Chapter 59

Chapter 59

No matter how he looked at it, Lin Juan felt Lu Yanzhou was doing it on purpose.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask, but feared that if he was mistaken, it would make both of them awkward.

Noticing his conflicted expression, Lu Yanzhou spoke, "What does Juanjuan want to say?"

"..." Lin Juan paused, but ultimately didn't voice the question. "Nothing."

As if reading his mind, Lu Yanzhou admitted frankly, "Is Juanjuan wondering if I deliberately wanted to hold your hand? Yes, I did it on purpose."

He admitted it!

Lin Juan’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively glanced over.

The man gazed at him intently, his eyes filled with an emotion Lin Juan couldn’t quite decipher—intense, fervent, as if trying to etch him deeply into his heart. Lin Juan’s first instinct was to look away.

But then he reconsidered: it was Lu Yanzhou who had initiated the hand-holding. If Lu Yanzhou wasn’t embarrassed, why should he be?

With that thought, Lin Juan met his gaze without flinching.

For a moment, it felt as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them. Lin Juan could hear his own heartbeat.

"Thump—thump—thump—"

It grew faster and faster. He could also hear Lu Yanzhou’s heartbeat—steady, strong, yet beating more rapidly than usual.

The temperature seemed to rise, and an intimate atmosphere enveloped them. Lin Juan wanted to say something, but the words lingered on the tip of his tongue, unable to escape.

"Juanjuan."

Finally, Lu Yanzhou broke the inexplicable tension surrounding them.

"Hmm?" Lin Juan responded absently.

"Does Juanjuan mind my closeness?" Though he sounded composed, only Lu Yanzhou knew how nervous he truly felt at that moment.

He hadn’t been nervous when he first took over the Lu Corporation, nor when he officially represented the Lu family in projects. But at this moment, he was nervous.

While longing for a certain answer, he feared that Lin Juan’s response would be the complete opposite.

"I don’t mind it," Lin Juan answered truthfully.

Not only did he not mind it, but he even felt somewhat...

How should he describe it?

Lin Juan asked himself: What exactly did he feel about Lu Yanzhou’s closeness?

Since childhood, his immense strength had forced him to give up being physically close to others. He remembered when he was very young, his master took him to a village to help out. There were many children there. Having grown up in a remote mountain area with almost no contact with peers, he yearned for companionship.

He was good-looking, gentle, and the children liked him, eagerly inviting him to play.

But children often don’t know their own strength when roughhousing. Little Lin Juan, with his innate power, had no idea how to control his strength while playing. Unsurprisingly, all the children ended up getting hurt by his strength.

Their cries attracted the parents, who shielded their injured children and scolded him for being reckless and malicious.

The children looked at him, their initial joy replaced by fear, as if he were some kind of monster.

A long time had passed since then—so long that Lin Juan could hardly remember how he had felt as a child at that moment.

But from then on, he no longer wanted closeness with others or yearned for companionship. Even after learning to control his strength and ensuring he wouldn’t accidentally hurt anyone again, he still avoided physical contact.

Except with Lu Yanzhou.

What exactly was different, and why it was different, Lin Juan couldn’t figure out.

But he wasn’t one to dwell on things he couldn’t understand. If he didn’t get it, so be it. As long as their current interactions felt comfortable, that was enough.

Lost in his thoughts, Lin Juan didn’t notice how Lu Yanzhou’s eyes lit up the moment he answered.

Lu Yanzhou, on the other hand, could clearly see the unconscious affection Lin Juan occasionally displayed toward him. Regardless, the fact that Lin Juan didn’t mind his touch was a good sign.

Lu Yanzhou had no intention of laying all his cards on the table just yet. Though Lin Juan was an absolute authority when dealing with the supernatural, in matters of love, he was as naive as a child.

As a seasoned businessman, Lu Yanzhou knew better than to rush things when the momentum was favorable.

"Juanjuan, let’s go."

In his excitement, Lu Yanzhou tightened his grip slightly but quickly relaxed it, maintaining a hold that was firm enough not to make Lin Juan uncomfortable but not so loose that he could easily pull away.

Lin Juan didn’t notice Lu Yanzhou’s subtle movement and followed his lead as they walked out.

The Lu estate was quiet and peaceful. The area where Lin Juan and Lu Yanzhou lived had a small kitchen, but most of the time, they ate with the rest of the Lu family and rarely used it.

Lin Juan wasn’t much of a cook. Since arriving here, meals were always prepared for him, so he’d never thought about cooking for himself. In fact, this was his first time stepping into the small kitchen.

Though called a "small kitchen," it was quite spacious and fully equipped. Lu Yanzhou led him inside and said, "Juanjuan, wait here for a bit."

He had brought Lin Juan’s tablet, so Lin Juan could pass the time playing on his phone or tablet.

His hand was still being held. Lin Juan raised an eyebrow and asked, "President Lu, aren’t you going to let go?"

Lu Yanzhou gently squeezed his hand before releasing it, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes.

Lin Juan took out his phone and idly tapped on the screen. After sitting for a while, he caught a whiff of a tantalizing aroma.

It smelled amazing.

The earlier ambiguous tension was ruthlessly pushed aside. Lin Juan sprang to his feet and followed the scent further into the kitchen.

The tall man was wearing a pure black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms. A thin apron string was tied behind his waist, accentuating his lean figure.

Hearing footsteps, Lu Yanzhou turned around. "Is Juanjuan hungry? It’ll be ready soon."

Faced with the enticing food, Lin Juan had long forgotten his earlier discomfort. He moved closer and said, "I smelled something delicious and came to take a look."

The aroma grew even stronger as he approached. Lin Juan swallowed unconsciously. "Just from the smell, I can already tell how delicious it’s going to be."

After one final stir, Lu Yanzhou plated the steak.

Lin Juan hovered around it like a curious little hamster.

Amused, Lu Yanzhou took out a knife and fork. "Let’s go, it’s ready to eat."

After placing the plate on the dining table, Lu Yanzhou said, "I've been too busy with work since joining the group and haven't cooked in a long time. My skills might be a bit rusty. If it doesn’t taste good, just let me know, Juanjuan."

Lin Juan stared intently as Lu Yanzhou cut the steak: "Mhm!"

The sliced steak was pushed in front of Lin Juan. Drawn in by the smell, he eagerly picked up a piece with his fork and put it in his mouth.

"Mmm! Delicious!" Lin Juan chewed with gusto, not holding back his high praise for the chef.

Besides the steak, Lu Yanzhou had also prepared some snacks and brought out a bottle of red wine. He asked Lin Juan, "Would you like some wine, Juanjuan?"

"Wine?" Lin Juan puffed his cheeks. "I don’t drink."

He had to stay clear-headed at all times. If he drank, he might lose control of his strength. While it might not be a big deal for an ordinary person, if he couldn’t control his power, he might wake up from a hangover to find the house demolished.

Literally, torn apart with his bare hands.

"Then have some juice."

"Okay."

After eating and drinking his fill, Lin Juan slumped in his chair: "I’m so full."

Lu Yanzhou cleared the dishes: "If you like it, Juanjuan, I’ll make it for you again next time."

"Mhm!" Lin Juan nodded eagerly.

The man wearing an apron and doing household chores felt very different from the CEO in a suit commanding the business world—there was a touch of a down-to-earth vibe about him.

Lin Juan’s gaze unconsciously followed Lu Yanzhou.

"Uncle Yanzhou, how could you have a private meal without me!"

A complaining voice came from outside. Lin Juan looked over.

Outside the window, Lu Mingxuan, who had arrived at some point, was hanging onto the windowsill with both hands, his face full of resentment.

Lin Juan waved him over: "What are you doing hanging there? Come in."

Lu Mingxuan grinned: "I was afraid of interrupting Uncle Yanzhou and Uncle Juan's private time, wasn't I?"

He circled around to the door and entered, winking mischievously: "I’ve been here for a while. Uncle Juan was watching Uncle Yanzhou the whole time and didn’t even notice me. Clearly, this nephew isn’t as important as Uncle Yanzhou."

"There’s sparkling water in the fridge. Grab it yourself."

Lu Yanzhou’s voice came from the kitchen, calm but carrying a warning tone.

Not daring to cause trouble in front of his uncle, Lu Mingxuan scratched his nose and went to get the sparkling water: "Uncle Juan, do you want some?"

Lin Juan patted his slightly bulging stomach: "No, thanks. I’m too full."

Lu Mingxuan returned with the sparkling water and took a big gulp: "Uncle Juan, didn’t I tell you? Uncle Yanzhou’s cooking skills are top-notch, right?"

Lin Juan nodded and gave a thumbs-up: "Your uncle’s skills are the best!"

After tidying up briefly, Lu Yanzhou came out of the kitchen. Lu Mingxuan explained why he had come.

"Uncle Juan, I’ve been stuck at home for almost a month. It’s so boring. Are you busy these days?"

"Probably not. Why?" The Anomalies at the school and the Class A Anomaly lurking in the Cherish Clinic had been dealt with. The Paranormal Special Affairs Office would handle the rest, so there was nothing left for him to do.

"Uncle Juan, I bought a few tickets to a comic convention. How about I treat you and Uncle Yanzhou to a day out?" Lu Mingxuan felt that even if he were in prison, he deserved some time off after so long.

"This convention is huge, with lots of IPs and even a signing event by an author I really like. There’s also a new restaurant near the venue that’s famous for its seafood. Uncle Juan, let’s go try it out."

Lu Mingxuan had prepared thoroughly for this persuasion. The author was someone he had admired for a long time, and it was rare for them to hold a signing event. Missing it would truly break his heart.

To get the signing, Lu Mingxuan had pestered Lin Juan for three days straight. Worn down by his persistence, Lin Juan reluctantly agreed.

Lu Yanzhou brought Lin Juan a light T-shirt: "You don’t have to agree if you don’t want to. He’s a grown man—no need to spoil him."

"He’s your nephew, after all. I’ve been cooped up indoors all day, so it might be nice to go out." Lin Juan knew the real reason the Lu family wouldn't let Lu Mingxuan leave the house. Without his agreement, Lu Mingxuan couldn’t go out.

Lu Yanzhou straightened his tie: "I’m free on the 8th. I’ll go with you then."

All the company’s projects were on track and didn’t require constant supervision, so Lu Yanzhou had more free time than before.

"But a comic convention... you probably aren’t interested, right?" Lin Juan couldn’t imagine a business tycoon like Lu Yanzhou at a comic convention.

"Juanjuan, do you think I’m too old?" Lu Yanzhou adopted a perfectly wounded expression.

"No, not at all," Lin Juan stammered. "Why would you say that?"

"Then why would you think I’m not interested?"

Lin Juan hesitated: "It’s just that your aura feels a bit out of place at a comic convention."

"I really don’t mean you’re old!"

Oh no, Lin Juan screamed inwardly. Since when did Lu Yanzhou, the powerful CEO of the Lu Group, care so much about age?!

During his stay at the Lu estate these past few days, Lin Juan had been keeping track of the actions of the Paranormal Special Affairs Office.

Organ trafficking was absolutely forbidden in China. Even though the victims had died years ago and one had become a Class A Anomaly, which Lin Juan had eliminated, Director Liu reported the case to higher authorities. The case was not dismissed despite Gong Siyuan’s transformation.

The gang responsible for Gong Siyuan’s death had committed multiple crimes. Police across the country, working with superpower holders, uncovered the criminal group that had been evading capture for years.

One after another, heinous crimes were exposed, sparking intense public debate.

Shortly after Lin Juan learned the details from Director Liu, he came across online discussions.

—A case from over a decade ago? My God, it’s hard to believe. These people lived lavishly with money earned from ordinary people’s lives. If it hadn’t been exposed, who would have believed it?

—This Yang guy was a popular internet celebrity for years, always broadcasting and claiming to be a former doctor. He looked kind, but he turned out to be a ruthless murderer!

—The victim, Gong, was my former classmate. When he fell ill, our school raised funds for him. The school even sent students to visit him in the hospital—I was one of them. When I saw him, he was wasted away and had lost all his hair. We all thought he had cancer. Who knew it was all a lie from start to finish?

—I knew him too. He was an excellent student with a real shot at getting into Capital University. His family was poor, with no parents, and his only relative was his elderly grandmother. Not long after he died, his grandmother passed away from grief. These people destroyed an entire family out of greed. They deserve the death penalty!

—It’s despicable. They specifically targeted people from poor backgrounds and faked medical records. This is even worse than the over-treatment scandals reported earlier. Other doctors lied about illnesses for money, but these people wanted both money and lives!

—Over-treatment is awful too. Don’t compare which is worse—they’re both rotten. Do you think chemotherapy and radiation aren’t harmful? Even medicine has side effects.

Whether it was discussions or curses, no matter which app Lin Juan browsed, he came across the case.

The final verdict had not yet been announced, but the death penalty was already certain.

Justice, delayed for ten years, would finally be served for the victims!

"And what about those who purchased the organs?" Lin Juan asked.

"We are investigating. Trafficking in human organs will not be allowed to go unpunished." A dangerous glint flashed in Director Liu's eyes.

The Yao household.

The eldest son of the Yao family had been battling a mysterious illness for three months.

Three months ago, Yao Qiyuan, the eldest son of the Yao family, suddenly passed out in a bar and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. After regaining consciousness, he kept complaining about heart pain.

Patriarch Yao didn't dare delay, especially since his eldest son had congenital heart disease and had only survived thanks to a heart transplant ten years earlier.

At the hospital, all test results came back normal, yet Yao Qiyuan continued to complain of heart pain every day.

The Yao family matriarch took her son to seek medical help everywhere, consulting renowned doctors both domestically and internationally, but still found no solution.

Deep in the night, Yao Qiyuan fell into a series of nightmares.

He dreamed of being tied to a massive dining table, surrounded by creatures with goat heads holding knives and forks. Their crimson eyes were filled with greed for the feast.

Yao Qiyuan lay motionless, repeatedly feeling his skin being cut open by knives and forks, his soft flesh being carved away, and his bright red blood pooling on the table.

The goat-headed creatures devoured the fresh human meat, and he remained fully conscious as his own flesh was bitten, chewed, and swallowed, only to be dissolved by stomach acid...

As his flesh was gradually carved away, the pain was excruciating. He couldn't scream, couldn't cry out, and couldn't faint—forced to endure the endless agony.

An icy blade sliced through his chest, the sharp edge plunging deep. The flesh and ribs were forcibly pried apart, bones cracking under the strain—indescribable pain.

His still-beating heart began to tear itself out of his chest, growing countless sharp teeth. The organ that sustained his basic bodily functions had become an instrument of torture, gnawing at his soul and sucking his flesh and blood...

Yao Qiyuan woke from the same nightmare for what felt like the thousandth time, drenched in sweat.

He clutched his racing heart, gasping for breath.

He grew increasingly convinced that the heart in his chest was no longer under his control.

It had developed a will of its own—it wanted to replace him!

Yao Qiyuan couldn't accept this outcome. Having suffered from congenital heart disease since childhood, he had never been able to run or jump, nor even experience normal emotional fluctuations. As the eldest son of the Yao family, he had been forced to stay away from the center of power because of his frail body—how could he accept that?!

He couldn't go on like this!

He had worked hard to secure his position as the Yao family heir and finally obtained a healthy heart. He would never allow anyone to destroy what he had!

In the darkness, a ruthless gleam shone in Yao Qiyuan's eyes.

While seeking medical help everywhere, Patriarch Yao saw the news online.

The words "organ trafficking, intentional homicide" struck a nerve.

"Those people have been caught. Will the police investigate us?" The Yao family matriarch was in a panic.

"Why are you panicking?" Patriarch Yao held his wife's hand. "We never showed our faces in that matter from start to finish. Even if they investigate, they won't trace it back to us!"

"Could Qiyuan's strange illness be because that child has come back?" The Yao family matriarch's face was pale with fear.

If not, why would no hospital be able to diagnose or cure it?

"Don't imagine things. Do you remember the Lu family patriarch also suffered from a strange illness before? He's recovered now. I'll try to see if we can find a way to cure Qiyuan through the Lu family."

The Yao family's discreet actions did not go unnoticed by Lu Yanzhou.

Knowing that his son's heart was of dubious origin, Patriarch Yao had been secretly seeking medical help for his son. Yao Qiyuan still appeared at the company normally during the day, and unless someone looked into it specifically, no one would know about his strange illness.

After some inquiries, they obtained Lin Juan's contact information.

"Is this Mr. Lin reliable?" Patriarch Yao asked his trusted aide, who had handed him Lin Juan's business card.

Lin Juan had always used the alias "Mr. Lin" publicly. Few knew his true identity or his connection to the Lu family, and the Yao family was clearly not among those in the know.

"They say he's very skilled at handling unscientific events. The specifics are kept vague within the circle, but every client who has hired him has praised his professional abilities."

"Let me think about it." Patriarch Yao didn't make an immediate decision. Yao Qiyuan's situation was special, and hiring such an unconventional expert required extra caution.

After all, he had used false identities throughout the entire process back then, and to ensure nothing went wrong, he had even used a fake identity for his son. But what if?

What if the truth came out? Under normal circumstances, they might have been able to manage the fallout, using pre-prepared scapegoats to take the blame. But now, with the authorities paying close attention, if any detail was mishandled, everything could fall apart.

Considering the fates of others who had been exposed—some imprisoned, others bankrupt—he didn't want to end up with his family ruined.

He needed to plan this out carefully.

The weather on the 8th was beautiful—sunny and bright, though quite hot.

Summer in the capital was truly scorching. Early in the morning, as soon as Lin Juan stepped outside, he began sweating profusely.

This was one reason he preferred staying indoors.

It was just too hot outside.

The Lu residence had central air conditioning running constantly, and Lin Juan was content to stay inside, reluctant to move.

Lu Yanzhou was pleased with this arrangement.

Lin Juan now spent less time at the company. Every day, returning home to find the young man waiting for him, Lu Yanzhou felt the fatigue of a long day's work melt away.

Each time he came home and saw the young man waiting for him, Lu Yanzhou felt a strong sense of belonging.

Noticing the sweat on Lin Juan's forehead, Lu Yanzhou took out a silk handkerchief and carefully wiped it away. "Should we just stay home?"

Lin Juan fanned his face with his hand. "We already promised him. It wouldn't be good to cancel. Don't you think it's been exceptionally hot these past few days?"

Even though the weather forecast reported highs of 38 or 39 degrees Celsius, Lin Juan felt it was even hotter.

Lu Mingxuan ran over with handheld fans, handing one to Lin Juan. "Uncle, use this. It's really cooling."

The small fan whirred, blowing cool air and bringing a refreshing breeze.

"Uncle, let's go then."

After taking a few steps, Lu Mingxuan suddenly stopped, his eyes wide. "Uncle, are you coming with us?"

The man walking beside Lin Juan clearly intended to join them.

"Didn't I mention it?" Lin Juan hesitated, seeing his shocked expression. "Your uncle has time today and said he'd come along to have some fun."

"Ah???"

Lu Mingxuan looked at his uncle in disbelief.

All suited up, looking like he's ready to chair an international meeting at any second—and going to a comic con????

"Uncle, I thought you weren't interested in these things?" Lu Mingxuan still remembered when he was in middle school. Once, his Uncle had just returned from abroad, and coincidentally, there was a comic con in the capital. Thinking that his Uncle wasn’t much older and might be interested, he specifically invited his Uncle to go together.

What did his Uncle say back then?

Oh, right—he said he was wasting his time, said going to a comic con would interfere with serious matters, and shot him down without a second thought.

So what’s going on now?

He hadn’t even invited him this time, yet his Uncle actually wanted to go on his own initiative!

Something’s weird.

Really weird.

"Uncle, do you feel like rejecting me last time hurt my tender young heart, and now you want to make it up to me?" Lu Mingxuan tentatively asked. "Actually, you don’t have to. I’ve long since gotten over it. If you really want to make it up to me, just give me more allowance money, hee hee."

Lu Yanzhou gave him a deadpan look. "When did you ever invite me to a comic con?"

"You don’t remember?" Lu Mingxuan faked a hurt look. "Your cold, heartless rejection made me sad for so long, and you don’t even remember it?!"

Lu Yanzhou: "Cut it out."

"I knew you weren’t going to the comic con for me." Lu Mingxuan wasn’t actually angry. That incident had happened so long ago that he no longer felt anything about it. He just found it amusing—his high-and-mighty Uncle had finally been brought down to earth by someone.

"Uncle-in-law, look at Uncle—he’s a grown man, yet he’s so clingy. Having such a clingy husband isn’t good, not good at all."

"Lu Mingxuan!" Lu Yanzhou shot him a warning glance.

Lu Mingxuan wasn’t afraid at all. He zipped over to Lin Juan’s side. "Uncle, you too—I know you’re married and have a great relationship, but even the closest couples need some personal space. Look at you, day in and day out, don’t you wish you could become joined at the hip with Uncle-in-law?"

He had noticed it clearly. If it weren’t for Lin Juan’s reluctance to go out, his Uncle would obviously want to take Lin Juan to the company every day. Even if he didn’t take him to work, his Uncle had been leaving the office on time much more often lately. Before Lin Juan came, Lu Mingxuan hardly saw Lu Yanzhou more than a couple times a month.

With Lin Juan by his side, recalling his Uncle’s differential treatment, Lu Mingxuan worked up the nerve to ask, "Uncle-in-law, don’t you think my Uncle is a bit too clingy?"

Lu Yanzhou looked at Lin Juan.

Lin Juan smiled back at him. "Mr. Lu, you really are a bit clingy, you know."