BL Ch29

The terrace was separated from the inner hall by a large glass door. Inside, the lights were bright, while outside, the night was deep and dark. The reflection on the glass obscured the exact details of the conflict, but the figures on the terrace were still visible.

It was obvious that someone was lying on the ground.

Ji Lin only remembered grabbing Yu Duqiu and quickly pulling him onto the terrace. Before he had the chance to speak, he was suddenly attacked from behind. The next second, everything spun, and by the time his nerves registered the pain, his face was already pressed against the ground. The attacker had been merciful, lifting him by the collar at the last moment, preventing a serious impact; otherwise, he would have been bleeding from the nose.

Gasps echoed from the inner hall. Ji Lin quickly pushed himself up, ignoring the dust on his clothes, and stepped back, raising his fists. “Bai Zhao! You do realize you just assaulted a police officer, right?”

“I know. But here, you have no jurisdiction, so you’re not technically a cop,” Bai Zhao pointed behind him. “He told me that.”

Yu Duqiu, covering his face, didn’t dare look at Ji Lin’s expression. He sighed deeply, “You really put your knowledge to use.”

The man standing in front of him, displeased, replied, “Better than not learning at all. Getting dragged out like that—was it fun?”

“Captain Ji was just messing with me.” Yu Duqiu’s gaze drifted over Bai Zhao’s shoulder, intending to tease Ji Lin to lighten the mood. He suddenly noticed how broad Bai Zhao’s shoulders were.

Though two years younger, standing in front of him, Bai Zhao could easily shield him entirely.

Jia Jin, after calming the guests inside, walked to the glass door and thoughtfully pulled down the curtains, plunging the terrace into dim light, creating a private space for conversation.

“Yu Duqiu, today you *must* promise me to stop acting on your own!” Ji Lin’s disheveled hair, after the rush, fall, and wind, had lost all semblance of order. He had never been one to dress up; his clothes usually looked like they were randomly thrown on. Tonight, for once, he wore a suit for work, but his youthful face didn’t quite match the mature and serious outfit. He looked more like a fresh graduate attending a job interview.

But Ji Lin’s fierce gaze made people overlook his appearance—that look was firm, fearless, almost intimidating, not to be underestimated. No wonder Peng Deyu had entrusted him with the role of squad captain, despite being under thirty, while most of his peers were at least over thirty.

Sometimes, courage and determination are more crucial than intelligence or strategy.

A young tiger might not be as fierce as an older one yet, but in a small district like Xinjing, it was more than enough to intimidate the local scoundrels.

Unfortunately, Ji Lin was now facing a cunning wolf and a wild lion, who didn’t even bother to take this young tiger seriously.

Yu Duqiu leisurely walked to the edge of the terrace, leaning against the railing. His tall frame was outlined by a soft layer of moonlight.

“Captain Ji, have you ever heard this saying: ‘What truly needs to be done should not be spoken even to the gods’? You have your way of handling cases, and I have my own principles. Can we give each other some freedom? I promise not to do anything illegal.”

Ji Lin frowned. “It’s easy to say that. Nine out of ten suspects I’ve interrogated claim to be innocent.”

Yu Duqiu smirked mischievously. “I’m not innocent. I’ve kept things from you and will continue to do so. But that’s irrelevant. What matters is that we share the same ultimate goal—to solve the three murder cases as quickly as possible. We just have different approaches.”

Ji Lin clenched his fists and took a step forward. “Yu Duqiu, to be honest, I personally don’t think you’re guilty. But I can’t rule out the possibility that you staged the shooting to clear your name. If you keep hiding your true intentions and deliberately deceiving the police, your credibility will take a serious hit. Do you want to be considered a prime suspect?”

Yu Duqiu, indifferent, replied, “Threats won’t work on me. My legal team knows the law better than you. And by the way, don’t step any closer—Bai’s about to pull out his gun. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Bai Zhao’s hand had already moved to his back—he hadn’t had his gun confiscated by the security at the entrance.

Ji Lin’s impression of Bai Zhao was that he was reasonable, someone who would at least stop Yu Duqiu’s improper behavior. But after the recent ambush, Ji Lin wasn’t so sure anymore.

This guy seemed unwilling to let anyone but himself reprimand Yu Duqiu.

“Bai Zhao, he’s lying to you too. Don’t you want an explanation?”

Bai Zhao’s gaze was icy, staring at him as if he were an enemy. “If he’s only lying to me, I’ll deal with him. If he’s lying to everyone, I’ll protect him.”

Even Yu Duqiu was taken aback by this. “Why?”

Bai Zhao glanced sideways. “Because it means you feel unsafe and don’t trust anyone.”

Yu Duqiu slowly cracked a smile, his teeth gleaming ominously in the backlight. “No, I just think you all would slow me down. Don’t assume you know me so well. You sound like a kid trying to get my attention.”

Something about this comment made Bai Zhao laugh softly. “You always deny it when someone hits a nerve.”

Ji Lin, having stood on the sidelines long enough, impatiently yelled, “Yu Duqiu! Stop wasting time and give me a straight answer!”

“I can’t, not right now,” Yu Duqiu flatly rejected. “I don’t want anyone disrupting my plans. Sorry, Captain Ji, you’re a trustworthy piece on the board, and I’ll need to rely on you often. When it’s your turn to act, you’ll know my intentions. I’m not asking you to trust me; just know that when it comes to Mu Hao, we’re allies. Everything I’m hiding is for the sake of finding the real culprit. Everyone has secrets they don’t want to share, and I’m sure you do too. If Mu Hao were still alive, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to see his two friends turn against each other.”

The fire in Ji Lin’s eyes hadn’t gone out, but after hearing the last sentence, it flickered and was gradually overtaken by reason.

Yu Duqiu knew exactly where his weak spot was and exploited it ruthlessly, waiting for him to calm down bit by bit, until Ji Lin had no choice but to compromise.

Ji Lin ran a hand through his messy hair, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. “…I can temporarily overlook your secrecy, but if you interfere with our investigation, you’ll face the consequences of obstructing justice. And there are two conditions you must follow.”

“I’m listening.”

“First, stop joking about Mu and me. It’s disrespectful to him.” Ji Lin forcefully patted the dust off his clothes and face, the sound startlingly loud, as if he were hitting himself. “Second, his body hasn’t been found yet. Don’t talk as if he’s already dead.”

Yu Duqiu sighed. “Captain Ji, you really…”

Ji Lin shot him a glare, silencing him. “Fine, no more jokes or pessimistic talk. We’ll do our best to find him, no matter what condition he’s in. We’ll bring him home.”

“Now that’s the spirit.”

The glass door opened and closed, leaving the terrace without the imposing police officer. Before leaving, Ji Lin glared at the two with hostility: “Du Lingya is lucky to be rid of you. Who could stand being around someone as paranoid as you? And Bai Zhao, I was wrong about you. I thought you were normal. You two should be locked together forever and stop tormenting others!”

The glass door slammed shut but bounced back halfway along the track, trembling timidly.

Bai Zhao calmly closed the door again and turned toward the person leaning against the railing.

Moonlight poured onto the lake, rippling with the evening breeze, sparkling like countless tiny diamonds scattered across the water, adding to the allure of the night.

Yu Duqiu, with a faint smile, looked at him, his smooth silver hair flowing in the breeze, more dazzling than the lake.

“For protecting your master, I’ll make an exception and get you another suit.”

“No need,” Bai Zhao replied as he pulled the gun from his waistband.

Yu Duqiu raised an eyebrow. “Planning to kill me?”

Bai Zhao took a step forward and cocked the gun with a click. “What do you think?”

“I know I neglected you today, but is it really worth holding a grudge?”

“I hold grudges for a day, months, even years,” Bai Zhao stopped just a step away from him. “You said this is my turf. So why can’t I stay by your side?”

Yu Duqiu toyed with the blade pendant hanging around his neck. “A kingdom can’t have two kings. The king on a chessboard is already surrounded by threats; it shouldn’t also be challenged by its own queen.”

“I’m not challenging you. I just want you to trust me, to take me seriously.”

“Why should I? Just because you say a few sweet words? Because of some vague ‘affection’? Do you think I’m an inexperienced kid?”

Bai Zhao gazed at him silently for a long time, then sighed softly. “I didn’t want to bring this up, but your memory is terrible.”

Yu Duqiu was confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you remember your farewell party before you went abroad at 18? It was held in a villa in the western suburbs of Pingyi City.”

Yu Duqiu hesitated. “Yes, what about it?”

“Do you remember getting drunk and kissing a boy at that party?”

“I don’t remember. I was probably too drunk…” Suddenly, Yu Duqiu’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me that boy was you.”

Bai Zhao took another step forward. “This is why you annoy me sometimes—you pet a stray dog and forget about it right after.”

Yu Duqiu stared at his face, searching for a clue. “I don’t believe it. No one ever told me about this. It’s too far-fetched. Besides, how would an outsider even get into my party? If you’re going to make up a story, at least make it believable.”

Bai Zhao remained calm. “I was adopted by Bai Zhiming when I was eight. During school breaks, he would bring me to his company since he didn’t have time to look after me. The company had a daycare for employees’ kids. That’s where I met the chairman’s son.”

Yu Duqiu looked at him incredulously. “Peizhuo? Or Peiming?”

“Peiming. I worked as his assistant one summer when I was 16. During that time, he helped organize your party, and I tagged along.”

“The story’s getting more detailed. So, how did I kiss you? Tell me everything. I’ll call Peiming later to verify. And didn’t you just tell me a few days ago that you’d never kissed anyone? You better make sure your lies add up, or I’ll have Boguo put a bullet in your head.”

Bai Zhao’s face softened under the moonlight, and as he lowered his head, his thick lashes made him seem almost innocent.

He’s not so tough after all, Yu Duqiu thought. Just a young wolf, two years younger than me, spinning some melodramatic story to get sympathy and win my favor.

How tough could he be?

That thought evaporated the moment he felt something cold and heavy placed in his palm.

“You can do it yourself if you think I’m lying,” Bai Zhao said, handing over the loaded gun and guiding Yu Duqiu’s hand to aim it at his chest.

A warm, solid body pressed forward, and the gun was now pointed at Bai Zhao’s heart.

Yu Duqiu looked down at the weapon in his hand and then at the man standing before him, leaving him speechless.

“That night, you were completely wasted. Peiming asked me to help carry you to your room,” Bai Zhao’s voice was low but clear, his face now inches away. “When I set you down, you grabbed me and wouldn’t let me leave. You kissed my face, my ears, my neck, but not my lips, so technically, I wasn’t lying about never being kissed.”

Yu Duqiu’s expression shifted subtly as he heard the words “don’t shoot, don’t kill him.” He stayed silent for a long while, trying to remember, but he had no recollection of such an encounter. Still, his attitude softened slightly. With a frown, he muttered, “A lot of people give me their numbers. The staff probably threw yours away. You’re too sentimental. A few kisses, and you’ve been obsessed with me all this time?”

“I was just a 16-year-old kid back then, living under the thumb of a volatile foster father. No one had ever shown me affection or kissed me like that before. It’s not surprising I got attached,” Bai Zhao’s hand slid to Yu Duqiu’s chin, lifting it slightly. “Du Lingya has been infatuated with you for years just by looking at you. You believe her feelings are genuine, so why can’t you believe mine?”

Yu Duqiu slapped his hand away. “Because your story has too many holes, like it was made up on the spot. I’ll believe you for now, but once I confirm it with Peiming, I’ll release you from this cold palace. But one thing is too fake—if you want to impress me, you don’t need to stage such an obvious ploy. It’s so boring. There aren’t even bullets in the magazine; do you think I’m stupid?”

Yu Duqiu raised his arm, the gun pointed skyward, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “This little trick—”

“Bang!”

A loud gunshot pierced through the quiet night, ripping apart the stillness.

Smoke wafted from the gun’s barrel, quickly dissipating with the evening breeze. The surroundings fell into a sudden, eerie silence, as if every living thing within a kilometer had perished.

Yu Duqiu’s pale eyes shook violently, his entire body freezing in place.

The man in front of him pressed down on his trembling wrist, lowering the gun back toward his own chest. He bowed his head slightly, letting out a soft chuckle. “Impressed now, young master?”

Yu Duqiu stood dazed, staring at the man’s face, which seemed to draw closer and closer.

“You have my absolute loyalty, but only if you take the time to feel it.”

Warmth brushed against the cool surface of Yu Duqiu’s lips, causing his pupils to contract sharply.

The man’s intense heartbeat pulsed through the gun pressed between them, vibrating so strongly that Yu Duqiu had to loosen his grip on the trigger to prevent an accidental shot.

It was like a feather gently sweeping across his lips. Then, unsatisfied, the man leaned in and sucked forcefully.

Yu Duqiu’s heart trembled, and just as he came to his senses, the man withdrew, casually reclaiming his gun and tucking it back into his waistband.

Suddenly, the terrace flooded with light, as if it were daytime. A crowd, alerted by the gunshot, pulled open the curtains inside and were about to slide the glass door open.

In the brief moment that followed, Yu Duqiu took in the man’s appearance—he seemed calm, yet his body was tense, as if on high alert. His fists were clenched tightly. The lips that had just kissed him were now pressed into a thin line, and when their eyes met, he quickly looked away, awkward and unsure.

…It really was his first kiss.

This is troublesome… Yu Duqiu touched his lips, still warm from the kiss.

He had provoked a mad dog with nothing to lose, and it seemed like the bone in its sights was him.

Lou Baoguo, muscling his way past Ji Lin and the others with his bulky frame, was the first to rush onto the terrace. “Young master! Are you alright?”

The two men on the terrace acted as if they hadn’t heard him.

All Lou Baoguo could see was the gun tucked behind Bai Zhao’s waist.

Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, Lou Baoguo wasn’t reckless either. He didn’t jump in without thinking, especially since he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight. Instead, he cautiously asked, “Uh, boss… was it you who fired the shot?”

“I was shooting at birds for fun with his gun,” Yu Duqiu replied, slipping his still-trembling hand into his pocket to suppress his wildly beating heart. He then walked nonchalantly toward the hall. “No need to panic. Let’s head inside… the mayor should be arriving soon.”

Zhao Feihua, who had been watching the spectacle from the doorway, muttered under his breath, “Could you be any more reckless? Better hope there aren’t any Chinese animal rights activists around, or they’ll charge you with animal abuse! Where’s your compassion? Protecting wildlife is everyone’s duty!”

Yu Duqiu shook his head in exasperation. “I can’t afford to love things that are this hard to deal with.”

“It’s just a bird, though?” Zhao Feihua was puzzled.

Yu Duqiu had already stepped through the sliding doors and addressed Jia Jin, who was maintaining order among the curious onlookers. “Call Chen Kuan and have another suit made for him.”

Lou Baoguo’s eyes went wide. “Whoa… whoa? How did you get out of the cold palace, boss?”

Bai Zhao’s gaze stayed glued to the retreating figure.

The lingering sensation of the kiss was already fading, as though it had never happened. Yet deep within, a burning, suppressed emotion stirred restlessly, surging the moment the warmth on his lips dissipated. It was like something lost had returned, now within reach.

“I gambled—and won.”

The evening breeze of Charlotte swept through the woods, lakes, skyscrapers, and humble houses, leaving the Queen City shrouded in darkness. It soared across the vast ocean to the bright shores of another continent, diving into a villa where it ruffled the papers on a desk, making a soft, rustling sound.

A broad, powerful hand reached out, pressing down on the restless pages. On one of the fingers gleamed a large ruby ring, which glinted in the light, each facet reflecting a distorted, miniature face of a man, mouths agape as if a hundred voices were speaking at once:

“Don’t worry. Everyone by his side now will one day leave him.”

“For a god without mercy will ultimately be abandoned by the world.”