Chapter 51

Chapter 51

"051"

The hospital for getting his stitches out was a half-hour drive from the neighborhood.

The old part of town was a maze of outdated streets, and during rush hour, every route on the map was red with traffic. So Xiao Lancui took Lu Ao on the subway instead.

Walking out of the neighborhood, Xiao Lancui realized he wasn't imagining things—the Lu family's surveillance crew was indeed gone, just as he'd noticed that morning.

Xiao Lancui didn't care why they'd pulled back. They hadn't come to demand Lu Ao back this time, but they'd come for him eventually. He'd just wait.

"Brother, aren't we hailing a cab?" Lu Ao hadn't stopped talking since they left. "I'll learn to drive tomorrow and be your personal driver!"

"Besides driving, is there anything else you want to learn?" Xiao Lancui bought two subway tickets, leading him along gently.

According to the records, before the Lu family's old master died, Lu Ao had gone to school for a while. After the old master died, Han Xinyi locked Lu Ao in the villa, claiming his mental state was poor. To save face, she'd hired private tutors for a few years before cutting that off too.

But none of that mattered.

Lu Ao was only eighteen. A few lost years meant nothing—Xiao Lancui would map out a future of limitless possibilities for him.

He wasn't worried that once Lu Ao grew up, his wings would harden and he'd slip out of Xiao Lancui's control again.

The modern world was nothing like the ancient one. That wolf had been an emperor, but a modern puppy—wings or not—was still just a puppy. He had countless ways to clip those wings.

But Lu Ao said, "No." His dark eyes were fixed on Xiao Lancui alone. "I only want to learn what you need, Brother."

Xiao Lancui regretted the question.

He thought he should have gotten himself a puppy a long time ago.

This subway station was ancient—every passage was stairs. The line they needed was downstairs, down a long flight of stairs. Suddenly, Lu Ao circled around to face Xiao Lancui, crouched with his back to him, spread his arms wide, and looked up with a smile in his pitch-black eyes. "Brother, I'll carry you."

"Teacher, I'll carry you."

Lu Ao had crouched in front of his wheelchair, looking up with a smile in his pitch-black eyes. "From now on, I'll be your legs—point to anywhere, and I'll take you there."

That was the first year Xiao Lancui taught Lu Ao.

At the time, he'd been gratified, thinking the young man knew how to bend and stretch to get what he wanted. He hadn't picked the wrong person.

He never expected Lu Ao to actually follow through.

Even on the day before his death, Lu Ao had been his legs, carrying him step by step up the mountain to that Taoist temple.

Legend said its prayers for healing were especially potent.

"Your Majesty," he'd said, "I don't believe in such things."

From Lu Ao's back, he couldn't see Lu Ao's expression—whether he was smiling or something else. "I believe. My teacher will live a long life, for sure."

Xiao Lancui had grown less and less able to read Lu Ao's thoughts. The boy from the cold palace had long since become a young emperor. He hadn't refused again, only saying, "The mountain path is long and hard. Have a guard carry me instead."

Lu Ao had tightened his arms. "Just let me carry you, Teacher. I want to carry you."

Looking back now, maybe there'd been a sliver of sincerity in Lu Ao's actions then—the last trace of affection before sending him off.

As for later, kneeling before the Three Pure Ones and Four Sovereigns with an emperor's dignity—that had been to lull him into complacency and to put on a show for all the subjects of the realm:

That he, Lu Ao, was a man who honored his teacher—not some ungrateful bastard who killed his master.

"Brother?" Xiao Lancui had been quiet too long. Lu Ao called out.

"No need." Xiao Lancui walked around Lu Ao and headed down the stairs first. "Let's go."

Lu Ao's dark eyes narrowed slightly. Only after a second did he get up and follow.

The subway was always packed, and this line especially. Naturally, every seat was taken. Xiao Lancui walked further in when a voice suddenly called out to him, "Hey, there's a seat here!"

A young man on the left jumped up hastily, and in his urgency, instinctively reached out to grab Xiao Lancui's arm. His hand had barely lifted before it was slapped down hard.

The young man's hand throbbed—just one slap, and his finger bones felt like they were cracking. His face went pale instantly, cold sweat beading at his hairline. He looked up into a pair of dark, gloomy eyes.

The man was right behind that handsome guy.

Lu Ao looked away, and when he turned back to Xiao Lancui, his eyes were clear and smiling again. "Brother, someone's offering you their seat!"

At least two people nearby were eligible for priority seating, but Xiao Lancui shook his head and kept walking.

Before leaving, Lu Ao shot one more cold look at the young man slinking off toward another car, then strode to catch up with Xiao Lancui.

The car was packed, but with Lu Ao shielding him the whole way, Xiao Lancui didn't get jostled once until they got off.

After exiting the subway station, a three-to-four-minute walk brought them to the hospital.

It was a top-tier public hospital, and they had an appointment. Lu Ao followed the doctor into the treatment room. But he leaned back out, poking his head out the door, his dark eyes fixed on Xiao Lancui. "Brother, will you wait for me?"

Xiao Lancui nodded. "Yes."

Lu Ao's lips were still pressed tight with nerves. "Brother, promise you'll wait—I'll be out in no time!"

Not right away, the doctor told Xiao Lancui. There were too many stitches on Lu Ao's face—fifteen minutes at the earliest.

Lu Ao finally went in, and the treatment room door shut. Xiao Lancui sat on a bench in the corridor, waiting quietly.

He turned on his phone.

Instantly, 99+ missed calls and a flood of messages popped up.

There were messages from Xiao Jingli and Xiao Mian, a few from Huo Shenan and Fu Chen, but most were from Xie Jingfang.

Xiao Lancui picked up some unexpectedly useful information.

Huo Shenan had only told Fu Chen about the first layer of Xiao Anfeng's identity—not Lu Siye.

The two of them weren't part of Xiao Lancui's plan, but their growing rift with Lu Siye might make them useful to him later.

Xiao Lancui tapped on Xie Jingfang's messages.

"Lan Chui, why'd you leave?"

"Child, don't scare your mother. Please reply to me? I just need to know you're safe. I won't cling to you."

"I'm begging you, child. Come back. It's my fault, I'm sorry. I'll do anything you want. Will you come back?"

"I miss you so much, sweetie. Please give me a call back..."

...

Xie Jingfang's incoming call popped up again.

Xiao Lancui swiped to answer. Xie Jingfang's voice was already hoarse from crying, yet she dared not speak too loudly, calling out cautiously, "Dong Dong?"

It was the first time she'd used the original body's nickname.

The line was silent, her breath held tight, fearing that Xiao Lancui might suddenly hang up and turn off his phone again, disappearing.

Xiao Lancui said calmly, "Don't worry. I just need some space to think things through. Once I've figured it out, I'll come back."

Xie Jingfang pressed, anxious, "And if you can't figure it out?"

Xiao Lancui smiled faintly. "That won't happen. I'll think everything through until it's crystal clear."

His calm only made Xie Jingfang more panicked. "I—I have just one request. Think whatever you want, but you must come home, come back."

Xie Jingfang began to cry again. "Mom can't lose you twice."

Xiao Lancui didn't commit to an answer, saying, "I'll hang up now. Don't call me again."

After hanging up, Xiao Mian's call came through. Xiao Lancui didn't answer and turned off his phone again.

At almost the same moment, the door to the treatment room opened.

Xiao Lancui put away his phone and glanced calmly toward the treatment room.

A face with faint red marks still on it came out.

Dark eyes immediately found Xiao Lancui, and the young man rushed over. "Brother!"

Xiao Lancui watched quietly as the beaming young man ran to him.

Similar, yet not quite.

He lacked Lu Ao's fierce, murderous edge; this puppy was exceptionally gentle, with soft, gentle lines on his face.

For a moment, Xiao Lancui felt a complicated mix of emotions.

There was relief, but also disappointment.

At this moment, it became even clearer that the person before him was no longer that wolf.

In the treatment room, Lu Ao had checked his face right after the surgery.

The moment he saw it clearly, if the previous plastic surgeon had been in front of him, he wouldn't be breathing anymore.

The tweaks had still missed the mark. On this face, which was meant to look obedient, a closer look still showed hints of his old features.

He was afraid Xiao Lancui might see through it, but with no way to back out now, any more accidents on his part would be too obvious, so he had to come out anyway.

Xiao Lancui stayed silent, and Lu Ao's heart jumped into his throat.

"Brother." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Am I... too ugly now?"

Xiao Lancui finally spoke. "No, you're very handsome."

He didn't care if Lu Ao was handsome or ugly, but it was obvious that Lu Ao's face, in any era, was peerlessly handsome.

But unfortunately,

a face like that was never going to be passed down to the next generation.

He wouldn't let Lu Ao date or marry.

If Lu Ao belonged to him, he had to be his completely, body and soul, so he could never betray him again.

Xiao Lancui raised his hand, and Lu Ao got it instantly, bending down to press his face into Xiao Lancui's palm. Xiao Lancui examined the red marks—turned out it was just medicine. He asked, "Did the doctor give you anything?"

Lu Ao relaxed, seeing Xiao Lancui hadn't caught on yet. He curved his lips into a smile. "Mm, he gave me some ointment. Said no sun for three days, and it'll be fully healed in a week."

Xiao Lancui pulled his hand back. "Let's go. Pick up the meds, then grab some physical sunscreen."

Ten minutes later, Lu Ao, in a sun hat, sunglasses, and a mask, followed Xiao Lancui out of the hospital.

Lu Ao's whole face was now covered in black, and he didn't complain, asking only one question, "Brother, are you leaving today?"

Xiao Lancui shook his head. "No."

After all that hassle, he was a bit hungry. He found a highly rated restaurant to eat at. Just as they sat down, someone approached with a nasty sneer.

"What a coincidence, running into you again, Classmate Xiao."

Xiao Lancui didn't even look up. Lu Siye was about to sit next to him when, the next second, a loud crash rang out.

Lu Ao kicked Lu Siye hard, sending him sprawling to the ground, crashing into a serving cart and scattering the food everywhere.

The commotion made everyone in the restaurant look over.

Lu Ao pulled back his foot and stared down at Lu Siye coldly. "Scram."

Lu Siye felt like his junk had been crushed. He tried to get up twice but couldn't. A waiter moved to help him, and he reached out to shove him away, but the movement pulled at his injury, sending a flash of white-hot pain through him. He stopped and glared viciously at that face.

Of course he recognized that face.

The face he'd envied and hated for eighteen years—he'd know it even if it were burned to ash!

He sucked in a breath and sneered, "Fine. Today I get to see two old friends at once." He finally grabbed the waiter's hand and managed to stand, his legs shaking from the pain in his groin. He gritted his teeth and spoke slowly, word by word, "My dear little brother, not killing you last time was a mistake."

Lu Ao saw Lu Siye as a pawn to get close to Xiao Lancui—use him and throw him away.

But now he realized Lu Siye was eyeing his A Lan.

That was a different story.

In front of Xiao Lancui, he kept his viciousness well hidden. He casually grabbed a pitcher of cold water off a nearby table and walked toward Lu Siye.

The next second, Xiao Lancui said, "Sit back down."

Lu Ao immediately put the pitcher down and went back to his seat on the sofa.

Xiao Lancui stood up. Under Lu Siye's shocked gaze, he said flatly, "Whoever starts it is the lowlife. You're paying your own medical bills."

Lu Siye hadn't expected Xiao Lancui's first words to be about paying his own medical bills.

Pained and annoyed, he was about to say something else when Xiao Lancui spoke calmly, "If you don't get checked out in time and end up crippled, then try to sue me—I might chip in a bit for the meds."

Lu Siye's face darkened, realizing there was still a chance of permanent damage. He shoved the waiter aside and sprinted away, but at the restaurant entrance, he turned back and took a deep look at Xiao Lancui and Lu Ao's booth.

His face was twisted in fury.

This little episode didn't affect Xiao Lancui's appetite in the slightest. In fact, Lu Ao had fulfilled his morning promise—"If they hit me, I hit back." Xiao Lancui was quite pleased. The puppy was endearingly soft, but showing his fangs at the right moment was what made him *his* puppy.

Xiao Lancui ate an extra small bowl of rice, two pieces of sausage ribs, and two big, plump Sunshine Rose grapes.

After dinner, snow began to fall outside again. Xiao Lancui called for a car to the restaurant entrance.

When the car arrived and they had to head out, Xiao Lancui didn't bother putting on gloves for the short distance. The next second, his left hand was caught by Lu Ao, firmly enveloped and slipped into Lu Ao's pocket.

Lu Ao acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Xiao Lancui's peripheral vision caught a nearby girl also being hand-held and pocketed by her boyfriend, and he felt a vague sense of impropriety.

But he quickly dismissed it.

He must have been overreacting—he'd been dropped into this book about guys in love, surrounded by gay couples everywhere.

The puppy didn't know any better—he was just looking out for his master.

So Xiao Lancui didn't pull his hand back, letting it stay in Lu Ao's grasp, in his pocket, as Lu Ao led him into the car.