BL Ch77

Pei’s Jewelry Co., Ltd. was originally located in the CBD area of Pingyi City, at its peak even daring to occupy an entire office building. However, as the family business declined, the office moved to a newly constructed large flat in the Changhe suburb. Although it still looked impressive, those in the know understood that the family’s wealth was not what it once was.

Yu Duqiu called ahead to make an appointment, coincidentally catching Pei Ming at the company, so they went straight from the police station. On the way, he also called Zhao Feihua along. Bai Zhao asked why, and Yu Duqiu gave a mysterious smile, “You’re too dull; I need a partner who’s quick with the tongue.”

The three of them arrived at the company gate almost simultaneously, but only Pei Ming’s secretary came out to greet them.

Zhao Feihua, with her sharp 800-degree nearsighted eyes, adjusted her glasses, cleared her throat, and immediately adopted a mocking tone, “Pei is really busy, huh? He’s in the company and still doesn’t have time to come greet us.”

The secretary gave a forced smile, “Pei is in a regular meeting. We apologize for the poor hospitality.”

Zhao Feihua nodded sympathetically, “Understandable, understandable. Business is hard; it takes a lot of work. I think this is good. If someone were like our boss, not having to do anything, with orders and investments just coming in, they’d become lazy and lose ambition. What’s the use of having money if it can’t buy the fulfillment that comes from being busy? Can’t do it, you guys are the happy ones.”

Secretary: “…” Judging by the twitching vein on his forehead, he probably wanted to strangle her.

Yu Duqiu whispered to Bai Zhao, “That’s why I need him.”

Bai Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly, “To mock people for you?”

“Exactly,” Yu Duqiu hummed, “When I’m too lazy to speak but can’t hold back, Feihua is my dear treasure.”

Bai Zhao gave him a sidelong glance, “Are you running a kindergarten? Calling everyone your treasure.”

“…” Yu Duqiu was momentarily speechless, “…Xiao Bai, with your sharp tongue, you should be my partner next time I meet with Musk.”

The secretary led them to the office door, using the excuse of making tea to quickly escape for some peace.

Pei Ming’s office was designed in a business style, with a leather executive chair, a rosewood desk, a relaxation sofa… everything exuding status. There was even a portrait of himself on the wall, in the style of the Renaissance, rich in color, holy and elegant, with a halo of light behind it.

Zhao Feihua was astounded, “He’s so narcissistic, painting himself like a saint.”

Yu Duqiu propped his chin, looked at it for a while, and shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Zhao asked.

“I’m thinking, the painting in that mail package probably wasn’t commissioned by Pei Ming. Judging from this one, his taste isn’t that bad.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of footsteps approached from outside, and someone pushed the door open. Spotting them, he warmly greeted, “Duqiu.”

Yu Duqiu nodded, “Mr. Pei.”

“Why be so formal in private? Sit down.” Pei Ming didn’t go to the executive chair but sat casually on the sofa in the resting area.

However, his attire was as meticulous as ever, even in the high temperature of thirty-seven or thirty-eight degrees, wearing a three-piece suit in deep navy blue, giving off an air of authority. If he had to give a speech at the United Nations the next second, even the most critical fashion magazine wouldn’t find fault.

In comparison, Yu Duqiu, who was dragged out of bed early by the police, looked much more unkempt. His silver hair, freshly dyed a few days ago, was disheveled, and his loose shirt gave him an air of a nonchalant young rich man, starkly contrasting with Pei Ming’s elite image.

The returning secretary brought in tea, and Pei Ming apologized, “I was just in a meeting, discussing how to increase revenue for the next quarter. I’m planning to launch a new line of affordable jewelry for the mass market. What do you think?”

Yu Duqiu modestly said, “I don’t understand the jewelry business, so I won’t offer an opinion. Looks like you’ll be very busy, Pei. Do you still have time to accompany me to Mogok? To be honest, I plan to set off soon.”

Pei Ming paused with his teacup in mid-air, surprised, “So soon? I thought you’d need at least a few months to prepare.”

“Time waits for no one. After the experiment, we’ll know what the product still lacks, then we can improve it further, conduct more experiments. This process might repeat dozens or even hundreds of times before the product can be put into practical use. Just like your jewelry, it needs a lot of polishing.”

Pei Ming praised, “You have a real spirit of exploration, no wonder you’ve achieved what you have.”

Zhao Feihua rolled her eyes internally.

The young master Yu having a spirit of exploration? That’s ridiculous. She couldn’t count how many projects he started with enthusiasm only to abandon shortly after.

But to be fair, for this brain-computer interface project, Yu Duqiu was genuinely diligent.

Pei Ming sipped his tea thoughtfully, then said, “Alright, I’ll clear my schedule. You just tell me a couple of days in advance when you’re leaving, and I can leave the company business to Peizhuo. Being away for ten days or half a month shouldn’t be a problem.”

Yu Duqiu smiled, “I feel reassured with that promise from you, Pei. By the way, Ji Lin will also join us to ensure our safety.”

Pei Ming: “I used to go there often; it’s not dangerous. Do we really need to trouble the police?”

Yu Duqiu was helpless, “No choice, I’m still under police surveillance.”

Pei Ming’s brows furrowed slightly, “Duqiu, do you remember what I told you last time at your company?”

Yu Duqiu answered obediently, “Of course I remember, I’ll be careful around him.”

“Hmm, keep your distance from him.” Pei Ming glanced at the man standing behind Yu Duqiu, “Your bodyguard is more reliable than the police; let him protect you.”

Yu Duqiu’s smile broadened, as if touched by something amusing, “Yes, thinking back on the trials I’ve faced these past few months, he’s the one who helped me out.”

Pei Ming suddenly added, “But the best way to protect yourself is to avoid trouble in the first place.”

Despite Pei Ming’s calm and sincere tone sounding like advice, knowing the complex interests behind it, this sentence seemed more like a subtle threat.

Yu Duqiu chuckled dismissively, “Hmm, I know my limits.”

After leaving Pei Ming’s company, Zhao Feihua was puzzled, “So, I was just here to be a prop?”

Yu Duqiu got into the car, sinking into the massage chair to alleviate the fatigue from a busy morning, “I didn’t expect this; his guilty demeanor at the last press conference clearly indicated he didn’t want to go with me. I thought he’d find an excuse to decline, so I brought you to pressure him into agreeing. Why did he agree so readily? He didn’t even object to having police accompany us.”

Zhao Feihua’s imagination ran wild, “Wow, could he be in cahoots with Bai Zhiming, setting up an ambush there, waiting for you to walk into a trap and then capture you all?”

“It’s highly possible, especially with how conveniently Bai Zhiming appeared. But in that case, it would be safer for him to stay in the country, where he could coordinate with Bai Zhiming remotely. Why risk going himself? That doesn’t match his cautious nature. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

Yu Duqiu’s eyes narrowed slowly, “Possibility one: we’ve all misunderstood him; he’s actually a good person, not involved with these cases. Possibility two: he’s a bad person and has something up his sleeve to handle our investigation.”

“I lean towards possibility two,” Zhao Feihua said, “Their family has been doing business in northern Myanmar for years, involved in drugs too; they might know some local armed forces. You should be careful.”

Yu Duqiu shook his head slightly, “From my investigation, since Pei Ming took over the family business, he rarely checks on the mining operations himself, focusing more on sales. He might not have inherited his father’s contacts. Moreover, the situation in northern Myanmar is chaotic and constantly changing; previous allies might not exist anymore. Maintaining those relationships requires a lot of effort and money. The Pei family has already faced one raid; Pei Ming doesn’t have that much money to offer. So, if he wants to harm me, he’d at most hire some thugs, and the number of bodyguards I’m bringing should be enough to handle that.”

Although Zhao Feihua wasn’t involved in the case investigation, the thought of catching Bai Zhiming and the murderer so her boss could return to business without causing trouble everywhere made her mood brighten instantly, “Since it’s not that dangerous, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

“Probably in the next few days, just waiting for the police notification.” Yu Duqiu rested his head on his hand, yawning, “Master Zhao, drive faster; this massage chair isn’t as comfortable as a bed.”

Master Zhao in the driver’s seat promptly agreed. But the drive from Changhe District back to Xinjin District would take at least forty to fifty minutes.

“You can sleep at my place,” Bai Zhao, who had been silent for half the journey, suddenly said. He didn’t seem to expect a positive response and fell silent again.

Yu Duqiu’s eyes lit up, “Your place? Bai Zhiming’s house?”

“Yeah, it’s in Changhe District, very close, just ten minutes away.”

Yu Duqiu didn’t hesitate, “Master Zhao, follow his directions. Stop at the next intersection, Feihua, sorry for making you come for nothing. See you.”

“…”

After being left on the side of the road, Zhao Feihua cursed at the car’s rear several times before angrily hailing a taxi home. The now empty car drove straight for ten minutes, turned into a residential area, and arrived at their destination.

Upon seeing the house, Yu Duqiu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, your place is more impressive than I imagined.”

Bai Zhiming, once an old employee of the Pei family, had raised several sons to work for him, so his financial status was certainly not lacking. He lived in a detached villa in Changhe District, which had been thoroughly searched by the police multiple times, all valuable clues removed, leaving it untouched for a long time, with a thin layer of dust on the furniture.

Bai Zhao unlocked the door with his fingerprint, and Yu Duqiu followed him inside, observing as he spoke, “At least materially, you’ve lived better than Jiang Sheng and Liu Shaojie; they could only rent, while you have a villa.”

Bai Zhao, leading the way, didn’t respond.

However, Yu Duqiu felt something was off as they walked further.

Why were they heading downstairs? Aren’t the bedrooms upstairs?

They stopped at a door in the basement. Compared to the opulence of the first floor, this corner could be described as cold and eerie.

Bai Zhao pushed open the creaking wooden door and turned on the light, “This is my room.”

— A windowless basement of less than five square meters, barely accommodating a narrow bed. Above the bed was a built-in wooden cabinet for clothes and miscellaneous items. The walls were unpainted, the gray-black cement absorbing some of the light, making it seem dim even with the light on. There was a musty, damp smell in the air, as if cockroaches or rats might scurry out from the corners at any moment.

Generally, people would feel shock and then sympathy upon seeing such a bedroom.

But after a moment of surprise, Yu Duqiu only asked, “You expect me to sleep in this dump?”

Bai Zhao didn’t mind his selfishness and replied, “The other rooms, including the living room, have been slept in by Bai Zhiming and different women. They’re too dirty.”

Yu Duqiu wanted to say his bed had also been shared with different men but thought better of it.

Otherwise, Bai Zhao might look even grimmer than the cement walls.

Bai Zhao gently lifted a winter blanket, throwing it to the ground, “The bed is clean.”

He then took out a jacket from the cabinet by the bed, “The clothes are clean too; you can use this to cover yourself while you sleep.”

Yu Duqiu vaguely saw some bottles, jars, and bandages inside the cabinet.

Standing at the doorway, he felt a mix of emotions, finally sighed, and condescended to walk in—two steps to reach the bed.

“For the sake of you risking your life for me, I’ll reluctantly sleep here for a bit.”

Bai Zhao gave a slight smile, “Thank you, Young Master.”

The bed was slightly softer than expected but far too small for Yu Duqiu’s tall frame, his calves hanging off the edge.

Moreover, the mustiness in the basement was overwhelming, with a hint of blood mixed in.

Yu Duqiu noticed large dark stains behind the wooden door, suspecting the smell came from there, asking, “What’s behind the door? Did someone die here?”

Bai Zhao replied nonchalantly, “No, it’s just the wood rotting.”

As he spoke, he moved closer, the fresh scent of soap from his body countering the unpleasant odor.

Yu Duqiu chuckled, “You pay quite a bit of attention to personal hygiene. From the first night I met you, there was this faint scent on you, very pleasant.”

Bai Zhao smiled back at him, “I used to be dirty and smelly, despised by others, so I pay more attention now.”

“Despised by classmates?”

“Not only them.” Bai Zhao adjusted his jacket on Yu Duqiu, “Are you hot?”

“I’m alright.”

In this season, the cool environment was actually an advantage, offering excellent cooling, making it quite comfortable.

Yu Duqiu turned to his side, curling up his long legs, intending to doze off with the faint fragrance, but saw Bai Zhao sitting on the ground, silently staring at him.

…All thoughts of sleep vanished.

Bai Zhao seemed to understand his thoughts, reaching out to stroke his hair like a mother soothing a child, “Don’t mind me; I just want to look at you a bit longer.”

“Sounds like we’re about to part ways for good.”

“Maybe we are.”

Yu Duqiu frowned, “Is Bai Zhiming that terrifying? At most, he’s just a middle-aged man, even with the ‘Queen,’ he wouldn’t be a match for you and Lao Zhou if you faced off.”

Bai Zhao gave a non-committal “hmm,” not saying more.

Yu Duqiu found his reaction strange, as if there was a deep sense of helplessness in his eyes, but they were too dark to see clearly.

Yu Duqiu was about to ask what was wrong when Bai Zhao said, “I lived in this basement for over a decade; every night, I thought of you.”

“Putting on an act again,” Yu Duqiu didn’t believe it, “You’ve only known me for nine years, where do you get over a decade from? And you’ve hardly lived here since you started working after becoming an adult; don’t think I don’t know.”

Bai Zhao gave a deep chuckle, lowering his head to fiddle with his fingers, “Anyway, it’s been many years. I never thought you’d come here with me, sleeping on my bed, like it’s a dream.”

The expert in countering pretension, Yu Duqiu, pinched his handsome face hard, satisfied to hear him gasp in pain, then asked, “Still feel like it’s a dream now?”

Bai Zhao suddenly grabbed the hand that was about to retreat.

His deep black eyes stared at him, then his face slowly moved closer.

Yu Duqiu lay on his side without moving, his head resting on the edge of the bed, watching him approach until, as expected, his lips were kissed.

Bai Zhao licked his lips and then tilted his head to press fully against him.

Yu Duqiu slowly came back to his senses, trying to pull his feet back, but they were held tight.

Bai Zhao’s breathing hadn’t calmed yet; he lifted Yu Duqiu’s feet, planting a warm kiss on the instep.

Then he let go, got up, and said, “I’ll get some tissues,” before leaving the basement.

Yu Duqiu’s feet were on the blanket spread on the floor, which was soft but the pilling cover was rough, causing an itchy sensation.

Just like the hands of its owner.

He propped himself up on the bed edge, not knowing if he was just too tired or what, but his back slumped down, his face buried in his hands.

The silent basement was so quiet it felt like no one was there. After a while, Yu Duqiu lifted his head, reaching down to touch the spot on his foot where he’d been kissed.

Bai Zhao returned quickly, cleaning up any inappropriate areas on both of them, then said, “I just brushed my teeth.”

Yu Duqiu didn’t understand his meaning until Bai Zhao moved his kneeling knees closer to him.

He was asking for another kiss.

“Why do you like kissing so much?” Yu Duqiu pushed him away in exasperation, “Could it be my kissing skills from back then were so good that you can’t forget them?”

“Something like that.” Bai Zhao, not getting his kiss, instead kissed his palm before sitting back down, one leg stretched out, the other bent, his elbow on his knee supporting his chin. His still-fiery, bottomless black eyes gazed at him, his voice a bit hoarse, “Are you going to sleep? If not, let’s go back.”

Yu Duqiu: “You brought me here just for this?”

Bai Zhao shook his head innocently, “In my plans, you’d be on the bottom.”

“Then you can only dream about it.” Yu Duqiu had no interest in discussing this topic, turning his gaze to take in the tiny “bedroom,” asking, “I don’t get it, how is living here any different from being homeless? Why didn’t you escape? The police could have helped you; the worst that would happen is you’d become an orphan again, and you’ve been one before.”

“…”

If anyone else had said this, they might have been black and blue by now, but since it was Yu Duqiu, Bai Zhao could only forgive him.

“There are many helpless reasons; I’ll tell you after we catch Bai Zhiming.”

Yu Duqiu: “Look me in the eyes.”

Bai Zhao met his gaze openly.

Yu Duqiu’s scrutinizing eyes roamed over his face, then he gave a couple of snorts, “Fine then.”

The driver, Master Zhao, was waiting outside the villa, expecting his boss to sleep for at least an hour before coming out, but they returned in less than an hour.

As soon as Yu Duqiu got into the car, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He checked it and told Bai Zhao, who was climbing in on the other side, “Ji Lin says they’ve decided who’s going to Yunnan and set the departure date for next Monday.”

Bai Zhao calmly responded with a “good.”

In the rearview mirror, the outline of the villa gradually shrank, eventually hidden by the dense foliage, out of sight.

“Xiao Bai.”

“Hmm?”

“Since you’ve left this ‘home,’ don’t go back.” Yu Duqiu closed his eyes, his fingers tapping a familiar melody on the armrest, murmuring in a dream-like voice, “No matter what path lies behind you, don’t look back. Follow me and move forward, understand?”

Bai Zhao was silent for a few seconds, “How far are you willing to take me?”

Yu Duqiu silently smiled, “As far as you don’t look back, it can be very far.”

“Farther than anyone else?”

“As far as your life.”

Bai Zhao looked at him, stunned, then smiled, “Good, I’ll try to live.”

“Go for it.” Yu Duqiu waved dismissively, “I’m tired, going to sleep, don’t talk.”

Bai Zhao indeed fell silent, but after a few minutes, he whispered to himself, “I won’t look back.”

However, at that moment, neither of them realized that the road isn’t just about moving forward or backward.

Even if they keep going hand in hand, they might encounter unavoidable forks. One wrong step could lead them further apart, or even in opposite directions, never to return to the same path.