Chapter 209

Chapter 209

The atmosphere in the disheveled, derelict office was tense.

Liquor splashed across the floor, shattered glass refracting broken shards of light onto the three figures present. Helicopter blades whirred overhead as the icy night wind carried a knife-edged cold.

Footsteps thudded outside before the door was slammed open. Zhou Gu and two bodyguards rushed in, guns raised, swiftly aiming their gun barrels at the intruder.

"Brother, are you alright?" Zhou Gu asked anxiously.

Qi Feng remained silent, his gaze fixed like a predatory wolf on the intruder—and on He Lansi, who was locked in the intruder's iron grip.

Outside the building, the sniper’s laser flickered, allowing others to catch a glimpse of it.

Zhou Gu's voice tightened. "This is—"

He Lansi steadied his breathing and suddenly chuckled, his sly fox eyes tilting up to glance at the man behind him. All he could see was the man's straight nose and the cold gleam of gold-framed glasses.

Du Henbie lowered his gaze, his deep brown eyes behind the cold lenses appearing lifeless as glass. Yet when they met He Lansi's, they curved slightly—a chilling yet fond curve. "If I hadn't come, would you have gone along with it?"

He Lansi replied leisurely, "Who knows?"

Du Henbie lifted his eyes and pulled He Lansi closer, positioning him out of the line of fire. "What a fine night. Apologies for crashing the party."

Qi Feng's voice was icy. "So, you're He Lansi's lover?"

"Lover?" Du Henbie seemed to savor the word, as if tasting frost. His eyelids drooped slightly. "Is that how you introduce me to others?"

He Lansi shrugged. "I never said that."

"Then how *do* you introduce me?"

"Never got around to it. People assume I'm shacking up with Yu Jingmo."

"?"

Qi Feng watched their natural, intimate exchange, his face darkening like a thundercloud. "May I ask your esteemed name?"

Du Henbie replied indifferently, "Du Henbie."

The Du family? Qi Feng searched his memory but couldn't recall any particularly powerful Du family in the country—let alone one capable of fielding snipers. None domestically, but in Europe, there was a prominent DU family, influential in both legal and illegal circles. In recent years, they had shown signs of going legit, yet their power remained vast and unchallenged.

Qi Feng had heard from the now-deceased drug lord that doing business in Europe was impossible without bypassing the DU family.

"DU?" Qi Feng asked.

Du Henbie smiled faintly.

He Lansi interjected, "Do? You two gonna *do* it?"

"..."

Du Henbie's grip tightened slightly on He Lansi's slender shoulder, his tone amused yet warning. "That mouth of yours only runs wild here."

He Lansi read between the lines immediately, his brow quirking—looks like his mouth won’t belong to him later. Exciting.

Qi Feng, no stranger to innuendo, spoke with his voice dripping with ice. "Mr. Du and He Lansi are merely lovers, whereas He Lansi and I are childhood sweethearts. If Mr. Du is willing to step aside, state your terms."

Du Henbie's gaze was cool, empty as a winter sky as he regarded Qi Feng. "I'm a businessman. Everything can be exchanged—sometimes even people. But He Lansi? No."

"Why?" Qi Feng was on the verge of madness. "You don’t understand him at all. He’s the same as me—he won’t settle down with just one person. Sooner or later, he’ll leave you."

Du Henbie curved his lips into a smile. "Of course I know. He’s already left me twice. And each time, I dragged him back."

Qi Feng was stunned.

"No one understands his flaws better than I do." Du Henbie lowered his gaze to look at He Lansi, who was grinning like a fox. "He’s reckless, sly, and a heartbreaker—hardly a good man."

"Then you—"

"I’m not a good man either." Du Henbie said. "A broken pot needs a broken lid. Without the broken lid, this pot won’t boil."

He Lansi laughed. "I’ll stoke your flames good when we get back."

Du Henbie led him to the window. A helicopter was slowly descending, waiting just four or five meters away—they’d have to leap across. For someone like Du Henbie, who had survived countless assassination attempts, this was no challenge. He was long accustomed to "leaping and dodging like a fugitive."

If this were a movie, he could jump onto the chopper’s ladder without any wires and get a standing ovation from stunt fans.

From the eighteenth floor, one slip, and it’s game over.

Du Henbie wrapped an arm around He Lansi’s waist. "Scared?"

He Lansi smirked. "Not as much, knowing you’d be going down with me."

"Relax. The wicked live a thousand years—I’ve got plenty of life left." With that, Du Henbie leaped with He Lansi in tow. His body cut through the air as he deftly caught the safety ladder’s rope, the two of them swinging like a pendulum.

The ladder then ascended, and they were hauled into the cabin by a tactical extraction team.

The cabin door remained open. Amid the howling wind and the roar of the spinning rotors, He Lansi glanced back at the abandoned office building. A silhouette loomed by the broken glass.

A sniper’s laser sight was fixed squarely on Qi Feng’s forehead, yet he didn’t move, his gaze locked onto the helicopter as it disappeared into the night.

"Brother, it’s dangerous here. Let’s go," Zhou Gu urged.

Qi Feng’s face went stormy, but in the end, he turned and strode away.

It didn’t matter, he thought. Even the Du family wouldn’t risk crossing me on this land. There would be more chances to get what he wanted. As long as time didn’t stop, they would meet again someday.

***

At half past nine in the evening, Tian Ruan lay in bed on time, ready to sleep, but dialed his good-for-nothing big bro’s phone one last time.

"Still not asleep this late? Careful, you might wake up with pimples tomorrow," Du Henbie teased.

Tian Ruan didn’t mind, replying cheerfully, "Big bro, did you rescue He Lansi?"

"Naturally."

"Hehehe, then you better go wild tonight."

"Go to sleep." Du Henbie hung up, then turned off his phone completely.

Reassured, Tian Ruan burrowed into the blankets, grinning—only to grow so excited he couldn’t sleep. Yu Jingmo was working late in the study, so he tossed and turned before deciding to bundle himself in the comforter and camp out on the study couch for a while.

Just as he was about to get up, Yu Jingmo opened the door and said, "Your brother’s handled it for now. You can sleep."

"...Not happening."

Yu Jingmo sat by the bed, brushing his hair back. "Sleep. I’ve got you."

Tian Ruan was like a cat being gently stroked, soothed into drowsiness by the warm, broad hand that caressed him, his eyelids growing heavier until he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When he woke, he couldn’t remember his dreams. Refreshed, he dressed, washed up, and went downstairs for breakfast.

Liu Ma made him two red eggs and fried a youtiao for him. These were essential for every exam, big or small, for good luck.

Tian Ruan munched on the youtiao, his mouth shiny with grease, when he suddenly heard loud grunts and shouts outside. Curious, he craned his neck to look out the window.

In the distance, two rows of soldiers and bodyguards were doing morning drills, bare-armed and steaming from the top of their heads, looking almost ethereal.

Tian Ruan snorted with laughter.

"..."

Even as he prepared to leave for school, Tian Ruan’s head still drooped. His dignity had been shattered in that moment of laughter—Yu Jingmo’s dignified husband, being pampered like a toddler.

Yu Jingmo pinched the tip of his nose, tilting his face upward. "Keep doing this; it’ll help."

A crumb was lodged between his nasal passage and throat, making him miserable. Tian Ruan could only stretch his neck like a swan.

Yu Jingmo drew a finger along his slender throat. "This is why they say ‘don’t speak while eating.’"

"I didn’t speak, I just laughed..." Tian Ruan whined, aggrieved. Getting choked first thing in the morning—did it mean bad luck for the exam?

No, no, definitely not.

Yu Jingmo, as usual, dropped him off at school. "If you still feel uncomfortable by noon, I’ll take you to the hospital."

Tian Ruan nodded, still craning his neck, looking like a duckling with its neck twisted.

Yu Jingmo couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the young man enter the gates of Deyin Academy under the escort of bodyguards. His upturned face earned him weird looks from classmates.

"...Is he looking down on me?" one male student muttered.

"What a proud swan."

"Tian Ruan!" Wang Weiqi caught up to him. "Dude, why are you sticking your nose in the air? Even if they’re perfectly groomed, no need to show off like that!"

Tian Ruan: "..."

Wang Weiqi got more nervous under his gaze. "Why are you looking down on me so much? I didn’t do anything weird, did I??"

Tian Ruan: "I choked. I’m not looking down on anyone."

"..."

By the time he reached the classroom, Tian Ruan still hadn’t managed to dislodge the stubborn bit of youtiao. He slumped, fighting back tears.

Lu Qiuyan walked in right as the bell went off, frowning at the sight. "Who bullied you?"

Tian Ruan: "The youtiao."

"?"

"The youtiao bullied me."

"Wait here." Lu Qiuyan stormed out and punched the guy nicknamed "Old Youtiao," the creep who harassed girls.

Old Youtiao: "The hell?? Help!"

The homeroom teacher entered the classroom to distribute the weekly exam papers and scanned the room. "Where's Lu Qiuyan?"

Tian Ruan: "He went to the restroom."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Qiuyan called out, "Permission to enter?" at the classroom door. The homeroom teacher didn’t press further and let him in to take the exam.

Minor exams were always held in the classroom, and to avoid disrupting study efficiency, there would be no class reshuffling this semester.

Tian Ruan sipped water while working on the exam, deeply engrossed in a problem when suddenly Director Hu’s cough echoed through the broadcast, startling him so much that the stubborn piece of fried dough finally slid down his throat.

At that moment, Tian Ruan felt a flicker of gratitude toward Director Hu.

Director Hu’s raspy voice blared: "This is a public reprimand for Lu Qiuyan from Class 1, Grade 12. We’ve received a complaint from You Tiao (Doughstick) of Class 5—this morning, for some inexplicable reason, Lu Qiuyan beat him up!"

Tian Ruan: "..."

Director Hu: "Utterly lawless and baffling! Doughstick claims there was no past grudge or recent conflict, yet Lu Qiuyan barged into Class 5, dragged him out, and roughed him up! The whole class erupted—*wait, no*, everyone was stunned. I’m getting sidetracked now."

Tian Ruan: "..."

Director Hu: "Lu Qiuyan, even though you’re handsome, you can’t just hit people. Sure, Doughstick has a foul mouth and likes making inappropriate jokes, but that doesn’t justify physical violence—how barbaric. If you must hit him, at least drag him to a secluded spot with no surveillance first—*ahem*, now I’m rambling too. Doughstick, don’t misunderstand, I’m absolutely not saying it was well-deserved or anything. Just head to the infirmary—*on the house*."

Tian Ruan: "..."

If math problems could calculate the emotional damage inflicted on Doughstick, the answer would undoubtedly be infinity.

Lu Qiuyan remained unfazed, focused on his exam as if beating someone up was as natural as eating or drinking.

By the end of the first exam, Tian Ruan still hadn’t mustered the courage to tell Lu Qiuyan the truth. Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk—consider it an accidental act of vigilante justice.

Clearly, Tian Ruan wasn’t the only one who thought so. Even the usually stern Yu Shang didn’t reprimand Lu Qiuyan.

Life went on as usual, and Doughstick was quickly forgotten.

Life seemed to return to normal. Tian Ruan attended school daily, splitting his weekends and holidays between studying and relaxing. Occasionally, he’d remember the unresolved issue of the main antagonist and stay alert.

Yu Jingmo said Qi Feng had disappeared.

Perhaps he’d left, or maybe he was hiding. Either way, his public identity was burned, forcing him into the shadows.

This worried Tian Ruan, who feared Qi Feng might resurface at any moment to make waves.

With Su City largely under the Yu family’s control, if even Yu Jingmo couldn’t track him down, it likely meant Qi Feng had left the city.

At a weekend literary enthusiasts’ gathering, Tian Ruan unexpectedly spotted Zhou Gu again. He was shocked—Zhou Gu hadn’t left? Did that mean Qi Feng was still lurking in the shadows?

The event featured renowned scholars and literary giants from various universities. Zhou Gu was a minor figure among them, but his polished, gentlemanly manner won him many admirers.

Tian Ruan had brought Yu Ti along. She was only interested in boys' love fiction and quickly spotted a female author specializing in the genre, launching into an animated discussion.

Bored, Tian Ruan absentmindedly picked up a collection of essays to flip through.

"You like my work too?"

Tian Ruan looked up to see Zhou Gu and calmly set the book down. "Didn't expect you'd have the nerve to show up."

"Why wouldn’t I?" Zhou Gu’s voice, crystal clear amid the noisy crowd, had a musical quality. His eyes, tender and slightly upturned, twinkled mischievously. "If humans were confined to a single identity, life would be dreadfully dull, don’t you think?"

Tian Ruan noticed Zhou Gu bore a faint resemblance to He Lansi—not just in features but also in his cultivated, devil-may-care attitude. Yet to Qi Feng, he would always remain a poor substitute, never matching up to He Lansi.

Yet there was an unyielding scholarly pride in Zhou Gu; though eroded by darkness, it still sustained him as Qi Feng's right-hand man and confidant.

People seldom treasure what they have until they lose it—be it their right hand or left.

“So what identity does Mr. Qi hold now?” Tian Ruan retorted. “A sewer rat?”

Zhou Gu’s expression turned cold. “A thousand faces for a thousand people. Not everyone has the right to live in the light.”

“Right?” Tian Ruan found it laughable. “Maybe he had no choice as a child, but now he has the chance to leave the darkness. Why doesn’t he?”

Zhou Gu: “If he did, he’d face utter destruction.”

“By ‘doomed,’ you mean rotting in prison? At least he wouldn’t have to hide. There’s still a chance for leniency. But he can’t let go of his power, money, and status—he’d rather be a king in the dark than a prisoner in the light.”

Zhou Gu stared at him, the surrounding chatter fading like receding tides. He asked the young man before him, “And you? Would you abandon everything for that elusive freedom?”

Tian Ruan: “I would. I'd rather die free.”

Zhou Gu chuckled. “You’re too young, just like I was. When you reach my age, you’ll realize that light and freedom are illusions. Nothing in this world is real—except one’s own heart.”

Tian Ruan cut to the chase: “Isn’t that just what they call being a simp?”

“Call it whatever you like. I have no regrets.”

Tian Ruan didn’t expect someone who had spent years alongside a drug lord to have the most upright morals. Even if Zhou Gu knew all the right principles, he could never abandon Qi Feng.

Only Qi Feng could abandon Zhou Gu.

As the literary exchange neared its end, Tian Ruan extracted Yu Ti before the venue closed.

Yu Ti dramatically stretched out a reluctant hand [meme-like], mimicking a dramatic farewell. “Ma’am! See you next time—I’ll treat you to a feast!!”

The authoress waved back and blew her a kiss.

Yu Ti’s face flushed instantly.

Tian Ruan: “…”

To prevent his underage niece from being led astray, Tian Ruan unceremoniously bundled Yu Ti into the Maserati.

Giggling like a schoolgirl, Yu Ti kissed her signed book. “The ma’am cooks so well~ Her writing is so delicious~”

Just as Tian Ruan was about to get in, a powerful arm yanked him backward by the waist and shoved him into another car. The door slammed shut, and the engine roared—

Yu Ti: “? Uncle?!”

Driver: “!!!”

The security detail's car immediately gave chase.

Inside the unfamiliar vehicle, the mingled scents of leather and expensive cologne filled the air. Tian Ruan found himself face-to-face with a strikingly handsome yet malicious expression.

“…Qi Feng?” Tian Ruan jerked away, only to smack his head against the roof. With a yelp, he doubled over in pain.

Qi Feng lounged beside him, observing lazily. “With He Lansi gone, you’ll make a decent replacement.”

Tian Ruan seethed. “What the actual fuck?! I’m a high school student!”

Qi Feng scoffed. “Stop pretending. I checked—you’re 21. You already married Yu Jingmo last year.”

Tian Ruan tried to open the car door, but it was tightly locked. "Since you know Mr. Yu is my husband, you should also know he’s not the kind to let things slide. You’ll pay for this."

"Pay for it? The good stuff’s already taken—what’s left for me?" Qi Feng reached to grab the young man’s chin, only to be dodged in disgust. His fingers lingered in the air. "I find you amusing. I’ll play with you for a few months, then send you back once I’m bored. You’d better behave and keep me happy, or you might not make it back alive."

"Pfft!" Tian Ruan didn’t bother wasting words and immediately wrestled with Qi Feng, throwing fists, knees, even going for headbutts.

Qi Feng: "..."

"Brother!" Zhou Gu in the passenger seat shouted in alarm. "They’re gaining on us!"

Qi Feng, struggling to restrain Tian Ruan while veins bulged on his forehead, snarled orders: "Where are the other cars?!"

As soon as he spoke, four or five identical SUVs pulled up alongside them, weaving in and out before splitting off at a fork in the road, each heading in a different direction.

With no license plates, it was impossible to tell which one held Tian Ruan.

Mao Qi slammed on the brakes, his face went pale, before choosing one to chase while dialing his phone.

Tian Ruan’s hands were cuffed behind his back, leaving him pinned against the seat, unable to move. The bodyguards’ car was gone—his heart sank.

Qi Feng straightened his disheveled clothes, his cheek burning, but he grinned anyway. "After all these years, you’re just the second person who’s dared to hit me like this."

Tian Ruan sighed dejectedly. "Don’t worry, there’ll be a third."

"A third? Who?"

"Wouldn’t you like to know? When you meet them, you’re dead."

"Can’t wait." Qi Feng stared at him. "But this is the last time. If you try that again, I won’t mind sharing you with others."

Tian Ruan: "..." *What the hell, did I just stumble into a Hua Shi? Help!!*

Hell no! He couldn’t let this turn into that kind of mess.

Tian Ruan turned to Zhou Gu in the passenger seat. "Mr. Zhou, you’re not just gonna leave me to die, right?"

Zhou Gu: "I stand with my brother. What do you think?"

"Then… have you been *shared* too?"

"..."

Qi Feng’s expression darkened. "Who dares lay a hand on what’s mine?"

Tian Ruan: "Hey boss, how ‘bout I work for you?"

The car fell silent.

Qi Feng snorted in amusement. "Smart move—for a rat in a trap." His gaze swept over the young man’s delicate features. "A pretty thing like you—I’d be reluctant to share."

Tian Ruan gagged in disgust.

Either way, the priority now was to stall for time and hold out until Yu Jingmo came to rescue him.

Sucking up to the enemy wasn’t new to Tian Ruan—Du Henbie was the real ruthless one… Oh right, and his elder brother.

He decided to up the stakes: "Big bro, I also have an older brother—Du Henbie."

At the mention of Du Henbie, Qi Feng’s face twisted, all traces of flirtation vanishing instantly. He sneered. "He stole my zhuma. I’ll take his little brother. An eye for an eye."

"Fairness my fucking ass," Tian Ruan cursed inwardly, his eyes filled with disdain.

Qi Feng, for some inexplicable reason, seemed strangely fixated on his glare. "Back then, Lance used to look at me the same way."

"?"

Qi Feng suddenly reached out and gripped the young man's slender neck, his voice low and husky. "Keep staring like that, and I'll get hard."

Tian Ruan pressed his lips together, brows furrowed, his throat constricted by the crushing force. He gasped for air, his face flushing red as he glared at Qi Feng, as if to say, "I'll haunt you from the grave."

Qi Feng abruptly released him and burst into laughter.

Tian Ruan coughed violently, deliberately turning his head toward Qi Feng and spattering him with spit.

Qi Feng: "..."

Tian Ruan’s principle was simple: grin on the outside, seethe inside, and never pass up a chance to gross Qi Feng out. He just had to hold out until Yu Jingmo arrived.

As night fell, Tian Ruan was taken to an abandoned old residential building.

Why did gangsters always favor dumps like this? Of course, for safety, because they were free, and because they had that lonely, abandoned-by-the-world vibe.

If this were a movie, the gang leader would strut in front, looking all badass.

Tian Ruan was led into a cramped, narrow apartment on the third floor, its old furniture covered in thick dust. The moment he stepped inside, he started sneezing. Not wanting to waste this eighteen-sneeze marathon, he made a show of angling his head and aimed every single one at Qi Feng.

Qi Feng, didn't even blink at the stunt, merely watching him coldly. "Such a precious little princess. Must be tough for you to stay in a place like this."

Tian Ruan rubbed his nose. "Yeah, real fucking rough."

"Suck it up, buttercup. You don’t get a choice."

Tian Ruan rolled his eyes but grinned. "I need to pee. Is the toilet usable?"

Qi Feng strode forward. "Let me test it for you. Come here."

Alarm bells blared in Tian Ruan’s head. "No thanks, boss. I’m not into piss voyeurism."

In the end, Zhou Gu escorted Tian Ruan to the bathroom. Zhou Gu was at least polite—aside from keeping an eye on him to prevent escape, he turned away while Tian Ruan relieved himself.

After finishing, Tian Ruan asked, "Got any wet wipes?"

Zhou Gu handed him a pack.

Tian Ruan pulled up his pants and mused, "You don’t seem like a total monster. Why help Qi Feng snatch up a side piece? Especially one who doesn’t want to be one."

Once Tian Ruan was done, Zhou Gu turned back. "If he wants something, I’ll get it for him."

"Even if that person might replace you someday?"

Zhou Gu smiled. "No. My spot’s locked in. There’s no such thing as replacement. It’s just that there’s now an extra spot beside him."

"You’re really something."

Zhou Gu lowered his gaze. "What else can I do? Men’s pants come off too easy—he’s never tied himself to just me, and I can’t change that."

An idea lit up in Tian Ruan’s brain. "Zhou Gu, if you can’t tie down his heart, you can still chain him to the bed. Believe me?"

"No."

Tian Ruan whispered in his ear, "I’ll teach you some sex tricks—all field-tested by me and Mr. Yu. I don’t share these with outsiders. You’re my first student."

Zhou Gu just stared.

If Zhou Gu could keep Qi Feng busy tonight, Tian Ruan would be safe.