Chapter 17

"Of course, finding this place is almost impossible, but for him to find us Blue Gang in Hong Kong through immigration lists in three days is truly impressive." Nian Yiheng looked at her with great interest: "Could it be that the tiger wants to eat your tender skin and flesh? I'm very interested in meeting him. However, if you really want to get rid of him, I'm not without a solution; it just depends on whether you're willing to make a deal."

Yu Xi didn't hesitate much: "I won't trade my brother's freedom."

Nian Yiheng's interest grew: "Are you hoping that tiger finds you?"

"You're talking nonsense!" She glared at him fiercely: "I wish I'd never see him again in my life! But I will never sacrifice Xiao Chen for freedom!" Although she understood the trendy BL nowadays, she deep down wouldn't support it. Yu Chen looked... like a weak 'uke' indeed, but the thought of her brother being pressed under a man someday made her shiver and feel nauseous.

Women seemed naturally meant to be under men, and even then, it was often humiliating, like the many times her resistance was ineffective, and she cried for mercy but couldn't escape the humiliation. How could she let Yu Chen go through that again! Absolutely not!

"Don't you need to ask your brother's opinion?"

"He'll listen to me!" Even if Yu Chen was willing to sacrifice himself for her, she wouldn't agree.

If he really came... she really wanted to know why Gong Youqi was so fixated on her and wouldn't let her go? Was it because her leaving without any lingering attachment wounded his male ego, so he stubbornly wanted to conquer her completely? If she admitted she had long succumbed to his boundless charm, would his vanity be satisfied, and he'd stop pursuing her everywhere?

Nian Yiheng said nothing more, turned, and went out.

In the following month, Yu Chen recovered quickly. The brain hematoma was successfully cleared with no after-effects, and his left arm fracture was also recuperating. Yu Xi stayed by his bedside every day, and the siblings laughed as usual, almost forgetting they were guests on someone else's territory.

After Nian the Fox agreed, Yu Xi sent an email to a certain passerby (Lu Renjia), not daring to say much, only reporting that she had found Yu Chen and that both were safe. As for the content of Lu Renjia's reply, Yu Xi didn't know yet; Nian the Fox kept a tight rein on all communication devices on the island.

Big Brother Lan never appeared again, but Yu Xi's impression of him slowly improved. She felt he was self-aware enough not to disturb or provoke Yu Chen.

The peaceful days only lasted a month. One day, Nian Yiheng appeared and said bluntly: "My elder brother will be back tomorrow. You'll come with me to Hong Kong; there's something to handle there."

"...I'm not going, I want to stay with my brother!" She couldn't leave Yu Chen alone with that Arno. If Big Brother Lan forced himself on him, Yu Chen might jump from a building again, might be driven insane, or might... she remembered the inhumane 'training' chapters in novels that physically and mentally destroyed a person. She had to stay with Yu Chen and face things together, absolutely not letting a tragedy happen with her brother facing it alone.

He smiled wickedly: "I'm not discussing this with you."

Yu Xi gripped the doorframe. How could she forget that these triads always liked to act independently and wouldn't tolerate resistance.

The plane flew steadily through the night sky. She turned to look at the endless darkness outside the window, having not spoken since takeoff.

Despite her maximum efforts before leaving, Big Brother Lan had guaranteed in front of several people that he would never force Yu Chen to do anything unwillingly, but she still couldn't rest assured. However, when Yu Chen learned that the matter Nian Yiheng was going back to Hong Kong to handle involved the man who was pestering Yu Xi, he started to persuade her again. He pulled the crestfallen Yu Xi aside and solemnly swore to protect his chastity, which finally made Yu Xi laugh: "Actually, that Big Brother Lan looks like an honest big guy, and I believe he wouldn't force you. It's just leaving you alone that I'm worried about."

Yu Chen straightened his back and comforted her in a rough voice: "What's there to worry about with a big man like me? He brought a lot of books, so I can take the opportunity to write my thesis, and I won't fall behind in my courses. You're the one girl who makes me worry." He then reached out and placed his hand on top of her head, comparing their heights: "I'm almost a head taller than you now, so let me be the older brother from now on."

Yu Xi laughed and scolded: "Even if you grow as big as Big Brother Lan, you still have to call me 'Jiejie' (older sister)." She then tilted her head slightly, feeling that her brother had truly grown up and matured a lot.

Smiling, she said goodbye to Yu Chen. As soon as she got on the plane and saw that foxy face in the adjacent seat, she got annoyed. Both were 'foxes,' but she felt that the passerby's image was much more radiant; that was a cheerful, mischievous fox who only played pranks and didn't harm people, while this one was a sinister, cunning, arrogant fox who would plot against people without consequence.

During the journey, Nian Yiheng didn't initiate conversation, only proactively offered fresh milk and sliced roasted lamb leg at dinner. Yu Xi didn't stand on ceremony and ate with relish, finally saying: "This lamb is a bit tough; it's definitely not authentic pasture lamb."

Nian Yiheng seemed not to hear. Only when she was dozing off from fatigue did he whisper: "She was never a picky woman like you."

She immediately woke up, eager for gossip: "Who? Which woman? What kind of woman? Tell me clearly, or I won't be able to sleep!" He closed his eyes and said nothing more.

She had been in Hong Kong for over a week, and Nian Yiheng had arranged her in a Blue Gang clubhouse before disappearing. Because she was warned not to go out alone, Yu Xi found herself eating and sleeping every day. When she woke up, she'd flip through gossip magazines, staring blankly, living a life of luxury that was slowly approaching that of a certain animal.

Finally, bored out of her mind, she had a sudden idea and drew dozens of Q-version cartoon images of a certain person, scattering them like a goddess from the second floor. The dozen or so brothers left guarding the gang, along with the cleaning lady, each got a copy, gathering together to guess who this handsome man was, dressed in a fox mask covering half his face, with an orchid finger pose and only a pair of seductive,桃花 (peach blossom) eyes showing. Someone suddenly yelled: "Those eyes are really like Second Master's..." and was then beaten by the crowd.

However, it did manage to draw out Nian Yiheng, who had been elusive. One day, Yu Xi opened her eyes to find the foxy man sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, eyeing her obliquely.

She greeted him somewhat guiltily: "Hi, long time no see, I've missed you very much."

Nian Yiheng walked to the bed, extended his slender fingers, and picked up her long hair: "You've missed me so much you've resorted to drawing?" She blinked her innocent big eyes: "Who said I drew you?"

Nian Yiheng's lips twitched into a smile, answering irrelevantly: "I'm a person who understands reciprocity." Yu Xi's translation was that he wouldn't forget this debt and would repay it with interest later. A chill went through her, and she gave an awkward smile: "Second Master, you won't just keep letting me waste food here, will you?"

"Tired of it? Good. Everything's ready. The show should start."

She didn't understand: "What show?"

Nian Yiheng smiled mysteriously: "Three more days. But today, I'll take you to kill some time. There's a business conference later, you should come along."

"I'm not familiar with Hong Kong's business circles, why should I go?"

He took out a bag containing a formal dress from beside him: "Change into this. You definitely won't be disappointed when you go."

Late at night, still unable to sleep.

She stared at the boundless darkness, feeling that what was meant to come would always arrive.

She hadn't expected to see so many familiar faces at the business banquet. It was a bidding conference for Hong Kong's major financial groups to invest in mainland China's Yangtze River Delta, so it was only natural for those famous large enterprises to be there.

First, she saw Xue Han. She only managed to chat briefly, but learned that Lu Renjia had gone to Australia twice in the past month to look for her. Guilt and emotion filled her heart like quicksand.

Then she heard Xue Han say, "He's here too, with Ying Ran."

Her heart seized, and her first reaction was to flee. After calming down, she comforted herself, what was there to be afraid of? He didn't know she was there. Although Nian Yiheng had explicitly revealed that someone had been monitoring the Blue Gang's vicinity for over a month, and she suspected it was his people, she trusted Nian Yiheng's assurance that she wouldn't be discovered by him again.

In the concealed private room upstairs, she easily found the exceptionally charming Lu Renjia in the main hall. Seeing his haggard appearance, her heart ached, and she had an urge to rush into his arms. She had never dared to accept this feeling, but she had always known that he was always the best man to her. How could she repay such affection?

Continuing to scan the back rows, with a fleeting glance, she still found him. Still as noble as a prince, he stood out among men in similar-colored suits, and she recognized him at first sight. He seemed to have lost weight too, and his dark eyes were still as unfathomable as an underwater vortex, drawing her in from afar, making it difficult to move. Later, she noticed the beautiful Ms. Su beside him, sitting quietly and elegantly, as if merely accompanying her beloved.

She was immersed in an inexpressible mix of contradiction and bitterness, unaware that all her expressions were being observed by a certain fox beside her, whose phoenix eyes smiled like peach blossoms in March, dazzling in their beauty.

She didn't hear any of the bidding procedures, only subconsciously looked at Su Yingran when Xue Han's AMOSE and Gong Youqi's MJ, two major enterprises, were vying for a special honor at the end. She could guess the woman's inner thoughts; if Gong Youqi willingly withdrew, it could be considered a small compensation from him and Su Yingran to Xue Han.

And Gong Youqi indeed intended to do so, but the result was announced a step earlier. MJ won. The only condition that allowed them to surpass AMOSE was that two months prior, MJ's chairman's wife, in the company's name, had donated nearly two million in private jewelry to the World Children's Charity Auction, earning the company this honor.

Yu Xi listened to the result and suddenly let out a sarcastic laugh. She looked up at him; he was coldly responding to others' congratulations, then suddenly stood up, didn't even go to receive the certificate on stage, and turned to quietly leave the venue amidst others' stunned looks.

She was also stunned, unable to guess what mood he was in when he left.

Nian Yiheng, however, inexplicably applauded. She clearly heard him say: "This tiger is indeed very cunning. I can't wait to have a good match with him."

41. Later Realization, Reaffirmation upon Reunion

...How could there be longing? She was startled awake by her own analysis, a jolt breaking the spell on her legs, her mind buzzing like a television with a lost signal, and she turned and fled in a panic.

Lu Renjie didn't hesitate for a second and immediately chased after her.

Gong Youqi, however, hadn't moved his gaze, staring in the direction of the door, his fingers trembling slightly, clenching and then loosening. Finally, he withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to Su Yingran, who was also stunned by seeing Yu Xi, and softly said, "I'll take you back to the hotel."

Su Yingran looked up at him, those deep eyes showing no ripple. She said nothing in the end, just nodded and followed him.

But she knew that the man beside her would no longer be as still as stagnant water.

Only she knew that in the past month, Gong Youqi had changed like a different person; the gentle, relaxed smile he once had was gone from his face.

He seemed to have fallen into a terrible silence, both physically and mentally. He still had meals with her and took her home at fixed times, but it became more and more like a routine, with very little talking. He only responded with a faint smile to her cheerful chatter, without the deep affection and concentration she had imagined. She once prided herself on understanding him, believing their souls were connected since that encounter two years ago. But lately, she often doubted if she truly understood this man.

Once, when she went to see him, she pushed open the half-closed office door and saw him standing by the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, staring out the window in a daze, his eyes not even wavering. She and he stood there for a long time, and suddenly she felt that she had never truly understood his inner world. The man she knew was merely a pure, noble, devoted, and considerate prince; she never knew he could be so terrifyingly profound.

She had once thought he was a simple person who didn't hide his feelings, unlike Xue Han, who was so reserved that it exhausted her to guess. But now, she was increasingly confused; he seemed to have a mind full of thoughts but never confided in her, and she could no longer feel that simple, deep affection.

Had he changed, or had she misunderstood him from the beginning?

Did he truly have no feelings for that charming and mysterious Yu Xi? She had known for a long time that he did. That time in the coffee shop, she had maliciously tried to embarrass that woman, but she hadn't seen any reproach from Gong Youqi. The last time Xue Han and Yu Xi acted, she didn't believe Gong Youqi didn't understand, but she clearly saw his unwillingness when Yu Xi said she was canceling the contract and leaving.

Was it for her sake? Su Yingran only felt more uncomfortable. Perhaps she was a perfectionist; even a hint of affection from Gong Youqi towards another woman left her heart entangled for a long time. She could ignore him acting with a mistress, and even forgive his physical release as a man, but she could not tolerate his heart straying in the slightest.

Just that fleeting glance, she was sure she saw joy in his eyes. He had never forgotten that woman. And she, after giving up Xue Han for him, how was she to face his no longer exclusive heart? They both wanted to fulfill the wish of their initial love at first sight, could it truly be realized?

She looked at the man driving beside her and suddenly realized that an invisible wall had been built between them at some point, making her lose confidence that she could reach out and touch his deep devotion.

Lu Renjie caught up to Yu Xi and pulled her back: "Don't run, he didn't follow."

She gasped, staring at the ground, saying nothing.

He turned her body to face him: "Weren't you looking for him?"

Yu Xi then remembered that she was supposed to warn Gong Youqi not to provoke the Blue Gang again. Although she didn't know what tricks Nian Yiheng was playing, she recalled him saying he'd wait three more days, and wasn't tomorrow the third day?

She opened her mouth, then decided not to tell Lu Renjie she wanted to go back and find him. She just felt annoyed at her own lack of backbone; seeing him was like a mouse seeing a cat. She didn't owe him anything anymore, so why was she always feeling guilty?

"Tell me, even today, have you still not let him go?"

She was silent for a while, then replied evasively: "Don't worry, I won't go break up him and Su Yingran."

Lu Renjie was dissatisfied with this answer: "I'm asking about your heart, who do you really care about, and where exactly do you place me?!"

As soon as Yu Xi saw his emaciated appearance, she swallowed her harsh words, mulling over them before saying, "You are a very important person to me." Seeing him stunned, she lowered her head again, "So I really don't want to hurt you."

He grabbed her shoulders and asked seriously: "Do you like me?"

She didn't know how to answer. Saying she didn't like him would be a lie, but saying she liked him wasn't love. He was like a brother and friend to her, probably the person she trusted most in her life besides her family. If she could love, she might have fallen for him first. How could a woman refuse such a man?

His expression slowly showed pain, and he released her: "As expected, you won't even lie or say you like me."

"No..." She grabbed his arm, biting her lip hard without speaking, not wanting to see him hurt because of her. If she gave him no chance at all due to that concern, would it hurt him more?

"Don't abuse your lips." He frowned, gently rubbing her lower lip that was almost bitten through. He slowly put his arms around her, then tightened his embrace bit by bit, nuzzling her hair and saying: "Xiao Xi, I know you've suffered a lot. I just want you to give us a chance, I'll take good care of you."

She lightly closed her eyes, and after a long time, sighed and asked, "Senior, what is most important in your heart?" He answered without hesitation: "In my heart, family always comes first." He paused, then added: "Now, and you. You are as important as family, the most important in my life."

She smiled bitterly. She knew this would be his answer; how could she bear to put him in such a difficult position.

"Are you worried my parents won't accept your background? Don't worry, they are very open-minded, they don't have any concept of family status, and besides, I'm not from some prominent family either. Are you willing to come back to Shanghai with me to meet them? I believe they will definitely like you. Please give it a try, okay?"

Yu Xi felt intensely conflicted. Her guilt towards him made her unable to refuse, but facing his father might bring up everything from years ago, and she couldn't face Aunt Xin either. However, those were matters of the previous generation, and he had never done anything wrong. But, if he knew the whole truth, how would he face his father? Would it cause arguments or even more serious conflicts between them?

He lifted her head, with a hint of mischief in his eyes: "Xiao Xi, are you saying yes or no? If you still say no, I'm planning to kiss you all night long on the street."

Her cheeks flushed. She glanced at the main street, which had already entered its bustling and noisy nightlife, and saw his enchanting face slowly lowering, almost touching her lips. She quickly turned her head and replied, "Okay, I promise you."

Lu Renjie was stunned for a moment, unsure whether to be excited or a little disappointed that he almost stole a kiss. He looked at her deeply and smiled: "Xiao Xi, let me give you happiness."

She insisted that Lu Renjie take her back to the luxurious clubhouse, of course not saying it was Blue Gang territory, only that the person who helped her leave Shanghai was Yu Chen's friend and that she was staying there now. Lu Renjie had already booked his flight for tomorrow and originally wanted to stay and wait for her for a few days, but Yu Xi wasn't sure when Nian Yiheng would let her go. Besides, she had always wanted to go back to the island to pick up her brother, so she insisted that Lu Renjie didn't need to wait, saying she would return to Shanghai immediately after her brother's matter was settled and would contact him as soon as she was back.

Lu Renjie chose to believe her, stole a kiss on her forehead, and reluctantly left.

She went around to the small building in the backyard and saw Nian Yiheng coming out of the conference hall, smiling ambiguously as usual when he saw her: "That man is quite handsome."

Yu Xi lifted her head, presumably he had already seen Lu Renjie: "Of course, much handsomer than you."

"Could that handsome guy be your main squeeze?"

"What are you implying?"

"Just about to tell you. We're going back to the gang tomorrow. Get ready to watch the tiger-catching show tonight."

Her heart skipped a beat: "Are you going to send people after him?"

He shook his finger: "The prey will jump into the trap themselves."

Yu Xi couldn't help but argue for Gong Youqi: "He wouldn't be that stupid to fall for your trick."

Nian Yiheng smiled brilliantly: "Then we'll see if your bait is attractive enough."

Gong Youqi took Su Yingran back to her hotel room, telling her to rest early. He also booked her on the same flight as Lu Renjie and asked him to look after her at the bar that night.

As he was about to leave, he heard Su Yingran's soft voice: "Are you staying to find her?" This wasn't a question; she said it very certainly.

Gong Youqi stopped, turned back, and said gently: "Get some sleep.

"Then why didn't you chase her just now!" She couldn't hold it in anymore; she just wanted to ask him everything that was on his mind.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly turned around: "Yingran, you're tired. Don't overthink things; get some good rest. Good night." After he left the room, he seemed to hear Su Yingran throwing herself forcefully onto the bed.

He stood silently outside the door for a long time, making sure there were no loud noises inside, then quietly left. He felt he owed Yingran. He would be honest with her after returning to Shanghai; his heart couldn't go back.

His mind was filled with that panic-stricken, pretty face.

How could he describe his feelings upon seeing her again?

How much self-control did it take for him to stop himself from rushing out?

He had sent people to guard the Blue Gang for over a month and was almost despairing of this lead until she appeared in his sight so unexpectedly. He felt his almost abandoned heart suddenly regain consciousness for her.

After losing track of her at the airport, he had tried to convince himself that perhaps fate had made the decision for him, to just let her disappear. But then, he subconsciously checked the immigration lists and still couldn't determine how she left. When he learned she was urgently looking for her brother Yu Chen, he seized this clue and the next day used almost all of You Gang's resources to investigate Yu Chen's whereabouts, finding out that Yu Chen's disappearance seemed to be related to the leader of the Hong Kong Blue Gang.