Chapter 22 Cousin’s Forcible Seizure of You

Chapter 22: The Cousin’s Ruthless Takeover

Only silence remained.

At this moment, the two of them shared a moment of tenderness.

Xi Jingqi didn’t understand why Lou Han's eyes glistened with tears. Seeing him like this, he guessed that Lou Yun must have said something that hurt him, so he pulled him closer, casting a cold, piercing gaze toward the stunned Lou Yun.

Lou Yun hadn’t yet adjusted to the situation.

She was a traditional woman. Frankly, although she knew her nephew’s relationship with Xi Jingqi wasn't right, they had been relatively restrained during the family banquet. So now, seeing her nephew embracing this despicable, deceitful Xi Jingqi who had tricked their entire family—

First, she felt it was strange and absurd.

Then it occurred to her: the way Xi Jingqi held him with one arm revealed that he was the one in control of this relationship with Lou Han. This noble, powerful man, wearing an overcoat with strands of hair falling by his cheeks, appeared charming and handsome, exuding an air of grace and refinement. His calm, composed demeanor only accentuated Lou Han’s “fragility.”

Anyone unaware might think they were a perfectly matched pair of lovers.

Only she knew how venomous his heart truly was!

No matter what Lou Han did now, his obstinate devotion made her uncomfortable.

After all, Lou Han was still a member of their Lou family. Seeing his behavior now, she was at a loss for words. *Lou Han, my foolish nephew, he’s deceiving you.*

And Xi Jingqi was probably reveling in Lou Han’s infatuation with him!

Just then, Xi Jingqi turned his head and swept his gaze over her, sending a chill down Lou Yun’s spine. She forcefully steeled herself.

Her face twisted into a cold sneer. “What do you want? Just say it. No need to pretend anymore.”

Lou Han stirred within Xi Jingqi’s embrace.

Xi Jingqi reached out and wiped the corner of his eye, completely ignoring everyone else, causing Zuo Gang’s eyelid to twitch.

*Boss, this fake “cousin,” holding their real relative’s nephew right in front of them—no matter how you look at it, it’s just weird.*

They had just arrived and saw Lou Han standing with this woman.

Then Lou Han ran over and hugged his boss.

And now this woman was interrogating them.

Quite the drama.

Zuo Gang watched the young master Han he’d seen last time now nestled in his boss’s arms, sniffling and playing the part of utter dependence.

Zuo Gang stared at Lou Han with mixed feelings, his expression a mess.

*This young master Han is quite the actor too.*

If he didn’t know that Lou Han had listened to that guy Lou Yihua and betrayed his boss, he might actually believe in his deep affection!

If he remembered correctly, Lou Han had just left the manor, and it seemed he left of his own volition?

How did talking to some relative—who knows which one—get him so worked up?

Are good-looking boys these days so skilled at deception?

Zuo Gang, a rough-and-tumble guy, didn’t buy such shallow, white-lotus tricks. But it seemed his boss believed it.

He was even holding him, comforting him.

Zuo Gang wore simple, proper clothes, though his muscles strained against the T-shirt. Observing his gait closely would reveal he had received intense military training.

A gun was tucked inside his waistband. He lifted his rugged chin, looking at Lou Yun before him, and spoke up: “Boss, this must be the Lou family member who invited you over. And you, ma’am, inviting my boss here—why not be a bit more polite? Yelling the moment you meet.”

This person, calling him “boss” repeatedly and being disrespectful to her—Lou Yun’s complexion completely changed.

After all, she had been a privileged daughter since childhood, seldom treated this way, especially by someone she considered beneath her.

But moments later, she immediately regained composure. One had to admit, this person was indeed formidable. Even if Lou Han could fool her, from the corner of her eye, she saw Xi Jingqi compose himself again shortly after.

Ignoring Zuo Gang, she turned a cold face to Xi Jingqi, gritting her teeth: “At this point, I'm done pretending too. I already know about the private grudge between you and our family!”

“You bastard.”

She stood alone before them.

“I’ll ask you one thing: were you behind all the troubles our Lou family has faced recently?!”

Hearing her words, Xi Jingqi calmly soothed Lou Han. It was as if, before coming, he had hoped to hear something useful from her. He never expected it to be mere accusations. That composed, utterly dismissive attitude even ruffled an old fox like Lou Yun.

Lou Yun shouted sharply at Lou Han, sincere and heartfelt, like a mother calling to her son: “Lou Han, don’t you understand yet? He broke your uncle’s arm, manipulated our Lou family’s stock market turmoil. Soon our family will go bankrupt—will that make you happy?”

“And in this situation, even if you love him, what good is it? Has he whispered sweet nothings to you? But haven’t you considered how long he’s even *known* you! In such a short time, does he truly love you?! Once you’re of no use, we’ll all be the same.”

He was simply toying with their Lou family, enjoying the pretense before the hunt.

In reality, he could have acted directly against them long ago. Instead, he kept up the act of being the cousin, mocking them.

And mocking Lou Han, making her foolish nephew fall for him.

He must be reveling in all this, delighting in watching their family dance to his tune, even to the point where a male member fell in love with him.

Such fierce words echoed for a long time.

Lou Han’s heart abruptly skipped a beat—not because Lou Yun’s words affected him, as his heartache was only for Xiao Jing.

But he picked up on something strange in Lou Yun’s words.

Why, after seeing him “stubbornly” loving Xiao Jing, was she still so insistent on persuading him, saying so much in front of him?

Were these words truly meant for him? Or did she just want Xi Jingqi to… respond to her because of them?

The more Lou Han thought, the more something felt off.

A bottomless pit suddenly opened in his mind, countless chaotic thoughts tumbling into it.

…Just as Zuo Gang said, Xiao Jing came here because Lou Yun invited him. Why did she invite him? After learning the truth, did she just give up on her plans and directly confront him?

No, no, no.

She was still doing what she intended.

Finally, spurred by her desperate attempt to make Lou Han change his mind, Xi Jingqi responded to her words. Xi Jingqi still looked at Lou Han, stating flatly: “Yes, that’s right. I did all of it. I wanted revenge on your family.”

Lou Han's hand shot out to grab Xi Jingqi’s hand, appearing as if he couldn’t accept his words.

Yet Xi Jingqi maintained eye contact with him, gazing at him with profound depth.

"But my feelings for Lou Han are genuine. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you."

Lou Han froze.

The bottomless pit in Lou Han's heart grew larger and larger...

Lou Yun watched them without even blinking, waiting for them to finish before eagerly clapping her hands and letting out an eerie laugh.

"Good, good, so you've become quite the devoted lovers."

Lou Han quickly looked at her.

He saw Lou Yun snap out of her earlier hysterics. She elegantly smoothed her hair and said with a coy smile, "Nephew—let me call you that one last time—if I can't handle you, surely someone else can!"

She pulled something from a hidden pocket in her skirt.

That object made Lou Han's heart sink like a stone, because it was a black, rectangular device—it was actually a voice recorder!

She really was planning something! Lou Han wanted to reach out and snatch it.

But he immediately saw a smile on Lou Yun's lips, though it didn't reach her eyes. "They're here."

A clipped male voice sounded behind them.

—"Hello. FAR officers. Standard procedure."

Soon, a tall man in a special uniform stepped quickly from the corner behind them. As he emerged, he held up his credentials.

Simultaneously, three or four other personnel followed, rushing over. They were clearly not ordinary people, swiftly surrounding Xi Jingqi and the others.

He must have been standing there for some time. No one knew why he was there. He was tall and upright, his immaculate uniform making him appear even more imposing. He wore a neat cap, his overall image very authoritative, with stern features.

Her husband was a high-ranking congressional official, so naturally, she knew some important figures.

That was why Lou Yun found it easier than others to uncover Xi Jingqi's true identity.

Earlier, Lou Yun had speculated that behind the country's highest political institution, Congress, capital was actually pulling the strings. And there was a force that had developed rapidly in recent years, whose boss was a shadowy figure, sparking much discussion.

Given Xi Jingqi's age, the various tactics he had displayed in their home, and his many subordinates, she had suspected then that Xi Jingqi was the boss behind that force.

She shared this speculation with Lou Yihua and the others. While they had no concrete evidence, they thought it was highly likely that Xi Jingqi was a major figure.

Under these circumstances, instead of becoming wary of Xi Jingqi, they became even more respectful. The reason was clear:

Because Congress's network was more complex and mutually hostile than the Lou family's, and those involved placed a high premium on clean backgrounds. One misstep could give opponents leverage.

So, at that time, they didn't believe Xi Jingqi would act against them. Their greater fear was that Xi Jingqi would secretly use Lou Han to seize their family assets.

But they couldn't imagine him going too far.

What a joke. No matter how wealthy the Lou family was, it was just a piece of fat meat. To lose a ranch that could continuously produce meat for the sake of a single piece of fat was not a smart move.

But Xi Jingqi did just that, causing a scene at their family banquet, completely without a shred of subtlety!

Xi Jingqi appeared calm and composed, but in reality, his actions were just as foolish and impulsive as her brother's.

Lou Yun had her husband put out feelers in Congress, saying they had leverage on Xi Jingqi, and sure enough, they found a point of contact.

Lou Yun acted quickly, beating her foolhardy brother to the punch. Facts proved that she had the last laugh.

And the response from the capital got here even faster.

Lou Yun had still been somewhat uneasy, until just now when she learned the truth from her dad. She was convinced that Xi Jingqi had truly lost his mind, blinded by rage. He hated their family, so he only wanted revenge.

And after he worked so hard to leave his own home back then, climbing the ranks must have cost him dearly. The enemies he'd made probably hated him all the more for it.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, she almost pitied him.

These enemies were the knives in Lou Yun's hands, enough to crush Xi Jingqi to pieces.

"The FAR is a law enforcement agency that handles special cases. They operate independently of the government, directly under Congress. It looks like Lou Yun found more powerful people to deal with Cousin," the system said.

In the background was Lou Yun's shrill, grating laughter.

The tables had just turned right before Lou Han's eyes!

He had only just learned about Xiao Jing's tragic past, and suddenly this happened.

Lou Han was beside himself with worry, realizing—this time, Xiao Jing was really in trouble.

Precisely because Lou Han had just learned about Xiao Jing's difficult past in this world, he knew Xiao Jing might only be putting on a strong front but couldn't actually hold his own against the others.

But Xiao Jing couldn't do anything, because between Lou Yun and Xi Jingqi, he was essentially powerless.

Lou Han saw the officer and his colleagues taking control of the scene, while Zuo Gang tried to resist and was subdued then and there. Lou Yun was called aside.

He was the only one left, still tightly holding Xiao Jing's hand.

He saw that man walk over to them, speaking to Xiao Jing with an expressionless face and a solemn tone: "I'm here because Mrs. Lin reported the incident. Hello, you are suspected of intentional homicide and market manipulation. Please come with us."

Xiao Jing was silent for a moment. He still maintained his earlier calm composure, as if resigned to his fate now that the roles were reversed. Under Lou Han's gaze, he looked toward the apprehended Zuo Gang: "I'll go with you."

"We appreciate your cooperation." The officer waved his hand, and the others stepped forward, surrounding Xi Jingqi and leading him out. With so many people, Xi Jingqi had to follow immediately.

Lou Han didn't even get to say a final word to him.

Xi Jingqi's hand was pulled from his grip.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. All of Lou Han's movements and thoughts paused as he watched Xi Jingqi being taken away.

He watched helplessly as Xi Jingqi let go of him and moved away.

Finally, Lou Han's blank mind started working again. He stared intently at the credentials the man had displayed, trying to find something wrong.

But there was nothing. He had learned about these things before—those credentials didn't look forged.

No, there must be a mistake somewhere; there must be a way to find an error.

Xiao Jing had plenty of people who should have been able to help him.

Probably seeing Xi Jingqi's cooperation, the officer turned to Lou Han. He tilted his head, sizing him up, then said, "Did the suspect also hold you against your will?"

"No." Lou Han immediately shook his head, his mind racing. Finally, he found it. "...But this started as a simple police report! Why are you here? What gives you the right to intervene?!"

The officer frowned, then quickly relaxed, smiling: "Of course, it's because this individual's status falls under our purview."

Suddenly, a shout came from over there. Xi Jingqi was being forcibly escorted forward, but at the last moment, he suddenly broke free from his restraints, ignoring the angry shouts to run toward Lou Han.

The others quickly moved to intervene, but the officer raised his hand to stop them. He sighed, as if sympathizing with this tragic scene: "It seems they are also a devoted couple. Let them say their final words."

Xi Jingqi stepped forward and cupped Lou Han's face, his hair brushing against Lou Han's skin, reminiscent of that morning.

He had a fair idea who Lou Han had been crying for earlier, though he couldn't ask why. Was it because he heard about his past and his heart went out to him? That came as a real surprise. The usually aloof Lou Han was now crying for him. A few days ago, he wouldn't have believed it. In just these short days, he was truly happy.

Xi Jingqi's voice was soft yet laced with sadness: "These past two days have been very happy for me, because you were by my side. And also, I really like your flowers."

He left one last kiss on his forehead.

The farewell, sounding like a final testament, shattered Lou Han.

After speaking, Xi Jingqi had no choice but to turn and follow those menacing, watchful men.

It can't end like this! He must find Xiao Jie to save him. Lou Han stared after him, desperate.

The young man was completely focused on Xi Jingqi, his usually cool expression gone, paying no attention to the two people around him anymore.

Taking advantage of Lou Han being entirely focused on chasing after their boss, Zuo Gang made a hand signal. The surrounding brothers scrambled to loosen their hold on him slightly. He stealthily flipped a middle finger at the "officer" and silently mouthed:

You bastard, don't get cocky.

When did you plan this with the boss?

The "officer" raised an eyebrow in reply: Long ago. Finally getting a chance to mess with the boss, can't I indulge a little?

Also, when messing with the boss, the more pitiful it looks, the better. A single dog like you wouldn't understand.

This way, it makes people feel sorry for him. I guarantee the handsome guy will take the initiative and throw himself at the boss.

Hmm, also, Young Master Han's eyesight doesn't seem great either. I saw him at the manor this morning, and he's already forgotten.

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Author's note: Hahaha, next up, Xiao Jing seems to be turning into an outlaw.