BL Ch11

Zhao Feihua felt as if he had been hit over the head with a club. He stood there dumbfounded for three seconds before quickly running towards the stairs leading to the basement of the villa.

As he ran, he yelled, “This is illegal detention! Do you even understand the law, you legal illiterate?!”

Yu Duqiu, leading Zhou Yi and Lou Baoguo, followed leisurely behind. “Relax, it’s only been two days. I was once locked up for three days and I didn’t die.”

Zhao Feihua rushed down the stairs at lightning speed but hesitated when he reached the basement level. Yu Duqiu’s extravagant mansion, even its basement, was absurdly large. The first basement level alone had a gym, billiard room, home theater, mini bar, spa room, sauna, massage room… an outsider could easily get lost. It was Zhao Feihua’s first time here, and he felt like a headless chicken, not knowing where to start looking.

Honestly, being confined in such a luxurious basement was not a particularly harsh punishment—in fact, it could be considered a kind of enjoyment—but not being given food for two days was definitely excessive.

“You’re getting more and more out of control. Not giving him food? Are you trying to kill him? No matter how much he offended you, you can’t use private punishment!” Zhao Feihua was anxious. “Where is he? I need to calm him down and make sure he doesn’t sue you.”

Yu Duqiu stood on the spiral staircase and didn’t come down. “He’s not here.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say the basement?”

“This is the obvious basement,” Yu Duqiu said with a sinister smile. “I have a special basement. Want to take a look?”

Zhao Feihua’s arm hairs stood up instantly, and he instinctively felt that the “special basement” must be extraordinary. He was extremely reluctant, but thinking of the poor bodyguard whose fate was unknown, he forced himself to reply, “…Sure, let’s see it.”

Yu Duqiu led him upstairs, out the main door, across the lawn and garden, and even took the time to play with the dogs before leisurely heading to the auxiliary building behind the main villa.

Zhao Feihua remembered that the auxiliary building housed the rooms for the butler, drivers, and servants, and its basement was a small wine cellar. Did Yu Duqiu lock him in the wine cellar?

As he was pondering this, the group of four entered through a side door on the left wing and went down to the wine cellar, coincidentally running into Hong Liangzhang coming out.

“Uncle Hong, did he say anything?” Yu Duqiu asked.

Hong Liangzhang sighed, “He still hasn’t said a word and hasn’t asked for food.”

Yu Duqiu shrugged. “See, it’s not that I’m not giving him food; he just doesn’t want it.”

“If he doesn’t want it, you don’t give it? Isn’t that forcing him to admit he’s wrong?” Zhao Feihua adjusted his glasses frantically and looked around. “Where’s the way down? I don’t see any stairs.”

“Here.”

Yu Duqiu walked to a wine rack, pulled out a bottle, reached in and pressed something. There was a crisp click, and suddenly, a crack appeared in the center of the wine cellar, gradually widening.

Zhao Feihua was startled and quickly stepped back.

In the blink of an eye, the crack turned into a two-meter-wide black hole, too deep to see the bottom. The next second, stairs and handrails slowly rose from the dark abyss, leading to an even more hidden underground.

Zhao Feihua was stunned. “I have a feeling what’s down there will be quite shocking.”

Yu Duqiu put the wine bottle back. “A lot of people have said that… in my bed. And they were right.”

It took Zhao Feihua two seconds to realize what he was implying, and he angrily shouted, “Stop making lewd jokes!”

Yu Duqiu laughed and descended the stairs.

Zhao Feihua hurriedly followed, and the sensor lights along the corridor lit up in response, but the interior became increasingly dim.

When they reached the bottom, Zhao Feihua looked up and took in the layout of this hidden room.

“Shocking” was an understatement—it was terrifying.

“I didn’t expect you to have such… interests…” Zhao Feihua’s teeth chattered as he clamped his butt tightly, not daring to move.

Rows of wooden shelves held various strange items, most of which were specimens of plants and animals, displayed in frames or glass containers. There were also some things that Zhao Feihua couldn’t name, but their purposes were obvious from their shapes.

Yu Duqiu casually picked up a short riding crop from the dazzling array of items on the shelves and glanced back at him. “I just like collecting them. I don’t usually use them.”

“…Then why are you holding that?”

“Because he’s not usual.” Yu Duqiu smiled and lightly slapped his palm with the crop, leisurely walking inside.

The basement wasn’t large, about thirty square meters, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a dim, decadent light.

A single bar stood near the wall, with two handcuffs hanging from it, securing a young man who was resting with his eyes closed. Despite hearing people enter, he didn’t open his eyes.

Yu Duqiu lifted the young man’s chin with the leather tip of the crop. “How much do you like me, little brother?”

Zhou Yi and Lou Baoguo exchanged a look, too afraid to speak: You’ve had him hanging here for two days. It’s a miracle he doesn’t hate you. Liking you? Yeah, right.

Zhao Feihua, bolder and more outspoken, said, “My ancestor, where do you see that he likes you? If you lock up your dogs for two days without food, they’d want to bite you to death!”

Yu Duqiu said, “He’s staying here obediently without leaving. If that isn’t liking me, what is?”

Zhao Feihua couldn’t help but clap. “Wow, how did I miss such an obvious fact? He’s staying here not because his hands are cuffed but because his heart is chained by you!”

Lou Baoguo quickly pressed his lips together, struggling to hold back his laughter until it hurt.

Yu Duqiu tightened his grip. “You underestimate him. If he wanted to escape, he could have. The fact that he surrendered means he wants to earn my trust, right, little brother?”

Bai Zhao raised his chin and slowly opened his eyes. After two days of only drinking water and not eating, standing as punishment during the day and only being allowed to rest at night, his face was inevitably pale, but his eyes remained sharp and clear.

“Who are you calling ‘little brother’?”

His husky, deep voice was like a cup of murky wine, making Yu Duqiu feel slightly intoxicated. He stepped closer. “I’m two years older than you, why can’t I call you ‘little brother’? How about calling me ‘big brother’?”

A hand silently crept up behind him and accurately pinched the nape of his neck!

“Ugh…” The riding crop fell from Yu Duqiu’s hand as he gasped for air, his speech strained from the blocked airway. “Little Bai wolf… can you be gentler? You’re always so harsh…”

The sudden change caught Zhou Yi and Lou Baoguo off guard, making them tense up immediately. Zhou Yi instinctively reached for his gun but came up empty-handed. “Damn, forgot we’re back in the country.”

Lou Baoguo was bewildered. “How the hell did this guy break free? Is he a magician?”

Only Zhao Feihua, who had been staring at the handcuffs, trying to figure out how to persuade Bai Zhao not to sue, noticed the moment Bai Zhao broke free and exclaimed, “The handcuffs are toys! He just pressed a button on the side to open them!”

Lou Baoguo and Zhou Yi were stunned. “What???”

So he really stayed voluntarily!

Bai Zhao unfastened the other handcuff with a click, grabbed Yu Duqiu’s blade necklace, and pressed it against his neck, speaking in a hoarse voice, “You’re testing my sincerity again, I know, so I didn’t leave. But if you keep treating me like a dog, I will make you obey me in my own way, young master.”

Zhao Feihua widened his eyes in fear, thinking to himself, how bold is this guy, speaking like that without fear of death.

Yu Duqiu’s temper was notoriously unpredictable. He might not appreciate servile flattery, but if you spoke to him disrespectfully, you’d definitely suffer.

“You’ve used up another pardon… use them sparingly.” Surprisingly calm, Yu Duqiu didn’t resist even though he was being choked, instead raising his arm to encircle Bai Zhao’s waist. “You seem to have lost some weight. Refusing to eat, who are you trying to impress?”

Bai Zhao raised an eyebrow, the blade gently brushing Yu Duqiu’s throat. “Hands off, let’s talk business.”

Yu Duqiu released him, raising his hands in surrender. “Your face makes it hard to talk business…”

Bai Zhao also let go. “Have you had enough of this punishment game? Have I passed your test?”

Rubbing his neck and stretching it, Yu Duqiu said, “You’ve passed perfectly. Congratulations on officially joining. You can ask Uncle Hong about your salary and benefits.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Bai Zhao stepped on the fallen riding crop, snapping it. “Any news in the past two days?”

Not minding the disrespect, Yu Duqiu replied, “Ji Lin called and reported three cases to the municipal bureau. The bureau took them seriously and tasked Peng Deyu with organizing a task force from the municipal and Changhe divisions to tackle the cases. They’re in the preliminary investigation stage, with officers monitoring potential drug trafficking spots like bars, discos, hotels, rental houses, highways, and airports. They’re aiming to trace the source of the LSD found on Bai Zhiming and catch the culprits.”

Bai Zhao nodded. “That’s a good approach, but it’s very challenging.”

Yu Duqiu agreed. “Yes, after Bai Zhiming’s case, the Changhe police have been investigating the source of this batch for months with no results. It’s a very concealed substance, with a common dose being only 100 micrograms—less than a grain of salt, enough to induce suicidal thoughts. Without informants, it’s almost impossible to trace. Bai Zhiming was the only suspect, and he’s dead. We don’t know who he interacted with, so it’s like finding a needle in a haystack, tracing every place and person he encountered, which could take a long time.”

The others pondered, and Zhou Yi suggested, “Young master, Bai Zhiming is dead, but everyone who attended the welcome banquet is registered. Although it’s a lot of people, it’s not impossible to investigate. The police only took statements and did basic checks. I can have a detailed background check done on all guests and hotel staff that night, which might take a month or two, but it could yield results.”

Yu Duqiu shook his head. “No need. The police have already deduced from the LSD’s properties that my uncle was poisoned by something he ingested.”

Confused, the others asked, “What was it?”

Mentioning food, Yu Duqiu suddenly remembered something and turned to instruct, “Baoguo, have Chef Dong heat up lunch and bring it down. Our little Bai wolf hasn’t eaten in two days, poor thing.”

“…” Are you not aware why he hasn’t eaten??

Zhao Feihua’s mouth twitched. “Are you sure you want to eat here? Can he eat in this place?”

Yu Duqiu looked around. “What’s the problem?”

“Big problems!” Zhao Feihua didn’t dare look at the shelves filled with either terrifying or blush-inducing items. “Everything here is a problem! Can we talk somewhere decent? I feel violated staying here another second!”

His loud insistence echoed noisily in the basement, making it indeed unsuitable for discussion. Yu Duqiu led everyone upstairs to the dining room, where Uncle Hong directed the servants to serve lunch.

Bai Zhao glanced at the steamed fish, braised beef brisket, and stir-fried vegetables on the table. “Didn’t expect you to eat such simple food.”

Yu Duqiu laughed. “Can’t have gourmet food every day, I’d get tired of it. But if you want something fancy, we have it. Chef Dong can make anything: Iranian beluga caviar, Norwegian king crab, Japanese Kobe beef—you name it, we’ve got it.”

Bai Zhao shook his head. “No need, I like home-cooked meals.”

“Because you don’t have a home, right?” Yu Duqiu quickly interjected.

Bai Zhao’s expression immediately darkened.

Zhao Feihua, wary of the sharp-tongued and ruthless boss, quickly changed the subject to prevent another fight. “Young master, just tell us, what exactly did your uncle eat?”

Bai Zhao picked up a piece of beef and answered first. “It was likely something he brought himself.”

Zhao Feihua was stunned. “What? How do you know that? Weren’t you locked up the whole time?”

Yu Duqiu, sitting at the head of the table, calmly used his chopsticks to push aside the ginger on the fish belly. “The police must have first ruled out the food he might have touched that night once the forensic report came out. We didn’t hear them discuss it while we were in the meeting room, which means it wasn’t the hotel food. Knowing the properties of LSD, it’s not hard to deduce the remaining possibility. Even though little Bai wolf never went to college, he has a sharp mind. It’s a pity for him to work as a bodyguard.”

Ignoring the compliment, Bai Zhao asked, “So what was it? Did Ji Lin tell you?”

“Yes, it was just vitamin B for energy. The police confirmed with the family that my uncle had a habit of taking supplements daily and always carried a bottle with him. When his briefcase was checked that day, the bottle was missing. The poisoner likely replaced the original vitamins with ones soaked in LSD solution. My uncle, unaware, took them as usual, and the timing of ingestion matched the onset of symptoms.”

Hong Liangzhang suddenly understood, feeling deeply ashamed. “Yes! He did have that habit. I knew about it, but didn’t think to check his pill bottle…”

Lou Baoguo reassured him. “Don’t blame yourself, Uncle Hong. Even if you know the habits of everyone in the young master’s family, you couldn’t have predicted this.”

Hong Liangzhang shook his head and sighed, his drooping eyelids etched with tired and guilty lines. “I should have been more thorough. The young master warned me that something might happen that night… but I’ve become more forgetful with age. Maybe it’s time to retire early.”

Zhou Yi quickly interjected. “If you put it that way, we’re responsible too.”

Lou Baoguo agreed. “Right, Uncle Hong, you’re much more meticulous than us. We even went out drinking!”

Zhou Yi distanced himself. “He insisted on dragging me along.”

Lou Baoguo protested. “Hey, why are you throwing me under the bus…”

“Enough,” Yu Duqiu cut in, steering the conversation back. 

“My uncle’s incident is solely the poisoner’s fault, not yours, Uncle Hong. The Yu family can’t do without you.”

Not being a Yu family member, Zhao Feihua just wanted to get to the truth quickly to clear his troublesome boss’s name. “So, anyone aware of your uncle’s habit could have poisoned him without being present?”

Bai Zhao looked up. 

“The poisoner would likely be present to ensure the plan succeeded and to retrieve the bottle. Even if not personally, they would send an accomplice.”

Yu Duqiu nodded. 

“Ji Lin thinks so too, but your thorough logic hasn’t helped. The bottle was found in the trash in my suite’s living room, with only my uncle’s fingerprints, suggesting he threw it away himself after taking the last pill.”

Bai Zhao questioned, “He just happened to take the last pill?”

“Such small items are everywhere—his office, home, and bag. He wouldn’t remember how much was left in a specific bottle, especially after our argument. He was too upset to notice details,” Yu Duqiu shrugged. “This increases the difficulty of the case. As Zhao Feihua said, the poisoner might not have been there, could be a colleague, family member, or anyone in my room that night who knew his habit. The suspect pool is too large.”

Zhao Feihua stammered, “Then what do we do? If the culprit isn’t caught, you’ll always be a suspect. Who would invest in a project led by a suspect?”

Yu Duqiu played with the fish in his bowl without eating. “The police likely don’t think I’m the culprit, but they’re monitoring me as a precaution. With Ji Lin on the case, it’s only a matter of time before the real culprit is caught.”

Bai Zhao’s eyes sharpened. 

“You seem to trust Ji Lin a lot.”

“It’s not trust in him, but in his determination to find the real culprit,” Yu Duqiu smiled. “Are you jealous because I mentioned another man?”

“You’re overthinking it.”

Yu Duqiu dismissed it. “Good. I’m just playing with you, don’t develop real feelings. Lingya is trouble enough.”

Bai Zhao didn’t respond. He cut into a piece of half-cooked beef, blood seeping out, and ate it, chewing it into pulp before swallowing.