Chapter 38

Chapter 38

As the saying goes, a gentleman uses his words rather than his fists. Tian Ruan managed to infuriate the kidnappers to no end with just a few sharp remarks.

The kidnappers tried to retaliate with curses, but their limited vocabulary was no match for Tian Ruan’s eloquence. Soon, they were practically reduced to tears by his biting remark, “No wonder no one loves you.”

On the way back, Tian Ruan was still relishing his verbal victory when a pair of underwear suddenly swung in front of his face.

The snow-white underwear swayed slightly, hooked by Yu Jingmo’s slender fingers.

“…” Tian Ruan reached out to grab the embarrassing “token,” but Yu Jingmo playfully yanked it away.

Yu Jingmo spoke coolly, “Care to explain why your underwear was sent to me as a ransom token?”

“They’ve lost it,” Tian Ruan complained. “Of all things, they had to pick my underwear as a ransom token?”

Yu Jingmo handed the underwear back to him, then lifted Tian Ruan’s shirt and checked his waistband. “It wasn’t taken off you?”

Tian Ruan: “…No.”

“I thought you might have been kidnapped stark naked.”

The idea alone made him shudder. “Absolutely not.”

“Hmm.” Yu Jingmo withdrew his hand.

Tian Ruan studied Yu Jingmo’s expression carefully. “You didn’t think I was violated or something, did you?”

Yu Jingmo didn’t answer. He had already considered the worst-case scenario, but fortunately, nothing like that had happened.

And it never would.

Finally, Tian Ruan understood why Yu Jingmo had been so icy and expressionless when he first found him—like an ashen-faced, grieving widower...

Though the original novel was an over-the-top story, as long as the protagonist was present, nothing too outrageous would happen. The author had a particular hatred for scenes of assault.

Even the first time between the main couple was written with full romantic detail across three whole chapters, only after they had truly connected emotionally.

Tian Ruan had pored over those scenes repeatedly...

“Why are you blushing?” Yu Jingmo asked coldly.

Of course, Tian Ruan didn’t dare admit he was reminiscing about the steamy scenes between the main couple. Instead, he shot back, “You’ve been carrying my underwear in your pocket this whole time?”

Yu Jingmo: “…What else was I supposed to do?”

Tian Ruan’s face turned even redder. “You should’ve shredded it and tossed it—it’s tainted now.”

Yu Jingmo gave a slight nod. “Hmm.”

Back at the hotel, Tian Ruan found a pair of scissors, shredded the underwear into pieces, and tossed it into the trash, finally closing the chapter on this disastrous episode.

After a shower and some rest, the investigation revealed—just as Tian Ruan had suspected—that the suspect who had drugged him was the mastermind behind the kidnapping. As for why Tian Ruan was targeted, the reason was simple.

The suspect had told the kidnappers that two dark-haired, dark-eyed “Chinese” men at the party had brought gold—one dressed in black, the other in white—and that the gold was in the hotel.

However, at last night’s party, the dark-haired, dark-eyed attendees included Yu Jingmo, Tian Ruan, a Japanese guest, a Singaporean, a Malaysian, an Indonesian… and everyone except Tian Ruan was wearing black.

Faced with too many options, the kidnappers went for the easiest target—Tian Ruan.

After hearing the police investigation results, Tian Ruan gave Yu Jingmo a resentful look—those clothes had been picked out for him by Yu Jingmo.

Yu Jingmo remarked, "In a way, you stood out like a sore thumb."

Tian Ruan retorted, "More like 'the tallest blade of grass gets cut first.'"

It’s never good to stand out too much.

Tian Ruan deeply missed his school uniform—now that was the kind of attire that made him blend right in.

The return flight took only ten hours, flying from daylight into daylight, as if chasing the sun.

When the plane landed at Suzhou Airport, the butler personally came to pick them up. Settling into the limousine, Yu Jingmo got straight to work: "Dock one month’s pay from each bodyguard who accompanied us to Los Angeles. Hire a new head of security—someone with a military background."

The butler replied, "Understood."

Tian Ruan added, "Preferably someone who can keep people in line and mouths shut."

The butler didn’t ask further. He already knew what his employer had gone through during this trip. The punishment was lenient—a harsher employer would’ve fired half of them.

Back at the estate, Yu Shang was already waiting. He first reported on the hotel internship over the past two days, then casually asked after his father and stepfather—since they were back safely, there was no need to panic.

Tian Ruan: "..." Kid, could you be any more robotic? You’re the protagonist gong [top]!

Clearly, Yu Jingmo was used to his son’s robot-like attitude. "Good."

Watching this pair of emotionless father and son, Tian Ruan went upstairs to wash up and sleep.

The next day, Tian Ruan was moved to tears after tasting Liu Ma’s pan-fried buns, sweet congee, and osmanthus cakes. "Liu Ma, your cooking is the best."

Liu Ma was overwhelmed, tears shimmering in her eyes as she covered her face and sobbed, "Madam, you’ve been through so much!"

Tian Ruan: "..."

The maids all welled up with tears.

Tian Ruan quickly reassured them, "I’m fine, don’t cry. I’ll give each of you a little something as compensation!"

The maids immediately stopped crying. "Madam, you’re too kind."

Now that he had money, Tian Ruan added them on WeChat and sent each a red packet. The bodyguards were green with envy when they heard, but there was nothing they could do—different jobs, different perks. Women were naturally more emotionally sensitive than men.

The butler worked with remarkable efficiency. The new head of security started that same morning.

He was a tall, lean man in his early thirties, with plain features—aside from his 185 cm height, he’d fade into the background in a crowd.

But his posture was ramrod straight, and his aura screamed military.

The man, Mao Qi, introduced himself with a stiff salute to Yu Jingmo. "Major Yu, sir. Reporting for duty. Eighth Company, Seventh Squad—Mao Qi."

Tian Ruan was stunned. He’d guessed Yu Jingmo had a military background, but never expected him to have made it to major.

Yu Jingmo said, "I’ve retired. No need to call me 'Major.'"

Mao Qi: "Understood, Mr. Yu."

Yu Jingmo: "This incompetent lot is yours to train. You have one month—I expect results."

Mao Qi cast a cold glance at the burly bodyguards. "Don’t worry, I’m excellent at whipping people into shape."

The bodyguards trembled in fear, but as soon as Yu Jingmo left, they grinned and crowded around: "Boss, your surname is legendary!" "Boss, do you smoke?" "Boss..."

Mao Qi: "Don't call me 'boss.' Starting today, I am your Yama King."

The bodyguards: "..."

Tian Ruan clapped enthusiastically: "The Yama King has arrived, a warm welcome!"

The bodyguards welcomed him with tears in their eyes.

Then, that morning, the Yu family estate featured a bizarre new spectacle—over thirty burly bodyguards lined up in perfect formation, chased by a trainer blowing a whistle and wielding a whip.

"No stragglers! Hold those sandbags steady!"

*Pia—!!* *Wah—!!*

Such sounds echoed intermittently.

Tian Ruan sat at the piano, hammering the keys haphazardly, musing dreamily, "What a marvelous sound~"

Servants agreed, "Indeed~"

Yu Shang couldn’t stand the noise any longer and escaped to a hotel.

Tian Ruan asked the butler, "Is my Macchiato International Garden Hotel presidential suite still available?"

The butler beamed, "Of course, Madam. Every Yu family hotel reserves the most comfortable suite for Mr. Yu. The one you stayed in was originally reserved for him."

Tian Ruan immediately went after Yu Shang, "Wait, I’ll go with you!"

The Volkswagen left a trail of exhaust behind—the ungrateful brat didn’t hesitate for a second.

Tian Ruan reached out helplessly: "..."

The butler opened the shining Ferrari's door, "Madam, this car better suits your high status."

Tian Ruan pretended not to care as he walked toward the Ferrari, "True."

Hmph, he didn’t care if Yu Shang didn’t want him around—as long as Lu Qiuyan would.

When Tian Ruan arrived, an autumn drizzle had begun, drizzling lightly. The maple leaves appeared even redder, the asphalt road pitch-black, and the distant Macchiato International Garden Hotel looked like a white castle.

Even a casual snapshot from Tian Ruan had artistic flair, which he sent to Yu Jingmo.

Yu Jingmo: "At the hotel?"

Tian Ruan: "Yeah."

Yu Jingmo: "I’ll catch up with you later."

Tian Ruan: "Is it a good shot?"

Yu Jingmo: "Definitely."

Tian Ruan: "..."

Yu Jingmo: ?

Tian Ruan: I'm going to have fun.

Yu Jingmo: Mhm.

But Lu Qiuyan wasn’t at the entrance. When Tian Ruan asked the doorman on duty, he learned that Lu Qiuyan had a fever and was taken to his room by a man surnamed Du.

Tian Ruan: "..."

That ‘Du’ guy must be Du Henbie.

Yu Shang, what are you doing? Your wife’s getting kidnapped!

Tian Ruan dashed to the front desk and asked, "Where is Du Henbie’s room? Give me a spare key."

The receptionist hesitated, "Ma’am, even you can’t violate hotel regulations. If I tell you, I’ll be fired."

Tian Ruan: "My friend’s about to get assaulted by him. I’m going to save him."

"???"

The receptionist was startled and didn’t dare delay. She quickly looked up Du Henbie’s room number and notified all department managers and Yu Shang. Tian Ruan snatched the key and ran, fearing that Du Henbie might do something awful if he was even a second late.

After all, as Male Lead #2 in the original novel, even if he appeared early with unclear motives, he still had a thing for Zhu Jueshou.

Du Henbie’s room was on the second floor and easy to find. Tian Ruan swiped the card at the door—*ding*—then stormed in. "Lu Qiuyan!"

The man on the sofa looked up, his brown eyes meeting Tian Ruan’s.

Tian Ruan stepped inside, and the door automatically closed behind him. "Where’s Lu Qiuyan?"

Du Henbie took a sip of red wine, his attention on a freshly unpacked plaster bust in front of him. He crossed his legs, admiring it, then snorted. "All of you treat me like some villain?"

Tian Ruan headed for the bedroom, but the bed inside was empty. "Where’s Lu Qiuyan?"

Du Henbie sneered, "Yu Shang took him. I’m not interested in kids."

Tian Ruan: "..." Just wait—three years later, you’ll be eating your words.

Still, barging into someone else’s room was rude. Tian Ruan apologized, "Sorry, I was too hasty."

Du Henbie tossed back his wine. "I’m just curious—do I really seem like the kind of person who’d take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state?"

"No. You... kinda gentlemanly."

"Kinda?" Du Henbie retorted. "I don’t recall any ungentlemanly behavior on my part. Please enlighten me."

Tian Ruan had no answer. His knowledge of Du Henbie was limited to the book. In the original story, Du Henbie wasn’t a bad guy—he just had his own methods when it came to pursuing Lu Qiuyan.

But Lu Qiuyan’s heart always belonged to Yu Shang, which eventually forced Du Henbie to let go.

Tian Ruan deadpanned, "Sorry, I’ll leave now."

"Don’t." Du Henbie’s voice hardened. "Tian Ruan, I sent a helicopter to pick you up. Why the hell didn’t you board?"

Tian Ruan blinked. "Why the hell would I?"

"If you met my mother, you’d love her."

"...Why should I meet her?"

Du Henbie stepped closer to him, then suddenly halted, frowning at the wine glass beside the plaster statue.

Tian Ruan: "?"

Du Henbie laughed again, his chest shaking with mirth, shoulders trembling slightly, yet his expression was a mix of frustrated fury: "You all are truly vile."

Tian Ruan: "Who's vile?"

"The Yu family."

"What did the Yu family do to you? Don't say that." In Tian Ruan's eyes, Yu Jingmo was the most upright person, and Yu Shang wasn't one for deception. Even in corporate battles, they wouldn't resort to underhanded methods.

Du Henbie's sudden accusation was baffling.

Soon, Tian Ruan understood the source of Du Henbie's odd behavior, as Du Henbie's face began flushing, his gaze deepened, his breathing quickened, and the way he held his forehead was uncannily like... Yu Jingmo that night.

Yu Jingmo, who had been drugged.

Now it was Du Henbie who had been drugged.

Tian Ruan was stunned: "What's wrong with you?"

Why is this happening again? Is there no end to it? Had Du Henbie's early appearance triggered a butterfly effect, rippling across continents and causing both men to suffer?

Du Henbie let out a burning sigh, "Leave."

Tian Ruan dodged past him and rushed toward the door, only to find it wouldn't open—as if locked from the outside. He shook it violently, "Open the door! Is anyone there? Help!"

The walls were too thick; no one could hear him.

Tian Ruan shouted: "This is bullshit!"

Du Henbie burned into him with his gaze.

Tian Ruan pressed his back against the door, pulling out his phone to call Yu Jingmo, while warning Du Henbie, "Don't even think about it. I have a husband, and he won't let you off."

Du Henbie: "..."

Yu Jingmo answered the call, voice breaking with panic: "Tian Ruan?"

Tian Ruan's voice turned icy: "Du Henbie's been drugged, and I'm locked in his room."

Yu Jingmo's voice turned icy: "I'll send someone to pry the door open. Don't panic. There's a hammer hidden behind the door in the fire safety cabinet—use it to protect yourself. I'm coming now."

"Okay, hurry." Tian Ruan immediately went to search for the fire safety cabinet but couldn't get it open.

Du Henbie: "Need help?"

"No, back off!"

Du Henbie gave a resigned sigh, then marched to the living room window, opened it, and leapt straight out.

Tian Ruan: "..."

Now Tian Ruan believed Du Henbie truly had no interest in children.