Chapter 26 Cousin’s Forcible Seizure of You

Chapter 26: Cousin, You and Your Forcible Seizure

“Xiao Jing, is that you?”

Lou Han’s voice on the phone sounded tentative, carrying a hint of a probe.

In the room, A Luo, Xiao Jie, and the others exchanged glances, all turning toward Xi Jingqi. Xi Jingqi’s expression remained unreadable as he took the phone; only a close look would reveal a slight tremor in his fingers.

“It’s me,” Xi Jingqi’s voice gave away no emotion.

“Where are you now?” His tone quickly lowered again as he followed up.

Where Lou Han had gone seemed to be his most immediate concern at that moment.

Lou Han’s departure felt as though it had only just happened; indeed, until now, Xi Jingqi hadn’t paid any attention to the passage of time.

The glimmer of tears in Lou Han’s eyes before he left still lingered in Xi Jingqi’s mind.

Unaware of this, the others only sensed that the current atmosphere was very delicate.

Yet Xi Jingqi surprisingly didn’t ask them to leave.

These burly men, who usually hated hassle the most, now let their eyes wander around the room, each standing in their own spot while straining their ears toward their boss.

Why would an angry, departed boyfriend call back?

He was quite clever, knowing to call Xiao Jie.

The others looked puzzled, but A Luo wore a peculiar, knowing smirk, as if he had guessed something. Fingering his bow tie, he smiled with a mix of meaning and sentimentality.

From the other end came their boss’s gentle, soothing voice. Xi Jingqi seemed to be doing his utmost to calm the young man on the line.

“I don’t know if giving you the fund made you think I…” Xi Jingqi’s eyes darkened with an inscrutable emotion, his tone as soft as could be, “I wanted to cut ties with you, but that wasn’t my intention. I wanted to make you happy. Lou Han, I’m in trouble now, but listen to me.

“I’ll be out soon and back by your side. Be good and wait for me, okay?”

Xi Jingqi spoke in a calm, measured way, but even as he said this, he felt somewhat dazed. Did Lou Han really care so much about his actions?

If so, then he cared about him.

Lou Han remained silent on the other end, quietly listening, but Xi Jingqi could almost hear his breathing grow heavier. Faintly, the young man’s presence seemed to travel through the phone.

“No,” the young man’s clear voice promptly denied it.

The people in the room exchanged smiles.

They looked down at Xi Jingqi, waiting to hear what Lou Han would say next.

Seated behind the wide interrogation chair, Xi Jingqi’s imposing presence made him seem almost unlike someone being interrogated. The light pooled at his fingertips, casting a white glow.

“Actually, I wanted to tell you—please stop targeting the Lou family, okay? After all, it’s my home,” Lou Han said, then chuckled, his laughter carrying the warmth of sunlight on the grass that day.

Xi Jingqi’s fingers twitched abruptly.

His expression barely changed. He had considered that Lou Han might feel this way, but the steps were off, and the emotion didn’t match.

Lou Han should have been angry about his actions when the officers arrived, fiercely defending his family. Yet when they met, Lou Han had only defended himself. And now, here he was, choosing his family instead.

Lou Han shouldn’t sound so cheerful either.

“You know what I’ve done and want the Lou family to be safe, is that it?” Xi Jingqi asked impassively.

“Not exactly,” Lou Han sidestepped the topic. “But you need to drop those charges regarding the entertainment industry.”

Direct and blunt, it was almost a command.

How much affection Lou Han truly held for the Lou family, he didn't know. But for now, he should let Lou Han do as he pleased—even without knowing his motives. Because, just like the roses Lou Han planted would wither…

Lou Han, a young man, was like a bird. If not allowed to soar freely from time to time, he would eventually grow depressed, much like a flower.

In Xi Jingqi’s vision of the future, Lou Han would, of course, remain by his side forever. So, letting him stretch his wings now, preparing for a more confined life later, was for the best.

Besides, Xi Jingqi had long wanted to give him everything he loved. Unfortunately, he had no idea what Lou Han actually liked.

Now was a good chance to see what he would do.

No one knew that behind his placid expression, Xi Jingqi had considered all this in an instant.

From the past to the future, Xi Jingqi had thought it all through.

In the end, he agreed.

A Luo only saw his boss fall silent for a moment, his face as smooth and sharp as marble, before agreeing. A Luo opened his mouth and let out a deep, impressed “Wow.”

“Okay. I agree,” Xi Jingqi said, then realized his tone sounded like he was at a negotiation table and quickly softened his attitude again.

Inside the interrogation room.

So now he felt deeply remorseful.

“Even though I’m in here right now, Xiao Jie happens to be with me. If anything comes up, he can relay it to me later.”

Sitting there, with the cold national police flag hanging above the interrogation room, Xi Jingqi spoke like an outlaw trying to please his young lover.

?

Questions bubbled up endlessly among the others.

Those who had interacted with Lou Han felt he was being rather unreasonable now.

Yet Xi Jingqi acted as if he hadn’t noticed, granting Lou Han’s every request.

The atmosphere between the two was something ordinary people couldn't penetrate.

At this moment, it wasn’t like the false sweetness from before. Amidst their confrontation, there was an intimacy.

Xiao Jie shrugged: Yep, this is called playing house with the emperor and his favorite concubine.

In front of Xiao Jie, he had seen too much—what Lou Han did and the strange situations it caused.

In short, he felt that Lou Han and their boss had developed feelings. Perhaps the more Lou Han acted this way, the deeper their bond would grow.

With a smile, Xi Jingqi continued, “Answer my earlier question. Where are you?”

Lou Han paused, then countered, “Cousin, don’t you know?”

“……”

His words were a blatant test.

How does Xi Jingqi know? Is he implying that Xi Jingqi might have sent someone to monitor him?

And yet, Xi Jingqi is in prison.

Xi Jingqi smiled. Sitting behind the wide interrogation chair, the smile on his face held no warmth. He retorted, "Should I know? I'm still inside; I don't have that much influence."

"Nor would I have Xiao Jie tell me."

"I'm quite busy here, handling some matters, but it won't be for too long. Will you wait for my release? Once I'm out, I will definitely apologize to you for that fund and for deceiving you before."

"..." Lou Han fell silent. In this battle, he clearly took the initiative to retreat and changed the subject: "Will you really not spare the entire Lou family?"

"Well? Do you promise?"

Xiao Jie saw it at a glance—the boss wanted to see what Lou Han would say.

Under such circumstances, would he agree?

The uncertainty had everyone on edge.

Neither of them hung up; both kept the line open. Lou Han suddenly heard a buzzing sound from Xi Jingqi's end, like a fan. The only sound in the quiet room was the whirring of a fan.

During this silence, neither of them spoke.

After Xi Jingqi waited a moment in silence.

"Of course." Xi Jingqi heard Lou Han's reply.

Xi Jingqi revealed his white teeth, curling his lips into a smile. He could have been any ordinary man, his mood brightening as if the clouds had parted after a storm upon hearing the promise of his beloved.

Not like a young, ruthless power holder bound to the Lou family by blood feud and mortal enmity.

"Even though I'm in prison, I will help you contact my people. If I can still reach them, I think, for your sake, I will temporarily spare the Lou family."

One pressed forward, the other gave ground.

Soon, the call was disconnected.

However, Xi Jingqi still held the receiver, his grip tightening, his expression turning relaxed and satisfied.

Xiao Jie, holding the phone, looked over in surprise. "Boss, do you need me to find out where he is now?"

Xi Jingqi's pupils didn't move; he didn't look at him, enunciating each word: "Immediately. I want to know where he is."

The other people in the room coughed a few times.

-

On the 15th floor of Tianfeng Group, Lou Zimin stared at Lou Han emerging from the office restroom. The two young men locked eyes. After Lou Han nodded, Lou Zimin rubbed his nose, his curiosity about Lou Han growing.

"It's done?!"

"How did you manage it?" Lou Zimin said, then waved his hand dismissively, utterly impressed. "No, no, I won't ask. You're just the best."

Lou Zimin gave a goofy grin, seeing Lou Han as his rock, rubbing his hands together. "So, what should we do now?"

"Introduce me to the contacts you can reach." Lou Han's handsome profile faced him. After pondering for a few seconds, Lou Han spoke to him steadily.

The main Lou family wouldn't give them the time of day; otherwise, they wouldn't have let Lou Zimin mess around like this. Lou Han needed to consolidate all resources.

What he intended to do would soon be known by everyone.

"Okay, okay, okay." Upon hearing this, Third Young Master Lou immediately fumbled to pull his phone from his suit pocket. "Let me see." He clapped his hands. "There really is one."

Lou Zimin told Lou Han that person's name—it was actually that Young Master Bai from before.

And his gang of dubious friends.

Since Xi Jingqi's side was letting it go, Lou Zimin's entertainment company was naturally in the clear.

The previous emphasis on charges against the company had caused all the celebrities to go silent.

Moreover, the entertainment industry is inherently volatile. Soon, not many people paid attention to the matter anymore.

Lou Han and Lou Zimin did a business deal together.

One early morning not long after, a slight ripple stirred in Business Circle A.

...

September is a good month. The summer heat subsided, and City A welcomed rainfall.

During this period, Lou Han hadn't returned to the Lou family home.

He stayed at No. 15 Tonghua Road, a place he rented himself.

In the evening, someone came to report, bringing photos of Lou Han from that day. Xi Jingqi saw the little rascal who had been haunting his thoughts recently.

In the photo was Lou Han's most recent outing. His profile, originally glowing white in the high-definition photo, had tanned a bit, but it didn't detract from his youthful handsomeness. Instead, it gave him a mature, grown-up feel.

Xi Jingqi stared at the photo, unable to tear his gaze away for a long time.

Every time he saw Lou Han, he was struck by how intensely, how dreamily he liked him—it was overwhelming.

But Xi Jingqi truly didn't know where this emotion came from; he was even perplexed.

It was as if he felt a memory had spontaneously formed in his mind.

As if somewhere, sometime, he and Lou Han had had longer, deeper contact.

-----------------------

Author's Note: I'm back!! *kisses* I've been exhausted lately (wiping sweat).