Chapter 56: Regret and Despair

Chapter 56: Regret and Despair

After Jiang Junling was incarcerated, the bankruptcy process of the company continued. Lv Minhui, mustering her last ounce of strength, settled the debts that needed to be paid and left for a faraway place with the money Jiang Fengqiu had left her.

Before leaving, Lv Minhui made a special visit to Jiang Junling in the detention center. In just a few days, both of them had aged considerably.

Behind the glass, Lv Minhui appeared utterly exhausted, wearing plain white clothes, her gaze coldly fixed on Jiang Junling.

"Minhui..."

Jiang Junling now realized he was wrong, deeply wrong. One son was estranged from him, and the other was dead. His life had effectively ended. After all the struggles and efforts, everything had crumbled in an instant. What kind of man had he become?

"I'm leaving, and I won't be coming back."

Lv Minhui was deeply scarred by this place. She dared not remember, nor could she bring herself to. She used to not understand how a person could have so many tears, but now she knew—tears are inexhaustible.

She had loved the wrong man in this lifetime, resulting in the death of her only son. She would never forgive herself.

"I'm sorry, Minhui, I'm sorry."

Jiang Junling wept uncontrollably, holding the receiver, his head hung in guilt. But what good was regret now that things had reached this point?

"Your apology isn't to me, but to our son, to Jiang Fengmian. I was blind, falling for a married man, bringing harm to others. You'd better take care of yourself."

It was karma. From the moment she became involved with Jiang Junling, she should have known there would be no happy ending. Those who wreck others' families will never find peace.

Lv Minhui looked haggard, her body hunched, her steps heavy.

Watching Lv Minhui's retreating figure, Jiang Junling was filled with regret. He had destroyed a good family, and his beloved son had committed suicide. What face did he have to show anyone? What face indeed?

He might as well be dead.

In the detention center, under 24-hour surveillance, Jiang Junling could only live in endless self-reproach. In his dreams, he was haunted by the image of Jiang Fengqiu, covered in blood.

He dared not sleep at night, his ears filled with Jiang Fengqiu's piercing screams. Closing his eyes, he felt as if he was being strangled, unable to breathe.

Not long after, news came from the detention center that Jiang Junling had gone mad.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fengmian merely responded indifferently. Going mad was a mercy for him.

Since the Jiang family's sudden collapse, Jiang Fengmian had been in low spirits for a long time, often feeling a tightness in his chest and a loss of appetite.

By mid-August, Jiang Fengmian, who usually wasn't bothered by the heat, would sweat with the slightest movement. He lay listlessly in a rocking chair, watching the flesh on his cheeks disappear, which worried Huo Zong greatly.

Gently fanning Jiang Fengmian, Huo Zong's fingers brushed over his sharp jawline. "Kitty, how about we go out for a change of scenery? You've been eating less lately."

Normally, he could eat two bowls of Aunt Wang's cooking, but now he could barely finish one. Huo Zong was afraid that if this continued, he might develop something like anorexia.

"No, brother, I'm too lazy to go out."

There had been a lot of rumors in the capital recently. Jiang Fengmian wasn't sure if they were maliciously spread by Huo Qilin or just gossipmongers, but they said the Jiang family was cursed by Huo Zong. Since getting involved with Huo Zong, the Jiang family had been in decline, and now it had completely collapsed.

Jiang Fengmian wasn't sure if Huo Zong had heard these rumors, but they made him very uncomfortable. Why was everything being blamed on Huo Zong? What had Huo Zong done wrong?

He didn't care about the lives of those people, only about Huo Zong, afraid that Huo Zong would be affected. He tried not to bring up those matters, hoping to ease Huo Zong's mind.

"We're not going anywhere far. You haven't been to Su Yanchu's studio, have you? He has a lot of interesting little things there. Let's go and have some fun."

"The indoor temperature is quite low, and his studio has a constant temperature system, just like home."

Huo Zong was practically begging, and Jiang Fengmian couldn’t bear to upset him, so he mumbled as he got up from the rocking chair, clinging to Huo Zong, asking for a hug.

Lately, he’s been inexplicably tired all the time, and he’s been especially clingy with Huo Zong. Sometimes, when they’re apart during the day, Jiang Fengmian can only fall asleep by holding onto Huo Zong’s shirt.

Breathing in the familiar woody scent, Jiang Fengmian let out a small yawn. He wiped the corner of his eye with his fingers, brushing away a crystal-clear tear, and rested his head on Huo Zong’s shoulder, lost in thought.

"Brother, could you carry me to the car? I’ve been feeling really drained these past few days."

"Alright."

Huo Zong felt a slight unease in his chest. It had been almost a month since the Jiang family incident, and he thought Jiang Fengmian should have moved on by now.

After all, he wasn’t the real Jiang Fengmian. The members of the Jiang family had received their due punishment, so he should be happy, right?

Huo Zong thought about having Dr. Li examine him again. This couldn’t go on like this.

"Kitty, have you been feeling okay lately? Maybe we should go see Dr. Li first."

Jiang Fengmian lifted his eyelids, panicking as he waved his hands. "No, no, I’m fine. It’s just the hot weather, maybe my appetite isn’t great. Eating less makes me feel a bit sluggish."

Afraid Huo Zong wouldn’t listen to his explanation, he quickly grabbed Huo Zong’s wrist. "Babe, really, I’m fine. It’ll get better in about ten days when September rolls around."

"Alright, but if you feel unwell, tell me immediately, and we’ll go to the hospital right away."

Jiang Fengmian nodded eagerly. He wasn’t feeling bad, just really missing Huo Zong’s cooking. Unfortunately, Huo Corporation had been swamped lately. The discovery of the mineral vein was still causing a stir in the industry, Huo Corporation’s stock had surged, and there were many new collaborations. Huo Zong didn’t get home until nearly 10 PM every night.

Jiang Fengmian felt bad for him. It had been almost two weeks since they’d been intimate. Thinking of this, Jiang Fengmian glanced at Huo Zong, his ears turning red for a moment. Huo Zong had the day off today, so he had to make up for it tonight.

"Kitty, what are you grinning about?"

Huo Zong played with Jiang Fengmian’s ear in his palm, and Jiang Fengmian let out a comfortable hum, half-closing his eyes as he replied, "Just thinking... about something really, really nice."

"But I’m not telling you."

Huo Zong chuckled, pretending to be hurt. "Alright, my kitten’s got secrets now. I’ll just go and be sad by myself."

He turned his head to the side, watching Jiang Fengmian in the car window’s reflection. His brows furrowed slightly, biting his lip as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

"Brother."

Hearing Jiang Fengmian’s soft call, Huo Zong’s eyes curved into a smile. He silently counted to ten in his head—his kitten was unbearably cute.

"Yes, what is it?"

Jiang Fengmian covered his mouth and leaned close to Huo Zong’s ear. He glanced at the raised partition and whispered in a very low voice, "Husband, you still haven’t worn the wolf ears and tail set you bought. I want to see it tonight."

A flicker of surprise crossed Huo Zong’s eyes, his chest warming slightly, even feeling the urge to turn the car around.

Lately, he’d noticed Jiang Fengmian was in low spirits and lacked energy, so he hadn’t dared to tease him when he got home at night. But it seemed his kitten had already been thinking about it.

Given their usual frequency, Jiang Fengmian had indeed been neglected lately. He came home too late from work, and without the nourishment of love, Jiang Fengmian was dissatisfied.

"Alright, my kitten can see whatever he wants."

Jiang Fengmian hummed, sitting up straight, even pushing away Huo Zong’s fingers when he tried to tease him.

He was unshakable now, and no matter what Huo Zong did, he couldn’t be swayed.

"Kitty, we’re here."

The towering building rose from the ground, with a plaque bearing the flamboyant character "Su." Jiang Fengmian squinted and counted, estimating it to be about five or six stories tall.

This turned out to be the studio Huo Zong had mentioned. Jiang Fengmian had imagined a cramped and narrow space, with two people squeezed into a single desk and corridors barely wide enough for one person to pass through.

In reality, Su Yanchu's studio was a five or six-story Chinese-style building, so ornate it resembled a relic from a bygone era.

Tsk, he really wanted to compete with these wealthy people.

Jiang Fengmian glanced sideways at Huo Zong. Well, his boyfriend was an exception.

As they ascended the steps, Jiang Fengmian's eyes were met with all sorts of unique items he had never seen before. The interior was so spacious that even speaking echoed. It was luxurious, utterly extravagant.

Jiang Fengmian thought about the glorious history of the Su family and felt at ease. This wealth had been accumulated over many generations. By the time Su Yanchu was born, he wasn't just born with a silver spoon in his mouth—he was born with a gold mine. The Su family was so rich that all they had left was money.

"How rare, what wind has blown you two here?"

Su Yanchu was wearing a black shirt, his hair styled up. As he approached, the scent of his perfume wafted over.

Jiang Fengmian covered his nose and let out a muffled "ugh," feeling an urge to gag. His eyes were red and watery as he poked Huo Zong's lower back.

Huo Zong immediately understood and said sternly, "Su Yanchu, can you change your perfume or at least change your clothes? Your perfume is overwhelming Jiang Fengmian."

"Ah, really?" Su Yanchu raised his wrist and sniffed carefully, as if it were the same as before. "No way, I always wear it like this. Why is it only affecting him this time?"

Su Yanchu looked at Jiang Fengmian with a strange expression, leaning on Huo Zong's shoulder and exuding an indescribable aura.

He seemed even more charming than before.

Su Yanchu stroked his chin, looking Jiang Fengmian up and down, and then blurted out, "You're so sensitive to smells. Could you be pregnant?"

"Ow, Huo Zong, why did you hit me?"

Su Yanchu covered his head, looking incredulous. Huo Zong had actually flicked his forehead—how outrageous.

"You know why I hit you—for talking nonsense."

Jiang Fengmian looked at Su Yanchu innocently, with a hint of helplessness, "Brother Su, I'm a man."

"Oh, I know you're a man. I was just joking to lighten the mood."

Huo Zong resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Who jokes like that without considering whether it's appropriate?

"Go, change your clothes."

"Fine, fine, I'll change, alright?" Su Yanchu muttered as he walked away. He hadn't been so sensitive before, but recently he had become more so—there must be something wrong.

Jiang Fengmian silently exchanged a look with Huo Zong. To be honest, given their frequency, if he could get pregnant, he probably would be.

"Big Brother, is Brother Su still sane?"

Huo Zong touched his chin and shook his head. He used to think Su Yanchu was very normal, but now he seemed anything but—careless and saying whatever came to mind.

Huo Zong led Jiang Fengmian around the studio. There were quite a few staff members, and they all greeted Huo Zong politely as he passed.

"Babe, look at the mechanical butterfly Su Yanchu made. Isn't it pretty? Let's snag one when we leave."

Jiang Fengmian glanced at the code sticker on it, guessing it might be custom-made, and immediately shook his head in refusal.

"Let's ask if it's already claimed. If not, then we'll take it."

Jiang Fengmian truly admired the butterfly Su Yanchu had made; it was so lifelike that it seemed it could spread its wings and soar freely in the palm of his hand.

"Fengmian, can you still smell the scent?"

From where he stood, Jiang Fengmian shook his head. The faint floral scent was just right for him.

"Huo Zong, you can't have this butterfly; it's custom-ordered. If Fengmian likes it, I'll make another one for him next time."

"Alright, make it really special, and remember to use the best materials."

Su Yanchu gave an OK gesture and took Jiang Fengmian on a tour around.

This place felt like a gallery for rare collectibles; Su Yanchu seemed to have collected everything imaginable.

Jiang Fengmian's eyes caught a small drum in the glass cabinet, with unique patterns, and he was instantly captivated by it.

"Brother Su, is that drum for sale?"

Facing Jiang Fengmian's sparkling eyes, Su Yanchu seemed a bit off. He glanced at Huo Zong, coughed lightly, and said, "Fengmian, this is actually a pellet drum, but the wooden bead is missing. It's about over three hundred years old, a gift from an emperor to his son."

Jiang Fengmian awkwardly scratched Huo Zong's palm. The pellet drum was a child's toy; what was with him today, always drawn to kid stuff?

"Babe, if you like it, Su Yanchu has replicas here that he made himself. Let him give you one."

Huo Zong put his arm around Jiang Fengmian's shoulder and boldly said to Su Yanchu, "My Jiang Fengmian is also a little kid; give him one to amuse him."

Su Yanchu immediately gave a thumbs up. Love really changes people, huh? One lovesick fool is trouble, but two are a match made in heaven.

Jiang Fengmian, holding the pellet drum, shook it with satisfaction. The drum made an old-fashioned sound, as if the sound had traveled through time to reach his ears.

He smiled, cherishing it in his palm, and stared at Huo Zong with eyes full of love.

Su Yanchu shuddered. These two were here just to flaunt their love in front of him. Online wasn't enough; they had to do it right here.

"Hey, hey, hey, think about how I feel, okay? I'm still here; don't flirt in front of me."

Huo Zong raised his eyebrows. He wasn’t flirting; it was just a look.

"Babe, see if there's anything else you like; take whatever you want."

"You two are really something." Su Yanchu exaggeratedly covered his heart and stepped back a few times, as if hurt by Huo Zong.

"Brother Su, does anyone buy your stuff here?"

This seemed to touch a nerve. He looked strange, put his hands behind his back, and exaggeratedly said, "This is art, art is priceless; selling it is crass."

Jiang Fengmian made a sound of understanding. The monthly income likely didn’t cover the costs.

"Fengmian, your boyfriend comes here to freeload; you should manage him."

"Sorry, Brother Su, I think freeloading works for me. Your stuff is just sitting here; at least I appreciate it when I take it. We admire your art and are grateful to you."

Su Yanchu scoffed. Alright, these two were here to take advantage.

"Fengmian, take whatever you like. Even if this place doesn't make money, we still make millions a month; we don't lack your share."

Jiang Fengmian thought to himself, if Su Yanchu relied on this to make money, he would have starved to death long ago.

"Brother Su, I’ll grab this tie."

It was a black silk tie, shining with a special glow when held in hand, and Jiang Fengmian was captivated by it.

"Take it, take it, even if you take everything, I won't mind."

Despite saying so, Jiang Fengmian held back and only took these two items. He gently shook the rattle drum, his eyes softened.

"Huo Zong, do you usually spend on Fengmian? You have so much money, spend more on him, I can't stand it."

Jiang Fengmian hurriedly explained, "No, no, Su Yanchu, his bank cards are all with me, we have plenty of money."

Su Yanchu was taken aback, realizing he was the fool again.

In the car on the way back, Jiang Fengmian shook the small drum and murmured, "Brother, would you ever want a child of your own?"

"No, I have you, that's enough."

Huo Zong grew up in a broken home, he never knew love growing up, and he wasn't even sure if he could be a good father.

"Jiang Fengmian, don't think about these things, not having kids is perfectly normal, it'll just be the two of us forever."

"Alright, just the two of us."

Huo Zong cooked dinner that night, and Jiang Fengmian ate with gusto, eating like he used to. Seeing Jiang Fengmian eat happily, Huo Zong's worries slowly eased.

Jiang Fengmian placed the rattle drum and the mechanical butterfly together, touched the butterfly's wings, and smiled and nodded, pleased.

"Sweetie."

Jiang Fengmian's vision darkened as something cool brushed over his eyes. The tie he got from Su Yanchu turned into a blindfold.

"Brother, now I can't see."

"Hmm."

Huo Zong kissed Jiang Fengmian's lips, having checked it earlier; the tie was translucent, letting him see vague shapes.

"Sweetie, open your eyes."

Through the thin layer of fabric, Jiang Fengmian's gaze fell directly on the wolf ears atop Huo Zong's head. His throat went dry, and he couldn't help but raise his hand.

He kneaded the wolf ears, which felt incredibly good, his fingertips tingling with heat, unwilling to move away for a moment.

"Brother, I want to take a good look at you."

The fuzzy view was oddly enchanting, but Jiang Fengmian still wanted to see his Huo Zong clearly, just as Huo Zong had wanted to see him that day.

Huo Zong's fingers moved, and the tie fell away with a snap. Jiang Fengmian hooked his own collar and quickly got rid of the annoying shirt.

The hazy appearance and the current feeling were different. Jiang Fengmian quietly gulped, leaning on Huo Zong's shoulder, his intense gaze locked on Huo Zong.

"Brother, you're really handsome."

"Sweetie, you're the most beautiful."

Jiang Fengmian burst out laughing, this is what mutual admiration feels like.

He stood on tiptoe to kiss Huo Zong's Adam's apple, his fingers kneading the wolf tail behind Huo Zong. The fur on the tail was slightly stiff, different from the ears' touch, yet exceptionally real.

"Sweetie, find those cat ears we had before, let's wear them together."

Jiang Fengmian hummed vaguely, his eyes half-closed as he allowed Huo Zong to pick him up. He wrapped his arms around Huo Zong's neck, feeling a bit drunk, even though he hadn’t had a drop of alcohol.

His head was spinning, his heart racing, and his feet tensed as he watched Huo Zong rummage through things.

"Good kitty, lift your head."

Jiang Fengmian obediently moved closer, licking his lips as his fingers traced the contours of Huo Zong's abs.

The tickling sensation spread, causing Huo Zong's body to stiffen. He looked down at Jiang Fengmian's mischievous fingers but didn’t grab his wrist.

Let him be.

"Brother, guess what I’ve drawn."

Huo Zong's mind went blank, his gaze momentarily blank. He had been distracted lately and had no idea what Jiang Fengmian had drawn. After a long moment of trying to recall, he honestly shook his head.

"Silly, it’s me."

Jiang Fengmian's alluring gaze lingered on Huo Zong's chest as he began to trace again, following the lines of Huo Zong's abs until his fingertips rested on Huo Zong's hip V-line.

"Brother, I miss you. So, so much."

"You’re so busy every day. I don’t know what’s been wrong with me lately, but I’ve been unusually tired. I can’t even wait up for you at night. I thought you’d stopped liking me, that you found me boring."

Huo Zong's throat tightened. He hadn’t realized Jiang Fengmian had been feeling this way. No wonder he’d suggested the wolf ears—he was afraid Huo Zong found him dull.

"I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Work’s wrapped up now, and I don’t even have to go to the office. I’ll stay home the next few days; I’ll be here with you."

"Kitty, you’re more than enough. You’re not boring at all. Being with you isn’t just about these things. I’m happy doing anything with you. I didn’t mean to be like this. Every night when I came back, you looked so worn out. I didn’t want to exhaust you, that you wouldn’t rest well and would feel uncomfortable."

"These past few days, you’ve been feeling down, and I’ve been worried too. As long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter what we do."

Jiang Fengmian hugged Huo Zong's waist and mumbled, "Brother, I feel much better today. Really, really happy."

Huo Zong had spent the entire day with him, and only then did Jiang Fengmian feel alive again. He breathed in the woody scent deeply, lifting his gaze to pull Huo Zong's neck down.

His entire body was electrified as Jiang Fengmian swallowed his breath, responding to Huo Zong's intense kiss.

Jiang Fengmian slowly lay down, panting as he bared himself to Huo Zong.

"Husband, love me."

"Yes, I love you the most."

Huo Zong murmured as he kissed downward, his fingers pressing against the tail at Jiang Fengmian's lower back. Their tails intertwined, creating a unique sensation.

Jiang Fengmian let out a muffled sound, forced to endure the web Huo Zong was weaving, airtight and breathless.

The sound of bells rang out in the room at some point, and Jiang Fengmian held his breath, contentedly pinching Huo Zong's earlobe.

The soft sensation didn’t fade but instead grew more pronounced. Jiang Fengmian hummed softly as he drifted off to sleep, faintly hearing the sound of the rattle drum before he fell asleep.

The rhythmic thumping echoed, lingering.

Jiang Fengmian followed the sound of the rattle drum, moving forward through the thick fog. The path beneath his feet was uneven, and he stumbled along, each step a struggle.

"Huo Zong."

His echo reverberated through the valley. Jiang Fengmian reached out to brush away the fog, but it strangely clung to his fingers, winding up his arm until it reached his elbow.

The mist didn’t feel like mist, and the clouds didn’t look like clouds. Jiang Fengmian plucked a piece and bravely popped it into his mouth. A sweet flavor spread, almost like cotton candy.

The sound of the rattle drum grew louder, and Jiang Fengmian’s curiosity grew with it. He followed the sound, pushing forward through the mist. At the edge of the mist, a stunning scene unfolded, like something out of a dream.

The rhythmic drumming seemed to come from behind a low bush. Jiang Fengmian crept closer, his heart pounding, afraid it might be something strange. He inched forward, careful not to disturb whatever was there.

With a soft "plop," a few red fruits dropped onto the bush. They looked almost like tiny red apples. Curious, he picked one up, but as soon as he touched it, it felt warm and soft.

Jiang Fengmian took a deep breath. Standing before him was a toddler, maybe two or three years old. The child’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he giggled at Jiang Fengmian.

Jiang Fengmian’s breath hitched. The child looked almost exactly like Huo Zong, with the remaining two or three parts almost identical to himself, especially those round, lively eyes that were so much like his own.

He held his breath, afraid to scare the child. They stood there, silent, just staring at each other.

Then, the rattle drum began to sound again.

Jiang Fengmian heard his own voice, "Hello, little one, why are you here all alone?"

The child was absolutely adorable. His chubby little hands clung to Jiang Fengmian, and in a sweet, babyish voice, he said, "Daddy."

The word stunned Jiang Fengmian. In his disbelief, the child called out "Daddy" again, his tone clear, and he even tried to leap into Jiang Fengmian's arms.

Before Jiang Fengmian could react, the child had already wrapped his arms around his leg. His head was buzzing as he looked down, but the mist had risen, and the child's figure was nowhere to be seen.

He let out a long sigh of relief, but then the sound of the rattle drum echoed in his ears again.

"Ah—"

Jiang Fengmian suddenly woke up, drenched in sweat. He was still in shock when he heard Huo Zong's voice.

"Kitty, did you have a nightmare?"

He stared blankly at Huo Zong's concerned expression, then pouted and threw himself into Huo Zong's arms, overwhelmed with emotion.

It was terrifying, so terrifying! What kind of dream was that?

It felt so real, as if there really was an adorable child calling him "Daddy" in that sweet, childish voice.