Chapter 36

The title of Chapter 80 was quite striking—"Forceful Conquest".

Even though deviating from the plot in this final chapter might not lead to his death, Qi Liangqin had had enough of suffering. Since he had reached the last chapter, no matter how exhausted he was, he had to push through and finish it in one go. Even if it meant earning Yan Bozong's disgust, it didn't matter—it was the final chapter, after all.

The last scene was a forceful seduction. Qi Liangqin tried every seductive trick he could think of, but nothing worked. So he made up an excuse about needing to talk to Yan Bozong and lured him into the room. Then, he stripped off all his clothes and hid behind the door, waiting for Yan Bozong to step inside. The moment he did, Qi Liangqin threw his arms around him and started rubbing against him.

It was difficult, and deeply humiliating, but the thought that he would be completely free after this filled him with excitement.

At the same time, he felt a tinge of melancholy—a vague sense of confusion and unease about the future. The novel's plot had been a shackle for him, yet in a way, it had also given him a sense of security. At least he had always known what was going to happen, which was reassuring. After this, that sense of certainty would be gone forever.

Still, one thing had been weighing on his mind. He wanted to know what had really happened that night. He also wanted to know why Yan Bozong, after hanging up on him, had called him back.

Was it because he despised him so much? Or... was it because he didn't actually hate him that much?

He wanted to know, but he didn't dare ask. Yan Bozong was treating him with extreme coldness.

But right now, the most important thing was to complete his final seduction task. As for Yan Bozong, he would have time to slowly change his perception of him.

On summer nights, after dinner and a leisurely walk, people would start to feel lazy. Madam Yan enjoyed having the whole family gathered in the living room to watch TV together.

Ever since her children had grown up, it had become impossible for parents to expect their kids to stay by their side all night watching television like they did in childhood. Yan Bozong and the others were all busy, and even in their free time, they had their own ways of unwinding—but watching prime-time soap operas was certainly not one of them.

In her younger years, Madam Yan had been quite fashionable—she loved movies and would even watch American TV series online. But perhaps due to age, she had gradually come to enjoy noisy, domestic soap operas.

After retiring from the company, Madam Yan feared idleness the most and craved lively company the most. Just like with watching TV—her children might all be on their phones, casually scrolling through their feeds, none of them watching as seriously as she did, nor discussing the plot with her. The only one who would chat with her about the story was Aunt Chun, yet she still preferred having her children around.

Two episodes of prime-time drama per night meant at least one episode's worth of time where the living room was lively—and that was enough for her.

Tonight, Yan Songwei was away on a business trip and hadn't returned yet. This gave him a perfect opportunity.

So, Qi Liangqin quietly slipped back into the bedroom, paced around twice, then turned off the main light, leaving only a bedside lamp casting a soft, hazy glow.

The final moment had finally arrived! He clenched his fists in excitement.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Liangqin stripped off all his clothes. His voice trembled slightly, yet he feigned innocence and composure as he poked his head out from the doorway and called out, "Big Brother, Big Brother, can you come here for a moment?"

In the living room, Madam Yan and the others were chatting and laughing. This provocative call, sounding almost like a clandestine affair, was infuriating yet thrilling in front of the whole family.

Yan Bozong remained silent, but then Yan Yuan spoke up. "Big Brother, Liangqin is calling you."

Perhaps because they were both men, there had never been any suspicion about the two of them in the Yan family. Naturally, this also reflected everyone's trust in Yan Bozong.

With a face as dark as iron, Yan Bozong stood up, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked to the bedroom door. He knocked.

"The door's open, Big Brother. Come in."

Yan Bozong pushed the door open and stepped inside, but Qi Liangqin was nowhere to be seen. Just as he frowned in confusion, Qi Liangqin suddenly darted out from behind the door and slammed it shut.

Startled, Yan Bozong barely had time to turn around before Qi Liangqin threw himself at him, wrapping his arms around him tightly.

"Big Brother, I love you! I love you!"

Even if his life depended on it, Yan Bozong would never have believed that after everything that had happened, Qi Liangqin could still be so utterly shameless. Furious, he grabbed Qi Liangqin by the shoulders and flung him onto the bed. He immediately turned back to open the door, but before his hand even touched the doorknob, Qi Liangqin had already latched onto his leg.

"Let go!" Yan Bozong growled, his voice low and strained. Veins bulged faintly on his neck—he was clearly at his breaking point.

"I won't! I'm just a pervert! Fuck me once, or I won't be able to live—you're in my dreams every night!"

At those words, Yan Bozong's face flushed red with anger. Without thinking, he slapped Qi Liangqin across the face. It wasn't an intentional act of violence—just a pure, reflexive reaction driven by sheer rage.

The slap left Qi Liangqin momentarily dazed. Yan Bozong quickly bent down, trying to pry his hands away, but just then, Qi Liangqin suddenly let go of him and sat on the floor, panting.

That actually startled Yan Bozong. He looked down at Qi Liangqin, who sat there like a freed slave finally granted his liberation, his face filled with relief, excitement, and joy. The red imprint of the slap was still on his cheek, yet he didn't seem to feel any pain at all.

Qi Liangqin started to get up, but Yan Bozong, as if terrified, shoved the door open and rushed out, his face still burning red. He turned back hastily and hissed in a low voice, "You're insane!"

His voice was hoarse, his face red, his neck tense.

Qi Liangqin got up and plopped onto the bed.

At last, he was free.

He exhaled deeply, touching his face—it burned.

Yan Bozong was a good man. After seducing him for eighty chapters, Qi Liangqin had finally come to this conclusion. Because he was cold and indifferent, he was a good man. He had chosen the right person.

So what came next?

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Qi Liangqin rested his chin in his palm and thought.

Naturally, he had to return to the plan he had set when he first entered this world.

He was going to tell the world that he was not Pan Jinlian. He would take the path of an aloof, ethereal Little Dragon Girl-type submissive.

"Tut, tut, tut, tut." Imagining the scenes that awaited him in the future, Qi Liangqin smirked lecherously, clicking his tongue in amusement.

That summer was no different from any other.

The Yan family remained the same as always.

But everyone in the Yan family noticed—Qi Liangqin had changed

Qi Liangqin couldn't decide whether he should continue seducing Yan Bozong.

His sense of shame told him he should stop before it was too late, but human emotions weren't so easily changed. Love blinds people, clouds their judgment, and by the time they start questioning whether it's right or wrong, it's already too late.

Before making up his mind, Qi Liangqin decided to avoid Yan Bozong as much as possible. This was also the first step in portraying a cold and aloof beauty. He figured that Yan Bozong must now see him as something repulsive, avoiding him like the plague, and his disgust and resistance must have reached their peak. Under such circumstances, Qi Liangqin thought it was best to restrain himself a little.

Summer was rainy, yet the days were growing hotter. Madam Yan no longer liked going out much, preferring to stay home and play mahjong. Qi Liangqin began reviewing his studies. The reading list for the Chinese department suited his taste perfectly. Back in high school, he hadn't chosen the liberal arts track, something he had always regretted. Now that he had a second chance, he wasn't about to waste it.

"Why does Liangqin stay indoors all the time? Tell him to come play mahjong with us."

Yan Songwei chuckled. "Don't bother. When he was bedridden, I suggested he read a bit to pass the time, but who knew he'd get hooked?"

"Reading more is good. A belly full of books brings an air of refinement. He should read more. I think he's quite a promising kid—his dedication to studying is almost on par with your big brother back in the day."

"He's twenty now, right? Studying with freshmen—won't that be awkward? I hear students these days are getting younger and younger. Lots of them start college at seventeen or eighteen. It wasn't like that in our time—twenty was the norm for entering university."

"It's only a difference of a couple of years. Besides, he still looks young, like a schoolboy."

"Isn't Uncle Wang a professor at Donghua University?"

"Yes, he got in through his connections," Madam Yan said. "He's the dean of the Chinese department and teaches as well. He might even be Xiao Qin's professor."

"Uncle Wang is mainly supervising graduate students now. He might not teach undergraduates anymore."

While playing mahjong, Madam Yan sighed, "The Wang family's children really turned out well. Wang Ze became a dean at such a young age."

"He only got that position because he has backing," Yan Songwei remarked dismissively.

"Even with backing, he's still capable. If I gave you a dean's position and asked you to teach, could you do it?"

Yan Songwei laughed. "I couldn't. You should ask Big Brother instead."

Yan Yuan added, "Uncle Wang is really talented. He's written a lot of books. He's well-known not just in Nancheng but in the entire academic field. I heard he's gay, but he's never come out. I've wanted to talk to him about it a few times, but I always hesitated. With his level of education, you'd think he'd be open-minded. Why is he still hiding it?"

"Coming out or not makes no difference. Everyone already knows he likes men—it's common knowledge. If he hasn't come out, it's probably for the sake of his career."

"Does he have a partner? I remember he dated someone a few years ago, but nothing ever came of it."

"In families like ours, who takes gay marriage seriously? Only your second brother had the nerve to do it. He's almost made me lose face completely."

"Mom, this is a new era. Same-sex marriage is legal now. Who still makes a fuss over these things?"

"Legal, sure, but it's still rare... Forget it. They're already married, so there's no point arguing. Have you talked to Xiao Qin about when to start IVF? Don't wait until the last minute to prepare. I've asked around—it's not a simple process. There are a lot of steps involved. You two should discuss it early and give me a definite answer."

"We just got married. We haven't even enjoyed our time together yet. No rush."

Madam Yan was displeased. "How does having a child affect your time together? It's not like you married a woman—you won't even have to deal with pregnancy. Once the baby is born, we'll hire a nanny. You're just contributing some sperm. It's such a simple thing. How does that interfere with your married life?"

Yan Songwei couldn't argue with that, so he reluctantly said, "Fine, fine, I'll talk to him."

"I think it can wait," Yan Yuan interjected. "Liangqin is only twenty. Forcing him to be a father now is too selfish."

"If he could give me a grandchild, would I still be pressuring your second brother?"

As Madam Yan spoke, she turned to look at Yan Bozong, who was sitting opposite her in silence, as if he were invisible.

But then Yan Bozong suddenly spoke. "I won't be able to give you a grandchild anytime soon."

He looked up and cleared his throat. "I have something to tell you all," he said calmly before dropping a bombshell. "I'm divorced."

"What did you just say?" Madam Yan put down her mahjong tile.

"Big Brother, you got divorced?"

"With Shen He?"

"When did this happen?"

"You're joking, right?"

"Didn't you just come back from the U.S.?"

The mahjong game was completely abandoned as everyone turned to look at Yan Bozong in shock.

Unbuttoning his collar slightly, Yan Bozong replied, "I was actually planning to divorce long ago. When Yan Songwei got married, I couldn't come back because I was handling this. I stayed there for a few months, tried to make things work, but in the end, we decided to separate peacefully."

"Be honest with me. Did she cheat while she was abroad?"

"No," Yan Bozong said. "Mom, don't overthink. Shen He isn't that kind of person."

"Then why divorce?"

"Haven't you always wanted us to?"

That single sentence left Madam Yan speechless. Finally, she snapped, shoving her mahjong tiles away. "That doesn't mean you should go through with it without a word! How did it happen? What about the assets?"

"We handled everything through lawyers. No disputes. Pre-marital assets were separate, and post-marital assets were split equally."

"I knew it! That Shen He isn't stupid. She took half your fortune, of course she had no objections..." Madam Yan's face darkened. "Is she even coming home? What kind of heartless person is she? Even pets show loyalty after years together."

"She's coming back in a few days. She said she'd stop by."

"She should come and take her things quickly. Tell her there's no need to see me. You're all adults, responsible for your own marriages. One brings home a man without warning, another gets divorced without notice. Unbelievable!"

Fuming, Madam Yan stood up and left. Yan Yuan hurried after her, and with a sigh, Yan Bozong also went upstairs.

Yan Songwei scratched his face and went back to the room.

"Still reading?"

Qi Liangqin turned his head to glance at him. "Finished playing mahjong?"

"Yeah," Yan Songwei sat down on the chair beside him, leaning closer. "Big Brother got divorced."

Qi Liangqin immediately turned around. "Big Brother got divorced?"

Yan Songwei nodded. "We all thought it was pretty sudden. He just mentioned it while playing mahjong earlier. Mom is angry, and Big Brother went upstairs with Yan Yuan."

"How did that happen?" To Qi Liangqin, this was major news.

"Big Brother said they had already planned to divorce back when we got married. Typical of him—keeping such a big thing hidden."

Qi Liangqin was so shocked that he didn't know what to say.

Yan Bozong actually got divorced.

For him, this was good news. One more obstacle between them had disappeared. The feelings he had just suppressed resurfaced again.

But this was also the first time he had seen a divorce. Though divorces were becoming more common nowadays, among the people he knew, no one had ever gotten divorced. Divorce, much like the gay community, was something very familiar to him conceptually but had never truly been part of his world.

"Do you know why they divorced?"

Yan Songwei said quietly, "It seems like an amicable divorce. Honestly, I always thought that even though Big Brother and Shen He weren't exactly in love, a marriage like theirs should last longer. I really didn't expect them to just end it like this."

"Maybe it's because of long-term separation. They weren't truly in love to begin with, and being apart for years makes it even harder. Problems were bound to arise sooner or later. You should keep Big Brother company more—divorce isn't exactly a happy thing, after all."

Yan Songwei, however, didn't move from his chair. He grabbed a pen from the table and twirled it lazily in his fingers. "Do you think marriage is always hard to maintain?"

Qi Liangqin knew he was thinking about Tan Qingqing again, so he comforted him. "Not necessarily. The couples I know are all doing fine. I've never even seen someone cheat, let alone get divorced."

Yan Songwei laughed. "Seriously? You've never seen anyone cheat?"

Qi Liangqin shook his head. Maybe it was just because he didn't know much, but he really had never heard of anyone in his circle cheating. He had always thought that cheating and divorce were things that only happened on TV.

He lived in a very ordinary environment, surrounded by ordinary people. No one was particularly dramatic, nor did anyone suffer tragic fates. Everyone just lived their quiet, simple lives. And he envied that. He thought that being able to live an uneventful, peaceful life was a kind of blessing. Maybe most straight people didn't realize how fortunate they were. They didn't understand that for people like him, a steady, normal marriage was something rare and difficult to obtain.

"I've seen plenty of it. I think I'll probably get divorced in the future too."

Qi Liangqin chuckled. "Of course you will."

Yan Songwei froze for a second before laughing too. He tugged at Qi Liangqin's arm. "Well, maybe not. Maybe I'll just settle for you and never get divorced."

"If you want to settle, I don't. I'm going to find a man in the future."

"Oh my, how shameless, openly saying you'll find a man."

"What's there to be ashamed of?" Qi Liangqin said, though his face still reddened a little. He couldn't help it—some people were just prone to blushing. "Finding a man is just as normal as you finding a woman. There's nothing shameful about it."

"Speaking of which, let me introduce someone to you."

"Who?"

"A friend's younger brother. His family's in decent shape, and I've met him before—seems reliable. He's just a bit young, about the same age as you."

Qi Liangqin shook his head. "I don't want to date anyone right now."

Yan Songwei laughed, but there was something odd about his smile. He didn't say anything else, just stood up and said, "I'll go check on Big Brother."

After he left, Qi Liangqin found himself unable to focus on his book.

Yan Bozong actually got divorced.

Thinking about it, the signs had been there from the start. Yan Bozong and Shen He's marriage had always seemed more like an empty shell.

As selfish as it sounded, this was truly good news for him.

While reading The Male Pan Jinlian, he had been pondering a question: When love is morally wrong, when the beauty of romance exposes the flaws of human nature—does that make it right or wrong? As a danmei novel, should love be its only focus? Should it have a solid foundation of moral righteousness to be widely praised?

There are two things in this world that cannot be stared at directly: the sun, and the human heart.

While seducing Yan Bozong, he had vaguely sensed his own sinister desires. Even though he never considered himself a particularly virtuous person, he still wasn't shameless. Yet, knowing shame didn't stop him from doing disgraceful things. That contradiction unsettled him.

But now, things were different. Even if something were to happen between them, he wouldn't have to carry that lingering, unspoken guilt.

And… didn't this also mean Yan Bozong might be more open to accepting him?

The future was too overwhelming to imagine—half sweet, half bitter. He paced around the room for a while, then finally couldn't hold back anymore and stepped out.

As soon as he reached the living room, he saw Yan Bozong coming downstairs.

The exhaustion on Yan Bozong's face immediately disappeared the moment he saw him, as if his guard had gone up in an instant.

He was nervous. He didn't know how to deal with this shameless, sometimes pure, sometimes flirtatious younger brother-in-law. Even though he was decisive and sharp in business, he found family matters much harder to handle. So he simply put on a stern expression.

Qi Liangqin greeted him, "Big Brother."

Yan Bozong saw that familiar, slightly evasive look in his eyes, and his anger flared up. Was Qi Liangqin planning to take advantage of the fact that no one else was around to "molest" him again?

Just as he was about to reprimand him, Qi Liangqin suddenly lowered his head and hurried past him, running upstairs.

That made Yan Bozong pause.

The living room was empty—this was the perfect time for him to make a move, yet he had given up on the opportunity.

When he turned back, he caught Qi Liangqin peeking from the staircase corner. The moment their eyes met, Qi Liangqin flinched like he had been burned and disappeared instantly.

It was the same mix of shyness and flirtation, but it had become more restrained. He wasn't throwing himself at him like a tidal wave, no longer overwhelming him with his advances. The light and heat had softened, becoming controlled and warm.

Yan Bozong stood at the bottom of the stairs for a moment before continuing forward.

It seemed like Qi Liangqin was learning to hold back. That was good. Yan Bozong had never been the type to hold grudges. If Qi Liangqin truly knew when to stop, he wouldn't mind turning the page and letting the past be.

After Yan Bozong left, Qi Liangqin peeked out from the second-floor corner.

He hadn't meant to look back. He really shouldn't have.

Right now, his most important task was to clear his name as a Pan Jinlian. He had to let Yan Bozong see that he was no longer the person he used to be. Only by completely avoiding moments like that glance on the staircase could Yan Bozong ever look at him differently.

He had to put back on every piece of clothing he had once taken off.