Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Peng Yun said no more and relayed in detail everything his son had asked him to pass on.

"You've been gone too long; they've grown restless. Recently, these two have been openly and behind the scenes rallying their forces."

A terminal screen opened in front of him, displaying two detailed documents clearly and prominently.

Yan Zhuo's face darkened as he said coldly, "What do the higher-ups think?"

"Those still left don't amount to much. The Alliance is now riddled with corruption, and the incident back then still stings for everyone."

Yan Zhuo let out a slow breath.

"I'll settle things here as soon as possible."

Peng Yun hesitated, then cut straight to the point, "What about you and that young master of the Ruan family—"

"That has nothing to do with you. If this gets out..."

Before Yan Zhuo could finish, Peng Yun backed off. "Rest assured, I won't breathe a word, and Zhongying will too."

"..."

After they wrapped up business, Yan Zhuo pushed open the door and got out of the car. He went back the way he came to a dessert shop nearby that was always packed, grabbed several low-sugar pastries, and carried them back to the Ruan residence.

He hadn't been out long. Ruan Yunchu was still busy in his room and didn't open the door when he heard the noise.

When his lesson ended and he stepped out, he found a beautiful box on the cabinet by the door, the label showing it was from his go-to dessert spot.

He stared at it for a couple of seconds, sighed softly, set the box on his lap, and slowly made his way downstairs.

When he reached the backyard garden, he saw Yan Zhuo from a distance, sitting on a small stool at the edge. He wore only a plain T-shirt, exposing his sturdy, muscular arms. As he worked the soil with a hoe, his muscles bulged and veins snaked across his skin, oozing raw strength.

After watching for a moment, Ruan Yunchu finally gave in and called out softly.

"Yan Zhuo, come here."

Hearing his voice, the guy didn't look surprised. He quickly set down his tools and walked over. When he got close, he lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead, revealing a lean, tight waist.

Expressionless, Ruan Yunchu tore open the elegant box and, just as Yan Zhuo leaned in like a peacock displaying its feathers, stuffed a donut in his mouth.

The words Yan Zhuo had been about to say got caught in his throat. He could only chew and swallow the sickeningly sweet stuff obediently.

"Boss."

Before he could say more, Ruan Yunchu stuffed a second one in his mouth.

Yan Zhuo: "..."

He raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled, but still ate it. After finishing, he caught Ruan Yunchu's wrist to stop him from reaching for another and spoke slowly.

"Boss, are you trying to choke me to death?"

Ruan Yunchu made no effort to struggle and said calmly, "I wish I could."

"How ruthless." Yan Zhuo snorted. "What did that old man want with you today?"

"He's Lieutenant General Peng's father and has done a lot for the Alliance. Is that any way to talk about him?"

"I don't know him, and he didn't strike me as a good guy anyway," Yan Zhuo said.

"..."

Ruan Yunchu shut his eyes, resigned. Sometimes he truly felt Yan Zhuo was too crude, acting like a predator to everyone.

"Your temper..."

After getting his jabs in, Yan Zhuo knew when to quit. "It doesn't matter—I've got your back. See how obedient I am."

If he were obedient and sensible, the whole world would be at peace.

Ruan Yunchu didn't feel like wasting words. "Didn't you notice anything off about him?"

"Hmm?" Yan Zhuo only paused for a second. "Is his hand a prosthetic?"

It sounded like a question, but Ruan Yunchu was sure he saw no curiosity in his eyes—rather, it was like he was confirming something he already knew.

"Yes. Old Master Peng lost a hand in combat." Ruan Yunchu thought for a moment. "His preserved hand has been kept in the Alliance. Word is his body will soon be ready for the transplant, so he can attempt to reattach his left hand."

"Such an important surgery will definitely be done at the Alliance General Hospital."

"Right. Old Master Peng wants to recuperate and undergo rehabilitation here at Jiaxie after the operation."

Yan Zhuo figured it out right away. "So that's his game. I thought it had something to do with some Alliance drama."

"Watch your mouth," Ruan Yunchu shot him a sidelong glance. "This is only at home. If someone outside overheard you, it could cause serious trouble."

Yan Zhuo always knew how to read the room. He flashed a smile. "In front of you, I can say whatever I want, boss."

"..."

Too lazy to argue, Ruan Yunchu pondered for a moment and decided to clue him in.

"Old Master Peng has participated in numerous battles and commands a lot of respect in the galaxy. His visit to Jiaxie is also a great publicity stunt. But precisely because of that, his safety and privacy need to be handled with extra care."

The more Yan Zhuo heard, the more uneasy he felt. For the first time, he actively avoided his boss's gaze, coughed lightly, and said, "Just assign him more bodyguards."

"Yan Zhuo."

The young man's voice was gentle, without any obvious coaxing, but it made Yan Zhuo's eyelids twitch and his blood rush.

Damn!

Afraid he wouldn't be able to resist, he started making excuses without thinking. "Boss, I've been really busy lately—I haven't finished tending the garden, there's a ton of stuff to do around the house, and I might even need to take some time off in a few days."

"..."

Ruan Yunchu said nothing. When Yan Zhuo turned his head guiltily and met the young man's gaze, his eyes were still glued to him, unable to look away.

Those long, thick lashes curled slightly, and the green eyes caught the sunlight, shining like amber and gems—even more beautiful than those in a shop window.

Damn, damn. Yan Zhuo knew he was about to reel off a bunch of logical arguments to block his escape route. But his mind was made up. His hard-earned vacation time wasn't meant for playing nursemaid to this or that—he had his own things to finish.

No matter what, he would not give in!

Yan Zhuo clenched his fists, branding that thought deeply into his mind.

"Yan Zhuo, aside from you, I don't know who else I can trust."

Thump, thump—

Yan Zhuo felt his heartbeat suddenly quicken, a wave of heat surging from his heart to his brain, making him feel light-headed for a moment, as if he couldn't find solid ground.

And the unwavering conviction he had repeated to himself countless times had long since vanished.

"I..."

No matter who it was, facing such a sincere and earnest face, they couldn't bring themselves to utter a single word of refusal.

He gritted his teeth and ultimately gave in.

"How long will he be staying?"

"One month." Ruan Yunchu curved his lips into a harmless and adorable smile.

"..."

A few days later, news of Old Master Peng's severed limb reattachment surgery spread across the entire star system.

Unlike other cases, it was said that Old Master Peng's hand had been crushed and severed by a starship's violent collision and pressure during a chaotic battle. When the severed hand was found, it was already in such bad shape that the technology at the time couldn't reattach it.

But over the years, medical technology had gradually advanced. Old Master Peng had voluntarily contributed his severed hand, which had been maintained and treated in various ways, finally reaching a condition suitable for reattachment.

While the Alliance issued concurrent updates, Jiaxie Hospital was also preparing for the patient who would be transferred in a few days.

As one of the top private hospitals on A Star, Jiaxie had been under intense public scrutiny ever since the Ruan family's misfortune. Now that word had gotten out about Old Master Peng's transfer to Jiaxie, many media outlets had already caught wind of it and had begun sneaking into the hospital in various ways to prepare for upcoming news stories.

Ruan Yunchu, who rarely stayed at home, came to inspect the hospital in person.

Yan Zhuo found it too boring to stay in the room, so he went out for a stroll. When he returned, he found the young master still reviewing documents. Displeased, he tossed the various eavesdropping and surveillance devices he had found onto the desk, successfully catching the young master's attention.

"They're quite resourceful, willing to go to any lengths for a news story."

Ruan Yunchu furrowed his brow slightly, picking up the small devices to examine them. "I recall there was already a round of inspections this morning."

Yan Zhuo snorted lightly. "Some things can't be detected by machines. Human eyes are always the sharpest."

"I'll have to trouble you these next few days."

"Why be so formal with me, young master?" Yan Zhuo walked around the spacious desk, stopping beside him. Leaning in with one hand on the desk, his sharp features were as imposing as mountain ranges, deep and mysterious.

When he wasn't wearing any expression, he always looked very fierce, exuding an aloofness that kept people at bay. But now, with a hint of a smile in his eyes, as if it clearly said "reward me," Ruan Yunchu inexplicably felt no fear.

He felt like laughing, but seeing Yan Zhuo's expectant look, he still raised his head and lightly pressed his lips against the other's.

Sensing the other's intent to deepen the kiss, he placed a hand on his broad, sturdy shoulder and whispered, "Tonight."

Yan Zhuo's eyes lit up. Faced with this rare proactive reward, he could hardly conceal his joy.

"Alright."

He dropped his earlier lax attitude, and from then on, as he roamed the hospital, he no longer looked like a slacker. Under the hospital's near-complete encryption and lockdown conditions, he thoroughly inspected all the wards and outpatient clinics upstairs and downstairs.

Unfortunately, the security personnel hired by Chen Quan this time seemed qualified enough, and he didn't find anything significant.

Exhausted after a long day, he returned home early, washed up, and lay on the bed waiting for the young master to come to him. But he flipped through the boring poetry book on the bedside table again and again, almost drifting off to sleep, but still no one entered.

Unable to hold back any longer, he made a Star Call. He picked up quickly.

"You—"

"Just finished. Coming back now."

Before Yan Zhuo could even say a word, the call ended.

Confused, he obediently waited.

Three minutes later, the door was indeed pushed open.

Ruan Yunchu was wearing a thin, light-colored pajamas, the soft ends of his hair resting on his shoulders, the open collar revealing a glimpse of his beautiful collarbone, alluring.

Seeing him like this, Yan Zhuo inexplicably felt his nose go hot.

"Already showered."

Ruan Yunchu hummed in response, letting himself be carried to bed by him. But once under the covers, he heartlessly pushed Yan Zhuo away.

Yan Zhuo frowned, confused.

"I'm tired." Ruan Yunchu stared at him without blinking.

"..."

Yan Zhuo had been waiting all evening, and now hearing that the nighttime activities might be canceled, he immediately grew displeased.

"Young master, you—"

"Yan Zhuo, I'm so sleepy." Ruan Yunchu reached out and pressed against him, leaning in lightly, resting on his shoulder. "Busy all day, my eyes hurt."

His tone as he spoke lacked much variation, but the calm voice in the silent night revealed a softness absent during the day.

Yan Zhuo, half-dazed, leaned back onto the bed and wrapped his arms around him.

When he came to his senses, he realized he had been convinced by such a simple method. And when he thought about making a move, the person in his arms had already closed his eyes, clearly fast asleep.

He stared at the tranquil sleeping face in his arms, feeling like something was off.

With all this maneuvering today, it seemed like he was completely under the young master's control.

How can this keep going?