Chapter 47 Comfort Him

Chapter 47: Coaxing Him

Lin Juangui jumped, his body trembling as he stumbled, nearly losing his balance.

Huo Zeshen quickly grabbed Lin Juangui's wrist to steady him. Lin Juangui lifted his gaze, and their eyes met for a few seconds.

In just a few short months, Huo Zeshen had grown a lot, looking more like the person Lin Juangui remembered.

The old Huo Zeshen used to smile freely around Lin Juangui, but when serious, his expression was always cold, his sharp brow casting a shadow like brooding mountains and seas.

For some reason, Lin Juangui's distracted look made Huo Zeshen's eyes darken further, yet Lin Juangui seemed completely unaware, still lost in thought.

Though there was still a touch of youthfulness in Huo Zeshen's features, he had come a long way from his initially timid and fearful self.

Perhaps due to his time at the training base, Lin Juangui noticed that Huo Zeshen had begun to develop muscles, becoming quite a bit stronger.

Lin Juangui gave Huo Zeshen a bright smile. "I didn’t see you earlier, and you didn’t reply to my message, so I came looking for you."

Huo Zeshen glanced at the virtual screen on his Light Brain. "I had it on silent and didn’t notice. Sorry."

For some reason, Lin Juangui felt a sense of detachment in Huo Zeshen’s tone. Frowning in confusion, he asked, "What’s wrong? Did something happen?"

Huo Zeshen shook his head. He was still holding Lin Juangui’s wrist tightly, his body tense as he carefully chose his words, yet his voice remained soft.

"Are you okay, gege?"

Lin Juangui wasn’t sure what Huo Zeshen meant by "okay," but his current mood was actually quite good. "I’m fine. Why would you think I’m not?"

Huo Zeshen averted his gaze and slowly released Lin Juangui’s wrist.

The image of Lin Juangui’s thin and worn-out look seemed deeply etched in Huo Zeshen’s mind. At the birthday banquet, Lin Juangui had smiled through tears—others saw it as happy tears, but Huo Zeshen felt he could detect a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

Huo Zeshen knew there was nothing he could do. He could only blame himself inwardly for his own helplessness, not daring to ask Lin Juangui why.

"Maybe... I just want to see you smile more. It would put me at ease."

Lin Juangui’s heart instantly softened. He couldn’t help but raise his hand and ruffle Huo Zeshen’s hair roughly.

Now, seeing Huo Zeshen’s timid and restrained demeanor made him seem even more endearing.

Huo Zeshen widened his eyes, looking somewhat flustered by the intimate gesture.

The boy’s hair was light in color and somewhat coarse to the touch, but paired with his damp eyes, Lin Juangui always felt as though he was unconsciously tempting him.

Lin Juangui quickly reined in his thoughts. He couldn’t afford to entertain any unlawful thoughts—everything had to wait until he was older.

Huo Zeshen’s gaze seemed glued to Lin Juangui’s face, making Lin Juangui feel a bit embarrassed.

He coughed lightly, as if to cover something up, took a deep breath, and said, "Don’t worry. Aside from during my heat, I won’t let myself be in such a weak state again. I won’t allow myself to be passive like that anymore."

Lin Juangui’s gaze was firm, and Huo Zeshen seemed encouraged by it, nodding emphatically. "In my eyes, gege has always been amazing."

Huo Zeshen always felt a special kind of strength from Lin Juangui—a sense that whatever Lin Juangui set his mind to, he would succeed. And indeed, that was the case.

Lin Juangui and Huo Zeshen sat down beside the thick tree trunk. The wind blew gently, and the shadows of trees danced. Lin Juangui asked Huo Zeshen if there was anything he wanted to say.

Huo Zeshen paused. He knew he couldn’t hide anything about the training base from Lin Juangui, but he didn’t want to take up Lin Juangui’s time with his own troubles.

Lin Juangui looked at him gently, hoping Huo Zeshen would openly express his needs and thoughts instead of keeping things to himself. He was more than willing to listen.

"I..." Huo Zeshen hesitated, but when he met Lin Juangui’s eyes, he found it impossible to hide his feelings.

Lin Juangui waited patiently until Huo Zeshen finally mustered the courage to ask, "Why did you choose to marry him?"

"Huh?"

Huo Zeshen looked upset. He knew he had no right to ask such questions, yet he couldn’t suppress the doubt that had been troubling him for so long.

Lin Juangui smiled faintly, as if he understood why Huo Zeshen cared so much.

But at this point, Lin Juangui couldn’t respond to anyone’s feelings. He only wanted to be an emotionless tool for making money, steadily expanding his influence.

So, he avoided a direct answer, saying ambiguously, "Marriage isn’t always as simple as it seems. Some marry for love, others for profit. It’s a complex life lesson."

Huo Zeshen looked confused. Lin Juangui hadn’t given him a clear answer, and he wasn't great at reading between the lines yet.

Knowing Huo Zeshen wasn’t yet mature enough to understand his hints, Lin Juangui propped his chin in his hand and said, "I need him. He can provide me with things I can’t obtain on my own right now. I want so many things—I don’t know if you can understand that."

Huo Zeshen nodded, only partly understanding. He placed his hand over the necklace Lin Juangui had given him, staring intently at Lin Juangui. "Then will you need me in the future too?"

This answer seemed very important to Huo Zeshen.

Logically, Lin Juangui should have told him that his help wasn’t for repayment but out of genuine kindness.

Yet, he did have his own plans for Huo Zeshen. From the moment they met in this book, Lin Juangui had already planned how to use Huo Zeshen—he wanted Huo Zeshen’s future.

So, he answered frankly, "Yes. I’m a businessman. Though you’re still young, I believe you have great potential. I’ve made a long-term investment in you. But I don’t want you to feel burdened. Kids should have a happy childhood, right? You’ve been through a lot, but these experiences will shape you. You’ll become a great adult."

This was the first time Lin Juangui had revealed his true thoughts to Huo Zeshen. He knew Huo Zeshen, like himself, was highly perceptive of emotions. Giving him vague answers would only make him feel undervalued.

Sure enough, Huo Zeshen’s eyes brightened. But then Lin Juangui added, "So, when you need me, I hope you’ll speak up directly. Okay?"

Lin Juangui’s guidance was gentle, and Huo Zeshen gradually relaxed. Without hesitation, he said, "At the beginning of next month, the training base is holding an event. The trainees are supposed to bring their families, but I..."

He had no family or friends—only Lin Juangui.

"Am I not your first choice, Xiao Shen?" Lin Juangui put on a slightly hurt look.

Huo Zeshen shook his head vehemently. "Of course not! I was just worried... it might inconvenience you."

Lin Juangui chuckled. "If you tell me earlier, I can plan my schedule better. Don’t worry, I’ll be there."

Huo Zeshen let out a sigh of relief. His anxiety wasn’t about other trainees having family with them—he just didn’t want to trouble Lin Juangui.

But Lin Juangui seemed to see through his concerns and reassured him, "No matter what, honesty always leaves a better impression than hesitation or hiding things. The training base teachers mentioned you don’t like making friends. Is there a reason? You can tell me."

Huo Zeshen lowered his head, avoiding Lin Juangui’s gaze, but remembering Lin Juangui’s earlier advice, he quickly explained, "I just prefer being alone."

"I get it." Lin Juangui nodded understandingly. "That’s fine. I was worried you were being isolated, but if you enjoy solitude, I’m relieved."

"Do you want me to make more friends, gege?" Huo Zeshen’s expression suggested he would do anything Lin Juangui asked.

But Lin Juangui shook his head. "I just don’t want you to feel isolated and upset. If you’re the one choosing to be alone, that’s impressive—it shows you have a strong mindset."

Lin Juangui’s tone was light. He had been concerned that Huo Zeshen, like himself in the orphanage, was withdrawn and disliked socializing.

Since Huo Zeshen enjoyed solitude, Lin Juangui had no issue with it. In fact, he thought such a mindset was pretty good.

Huo Zeshen was initially a bit nervous, but hearing Lin Juangui say this, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief and showed a faint smile on his face.

Huo Zeshen always stared at Lin Juangui with his doe-eyed gaze, making Lin Juangui’s heart go soft.

In the past, Huo Zeshen was a steadfast shield behind Lin Juangui; he would envelop him completely, providing the sense of security Lin Juangui needed.

Lin Juangui needed Huo Zeshen. As his therapist would say, Huo Zeshen had become Lin Juangui’s anchor. Without this anchor, Lin Juangui would feel lost.

But now their dynamic had completely flipped—Lin Juangui had become Huo Zeshen’s anchor. Huo Zeshen worked hard to grow for Lin Juangui, and Lin Juangui also told himself to be tougher.

"Ge, thank you."

Huo Zeshen didn’t know how to describe his feelings at that moment. Perhaps it was because Lin Juangui unconditionally stood by his side, making him feel valued and filling him with strength.

Lin Juangui smiled, his eyes curving. "If possible, I want to be your closest friend. I hope you’ll feel comfortable sharing your joys and sorrows with me. I’d be happy to listen."

"I will."

Before today, Huo Zeshen had indeed been unsure of his place beside Lin Juangui, but Lin Juangui said Huo Zeshen was his long-term investment.

For Huo Zeshen, as long as he had a legitimate reason to be near Lin Juangui, he didn’t care about anything else.

He still remembered the day he attended Lin Juangui’s birthday banquet. The attendant at the ferry entrance asked Huo Zeshen what his relationship was with Lin Juangui. At the time, he couldn’t answer and just wordlessly flashed his electronic invite.

After entering, Huo Zeshen pondered this question for a long time until he saw how chummy Lin Juangui was with Mu Zhang. His heart ached, and he simply turned around and returned to his room.

Huo Zeshen knew he was just a sponsored kid. Wen Rui had previously taught the older children that when interacting with sponsors, they must keep appropriate distance. If the sponsor found them too clingy, they might be seen as a burden and even bring a bad reputation to the orphanage. So, Huo Zeshen had always been careful.

To the children at the orphanage, Lin Juangui was not only the kind Brother Lin but also had been making frequent public appearances lately. His smile had almost become a symbol, a guardian for these homeless children.

Huo Zeshen knew that perhaps it was because he had something special that caught Lin Juangui’s attention, but he didn’t see this as a bad thing. Instead, he felt grateful.

Just one more glance from Lin Juangui would make him feel content.

The two talked beneath the tree until it was almost dark. Lin Juangui looked up and said to Huo Zeshen, "You should head back for dinner."

"Are you coming with me, ge?" Huo Zeshen invited, his eyes full of hope.

But Lin Juangui shook his head and said, "I have to go back."

Earlier, Mu Zhang had sent Lin Juangui a message, asking him to return to Luochen Manor.

Although no specific details were given, Lin Juangui knew that if he didn’t go back, Mu Zhang would make an issue of it for a long time.

For Lin Juangui, the time spent with Huo Zeshen was like charging his batteries. He didn’t have to think about messy matters and could just focus on Huo Zeshen.

Huo Zeshen nodded in understanding and said he would walk Lin Juangui to the orphanage gate before leaving. Lin Juangui didn’t refuse.

After Lin Juangui got into the car, Huo Zeshen sighed with a somewhat downcast look.

Would there really be a future?

Huo Zeshen always felt that Lin Juangui was just humoring him, but at the same time, he also felt that Lin Juangui didn’t need to put so much effort into him.

Or were they all approaching him because of the secrets of Youlanxing?

As Huo Zeshen was still pondering, Cai Yu suddenly appeared behind him, his expression full of venom as always.

"Don’t think that just because you’ve climbed the social ladder, everything will be fine, Huo Zeshen. I’ll always be watching you until you die."

When Lin Juangui returned to Luochen Manor, he could clearly feel a palpable tension hung in the air.

-

He was taken to the study by Butler Yang. As soon as he entered, he saw Mu Zhang’s face, dark as thunder, and next to the window was a pot of Moth Orchid.

He thought that plant had died, but unexpectedly, Mu Zhang had brought it here.

Lin Juangui averted his gaze and knocked on the door to announce his arrival. Mu Zhang looked up and met his eyes, his expression softening slightly, but then, as if remembering something, his face darkened again.

Lin Juangui sat down on the sofa and turned to Ge Miao. "Did you call me here just to watch a silent treatment?"

Ge Miao smiled politely. "Of course not. The Boss hopes to get your opinion."

"Go ahead."

The matter was quite simple. One of Mu Zhang’s commercial starships had been hijacked. It carried a large batch of the most advanced firearms and ammunition. If they couldn’t recover it, Mu Zhang would not only face huge compensation but also lose face.

Who would have thought that the former space pirate leader would be robbed and unable to find the goods?

Lin Juangui nodded sympathetically. He roughly knew how troublesome this matter was, but he couldn’t help showing a smirk.

"What a pity," Lin Juangui said, covering his mouth and pretending to feel sorry.

Mu Zhang watched him coldly for a moment, then snorted in amusement. "Is this story interesting?"

Lin Juangui shook his head. "Not really. With your abilities, it’s impossible for you not to find those goods unless you’re deliberately giving them a pass but don’t know how to explain it to your subordinates, so you’re in a tight spot."

Ge Miao’s eyes lit up. Lin Juangui had instantly hit the nail on the head. He quickly added, "Yes, the person who hijacked the goods has a special identity. He is the son of the Blade leader, Tu Yuan."

Lin Juangui looked at Mu Zhang with sudden understanding and immediately knew why Mu Zhang found this difficult.

Over the years, Federal media had never said anything good about Mu Zhang. Many believed that the downfall of Blade was due to Mu Zhang’s power grab—that Mu Zhang’s ambition led him to swallowing up Blade. If not for him, Blade would still be the top space pirate organization in the universe.

Mu Zhang and Tu Hao’s secret plan gave those who no longer wanted to be space pirates a chance to leave Blade. Those willing to continue naturally followed Mu Zhang, but there would always be those who disliked Mu Zhang’s methods, and Tu Yuan was one of them.

Originally, Mu Zhang thought Tu Yuan had been focusing on his studies all these years. He sent many gifts to Tu Yuan’s home annually, but Tu Yuan never responded.

Mu Zhang knew he liked to throw tantrums, so he never took it to heart.

But who would have thought that, without warning, Tu Yuan would give Mu Zhang such a "gift"?

"How do you want to resolve this?" Lin Juangui asked Mu Zhang.

"I need someone completely unrelated to the past events but still close to me to go and persuade him not to do anything foolish."

Lin Juangui was obviously the best candidate.

Mu Zhang knew that for a kid like Tu Yuan, going through his edgy teen phase, talking sense into him wouldn’t be very effective. But this was just a chance he was giving Tu Yuan. If anyone else dared to hijack his goods, they generally wouldn’t leave alive.

"Alright, I understand." Lin Juangui agreed immediately but didn’t forget to make a request. "Since you’re putting me in charge, let me handle it my way? As long as we achieve your goal, that’s fine, right?"

Mu Zhang smiled leisurely. "What clever idea do you have now?"

Lin Juangui was confident. "First, bring him in. Your business is more important. Leave the rest to me."

Mu Zhang gave Ge Miao a look, and Ge Miao left to follow instructions. Lin Juangui also stood up to leave—he was a bit hungry and wanted to go to the main hall.

But Mu Zhang stopped him and asked, "Did you enjoy spending so much time with that boy at the orphanage?"

Lin Juangui turned around. Mu Zhang's surveillance of him had reached a brazenly obvious level—he had known it all along. But what did Mu Zhang mean by that tone? Had he and Huo Zeshen done something shameful? Why was Mu Zhang confronting him with that caught-in-the-act tone?

This time, Lin Juangui wasn’t so polite to Mu Zhang. He wouldn’t allow anyone to casually slander him.

“Happy? Very relaxed, actually. Every time I play with those children, I feel years younger. Don’t you? Oh, I forgot—you probably lost your childlike heart long ago.”

Lin Juangui’s words were dripping with sarcasm, and Mu Zhang understood perfectly.

But the more Lin Juangui acted like this, the more at ease Mu Zhang felt. “You’re just a little kid in my eyes too. Alright, little friend, I know you’re hungry after playing all afternoon. Uncle will take you out to eat.”

Lin Juangui made an exasperated face. Mu Zhang laughed heartily, slinging an arm around him, and headed toward the dining area.

Mu Zhang’s people worked with remarkable speed. By the next afternoon, Lin Juangui stood face to face with Tu Yuan.

The young man was quite handsome, with two tear moles under his right eye—one dark, one light. He glared fiercely at Lin Juangui, like a wary young beast suspicious of everything around him.

Still, Lin Juangui felt Mu Zhang’s subordinates had acted rather recklessly. He’d told Mu Zhang to bring Tu Yuan over, but he hadn’t said to truss him up like a turkey.

With Tu Yuan looking at him as if he wanted to tear him apart, how was this conversation supposed to proceed?

“Untie him first, and bring some food.”

Tu Yuan had been taken to a pavilion by the back lake of Luochen Manor. The scenery was picturesque, and Lin Juangui had hoped it would help Tu Yuan relax a little, setting a smoother tone for their talk. But he hadn’t given clear instructions, and that had made things more difficult.

Tu Yuan didn’t feel the slightest bit of Lin Juangui’s goodwill. He twisted his neck, snapped at anyone approaching, his eyes red as he shouted, “Stop with the fake kindness and hypocritical acts! Kill or torture me, do whatever you want—just don’t harm my friends!”

Tu Yuan was clearly desperate, his eyes burning with hatred as he stared at Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui gestured for the people around Tu Yuan to back off, then kicked him hard in the knee, forcing him to his knees.

“Getting off on the wrong foot already. I thought someone brave enough to rob Mu Zhang would be smarter.”

Lin Juangui sat down in front of Tu Yuan, looking down at him.

From a distance, Ge Miao watched with cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Wait, this wasn’t how he’d imagined it going.

Tu Yuan was visibly baffled by Lin Juangui’s words, his gaze clearing slightly. “What do you mean?”

Lin Juangui waved a hand. “Just what it sounds like. Mu Zhang has been running roughshod for years. I thought someone had finally come along who could bring him down, but in just a couple of days, he caught you and retrieved the stolen cargo. You clearly had the ability to pull it off, but your aftermath was mishandled. It’s a shame, really.”

Tu Yuan’s expression turned complicated. “I’ve seen your face on the StarNet. You’re Mu Zhang’s Omega. How can you not side with him? Or is this all just an act?”

“Half right.” Lin Juangui snapped his fingers, stood up, and began untying Tu Yuan’s restraints, even removing the collar that restricted his movement.

Tu Yuan’s knee still throbbed from the kick, and he couldn’t stand yet. He watched Lin Juangui warily as the latter leaned in and whispered, “If you want revenge, this isn’t the way. Want me to teach you a smarter approach?”

Lin Juangui’s smile had a mesmerizing charm. Tu Yuan stared at him, captivated, and asked, “What approach?”

“Become someone he trusts, then stab him in the back when he least expects it.”

Tu Yuan fell silent. He knew Lin Juangui was right, but the idea of playing nice with Mu Zhang was worse than death. In the next moment, his fierce expression returned. “You want me to work for Mu Zhang unconditionally? Forget it!”

Lin Juangui laughed. “Silly boy, think long-term. Hitting his shipments only buys you momentary satisfaction. The people you gathered are outclassed by Mu Zhang’s Tianguang in strategy or combat. If you want to build strength, you can’t just act on impulse. Besides, you’ve already exposed your weakness—you care deeply about your friends, don’t you? What if Mu Zhang uses that to turn them against you?”

“They would never!”

“How can you be so sure? Mu Zhang turned Blade into what Tianguang is today. What makes you think your friends are immune?”

“Enough!” Tu Yuan pushed himself up from the ground. He wasn’t stupid—just inexperienced due to his youth. This failure didn’t mean he would never win!

Lin Juangui watched him calmly, as if unafraid of any retaliation, a faint smile on his lips as though observing a child’s tantrum.

Tu Yuan felt stung by that gaze. He turned to leave, but Lin Juangui called after him, “How about this? Let’s make a bet. I’ll ask Mu Zhang to give you another chance. If he catches you again, seriously consider my advice. Deal?”

Tu Yuan sneered. “You have that much faith in him?”

Lin Juangui nodded matter-of-factly. “Of course. He’s Mu Zhang.”

With Mu Zhang’s protagonist's halo in full effect, Lin Juangui couldn’t see how he could lose.

As Tu Yuan limped away from the manor, Mu Zhang came to find Lin Juangui and discovered him having afternoon tea, nibbling on raw chocolate with a fork.

After a moment of thought, Mu Zhang said, “I thought you were going to have a proper talk with him.”

Lin Juangui shot him an annoyed look. “You had him tied up and brought to me. Did you really expect him to calmly listen to what I had to say? That’s delusional. If this is how Tianguang operates, how much time do you spend cleaning up their messes?”

The question was too direct, and Mu Zhang didn’t know how to respond.

In the end, he could only sigh in resignation. “I should have instructed them to bring him properly.”

It was rare to hear Mu Zhang concede. Lin Juangui was surprised and didn’t press further. “Anyway, I’ve pushed the ball back into your court. What happens next is up to you.”

Mu Zhang chuckled. “He has Tu Hao’s genes. You’re releasing a tiger back into the mountains.”

“Do you have a better way to keep him in line? Isn’t the life of a star pirate all about dog-eat-dog? I sang your praises in front of him—don’t disappoint me.”

Lin Juangui had mastered the art of flattery as a trap, and Mu Zhang was exasperated.

“Then we’ll see if he can learn the cleverness you speak of.”

Tu Yuan was only in his teens when Tu Hao passed away, still of school age. He couldn’t understand why Blade fell apart after his father’s death. He could have taken over—why did Mu Zhang get to reap the benefits?

So he spent years lying low, building strength, all to make Mu Zhang pay.

A child’s thinking was so naive. He failed once, but he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

At first, Mu Zhang waited for Tu Yuan’s next move, but Tu Yuan vanished once more—he and his ship disappeared without a trace, likely plotting something earth-shattering in the shadows.

Lin Juangui had been initially optimistic, but Tu Yuan’s brief reappearance left him disappointed.

He’d thought someone might challenge Mu Zhang’s protagonist's halo, but it seemed it would still be up to Huo Zeshen’s performance later on.

Life always had a way of throwing curveballs at Lin Juangui. For instance, Zhuang Xi called to say the charity gala was nearly organized and gave Lin Juangui a specific date to attend.

It happened to be the same day Lin Juangui had promised to go to an event with Huo Zeshen.

Lin Juangui was in a bind.