Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"...Father." Yu Shang awkwardly released Lu Qiuyan's hand.

Tian Ruan jumped in to mediate: "Were you two talking? Did you have an argument?"

Lu Qiuyan: "Yeah."

"Yu Shang, you should be more considerate of your classmate. As the student council president, you can't bully those younger than you, understand?" Tian Ruan chided in a fatherly tone.

Yu Shang: "..."

Yu Jingmo wasn’t one to be fooled. Every time he ran into Yu Shang with a classmate, that classmate was always Lu Qiuyan—too much of a coincidence. However, he didn’t press further. A businessman knew when to observe; he would wait for the right moment to deliver a decisive blow.

Yu Shang was his son, and he knew him better than anyone. The current situation wasn’t worth his concern, so he simply said, "Be civil with your classmates. No arguing."

Yu Shang nodded awkwardly. "Okay."

Lu Qiuyan also seemed uncomfortable. "We weren’t arguing, just trading barbs."

Tian Ruan beamed kindly. "That’s good. Classmates should be friendly and help each other."

Yu Jingmo glanced at Tian Ruan. "You’re really leaning into the saintly act."

Tian Ruan: "..."

"Let’s go."

Yu Shang saw them out of the hotel. Out of habit, Lu Qiuyan also headed toward the entrance and casually asked, "Tian Ruan, where are you going?"

Tian Ruan: "Business trip."

"You have business trips? You have a job?"

Tian Ruan thought for a moment. "Does ‘wealthy family’s young patriarch’ count as a job?"

Lu Qiuyan glanced at Yu Jingmo’s sharp, unyielding profile ahead—far more intimidating than Yu Shang—and nodded in understanding. "I get it."

Not just anyone could marry into the Yu family. Once inside, one had to be prepared for certain… sacrifices. Take Tian Ruan, for example. Could he disobey Yu Jingmo? Technically—if he had a death wish.

Tian Ruan had made his peace with it. He wouldn’t try to alter Yu Jingmo’s life trajectory. Going with the flow meant he could survive a couple more years, and Yu Jingmo would remain the unshakable business magnate he was.

The stretched black sedan glinted in the dawn light. Tian Ruan hadn’t ridden in it since the wedding day. The driver was loading the luggage into the trunk while Assistant Xu stood by the car, waiting.

About five or six meters away, a gold-gray Bentley was parked. A smooth, low voice called out, "Tian Ruan."

Tian Ruan turned to see Du Henbie, in a sharp suit, closing the distance in long strides.

Du Henbie closed in, smiling. "Heading out for something?"

"Yeah."

"Is this your husband?"

"Yes."

Du Henbie offered Yu Jingmo his hand. "Hello, Mr. Yu. I’m Du Henbie."

Yu Jingmo didn’t shake his hand, replying curtly, "No time. We’re leaving."

With one hand holding the door of the limo and the other pressing against Tian Ruan's lower back, he ushered him in with a gentle push. Then he got in from the other side, and the door closed with a thud.

Assistant Xu shot Du Henbie an apologetic grin before quickly hopping into the car as well.

The car set off for the airport.

Yu Shang watched as the vehicle disappeared at the end of the downhill slope. Du Henbie chuckled, "Your dad really rolls in style."

"He's very busy," Yu Shang replied.

"Too swamped to go without your stepdad? Must really dote on him."

"That’s family stuff." Yu Shang sensed something. "Mr. Du, you’re awfully curious about my stepdad?"

Du Henbie walked over to the Bentley. "Guess he’s a dead ringer for my mom. Feels like fate."

"What do you mean?"

Du Henbie smiled without answering, hopped in, and hit the gas to leave.

Yu Shang frowned, his frown lingering for a long time.

Seeing this, Lu Qiuyan said, "Du Henbie isn’t actually trying to kidnap your stepdad to replace his mom, is he?"

Yu Shang: "...Doubt he’s that desperate."

"Who knows? Some folks have way too much time."

After a moment of thought, Yu Shang decided to pass along what Du Henbie said about Tian Ruan resembling his mother to Yu Jingmo.

Yu Jingmo just sent back a "Hmm."

Exiting WeChat, Yu Jingmo personally asked Tian Ruan for confirmation: "Du Henbie said you look like his mother. Is that true?"

Tian Ruan brushed it aside. "Yeah, it’s true. I mean, we’re just NPCs."

"?"

"Coincidence."

Yu Jingmo mused, "You never thought that your resemblance to Du Henbie’s mother might not be a coincidence? Maybe you’re her son?"

Tian Ruan balked. "How could that be? My mother is Sha Meijuan."

"You don’t look like Sha Meijuan."

"Maybe I take after my long-dead dad."

Tian Ruan wouldn’t even humor the thought of being some long-lost heir to a wealthy family. That soap-opera stuff’s for protagonists—and he was no protagonist.

If he really indulged in such delusions, only to be exposed as a fraud later, it’d be mortifying.

"You never thought this possibility?" Yu Jingmo studied Tian Ruan’s porcelain skin.

Tian Ruan was baffled. "Why would that even make sense?"

He was just a minor side character—giving him a rich heir’s identity would be way too strange. As everyone knew, those three long-gone "playboy airheads" barely scraped the edges of high society, and they ended up as cannon fodder who lasted less than two chapters.

Tian Ruan was certain that if he really turned out to be a wealthy heir and stole the spotlight from the protagonist, he’d only die faster.

In this over-the-top BL novel, how could there be anyone more impressive than the protagonist? Even if there were, they would only serve as stepping stones or power-ups for the main character.

"Unreasonable?" Yu Jingmo shot back.

Tian Ruan didn’t know how to explain—he was from the world outside the book and knew the basic rules of this world.

What might seem ordinary to the people of this world was, for Tian Ruan, a sword of Damocles hanging over his head, leaving him restless day and night.

Now that he had finally gotten somewhat settled, he didn’t want another "accident" disrupting his life.

"Anyway, it’s impossible for me to have any connection with Du Henbie," Tian Ruan said firmly.

Yu Jingmo didn't respond either way. Some things could be denied, but you can't choose family. He hoped he was just overthinking it.

At the airport, they checked in, went through security, and boarded with priority. With Yu Jingmo around, everything went smoothly.

The two settled into first class, where a dedicated flight attendant provided fluent bilingual service—adjusting their seats, explaining emergency procedures, and offering tea and snacks.

The flight attendant concluded, "This flight will last eleven hours and forty minutes. We wish you both a pleasant journey."

Yu Jingmo took out his laptop to work and ordered a latte. "If you’re bored, you can watch a movie."

A screen hung overhead, and a remote by the seat allowed them to put on headphones and choose from a selection of films. The options were nothing special.

Tian Ruan picked a British costume drama—*Pride and Prejudice*.

It was indeed a timeless film. The heroine was radiant yet aloof, while the hero, though smitten at first sight, played it cool because of pride and social constraints. Only when he walked toward her through the morning mist did they finally overcome their prejudices and open their hearts to each other.

This scene always got to him—this was what love should look like. However, two hours in one position was brutal. When he shifted slightly, his lower back cracked audibly.

For the first time, Yu Jingmo looked at him with mild alarm. "Did you break a bone?"

Tian Ruan: "...No, just stiff."

Yu Jingmo actually massaged Tian Ruan’s lower back for a moment. "Better?"

Tian Ruan nodded. "Much better. Thank you, Mr. Yu."

"Stretch your legs. Lunch will be served soon."

Tian Ruan’s idea of moving was a trip to the restroom, after which he and Yu Jingmo headed to the dining area.

The plane’s dining space was cramped. Sitting face-to-face, their legs brushed under the table—which didn't happen with other passengers, likely because Yu Jingmo’s legs were too long.

Yu Jingmo said nothing about it, tucking into his fruit and vegetable salad. His meal included a small piece of whole wheat bread, a black coffee, and a box of blueberries.

Tian Ruan had the vegetarian set—nothing to write home about, but his appetite was poor on his first flight. He couldn’t finish the last bits of purple sweet potato and corn, so he started pushing them around his plate...

Yu Jingmo silently took the leftovers and ate them without comment.

"...Thank you, Mr. Yu." Tian Ruan no longer felt guilty about wasting food.

After finishing, Yu Jingmo wiped his lips with a napkin and said casually, "When I was little, my parents used to eat my leftovers like this."

Tian Ruan mused, "Your parents must have loved you very much."

"Didn’t yours love you?" Yu Jingmo pressed.

Tian Ruan was about to say he didn't know before remembering his mother in this world was Sha Meijuan. "Of course they did."

"Yeah."

Well-rested, Tian Ruan stayed awake for most of the remaining journey, studying vocabulary, skimming magazines, or taking half-hour naps when he had nothing else to do.

Yu Jingmo tucked a small blanket around him.

After the long flight, the plane was about to land. The flight attendants handed out customs declaration forms—one per family, to be filled out in English. Yu Jingmo took the form effortlessly and filled it out smoothly with a black pen.

Tian Ruan tilted his head, studying closely, memorizing in silence for future reference.

After landing, the declaration form, along with their passports, was handed to immigration officers for inspection. Once cleared, they were allowed to proceed.

Exiting the terminal, they were met with people of all backgrounds, and the constant honking from taxi drivers.

Assistant Xu pushed a luggage cart with four large suitcases neatly arranged, followed by four bodyguards. Tian Ruan felt awkward—anyone could tell he and Yu Jingmo were like they didn’t belong together.

Tian Ruan wore jeans, a sporty jacket, a baseball cap, and carried a backpack over his shoulder, looking like a total student.

Yu Jingmo, on the other hand, was dressed in a sharp suit, radiating authority, trailed by uniformly dressed bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses—so striking that people stopped and stared, keeping their distance.

Their business partner had sent a delegation to pick them up—five luxury cars in total. A foreigner who looked like a manager shook hands with Yu Jingmo, exchanged a few words, and then guided them to the cars.

The foreigner opened the car door for Yu Jingmo, who then pulled Tian Ruan in with an arm around his waist before entering from the other side.

"So, this is your lovely wife?" the foreigner teased from the front passenger seat. "He looks like a student."

Yu Jingmo: "He is a student. In high school."

The foreigner was stunned. "Uh... may I ask how old he is?"

"Twenty."

"Wow, I never would’ve guessed. I thought he was fifteen or sixteen—freaked me out a little."

At this hour, the sky in the U.S. was still dark. Aside from a few drifter types and homeless folks, the streets were empty. The cars first took Yu Jingmo and his group to the hotel to rest.

"See you in a few hours, Mr. Ink," the foreigner said with a smile.

Once the hotel room door closed, Tian Ruan asked, "Your English name is Ink?"

Yu Jingmo: "Yeah."

Tian Ruan thought hard. "Then what should I call myself?"

Yu Jingmo undid his tie a little and said casually, "Soft."

"..." Tian Ruan glared at him. "I'm a man."

Yu Jingmo took off his jacket, opened the minibar, and popped open a bottle of '82 red wine smoothly, pouring himself a glass. "The pinyin of your name is already pleasant and easy to remember."

Tian Ruan couldn’t think of anything better. "Sure."

"I’ll sleep soon to get over the jet lag. You don’t need to—you have school when we get back."

"Okay."

Yu Jingmo sipped his wine slowly, then went to shower and wrapped himself in a robe to sleep, and had dinner sent up for Tian Ruan first. Soon, the meal arrived. Tian Ruan thought about waking Yu Jingmo for a bite, but he was already deep asleep—clearly exhausted.

So Tian Ruan ate the fancy Italian meal alone, went over some vocab until he got sleepy, and then went to shower.

The bathroom still held a hint of Yu Jingmo's scent, making Tian Ruan blush and his heart pound.

Swaddled in a bathrobe, Tian Ruan circled the spacious suite twice but couldn’t find a second bedroom. He froze—this suite only had one bedroom?

The two-meter-wide bed in the bedroom was already occupied by Yu Jingmo. Where would Tian Ruan sleep?

He eyed the sofa, study, and kitchen chairs, after some hesitation settling on the sofa—he didn’t dare share a bed with Yu Jingmo. He was afraid he’d drop dead the second he woke up.

After some time, Tian Ruan felt cold and instinctively tightened the thin blanket around him. Then, someone lifted him up. Too sleepy to open his eyes, he recognized Yu Jingmo’s cool, familiar scent and felt completely at ease.

He sank into softness, wrapped in warmth like a cocoon.

Fingers curled around fabric, he heard a deep voice say, “Let go. I’ve got work.”

Tian Ruan didn’t let go—instead, he tugged it closer.

“...” Yu Jingmo waited till he was out cold, then gently freed his sleeve, tucked him in, and changed to get back to work.

Tian Ruan woke up to find it was already 2 PM.

Blank-minded, he slowly remembered that Yu Jingmo had carried him there.

His sleep-warm cheeks burned hotter.

He picked up his phone on the nightstand and saw four messages from Yu Jingmo:

*"I’ve gone to work. Lunch is ordered—call the front desk when you’re up. The number’s by the phone. If you go out, take the guards. Get whatever you want—card’s in the nightstand. There’s a banquet tonight. I’ll be back around 2."*

Tian Ruan panicked before realizing it meant 2 AM Beijing time, which would be around 11 PM or midnight locally.

He replied: *"Okay, thank you, Mr. Yu."*

Yu Jingmo: *"Since when do you ‘Mr. Yu’ me abroad? Scared I’ll leave you?"*

Tian Ruan: *"...No."*

Yu Jingmo: *"Don’t go anywhere dangerous."*

Tian Ruan: *"Okay."*

As a well-behaved student, Tian Ruan’s biggest interest in a new place was naturally the library. After a light lunch, he opened the door to find the bodyguards standing like telephone poles and said, *"To the library."*

The guards led the way, looping twice before spotting it.

The moment he stepped inside, the noise of the outside world faded. Even in a country known for indulgence, libraries were quiet, with an atmosphere perfect for studying.

Tian Ruan got a few weird looks right away. After some thought, he ordered the bodyguards to take off their sunglasses, which reduced the attention.

Browsing the shelves for hardcover foreign books, Tian Ruan struggled to pick just one before settling down beside the shelves to read.

The two bodyguards patrolled briefly, found no suspicious figures, and each grabbed a book. Baffled, they whispered, asking Tian Ruan, *"Madam, what does this sentence mean?"*

Happy to act as a temporary translator, Tian Ruan read: *"Woman, don’t think your pitiful act will soften my heart. It’s useless..."*

The bodyguards nodded eagerly. *"Then what about this one?"*

*"That night, he didn’t let her go until dawn..."*

*"And this?"* “...” Tian Ruan took the whole book and nearly choked at the cover—it was one of those cheesy romance novels with overly handsome men and delicate women that had been popular in China twenty years ago.

And the English translation of the book title is: *The Mafia Prince's Runaway Bride: Forbidden Temptation*.

Why would such a book exist abroad? And it’s even prominently shelved in a library near a foreign university.

Tian Ruan found it amusing, so he took a photo and sent it to Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan.

Yu Shang: ?

Lu Qiuyan: Scandalous.

Tian Ruan chatted with them while reading, time slipping away until evening. The bodyguards, suffering through the impenetrable academic texts, reminded him, "Sir, the library is closing soon. Let’s return to the hotel."

Reluctantly, Tian Ruan returned the book to its place and headed back to the hotel.

Swiping the keycard to enter the suite, Tian Ruan noticed the lights in the living room were on—perhaps turned on by the hotel manager. Just as he was about to praise their attentiveness, a shadow darted in the bedroom.

"Who’s there?!" Tian Ruan shouted.

The shadow emerged hesitantly—a slender blond young man. "Oh..."

Tian Ruan immediately opened the door to let the bodyguards in. "There’s an intruder."

The bodyguards marched over and restrained the blond youth. "Who are you!"

Finally, their limited English came in handy.

The other bodyguard instinctively replied, "I am fine, thank you. And you?"

"..."

The blond youth stared in horror at the two burly men with East Asian features. "I’m not a thief, no, please listen to me! I got the wrong room, I’m so sorry, I apologize!"

The bodyguard asked Tian Ruan, "Sir, what’s he rambling on about?"

Tian Ruan: "..."

Tian Ruan looked at the blond youth and asked, "How can you prove you’re not a thief?"

Finally, someone understood him. The blond youth teared up with relief. "You can search me, search me all over! I swear I didn’t take anything from this room."

Tian Ruan didn’t do it himself but ordered the bodyguards instead.

In seconds, they had him down to his underwear.

"..."

The blond youth sniveled.

The bodyguards checked his underwear, confirming no hidden valuables, and only found a card and a box of Trojans in his pockets.

Tian Ruan took the card. "*Silver Prince Club, Kristin*."

The blond youth dressed as fast as he could, pleadingly saying, "Young master, if you need... I can provide services. I offer very reasonable rates."

"..." Tian Ruan suddenly understood what he was. "Get out."

The blond youth scurried out, even forgetting his card and condoms.

"Sir, should we call the hotel manager about this incident?" the bodyguard asked.

"Summon him."

Not long after, the hotel manager arrived. Tian Ruan held up the card and confronted him, "I need an explanation. Why can strangers just waltz into my husband’s and my room?"

The manager apologized, "I’m sorry. That guy said he forgot his key. This won't happen again, I promise."

Tian Ruan suspected there was more to it, but no matter how he pressed, the manager insisted it was a genuine mistake, not intentional. With no other options, Tian Ruan dismissed him, deciding to wait for Yu Jingmo’s return to discuss changing hotels.

He waited until late at night. Having slept enough earlier, Tian Ruan wasn’t tired and was reading on the living room couch.

When he heard the faint beep of the door unlocking, he set the book aside and hurried over, just as Yu Jingmo walked in.

"Mr. Yu, you're home so late," Tian Ruan said, then immediately caught himself sounding petulant. He quickly steered the conversation back on track. "Earlier, someone got into our room. Nothing was stolen, but this hotel isn’t safe. Let’s change hotels tomorrow?"

Yu Jingmo, loosening his tie with slender fingers, walked past him toward the bathroom and replied distractedly, "Mm."

Suddenly, Tian Ruan sniffed the air—Yu Jingmo reeked of alcohol. "How much did you drink?"

"It was a cocktail party. Drinking is expected." The sound of running water filled the room as Yu Jingmo washed his hands and face, but his vision was blurry. Outwardly composed, he was actually struggling, his body burning with restless agitation.

Tian Ruan moved closer, surprised to see an expression other than Yu Jingmo’s usual icy indifference or faint smiles. His brows were slightly furrowed, his ears flushed red, as if he were deeply uncomfortable.

"Mr. Yu, let me get you some water," Tian Ruan offered, turning to leave—only for his wrist to be seized. In an instant, he was pinned against the bathroom counter, his head nearly hitting the mirror.

"??" Tian Ruan realized something was very wrong. This wasn’t just drunkenness. Yu Jingmo’s breaths were scorching, his gaze filled with animalistic desire.

Tian Ruan instinctively refused to believe it—Yu Jingmo was known for his self-restraint, how could he—? But the hard pressure against his abdomen confirmed an undeniable reality.

—Yu Jingmo was aroused.

Why?

The answer struck Tian Ruan like lightning—the shady, flirtatious blond youth, the dropped condom, his dubious profession, and the manager’s suspicious cooperation.

If Tian Ruan hadn’t been here, the one Yu Jingmo was pressing against the counter right now wouldn’t be him.

The realization sent a cold sweat down Tian Ruan’s spine. Who wanted to harm Yu Jingmo?

No—right now, his biggest concern should be himself.

"...Mr. Yu, you’ve been drugged," Tian Ruan said shakily.

Yu Jingmo stared at him, phoenix eyes blazing, so close that his hot breath nearly touched the beautiful young man before him.