Chapter 98: That’s Not What I Meant

Chapter 98: I Didn't Mean It That Way

Guan Yingjun leaned back lazily in his chair, his gaze sharp and clear, fixed on Jian Ruochen, whose ears were flushed.

How could such a person exist?

So alluring, yet able to withdraw at precisely the right moment.

At first glance, Jian Ruochen seemed to understand everything, but upon closer inspection, he appeared both naive and innocent.

Jian Ruochen: ...

Before he could even speak, he trailed off.

That gaze was too intense, making him feel like a fried egg sizzling and bubbling in a pan of oil.

Guan Yingjun lowered his eyes. "My uncle worked on Lu Jingchen’s case when he was younger. Murder, arson, corrupt officials, sexual assault—he was involved in every conceivable evil."

"The Lu family has deep roots. Since the old society, they’ve been the dominant local power in Hong Kong. They built their fortune on drugs and illicit dealings, subtly controlling the area through syndicates and gangs."

"After the Independent Commission Against Corruption was established, some of Lu Jingchen’s power was dismantled. The number of street gangs gradually decreased, and the Lu family’s influence declined year by year."

He spread his legs apart and patted his left thigh. "Why are you standing so far away? Come here."

Jian Ruochen gripped the ruler but didn’t move.

Guan Yingjun said, "Actually, what you understand least is Lu Jingchen. Come here, I’ll show you some files. The drug trafficking ring I infiltrated in Southeast Asia has some connection to Lu Jingchen."

He sat there boldly, his tone nonchalant, like a fisherman patiently waiting for a bite.

Jian Ruochen thought for a moment, resisting the temptation of this "exclusive information," and remained standing. "I suspect that at the time, Lu Jingchen and the British Hong Kong government were at odds. Logically speaking, both wanted to be the ones in control, the ones holding Hong Kong’s lifeline."

He took a breath and continued quickly, "But there can only be one number one. So, in Lu Jingchen’s strategy, the British Hong Kong government was a force that grew by exploiting families, naturally opposing the Lu family."

Guan Yingjun grunted in agreement. "There’s some truth to that, but it’s not the whole picture."

He didn’t elaborate further, simply lifting his eyelids and waiting silently.

The information gap was deadly.

Jian Ruochen couldn’t figure out what was missing, so he put down the ruler, walked over quickly, and sat on the leg Guan Yingjun had offered him.

As soon as his bottom touched down, he thought, *Well, since I'm already sitting*, and it wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed before, so what was there to fear?

Guan Yingjun was injured anyway—surely he wouldn’t be absurd enough to make a move while hurt.

So Jian Ruochen stopped being afraid and boldly leaned in, playing with Guan Yingjun’s hand. "Inspector Guan, what did I miss?"

As soon as Guan Yingjun heard that address, he knew that if he teased any further, Jian Ruochen would get annoyed. So he said, "Second drawer on the right, third folder."

Jian Ruochen pulled it out and flipped through it—it was full of press clippings.

Guan Yingjun leaned down and kissed the back of Jian Ruochen’s neck, whispering in his ear, "After the Independent Commission Against Corruption was established, the Lu family realized that a fully illicit family business wasn’t sustainable, so they began to go legitimate. During this process, outside players also entered Hong Kong to compete for market share."

He reached over Jian Ruochen’s arm, flipped to a specific page, and pointed with his index finger.

The old newspaper had yellowed with age, and the ink-printed text had seeped into dark stains.

Boldface headlines reported: "Unnamed Company Wins Bid to Participate in Hong Kong Metro Construction, Acquires Properties Along Metro Lines."

"I couldn’t figure out who this mystery company was back then. It wasn’t until recently that I learned it was your mother’s company." Guan Yingjun’s right shoulder was injured, but his right hand was restless—as he spoke, it slipped around to Jian Ruochen’s waist, palm kneading the soft flesh.

Jian Ruochen shot him a look whenever it became too much.

Guan Yingjun could be so cunning sometimes.

Knowing that playing the pity card worked, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it.

Knowing that Jian Ruochen wouldn’t recklessly pull away from an injured hand, he used his left hand for actual business and his right hand for mischief.

Who would have thought that someone so cold during their first meeting, so businesslike, could become like this when he warmed up?

Jian Ruochen withdrew one hand and grabbed Guan Yingjun’s fingers. "So, Lu Jingchen and my mother also had competing interests."

"Based on the current information, it seems that at the time, Lu Jingchen, the British Hong Kong government, and Connaught were in a three-way power struggle. The Lu family appeared prosperous on the surface, but in reality, their economic lifeline was held by Connaught?"

Guan Yingjun said, "Exactly."

Jian Ruochen pursed his lips.

Didn’t this align with his earlier speculation?

The death of the original body’s mother was indeed suspicious.

She had trod on the interests of both Lu Jingchen and the British Hong Kong government, which was why no one came to her aid during childbirth?

But too much time had passed, and many details were lost to time.

In the original book, the "young lady" had run off alone to elope with someone, making all her decisions without informing the "controlling steward" Luo Binwen.

So Luo Binwen probably didn’t know the inside details either.

"What happened back then can’t be verified. You might as well focus on your own situation." Guan Yingjun raised his hand and gently stroked Jian Ruochen’s back.

The young man was still quite thin—all bones to the touch—but the part resting on his leg was soft. Guan Yingjun bounced his leg slightly.

Jian Ruochen wobbled and leaned his shoulder against Guan Yingjun.

He simply relaxed into it. "I know that in many family-based criminal patterns, they often reuse methods that older generations have successfully employed. They believe it increases the chances of success."

Guan Yingjun recalled the previous interrogations. "Similar to what you called the comfort zone?"

"Mm." Jian Ruochen unconsciously rubbed his fingers against the spaces between Guan Yingjun’s fingers, over and over. "The most valuable thing about me is my assets."

Guan Yingjun’s heart fluttered at the rubbing. He closed his fingers, trapping the restless fingers between them.

Jian Ruochen: ...

He tried to pull his hand back but couldn’t, so he continued with the motion. "Last time I asked Uncle Luo, he said there’s an heir in the branch family who could inherit the assets, but that person is a tenured professor. Uncle Luo said he has no interest in assets."

Guan Yingjun raised an eyebrow.

Seeing his expression, Jian Ruochen said, "I know not to trust words like that. No man in the world would be uninterested in money and power within grasp."

"He has a motive to want me dead, Lu Rong also has a motive to want me dead..."

By now, he didn’t even know who to suspect.

Perhaps these two were even colluding.

But without evidence, suspicion is just speculation, and you can't press any charges.

Jian Ruochen sighed.

He felt there was still so much to do.

With the emergence of MI6's secret files, he worried he couldn’t do much amid the tide of history.

Even being transported into a fictional novel couldn’t shield him from the whirlpool of muddy waters.

Guan Yingjun undid Jian Ruochen’s hair, letting the platinum strands fall. He ran his fingers through it to smooth it down, occasionally applying a gentle press.

Jian Ruochen was so comfortable his eyes narrowed to slits.

Guan Yingjun’s fingers stroked gently as he breathed in Jian Ruochen’s scent, murmuring, "Lu Rong wants to kill you, essentially to seize the assets you control."

Jian Ruochen responded quietly, "Yeah, if I die, Connaught’s stock would become volatile, Luo Binwen won’t stay in Hong Kong anymore, they might pull all operations, and the vacated market would be divided by existing capital."

"Mhm." Guan Yingjun stopped massaging the nape of his neck, his fingers moving downward to gently pull him closer.

It had been a long time since Jian Ruochen had been like this—quiet, trusting, and leaning on someone with such dependence.

The last time seemed to be at Bar 1892, putting on a show for Lu Qian.

Jian Ruochen leaned against his chest and said... you’re going too deep.

Guan Yingjun stared at the small mole near Jian Ruochen’s ear, his voice hoarse as he restrained himself and changed the subject to business: "Your firearms license exam date has been scheduled. April 15th, 9:30 AM."

"Oh."

Guan Yingjun couldn’t hold back any longer; he let out a soft hiss.

Jian Ruochen immediately looked up, suspicious. "What’s wrong? Did I bump your injury?"

Guan Yingjun lowered his head and expertly captured those lips. Jian Ruochen froze for a moment before Guan Yingjun pried his lips open.

Instinctively, he raised his hands to brace against Guan Yingjun's chest.

Damn.

Guan Yingjun wasn’t like this the first time he kissed me.

When they first kissed on the old hotel’s rooftop, it was just a light brush of lips.

As gentle as grass swaying in a breeze, brushing against ankles.

How did it become like this now?

A storm raged down, bending his waist.

Jian Ruochen gripped the clothing in his hand, feeling as if he were treading on clouds, dizzy and disoriented.

He desperately tried to open his mouth to breathe, but the more he opened it, the more territory was invaded. The more he tried to gasp for air, the less he could get.

Utterly defeated.

Tears welled at the corners of Jian Ruochen’s eyes. Unable to bear it any longer, he pinched the flesh on Guan Yingjun’s chest hard. Only when the other pulled away did he bend over, gasping for breath, and gritted out, "Are you trying to kill me?"

Guan Yingjun’s gaze was dark and intense.

Jian Ruochen swallowed hard, got up from his lap, and, his legs feeling like jelly, braced himself twice before sitting on the desk. He planted a foot on Guan Yingjun’s knee. "I didn’t mean it like that."

Guan Yingjun caught that ankle and slipped the fallen slipper back on, saying reasonably, "My shoulder is injured, so showering might take longer. If you’re hungry, I’ll cook for you first."

Jian Ruochen: ...

How pitiful, making it seem like he was the one bullying others.

He said, "I’ll help you."

In the end, he helped for a full forty minutes.

By the end, his hands were too sore to support himself, and he tumbled into the bathtub, getting a wash in the process.

The shower took over an hour.

Later, Guan Yingjun went out first.

If the bathtub had a mind, it would pity itself for being installed in Guan Yingjun’s home.

If this mutual assistance continued, his hands would be too sore to hold a gun.

Jian Ruochen went into the kitchen, saw Guan Yingjun stir-frying with his left hand, shooed him out, quickly made three simple dishes, and brought them out.

They finished eating and went to the study to review some case files.

And that was how the first day of leave went.

The next day.

Before heading to school, Jian Ruochen said to the shirtless man wrapping his bandages, "I’m not coming today. After class, I’m going to the police station to practice shooting."

Guan Yingjun’s hands, adjusting the bandages, paused briefly. He responded softly, "Official business comes first."

Jian Ruochen walked over, swiftly helped him tie the new bandages, and said, "Done."

As he turned to leave, Guan Yingjun hooked his fingers. Jian Ruochen looked back to see Guan Yingjun sitting on the sofa, gazing up at him.

Jian Ruochen, taking advantage of his imminent departure, didn’t hold back at all and scratched Guan Yingjun’s palm. "Later."

He rushed out the door, attended class, and then went home.

In the following days, he went to the shooting range to practice, preparing for the firearms license exam.

As soon as Jian Ruochen entered, a crowd gathered to watch him.

The young man wore transparent goggles and dark green noise-canceling earmuffs, his gaze resolute, man and gun as one.

"Bang! Bang-bang-bang—"

After ten shots, the bullseye area of the target was riddled with holes, forming a hollow.

The observing officers immediately exclaimed, "Wow! No matter how many times we see Consultant Jian’s shooting skills, it’s always impressive!"

"Any tips?"

"Sure." Jian Ruochen smiled. "Your gun hand should be in line with your head’s center of gravity. Focus on the bullseye, not the gun."

The officer immediately turned to practice after hearing this, "You're just giving away your trade secrets like that? I better study hard, maybe I can surpass Detective Guan and become the new top shot of West Kowloon!"

Jian Ruochen laughed, "We're all in this together. If you have any good secrets in the future, make sure to take care of me too."

"Hehe, sure, sure."

Who wouldn’t want to get on good terms with the Little God of Wealth?

Everyone returned to their shooting lanes, raised their guns—

"Bang!"

At the same time.

A gunshot also rang out from the execution ground in West Kowloon.

Lu Qian was executed.

An hour later.

A videotape was placed on Lu Rong’s desk.

"Boss Lu, we’ve obtained the footage of Lu Qian’s execution. Would you like to watch it?"

Lu Rong chuckled softly, "Zhuo Yawen sure works fast, no wonder he made it to director position."

He said, "I won’t watch it. There’s no need to keep the master tape either. I’ve heard that in ten days, Superintendent Lin of the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit has reserved a table at Dongming Boat Restaurant to celebrate the success of Major Case Team A."

"Find someone unrelated to the whole matter and deliver the master tape to Jian Ruochen."

"Call it a congratulatory gift."

Lu Rong lit a sandalwood incense stick, placed it in the holder, narrowed his eyes, and said quietly, "Once the gift is sent, immediately inform Mr. Connaught that the drugs have started being sold. Who ends up with them is all on him."

A chill ran down the butler’s spine.

Lu Rong lifted his eyes and said faintly, "While Jian Ruochen and the police are busy, take back as many white-market operations under Lu Rong and Jiang Hanyu’s control as possible."

·

Half a month later.

Dongming Boat Restaurant.

The last day of vacation.

The members of West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit Team A gathered together, clinking glasses with a view of the river.

Bi Wanwan said, "Celebrating the conclusion of the Jiang and Lu case~ Thanks to the Little God of Wealth!"

She laughed, "So, the best thing last year was Detective Guan’s good eye, bringing us Consultant Jian! Making West Kowloon’s solve rate skyrocket!"

Jian Ruochen quickly waved his hands, stood up, and knocked back a shot of wine, showing the empty cup. "I’ve finished mine. Those still injured don’t have to keep up."

Song Xuyi applauded, "Nice!"

Guan Yingjun, not wanting the team to pressure Jian Ruochen to drink too much, tapped his wine glass with a metal spoon. "Grab your chopsticks, let’s eat."

Bi Wanwan, having had a bit to drink, got bold and teased, "So... Detective Guan is so worried about the Little God of Wealth, huh? Shouldn’t you take the lead and say a few words of praise?"