Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Lu Qiuyan was still asleep. The original author had once tenderly described the protagonist's sleeping face as "as pure and flawless as an angel, untouched by life's hardships."

Tian Ruan stared at Lu Qiuyan for a while, seeing no sign he’d wake up—clearly, he was truly exhausted.

Seventeen years old, yet juggling work and school—a double burden. Used to living in luxury, after his family's bankruptcy, he not only endured his father's drunken scolding but also the pressure from his mother.

As if attending Deyin Academy and mingling with a group of young masters and misses could somehow reverse their fortunes and solve their family's struggles.

He didn’t realize merchants cared only about profit—cold, hard pragmatism. Without mutual benefit, the children of these merchants, raised in such an environment, weighed pros and cons carefully. Genuine friendships with Lu Qiuyan? Few and far between.

The more Tian Ruan thought about it, the more his heart ached. Lu Qiuyan's life at this moment was far harder than his own.

"Poor kid," Tian Ruan muttered, prodding Lu Qiuyan’s warm cheek.

Yu Jingmo whispered, "What are you doing?"

Tian Ruan placed his hand directly on Lu Qiuyan's smooth, full forehead. "My hand’s cold—good for cooling him off."

Yu Jingmo grabbed his sleeve and pulled it away. "Stop messing around."

Tian Ruan grinned. "Hehe, you're jealous, aren't you? Fine, you touch his face then—oh wait, no, you're too hot-tempered. That'd just make him burn up even more."

Yu Jingmo dragged his mischievous stepdad out of the bedroom and closed the door behind them. Inside, only Lu Qiuyan's soft breathing and the hum of the central air conditioning remained.

"Did you find out who drugged him?" Yu Jingmo took the chance to ask.

Tian Ruan: "Found him. It was second uncle’s orders."

Yu Jingmo: "Second uncle? Wait—you mean Great-Uncle?"

"That's the one."

"Does he have some personal grudge against Du Henbie?"

"We’ll find out once he arrives."

Yu Jingmo nodded. "Alright. Go wait outside—update me if anything changes."

He sounded just like Yu Jingmo, and Tian Ruan nearly obeyed on instinct before realizing it wasn't his husband's order. His tongue twisted mid-sentence. "Why should I? You never even hang out with me!"

With that, he strutted off, puffing himself up.

Yu Jingmo: "..."

Back in the lobby, Tian Ruan sat proudly beside Yu Jingmo.

Yu Jingmo: "What, had a great dump? That smile?"

Tian Ruan: "...Yeah."

No way was he admitting he'd sneaked into his son's room to check on his future son-in-law.

A short while later, security called the front desk to report that Yu Er was here. The managers scurried out, shaking in their shoes. Yu Jingmo didn’t budge, while Tian Ruan reluctantly settled back into his seat.

Copying Yu Jingmo, Tian Ruan picked up his teacup and sipped carefully.

Outside, polite small talk went in circles before the group finally returned to the lobby. Nobody warned Yu Er, so Yu Jingmo’s fury would hit him like a thunderbolt headed his way.

"Uncle." Yu Jingmo waited until the man entered before elegantly rising to his feet. "How have you been lately?"

Yu Er’s voice boomed out, his graying hair seemingly rejuvenated: "Doing great."

"Please join us in the tea room."

Over the short thirty-meter walk, Yu Fada and his wife lavished praise on Tian Ruan: "Coming in second on your first exam—such a bright future ahead!"

Tian Ruan smiled politely. "Thank you, Cousin and Cousin-in-law. I still have much room for improvement."

"Look at this child, so humble," Yu Fada's wife sighed. "If our Xiao Jun were half as responsible..."

"What's wrong with Xiao Jun?" Yu Er interrupted sharply. "Xiao Jun is my precious grandson. He’s the best."

Yu Fada felt embarrassed—no one knew his son's flaws better than he did—but Yu Er, as the grandfather, only spoiled the boy endlessly.

His wife pasted on a strained smile.

In the original novel, this couple wasn't truly bad—just burdened with an unfortunate father/father-in-law. Tian Ruan said, "A father knows his son best. Cousin, perhaps you could discuss parenting with Mr. Yu in your free time."

Yu Fada: "You got it."

Yu Jingmo glanced at Tian Ruan upon hearing this. "I don’t have a parenting method. It's all thanks to my son's own efforts."

"..."

Of course he had to work his ass off—Yu Jingmo had raised Yu Shang as his successor from the start. The slightest dissatisfaction would have meant abandonment. Yu Shang understood this all too well, and his intelligence only meant he worked harder every day.

Thankfully, Yu Shang thrived under this heir model. Put Yu Jun in his place? He’d bail in a heartbeat.

Even if Tian Ruan were given all the protagonist's talents and resources, he wouldn’t be half as confident as Yu Shang.

As the awkwardness hung in the air, the group entered the tea room.

The attendant served tea, but before Yu Er could take a sip, Yu Jingmo from his seat at the head of the table asked, "Uncle, was it you who ordered someone to drug Du Henbie?"

Yu Er's hand trembled, nearly spilling on his wrinkled hands.

Yu Fada frowned in confusion. "Drugged? Who?"

Yu Jingmo: "Uncle had someone drug Du Henbie, but my wife happened to be inside. They broke the door, trapping my wife. If Du Henbie hadn't jumped out the window, who knows what could’ve happened?"

Yu Er's hand shook again as he stared at Tian Ruan in horror. "You—"

Tian Ruan smiled. "Don’t sweat it, Uncle. I’m fine."

If he wasn’t worried, someone else certainly was.

Yu Er’s panic was palpable. Tea sloshed over, burning his hand as he winced. "As long as your wife wasn’t harmed, that’s what matters. We’ll find Du Henbie ASAP, take photos, and send them to Eternal Enterprises."

"Dad, what are you saying?!" Yu Fada exclaimed. "Why drug someone?"

Yu Er snapped, "You don’t get it! Eternal Enterprises was about to partner with us, but Du Henbie muscled in on our deal. Who does he think he is? Once we have his incriminating photos, Eternal’s CEO will drop him."

Tian Ruan was stunned. The butterfly effect had truly sent shockwaves across the ocean—even the reason for drugging was identical.

Yu Er had nailed the villain’s playbook.

Tian Ruan even wondered if Yu Er’s actions had kicked off the domino effect that led to Yu Jingmo being drugged in Los Angeles—karma’s a bitch.

In the real world, cause and effect might not act so swiftly. But this is the world of a book, deliberately shaped by the author, where the will of the world favors the main couple. Any side character or cannon fodder who commits evil is bound to face retribution.

"..."

So why should this retribution fall on Yu Jingmo? This is outrageous!

Tian Ruan snapped angrily, "Second Uncle, this is a dirty trick—despicable, shameless, and underhanded. Do you think Du Henbie won’t know it was you? Let me tell you, if he retaliates afterward, all the money in the world won't save you."

Yu Er exploded in anger, bringing up old grievances: "How dare you speak to me like that? I’m your elder! I was just giving you advice before, and if you didn’t like it, fine—but you cursed at me and blocked me. You're acting like a barbarian!"

Tian Ruan: "Call me an alien then."

"..." Yu Er pointed at Tian Ruan. "Yu Jingmo, look at him! What kind of behavior is this? You should dump him sooner rather than later!"

Yu Jingmo didn’t even lift his eyelids. "I'll handle my own wife. No need for Second Uncle’s concern."

"Dad, did you really drug someone?" Yu Fada suddenly asked, his expression grave.

Yu Er, like an ugly fish with a bloated belly, his jowls quivering: "Eternal Enterprise is a state-owned company—we can’t afford to lose this partnership. I’ve been handling things for all of you, even dipping into my own funds, and now you’re blaming me?"

Yu Jingmo: "This is headquarters’ business. No need for Second Uncle’s concern."

"Ungrateful bastards, all of you!"

Yu Jingmo suddenly said, "The nursing home in the east of the city has a beautiful environment and top-notch amenities. Most importantly, you won’t have to worry about food, clothing, or shelter."

Yu Er froze. "What do you mean?"

Yu Jingmo looked at him, his voice low and resolute: "Think of it as my filial duty. Please accept it, Second Uncle."

"You're sending me to a nursing home?!" Yu Er's voice rose sharply. "Not a chance in hell!"

"Cousin, what do you think?" Yu Jingmo’s tone was less a question and more a command.

His commands were rarely disobeyed.

After much internal struggle, Yu Fada finally nodded. "I think you’re right. My father should enjoy his retirement in peace."

Yu Er, equal parts shocked and furious, smashed the tea set, sending shards of porcelain and tea flying everywhere. "I refuse! You won’t send me to a nursing home!"

Yu Jingmo frowned and shielded Tian Ruan’s face with his hand. A flying shard grazed his knuckles, and blood instantly welled up.

Yu Fada’s wife cried out in alarm, "He’s bleeding!"

Only then did Yu Er stop his tantrum, his eyes bulging nearly out of their sockets. His thin lips pressed together without a word of apology. "None of you can send me away! None! I’ll tell my father!"

Tian Ruan cradled Yu Jingmo’s hand, desperately trying to stop the bleeding, furious. "Uncle Yu, are you a three-year-old? Going crying to your ancient father whenever there’s trouble? Aren’t you afraid of giving him a heart attack?"

Yu Er’s mustache bristled. "I have nothing to say to a savage like you."

Tian Ruan picked up a shard of porcelain and threatened, "Cousin, get your father shipped off to the nursing home, or I might not be able to stop myself from slashing that ugly face of his."

Yu Fada took a deep breath. "Get me some security guards."

Yu Jingmo gave the order: "Granted."

Yu Fada directed the hotel security: "Restrain my father and put him in the car."

Yu Er, equal parts shocked and furious, bellowed: "You traitorous son!!"

After all that, Yu Er still hadn't fainted from anger, which just proved he'd been faking his illness this whole time. Then halfway there, as if suddenly remembering his "condition," he rolled his eyes and collapsed on the spot.

Yu Fada remarked, "The nursing home has full medical facilities—perfect for his treatment."

Yu Er abruptly sat up, his bleary eyes flying open as he launched back into his stream of curses.

Tian Ruan watched, thoroughly satisfied. "A nursing home's too good for him. Otherwise, he’d be waiting for Du Henbie’s revenge."

Yu Jingmo’s hand remained cradled in Tian Ruan’s, held like something precious and breakable. He glanced down at the young man beside him. "Didn’t you say Du Henbie was a gentleman?"

Tian Ruan smirked. "A gentleman’s vengeance is never rushed—ten years is nothing."

Yu Jingmo's mouth quirked slightly. "True."

Mentioning Du Henbie made Tian Ruan suddenly curious about his current state. The steady rain had tapered off to a fine mist, falling silver threads leaving only a faint chill on the skin.

Tian Ruan tugged Yu Jingmo back to the presidential suite, pulled out the first-aid kit, and carefully disinfected the wound. Pursing his pink lips, he blew softly over it. "Does it hurt?"

"Not at all." If anything, it tickled slightly.

Tian Ruan slapped on a pink anime-girl bandage.

Yu Jingmo: "..."

Tian Ruan grinned, eyes crinkling. "Suits you perfectly."

Yu Jingmo chuckled. "Does it?"

"Mm." Tian Ruan nodded earnestly. "Makes you seem more approachable."

Yu Jingmo brushed a finger over the bandage. "Mm."

Like that passing autumn shower, Yu Jingmo left once it stopped. Before driving off, he told Tian Ruan, "I’ll be back for dinner with you tonight."

"Sure." Tian Ruan watched the Maybach descend the slope and merge into the bustling city center, his shoes crunching through wet maple leaves.

Perhaps because one matter was settled and one person dealt with, Tian Ruan was in such good spirits he nearly skipped as he stealthily rounded the corner toward the outdoor pool.

He didn’t want to see anything he shouldn’t, but curiosity ate at him—he swore he’d leave the moment he confirmed Du Henbie was floating in the water, not dead from hypothermia.

The poolside was heavy with mist, deserted due to the rain and its secluded location.

Along the way, Tian Ruan picked up a leafy branch, using it as cover.

The wind was mild, the vast pool’s surface rippling gently, concentric waves spreading from one corner—

Tian Ruan ducked behind the sunshade’s chairs, peering over the table, eyes sharp, scanning the entire pool.

When his gaze landed on the opposite side, his eyes widened in shock, as if struck by lightning—a category-9 quake—

Two figures entwined in the water: unmistakably Du Henbie and He Lansi!

The world had ended.