BSS CH 17

Chasing

“Liang Yulin, do you really like me?” Cheng Jing asked calmly.

“Isn’t it because you’ve long been jealous of your brother and wanted to take everything from him to satisfy your twisted desire to conquer? You’ve always been like that, as your brother Liang Jingmin said. Liang Yulin, I’m already numb, but you still can’t hide it from me. Don’t blame me for saying this—you’re no match for your brother.”

Cheng Jing was just like that. When it came to people or matters he didn’t care about, he was harsh and sharp, but with those he cared for, he was clumsy and reckless.

Liang Yulin’s face showed a mixture of anger and humiliation, which quickly twisted into a venomous expression.

He finally revealed his true, harsh nature, his face contorted as he said, “So what if I’m not as good as him? Right now, he’s still in my grasp. You’re just a useless reject. If you want him to go to jail, you’re welcome to act tough again.”

He grabbed Cheng Jing’s sleeve, but no matter how much Cheng Jing struggled, he couldn’t break free from the grip on his wrist.

Cheng Jing shook his head. He was sitting, but his gaze toward Liang Yulin was one of superiority, as if he were looking down. His pale eyes reflected no emotion. “Liang Jingmin cares for you, pampers you. I don’t.”

As soon as the words fell, someone knocked on the door. “Excuse me, is someone in there?”

Both of them froze. Cheng Jing stood to open the door, but Liang Yulin quickly grabbed his shoulder and whispered, “This isn’t the place to talk. We need to leave.”

Cheng Jing stared at him in disbelief. “Why should I go with you?”

“Did you hear the music? In a bit, they’ll be toasting one table after another, and soon they’ll be coming this way. You caused such a big mess. Do you really think Liang Jingmin will let you stay here?”

Cheng Jing didn’t dare to think about it, but Liang Yulin continued, “Locked up? Put away? Or worse…”

“Enough!” Cheng Jing interrupted sharply.

After a long silence, he replied, “Even spreading rumors is illegal. I won’t do those things with you. Besides, he’s already married. Why would I go with him?”

Liang Yulin smirked, lowering his voice. “You just saw Su Xiao. You’ve figured out that their marriage is just a business deal, haven’t you? You wanted to hear me say it, didn’t you?”

Cheng Jing had guessed as much. His attempt to extract information was too obvious, and Liang Yulin had seen through it, leaving him feeling awkward.

But if that’s the case, why hadn’t Liang Jingmin explained it from the beginning?

While Cheng Jing was lost in thought, the knocking on the door grew louder. Liang Yulin spoke again, his tone firm. “Are you coming or not?”

He didn’t seem swayed by Cheng Jing’s earlier rejection.

Cheng Jing looked toward the door handle and repeated, “I won’t go with you.”

“Then I’ll take you to a hotel. That should be fine, right? We can talk more on the way.”

Cheng Jing didn’t fully trust Liang Yulin, but he was more concerned about how to escape the wedding unnoticed.

If he were just an ordinary guest, a mishap like earlier would probably result in him being asked to leave, but certainly not questioned. However, the staff surrounding him seemed well-prepared, staying close as if they had prior knowledge, though they remained unaware of the full situation.

The warning from Lin Shuheng echoed in Cheng Jing’s mind again—perhaps this was indeed Liang Jingmin’s trap.

While Cheng Jing remained silent, Liang Yulin studied his face.

Cheng Jing was truly beautiful—perfectly proportioned features, a head like a stunning flower blooming in the night, exuding the dampness of dawn yet to break.

He was a work of art, crafted with unique features. Even in a worn-out, cheap suit, his appearance remained striking—no wonder Liang Jingmin went to such lengths to hold onto him.

Now with his black-dyed hair, the unnatural shade clashed with his pale skin, giving his cheeks a ghostly, almost sinister beauty. His rose-pink lips resembled snake fangs, dangerous yet alluring, drawing even more attention to his captivating features.

But Liang Yulin had no special intentions toward him. Just as Cheng Jing saw through Liang Yulin’s ulterior motives, Liang Yulin also saw through Cheng Jing’s thoughts.

In his eyes, Cheng Jing only shone because of Liang Jingmin’s affection. He had long been captivated by Liang Jingmin, detecting the lingering gaze since their first encounter by the campus gates years ago. To Liang Yulin, Cheng Jing represented a distant, fading beauty from the past—one marked by regret and resentment that had built up over the years into an obsession.

Liang Yulin’s words, spoken with calculated bitterness, added fuel to his anger: “Come on. This is your last chance. My car is right outside. I doubt this wedding really needs any more of us here.”

He spoke as though he’d heard some ancient legend: in a brief life, people make countless mistakes. Even the most intelligent of individuals often fail to foresee the long-term consequences of their decisions. The key moments that shape lives often go unnoticed.

Until now, Cheng Jing had been deeply familiar with the risk/reward framework of his life, but tonight felt different. Whether it was a fleeting thought or the pressure that clouded his judgment, the reasons became irrelevant.

At this moment, Cheng Jing made a mistake and hadn’t realized it until it was too late.

Instead of resisting, he responded with resignation: “Alright, then take me to Longtai Po Metro Station.”

Dealing with a higher-ranking staff member outside didn’t take much effort; someone had obviously been instructed to find and detain a guest with albinism, but Cheng Jing’s inconspicuous hair color made him hard to identify.

Liang Yulin dismissed the man coldly and, with surprising ease, slung an arm around Cheng Jing, leading him out.

The banquet hall was only a few steps away, and as they stepped through the open doors, the dazzling lights and the sound of lively music greeted them.

With countless guests busy mingling and drinking, no one paid attention to a quiet departure from the event. Cheng Jing clenched his fists, feeling the sharp sting from the cut on his palm, but it helped ground him. He followed Liang Yulin wordlessly as they left the venue.

As the car pulled out of the gates, Cheng Jing strained to glance back, but Liang Yulin stopped him with a sharp command.

“Do you want to know the truth?” Liang Yulin’s voice was sharp. “You must be confused. If this was just a temporary arrangement, why didn’t Liang Jingmin ever tell you?”

Cheng Jing averted his gaze, curiosity tugging at him, but he stayed silent, listening to Liang Yulin.

Liang Yulin sneered. “The answer is simple. My arrogant brother always thought he had everything under control. He miscalculated, convinced that keeping you isolated at Acalis Lake would silence any rumors. He didn’t want you to know, afraid you’d interfere, but I’ve never seen him afraid of anything before.”

The distant thunder rolling through the night seemed to reflect the brewing storm of emotions. Cheng Jing found it increasingly absurd.

Was Liang Yulin trying to tell him that Liang Jingmin still cared? Even after trampling on his heart, forcing him into betrayal and disrespect, he still “loved” him?

Cheng Jing didn’t believe it—not for a second.

And yet, he couldn’t deny that a part of him had been swayed in that fleeting moment, clinging to the desperate hope that there might still be some truth in those words.

The rain began falling heavily, the droplets hammering the car windows, leaving deep impressions on the road.

Cheng Jing murmured, “It’s raining.”

But before the words had fully left his mouth, Liang Yulin suddenly slammed on the gas, sending a violent surge as Cheng Jing’s head hit the backrest. The car sped up rapidly, and the rain poured down harder.

The once small gap in the window was now filled with howling wind and relentless rain. Cheng Jing cried out, “Why are you driving so fast? Are you crazy?”

Liang Yulin didn’t answer.

The car sped through the night, the windshield wipers barely keeping up. The eerie silence was interrupted only by the distant sound of another car horn, growing louder and more insistent.

Cheng Jing tried to open the window, but Liang Yulin grabbed his arm, warning, “Don’t distract me if you want to live.”

In the stormy night, two luxury cars raced each other, the pursuit escalating. Reports of reckless driving from wealthy heirs often filled tabloids, but experiencing it firsthand was a different matter entirely.

Liang Yulin pushed the accelerator to the limit, but it was futile. The other car was relentless, closing the gap dangerously. Cheng Jing recognized the vehicle in the rearview mirror—black Rolls Royce Cullinan.

He knew one of the wedding guests had arrived in a similar car.

In a sudden maneuver, the Cullinan veered sharply and matched speed with Liang Yulin’s car.

The night blurred into a series of flashing lights and relentless rain, obscuring their vision. The other driver rolled down his window despite the downpour, his meticulously styled hair and expensive suit now soaked and plastered.

Through the torrential rain, their eyes locked—one pair of cold, black, piercing eyes that seemed to freeze Cheng Jing’s heart.

For a brief moment, the world went silent. The Cullinan drew closer, and as the two cars drew level, their mirrors collided, sending a jarring noise through the night. Liang Yulin slowed down slightly, his face grim.

Cheng Jing’s eyes, once again, were drawn to the window. At a speed of 200 per hour, Liang Jingmin’s gaze bore down on him, the despair and madness in his eyes impossible to ignore.

Suddenly, a low, haunting voice broke through the storm.

“Cheng Jing!!”