Chapter 77 “Yun Shu.”

Chapter 77 "Yun Shu."

The pond was shrouded in a misty rain.

The vermilion building at its center stood firm in the downpour, its doors suddenly swinging open as people scattered, their hurried, fragmented footsteps echoing through the winding corridors.

The rain was too heavy; descending the mountain now would be too dangerous. They would likely have to spend the night here.

Lin Yunshu walked silently toward his quarters, his pant legs damp from raindrops splashing into the corridor. His breathing was a little quick, his mouth and nose filled with the cold, misty rain.

As they left the corridor, Guo Shengyao struggled to hold up a black umbrella, sheltering both herself and Lin Yunshu.

The heavy metal handle swayed wildly in the fierce wind. Guo Shengyao couldn't hold it steady, nearly drenching Lin Yunshu.

"Let me," Lin Yunshu said, steadying the umbrella and taking it into his own hand. "You take one for yourself. Be careful not to get wet."

"No!" Guo Shengyao insisted urgently. "I have to stay with you."

Li Xun approached. "Xiao Guo, use my umbrella. It’s lighter. Yun Shu and I can share one."

"This..." Guo Shengyao hesitated.

Lin Yunshu nodded at her, managing a weak smile. "It’s fine. Do as Brother Xun says."

"...Alright," Guo Shengyao relented with a sigh, handing the umbrella to Li Xun. "Be careful, both of you."

Lin Yunshu didn’t speak again for the rest of the journey.

Even with Li Xun holding the umbrella as steadily and carefully as possible, by the time they reached their quarters, Lin Yunshu was mostly soaked.

The storm was too fierce; the umbrella offered little protection.

Guo Shengyao was also drenched, her bangs plastered to her forehead as she bent over at the doorway, flustered, brushing water from her shoulders.

Li Xun folded the umbrella and propped it upside down by the door to drain.

Lin Yunshu pushed the door open and stepped inside, but after just two steps, his knees buckled, and he collapsed weakly to the floor.

"Shifu!"

Guo Shengyao was terrified.

Looking up against the light, she saw Lin Yunshu’s figure sway twice before he fell stiffly to the ground. They hadn’t even had time to catch him.

For a second, Guo Shengyao and Li Xun froze, then rushed in simultaneously.

Lin Yunshu’s hands were shaking badly. As Guo Shengyao supported him, she felt that his arms and palms were terribly cold.

"Shifu..." Guo Shengyao’s teeth chattered. "Shifu, what’s wrong?"

Lin Yunshu lost consciousness for a few seconds. No matter how Guo Shengyao called out to him, he didn’t respond.

But his eyes remained open, glazed over, his pale lips slightly parted.

Guo Shengyao was frantic, her hands reaching out then pulling back, too afraid to touch him again.

Li Xun pulled out his phone to call an ambulance but was stopped by Lin Yunshu.

"Don’t call."

His voice was rough and hoarse.

Li Xun’s hand trembled as he dropped to his knees. "You’re awake?!"

Lin Yunshu’s eyelashes fluttered. Leaning on Guo Shengyao’s hand, he slowly sat up a little, his back against the wall. "I wasn’t unconscious."

"Impossible!" Tears welled in Guo Shengyao’s eyes. "Just now... you just now... I couldn’t wake you!"

"I heard you," Lin Yunshu whispered hoarsely. "I just... didn’t have time to respond."

Li Xun crouched down, his expression serious. "Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?"

Lin Yunshu shook his head, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile, burying his face deeply in his palms.

"Sorry," he said, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "I lost control in front of you."

"Shifu..." Guo Shengyao murmured.

"You should go back now," Lin Yunshu said. "Take a hot shower and change your clothes. Don’t catch a cold."

"No, I have to stay with you!" Guo Shengyao insisted urgently.

Lin Yunshu was too exhausted. His voice was flat. "Go. Come back in thirty minutes. We’ll discuss our next steps."

"But..."

Li Xun raised a finger to his lips, shaking his head at her, and pulled her up from the floor.

"Alright," Li Xun said. "You should take a hot shower too. We’ll go get cleaned up and bring you something to eat in half an hour."

Lin Yunshu kept his head lowered, his voice muffled. "Thanks. Porridge is fine."

"Okay."

With that, Li Xun ignored her objections and pulled her out of the room.

Click.

The lock clicked softly, swallowed by the pouring rain.

Lin Yunshu’s shoulders sagged slightly as he slid down weakly against the wall.

He still couldn’t control the shaking in his arms. Closing his eyes, he clutched his knees tightly.

·

Thirty minutes later, Li Xun and Guo Shengyao knocked on his door right on time.

"Is he really okay?" Guo Shengyao asked Li Xun nervously.

Li Xun wasn't sure either. Lin Yunshu’s condition earlier had indeed been quite severe, but it was clear that the emotional shock outweighed any physical discomfort.

After careful consideration, he still felt it was right to let Lin Yunshu have some time alone.

"He should be fine," Li Xun said. "No matter what, at a time like this, he would never allow himself to collapse. Right?"

He wasn’t wrong. Given Lin Yunshu’s personality, the more critical the situation, the more he would prioritize his health to avoid letting physical condition interfere with important matters.

But... Guo Shengyao sighed inwardly, feeling deeply worried.

Li Xun knocked on the door again.

A few seconds later, the door opened from the inside, and Lin Yunshu casually waved them in.

The curtains in the room were drawn, and Lin Yunshu turned on the light, casting a warm glow that made the guest room feel unexpectedly cozy.

Lin Yunshu had indeed taken a good hot shower, wrapped in a dry bathrobe, and his hair had been carefully dried.

Guo Shengyao was immensely relieved. "You look a bit better."

Lin Yunshu smiled, pulled his bathrobe tighter, and sat on the sofa. "It was nothing serious to begin with. I might have just been a little cold from the rain earlier."

"Right..." Guo Shengyao didn’t call him out on it and placed the congee on the coffee table. "Have something to eat."

Li Xun said, "I also asked the kitchen to prepare some side dishes. Let’s eat together."

"Okay," Lin Yunshu helped set out the bowls and chopsticks and asked Li Xun, "What exactly happened?"

At this, Li Xun also looked worried. "The only news we have so far is that the boss didn’t board the scheduled flight. Their convoy suddenly lost contact along the way. That area is chaotic right now, and we can’t get any more accurate information."

Lin Yunshu held the bowl of congee, slowly taking small spoonfuls.

His fingertips were still pale, his knuckles slightly white, and his eyes were downcast, making it hard to read his expression.

"The funeral is in five days. The obituary has already been sent out, and the funeral arrangements are set. They can’t be changed," he said softly, stirring the shrimp in his bowl. "Before then, we must find him no matter what."

"Everything has already been arranged," Li Xun said. "This matter can’t be made too public. That place is already dealing with its own internal and external troubles. Seeking help from the local police is unrealistic. I’ve already lined up as many people as I could to get on the ground there."

"Good," Lin Yunshu nodded, put down the half-finished bowl of congee, and reassured the two in front of him, "It’s fine. Everything will be fine."

Somehow, his expression gave Guo Shengyao a sinking feeling in her stomach.

She sneaked a glance at Li Xun, who clearly felt the same way and shook his head slightly at her.

·

Searching for someone across more than half the globe was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Li Xun continued working day and night, but with little success. After two full days, there was still no news. Zhou Yu and his entire convoy seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Lin Yunshu hadn’t been able to sleep for two whole days, relying on sleeping pills to force himself into a few hours of unconsciousness.

On the third day of Zhou Yu’s disappearance, the news finally leaked out.

In the middle of the night, Lin Yunshu’s phone began ringing frantically, flooded with messages. The internet had already exploded.

A major corporation, a publicly listed company, had issued an obituary just a week earlier, and now its current chairman had gone missing overseas. All sorts of rumors began to spread.

Lin Yunshu threw his phone onto the bed, bent over, and pressed his fingers hard against his temples.

Having lived so many years, it was the first time he felt so utterly rattled. His head throbbed as if it were about to split open, his thoughts fragmented, as if he could no longer think clearly.

The secret that was supposed to be kept under wraps had suddenly leaked out, and so thoroughly that everyone knew. There was no need to guess who was behind it.

Lin Yunshu took a deep breath, trying his best to pull himself together.

He got out of bed, quickly changed his clothes, grabbed his car keys, and went downstairs, dialing Guo Shengyao’s number.

·

At the Lin'an Group headquarters, the large conference room on the top floor was brightly lit. Zhou Chenghong was indeed there.

He sat leisurely with his legs crossed, and when he saw Lin Yunshu storm in, he clicked his tongue.

"Look at that expression—are you going to eat someone?"

Lin Yunshu wasn't in the mood for his nonsense. "You’d better stop stirring up trouble."

"How can you call it stirring up trouble?" Zhou Chenghong frowned. "Young people really have a sharp tongue. I merely publicized the facts. The public has a right to know everything."

"What right? Who gave you that right? What right do you have to release unofficial information as if it were official? Are you sure you can take responsibility for any losses or consequences caused by this?"

The series of questions left Zhou Chenghong momentarily speechless.

This mild-mannered omega was speaking in such an aggressive tone for the first time, almost as if he were a different person.

Zhou Chenghong narrowed his eyes, giving Lin Yunshu a once-over. "So you’re dropping the act? Finally showing your true colors? You’re so guarded against me—you must be after Zhou Yu’s inheritance too, right?"

He laughed. "Well, forget it! The Zhou family’s assets are not for an omega who’s only been married a few months to covet!"

"What inheritance?" Lin Yunshu retorted. "Is he dead? Who told you he’s dead? Which eye of yours saw him dead? I suggest you keep your petty schemes to yourself."

"I can’t be bothered to argue with you. The news is already out," Zhou Chenghong shrugged. "When the stock market opens tomorrow morning, you know how disastrous it will be. Instead of warning me, why not think of a solution?"

He raised an eyebrow at Lin Yunshu. "For example, convene a shareholders’ meeting as soon as possible to elect an interim chairman and stabilize morale."

"No need for you to worry about that," Lin Yunshu said. "You can spread rumors, but can’t I debunk them?"

"What did you say?" Zhou Chenghong asked suspiciously. "The facts are right there. How can you debunk them? Erase all traces online and silence me? Do you think the public is stupid? Do you think deleting posts will help? The more you delete, the more they—"

"No, no, no," Lin Yunshu raised a hand to cut him off. "This matter isn’t worth silencing you over. That would be too costly."

Zhou Chenghong: "?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Since they had already torn off the polite facade, Lin Yunshu saw no need to pretend. "Dealing with you only requires cost-effective methods."

"You!"

Zhou Chenghong’s face flushed red with anger.

Skeptical, he pulled out his phone and his eyes widened in shock.

In just half an hour since the news broke, public opinion had been completely controlled. The information he had spread hadn’t been deleted but had inexplicably turned into a joke among netizens.

Lin Yunshu hadn’t even issued an official statement. The trending topics and forums were filled with "solid evidence" that Zhou Yu had already returned to the country, accompanied by a few blurry photos.

The funeral proceeded as scheduled. In the photos, Zhou Yu had gone overseas to retrieve the old man’s ashes and had even brought back a few boxes of local handmade chocolates for Lin Yunshu.

Just like that, the entire internet believed it, saying it fit Zhou Yu’s persona perfectly.

Zhou Chenghong stared in disbelief, cursing, "Are people online all idiots nowadays?!"

"Our relationship has always been stable," Lin Yunshu said. "It’s only reasonable that we receive public blessings."

Zhou Chenghong: "???"

"What’s the point of doing this?" Zhou Chenghong couldn’t understand Lin Yunshu’s reasoning at all. "If Zhou Yu is missing, he’s missing! After so many days without news, especially in such a chaotic place, the chances of him surviving are almost—"

"Who said there's no news?" Lin Yunshu interrupted.

Zhou Chenghong's voice caught. "What do you mean?"

"He's my alpha," Lin Yunshu said. "If he doesn't contact me, why would he contact you?"

Lin Yunshu had an exceptionally sincere pair of eyes. Even in the heat of such a fierce argument, he still carried an undeniable persuasiveness.

Zhou Chenghong couldn't tell at that moment whether he was lying again.

"What exactly do you mean? Speak clearly," he seized Lin Yunshu's collar. "Did you really find him? Are those photos real?"

But Lin Yunshu didn't answer. Instead, he gave Zhou Chenghong an unreadable gaze for a moment.

"Better keep your tail tucked in."

He shook off Zhou Chenghong's hand and stalked off.

Zhou Chenghong chased after him but was blocked by several hulking bodyguards.

"What are you doing? How dare you stop me?!" he raged.

·

On the eve of the funeral, Lin Yunshu swallowed a sleeping pill.

His phone was on speaker on the table, with Guo Shengyao finalizing the funeral details one last time.

"Shifu..." she sighed worriedly. "The funeral is tomorrow, but there's still no news from the boss. If he doesn't show up tomorrow, I'm afraid something might—"

"Nothing will happen," Lin Yunshu interrupted softly. "No news means nothing has gone wrong."

His face showed complete exhaustion, his chest feeling as if something were pressing down on it, struggling to breathe. After a pause, he continued, "You've been tired these past few days too. Get some rest early."

Before Guo Shengyao could respond, Lin Yunshu hung up.

Today, even the sleeping pill seemed ineffective. Lin Yunshu's head throbbed, yet he felt wide awake. His heart raced violently, stirring waves of heart palpitations.

It shouldn't be like this...

He knew very well that handling this crisis shouldn't have left him so drained.

But his body and mind were stretched to their limits, forcing him to admit that he was in genuine distress—very much so.

His heart had never truly calmed down. Every second felt like being left hanging, leaving him feeling adrift.

He wanted to see Zhou Yu.

He ached to see him.

Yet at this moment, everything about Zhou Yu remained unknown.

Lin Yunshu pressed his face hard into the pillow, unsure how much longer he could maintain this act.

Bzzz! Bzzz!

His phone vibrated again.

He let out a long breath, eyes closed, and answered exhaustedly, "What else is there?"

But there was no response from the other end.

In the quiet of the night, amid the faint hiss of static, came the other person's faint, steady breathing.

Lin Yunshu's eyes flew open instantly. He sat up in bed, gripping the phone, his arms beginning to tremble.

"Hello?"

The next second, he heard that familiar, deeply missed voice—the one that had caused him so much worry and fear.

"Yun Shu,"

Zhou Yu said softly, fervently:

"Yun Shu."