attendant beside him said, “If you let him go like this… If the Third Young Master finds out…”

       “I said, let him through!” The man looked like a ferocious lion, his eyes a little red, “Shut the hell up!”

       Seeing his rage, his subordinates dared not say more and quickly stepped aside to clear the way.

       Chu Yunhan’s eyelashes trembled, and he said “Thank you” in a hoarse voice and sat back in the car. Bai Xiao immediately stepped on the accelerator and rushed out of the alley.

       Sheng Ming watched the car pass before him, turn the corner and disappear. He leaned against the car door and lit a cigarette tiredly. Sheng Weiyong knew about his obsession with Chu Yunhan, which was why he hadn’t been sent on this operation. He followed secretly in order to take Chu Yunhan away safely. He had planned it all out—he would take this man back to J City, and if his family objected, they would flee abroad together for a carefree life.

       But now, the man who once reached out to him for help no longer wanted to go with him.

       In the end, he was too late after all.

       Sheng the Fifth took a deep drag on his cigarette, recalling how Chu Yunhan had once been in his arms, and kissed. He was shy and tense, trying to resist yet forced to submit, so captivating. He thought of the stunning smile from earlier, and his gaze became unfocused.

       Just as he was lost in these memories, a subordinate came rushing over with urgency, “Fifth Young Master, something happened!

       Inside the car, Chu Yunhan was still gripping the gun tightly. His hands trembled slightly, and he used his other hand to steady it. Bai Xiao was on a call, listening silently before finally replying, “I understand.”

       “How is he? Is there any news? How is the situation at the cemetery?” Chu Yunhan asked anxiously as soon as the call ended, leaning forward against the front seat.

       Bai Xiao glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “No news yet.”

       The longer it dragged on, the worse it looked. Disappointment clouded Chu Yunhan’s face as he furrowed his brows deeply. After a moment of silent thought, he asked, “How many people are heading to the cemetery now?”

       “About two thousand.”

       “How many more manpower can be mobilised?”

       The man paused briefly and said, “There are about two thousand and five thousand in the city.”

       “Organise two thousand to intercept Sheng Wei. Split three hundred into two groups to guard the old house and the Zhou family; if necessary, evacuate them. Contact my second and third uncles, inform them of the situation, and have the people protecting Minran leave Italy and cut off all unnecessary communications. Choose a few sharpshooters to ambush at key intersections. Kill any members of the Sheng family on sight. Have all Black Eagle members currently outside conceal their identities and infiltrate J City slowly.” Chu Yunhan’s voice was dry and hoarse, with some unsteady tremors but with unprecedented cruelty. “Now turn around and go to the old house. I’m going to destroy all personnel records and financial documents. Assign two hundred men to protect it.”

       Bai Xiao stared at him in shock through the rearview mirror, unable to speak for a long time.

       “What are you waiting for?” Chu Yunhan snapped harshly.

       Bai Xiao turned on his mobile phone, dialled a number, and said in a deep voice, “Young Master Yun said…” Then he repeated all his words. After getting the answer from the other party, he made a sharp U-turn at a red light and headed toward the Chu family’s old house.

       “So much time has passed already…” There was a broken void in Chu Yunhan’s eyes, and his voice was very soft, as if he was mumbling to himself, “No news must mean he’s still alive…”

       “What will happen if Young Master is no longer here?” Bai Xiao suddenly asked.

       The man in the back seat said nothing.

       Just when Bai Xiao thought the other party wouldn’t answer, he heard a chilling sentence.

       “If he’s dead, not a single member of the Sheng family will live.”

       While Chu Yunhan headed toward the Chu family’s old house, Sheng Ming’s car was speeding toward the outskirts of the city. Behind him, several black cars followed like persistent shadows. From time to time, there was the sound of bullets hitting the car’s rear.

       Sheng Ming clenched the gun in his hand with red eyes, feeling waves of coldness coming from deep within his bones, making him tremble.

       On the phone call just now, the weak and breathy voice of the second brother Sheng Guang kept echoing in my ears.

       “Xiao Wu… I’m done for. Something happened to your third brother too… Don’t go back to J City. Just now… Shen Mo and Chu Minran attacked Dad… Turns out they’ve been planning this all along… Go abroad, don’t come back, just leave…”

       Overnight, the net in his hand was torn, and the beast was released, roaring angrily, revealing its bloody fangs.

       The hunter had become the prey.

       The mist in his eyes turned crimson as if everything was burning and evaporating around him. Sheng Ming clenched his teeth hard and finally closed his eyes, letting a scalding tear roll down his cheek. 

       When Chu Yunhan rushed into the old house in a hurry, he looked at Chu Yu and Chu Xuan standing in the hall. He was stunned, tears welled up in his eyes, and he said incoherently, “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, he’s at the cemetery… What…what should we do?”

       Chu Yu looked at him in such a panic and turned to Bai Xiao.

       Bai Xiao lowered his head guiltily and said, “I just… didn’t tell Young Master Yun the news.”

       “Deceiving your master, how insolent.” Chu Yu said coldly, “Your punishment will be dealt with later. Go tend to your wounds.”

       “Yes.” He immediately retreated.

       Chu Xuan walked over and said, “Yichen is fine, and the situation is under control. We are here, don’t worry.”

       Hearing these words, Chu Yunhan felt that the strength that had been held in his body had been drained out of his body. His whole body relaxed, and his feet lost some strength and swayed.

       Chu Xuan held him up and asked, “Are you okay?”

       He looked at the other person suddenly, tears rolling down uncontrollably. He hurriedly wiped it off with the back of his hand, lowered his head and said, “I’m okay.”

       “Sit down.” Chu Yu patted his shoulder, “Drink some water.”

       Chu Yunhan sat down and took the tea from the servant. Without drinking it, he said in a hoarse voice, “What happened today was done by the Sheng family.”

       “Yes,” Chu Yu said. “The Sheng family and our family have both been vying for political and military support. Initially, we stayed out of each other’s way, but a year ago, they began extending their influence into K City, squeezing our power. Yichen started strategising at that time, using the forces in J City to shake the foundation of the Sheng family. Although Minran claimed to be studying abroad in Italy, he has actually been staying with the Shen family in J City for the past year, hiding his identity and plotting to help Shen Mo rise to power. Just now, that plan has come to fruition.” He paused momentarily before continuing, “What happened today was indeed sudden. The Sheng family noticed Shen Mo’s growing power and decided to strike first and take Yichen’s life. However, this time, their covert operation was controlled directly by the second and third sons of the Sheng family. It wasn’t until last night that Minran figured out their movements. We had received word that they planned to make a move during the amusement park’s ribbon-cutting event hosted by Golden Eagle this afternoon. So, Yichen decided to use himself as bait to lure them out. Tang Can and Hei Yu also stayed behind with a large group of people at the venue. Unexpectedly, they changed their plans at the last minute and struck at the cemetery. Fortunately, Yichen had already sent extra personnel to protect you on the outside, which allowed the personnel to be redirected in time. It was a close call, but luckily, no major harm was done.”

       The brief explanation sounded plain, but it concealed the countless lives, blood, risks, and fear involved. Having personally experienced the events of the day, Chu Yunhan now fully grasped how treacherous this path was. After understanding the cause and effect, the panic in his heart subsided a little. He took a sip of tea to soothe his throat, which felt parched and burning. Yet, his mind suddenly conjured the image of Chu Yichen standing solemnly before his father’s gravestone.

       —I will take good care of him, please rest assured.

       What if that person’s original plan was to use himself as bait in the afternoon to lure the Sheng family into making a move? Then what kind of feelings did he harbour when he said this sentence? His appearance at the cemetery this morning—was it truly for homage, or…

       Was it to see him? 

       To see him, possibly for the last time?  

       When this thought suddenly came into his mind, his whole body froze.

       “Go and take a rest.” Chu Yu said gently when he saw that his face was pale.

       He shook his head, “I’ll wait here.”

       Wait for what?

       He knew it in his heart but couldn’t say it aloud.

       Thunder exploded in the distance, rumbling furiously in the dark clouds. The gloomy sky was split in half by lightning, the wind blew the trees in the yard, and the rain poured heavily.

       Chu Yunhan stood behind the railing in the corridor, staring closely in the direction of the door. The cold wind ruffled his brown hair and slapped his face with wetness.

       At last, a figure appeared in the empty doorway. 

       Closer and closer.

       The man walking in front stopped when he saw him.

       That handsome, striking face was smeared with blood, blending with the rain. His black coat was soaked, water dripping steadily from its edges. Yet his posture remained tall and composed, like a tree growing skyward or a lone wolf standing proud and unyielding.

       At that moment, the entire world seemed to lose its colour.

       All that remained were those dark eyes, gazing at him through the rain, tender as water.

       “I’m back.”

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       Chu Yunhan stood frozen. The wind slipping between the two of them carried a biting chill, dispersing the warmth from his body.

       He watched the man approach little by little and finally stopped in front of him before reaching out a hand toward his coat collar. Chu Yunhan wanted to step back, but out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the neatly lined-up crowd not far away. His retreat halted abruptly, and he allowed the man to straighten his crooked collar.  

       Now, Chu Yichen, who appeared in the cemetery, is the head of the family and his cousin. The intimacy of his gestures carried a performative quality. 

       He wanted his subordinates, partners, friends, enemies, and others who came here for various reasons to see clearly—that there was harmony between the Chu brothers, no discord whatsoever, and that the previous rumours of brothers turning against each other were just nonsense.

       It had been a long time since they last met in a public setting like this, each standing in their respective positions. Chu Yunhan kept his gaze low, barely daring to look at the other. In a soft voice, he asked, “When did you arrive?”

       “Since the moment ‘I really hate myself,’” the man replied, his voice light.

       He only felt a little suffocated in his chest and stood silently with his hands down.

       Chu Yichen put down the flowers and stood before the stone tablet for a long time. In the end, he only said one sentence, “I will take good care of him; please rest assured.”

       Chu Yunhan’s heart felt like it had been struck hard, beating wildly out of rhythm. His face flushed red, and his clenched fingers dug painfully into his palm.

       “Let’s go,” the man said as he passed by.

       He glanced at the tombstone again, pursed his lips, and followed the other person’s steps outside.

       Chu Yichen walked in front, his slim body wrapped in a slightly loose coat, making him look tall and imposing. The oncoming wind blew the man’s scent over, and the light and familiar scent of aftershave brushed past the tip of his nose, reminding him of those ridiculous and indulgent nights, of the way the man panted against his body, of the relationship between the two of them. That sticky entanglement between them.

       A restless heat rose from deep within his spine, causing his blood to gradually boil. Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Chu Yichen stopping in front of him and ended up bumping into the man’s back. Looking at those oppressive black eyes, as if his thoughts were being seen through, his face became even hotter, and he whispered, “…I’m sorry.”

       “Where are you going?” Chu Yichen asked.

       “The company, there’s this project… and we have an appointment for negotiation.”

       Just as the other party was about to speak, he heard a ‘bang’ sound in the air, and then a bodyguard in front of him fell heavily at his feet.

       Everything happened unexpectedly.

       Chu Yunhan was hugged hard and rolled over, hitting his head on the ground before he realised that it was a gunshot. Chu Yichen pressed him tightly, and his voice was hoarse, “Don’t move.” Screams erupted, and everyone seemed to move in an instant. The bodyguards gathered around and blocked the two people. He heard the sound of flesh being penetrated, he saw people falling continuously, and he felt Bai Yang protecting him in front of him, pushing him back.

       In the chaos, a car slammed through the cemetery fence and rushed in. Bai Xiao shouted, “Young Master, get in!” Chu Yichen grabbed Chu Yunhan and shoved him into the backseat, slamming the door. He then said, “Take him away!”

       “Young Master!” Bai Xiao looked sad, and his voice was trembling.

       “Take him away. Protect him.” The man said solemnly, “This is an order.” He drew the pistol at his waist, looked deeply at the dumbfounded Chu Yunhan, and said nothing. He turned around and followed the steps of the bodyguards as they quickly retreated towards the building in the distance.

       Bai Xiao’s eyes were blood red. He gritted his teeth and stepped on the accelerator hard, and the car sped away.

       The intensive gunfire drowned out Chu Yunhan’s trembling, “Wait a minute…” and the bullets hit the car door and windows, making a ‘bang’ sound. The bulletproof glass around him was cracked into spider web-like patterns. He suppressed his fear and trembled all over. “Wait…Bai Xiao…wait…” His mind was blank as if he had been thrown naked into an ice cellar; his teeth were trembling, and he was shaking with every word.

       “Wait for what? What are you still waiting for? He stayed there to draw the fire away, to make sure you live!” The man driving the car had a gunshot wound on his left arm, and blood was oozing out. There was a kind of sad despair in his voice, and he roared fiercely, “He’s done everything he could for you—everything! Even what he couldn’t do, he did! Do you fvcking know that?!”

       Gripping the door handle tightly, Chu Yunhan felt a dull ache and suffocating pressure in his chest as though someone was squeezing his heart. Even breathing became difficult. The last look Chu Yichen gave him lingered in his mind.

       The black eyes, with the deep light, seemed to have a lot of reluctance but also an unshakable determination.

       —-He wants you to live.

       Chu Yunhan grabbed Bai Xiao’s shoulders with trembling hands and said, “Go back…” Seeing that the other party didn’t respond and still drove straight forward, he finally shouted angrily, “Go back! I want to go back!” “

       A sneer appeared on the pale man’s lips, “What’s the use of going back?”

       The words hit him like a blunt weapon to the head, leaving him dazed and unable to respond. He slumped back into the seat, lost and despondent. 

       Yeah, what’s the use?

       What on earth am I…useful for?

       Chu Yunhan covered his face with his hands, pressing hard enough for his knuckles to turn white, leaving deep marks on his skin. Warm moisture soaked his palms and cheeks. He couldn’t tell whether it was sweat, tears, or perhaps dirt or blood from somewhere.

       The feeling of powerlessness he felt when his father left swept over him again. This time, it was stronger and more overwhelming. He trembled and huddled in the back seat like a cornered animal, letting out a silent cry of despair.

       Don’t die…

       You can’t die…

       Chu Yichen…please…

       He prayed over and over in his mind. Having always believed in nothing, he suddenly hoped that there really was a god in the world who could hear his prayer and bless that person.

       Chu Yichen had stayed behind in the cemetery, drawing most of the enemy fire. After their car was pursued for a while, the gunfire ceased. But even as they entered the city, Bai Xiao’s expression remained grim. He kept glancing at the rearview mirror, frowning, and pressed the accelerator hard. The car, already going at 130 kilometers per hour, skidded almost sideways as it rounded a sharp corner and changed direction.

       Chu Yunhan was nearly thrown off his grip on the handle, asking in alarm, “Is someone following us?”

       “Yeah.” Bai Xiao pulled a gun from beneath his seat and tossed it to him while driving. He then said, “If I die later, just run. If you can’t escape, well, then you’re out of luck.”

       Chu Yunhan’s heart pounded as he loaded the gun. He took a deep breath, and quickly recalled the shooting techniques he had been trained in—steady your breathing, align the three points, squeeze the trigger…

       At that moment, Bai Xiao suddenly slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, leaving deep tyre marks on the ground. They were trapped in a narrow alley, blocked by cars at both ends. Seeing the formation, Bai Xiao’s face darkened, and he curled his lips into a sinister smile. Gripping his gun, he sneered with a chilling malevolence, “Young Master Yun, it looks like today’s the day we die here.” Every word dripped with murderous intent.

       Chu Yunhan forced himself to stay calm, controlled his hands so as not to shake, gritted his teeth, opened the car door, and stood out.

       Bai Xiao was shocked, “What are you doing?!”

       He stood beside the car and shouted to the people at the other end of the alley, “I am Chu Yunhan. If you’re making such a big show of trying to kill me, isn’t the least you could do is show me who you are before I die?”

       The other party was silent for a while. Then someone came up and whispered, “Long time no see.”

       Chu Yunhan’s eyes widened. In disbelief, he looked at the other party and said, “Sheng the fifth…”

       The man looked at him and said, “This isn’t a situation I wanted to see either. Yunhan, forgive me; I had no choice.”

       “…Why? Isn’t there cooperation between the two families? Why on earth are you doing this?!” His back was tense, he clenched his fists, and his eyes looked like they were about to burst into flames.

       “Your cousin’s methods are too clever—he has been eroding our influence bit by bit, gradually replacing us, and step by step undermining Old Man Shen’s trust. He orchestrated schemes to lure us into expanding our cooperation, only to cut off our resources after thoroughly assessing our strengths. And now, he has supported Shen Mo in sidelining Old Man Shen, leaving us completely without support. Forced into such a situation, don’t we deserve to seek justice?”

       Chu Yunhan looked at the other party in shock, unable to say anything.

       “If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t have made it this far.” There was a soft light in Sheng Ming’s eyes, “You betrayed Chu Yichen once. Life in the Chu family can’t have been easy for you. I regretted not taking you away last time, and that regret has stayed with me ever since. Today, I’m here to take you with me.”

       “…What?”

       “Sheng Guang brought two hundred people to the cemetery, and the third brother Sheng Wei brought two thousand more in from outside the city. The outcome is clear—Chu Yichen won’t make it out today. Once he’s dead, the Chu family will fall. Rather than being dragged down with them, why not leave with me? Let’s go to J City and live our own carefree lives. I’ll stay by your side for the rest of your life.”

       Chu Yunhan stood frozen, his bangs casting a shadow over his eyes. His shoulders trembled slightly as he asked, “And if I refuse?”

       Sheng Ming frowned, “I don’t want to use force on you.”

       Chu Yunhan raised his face and smiled at the man standing ten meters away.

       It was a smile filled with charm—three parts gentle, three parts cool and aloof, three parts wild and unrestrained, and one part so captivating it left others unable to look away. Within it were hints of provocation and disdain, along with an air of cold arrogance. The subtle smile played lightly at the corners of his eyes and brows, making his already handsome face radiate a unique allure—deadly and dangerously irresistible.

       Sheng the fifth stared at him blankly, motionless.

       It was so beautiful. Like an elusive white deer in the forest, always out of reach. That smile ignited an uncontrollable desire in man to conquer and possess.

       However, the next second, the proud animal walked towards the cliff’s edge.

       Chu Yunhan put the cold gun muzzle against his temple and said, “I’ll give you two choices: let me go or kill me.”

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       As time passed, the autumn air deepened, the weather grew cooler, and a chill lingered in the breeze brushing past. Leaning against the car door, Chu Yunhan tugged up the collar of his coat slightly. His hand paused briefly as it brushed against his neck.

       The hickey under the side of the neck still left a faint mark, and he recalled the way the man looked at him from above while supporting his body. Three days ago, his legs were tied into an M shape during the two-person game, wide open to receive the man’s advances. This time, no tools were used—just the intrusion and caress of the man’s fingers were enough to send him spiralling into waves of pleasure, trembling and climaxing helplessly. The sight of Chu Yunhan, eyes misty with lust and pleading desperately, also stirred Chu Yichen. His breathing quickened, his body tensed, and a sheen of sweat formed on his forehead.

       The contract signed by the two not only restricted the dom from having sexual intercourse with him, but also restricted to ‘one-to-one’ relationship. This also meant that a man could not take other slaves, nor could he use his body. When he felt the urge, he could only masturbate and endure. This overbearing clause was indeed unfair. Chu Yunhan, whose orga-m had subsided, felt a little soft-hearted when she saw him holding back so hard.

       To be honest, he really admired Chu Yichen for his endurance. After so long, he could hold it back like this every time. Will he get internal injuries if he keeps holding it in like this? Chu Yunhan looked at the person lying next to him, hesitated for a while, and whispered, “How about… I can use my hands for you?”

       The man turned his face to look at him and said nothing.

       His face turned red, and he said awkwardly, “If you want to do it yourself, I can leave.” Then he sat up and said, “I’ll go go take a…”

       He was pulled down on the bed before the word ‘bath’ could be uttered, and the slender body covered the light above his head. The man leaned over and pressed him under him. Deep black eyes were on his handsome face, staring at him closely. An ink-colored flame seemed to be burning inside, silent and hot.

       Chu Yunhan wanted to slap himself twice at this moment.

       Why would he take the initiative to do such a thing… What kind of misplaced generosity is this? I must be out of my mind talking so cheaply like that!

       But the words had been spoken. Looking at Chu Yichen’s current state, if he said, ‘Forget it, I won’t do it’, and ran away, he would probably be skinned… Even if he were not skinned directly, his ass would be spread open next time. Since things had come to this, it was better just to do it. After all, he had pleased him for so long, so it could be regarded as reciprocating the favour.

       He reluctantly reached out to unbutton the man’s shirt, but his wrist was grabbed, pulled directly under his body, and pinned to the belt.

       Did this mean he didn’t need him to take off your clothes, and he could just start stroking right away?

       Now that he thought about it, this guy didn’t seem to like taking his clothes off when forcing himself on him… What a peculiar habit.

       Chu Yunhan blushed and untied Chu Yichen’s belt in embarrassment. He pulled down the zipper and then pulled down his underwear a little. When his palms felt the area that was about to become aroused, he couldn’t help but shrink.

       It felt hot.

       The blood vessels surged, making the entire column thick and even somewhat ferocious.

       “You…” He gulped. He looked at the other person who was staring at him, resignedly held the monster, and began to play it slowly.

       Chu Yunhan was well aware of Chu Yichen’s stamina—after all, he’d ‘experienced it firsthand’ many times at the Chu family’s old house. At this moment, as his hand grew sore without any signs of cumming, he muttered in frustration, “If you don’t finish soon, I’m stopping.”

       There was a helpless smile in the man’s slightly lowered gaze, and he said in a slightly hoarse voice, “You are clumsy and impatient.”

       Chu Yunhan, who was criticised for his hard work, was not happy. He took Chu Yichen’s c0ck and squeezed it hard. He couldn’t help laughing when he saw Chu Yichen trembling and gasping.

       It wasn’t until he finished laughing that he realised something was wrong.

       The conversation and actions between them just now were too intimate—as if they were teasing a pair of close lovers. And this way of getting along with each other without any grudges was a bit like when they were young.

       “Chu Yichen…” His eyes trembled, and he wanted to say something, but his lips were blocked.

       The man’s body pressed down as if to prevent him from thinking about other things, and he continued to deepen the kiss. He pried his teeth open, stirred his tongue roughly, and kissed him until he couldn’t breathe and his body went limp before parting ways.

       “If you want me to cum, just cooperate.” Hot and moist breath was on the side of his neck as Chu Yichen played with his c0ck and left spots of kisses all over his body. Finally, he held their c0cks at the same time and ejaculated together.

       Two consecutive ejaculations and high-intensity lovemaking made Chu Yunhan extremely sleepy. Even though he knew that he was in the other person’s arms, he was too lazy to move again, so he let the man hold him and fell asleep. When he woke up, he was alone in the room again.

       In the past three days, he had always thought of Chu Yichen unconsciously. When he thought of Chu Yichen, he couldn’t help but think about the relationship between the two, the past, and where the future is headed… His mind was a mess as he thought about it.

       He rubbed his head irritably, and his brown hair became like a bird’s nest.

       There was a ‘puff’ of laughter not far away. Chu Yunhan looked up and saw the woman walking over. He also smiled and leaned over to greet the little girl next to her, “Hi, little beauty.”

       Yuanyuan was wearing a beautiful white sweater and red leather shoes. Although her face still looked a little shy, it no longer looked as timid as before. She looked at him with a pair of big fluffy eyes.

       “Did you have fun today?”

       The little girl nodded to him, hesitated, took out a lollipop from her pocket and handed it to him.

       “Giving it to me? Thank you.” He took it, tore off the wrapping paper and put it in his mouth, smiling, “It’s very sweet.”

       Yuanyuan’s beautiful big eyes curved up, revealing two dimples.

       “Let’s get in the car and go home together.”

       “How come Young Master Yun is free to pick us up today?” Lan Xin asked as he opened the car door.

       “Why, you are not satisfied with me as a driver?” Chu Yunhan joked.

       “How dare I.” Lan Xin laughed and said, “You are so busy. I’m afraid I am just delaying your work.” She had escaped her alcoholic and abusive husband and stayed at Qinglan Mansion to become a maid. This allowed her not only to spend time taking care of her daughter but also to pursue learning culinary arts and flower arranging. The heavy makeup she once wore was gone, revealing a fresh and fair complexion. Her seductive and flirtatious demeanour from her nightclub days had disappeared, replaced by a gentle yet capable persona, making her an excellent assistant to the housekeeper, Feng Tai. Despite earning only 300 yuan a month, Lan Xin spent it all on snacks and essentials for Yuanyuan, refusing to keep a single penny for herself. To her, Chu Yunhan was her saviour—someone who had rescued her from a life of misery, helped her regain her innocence, and even sponsored Yuanyuan’s education at the best private kindergarten in K City. She was willing to repay these kindnesses throughout her life.

       “I got off work early today, so it’s perfect to give you a ride home.” As he drove on, he suddenly thought of something and said, “By the way, tell Uncle Feng to prepare the things I need for the day after tomorrow.”

       “The day after tomorrow, it’s the seventh…” She suddenly woke up, looked at the man with some sadness in her eyes, and said softly, “Okay.”

       Although Lan Xin hadn’t been at the manor for long, everyone already treated her as one of their own. They didn’t shy away from discussing things in her presence, and with her knack for observing and interpreting subtle cues, as well as her sharp and clever nature, she had pieced together a general understanding of this young master’s affairs.

       November 7th was Chu Qin’s death anniversary.

       That was the most painful turning point in Chu Yunhan’s life. Overnight, his family was shattered beyond repair. From then on, his temperament changed drastically—the once cheerful young man became depressed. Later, he spent all his time with women and alcohol and never even returned home. This transformation left Feng Tai and the other staff heartbroken and distressed, unsure how to help him. Fortunately, he was back now. Even so, this particular date continued to make them uneasy, fearing that Chu Yunhan might hurt himself out of grief.

       Maybe since she was tired from playing in kindergarten, Yuanyuan fell asleep in the car. When they returned to Qinglan Mansion, Lan Xin wanted to wake her up, but Chu Yunhan stopped her.

       “Let her sleep.” He bent down, picked up the little girl from the back seat, and walked quickly through the door. In her daze, Yuanyuan softly wrapped her small hands around his neck, put her face against his neck and continued to sleep.

       It was a relaxed posture that conveyed a sense of safety. Yuanyuan trusted him and was gradually emerging from her timid and fearful state. The child had suffered terribly at the hands of her biological father, but now she was slowly returning to a normal life. Although she still didn’t talk much and remained wary of strangers, she had started playing with the other children at kindergarten and was smiling more and more.

       Chu Yunhan suddenly felt that he had really done something right. The feeling of being relied upon and trusted by this sensitive child even made him feel more satisfied and happy than winning the project or doubling the profit. It was like a warm breeze blew on his face and poured into your body, making his heart soft and warm.

       Dr. Chen was right; deep down he did long to be needed and…to be loved.

       If he could have my own family, if he could have his own children…

       As he thought of this, Chu Yichen’s face suddenly flashed in his mind.

       He stiffened and stopped.

       “What’s wrong?” Lan Xin asked.

       “It’s okay.” His eyelashes lowered slightly, and he continued to walk forward.

       November 7th.

       It was a suitable day for offering sacrifices, betrothal, opening businesses, and travelling. It was not suitable for groundbreaking, building beams, or construction work.¹usually in chinese calendar, there will be notes about what the date is auspicious for and what to avoid in the particular date

       In the early morning, Chu Yunhan adjusted his collar and pressed the black cufflinks into the buttonholes with his slender fingers. He looked at himself in black clothes in the mirror, breathed out gently, turned around and said, “Let’s go.”

       Feng Tai, who was standing aside, responded and followed.

       The sky seemed to have been splashed with a bucket of sewage water. It was gloomy, and even the clouds were dyed with a dark colour. There seemed to be an invisible sense of oppression in the atmosphere, which made people’s moods become heavy.

       Black Mercedes-Benz parked one after another outside the cemetery gate.

       Chu Yunhan got out of the car. Lan Xin put a black coat on him and said, “The wind is blowing.”

       He put on his coat and walked forward. People all dressed in black followed one after another. Among them were the servants from the manor and former subordinates of the Chu Qin’s families. Though their numbers were not large, they moved in an orderly and solemn manner, drawing the attention of some grave sweepers.

       He walked slowly along the road in the morning mist, slowly walking towards the mountain. In the silence, there was only the sound of scattered footsteps on the fallen leaves.

       On the sunny hillside of the cemetery, there was an open area isolated by a fence planted with green pines and cypresses. Two men in black who had been waiting here early nodded to him and saluted.

       Three tombstones were standing there, two of them standing side by side. One belonged to the old man, and the other had the words ‘Qin Yuxuan’ engraved. Chu Yunhan took a handkerchief from Feng Tai, carefully wiped the two tombstones clean, placed white chrysanthemums in front of the tombs, and burned incense to offer prayer. After finishing, he moved to the tombstone standing alone not far away. After completing everything according to the rules, the others retreated outside the fence, leaving him alone in front of the tombstone.

       “Dad, I’m here.” He said, “How have you been over there? Mom didn’t come today—you know, her lower back always acts up around this time. She’s doing well, though. I just visited her yesterday. She’s gained a little weight recently and has been learning traditional Chinese painting from a teacher. She’s very focused on it. I secretly took one of her paintings and brought it here for you to see. It’s her wish; she said she wanted to paint something for you. Even now, she’s still waiting for you to come back.”

       He smiled, but his eyes were a little red, “I’ll take good care of her, so you don’t need to worry. I’m… doing pretty well now, too. I’ve taken over a few companies. There are still plenty of things in management that I’m not good at, but I’m gradually getting the hang of it. Now, I regret not taking the time to learn properly while you were here. Back then, I only cared about having fun and never thought about anything else.” He paused, lowered his head and said softly, “Dad, I made a big mistake before. Honestly, I don’t have the face to tell you about it. If you were still here, I bet you’d beat me so hard I couldn’t get up. I can’t even explain why I acted so irrationally—it was probably because I felt not taken seriously, insecure, and jealous. Chu Yichen… he’s an excellent heir. He handles everything so seamlessly. I really can’t compare to him.”

       Chu Yunhan looked at his father’s black and white portrait on the cold tombstone and was silent for a while. His hands hanging by his side clenched tightly into fists. The redness in the corners of his eyes became thicker. His voice trembled in the wind, “Dad, he and I… we, we…” He couldn’t continue the words here; his lips trembled a little, and as he lowered his head, the tears accumulated in his eye sockets fell to the ground and melted into the soil.

       Shame, guilt, sadness.

       The mixture became the pain of being unable to speak.

       “I know this is wrong…but I can’t control it…I really…hate myself…Dad, I’m a beast…I don’t deserve to be your son…” He covered his eyes with one hand. His shoulders trembled violently as his tears blurred his vision and wetted his palms.

       Although he tried to tell himself that it was just a game, although the other party deliberately blurred the relationship between the two, and although they had such a tacit understanding, when Chu Yunhan faced his deceased father, he did not have any excuse.

       When the fig leaf covering the absurd relationship was torn off, all the unhappiness would be laid out naked before him.

       There was no pretence, no way to avoid it, no way to resist it.

       These were words he had nowhere else to say, so he could only confide them to the departed during today’s visit to the grave. It took him a long while to regain his composure. Using a handkerchief, he wiped away the traces of tears and took several deep breaths to steady himself. Only after carefully managing his expression did he finally turn around.

       A figure ran into his sight without warning.

       Dressed in a long black coat, the figure stood tall and upright, holding a bouquet of white carnations in his hands.

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