BL Ch61

As dawn broke, the turmoil of the night finally subsided.

The breakfast shops around the city center hospital had just opened, and steaming buns were being brought out tray by tray. Most of the buyers were family members who had stayed overnight with patients.

Lu Qing counted the number of people in the ward, including herself, and finally bought ten buns and five cups of soy milk. She carried the bag across the street and jogged back to the hospital.

When she opened the door to the private ward, she saw two injured people inside, one with bandages on the left side of his face and the other on the right. She couldn’t help but laugh, “You two make a perfect pair!”

Yu Duqiu was slumped in a sofa chair, his feet propped up on a stool, covered with a thin blanket. For someone as particular as him, this was quite shabby. He rubbed his temples, having just woken up from a light sleep, and glanced at his watch, “Seven o’clock… Miss Lu, you’re too diligent. You’ve been taking our statements and relaying our investigation findings all night, only slept for four hours, and you’re still so energetic. If you ever want to get married, can I get in line?”

Although she knew he was joking, Lu Qing still felt a bit embarrassed, “Mr. Yu, you’re quite likable when you’re not being annoying.” Realizing she had said something redundant, she quickly added, “Oh, let’s not talk about this. Hurry up and eat breakfast while it’s hot.”

Yu Duqiu smiled, “I’m not hungry, let them eat. Baoguo can eat five buns by himself.”

Lu Qing was surprised, “That many? I think I bought too few.”

Lou Baoguo blushed, “No, no, I don’t eat much.” To prove his point, he took a meat bun from the bag, took a small bite, and said, “See, I only take small bites, how much can I eat?”

Lu Qing looked at the half-eaten bun in his hand and didn’t know how to respond.

Yu Duqiu got up, walked to the bedside, and asked the person in bed, “What do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.”

Bai Zhao moved his bandaged left arm, “It’s just an arm injury, I’m not disabled, I can get it myself. I’m not hungry, you guys eat first.”

“Alright, let Dr. Sun check you again later. If everything’s fine, you can go home. Eat more, you didn’t even have the strength to cut a rope last night. You deserve to be injured like this.” Yu Duqiu’s gaze swept over his exposed chest and casually pulled the blanket up.

Bai Zhao pulled it down, “It’s hot.”

“……”

Lu Qing brought over the soy milk, “At least have a cup of soy milk, it’s heavy to carry… Wow, Comrade Xiao Bai, you have a nice body.”

Yu Duqiu took the soy milk and subtly adjusted his position, sitting in the center of Lu Qing’s view, “Miss Lu, any news from Captain Xu?”

“Huh? Oh.” Lu Qing’s attention was drawn to the topic, “Captain Xu and his team are still sorting through the clues found in the rental house. They asked me to stay here and take care of you. We almost let Jiang Sheng’s true identity slip by, it was our oversight.”

Yu Duqiu shook his head, “I also had an oversight, the background check wasn’t thorough enough.”

“No, no, your background check was detailed enough.” Almost to the point of invading privacy, Lu Qing didn’t dare to say, “It saved us a lot of trouble. Once Jiang Sheng’s true identity is revealed, we’ll follow the clues to find the person who answered the phone and take them down in one go!”

Lou Baoguo, chewing his third bun, asked in confusion, “Did Jiang Sheng really study abroad? Why would he do such things? Why not find a proper job?”

Lu Qing sipped her soy milk, “It’s hard to say, high-IQ criminals have always existed. But Jiang Sheng and the person behind him aren’t that smart. They wanted to rob fifty billion, that’s just greed. If they had asked for less, they might have succeeded.”

“It’s not just about money,” Yu Duqiu said, “From the phone surveillance content you told me, Jiang Sheng wasn’t after money, but someone’s location. And the Queen has always been about killing, never about money. Why did she change her motive this time?”

Lu Qing was puzzled, “But they did kidnap you for ransom, isn’t that about money?”

“Money and killing are the results, kidnapping is the process,” Bai Zhao suddenly spoke, “What they value might be the process.”

Yu Duqiu turned around, leaned down, and his necklace slipped from his collar, swaying, “Tell me more.”

Bai Zhao’s gaze shifted, staring at the white collar, his breathing quickened, “We previously thought they only had cold weapons and couldn’t assassinate you from a distance in the country, so they used poisoning and sowing discord to weaken your defenses. But this time, Jiang Sheng had a gun. If the Queen just wanted to kill you, she could have had Jiang Sheng shoot you directly. Why go through the trouble of kidnapping so many hostages? If it’s not for money, then maybe… she just wanted to torture you.”

Lu Qing still didn’t understand, “But you were the one injured last night, Mr. Yu was unharmed, where’s the torture?”

Bai Zhao opened his mouth, hesitated, and looked at Yu Duqiu.

Yu Duqiu said indifferently, “It’s okay, I’ll explain. Miss Lu, you might not know, I was kidnapped as a child. It left a bit of a psychological scar.”

He tapped his head, “I can’t stand the sound of gunfire, let alone see someone shot. If someone had died in front of me last night, I might have had a relapse.”

Lu Qing vaguely remembered Ji Lin mentioning this, but didn’t realize it was so serious. She couldn’t help but feel sympathetic, “I see… They are so vicious! Using your weakness to torture you before killing you!”

“Not only that, they deliberately let me know,” Yu Duqiu shrugged helplessly, “In the Huang Hanxiang case, I felt that the other party seemed to understand my personality and could accurately predict my actions. At first, I thought they were just good at psychological analysis, but from last night, it seems they know my personal history very well. They know I’m afraid of kidnapping and gunfire, and they know I once bought virtual currency. These aren’t things you can find by casually searching online.”

Lu Qing was stunned for a long time before she finally understood.

The person behind Jiang Sheng wanted Yu Duqiu to realize he was being watched. The always composed and self-assured Yu Duqiu would be shaken, but powerless, watching his childhood nightmare replay, his mind on the brink of collapse, waiting for his death in helplessness and despair.

Last night’s kidnapping was more like a mockery and torture aimed at Yu Duqiu.

“They must really hate you…” Lu Qing shuddered at the thought.

Yu Duqiu smiled, “Hate or not, that Queen does have an artistic sense. She arranged a cross with white flowers on my bed. If Jiang Sheng had followed the original plan to lure me to the bedroom and then shoot me, my blood would have splattered on the flowers. That scene would be very artistic.”

“…………” Lu Qing found it hard to communicate with him normally. She took a deep breath, ignored his bizarre remarks, and forcibly brought the topic back to the case, “Jiang Sheng said on the phone, ‘Don’t tell me you acted on your own again?’ So this kidnapping and the previous sniper attack at the Charlotte parking lot were both the Queen’s ideas? Didn’t you say the King wouldn’t dare to kill you? Why would he allow the Queen to act against you?”

“Maybe he realized I was too much of a threat, or maybe he couldn’t control the sadistic Queen anymore, both are possible.” Yu Duqiu’s gaze remained on the person in bed, gradually becoming more intense, “If it’s the latter, the King is doomed. If he can’t control his pieces, he’ll be backstabbed. My Queen must never be like that, must obey me completely, understand?”

Bai Zhao didn’t answer, just looked back at him deeply.

The atmosphere became tense again. Zhou Yi felt a bit suffocated, cleared his throat, and whispered, “Why do they have to talk so close? The young master is almost on top of Xiao Bai.”

Lou Baoguo took another bun, eating it with relish, his cheeks puffed up, “Little… um… little couple’s business, let’s not interfere!”

Lu Qing felt like a transparent person, awkwardly watching the two on the bed silently staring at each other. No wonder Ji Lin had been particularly irritable these past few months. Anyone dealing with these two self-centered individuals would go crazy.

“Mr. Yu… regardless of the reason, since the other party didn’t succeed this time, there will definitely be a next time. You must be careful.”

Yu Duqiu withdrew his gaze and finally turned to look at her. “Hmm, thanks for the reminder, but I don’t have the energy to think about these things right now. My face hurts a lot; I haven’t suffered like this in years. Miss Lu, let your excellent captain investigate. I’ll rest for a couple of days and clear my head.”

Hearing the latter part, Lu Qing felt deflated. “Don’t mention him. My excellent captain looked like he lost his soul when he heard Officer Mu had died. He told us all to follow Captain Xu’s commands and went home himself. I understand his grief, but the case still needs to be investigated, or more people could be harmed.”

“You can’t understand his feelings, and neither can I, nor can anyone else. No one can feel what he feels.” Yu Duqiu said, “But you’re right, the case needs to be continued, and life goes on. Don’t let him fall into despair. Miss Lu, I’ll leave this to you.”

Lu Qing patted her chest. “Of course! He’s still my captain after all. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to the station and distribute the extra buns… huh? Where’s the other bag of buns?”

Zhou Yi pointed at Lou Baoguo’s stomach with his mouth. “Isn’t it right there?”

Lou Baoguo scratched his head embarrassedly. “I don’t know why, but Comrade Xiao Lu’s buns are especially delicious. I unknowingly ate five… hic!”

Lu Qing quickly took a bun and bit into it. “It’s okay, being able to eat is a blessing. I’ll go now, bye!”

“Bye! See you another day!” After she left, Lou Baoguo turned and sighed, “Look at her, she didn’t mind at all that I ate so much. What a great girl.”

Zhou Yi shook his head speechlessly. “Don’t mistake her politeness for a compliment!”

Half an hour later, Sun Xingchun arrived with a nurse for rounds, his attitude as brusque as ever. “If you can be discharged, hurry up and go. You’re all so pampered. Last time a small cut and you got sent by helicopter, this time a bit of blood and you occupy a bed for a night. You’re going to be the death of this old man sooner or later.”

Bai Zhao agreed. “I also said there’s no need. I can handle it myself.”

Hearing this, Sun Xingchun’s old mischievous temper flared up, and he immediately changed his tune rebelliously. “You can handle it? How? By checking Baidu? The patients who pretend to know are the scariest. This is a gunshot wound! Can you do sutures? Luckily it wasn’t a real bullet and didn’t pierce the bone, or you’d lose your arm. Still acting cool, for whom? If you’re that tough, you wouldn’t be lying here.”

“……”

Seeing him deflate, Yu Duqiu couldn’t help but clap in delight. “Director Sun, you really have a way with words. He even dares to talk back to me, but in front of you, he’s speechless.”

“Don’t get too cocky,” Sun Xingchun’s ire shifted targets. “You were no less troublesome as a child. When you were hospitalized, you cried and fussed every day. I could hear your wailing from the surgical ward. First, you’d say you were afraid of the dark and couldn’t sleep alone. Then you’d claim you couldn’t find other kids in your room. You were in a private room, where would other kids come from? Telling ghost stories? If it weren’t for your grandfather, I wouldn’t have coddled you. And then…”

“……You must be thirsty from all that talking, have some soy milk.” Yu Duqiu deftly handed him the soy milk Lu Qing had brought, wearing a forced smile. “Just childish nonsense. I was a bit neurotic back then, prone to nightmares and wild imagination. You know that. Why bring it up now? Anyway, let’s not delay you. We should be on our way.”

After scolding all around, Sun Xingchun still responsibly re-checked Bai Zhao’s wound. Once he confirmed there were no major issues, he waved them off.

So, the four of them informed the police, got approval, and returned the way they came.

The wreckage from last night’s car explosion and the charred remains hadn’t been cleared yet, leaving a patch of black scorched earth. From a distance, it looked like a black tombstone stood amidst the lush green hills.

“Transplant some flowers from the garden over there,” Yu Duqiu said as they passed the broken fence. “At least he was diligent in his work. It’s what he deserves.”

A fitting end, a deserved memorial.

“What a shame about that Koenigsegg, worth tens of millions, and a super rare model too,” Lou Baoguo lamented. “Why didn’t he stop? Driving on a dark mountain road, was he asking for death?”

Yu Duqiu propped his elbow on the car window, hand supporting his chin, looking outside. “It’s quite normal. Ji Lin was the same, knowing the odds were slim, but still pressing on regardless. Everyone’s a fool for the people or things they are devoted to. No one should mock another.”

The car drove through the gates of No.1 Mansion. Hong Liangzhang was already waiting at the main building’s entrance. Having been frightened last night, he looked unwell, his face still gray. Zhou Yi got out of the car and immediately helped him. “Uncle Hong, why did you come out? Go rest.”

“I was too negligent. I chose Jiang Sheng, how could I…” Hong Liangzhang’s eyes reddened as he spoke, “Young Master, I’m getting useless as I age.”

Yu Duqiu walked over, linked arms with him, and supported him inside. “You selected him, but you didn’t do the background check. What would this house do without you? If you hadn’t dropped that chess piece last night, I might have returned to my bedroom, and Bai Zhao to the annex. With Jiang Sheng and the other two teaming up, who would have heard my call for help?”

Hong Liangzhang felt a bit better hearing this. “It was just a coincidence. I was tidying up the study since Xiao Guo had left it messy from doing homework. I skipped dinner and went to clean up. Halfway through, a gun was pointed at the back of my head. In my panic, I grabbed a chess piece and, pretending to escape at the music hall door, I threw it outside while being pushed around. Thankfully, you noticed it. I thought it was too small to see.”

Lou Baoguo praised, “Uncle Hong, you’re brave and resourceful, daring to resist armed robbers and leave us clues.”

“Don’t mock me. I was scared out of my wits last night. Fortunately, everyone is safe. Those who took the fake essential oil have also woken up. The police said it was just a mild sedative and won’t cause aftereffects.”

At this moment, Hong Liangzhang remembered something and dug into his pocket. “Young Master, your watch.”

Yu Duqiu looked at the recovered Nautilus and gave a bitter smile. “Is this watch cursed? Mu Hao wore it and had an accident. I wore it and had an accident.”

Hearing this, Hong Liangzhang immediately withdrew his hand. “Oh, really? Then don’t wear it. I’ll find a master to exorcise it.”

“You’re getting more superstitious. I was joking. If it were really that cursed, it would be great,” Yu Duqiu picked up the watch and fastened it to his wrist. “Accidents mean clues, and the quicker the case is solved, the sooner I can enjoy my life.”

Chatting, they reached the second floor. The mess in the music hall had been cleaned, except for the large hole in the ceiling. Something shiny lay in the corner.

Yu Duqiu walked over and picked it up. It was the silver knight, but the head had been broken off by the fallen air conditioner and was nowhere to be found.

“Bring the chessboard from my study,” Yu Duqiu said with interest, looking at Bai Zhao. “My words from last night still stand. If you can beat me, I’ll play a tune for you.”

“I can’t beat you,” Bai Zhao replied bluntly. “But if you want my company, I’m always here.”

Zhou Yi and Lou Baoguo carried the heavy chessboard and remaining pieces over and dragged two sofa chairs in. Zhou Yi wanted to watch but was tactfully led away by the other two.

The music hall doors closed softly, and the hall felt lonely in its emptiness.

“Let’s start.” Yu Duqiu sat down and arranged the pieces. “Your move.”

Bai Zhao didn’t object. Using his uninjured right hand, his first move was the broken knight.

Dragging its battered body, filled with solitary courage.

The game began quickly and ended quickly. Yu Duqiu checkmated the opposing king, glancing at the clock. Only fifteen minutes had passed.

“You don’t seem as focused as last time.”

“Even focused, I can’t beat you.”

“Giving up?”

“Yes.” Bai Zhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “What you said yesterday… I’ve made my choice.”

The sunlight poured into the hall through the floor-to-ceiling windows, golden and brilliant. The fragrance of flowers from the garden wafted in with the breeze, mingling with the faint smell of charred remains.

Yu Duqiu slowly caressed the crown of the golden queen, as if stroking the golden fur of his pet dog. He lazily lifted his eyelids and looked at the man in front of him, who had his head bowed and eyes lowered, knowing he had already won.

“What did you choose?”

Bai Zhao took a deep breath and said, “I don’t want to leave you.”

The game was already won.

Yu Duqiu propped his chin on his hand and sneered, “Alright, then from now on, be obedient—”

“But I won’t completely obey you,” Bai Zhao interrupted. “That would make me no different from your other lovers. One day, you’ll get tired of me and abandon me. I don’t want that ending.”

The sharp crown pricked his finger, and Yu Duqiu winced inwardly.

So hard to tame.

“You’re so strange,” he couldn’t understand. “I sleep with others in front of you, mock and ridicule you, yet you’re still willing to protect me, having no bottom line or dignity left. What else is there to hold on to?”

Bai Zhao shook his head. “My bottom line is actually very high: once you’re with me, your eyes and heart should only have me. But I don’t have the right to set that bottom line now, so I don’t stop you. But I hope one day, it can be achieved.”

“Then you’ll be disappointed.” Yu Duqiu threw the chess piece, and the golden queen rolled off the board, hitting the floor with a painful thud. “Since you don’t plan to listen, go pack your things. I’ll have the driver take you away. Settle your wages for the past month with HR; it should be enough for you to enjoy for a while.”

Bai Zhao’s face was as calm as still water, showing no ripples, as if he had already anticipated this outcome. He sighed softly. “Actually, last night, I had many chances to subdue Jiang Sheng. I know how to untie the knot he used with the rope.”

Yu Duqiu stiffened, looking at him in disbelief.

“But I wanted to take a gamble.” Bai Zhao chuckled deeply. “When he shot my arm, the worried expression on your face… it made me very happy. I thought you cared about me.”

“…………”

“Later, when I restrained Jiang Sheng, why didn’t I shoot? Not just because I was afraid the gunshot would scare you, but also because… I hoped he’d hurt me more. That way, you might feel more sorry for me and wouldn’t want to send me away. After all, Old Zhou and the others had arrived, and you were already out of danger.”

“……” Yu Duqiu was speechless for a moment, his mind reeling. He could only think of two words: “Stupid and crazy.”

“I had no choice; it was my last chance to move you.” Bai Zhao lowered his eyelashes, staring blankly at the chessboard. “I still have many things unfinished, but if I lose you, completing them seems meaningless. I’m still alone in this world. No one needs me, no one loves me. What’s my reason to live? I don’t know.”

Yu Duqiu snorted, placing the chess pieces back in their positions. “Have you pitied yourself enough? Next, are you going to say, ‘You’re the only one who gives me warmth, you’re my reason to live’? I can’t bear such a heavy responsibility. It was just a kiss, nothing special. You chase after me all day like a debt collector, demanding a title.”

“I won’t say that, and I know a kiss means nothing to you.” Bai Zhao laughed to himself, then leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. The sunlight streaming in from the window turned his eyelashes golden, trembling slightly in the light. He asked casually, “Did you kiss Lu Jinyu yesterday?”

Yu Duqiu looked up, only seeing his tense jaw and twitching nose. “Yes, many times. What, are you jealous?”

“No.” Bai Zhao covered his eyes with his hand, blocking the glaring light. “I’ve kissed you many times too.”

“Last time at the company? That counts as a kiss?”

“No. I’ve kissed you with my eyes, countless times.”

Yu Duqiu paused in arranging the chess pieces.

“Sorry.” Bai Zhao sighed. “I won’t mention it again, and I won’t watch you anymore. I’ll leave now, as you wish.”

He waited for a response but got none. After a moment, he added, “If you’re really worried, once I’ve finished everything, I can take care of myself too.”

Still no answer.

He was puzzled when suddenly the light above brightened—his hand blocking the light was pulled away.

“You’re not afraid of dying, but you can’t just give in?”

Instinctively, he opened his eyes, but the sudden bright sunlight made his vision white. Before he could see clearly, his lips felt warm.

Yu Duqiu felt him stiffen instantly and mocked him inwardly. But his actions were gentle, his fingers brushing Bai Zhao’s lips, his hair lightly falling on his face. He pressed his warm, dry lips against Bai Zhao’s, gently rubbing them before pulling away. He patted Bai Zhao’s dazed face. “You keep saying you love me, but you won’t listen to me. How can I believe you?”

Bai Zhao’s eyes were wide open, his breathing erratic. He tried to appear calm, suppressing any expression, but his body betrayed him: his hands tightly gripped the armrests, clearly flustered.

At times like this, he seemed adorably simple.

Yu Duqiu pressed his shoulder, leaned down, and kissed his slightly parted lips again. Looking into his eyes, he whispered, “Don’t compare yourself to others… To me, others have no choice, only orders. I gave you a choice, and you still don’t get it.”

Bai Zhao swallowed hard, his throat dry, unable to speak. His ears quickly turned red.

Yu Duqiu had to admit, he enjoyed regaining control.

Especially with this person.

So he decided to enjoy it again.

“You…” Bai Zhao had just found his voice when his mouth was covered again.

Yu Duqiu’s lips were wetter than his, but even wetter was the thing prying his lips apart, teasing his stunned tongue before retreating.

Yu Duqiu propped himself above him, wrinkling his nose and sticking out his tongue in disgust. “Still gross.”

The silver hair made his head spin.

His limbs felt uncoordinated, forgetting what he was upset about. When he came to, he was already standing, one hand tightly around Yu Duqiu’s waist, pressing him against the grand piano, eager and clumsy to continue the earlier intimacy.

Yu Duqiu’s body leaned back, his hand pressing the far-right keys, producing a series of clear high notes. He seemed suddenly interested, turning his head and improvising a simple tune with those notes, enjoying himself.

Bai Zhao kissed the bandaged face, the long neck, even the cold necklace, but not the lips he longed for.

His other hand couldn’t move, and he feared letting go of his right hand would make Yu Duqiu run. He could only hoarsely plead, “Young Master… turn around.”

As Yu Duqiu turned his head, his hand reached to the back of the man’s head, pulling his hair to keep him from getting closer, with a wicked smile: “Want to kiss me?”

Bai Zhao nodded vigorously.

“Then will you listen to me from now on?” Yu Duqiu’s light eyes were filled with bright sunlight, clear like glass, holy as a deity, issuing an invitation to his followers, “Be obedient and you’ll get a reward… want it?”

Bai Zhao’s pupils dilated in a daze, his breathing quickened, completely entranced, ignoring everything else, and said “yes” twice in a row.

So this is how one is tamed.

Although the process differed from what he had imagined, the ultimate goal was achieved.

Yu Duqiu let go, smiling triumphantly: “Alright, for saving my life this time, I’ll give you a reward, just once, don’t make it too long… um.”

The design of the concert hall was done by a world-renowned architect, where even the slightest sound was amplified. Though the kiss wasn’t intense, the sound of their heartbeats and breaths filled their ears.

The tongue in his mouth was so hot it almost burned his palate, its presence too strong. Yu Duqiu, unaccustomed to this, pushed away the man in front of him who seemed to have lost all sense: “Enough…”

But Bai Zhao seemed not to hear, pressing forward, continuing deeper, but both their faces were injured, and they accidentally bumped into each other, drawing a sharp intake of breath, “Hiss—” nearly biting each other’s tongues, instinctively pulling back.

Bai Zhao continued kissing, trying to delve deeper, but Yu Duqiu had reached his limit, tilting his head back to dodge, finally keeping this clingy and aggressive man at bay. Yet, the warmth in his mouth was still there, proof of the intrusion.

Allowing things to this extent was unprecedented in his life.

He covered the man’s mouth, instantly feeling his palm get wet. Thinking it was his own doing, and that this man’s saliva was even on his lips and in his mouth, his cleanliness obsession flared, and he let go: “Enough, no more tongue next time.”

Bai Zhao didn’t argue about who started the tongue play but asked: “When’s the next time?”

“When you behave.”

This sounded more like training a dog than passion, making Bai Zhao slightly more lucid, asking: “Did you kiss Lu Jinyu like this yesterday when you slept with him?”

“Why bring him up again… He’s just one of many lovers, nothing special. I wouldn’t have remembered him if you hadn’t mentioned it. I was with him to investigate a case.” Yu Duqiu said helplessly, “I didn’t kiss him yesterday, nor did I sleep with him; we were only talking about the case. Weren’t you outside? Did you hear anything? Besides, how could it be just an hour?”

“Then why did you lie to me? And why kiss me?” Bai Zhao, now with his breath even, resumed his emotionless expression, unreadable.

Only his ears were still a bit red.

Yu Duqiu found it amusing, touching his ear, watching it get redder, feeling an inexplicable joy: “Because I suddenly thought that even a hateful person like you has his pitiable side, and even a bastard like me can be soft-hearted sometimes.”

“Hateful with a bastard, pitiable with softness, quite a match.”

“Ha, indeed.” As Yu Duqiu laughed, his smile faded, his hand caressed Bai Zhao’s cheek, “Bai Zhao, I can’t trust anything not under my control, do you understand?”

“I understand.” Bai Zhao moved closer, foreheads touching, their long eyelashes almost brushing, “But you don’t need to control me; I’ll never leave you.”

Yu Duqiu scoffed: “Forever, huh? I just tested you, and you nearly left. Who knows what will happen later?”

“I lied just now; even if I leave, I won’t stop watching over you.” Bai Zhao’s fingers slid into his hair, supporting the back of his head, “You’ll see how I am in the future. As for the past… do you forgive me?”

“Surveillance isn’t why I’m angry. I hate betrayal and deceit the most; you’ve committed one this time, barely forgivable, but there won’t be a next time.” Yu Duqiu raised his index finger, pressing it against the lips about to touch his, “The reward has been given, don’t push your luck, wait for next time.”

Bai Zhao pulled his hand away, gripping his chin, without room for negotiation, pressing closer: “I’ve protected you more than just this once… making up for the past.”

“You just promised to obey, now you’re not… um…”

Once again, subtle, clear sounds echoed in the concert hall.

On the table, the chess pieces were neatly arranged, the golden king and queen standing side by side, leaning on each other, quietly watching the two figures closely entwined in the golden sunlight.

Much later, when Yu Duqiu recalled this day, this moment, he realized that the foolish one wasn’t the man in front of him, but himself, repeatedly making exceptions, forgiving, and lowering his defenses.