Chapter 212

Chapter 212

"I'm not you, and Mr. Yu isn’t Qi Feng," Tian Ruan said.

Zhou Gu replied bitterly, "In the beginning, everyone thinks they’re the exception."

"Perhaps. But any relationship requires effort. If you let it slide, what you hope for will only drift further away."

Zhou Gu fell silent, his chest rising faintly, his face ashen.

"You still have a long life ahead. If you expose Qi Feng, you could get a reduced sentence."

"If Yu Jingmo broke the law, would you expose him too?" Zhou Gu retorted sharply.

Tian Ruan paused briefly before answering, "Yes. Love isn’t an excuse to cover up crimes."

Zhou Gu was stunned, then burst into laughter. "I don’t have your saintly selflessness. If he died, I wouldn’t survive either."

Tian Ruan couldn’t understand Zhou Gu, and Zhou Gu couldn’t understand Tian Ruan.

They locked eyes, knowing there was no point talking further. Tian Ruan said, "You’re only twenty-five. You still have a long life to consider."

Zhou Gu replied, "Thank you, but I’ve already made up my mind."

For a man with no family left, just finding light in life is a miracle—whether that light descends from heaven or is Hell’s temptation, he can no longer tell. He only wishes to follow it.

Even if the ending is destined to leave him broken.

Thus, Tian Ruan understood that no matter how much he wished to change things, some people and events would still follow their fated paths—just like Madam Lu, just like Zhou Gu.

As for those like Tian Ruan, He Lansi, or Du Henbie, what made them change wasn’t external causes, but their own inner selves.

You can’t wake someone who’s faking sleep.

...

A week later, the security team pulled out from the estate. The guards were bummed to go, but the thought of waking at five every morning for weighted runs, strict curfews and group showers, and no cell phones on duty quickly turned their reluctance into smiles.

The butler arranged a few outdoor tables for a farewell banquet.

Perhaps because the mission was complete, the captain allowed them some indulgence, and they drained half the wine cellar. The butler, horrified upon finding out, hurried to seek Tian Ruan’s instructions.

Tian Ruan waved a hand dismissively. "It’s just wine. Let them drink."

The butler hesitated. "Some of those bottles were at least a decade old, and the priciest went for six figures a pop..."

Tian Ruan paused. "...Who took them?"

The butler replied, "Da Zhuang carried them out!"

Tian Ruan winced, but said, "It’s fine. I’ll explain to Mr. Yu. Good wine’s meant to be shared, and serving it to honored guests makes it even more meaningful."

Sure enough, when Yu Jingmo heard about it, his voice remained calm. "Our vintner keeps us stocked. There’s no shortage of good wine."

The party ran late into the night. Yu Jingmo returned in time to share a toast, and as host, Tian Ruan naturally joined in.

Lifting a glass worth thousands, Tian Ruan tossed it back, his showy move met with enthusiastic applause.

Eyes crinkling, face pink, he smiled and said, "Thank you all for these days—"

The moment he opened his eyes, he found himself in the bathroom, placed into a warm bathtub filled with bubbles.

Tian Ruan: "..."

"Awake?" Yu Jingmo added a few drops of bath oil into the water, while the young man resembled the most porcelain doll amidst the petals and foam.

The porcelain doll’s cheeks still bore two flushed cheeks, his brown eyes clear yet dazed, as he asked foolishly, "What happened to me?"

"Lightweight," Yu Jingmo chuckled, amused. "Good thing I was here, or you’d have taken a tumble and become even sillier."

Tian Ruan nodded.

Seeing him like this, Yu Jingmo reached out and ruffled his hair.

It took a while before Tian Ruan came to his senses, startling and jumping straight up from Yu Jingmo’s lap. "Homework! I haven’t done my homework yet!"

Yu Jingmo pressed him back down.

Tian Ruan immediately let out a soft moan, his cheeks flushing even redder. "...So deep..."

Yu Jingmo lifted him by the waist, slowly raising him as the bubbles dispersed and gathered around them, a mass of white bubbles. "Tomorrow’s Saturday, remember?"

Tian Ruan thought carefully, his hazy thoughts finally recalling a bit of information. "It is Saturday. I can do my homework tomorrow."

"Mm." Yu Jingmo suddenly moved.

Tian Ruan felt like he was riding a rollercoaster—waves of air rushed toward him, one after another, leaving him no time to exhale before the next surge hit.

The rollercoaster climbed and dropped, swerved left and right, the forceful winds making Tian Ruan sway uncontrollably, sweat-drenched, his skin flushed pink.

...Tian Ruan’s life returned to its usual rhythm.

On Saturday mornings, he would wake up, memorize vocabulary for a while, write a short French essay, and finish his homework.

After lunch, he would go for a walk, admiring the plum and cherry blossoms in the estate, tossing a bit of fish food to the red koi in the pond.

In the afternoon, he would complete two test papers, browse his classmates’ group chat for a bit, and when the tutor arrived, he would sit up straight, not daring to get distracted even a little.

In the evenings, sometimes he ate at home, and other times he accompanied Yu Jingmo to banquets, fulfilling his duties as the young spouse of the household—serving as a shield against Yu Jingmo’s unwanted advances.

After Tian Ruan and Yu Jingmo repeatedly showed off their relationship at banquets, word gradually spread in business circles—Yu Jingmo had truly fallen for his young wife, head over heels in love.

Those who got the hint stopped trying to push people onto Yu Jingmo, and Tian Ruan enjoyed much more peace.

The scent of spring grew stronger as April arrived.

Tian Ruan changed into his spring school uniform and stood before the full-length mirror in the dressing room, looking crisp and put-together. Yu Jingmo picked up the sandalwood bracelet from the glass cabinet and fastened it around his fair, delicate right wrist.

"If it interferes with writing, you can switch it to your left hand," Yu Jingmo said.

"No need. Every time I write, I’ll see it—just like seeing Mr. Yu." The scent of sandalwood brought Tian Ruan a sense of calm, a lingering trace of Yu Jingmo’s presence.

Yu Jingmo smiled, deliberately retrieving the gaudy gold watch Tian Ruan had gifted him from the glass cabinet. "Spring is here—time to show off."

Tian Ruan: "...It’s tasteful. How is this flaunting wealth?"

Yu Jingmo wasn’t wrong. As the season allowed for shedding heavy layers in favor of simpler outfits, the style-conscious students of Deyin Academy pulled out all the stops to showcase their style.

Upon arriving at school, Tian Ruan noticed the boys’ hairstyles were sleeker, while the girls decked themselves out with all sorts of expensive accessories—jewelry sparkling in the sunlight.

Deyin only enforces dress codes and has always been lenient with accessories. Everyone has a love for beauty, and as a prestigious school, how could it stifle students' self-expression?

"...Why are you always staring at the girls? Having a change of heart?" Lu Qiuyan's cold voice snapped Tian Ruan back from his wandering thoughts.

Tian Ruan cheerfully replied, "They're so pretty, so youthful."

Lu Qiuyan paused briefly, "Since when do you like girls?"

Tian Ruan was taken aback, "I'm just admiring."

"Admiring?" Lu Qiuyan glanced over and understood, "Oh, admiring their big gold bracelets and gemstone necklaces?"

"..."

A group of girls ran past, giggling nonstop, occasionally stealing glances at Lu Qiuyan. One long-haired girl was pushed forward and suddenly landed right in front of them.

Tian Ruan swiftly dodged, ending up three meters away, leaving Lu Qiuyan to deal with the awkward situation.

The girl, blushing deeply, handed over a pink envelope, "Senior Lu, I... I like you!"

Lu Qiuyan, towering a full head taller, lowered his lashes and dropped a brutal line, "Your hair is a bit thin."

The girl: "..."

"I don’t like people with thin hair."

"Waaah..." The girl ran off crying. Some of her friends chased after her, while others glared at Lu Qiuyan in indignation, "How could you? That’s too much."

Lu Qiuyan slung his backpack over one shoulder. The same school uniform somehow looked edgy on him. He stared at one of the girls, who inexplicably blushed under his gaze.

Tian Ruan watched wide-eyed, "Ooooh~"

Perhaps Lu Qiuyan was blind to it all. Irritated by the random confession and the sudden crowd blocking his path, he snapped, "Beat it."

The girl: "..."

Tian Ruan: "Lu Qiuyan, that really was a bit too much."

Lu Qiuyan: "If it’s not too much for you, why don’t you accept their confessions? Take one a day, see how you like it?"

Tian Ruan: "..."

The girl was feisty. She stomped hard on Lu Qiuyan’s foot before storming off in anger.

Lu Qiuyan’s expression twisted. Deyin’s leather shoes were made of calfskin, exceptionally sturdy, especially the thick heels of the girls' shoes. That stomp felt like a sack of bricks on his foot.

Tian Ruan looked down at Lu Qiuyan’s foot, "You good?"

Lu Qiuyan gritted his teeth for a few seconds, "...Shit."

This soap opera moment ended with the male lead limping his way to the classroom.

Yu Shang had arrived earlier, wrapped up a quick student council meeting, and returned to the classroom just in time to catch Lu Qiuyan getting stomped on.

"What?" Lu Qiuyan glared, knowing full well Yu Shang had nothing to do with it but feeling pissed off for no reason at the sight of him.

"Let's get you to the nurse," Yu Shang said firmly, dragging him along not taking no for an answer.

"No. I just need to sit for a minute." Lu Qiuyan tried to pull away.

Yu Shang didn't release his wrist, staring into his eyes, and said, "I can piggyback you to the infirmary."

"..."

Tian Ruan immediately answered for Lu Qiuyan, "Yeah, yeah!"

Yu Shang was absolutely capable of doing it, and Lu Qiuyan couldn’t bear the embarrassment, so he reluctantly followed Yu Shang to the infirmary.

Tian Ruan watched them leave with a smug grin, about to enter the classroom when a shadowy figure suddenly dashed out, howling like a banshee. Tian Ruan’s ears rang. "Wang Weiqi! I’m not dead yet!"

Wang Weiqi was devastated, "I’m the one dying! Nan Mengyao went abroad!"

"Oh."

"What kind of reaction is that? She was our former classmate, don’t you feel anything?"

Tian Ruan: "Half of Deyin’s graduates go abroad. Did you just realize that today?"

Wang Weiqi was a snotty, tear-streaked mess, "But Nan Mengyao didn’t graduate! She’s my goddess, leaving me so early—how am I supposed to go on now, waaah!"

Tian Ruan: "There’s plenty of tofu at the supermarket. Just grab a block and try knocking yourself out."

"...Tofu can’t kill anyone, don’t lie to me."

"Then find a noodle and hang yourself."

Wang Weiqi wailed like a drama queen, "What should I do? Without my goddess, I have no life goal. My future’s bleak."

Classmates in the room turned to look, their faces twisted in secondhand embarrassment. Tian Ruan, feeling embarrassed, quickly shoved Wang Weiqi into the garden. "Stay here and soak up some sun all day. Then it won’t be dark anymore."

Wang Weiqi flung himself onto the flowerbed like a tragic poet, "You just don’t get it. Nan Mengyao was the first girl I ever liked. With her gone, I have nothing left to live for."

"Really? There’s a girl with big wavy hair over there."

"Where? Where?" Wang Weiqi immediately jumped up like a hyperactive monkey, scanning the surroundings. "...You liar."

Tian Ruan was baffled, "Didn’t you give up long ago? Why cling to one flower? Are you for real?"

"I’m not! I’m genuinely heartbroken," Wang Weiqi whined. "She didn’t even say goodbye before leaving."

"Why would she say goodbye to you? You’re nothing to Nan Mengyao."

"Waaah..."

"Alright, alright, stop crying." Tian Ruan comforted, "Study hard now, and when you get to university, there’ll be plenty more goddesses—or gods, if that’s your thing."

"Pfft, I’m straight. I don’t want any male gods." Wang Weiqi gave Tian Ruan a once-over, "Unless they’re as hot as you."

Tian Ruan gave him a hard flick on the forehead.

Wang Weiqi rubbed his throbbing head, "Why are you so strong? Shit, that hurts."

Tian Ruan: "I’m going to morning study. Bye."

Wang Weiqi: "I’m not done yet! Did you know Nan Huaiju also went abroad? And Hai Chao!"

"?"

This actually surprised Tian Ruan. Though he knew Hai Chao would go abroad someday, he didn’t expect it to be so soon—and with Nan Huaiju, no less. Do the math: a+b=ab, so those two totally eloped!

Thunder rolled across the sky, and Tian Ruan froze.

Could this kind of melodrama, only seen in novels, really be happening?

"What's the big deal?" Tian Ruan forced himself to stay calm. "It's just going abroad to study. I'll go overseas too someday."

But the thunder didn’t stop there. Not long after morning reading began, a woman's shrill voice suddenly cut through the air: "—Give me back my son!"

Everyone stuck their heads out to look.

Tian Ruan’s heart skipped a beat. He went outside the classroom and saw a glamorous woman with big, wavy auburn hair being repeatedly urged by Director Hu: "Ms. Hai, this way, please. Let’s discuss this in the principal’s office. We shouldn't disrupt morning reading."

Hai Mingyue, dressed in designer clothes and laden with jewelry, wore perfect makeup, but her eyes betrayed her panic. Her high heels clicked sharply as she hurried up the stairs toward the principal’s office.

Tian Ruan withdrew his head and steadied himself, returning to his classical Chinese recitation.

A short while later, Director Hu, with his trademark goatee, stood at the classroom door. "Student Tian Ruan, come here for a moment."

Tian Ruan hesitantly put down his book and walked over. "What is it?"

"Ms. Hai would like to ask you a few questions."

"I don’t know anything??"

"It’s fine, just a few questions."

Confused, Tian Ruan headed to the principal’s office. Director Hu opened the door and led the way, all smiles. "Ms. Hai, Tian Ruan is here."

Aside from Hai Mingyue, Yu Fada was also present, returning a polite smile. Hai Mingyue, however, glared at Tian Ruan with hostility. "Did you take Hai Chao away?"

Tian Ruan: "?? What makes you think I could do that?"

"You don’t, but Yu Jingmo does."

Yu Fada took Hai Mingyue’s hand. "Don’t make baseless accusations. We’ll find Hai Chao eventually. He’s probably just upset."

"If no one put him up to it, why would he suddenly quit school for no reason?" Hai Mingyue said agitatedly. "Hai Chao has always been dependable. How could he just abandon us like this?"

Tian Ruan smirked. "So you're saying Hai Chao has no mind of his own and is just a puppet for you to control?"

Hai Mingyue stiffened. "I carried him for nine months, raised him carefully, sent him to the best schools—everything I did was for his sake. I never interfered with him working part-time or earning his own money. He has his own thoughts, and I hardly ever meddled..."

The more she talked, the more she contradicted herself.

On one hand, she wanted control; on the other, she gave him freedom. She longed for her son to succeed, yet feared being left behind with no one to rely on.

Unable to reconcile her own words, Hai Mingyue clung to one point: "I want to know where Hai Chao is. Why did he drop out without any reason? I want answers from all of you!"

Principal Li spoke gently, "Ms. Hai, please don’t panic—"

"We know you’re anxious," Director Hu cut in. "But worrying won't help."

Hai Mingyue: "..."

Yu Fada took on the manner of the head of the household. "Principal Li, Director Hu, Tian Ruan—if you just tell us the truth, we won’t trouble you further."

Principal Li sat behind her desk, fingers interlaced, the smell of fresh ink wafting from the lesson plans beside her. With her glasses on, she exuded an air of scholarly demeanor. "Hai Chao came to see me before. He said Deyin's education system didn't suit him and wanted to transfer. As to which school, he hadn’t decided yet."

Director Hu added, "Hai Chao never mentioned it to me."

Tian Ruan: "...He didn't come to me either. Though I'm his uncle, he never acknowledged me." Nan Huaiju was acknowledged, yet he left without a word—totally baffling.

Hai Mingyue stared at Tian Ruan. "No way. You’re the closest to Hai Chao in this school. He had to have told you something."

Tian Ruan: "The closest? If we're talking about the closest..." It would definitely be Nan Huaiju. "It’d have to be you, his mom."

Hai Mingyue wanted that to be true, but reality proved otherwise. Hai Chao had never shown her any closeness. Since childhood, he had been different—quiet, self-sufficient, never causing worry over meals or sleep. Because of this, she had never felt burdened during her sneaking around with men.

Over time, she forgot Hai Chao’s age, his birthday. From five to eighteen, it seemed he had grown up overnight.

Only now did Hai Mingyue realize—her son had transformed from a fledgling into an eagle, flying off into the wide world without leaving her, his mother, even a single word.

Why?

Was it... disappointment?

At this thought, Hai Mingyue started shaking. No matter how Yu Fada tried to comfort her, she couldn’t hear him, crying her makeup off. "Did he not even care? Just abandoning his mother like this?"

Tian Ruan felt nothing. From the day Hai Chao was born as an illegitimate child, he had been the product of sin. Perhaps he had once wanted his parents to love him, but these two didn’t deserve to be parents.

Hai Chao, who grew up like an orphan—just like Tian Ruan—had no particular expectations of his parents, let alone any affection.

The world was his oyster; birds could fly freely. Once Hai Chao flew away, he wouldn’t return.

He suddenly felt satisfied. He genuinely felt happy for Hai Chao—he had finally broken free from the shackles of his messed-up family.

And unlike in the original story, Hai Chao hadn’t just escaped his parents—he had also found true love.

"Bwahaha..." Tian Ruan actually laughed out loud.

The office fell dead silent.

Tian Ruan: "You laugh when you’re at a loss for words. I laughed because I had nothing to say."

Hai Mingyue scrutinized him suspiciously. "You definitely know something, don’t you?"

Tian Ruan took out his phone and showed it to Hai Mingyue. "The last time Hai Chao and I chatted was two months ago."

He didn’t feel like explaining. "Class is starting soon. Principal Li, may I go back?"

Principal Li nodded. "Go ahead."

Tian Ruan bounced out of the office cheerfully and returned to the classroom.

In truth, he had lied. A week ago, he had seen Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju.

They had bumped into each other at the cafeteria. At the time, Yu Shang was busy with student council work, and Lu Qiuyan had gone to eat bento with him. Tian Ruan, of course, wasn’t about to third-wheel, so he wandered around the cafeteria and ended up sharing a table with Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju.

Back then, Nan Huaiju had looked dazed, as if he had something on his mind.

Tian Ruan found it odd and asked, "Spit it out, Orange."

Nan Huaiju stammered, "Nah, forget it."

"Did you and Hai Chao do it?" Tian Ruan guessed.

Nan Huaiju choked on his spring roll—thank god it wasn’t soup.

Hai Chao frowned, grabbed a napkin to wipe his face, and gave Tian Ruan a look.

Nan Huaiju's face turned beet red as he glared at Tian Ruan.

Tian Ruan, puzzled, remarked, "Just a joke. Why so worked up?"

Nan Huaiju buried his face in his soup bowl, gulping down several mouthfuls to suppress the lump in his throat before muttering, "Not your concern."

Tian Ruan. "?"

Why didn’t he deny it? Why??

Tian Ruan didn’t dare ask further. Some things—like that forbidden fruit business—were best kept between the two involved, with no third party privy to it.

Hai Chao, however, looked completely unbothered, watching Tian Ruan with an amused smirk. "Thanks to you, things went to the extreme."

Tian Ruan didn’t understand. "What do you mean?"

Looking back now, Tian Ruan began to grasp the meaning—Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju, set off by something he had unwittingly provided, had held back for so long that they finally let loose one night.

That made sense. This semester, every time Hai Chao saw Tian Ruan, he had a scowl on his face—except for their last encounter.

Tian Ruan couldn’t figure out what he had done wrong. He racked his brains raw, going over every possible angle, but couldn’t recall any missteps. He totally shipped them—why would he ever obstruct them?

Hai Chao must have misunderstood something.

He wasn’t at fault.

That was it.

That crap about early sex stunting growth wasn't worth remembering.

Once in class, Tian Ruan leaned over to tell Lu Qiuyan, "Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju ran off together."

After class, he whispered to Yu Shang, "Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju ran off together."

Spotting Xi Qin and Xie Tangyan, he whispered again, "Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju ran off together."

After school, he whispered to Yu Jingmo, "Hai Chao and Nan Huaiju ran off together."

Yu Jingmo: "I know."

Tian Ruan: "?? How do you know?"

Yu Jingmo: "Second Brother Yu came to see me."

"What did Yu Fada want? To ask for your help finding Hai Chao?"

"Mhm."

"Then you absolutely mustn’t agree. That would only harm Hai Chao."

"Mhm."

Tian Ruan sighed in relief. "I knew you were the best, Mr. Yu."

Yu Jingmo: "No upside to helping. Bad deal."

Tian Ruan nodded. "That's Mr. Yu for you."

Yu Jingmo smiled and took him to the riverside, they boarded a yacht. As night fell, they shared a candlelit dinner at the open-air restaurant.

Tian Ruan was accustomed to Yu Jingmo’s little romantic surprises, but tonight felt different. Against the starry sky, fireworks suddenly burst, their colors raining down into the river. The shimmering ripples spread out like some magical ribbon, all the way to their feet.

As the breeze blew, Yu Jingmo handed him a small red velvet box. "I thought about it, and we should probably have a real proposal."

Tian Ruan. "?"