Chapter 8: The Blade Falls

Chapter 8: The Blade Falls

Hou Hongchang had been having an incredibly rough few days. His father had announced that he was sending him abroad, and even his usually doting mother had taken his father's side this time.

Hou Hongchang loathed the idea of going overseas. During high school, he had been sent to Britain for a superficial education, but after a few years, he still couldn't manage to speak proper English. The arrogant Brits didn't care who his father was; he had endured endless discrimination in that private British boarding school.

All he had done was park his new sports car in the wrong spot a few times, yet the school security guard had dared to chain up his wheels. The infamously rigid and xenophobic nature of the British was known worldwide. On several occasions, when he went clubbing and forgot his ID, those pompous bouncers had actually dared to deny him entry!

In Beijing, Young Master Hou had always been treated like a star! Who wouldn't show respect and bow down before him, calling him "Young Master Hou," out of consideration for his grandfather? Who would dare stand in his way if he wanted to enter a pleasure den or try some novelty?

To Hou Hongchang, rules and laws were merely constraints for common folk. They held no sway over someone of his status and background!

Over the issue of being sent abroad, Hou Hongchang had gotten into a fierce argument with his grandfather. The old man scolded him for causing such a scandal with the car accident that the entire Hou family was now under immense pressure, leaving them no choice but to send him overseas. But Hou Hongchang thought his grandfather was being overly paranoid. What could the family not handle?

Public opinion? It couldn't harm anyone; it was just a bunch of bored netizens spouting off online. The police or the Supreme Court? They couldn't barge into the Hou residence to make arrests, even if they had a hundred bravado-filled guts!

After shouting back at his grandfather and slamming the table in front of his indulgent mother, Hou Hongchang stormed out, planning to spend the night with his mistress, Cheng Xurong.

Cheng Xurong had originally intended to stay at a hotel that evening, but upon learning of Hou Hongchang's visit, she promptly canceled her plans. She prepared a face mask, a fragrant bath, and meticulously dressed up to await the arrival of this young master.

Cheng Xurong, a single woman adrift in Beijing, began her journey with nothing—no money, no connections, no influence. It was not until she aligned herself with Hou Hongchang that she gradually carved out her own domain. Now wealthy and possessing her own real estate, she has steadfastly remained in the very same modest apartment gifted to her by Hou from the outset, a choice that powerfully attests to her unwavering loyalty and deep nostalgia for bygone days.

Her residence was an open secret among Hou Hongchang's social circle, frequented by his friends from influential backgrounds, who often brought their secretive and scandalous matters to resolve here. Could any ordinary person tolerate their living space being so exposed? No. Yet Cheng Xurong endured it, not just enduring, but actually relishing it. This elevated her status among that group of privileged offspring, earning her respect from all. Compared to the other women in Hou Hongchang's life, she held a slightly distinct position.

Cheng Xurong had calculated the time it would take for Hou Hongchang to arrive, but to her surprise, the young master was in a foul mood tonight and drove faster than usual, reaching her place ten minutes earlier than expected. When he entered, Cheng Xurong was still in the bathroom.

"Room service has delivered the meals! Have something to nibble on first!" Cheng Xurong called out from the bathroom, her voice echoing through the door. "I'll be out in just a few minutes!"

Cheng Xurong was no longer a young maiden of eighteen, and in recent years, she had grown more diligent in her skincare and beauty routines. Hou Hongchang was familiar with the quirks of women; after scolding her, he idly returned to the dining room.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Hou Hongchang asked irritably, "Who is it?"

"It's room service from the hotel. We missed delivering one dish! Is Boss Cheng staying here?"

Sure enough, this apartment, which Hou Hongchang had once used to entertain women years ago, was no longer upscale by today's standards. In a more posh neighborhood, delivery personnel and cleaners wouldn't be allowed into the building; they'd only be granted access after a security guard confirmed their arrival over the phone.

Hou Hongchang frowned, contemplating whether he should relocate Cheng Xurong. After all, he often stayed here, and there was no need for him to compromise his comfort for the sake of a house.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom as Cheng Xurong continued her beauty routine, possibly applying a face mask or something similar. Although Hou Hongchang typically didn't open the door for others, it would be quite inconvenient to call Cheng Xurong out to do so now. He lazily removed the unlit cigarette from his lips. "Coming, coming."

Rising to his feet, his eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably, a rapid flutter that left him with no time to grasp the annoyance it provoked. Suddenly, he was reminded of that fateful night after drinking, when he had recklessly overtaken another car and collided with that construction worker's child. Back then, too, his eyelids had jumped inexplicably without any precursor, only moments before disaster struck.

In that fleeting moment, he was so stunned that he couldn't even recall the sensation of the car hitting the body. All that remained etched in his memory was a sudden jolt—likely the result of the car's wheels crushing bones as they passed over the body.

Hou Hongchang gently pressed against his eyelids, casually reaching out to unlock and open the door.

Outside the door stood a young man in a hotel uniform, his face mostly obscured by a baseball cap. Hou Hongchang found himself inexplicably feeling that he had seen this person before, so he couldn't help but ask, "You...?"

These were the last words he spoke.

In that instant, a blinding horizontal flash of light streaked before his eyes. The light was so cold and domineering that it instantly severed his throat like a bolt of lightning.

Hou Hongchang didn't even feel any pain. He found it strange; why couldn't he speak anymore while they were still in the middle of a conversation?

Blood spurted from his severed throat like an arrow, and air rushed into his windpipe. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single sound.

The deadly chill from the blade only climbed up his spine to reach his brain at this moment, snatching away the last vestige of life within him. Even as he fell to the ground with his eyes wide open, he could still hear the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.

At this very moment, in a corner unseen, unheard, and unforeseen by anyone, Hou Hongchang, the once mighty and unparalleled young master of the Hou family, almost silently collapsed to the floor, his eyes refusing to close.

He didn't even see who it was that killed him.

Throughout dinner, Han Yue kept thinking about calling Chu Ci to check if he had returned home on time and hadn't wandered around with someone else while he was away. However, his father, mother, elder brother, sister-in-law, and the commander couple were all present, constantly asking him about matters in the military. It really wasn't appropriate for him to leave the table to make a call.

Han Yue could only eat in silence, responding to his parents with simple words like "mm-hm," "yes," and "I'll remember."

The commander's wife didn't have much to talk about with her second son. She didn't understand military affairs and only knew that the military project in Nujiang had ended, and Han Yue had temporarily been reassigned back to Beijing. In a few months, the military commission would have further plans for him. Han Yue had never caused her any worries regarding his personal life, so she couldn't think of anything to ask and could only stop after showing some initial concern.

Commander Han did inquire about Nujiang and then said, "When you're back, don't wander around unnecessarily or associate with people randomly. You must adhere to confidentiality regulations. Next year, there will be a rotation of troops stationed in Beijing, and I suspect you might be part of that."

Han Yue nodded in response.

His sister-in-law couldn't help but interject, "Does that mean Second Brother can live in Beijing permanently now? Should we tidy up the room upstairs for when he comes back?"

Her words made everyone feel awkward.

Han Qiang quickly cleared his throat and said, "Xiao Ruo has just married in and doesn't know the family situation. Second Brother doesn't usually stay at home. He and his fellow military buddies bought houses outside, and they're all located in the same area."

Upon mentioning the house, the commander's wife suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, how come I heard that you're living with a male engineer outside?"

Upon hearing this, the elder sister-in-law, who was unfamiliar with the Han family's situation, was startled. Her face turned even more awkward, and she couldn't help but sneak glances at Han Yue.

"You're already at an age where it's not unacceptable to play around, but you must take marriage seriously. Recently, several wives from other cities have given me photos of their daughters, and I've looked through them all. There are a few good candidates. You should take a look one day. If there's someone you like, I can arrange for them to come to Beijing for a meeting."

The Commander's wife had sincere intentions when she said this. Among their circle of princelings, the selection of a main wife typically followed this process. Even if all the daughters from prominent families in Beijing were married off, they could still choose from the top families in provincial cities. The key word was always "status equivalence."

A couple of years ago, Qi Xiaoruo, Han Yue's elder sister-in-law, had been chosen in a similar manner. It was no different from selecting concubines.

With a chicken bone clenched between his teeth, Han Yue mumbled indistinctly, "Let's see. Marriage depends on fate."

"Fate? You have fate with that man?" The Commander's wife pointed at her second son. "Disgraceful!"

Han Yue knitted his brows but didn't respond. However, the old Commander noticed his son's displeasure and was aware of what his son had done to the engineer. He promptly stopped his wife. "Enough! We're here to eat. It's not too late to talk about Han Yue's matters later!"

The meal left Han Yue uninterested. The Commander's wife's nagging made him unhappy, while his elder sister-in-law's strange scrutiny made him want to explode. When the meal finally ended, he walked alone into the courtyard and lit a cigarette, preparing to call Chu Ci.

Just as he lit it, his elder sister-in-law hurried out and said, "Second Brother, Mother wants to see you."

Without a word, Han Yue extinguished his cigarette and turned to go inside.

His elder sister-in-law held back her curiosity for a moment, but finally couldn't resist asking when she saw no one else around: "Second Brother, you... Are you really in a relationship with a man?"

Han Yue turned his head away and stared at his elder sister-in-law for a long while before coldly responding, "If something were to happen to the eldest brother outside, would you dare to ask like that too?"

Startled, she involuntarily took a half-step back, watching as Han Yue walked in without even turning his head.

The Commander's wife had indeed summoned Han Yue back from afar for a specific purpose.

This matter concerned Han Yue's wayward older brother, Han Qiang. Although he had followed his parents' expectations by attending school, he hadn't achieved any significant success. Later, the Commander's wife made the decision to send him abroad for further studies. Upon his return, he had gained some prestige, but he had carelessly caused a car accident on the street, killing two people.

This incident had caused chaos within the Han family. The old Commander, who was an upright man all his life, was so enraged that he wanted to beat his eldest son to death with a belt. Han Yue, who was already distant from his family and had a fiery temper, not only didn't dissuade his father but fueled the fire instead.

To protect her eldest son, the Commander's wife had lost countless strands of hair from stress, even developing high blood pressure. Thankfully, her efforts paid off, and despite the old Commander's reluctance, he eventually relied on the favor of his former subordinates. She also found a close friend of Han Yue's in the High Court, bribing witnesses and evidence, ultimately securing Han Qiang's acquittal.

However, upon his release, his future became a major issue. Han Qiang originally planned to pursue a career in politics, but after this incident, his promotion was delayed indefinitely, leaving his future position uncertain. Unable to tolerate injustice, he angrily ventured into business, just like many princelings who relied on their family's power to thrive in the corporate world, eagerly preparing for a big success.

Little did he know that doing business wasn't as easy as it seemed. Han Qiang, who had been living a comfortable life until then, lacked a concrete understanding of financial transactions and was inexperienced in interpersonal relationships and customer management. Within a few months, his jewelry company fell into crisis due to poor management, and he was unable to repay the debts owed to the bank. Fortunately, the Han family had substantial wealth, or else Han Qiang would have faced another major problem.

The Commander's wife summoned Han Yue back this time hoping he could assist his elder brother by using his connections to secure a comfortable and lucrative future for Han Qiang, or perhaps even place him in a military supply department.

Han Yue listened to his mother's nagging with a furrowed brow, remaining silent for a moment before he spoke, "It's not easy to get into the military supplies department. You see how well Hou Yu is doing; that's because he's cunning and cautious with his words. With Eldest Brother's aloof personality, I doubt he'd be suited for it. If anything goes wrong in that department, I won't be able to protect him."

"The least you can do is try to help your own brother when he's at a dead end and has no promising future?" The Commander's wife was getting angry now. Her face turned stern as she continued, "I'm at ease knowing that all of you have made great achievements. But I can't stop worrying about Eldest Brother! As his own younger brother, if you're unwilling to lend a hand, how can I, as a mother, rest in peace after I'm gone?"

Han Yue listened silently, saying nothing.

"Anyway, just try to make contact first! If Han Qiang doesn't do well, there's still his father to rely on, and there's me! You won't be burdened!"

Han Yue shook his head. "Contacting people isn't that simple."

"What's so difficult about it? Do you think I don't know anything?" The Commander's wife was getting riled up again, but she managed to calm her tone. "I heard from your father that when that engineer refused you, you just had to say a word, and someone was eager to issue a death certificate for you. Han Yue, I know you have the power now. If you just slightly hint at your interest in the military supplies department, wouldn't people rush to cooperate with you?"

Wiping her eyes, a hint of sadness appeared on her face. "Look, since you were young, I've never asked anything of you or interfered with your life. Even when you were hanging out with men, I didn't scold you or cause a scene like those narrow-minded parents. Now, I'm only asking this one thing, which concerns your blood-related elder brother. Are you really unwilling to lend this small favor?"

With such heartfelt words, there was no way to refuse. Han Yue frowned, eventually standing up. "We'll talk more about it. —I'll give you an answer in a couple of days."

The Commander's wife knew that his response was likely an implicit agreement, and she couldn't help feeling a sense of joy, which showed on her face. "That's good, that's good... If I'm doing this for you, who else can we rely on after both your father and I are gone? Isn't it just the two of you brothers supporting each other..."

Han Yue strode out of his mother's small reception room. Though his expression was neutral, everyone could sense the low pressure around him, and they could tell that the famously hot-tempered Second Young Master was displeased, holding back his anger.

His elder sister was still waiting outside. She opened her mouth to say something, but upon seeing Han Yue's expression, she promptly closed her lips and retreated to the side.

Han Yue strode out of the room and into the courtyard, lighting a cigarette to take two harsh puffs. The nicotine temporarily suppressed his agitated and irritable emotions. Then, he fished out his phone, intent on calling Chu Ci.

He yearned to hear Chu Ci's voice at that moment, to confirm that this person was still within his grasp, still within reach where he could fiercely pull him close with just an outstretched hand.

However, after dialing the number, the phone rang for a long time until it disconnected automatically without anyone picking up.

Han Yue tried again, but Chu Ci still didn't answer. Assuming that Chu Ci didn't have his phone on him, Han Yue decided to call his home landline. But after several attempts, all calls were diverted to voicemail.

"Hello, this is Chu Ci. I'm currently unavailable or unable to answer the phone. After the beep, please leave your name and number, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible..."

With a loud snap, Han Yue shut his phone, his expression terrifying enough to send shivers down one's spine.

Coincidentally, the nanny who had taken care of Han Yue since he was young passed by with a tray of soup. Concerned, she paused and asked, "Young Master, are you alright?"

"...I'm fine." Han Yue shook his head and suddenly strode towards the door. "Tell Grandfather that I left something at home. I'll go retrieve it and come back later."