BL Ch34

The last day of June.

A month had passed since the Yu Wencheng jumping case, and nearly two weeks had passed since the trip to the United States. Pingyi City had been quiet recently, with no major events occurring. The last time it made the headlines was three days ago, when the city government officially approved the Themis Brain-Computer Interface Project, and the mayor visited a tech company’s experimental base.

However, the focus wasn’t on the public’s sudden intense interest in high-tech products. Instead, the company’s president drew all the attention, overshadowing the mayor’s passionate speech with his striking appearance.

Yu Duqiu’s background wasn’t a secret. A simple online search revealed everything about him—his family background, business acumen, academic achievements—all pointed to a genius elite persona. Overnight, he became a hot topic, even overshadowing the news of a new film by two award-winning actors.

In this age of information overload and shallow thinking, a few simple messages could turn a stranger into anything. Just as quickly as they could elevate someone, they could also tear them down.

Previously, the incident at the Junyue Hotel was contained quickly by the police and hotel management, so not much information or photos leaked out. But this time, with Yu Duqiu’s public appearance and increased exposure, it was inevitable that some nosy netizens would dig into his past. By the second day of trending, someone had already uncovered that he was a main suspect in the case.

As a result, some anti-wealth individuals immediately spread rumors without evidence, claiming that the police were colluding with businesses to protect the culprit and had already found a scapegoat.

Online skepticism surged, while one of the individuals involved was lounging on the sofa on his own terrace, basking in the warm sun, casually flipping through a catalog of next month’s plants that his butler had just brought, and talking on the phone: “Captain Ji, don’t worry, I’ve already arranged for Feihua to handle it. You’ve seen his skills; there’s no way it will affect your reputation. If you think it’s not enough, I can arrange a bank robbery scenario tomorrow. You and your team can heroically fight off the robbers, and you can take a few hits to ensure a comeback, with banners of praise coming in nonstop, and you’ll be directly rated as an outstanding public security bureau in the country…”

A burst of angry shouting erupted on the other end of the line. Yu Duqiu took out his Bluetooth earphone and held it away, pointing to a pure white rose in the plant catalog, and asked, “Is this the variety that was planted last month under my bedroom, along the stone path?”

Hong Liangzhang glanced at it. “Yes, it’s called ‘Wedding Road,’ symbolizing happiness, honor, and hope.”

Yu Duqiu touched his lips, recalling something, and said, “The meaning is nice. Let’s plant this.”

Hong Liangzhang put away the catalog and responded, “Sure.”

After waiting for a while and sensing that Ji Lin had calmed down, Yu Duqiu put the earphone back on and asked, “Did you call specifically for this? Is there no progress on the case? If Peizhuo doesn’t admit it, you’re out of options? You might as well disband your task force.”

Ji Lin said something, and Yu Duqiu chuckled lightly, “I know you’re working hard, but I just don’t care… How is that not reasonable? I’m just being honest. It’s better than those who cower in front of you and attack you online later. Anyway, dear Captain Ji, I want to ask, when will you stop monitoring me? When can I go out with fewer bodyguards? A few days ago, when I met with the mayor, my entourage was even bigger than his. It’s really inappropriate.”

Halfway through the call, Yu Duqiu looked up and noticed that Hong Liangzhang was still standing there. He stopped joking with Ji Lin and quickly finished the important business. After hanging up, he asked, “Is something wrong? Sit down and tell me, no need to tire yourself out.”

Hong Liangzhang acknowledged and sat down without hesitation.

If the Yu family were ranked by the time spent accompanying Yu Duqiu, even his parents together might not surpass Hong Liangzhang. He was undoubtedly a member of the Yu family, so if he had something to say, Yu Duqiu would listen.

“Please don’t try to persuade me to change my mind,” Yu Duqiu immediately shut down that possibility. “I’ve already been scolded terribly by the two higher-ups after breaking off the engagement this time. Fortunately, my grandfather didn’t say anything, so it seems he’s finally given up on worrying about my marriage. You’re about the same age as him, so you should also enjoy some peace.”

Hong Liangzhang smiled wryly, “If the old master isn’t anxious, why should I be? Miss Du made a foolish mistake. You publicly claimed that you were the one who unilaterally broke off the engagement to protect her reputation and didn’t hold her accountable. That was already more than kind. Mr. Du promised to explain to Director Yu, but he didn’t clarify things, which made Director Yu think you were at fault, and you didn’t explain either.”

“If he had clarified, what would my parents and grandfather think? He didn’t dare to gamble with his family’s business. Willingness to break off the engagement was a strategic retreat. I didn’t expect him to be honest.”

Hong Liangzhang sighed, “He’s a crafty one. Director Yu doesn’t know the whole story, so it’s understandable for him to scold you. But since I know the background, how could I advise you to go back on your decision?”

Yu Duqiu felt reassured. “That’s good. Is there anything else?”

“Nothing major, just about our new gardener, Xiao Yu, the one we hired after returning to the country. He’s been too careless,” Hong Liangzhang frowned, deep lines forming, “I specifically reminded him not to plant poppies because you don’t like them. But two weeks ago, some decorative flowers he purchased included poppies. Not only that, but they were poorly planted, with the flower heads broken. It’s… very inauspicious.”

It was indeed a minor issue. Yu Duqiu didn’t mind and teased, “Uncle Hong, why are you getting more superstitious with age? Being around me for so long shouldn’t have that effect.”

“I don’t want to be, but with so many changes happening lately, I can’t help but worry that something else might happen. It’s hard not to be suspicious.”

“Planting poppies isn’t a big deal. There are many varieties of flowers in summer, and sometimes florists get them mixed up. It might not be his fault. But since it worries you, go ahead and fire him. Employees have always come and gone quickly in this house, so just notify him directly. There’s no need to get my approval for such small matters.”

Hong Liangzhang hesitated, “I do want to fire him, but Xiao Bai has gotten close to him recently. I’m worried Xiao Bai might be upset, so I wanted to get your opinion.”

Yu Duqiu’s attention had already shifted back to the plant catalog, but he looked back again, “When did he make new friends?”

“Xiao Bai has been wandering in the garden when he’s bored, and they’ve run into each other a few times. They’ve chatted, but they’re not that close. There’s no need to worry.”

Yu Duqiu was even more intrigued, “Worry about what?”

Hong Liangzhang smiled knowingly, saying, “Our young master never used to care about the private lives of his subordinates.”

“I just find it odd,” Yu Duqiu replied, “He’s not the type to make friends easily, nor does he seem particularly fond of flowers or plants…” He trailed off, realizing that he was indeed speculating about Bai Zhao’s private life.

This was not a good trend.

Knowing about someone’s life could lead to emotional connections and progress in relationships—something Yu Duqiu had always avoided unless it was unavoidable, like with long-term subordinates whose family situations and private preferences he was passively aware of.

It wasn’t his style to actively inquire about someone’s personal life.

Yet, someone had managed to subtly shake his principles, and it left him feeling a bit irritated.

He attributed this irritation to a loss of control—after all, the dog he adopted should only wag its tail for him.

After thinking it over, Yu Duqiu instructed, “Tell Bai Zhao to fire him.”

Hong Liangzhang did as he was told, and less than half an hour later, hurried footsteps were heard coming up the terrace stairs. A stern-faced man quickly approached without greeting, directly questioning, “What did Xiao Yu do? Why are you dismissing him?”

Yu Duqiu was lounging on a soft fabric sofa, his head resting on his arm, legs curled up. The bright orange silk shirt he wore looked like a layer of warm sunlight, draped over his graceful muscles, as if Leiden’s Scorching June had been inspired by him.

“Are you reluctant to let him go?” Yu Duqiu asked lazily with a smile, “Are you that close with him?”

Bai Zhao looked puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘reluctant’? I just want to know if he hurt you; otherwise, why would you suddenly fire him? He even wanted to argue with you, but I stopped him.”

Yu Duqiu was momentarily speechless.

Seeing his expression and recalling their previous conversation, Bai Zhao quickly caught on, “You think I have something going on with him?”

In Yu Duqiu’s otherwise stellar career, one of his most praised and criticized skills was his ability to read people’s minds.

However, this skill had recently been failing him, especially with one particular person.

If things continued as expected, that arrogant little wolf, Bai Zhao, would probably mock him again.

“I only chatted with him a few times,” Bai Zhao said earnestly, “I don’t even remember his full name. I’m not interested in anyone else, so you don’t need to worry about me cheating.”

…Another wrong guess.

Even when the Yu family’s stock dropped 50% during the financial crisis, it wasn’t as disastrous as this.

Yu Duqiu felt defeated and retorted, “I’m not worried. Even if you cheat, it’s no big deal. Just make sure you pick someone clean and pretty, and bring them back so we can all have some fun.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Bai Zhao snorted.

“You’re interesting in so many ways, but you’re really lacking in this area,” Yu Duqiu sighed, giving up on the conversation. He pointed to the plant catalog on the coffee table and said, “Forget about him. Pick a few more plant varieties. Hong said you often visit the garden, but I rarely go, so it’s a waste to choose anything.”

Without looking, Bai Zhao immediately replied, “Plant hibiscus, white ones.”

“You seem to like white flowers a lot. I chose the ‘Wedding Road’ roses, and they’re white too.”

“Like the boutonniere I gave you?”

“Just thought it looked good, don’t overthink it,” Yu Duqiu unknowingly probed further, “Why hibiscus? It’s a cheap flower. Planting it might make people question my taste.”

Bai Zhao raised an eyebrow. “I’m cheap too, but you still want to try me, don’t you?”

Yu Duqiu chuckled, “You’re far from cheap. If you were priced and put on the market, I’d be willing to spend a fortune—I’m talking about dollars.”

“…” Bai Zhao seemed at a loss for words and instead answered the previous question, “I saw white hibiscus in Duke’s garden the other day and thought it was beautiful.”

“Alright, since you like it, we’ll plant it. Consider it a reward for your loyalty these past few days,” Yu Duqiu sighed lightly, as if a tough decision had been made. He got up from the sofa, sat by its edge, and scooped a spoonful of chilled Spanish almond soup from the garden table, bringing it to his mouth.

“Does it taste bad?” Bai Zhao suddenly asked.

Yu Duqiu looked up. “It’s quite good. Why do you ask?”

“You’re drinking it slower than usual.”

“Is it that obvious?” Yu Duqiu put down the spoon and didn’t take another sip. “It’s not bad, just different. Chef Dong usually makes chilled fruit juice in the summer.”

“You could ask the new chef, Wei, to make it.”

“But then he’d know what I like. You can’t fall in the same place twice; from now on, the head chef will change every year,” Yu Duqiu said with a smile. “This past half-year has been tough. Mu Hao left, my second uncle left, Chef Dong left, Lingya left, and now I just fired a gardener. There are fewer and fewer familiar faces around. If this continues, I’ll have to steal someone from my parents. What do you think of Jia Jin? I like him a lot; he’s a sensible and capable guy…”

“Aren’t you the type who gets bored with the old and craves the new?” Bai Zhao interrupted him, his deep gaze enveloping Yu Duqiu from head to toe. “Are you actually scared when the familiar faces around you start to leave?”

Yu Duqiu’s smile didn’t waver. “I’m angry. Their departure shouldn’t have happened. When I find the ‘king’ behind all of this, I’m going to melt down my solid gold and silver chess pieces, pour it over his head, and make him a crown. That way, he can fulfill his wish.”

“He’ll die,” Bai Zhao said, expressionless.

Yu Duqiu chuckled darkly, “I know. It’s a shame I can’t kill him twice.”

“Then your new project might never get off the ground.”

“Mm, you’re right. I almost lost my life for this project, and now that it’s finally close to being realized, I can’t let my impulsiveness ruin everything.” Yu Duqiu sat up from the sofa, tucked his blade-shaped necklace into his collar, and buttoned up his shirt. “You reminded me—it’s been a while since I visited the company. I should go check in on my managers.”

“I thought your company was just a facade. You rarely mention it.”

“It is, for now. The project is still in the development stage, so the lab is the main focus. There’s not much going on at the company; it’s mostly idle hands. But it might be useful in the future.”

“Might be?” Bai Zhao noticed a slight change in Yu Duqiu’s tone. “You secured a billion-dollar investment, and the city government approved it. You should be confident of success. Why do you sound uncertain?”

Yu Duqiu paused in buttoning his shirt, then smiled. “You think you understand me? Stick to your duties and stop prying into business secrets. Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.”

Bai Zhao gave him a penetrating look, his gaze sharp as if it could cut through layers of pretense and pierce into the depths of one’s heart.

Yu Duqiu pushed aside the cold soup and took a sip of pure water to cleanse the unfamiliar taste from his mouth, avoiding Bai Zhao’s gaze. “Ji Lin just called. He said they haven’t found any evidence that Peizhuo set me up. The guy flatly denies ever scheming against Lingya, insisting he was just delivering a gift that day and nothing more.”

Bai Zhao, sensing the shift in conversation, played along. “If Peizhuo only verbally encouraged her, even if Du Lingya names him, there’s no concrete evidence. He could even counter with a defamation lawsuit.”

“Mm, and there’s no proof he was involved in the earlier incidents either, so the police had to release him. Looks like I’ll have to play bait again and hope there are some assassins lurking at the company. Then I could have you catch them for questioning,” Yu Duqiu said with anticipation. “By the way, you’ve never been to my company, have you? It’s in the tech park—I bought a building there. Go change into a suit, the new one, and come with me.”

“You want me to accompany you to the company?”

“Why not?”

“Nothing. You really should get Jia Jin over. I can’t be your secretary.”

Yu Duqiu wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “Who said I don’t have a secretary? Otherwise, how would I know what’s going on at the company after staying home for almost a month? You didn’t think Fei Hua was passing on all the information, did you? Eight out of ten things he says are useless. If it weren’t for the remaining few being somewhat constructive, I’d have sent him packing long ago.”

Bai Zhao was slightly surprised. “I’ve never seen your secretary.”

“That’s because my chief secretary and her assistant are both beautiful women. Lingya didn’t trust them, so I never had them come to the house to avoid trouble.”

“Why not hire a man?”

“Then my office wouldn’t be a place for work anymore,” Yu Duqiu said, giving him a meaningful look.

“…,” Bai Zhao understood immediately and didn’t pursue the matter further. He quietly picked up the half-finished soup on the table, downed it in two large gulps, and said, “I’ll make you some juice. Drink it before we leave.”

Yu Duqiu was momentarily taken aback and then, feeling a bit disgusted, frowned. “Why are you drinking my leftovers? Don’t you find it dirty?”

“So you admit you’re dirty? Flirting with everyone you meet.” The empty plate clattered heavily onto the table, almost shattering. “That’s what you said to me back then.”

Yu Duqiu chuckled. “I was drunk back then. Whatever sweet nothings or vows of love I said to you were just drunken words—obviously, they don’t count. Besides, I haven’t confirmed it with Pei Ming. Who knows if you made up a convincing story…”

“You can call him right now,” Bai Zhao said, standing with the empty soup bowl. “If it turns out to be true, I hope you’ll compensate me, young master.”

The term “young master,” spoken with a hint of dissatisfaction, completely stifled the harsher words Yu Duqiu had been about to say.

That’s why he didn’t like dealing with inexperienced young men.

Yu Duqiu sighed.

They’re too prone to falling for the first man who gives them a taste of something sweet.

“Even if your story is true, after spending this time with me, you should know that more than ten years of admiration won’t earn my love in return. Lingya is the best example. To me, you’re like hibiscus flowers—beautiful but not precious.” Yu Duqiu smoothed the wrinkles in his shirt, walked over to him, and gently adjusted his upturned collar. “I like you now because you’re young and charming. But flowers have short blooming periods; no matter how beautiful they are, they eventually wither. One day, I’ll let you go just as decisively as I let Xiao Yu go today—maybe next month, maybe next year. When that time comes, don’t cry.”

As Yu Duqiu was about to withdraw his hand, it was unexpectedly grasped.

“You might not understand hibiscus flowers. They have a unique trait,” Bai Zhao’s fingers, having just touched the cold soup bowl, brushed against Yu Duqiu’s, which were warmer than usual due to the summer heat. The contrast sent a shiver through him.

“They bloom in the morning and fall by evening, regardless of wind or rain. But the next day, they bloom again, thriving against all odds, never withering.”

“No matter how long the night, the sun will rise again, and they will bloom once more. It’s a natural law you can’t change,” Bai Zhao said, his eyes blazing with intensity. “In simple terms… you can’t get rid of me.”

The warmth of their hands equalized as the subtle friction between them increased, causing a thin layer of sweat to form.

Suddenly, Yu Duqiu felt a dryness in his throat, and he involuntarily swallowed before speaking. “Anyone can talk like that. I advise you not to be too arrogant. I’m thirsty—what about that juice?”

Bai Zhao’s gaze lingered on his face before he finally replied in a low voice, “Give me ten minutes.”

His hand dropped abruptly, as if something had fallen with it, leaving a sense of weightlessness that made Yu Duqiu feel light-headed.

Yu Duqiu rubbed his fingers, the lingering warmth and texture floating in his mind, stirring up fragments of old memories. He tried to grasp them but ended up with only the fleeting illusions reflected by those fragments, a chaotic world of distorted reality, where he couldn’t distinguish between real memories and imagined ones.

So he simply stopped trying to think about it.

Footsteps echoed once again on the stairs, and Hong Liangzhang’s voice arrived before he did: “Young Master, the HR department has already started the process of hiring a new gardener. If things go smoothly, they should be in place within the next couple of days. By the way, I just ran into Xiao Bai, who said he’s making you some juice. Is Master Wei’s cold soup not to your taste? Should I arrange for a new chef?”

“…No need. It wouldn’t matter who you change to; it won’t taste the same as before.” Yu Duqiu sat back down, his gaze falling on a botanical catalog. A warm breeze flipped a few pages, revealing a simple and elegant white hibiscus blossom to his pale eyes.

White hibiscus, blooming in the morning, withering by evening.

Bai Zhao.

“Hong Bo.”

“Yes, young master?”

“Conduct another detailed background check on Bai Zhao, the highest level possible.”

Yu Duqiu gently stroked the pure white petals.

“Find the director of the orphanage where he stayed, his teachers and classmates from school, and his colleagues from when he worked at the Pei family. Whatever you discover, no matter how small, record everything and give it to me.”