BL Ch42

7 days later.

Smack!

A thick stack of documents, over forty pages long, landed heavily on the small wrought-iron table. The table didn’t budge, but the two Dobermans resting beneath it were startled, leaping up and baring their sharp teeth at the fool who had disturbed their nap—

Yu Duqiu raised an eyebrow and glared back.

The dogs whimpered, full of grievance, before reluctantly lying down again.

“What’s wrong?” Hong Liangzhang, hunched over, stroked the sleek, glossy coats of the dogs. He glanced at the name on the cover of the document and asked, “Is there an issue with Xiao Bai’s background check?”

Yu Duqiu reclined on a bamboo chair by the pool, a large sun umbrella casting his entire figure in shadow, making his expression unreadable.

“It’s not exactly an issue,” Yu Duqiu massaged his brow with a curled finger, “but more like a problem. I’ve gotten myself into trouble, Uncle Hong, bigger trouble than with Lingya.”

Hong Liangzhang, having soothed the dogs to sleep, replied, “What kind of trouble could be worse than the mess my incompetent grandson got into? I’ve heard the reason he was transferred in the U.S., young master. You don’t need to hide it from me. He’s already disgraced me completely. It’s fortunate things didn’t get too out of hand this time. If it had cost you your life, how could I have ever faced the old master?”

Yu Duqiu chuckled, “If you hadn’t brought it up, I’d have forgotten about it. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to worry you. Yuanhang didn’t mean to harm me. I don’t blame him. Honestly, I’d rather have him as my bodyguard than the one I’ve got now.”

Hong Liangzhang looked surprised. “Is it really that bad?” He glanced at the stack of documents, hesitant to ask further.

“Take a look.” Yu Duqiu handed it over generously. “Don’t be too shocked.”

Hong Liangzhang took the file, pulled out his glasses case, and put on his reading glasses. He began to read through the document, word by word. The first few pages were basic information: “Nothing seems wrong… Xiao Bai was abandoned at the age of eight, parents unknown, then entered an orphanage and was later adopted by Bai Zhiming. He received a standard education and began working as a bodyguard for the Pei family after graduating from high school… Xiao Bai really has had a tough life.”

Hong Liangzhang continued flipping through the file. This page covered academic performance—no wonder they had spent seven days investigating. Even small details, like Bai Zhao’s midterm exam scores from his first year of high school, were meticulously recorded. Judging by the numbers and teacher comments, while not at the top, his academic and moral standing were quite good. However, when Hong Liangzhang reached the last few lines, his brow furrowed deeply: “He was frequently bullied in school? How is that possible? With his looks and good grades, Xiao Bai should have been quite popular.”

“They say he was often injured. Who knows whether it was his classmates or Bai Zhiming beating him. Either way, it wouldn’t be surprising. The weak spot is always the first to break, and bad luck always finds those already down. With his background, he was bound to endure some hardship.” Yu Duqiu tapped the document. “But that’s not the main point. Keep reading.”

Following his instructions, Hong Liangzhang turned the page. There were passport copies and travel records. He flipped through them a few times but didn’t notice anything amiss. “Wow, Xiao Bai has traveled a lot, especially to the U.S. Almost every month. But that’s not strange, considering the Pei family’s close ties with American jewelers.”

Yu Duqiu’s tone grew icy. “Don’t these travel destinations look familiar to you?”

Hong Liangzhang frowned, going back to the first travel log and reading it again from the beginning.

His expression shifted from thoughtful to incredulous.

“These… seem to be the same places you’ve been?”

Yu Duqiu shook his head. “Not only that. His travel dates match mine exactly.”

Hong Liangzhang stared at the documents, dumbfounded, as realization slowly dawned. “This… he…”

“For the past nine years, ever since he started working, he’s been following me. I’ve been watched for nine whole years, without even realizing it.”

The most terrifying moment of being watched in the dark is the moment the one being watched becomes aware of it.

In the pool, Zhou Yi was helping his daughter practice a 200-meter freestyle, while Lou Baoguo accelerated, diving into the pool with a splash so large it swept the petite Zhou Yangguo straight to the edge.

Zhou Yi yelled furiously, “What are you doing! Xiao Guo has her swimming exam next year! Go cool off somewhere else!”

Hong Liangzhang was snapped back to reality by the yelling. He quickly glanced at the pool but didn’t see the person from the report. “Where’s Xiao Bai? Have you confirmed this with him? It might not be what we think.”

“He let it slip himself, and afterward, he didn’t bother hiding it. He told me everything.” Yu Duqiu felt a headache coming on, possibly from catching a chill from the air conditioning the other night. Even under the blazing sun, he felt cold.

“That night at Junyue wasn’t the first time he mingled with the crowd to get close to me. He can’t even remember how many times he’s done it. He thought he’d go unnoticed again, but because of Bai Zhiming and my second uncle’s unexpected situation, I paid attention to him. He saw that I was interested and felt I was in danger, so he stayed by my side under the pretext of avenging his father—to protect me. That’s the explanation he gave me. I don’t know if it’s true.”

As if all this wasn’t chilling enough, the most absurd part was what the man had the audacity to ask after spilling everything: “Will you make me leave?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Duqiu snapped out of his long daze, finally realizing that for the first time in his life, he had been the mantis, stalked by the oriole he’d always considered a mere plaything for nine whole years.

No wonder this person knew him so well, no wonder he seemed so perfectly suited to him, no wonder he claimed this affection was unique, no wonder he said he’d grown used to watching him from afar.

Obsessiveness was one thing, but after stripping away the veneer of passion and admiration, how much genuine loyalty remained? Perhaps, from the very start, it was nothing more than a sick craving.

And not to mention, the entire time, everything had been hidden and disguised.

This mad dog didn’t just want to consume him—he wanted to control everything about him. The level of danger was unprecedented. If Yu Duqiu ever let down his guard or grew complacent, the outcome was all too clear.

What chilled him the most was how close this mad dog had come to succeeding.

Yu Duqiu’s downcast lashes cast shadows on his face. He suppressed the simmering fury growing within him and, after taking a deep breath, looked up, responding with the best poise he could muster: “I won’t send you away. I’ll keep my promise, but you’ve crossed my line. Once this case is over… you can leave.”

The usually aloof and untamed man suddenly seemed like a different person. After a moment of silence, he obediently muttered, “Okay,” lowered his head, and continued eating the half-cold meal before him.

When it was time to pay, Yu Duqiu stood up first but was stopped.

“I’ll take care of it.” Bai Zhao insisted on paying the bill—it was only forty or so yuan. He even had the audacity to say, “I invited you out on a date, so it’s my treat.”

Yu Duqiu didn’t bother hiding his disdain. “Next time you take someone on a date, don’t be so cheap.”

“I had my reasons. I wanted you to understand me better,” Bai Zhao replied naturally, reaching out to hold his hand, just as he had done earlier. “I messed it up though, sorry. Next time… will there be a next time?”

Yu Duqiu shoved his hands into his tailored suit pockets, turned around, and pushed open the door, walking out of this place that felt so beneath him without answering that obvious question.

“Should we report this to the police if it’s true?” Hong Liangzhang, encountering something like this for the first time, was unsure what to do. Yu Duqiu had a notorious reputation, with no shortage of people who desired him for his wealth or beauty. But the millions he spent annually on security weren’t for nothing—no one had ever succeeded in their schemes. Now, someone had managed to infiltrate multiple times and escape unscathed. This meant that if Bai Zhao had wanted to do something, he could have succeeded countless times already.

Yu Duqiu understood this too. He waved his hand wearily. “Let’s put it aside for now. He’s not the most pressing issue. On the bright side, it proves he doesn’t mean to harm me, and his skills are decent. I could use someone like him at the moment. We’ll deal with him after everything is resolved. But… there’s one thing I don’t get.”

Hong Liangzhang perked up, listening intently. “What is it?”

Yu Duqiu’s lips moved slightly, murmuring to himself, “It was just a kiss… could it really have such a lasting impact? Still obsessed to this day… could my kissing skills improve when I’m drunk?”

“…”

Hong Liangzhang, who hadn’t kissed anyone since his grandson turned ten—over ten years ago—couldn’t possibly provide an answer from the perspective of kissing techniques. After racking his brain, he finally said, “It’s possible that Xiao Bai, being an orphan who lacked love and was bullied throughout his upbringing, found it hard to forget someone willing to get close to him. It’s a feeling you might find hard to understand, young master.”

Yu Duqiu seemed thoughtful. “That explanation actually makes sense… I can understand it. After all, who hasn’t fallen into a pit before? I’ve been saved before too, but the person who saved me was someone I made up in my head.”

Hong Liangzhang gently patted his shoulder, comforting him. “That’s all in the past. Our young master is doing better and better now. There’s no need to dwell on old times. Memories are for us old folks on our way out. You young ones should look forward.”

Yu Duqiu smiled. “You’re not that old, no need to be so pessimistic. Yuanhang hasn’t even gotten married or had kids yet. He’ll improve with time. It’s normal to be reckless when you’re young. Don’t worry too much.”

Hong Liangzhang chuckled wryly and shook his head. “Let’s not talk about him anymore. The more I talk, the more upset I get. By the way, the new gardener, Xiao Jiang, works quickly. The new flowers for this month were transplanted this morning. Want to take a look? A typhoon’s supposed to hit tonight. Might as well check them out while the weather’s still good.”

“Sure.” Yu Duqiu sat up, stretched, and glanced at the noisy scene in the pool—a group of two adults and one child. None of them were within his hunting range, and the more he looked, the less interesting it became. “I should’ve realized earlier—those who remain loyal to me either owe me their life, have something to gain, or are just plain crazy. What was I even expecting… How stupid. Next time, no matter who sends an invitation to a banquet or a party, accept them all. I need to find some fun.”

Hong Liangzhang, feeling like he had another difficult grandchild to deal with, responded indulgently, “Alright.”

After midnight, the first summer storm, accompanied by a typhoon, hit Pingyi City. The entire city was shrouded in a curtain of rain, but it didn’t stop the neon lights from flickering wildly in the deep night.

After being closed for some time for renovations, Yi Qing Bar had reopened, more popular than ever, with the noise and constant music louder than before. A drunk, stumbling around, went looking for the bathroom, accidentally walking out the back door. Drenched by the rain, he didn’t care. He clung to a garbage bin in the alley and vomited violently, indifferent to what had once happened there.

After all, the bloody murder everyone whispered about had happened more than half a year ago. What kind of idiot would return to the scene of the crime?

That’s what Huang Hanxiang thought, too.

He stood a little further inside than the garbage bin, out of the range of the surveillance cameras at the alley entrance, but he could still hear the sound of vomiting in the alley and the noise from the bar. This meant that if something happened and he screamed for help, someone would likely notice.

If it weren’t for the other person’s request, he wouldn’t have ventured to this dark, rainy place at 1 a.m. But that person’s prediction was accurate: the police had secretly installed surveillance cameras around his rented apartment, and both his phone and email were no longer private. If he wanted to get the remaining payment, he had to abandon his phone, avoid the surveillance, and meet at the designated time and place, moving quickly. Otherwise, the police might catch on.

Several days had passed since that chaotic event, and everything had gone as predicted. He had been placed in the company ahead of time, waiting for the right moment. When he was notified that Yu Duqiu would be visiting, he immediately mixed the substance the other person had given him into his own water and drank it. When Yu Duqiu arrived, he made sure to draw attention to himself. The other person had warned him that Yu Duqiu was sharp and suspicious, so he could just act naturally—Yu Duqiu would definitely sense something was off. Sure enough, Yu Duqiu detained him, but unfortunately, he had miscalculated and failed to realize his true objective before things escalated.

What followed was a day spent at the police station. He answered every question fluently, just as the other person had taught him, without leaving any loopholes. Once the detention period ended, the clean-cut young police officer could only watch, gnashing his teeth, as he swaggered out.

A hundred thousand yuan—an entire year’s salary, earned with ease.

According to the agreement, tonight was the day the payment would be delivered.

Huang Hanxiang thought to himself, given how cautious the other person was, they definitely wouldn’t transfer the money via phone. There was a good chance they’d show up with cash, probably in one of those briefcases like in the movies. The thought of opening it and seeing a pile of red banknotes made him giddy with excitement.

The alley was deep, the rain and cold dampness heavy. He wore only a short-sleeved shirt and felt a chill. He rubbed his arms, pacing back and forth under his umbrella.

By 1:30 a.m., the person who had been vomiting was gone, but the other person still hadn’t appeared. Huang Hanxiang began to feel anxious, wondering if he’d been played.

But then he reassured himself. That was unlikely. After all, he’d already received part of the deposit. And if the other person backed out, weren’t they afraid he’d report them to Yu Duqiu or the police?

Click… click…

Amidst the sound of the rain in the alley, footsteps suddenly echoed. They struck the cold asphalt road with a heavy, dragging pace, weighed down by the dampness.

Huang Hanxiang shivered, his heart racing. He craned his neck to peer towards the alley entrance.

Under the dim light of the streetlamp, the figure approaching was outlined in faint shadows. Even from a distance, Huang Hanxiang could tell the person had a well-built physique—the kind that could only be developed through years of rigorous training.

Disappointed, Huang Hanxiang let out a breath of relief.

The height was wrong. This wasn’t the person he was waiting for—probably just a bar patron stepping out for a smoke.

But the figure seemed to notice him. The person paused, then, for reasons unknown, quickened their pace and headed directly toward him!

Instinctively, Huang Hanxiang stepped back, but he was already at the deepest part of the alley, with only a high cement wall behind him—impossible to climb without help.

In the few seconds of hesitation, the person closed in, just two or three meters away. Even though they were holding a long black umbrella, they unnecessarily wore a black baseball cap, casting deep shadows over their face. A wide black mask concealed nearly all their facial features.

The closer Huang Hanxiang looked, the more familiar this figure seemed. He had seen this man’s build somewhere before. Just then, a muffled thunderclap broke through the dark clouds overhead, lighting up the entire alley. At that moment, the figure tipped up their cap.

A pair of cold, fierce eyes glared back at him, barely masking a murderous intent.

“Huang Hanxiang?”

At the sound of the voice, Huang Hanxiang’s suspicions instantly solidified. His legs nearly gave out beneath him, and he stammered, “W-why are you here… Ji—”

Before he could finish, the man lunged forward, clamping a hand over his mouth! In one swift move, the man pinned his arms behind his back, his voice cold and deadly in his ear: “You should be asking yourself that.”