Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Luo Qianyu left in a hurry, his high fever leaving him lightheaded. It wasn't until he reached the side chamber that he vaguely remembered he hadn't prepared anything at all.

Although he didn't want to praise Liu Cixue, just look at the guy... Wanting to apply for the position of Personal Guard, he not only drugged the interviewer first to secure a private interview. However, because his gender didn't match and his performance wasn't great, he was politely rejected by the examiner. Yet he didn't get discouraged, bringing his own indenture contract and sneaking into the household.

He even prepared the estate's official seal, background details, and signatures in advance, only then asking him to press his fingerprint.

Now that's dedication!

The matter of hiring a personal guard had now become a pressing issue. Setting aside the indenture contract for now... he didn't even know Wen Yu's residence at the moment.

The Wen family's former mansion was located in the eastern city, near Jinghuai Mountain. It was a spacious five-courtyard compound, elegant and imposing. Later, after the family was raided, it had fallen into ruin.

Wen Yu's return to the capital this time was clandestine; naturally, he didn't want to attract outsiders' attention, so his chosen residence was also very hidden. Although the book mentioned it briefly a few times, most descriptions were vague, like "a courtyard somewhere in the south or north of the city..."

The Young Marquis felt a headache coming on.

Who would have thought that the person he had been avoiding just a couple of days ago, afraid of being caught, he now had to actively seek out.

How on earth was he supposed to find him?

Even Quan Songcheng, whose lecherous designs hadn't faded, only managed to force Wen Yu to go to the Zhaixian Tower after recognizing him when he happened to meet the doctor treating Wen Yu's mother. The capital was so vast; how easy was it to find one person?

Wait...

A doctor?

Doctor Zhang!

The Young Marquis's eyes lit up. Just as he was putting on his cloak and about to lift the curtain to go out, Zhao Nian came in from outside, brushing off the frost from his clothes, muttering softly, "Just now, there was a red-tailed bird that kept trying to fly into the Jinlin Courtyard. The cotton curtain almost couldn't block it. I drove it out with a broom."

Luo Qianyu was taken aback and instinctively asked, "A red-tailed bird? Is it still there?"

"It's gone. I only returned after confirming it had flown far away."

Luo Qianyu: "..."

Strange, didn't the little chubby bird leave with Wen Yu? Why was it still trying to fly into the Marquis's residence? Had its bird feed been withheld?

"Young Master, you're still ill. Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"

Luo Qianyu pushed the matter of the little bird to the back of his mind. Without explaining much, he only asked Zhao Nian to draft a contract for him, detailing Wen Yu's personal history and origins. Just like Liu Cixue had done, he meticulously wrote it from beginning to end, leaving no room for error.

Luo Qianyu tucked the paper into his robe and sighed gloomily.

In his heart, Liu Cixue was a pervert, an obsessed robber—in short, an out-and-out villain.

And now, he was about to do the same thing to Wen Yu.

...

Tonight, he was forced to play the villain.

Luo Qianyu took a few skilled guards with him and, braving the cold wind, first went to a doctor's clinic.

Although many people now knew Wen Yu had returned to the capital, no one truly knew his residence except for Doctor Zhang, who was treating Wen Yu's mother. Why hadn't he thought of this earlier?

Doctor Zhang's clinic wasn't hard to find. The Young Marquis didn't want to make a big scene and scare the doctor, so he gave some silver and ordered the guards to wait at the wonton shop across the street.

When he entered the clinic alone, he found the interior simple and uncluttered, with a faint aroma of medicinal herbs lingering in the air. The apprentice managing the front desk was sorting herbs with his head down when he heard the curtain rustle. Looking up, he saw a young master walk in.

The apprentice was momentarily stunned. The young master was exceptionally handsome, with a noble and dignified air. He had never seen such a person visit their small clinic before. He quickly stood up and approached, asking respectfully, "Young Master, who are you looking for?"

Luo Qianyu's voice was clear and bright: "Is Doctor Zhang here?"

The apprentice hurriedly nodded: "He is! Please wait a moment, I'll go fetch him." With that, he turned and quickly went into the inner hall.

Not long after, Doctor Zhang hurried out. At a glance, seeing Luo Qianyu's extraordinary bearing, he wondered inwardly who this person might be. Cupping his hands, he asked, "Young Master, are you here to see a doctor?"

"No." Luo Qianyu's cheeks were flushed from the fever. He simply asked, "Doctor, may we speak in private?"

Doctor Zhang was taken aback, feeling a vague unease, but he nodded and led Luo Qianyu into the inner hall. After they sat down, Luo Qianyu straightforwardly revealed his identity: "Doctor Zhang, I am the person who appeared at the Diaohua Pavilion a month ago, holding the folding fan."

Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhang's face changed drastically, and the teacup in his hand nearly fell to the ground. His eyes widened, and his voice trembled slightly: "You... you are that Mysterious Guest?!"

Luo Qianyu nodded slightly, his expression still bright: "It is indeed I."

Doctor Zhang barely managed to suppress the turmoil in his heart. He stood up, his hands trembling slightly, his voice full of gratitude: "Thank you, Young Master, for your life-saving grace that day! If not for your intervention, this old man and Wen Yu's mother would likely have already..."

But Luo Qianyu shook his head: "It was a mere trifle, hardly worth calling a favor."

"To you, Young Master, it may have been a trifle, but to us, it was an immense kindness. Not just to me, but to Wen Yu's mother, and to Wen Yu even more..." At this point, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something, a smile appearing on his face. "We've been calling you the 'Mysterious Guest,' but since you never showed yourself, we never had the chance to thank you in person. Wen Yu... he has been looking for you."

Hearing this, Luo Qianyu felt a lump in his throat, thinking to himself, I have personally witnessed that already.

He composed himself and hurriedly got to the main point: "I came today to ask for Doctor Zhang's help."

Doctor Zhang quickly nodded: "Please speak, Young Master. This old man will certainly do his best to assist."

Luo Qianyu lowered his voice slightly and began: "I am the Young Marquis of the Luo residence. I came today to inquire about Wen Yu's residence."

Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhang was so shocked his eyes widened. It took him a moment to regain his composure, his beard trembling: "You... you are the Young Marquis?!" He never would have imagined that the Mysterious Guest was actually the famous Young Marquis Luo of the capital!

He steadied himself and cautiously asked, "You are looking for Wen Yu to...?"

Luo Qianyu: "I want him to be my Personal Guard."

Hearing this, Doctor Zhang actually looked delighted, nodding repeatedly: "Good, that's excellent! That child Wen Yu has exceptional martial skills. Although his temperament is a bit aloof, his character is upright, pure, and kind—a true gentleman."

"If he can follow by your side, not only will he be able to live and establish himself openly and honorably in the capital from now on, but he might also have a promising future. You... you are his benefactor!"

Hearing this, Luo Qianyu felt a complex mix of emotions for a moment.

Don't speak too soon, old friend. Wen Yu certainly wouldn't see it that way.

"Please, Doctor Zhang, tell me his address. I will go see him personally."

Doctor Zhang quickly stood up and said respectfully, "Wen Yu currently lives in Qingyun Alley in the southern city. It's the small courtyard at the end of the alley. If you are going to look for him, this old man can guide you..."

"Please stay, sir." Luo Qianyu quickly waved his hand, thinking to himself that this wasn't a case of visiting a recluse three times, but rather a forced acquisition. "No need, I can go myself."

With that, the Young Marquis stood up to take his leave. Just as he was about to step away, he suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded. Staggering, he nearly fell, barely managing to steady himself by holding onto the corner of the table.

Seeing this, Doctor Zhang hurried forward to support him and asked, "Young Master, your face has been flushed and your breathing rapid since you entered. Have you caught a cold recently?"

Luo Qianyu nodded slightly, his voice somewhat weak: "Yes, for three days now."

Doctor Zhang frowned, reaching out to feel his forehead. It was burning hot to the touch, making his heart tighten: "Has the high fever persisted for these three days without subsiding?"

"Yes," Luo Qianyu replied softly. "I took the medicine, but the fever won't break. The court physician also examined me and said it was nothing serious, just a common cold."

Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhang's expression turned grave. He motioned for Luo Qianyu to sit down and then carefully took his pulse. Stroking his beard, he pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "Young master, have you recently been poisoned?"

Luo Qianyu was startled and looked up at Doctor Zhang. "You can tell from my pulse?"

Doctor Zhang nodded, his tone serious. "Your pulse is erratic, and there seems to be residual poison in your body. A common cold would not cause this."

Luo Qianyu fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I was exposed to 'Misty Water Fragrance' and 'Hazy Moon Saliva.'"

Doctor Zhang's face paled, and his voice rose slightly. "These two fragrances appear harmless on their own, but when inhaled together, they become toxic! This persistent high fever of yours is likely the cause."

Luo Qianyu frowned, puzzled. "But I've already taken an antidote. Moreover, a houseboy in my household was also poisoned and has since recovered without any fever symptoms."

Doctor Zhang shook his head and said solemnly, "How long was it between your exposure to the fragrances and taking the antidote?"

Luo Qianyu estimated in his mind. "About two hours."

Doctor Zhang sighed. "That explains it. In two hours, the toxins had already penetrated deep into your organs. Even after taking the antidote, traces of the poison probably remain in your system."

Upon hearing this, an inexplicable rage surged within Luo Qianyu. He silently cursed those damned buy-stock gongs ten thousand times before barely suppressing his emotions and asking, "Doctor, is there still hope for me... Can this poison be fully cleansed?"

Doctor Zhang pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "To completely eliminate the toxins, you need to use a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus as medicine, decocted together with Cold-Dispersing Grass. Only then will it take effect."

"Thousand-Year Snow Lotus?" A flicker of recognition passed through Luo Qianyu's eyes. "One of the medicinal ingredients for Wen Yu's mother... the one in Wen Yu's home?"

Doctor Zhang was taken aback, looking at him in surprise. "The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus is indeed rare. The most recent one to appear was indeed at Wen Yu's home, but... how did you know about it?"

Luo Qianyu was momentarily speechless, unsure how to explain.

Seeing Luo Qianyu's silence, Doctor Zhang grew even more puzzled. Just as he was about to ask further, he suddenly seemed to remember something. His pupils trembled, and a look of sudden realization dawned on his face. In a trembling voice, he said, "So it was you, young master! That day, after Wen Yu obtained the Snow Lotus, there were a few words written on the package—'Do not decoct with Sichuan aconite.'"

Hearing this, Luo Qianyu's expression changed slightly, but he did not respond.

Doctor Zhang continued, his voice shaking with excitement. "The prescription for the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus was mine, but later I discovered that although the Snow Lotus is a once-in-a-century medicinal herb, its properties clash with the 'Sichuan aconite' in Wen Yu's mother's original prescription! If decocted together, it would not only be ineffective but would actually aggravate her illness."

"I was horrified and rushed to Wen Yu's residence to stop him from using the medicine. But... but in my heart, I knew it was probably too late. By then, the time for taking the medicine had already passed."

"Later, I learned that someone had warned them beforehand, saving Wen Yu's mother's life." The old doctor's eyes welled with tears as he choked out, "Wen Yu said at the time that it was the handwriting of the young master who helped him at the Carved Flower Pavilion last time. I didn't believe it then... but it really was you."

The old doctor clasped his hand with trembling fingers, yet Luo Qianyu felt desolate, his heart heavy with thoughts.

He thought, well, this is just perfect. Now he had another reason to seek out Wen Yu.

Not only did he need Wen Yu to become his personal guard, but he also needed the Snow Lotus in Wen Yu's possession to save his own life.

His connection with Wen Yu could be described as a tangled mess. Just when he thought he had completely severed it, a new thread of fate would quietly extend, winding around each of them from both ends.

If he hadn't known the plot of the book in advance, he would have thought that he and Wen Yu were the main couple.

Just as he was thinking this with utter despair, he heard Doctor Zhang ask, "Has the young master met Wen Yu recently?"

The Young Marquis was startled. How did you know that? Are you Doctor Zhang or a fortune teller?

So he asked, "How did you know, sir?"

"A few days ago, he seemed to be in high spirits, as if something good had happened. Out of curiosity, I asked him a few more questions." Doctor Zhang smiled. "Turns out, he had met that Mysterious Guest."

Luo Qianyu's throat tightened.

Although that meeting with Wen Yu was under the guise of the Mysterious Guest, the scene was far from pleasant. Both he and Wen Yu were soaked through, he had choked on water, and his ankle was still wrapped with the red hair ribbon the other had tied around it in a daze. Speaking of which, he still hadn't returned that ribbon...

The Young Marquis was puzzled and muttered, "Why would that be something to be happy about?"

"Oh, I asked him that too." Doctor Zhang stroked his beard, as if recalling the scene. "He said that although the Mysterious Guest refused to reveal his identity and even rudely drove him away, he acted a bit coquettishly with him. Wen Sheng's heart softened for a moment, so he let it go for the time being, thinking there would be plenty of time in the future."

What?

Acted coquettishly?

Who acted coquettishly with him???

Was saying "no, you can't" acting coquettishly? Begging him to let go was acting coquettishly? Making up a name to fool him was acting coquettishly?

Wasn't Wen Yu known for his gentlemanly conduct? How could he lie?!

What did "for the time being" mean? He had said they would part ways and clear all debts, so why wasn't it "permanently" letting go? What kind of "plenty of time in the future" was this?

Seeing the young master's face growing increasingly flushed and his fists clenched into tight balls, Doctor Zhang quickly changed the subject, barely suppressing a laugh. "This old man has spoken out of turn. If Wen Yu knew the young master was here, the Snow Lotus would..."

"Don't tell him," Luo Qianyu said.

"What... why?" Doctor Zhang was stunned and quickly asked. "This is a good thing. Wen Sheng would surely be grateful to you, young master. And now you need the Snow Lotus yourself. Why wouldn't you want to leave a good name?"

A good name?

Now that the plot was frequently spiraling out of control, if the controversial Mysterious Guest from the book really turned out to be him... and if Wen Yu found out about this, the consequences would be unimaginable. Such a major plot deviation might lead to further developments he couldn't control.

All kidding aside, this disguise must not be revealed.

These past few days, his body had been through a lot—poisoned, feverish, and even experiencing the protagonist shou's ordeal on his behalf. Now, the Young Marquis had learned his lesson, or rather, developed a psychological shadow, becoming overly cautious and seeing danger everywhere.

"I have difficulties I cannot speak of," Luo Qianyu stood up, feeling dizzy, and bowed. "I hope you will keep this secret for me."

Although somewhat confused, Doctor Zhang also stood up and nodded. "Young master, rest assured. If you are unwilling to speak of it, this old man will naturally not reveal it."

Just as Luo Qianyu had obtained the address and was about to leave the clinic, footsteps sounded outside the door. Suddenly, the disciple from earlier announced, "Wen Yu requests to see you, sir."

Luo Qianyu's heart tightened.

What? Wen Yu came now?

His ideal place to press-gang the guard was not the clinic. Wen Yu was even less likely to agree easily. Luo Qianyu exchanged a glance with Doctor Zhang. The old doctor understood and gestured with his hand. Without hesitation, the Young Marquis slipped into the shadows behind the medicine cabinet.

The door curtain was lifted, and Wen Yu entered the clinic, the Jade Spirit Sword hanging at his waist. Seeing Doctor Zhang, he cupped his hands in greeting. "Sir."

Doctor Zhang smiled upon seeing Wen Yu and quickly rose to welcome him. "Wen Sheng, what brings you here at this time? Has your mother's condition changed?"

Wen Yu said, "Her condition is gradually stabilizing. However, recently, her coughing has been particularly severe late at night. I would like to ask you to prescribe a medicine to relieve her cough."

"Of course, of course." Doctor Zhang nodded, motioning for Wen Yu to sit down. He then inquired about other symptoms. As the two conversed, Luo Qianyu, hiding in the shadows, felt his heart, which had been pounding like a drum, gradually quiet down. Yet, the heat within him surged. After standing for just a while, a thin layer of sweat formed on his skin.

The Young Marquis leaned against the medicine cabinet, his fingertips cold and slightly curled.

Wen Yu's voice was low and calm, no different from that day. Listening to it, Luo Qianyu inexplicably felt a sense of reassurance.

However, when he glanced sideways inadvertently, he noticed that the outer robe Wen Yu wore today was not the same one from that night on the painted boat's shore. In a daze, he suddenly remembered—

Before leaving, Wen Yu had draped his outer robe over him, and it had never been returned.

Now that white outer robe is still at the Marquis's residence!

Luo Qianyu mused inwardly, figuring out a chance to return it might be tricky, but once this personal guard business is settled, if Wen Yu really enters the Marquis's estate later, he absolutely must not see that outer robe.

Their conversation didn't last too long. After a moment, Doctor Zhang stood up and instructed his apprentice to write the prescription.

Wen Yu stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over the medicine hall's furnishings.

Luo Qianyu noticed the room had fallen quiet and was slightly taken aback, feeling his heartbeat grow more pronounced.

Suddenly, Wen Yu stood up.

When footsteps sounded again, they were getting closer to the medicine cabinet where he was hiding, then stopped right beside it, as if next to his ear.

Luo Qianyu's brow tightened slightly, and his heart inexplicably tightened.

Just then, Doctor Zhang finished writing the prescription and handed it to Wen Yu: "Take this back and try it first. If the cough doesn't improve, come back to me for an adjustment."

Wen Yu took it, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Doctor."

Doctor Zhang waved his hand: "No need for thanks."

Wen Yu nodded, turned, and walked toward the door.

Luo Qianyu didn't emerge from the shadows until Wen Yu had completely disappeared outside, letting out a soft sigh of relief before cupping his hands to bid farewell to Doctor Zhang.

Standing at the entrance of the medicine hall, a cold wind blew, giving him a shiver down his neck. He raised a hand to rub his temples, his head heavy and dizzy, his whole body burning up, even his breath felt hot. He summoned his strength and called out the guards from the wonton shop across the street.

Several guards quickly gathered around, whispering, "Young Marquis, what are your orders?"

Wen Yu had gone to another pharmacy to fill the prescription, and he'd likely be home soon. It seemed they needed to hurry.

Luo Qianyu lowered his voice: "Let's go, to Wen Yu's residence."

-

The guards exchanged glances, and one of them tentatively asked, "Are we grabbing him directly?"

"Easier said than done. Don't be overconfident; you won't be able to capture him." Luo Qianyu frowned slightly and shook his head: "Also, do not disturb Wen Yu's mother."

A guard looked troubled: "Then... how do we take Guard Wen?"

Luo Qianyu thought to himself, *you're calling him 'Guard Wen' already?* Not to mention whether Wen Yu would easily submit, if the Snow Lotus had already been eaten, whether your Young Marquis could survive until then was still a question. This plan hasn't even started yet.

He sighed softly and said in a low voice, "First, go look for the Snow Lotus. If you find it, just tear off one petal. Don't take the whole thing."

The guard nodded and added, "Don't worry, Young Master. You said Guard Wen is highly skilled, and you also said 'we must use strategy, not force.' We've kept that in mind."

"Yes!"

"Although this courtyard is small and can't hide people, the rooftop offers a wide view."

"We'll arrange for some to ambush on the rooftop, while others search for the Snow Lotus without disturbing Guard Wen's mother. Once Guard Wen returns and enters the house, we'll surround him... then Young Master can come in and just ask your questions."

It sounded like a flawless plan, but seeing their confident expressions, Luo Qianyu inexplicably felt it was bound to fail.

The guards accepted their orders and quickly sprang into action. Luo Qianyu, forcing himself to hold on, climbed onto the roof with one group of guards.

Once again, by a twist of fate, he found himself a guest on the eaves. Luo Qianyu didn't dwell on it too much, just tightened his fur coat, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The cold wind howled in his ears. Staying for a short while was fine, but as time passed, Luo Qianyu felt his whole body growing cold, while his forehead burned fiercely. Clenching his teeth, he sighed inwardly:

Being a villain is really hard.

Just then, the sharp-eared servant beside him perked up, hearing faint footsteps approaching.

Luo Qianyu's heart tightened. He looked up, and sure enough.

Wen Yu was back so soon?

Everyone remained still, waiting for Wen Yu to enter the house.

However, they heard the sound of the door opening but no movement from the guards inside. When the guards on the roof jumped down, they too fell silent.

"..."

No way.

It hadn't even been half a minute, and they were already wiped out?

Luo Qianyu had fallen once before, and Luo Shifu had caught him then. This time, he had no such confidence. Fearing the worst for these guards, he didn't care about the angle and pushed himself toward the edge.

Sliding to the edge, he saw someone directly below. Before he could think much, he dislodged a tile and began to fall from the roof.

A chill ran through Luo Qianyu. Estimating the distance, he thought it probably wouldn't break his tailbone or anything. If the angle was right, he might even land steadily...

The fall happened in an instant. Before he could think further, he suddenly saw the person below look up.

A strong, firm arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, while another hand steadily supported his lower back and the bend of his legs. A familiar scent enveloped him. Before Luo Qianyu could react, he was caught firmly.

It was Wen Yu!

Luo Qianyu's heart leaped violently, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. Instinctively, he grabbed the other's shoulders.

Damn.

A one-armed hold...

What kind of monstrous strength did Wen Yu have? To call it a necessary skill for martial artists was too much of an exaggeration, wasn't it?

Moreover, this position... while wrapping his arms around the other's neck and chest, he had to lean forward slightly, afraid he might fall.

A clear look of contempt flashed in Wen Yu's eyes. Just as he was about to throw him down, the guards—who were not only not dead but standing dumbfounded—let out a collective "Ah—!" in alarm, reaching out nervously to catch him.

Luo Qianyu couldn't help but clear his throat a few times. Suppressing the heat, he said coldly, "You dare?"

"A mere commoner, daring to drop a noble?"

"If this Young Master lands on his butt today, this debt will be settled on your head."

"..."

This threat proved effective. Wen Yu didn't throw him.

Though he didn't throw him, he suddenly tightened his grip around Luo Qianyu's waist, squeezing so hard that the young noble let out a muffled sound, tears nearly springing to his eyes.

Seeing that their young master hadn't fallen but was now trapped in the arms of the not-yet-official Guard Wen, the guards were terrified and didn't dare act rashly for a moment.

Wen Yu glanced sideways, his voice cool and devoid of emotion: "Earlier at the medicine hall, I saw you hiding behind the medicine cabinet."

"Now you want to take the Snow Lotus, yet you ambush in my home. What is your intention?"

Luo Qianyu was about to speak.

Suddenly, he heard a fluttering sound.

A little bird flew over in a sorry state, its wings flapping, its feathers dirty—the once-white bird had turned gray.

Luo Qianyu gazed dazedly and realized it was that red-tailed little bird!

At that moment, an unlikely possibility crossed his mind:

Could it be that this little bird was also poisoned at Cold Mountain Temple, but with no one to save it, it was completely forgotten there... Later, relying on its own will, it found its way back to the Marquis’s estate, only to be chased away with a broom, forcing it to endure countless hardships to finally track down Wen Yu?

Surely it couldn’t be that miserable?

The bird seemed to have truly suffered along the way, its feathers puffed up in anger. After hesitating for a moment, it resolutely flew to Wen Yu’s shoulder, its claws even slipping slightly.

But then, tilting its head and seeing Luo Qianyu’s fever-flushed face, it hesitated again, flapped its wings, and flew onto Luo Qianyu’s head, gently pecking his forehead.

“What am I trying to do? Don’t you get it yet?”

Luo Qianyu had no time to pay attention to the bird. Burning with fever, he could only lean against the other’s shoulder, closing his eyes briefly. The heat seeped through the fabric, causing the beauty to pause slightly.

The Young Marquis suppressed his embarrassment and softly finished his prepared lines: “Not only do I want the Snow Lotus, but I also want you.”

Wen Yu was taken aback, frowning as he replied coldly, “What?”

Luo Qianyu finally uttered the line from the book that should have been spoken that night at the night market, raising his voice: “What, unwilling?”

“Don’t you want to treat your poor old mother anymore? With just one word from me, guess which doctor in the capital would dare set foot in your home ever again?”

Hearing this, a flicker of coldness passed through Wen Yu’s eyes, but he still didn’t relent, his voice low and cool: “You’re in my arms, sick as you are. How do you plan to give orders?”

Luo Qianyu: “...”

This isn’t right.

In the original book, after hearing those words, Wen Yu should have turned pale with anger, his hand gripping the Jade Spirit Sword turning white with tension, followed by various descriptions of the beauty’s restrained humiliation... Then, to protect his mother, he would have surrendered helplessly.

Where did it go wrong?

Luo Qianyu pursed his lips, his mind racing. Since Wen Yu wasn’t intimidated by his threats, it meant the other held all the cards now, confident and in control.

To strike at the heart of the matter, he had to think of something beyond the other’s control—something intangible, unseen, yet deeply important to him.

But what could that possibly be?

...

Got it!

The Young Marquis pursed his lips, leaned close to the other’s ear, and whispered, “Wen Yu, don’t you want to see that Mysterious Guest again?”

Wen Yu didn’t speak, but his pupils suddenly tightened.

Seizing the moment, Luo Qianyu pressed on, his voice soft but audible only to the two of them:

“Become my Personal Guard.”

“And I’ll let you see him again.”