Chapter 208

Chapter 208

Tian Ruan knew that He Lansi was a bit crazy. Despite his pretty-boy looks, he was brutal and unpredictable—not someone to mess with. Tian Ruan had witnessed firsthand how He Lansi had nearly crippled someone with a single kick.

But over time, He Lansi had always presented himself as a flaky artist persona, and Tian Ruan had almost forgotten that this man was also a stone-cold killer.

Snatching a gun barehanded? That was exactly the kind of thing He Lansi would do.

"...No, no, Mommy's not home yet~" He Lansi finished singing, but the door remained firmly shut. Smiling, he racked the slide.

The two guards at the door came scrambling over, trying to stop him. "Don't!"

He Lansi's fingers were long and pale, with a faint pinkish hue against the dark metal of the gun. The veins on the back of his hand traced delicate, winding paths as his index finger rested lightly on the trigger. The dark barrel pointed directly at the two men as he grinned, lips red and teeth white. "Look at you, shaking in your boots—almost pissing yourselves."

Tian Ruan silently edged closer to He Lansi.

Just then, the door clicked open, revealing a stern-faced stranger in a black uniform—likely another bodyguard.

He Lansi's beautiful fox-like eyes slanted lazily as he strutted in. Tian Ruan hurried after him.

The private club was decked out in gold, its spacious interior dripping with luxury. Upon entering, they immediately saw the seating area by the window, where two tall figures sat on brown leather European-style sofas—one sitting upright, the other slouched with one leg crossed.

"Mr. Yu!" Tian Ruan rushed over.

Yu Jingmo had always been hard to read, his emotions never showing on his face. Even now, his expression remained calm, though his eyes darkened a shade. His voice was steady. "I had business today. I couldn't pick you up."

"I'm fine," Tian Ruan said, quickly stepping to his side, his eyes scanning him up and down. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

Qi Feng held a glass of whiskey in his left hand while his right arm was slung around Zhou Gu's shoulders. When he spotted He Lansi, he shoved Zhou Gu aside and smirked. "Lance, you finally made it."

He Lansi twirled the gun in his hand. Zhou Gu stood up, subtly edging himself in between Qi Feng and the threat. Qi Feng, however, ignored the gesture, instead handing his half-finished whiskey to Zhou Gu and spreading his arms wide as he strode toward He Lansi.

"I've missed you to death."

The gun pressed silently against Qi Feng's chest. He Lansi looked at him, amused.

Instantly, five or six guns were pointed at He Lansi.

"Brother!" Zhou Gu also drew his weapon.

Qi Feng remained smiling, slowly lowering his arms. "Those useless idiots—I knew they couldn't stop you. You never disappoint me."

He Lansi's tone was leisurely. "If I'd known you were dealing drugs, I should've taken you out when you were a kid."

Qi Feng let out a bark of laughter. "Too bad you missed your chance—and you're no white knight either."

He Lansi gave the gun a spin. "True enough." Then he opened his palms, letting both guns hit the floor with a clatter. "What's with the tension? Murder is illegal, no matter how vile the victim is. I'd like to live a few more years, you know."

Qi Feng's bodyguards gradually lowered their weapons—only Zhou Gu kept his raised. Qi Feng shot him a sharp look. "Put it down."

Zhou Gu silently complied.

He Lansi gave Zhou Gu a once-over. "Zhou Gu, Mr. Big Shot Scholar—what a damn shame, following an illiterate like Qi Feng. How about this? You come with me. I may not be rich, but I can afford to keep a boytoy."

Zhou Gu: "..."

Qi Feng: "..."

Tian Ruan: "..."

Sure enough, He Lansi never played by the rules.

Stealing someone's lover right in front of Qi Feng—in a way, it made him and Qi Feng two of a kind.

Tian Ruan certainly wouldn’t let that happen. What would that make his big brother look like? Before he could speak, the villain cut in first—

"If you want Zhou Gu, it’s not completely off the table," Qi Feng said.

He Lansi raised a brow. "Oh? You’d be willing?"

Zhou Gu’s face had turned as pale as paper.

Qi Feng didn’t look at him, keeping his gaze fixed on He Lansi’s charming, sly face. "In exchange, you’ll leave Yu Jingmo and let me have my way with you."

"..." He Lansi picked at his ear. "Sorry, you seem insane. I don't speak crazy."

Tian Ruan: "??"

Qi Feng sneered at Yu Jingmo. "You had me deliver flowers to the Yu family estate—doesn’t that mean you’re involved with Yu Jingmo? I’ve done my homework. The only person you’ve been close to these years is Yu Jingmo."

"..."

"Too bad he already has a wife." Qi Feng’s eyes shifted to Tian Ruan. "And a high schooler wife at that. I must say, Mr. Yu, you’re even more depraved than I am."

"…………"

Yu Jingmo didn't bat an eye, calmly sipping his tea before asking in an even tone, "He Lansi, what do you think?"

Tian Ruan couldn’t help but roar, "Qi Feng, are you out of your mind?!"

He Lansi agreed. "Certifiably crazy."

Qi Feng’s brow furrowed slightly, though his lips still curled. "Did I guess wrong?"

He Lansi broke into laughter, brushing past Qi Feng and Zhou Gu before dropping onto the sofa, facing the leisurely tea-drinking Yu Jingmo. "A rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its own burrow. Though Yu Jingmo and I go back a long way, the whole childhood sweethearts trope isn’t for me. If I were interested, I’d have made a move long ago."

That much was true. If He Lansi had any "interest" in someone, he’d definitely take the initiative. The fact that he’d never made a move on Yu Jingmo all these years proved he just couldn't bring himself to.

Childhood sweethearts were only good for blossoming into romance in books. In reality, it was more like, "Ugh, he used to eat his own snot as a kid," or "Back when he wore split pants, his junk was tiny," or "He once did eighteen somersaults in a row and face-first into the ground, leaving a huge ugly scar..."

Embarrassing past and familiarity—these two things could freeze childhood friends solidly at the boundary of friendship.

Though Tian Ruan was certain Yu Jingmo probably had no embarrassing past. At most, he’d been a polite stick in the mud as a child.

"Not him." Qi Feng’s expression turned icy, his gaze boring into He Lansi. "Then who?"

He Lansi went on casually, "I wasn’t finished. I’m not interested in the grass by my burrow, but I am interested in the grass next to that grass—like this gentleman here, or Tian Ruan."

Tian Ruan: "..."

Qi Feng scoffed. "We’re the same kind of people—both into married men."

He Lansi smiled at him, though his eyes were cold. "Too bad I’m not interested in you."

"Last time, you were."

"You’d let me top you?" He Lansi pretended to be shocked. "I always thought you were a total top—always books the 1 position. Didn’t know you were into that."

“...I’ll have you.”

“No way.”

Qi Feng said coldly, “Is it no way for me, or do you only open the door for that person?”

He Lansi glanced at Tian Ruan, “This conversation is too dirty. Look at him—he’s red as a tomato.”

Tian Ruan: “...”

His ears burned. “I’m angry! He Lansi, only my brother gets access to you.”

He Lansi ticked off on his fingers, “He’s *conveniently* on a business trip.”

Tian Ruan was startled, “What do you mean?”

He Lansi waved his hand, “Don’t you have school tomorrow? Get out of here.”

Tian Ruan: “We’re leaving together.”

He Lansi looked at the armed bodyguards, “This is between me and Qi Feng. Once you’re gone, we can talk.”

“Talk about what?” Tian Ruan grew increasingly uneasy. Since Qi Feng had taken Yu Jingmo hostage for He Lansi—though it turned out to be a misunderstanding—there was no doubt Qi Feng wouldn’t let He Lansi go easily.

He Lansi knew this but still came.

“Grown-up business—stay out of it, kid,” He Lansi said. “Yu Jingmo, take your better half home for dinner.”

Yu Jingmo stood up calmly. “Mr. Qi, if you still wish to remain in Su City, it’s best nothing happens tonight.”

Qi Feng narrowed his eyes, “Cut the threats. Though Mr. Yu runs Su City, your influence is all aboveboard. The underworld isn’t your territory.”

Yu Jingmo said nothing more, steered Tian Ruan out, arm around his waist.

Tian Ruan looked back, “He Lansi...”

He Lansi blew him a kiss, “If you want to thank me, remember to save me a real kiss later.”

Tian Ruan: “...”

The door closed behind them, followed by rushed footsteps. “Dad, are you both alright?”

Tian Ruan turned to see the two bodyguards posted outside knocked out cold, lying half-dead on the floor.

“We’re fine. We’ll discuss this at home,” Yu Jingmo said.

Tian Ruan worried, “But He Lansi...”

“Your brother’s been alerted.”

“Since when?”

“When my car was hijacked. His plane lands in two hours, tops.”

“How did you know Qi Feng kidnapped you because of He Lansi?”

“If not for He Lansi, then for you. How do you think your brother’ll take it knowing both you and He Lansi are in the same guy’s crosshairs?”

“...Like he’s been screwed over,” Tian Ruan grumbled.

At least that's how he felt—the big villain was basically a beast on two legs.

He Lansi's safety now rested solely on Du Henbie. Tian Ruan worried sick as he returned to the manor, while Yu Shang went to see Lu Qiuyan home. By then, it was already pitch dark outside. The butler didn't ask a thing, merely bowing and saying, "Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Yu."

Liu Ma even chuckled, "The master and madam must have gone on a date. You two are so lovey-dovey."

Tian Ruan smiled faintly, his spirits lifting a little as he covered his new books.

Yu Jingmo was busy in the study, but before long, he came downstairs and headed out.

"Mr. Yu?" Tian Ruan followed him outside.

A big army-green SUV drove through the gates, the courtyard lights blazing as the rear doors swung open. Two columns of armed troops—about twenty in total—marched out in formation.

All of them were armed to the teeth, carrying firearms and fully equipped.

Tian Ruan’s jaw dropped.

Mao Qi saluted each other with them, and the bodyguards followed suit, snapping to attention before Yu Jingmo and calling out solemnly, "Reporting for duty, Major!"

Yu Jingmo said, "For the next few days, no one gets in or out of the manor. Escort Madam to and from school."

"Yes, sir!"

Tian Ruan felt weirdly guilty—though he wasn’t sure why, since he was an upstanding citizen. "Thank you, thank you all."

Yu Jingmo commanded, "Fall out."

The armed troops dispersed in unison to man their stations.

Tian Ruan returned to the main house to continue wrapping his books. Auntie Zhang asked under her breath, "Madam, what's going on? Is something unsafe these days?"

"Not at all, don’t freak out," Tian Ruan replied, not wanting to stir panic in the manor. "It's just a military drill. The manor was chosen as the site, so they’ll be training here for a few days."

The explanation easily dispelled everyone's concerns. After all, most of the manor's staff and bodyguards knew that Yu Jingmo had once served in the military—and in a high-ranking position at that. Though retired, keeping ties was second nature, and letting them use the place was nothing.

By the time he finished wrapping the books, an hour and forty minutes had passed. Tian Ruan tried calling his jinxed big brother.

To his surprise, the call connected. "Big brother, are you back in Su City?"

"Yeah." Du Henbie seemed to have just gotten off a plane—the line was full of static and noise, hurried footsteps thudding dully against the ground in a rapid rhythm. "You're home?"

"Mr. Yu and I came back together. Big brother, He Lansi is still with Qi Feng."

"I know." Du Henbie's voice was low, as if submerged in icy seawater. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner that Qi Feng is a drug lord?"

"...I had no proof. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me," Tian Ruan said. "And when I tried to explain properly, you hung up on me."

Du Henbie took a deep breath. "Something this important should’ve been brought to my attention earlier."

"Right." Tian Ruan hadn’t expected Qi Feng to act so quickly either. He’d assumed there’d at least be some back-and-forth with He Lansi first. And wasn’t his company collapsing? How did he still have the leisure to mess around with romance?

"Never mind. Can’t blame you," Du Henbie said. "I’ve located He Lansi’s position now. I’m out."

"Big brother, you have to save He Lansi. He... he’s totally into you."

"Oh?"

"He’s so proud. If he didn’t truly like you, how could he ever let you top him?"

“……Yeah.” Du Henbie hung up the phone. Under the cover of night, the Rolls-Royce sped toward an abandoned high-rise on the outskirts of Su City.

Only scattered lights dotted the high-rise, the brightest one on the eighteenth floor.

“Eighteen floors—just like the eighteen levels of hell. Poetic, isn’t it?” Qi Feng poured a glass of whiskey for He Lansi. The golden whiskey swirled around the ice, tinkling pleasantly.

“It is,” He Lansi replied, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, surveying the glittering night sky. “Wonder if hell’s view holds a candle to this.”

Qi Feng handed him the square glass. “To the night, then.”

He Lansi clinked glasses with him and smiled lazily. “So this dump’s your Su City hideout?”

“Unfortunately, the business is done. Gone under.”

“If you had a little patience, you might have made a comeback.”

“A comeback—or getting caught. Which is more likely?”

“The latter,” He Lansi said bluntly. “Su City isn't a lawless land. A troublemaker like you—how many cops are breathing down your neck?”

Qi Feng studied his eyes like a fox’s—eyes that perfectly matched He Lansi himself: cunning, sharp, cutthroat gorgeous, and impossible to pin down as either masculine or feminine.

“Back then, I swore you were a girl,” Qi Feng suddenly said, smirking. “Remember when we were neighbors?”

Playing along, He Lansi was happy to indulge his nostalgia. “Of course I remember.”

Back then, the Hes were still riding high, and Qi Feng had just moved in with his mother.

Qi Feng was the illegitimate son of the previous drug lord. The wife wanted him dead. No choice but to stash them, the old drug lord had to hide Qi Feng and his mother, moving from place to place. For ten years, Qi Feng followed his mother in constant flight.

As far back as he could recall, Qi Feng had hated the man who got his mother pregnant and forced them into hiding. Every time that man visited, he'd put on a show of affection, only to engage in their dirty business with his mother.

Once, Qi Feng saw it with his own eyes. From then on, he despised the very idea of love between men and women. All that ‘love’ talk was bullshit—just an excuse for that kind of thing.

At eleven, Qi Feng moved to Su City with his mother, living in a villa district, still enjoying the same lavish lifestyle. The only difference was that the man visited less and less. His mother often cried, saying she was getting old and couldn't hold a man's heart anymore.

Qi Feng watched coldly, thinking viciously, *Hope he croaks mid-fuck with some floozy—then my mother would be free.*

On the third day after moving in, Qi Feng noticed a stunning "little girl" next door—so beautiful that the first time he saw her, he couldn't look away.

Strangely, the little girl was dressed in boys' clothes.

This villa district was one of Su City's most elite neighborhoods, home to the wealthy and powerful. The little girl next door was clearly the family's most cherished, always accompanied by four or five bodyguards.

Qi Feng watched secretly, a sick idea forming in his mind: *If I hurt this little girl, would the happy family next door shatter like mine?*

A week later, he acted on it. Peering from the second floor into the neighbor's yard, he saw the little girl painting alone in the vast garden. He knew his chance had come.

Carrying an expensive dessert left behind by that man, he knocked on the door, introducing himself with fake charm.

The He family, unsuspecting, welcomed him in warmly.

After exchanging a few words with the family's patriarch, Qi Feng asked, "May I play with your granddaughter? I've seen her often and always wanted to."

"Granddaughter?" The old man roared with laughter and waved him off. "Go ahead."

Led by a servant, Qi Feng met He Lansi for the first time.

"Lance, meet the kid next door," the servant said with a smile.

Qi Feng thought again, what a stylish name, just like a porcelain doll.

At that time, He Lansi was only about eight or nine years old, his smile was pure and sweet: "Hello."

Then Qi Feng sat and watched He Lansi paint, nibbling on the snacks brought by the servants. When the servants left, Qi Feng narrowed his eyes at the "little girl's" perfectly smooth face, still round with baby fat, looking so cute it was irresistible.

Qi Feng thought for a moment, then gave He Lansi a shove.

He Lansi fell into the flowerbed, paint splattering all over his pristine lace-trimmed shirt, gaping at Qi Feng in shock. "What are you doing?"

Qi Feng: "I just felt like hitting you."

He Lansi: "..."

He Lansi dusted off the paint, put his brush down carefully, and asked in a childish voice, "You want to hit me?"

"Exactly." Qi Feng clenched his fist. "I can’t stand girls like you."

He Lansi rolled his eyes, then suddenly shot up like a firecracker, nimbly darted at him. "I hate it the most when people say I look like a girl!"

@#￥%……&*

After a wild, noisy scuffle, Qi Feng was left beaten black and blue.

He Lansi, aside from his messier clothes, was completely unharmed.

Qi Feng gawked in disbelief at the "little girl" before him—no, this was a little boy. He had actually been beaten up by someone two or three years younger, and so thoroughly at that.

He Lansi bounced on his toes, fists raised. "Want more?"

Qi Feng growled, "You’re gonna pay for this!"

Then he got beaten up again.

"..."

For nearly half a year afterward, every time Qi Feng provoked He Lansi, he got his butt kicked.

He couldn’t understand how a skinny little twig of a boy could be so fierce, fought like a wildcat—quick and vicious, almost like a professional brawler.

Qi Feng’s mother cried a few times, whining to the drug lord. The man threatened to take down the He family, but eventually backed down.

"Qi Feng, the He family has some influence. Let’s avoid provoking them if we can," the man said.

Qi Feng glared at him with contempt, his young eyes brimming with hatred.

The man laughed instead. "Definitely my son—got guts!"

After half a year of beatings, Qi Feng decided to change tactics, appealing to reason and emotion, actively trying to befriend He Lansi. But He Lansi wasn’t swayed by sweet talk. Qi Feng stuck to him like glue for two months before finally winning over the little tyrant.

From then on, Qi Feng acted like a devoted follower, sucking up to He Lansi for a long time until He Lansi finally acknowledged him as his sidekick, giving him some face in fights.

Qi Feng endured humiliation, and the longer he endured, the more twisted he became.

His eyes were practically glued to He Lansi—watching him fight fiercely, watching him paint, watching him take off his jacket to reveal his slender frame.

From age eleven to sixteen, Qi Feng’s first crush blossomed, and He Lansi haunted his dreams.

He thought life would continue like this, that one day he would fully possess He Lansi. But fate had other plans—his drug lord father was betrayed and killed.

The traitor seized his biological father's wife and children, tormenting them to death. The cruelty of the methods terrified Qi Feng's mother, who fell gravely ill all the way from across the world.

In less than half a year, Qi Feng's mother succumbed to her illness.

A few months later, Qi Feng was found by his father's faction, urging him to take over the "family empire" and reclaim control.

Qi Feng had no right to refuse. He was dragged away against his will, and overnight, his entire existence in Su City was erased.

From the ages of eleven to sixteen, over those five years, he’d come to embrace the city, befriending He Lansi. His world revolved around He Lansi—his only friend, family, and what he mistook for love.

But everything ended that night when Qi Feng arrived at the border and met the "grandfather" who, despite being over ninety, clung to life, refusing to die.

After taking over the "family business," Qi Feng, with barely any effort, reclaimed everything that had been lost. The traitor knelt at his feet, but he couldn't even be bothered to look, putting a bullet in his head without a second thought.

After all, he hadn’t liked the woman who’d tried to have him killed either.

Night after night, Qi Feng often dreamed of He Lansi. He didn’t know how he was doing, and sending scouts would tip his hand, so he could only endure the torment day after day.

Years later, standing at the pinnacle of defying the law, surrounded by countless bones and a swirling drug haze, the only thing that could still stir his emotions was the person he had longed for but never obtained in his youth.

So he found a boy who looked vaguely like He Lansi, a hollow comfort.

"...You're irreplaceable," Qi Feng said, gazing at He Lansi, now so close.

He Lansi took another sip of the ice-cold whiskey, the whiskey searing his throat like a razor, and replied with a smile, "If you hadn’t shown up, I would’ve forgotten you long ago."

"We can start over."

"Every beginning has an end. What’s yours?"

Qi Feng’s expression turned frosty in an instant. "You think I’ll die?"

"Why not?" He Lansi countered. "You're neither god nor demon—just a mortal. Qi Feng, you *will* die."

Qi Feng chuckled darkly. "Then at least before I die, I’ll have you."

He leaned in toward He Lansi, but in that moment, the floor-to-ceiling window shattered violently, shards exploding inward, glinting sharply as they cut his face. Blood trickled down his cheek, but he had no time to react before whipping his head toward the window—

A towering man crashed through, his movements as precise as a professional rescuer, yet he was dressed in a full suit, without even a helmet, still wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

Like a refined intruder, as if he meant no harm. Yet in the next instant, He Lansi was snatched into the man’s arms.

Only then did Qi Feng hear the sound of a helicopter. His eyes narrowed to slits as he lunged forward to reclaim him.

But at that moment, a red dot fixed squarely on his forehead. He froze, unable to advance another step, every nerve screaming danger, his blood turning to ice.

For the first time in years, real fear gripped him.

It was a sniper rifle.