Chapter 119 - Upgraded Scene of Bloody Slaughter
Translated by Eve
Edited by Kitty, Serefina
6. Upgraded Scene of Bloody Slaughter
Xie He arrived really quickly at the restaurant where Lu Jianing told him to meet. He was silent for a while before pushing the door open and entering.
Lu Jianing had already arrived. He noticed the marks on Xie He’s neck at first glance, and his eyes darkened slightly. When he thought about how Xie He and another man had a crazy night last night somewhere he didn’t know, the jealousy spread madly throughout his chest. This was… someone who used to be his.
“Xiao Mu,” Lu Jianing swallowed down the bitterness in his throat and flashed a flawless smile. “You’ve come.”
Xie He’s expression was complicated. He was quiet for a while before saying, “Thank you. I will think of a way to repay the loan as soon as possible. I will not make things difficult for you.”
Lu Jianings sighed. “Do you have to act like we’re strangers?”
Xie He’s hand clenched. He looked at Lu Jianing. “I said it at the start. I don’t need your help.”
“Why?” Lu Jianing suddenly asked, “Are you afraid that your boyfriend won’t be happy?”
Xie He looked embarrassed. He obviously knew that Lu Jianing had seen the marks on his neck. He had always been a reserved person. This kind of ostentatious look really wasn’t his style. However, they’d already reached this point. He might as well make use of it. He cast his gaze downwards and said, “Yes. You should have been able to tell. He’s easily jealous.”
“But he can’t help you. He’ll only add to your troubles.” Lu Jianing smiled blandly. “It’s not like you to get into a relationship with your secretary.”
Xie He flushed, embarrassed. “You investigated him.”
Lu Jianing looked at Xie He gently. “I told you. I haven’t gotten over you.”
Xie He looked at Lu Jianing like this, and his emotions began to stir. In the end, he couldn’t hold himself back and said, “Enough. I said that we’re over. Why must you interfere with my business?”
Lu Jianing said, “Because I know how much you care about your company and how much you invested into it. I just can’t stand to watch you lose hope. I want to do everything I can to protect what you care about.”
Xie He opened his mouth but found that he suddenly couldn’t say a thing. His eyes stung.
Yes, he knew… it was because the other cared about him so much that he had not hesitated to lend a helping hand in his time of need.
The man before him was mature, steady, considerate, gentle, and would take on his troubles for him. He had changed a lot from the him in his memories…. The Lu Jianing in his memories was young, impulsive, a bit careless, and a bit selfish.
But without a doubt, they were the same person. Time was truly a strange thing. It could change a person so much.
If Lu Jianing was like this back then, they probably wouldn’t have broken up, ba?
But….
Xie He shut his eyes, and his tone was wooden. “I already have a boyfriend. I’m sorry.”
Although he was rejected again, Lu Jianing did not show any anger or disappointment. His expression was still warm. He smiled and said, “It’s fine. You’re so outstanding; of course you would have quite the number of suitors. I’m willing to pursue you all over again. You also have the right to not accept me. Therefore, there’s no need to feel burdened.”
Xie He was left speechless. He wasn’t good at convincing others to stop. Lu Jianing had already said this, so what else could he do?
“Right, since you’re treating me today, then it should be fine to have a bit of alcohol, right?” Lu Jianing smiled.
Xie He was quiet and then said, “OK.”
In order to alleviate Xie He’s unease, Lu Jianing did not mention the matter of his pursuing him again, nor did he speak about anything that would arouse nostalgia or sympathy. They just chatted like two fellow businessmen. He also suggested a few things to Xie He and would occasionally make a joke to lighten up the atmosphere.
Although Xie He had mixed feelings, Lu Jianing had helped him. He treated it as entertaining a client and just drank.
His alcohol tolerance was decent, but he would still get drunk after drinking a lot. However, he had decorum in drinking. He wouldn’t end up a crazy drunk.
Lu Jianing drank slower than Xie He did and was feeling a bit tipsy. However, he was much more sober compared to Xie He. He looked at Xie He’s flushed cheeks and those glistening eyes and suddenly felt an impulse emerge in his chest.
Alcohol always made men become irrational.
Xie He’s vision was hazy. He looked at the man in front of him and felt like they had gone back several years. His voice was low and soft, “Jianing….”
Lu Jianing knew that Xie He was drunk. When he heard the person he loved call his name with a soft, hoarse voice, it felt like his heart was being tickled with a feather. It was itchy and numbing. Passion emerged in his eyes. His voice was low, “I’m here.”
Xie He said, “I love you.”
Lu Jianing felt his heart stop. He asked, “What did you say?”
Xie He laughed, his rosy lips parting. There was unfathomably deep love in his eyes, but also traces of helplessness and sorrow. “I said I love you. The love I have for you… has always been in my heart. It has never disappeared. I just…” As he said this, his smiling expression became one of crying, “I let go….”
“Jianing… love can become a thing of the past.” Xie He sighed quietly. He reached out to grab the bottle of wine but touched nothing.
In any one lifetime, there would always be many regrets. However, time was the most ruthless of all things…. One could never go back and fix the things one regretted.
Lu Jianing felt his heart throb. Xie He’s words made his heart feel like it was on a rollercoaster—suddenly, it fell from the top. Happiness turned to pain. In the end, all that was left was heartache. He held Xie He’s hand and suddenly pulled him over.
The man before him had a seductive, flushed, jade-like face. His fine eyelashes quivered, and his black eyes held a water-like gentleness. When he looked at Lu Jianing earnestly, he could feel the other’s exquisite affection, which was like flowing water. This person… had not changed at all. He was as he was before.
You got over me. But for me… even if this love is clouded by this bustling world, after wiping off the dust, it’s as vibrant as it always has been, not having faded in the least.
I love you more than I did before.
【Ding, Lu Jianing’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 95.】
Lu Jianing suddenly hugged Xie He and said in a low voice, “I also love you… I’ve always loved you.”
He tightly held the man in his arms. At this moment, the man was completely off guard and looked at him blankly. There was a faint smile on his lips…. how beautiful… it was like how it was in the past. When the other would nestle in his arms when drunk, and he wouldn’t do a thing. They would just embrace like this until the morning light….
They had so many beautiful memories but had parted ways in the end.
Lu Jianing’s gaze fell onto the hickeys on Xie He’s neck. Extreme suffering flashed through his eyes. He gently tugged open Xie He’s collar, revealing the sea of marks on the other’s fair collarbone….
His beloved was being mercilessly possessed by another person. Meanwhile, he couldn’t say anything or do anything. He even had to pretend to be magnanimous. Because he was only the other’s&#k2026; ex-boyfriend.
“Xiao Mu…” Lu Jianing’s eyes were full of thick love. His index finger flitted over Xie He’s trembling eyelashes, his straight nose bridge…. In the end, he couldn’t control himself and kissed those ruddy lips.
After so many years, he finally got to touch those soft lips again. These belonged solely to the person he loved. They were something no one else could replace.
He was addicted to them and yearned for them.
Xie He was muddleheaded and didn’t resist. He moaned softly from being kissed by Lu Jianing, cheeks flushing….
After Xie He left, Ye Jinzhou followed after him with a sunken expression.
Xie He really couldn’t lie. When he was lying, he could not look into the other person’s eyes. Without a doubt, he had gone to see Lu Jianing again. Otherwise, there would be no need to lie to him….
He followed Xie He to the restaurant. It was just that this restaurant was really big. He spent some time and effort after parking to find out where Xie He’s private room was.
Ye Jinzhou stood outside and hesitated. He shouldn’t have tailed Xie He. By doing this, he would only arouse Xie He’s dissatisfaction and vigilance. It was not a wise choice. Lu Jianing could not change anything and could not stop him, so there was nothing to fear….
But… as soon as he thought about how Xie He was with Lu Jianing inside, how he could be happily chatting with another man that he had once loved deeply, he could not ignore it.
The private room was not locked. A flash of hesitation passed through Ye Jinzhou’s eyes, and he finally pushed the door open. Then, he was met with the sight of Xie He being kissed while in Lu Jianing’s arms, collar wide open….
This scene pricked Ye Jinzhou’s eyes!
He didn’t understand what he himself was thinking. He didn’t understand why he felt this kind of eye-reddening rage. It was just that he instinctively didn’t want to see this. He wanted to destroy it all!
Ye Jinzhou took big strides forwards, pulled Lu Jianing up by his collar, and tossed him to the ground!
Lu Jianing had been passionately absorbed with kissing and holding the person he loved. He didn’t think that someone would charge in and interrupt them. As soon as he took a look at the person and realized that it was Ye Jinzhou, flames of anger blazed! Without another word, he threw a punch at Ye Jinzhou!
The two men whose brains had been muddled by rage and jealousy recklessly began to fight! The bottles of wine and glasses fell to the ground, shattering to pieces.
Xie He was dazed. After a while, he came back to himself and asked, surprised, “Jinzhou… w-why are you here?”
Ye Jinzhou kicked Lu Jianing away. He didn’t pay Xie He any attention. He was about to go beat Lu Jianing up some more, but Xie He suddenly ran over and hugged him. He said with red eyes, “Stop! What are you doing?”
Ye Jinzhou’s actions suddenly stopped. His icy, sharp gaze fell on Xie He’s face.
Because Xie He was drunk, his cheeks were slightly red. He looked at Ye Jinzhou with glistening black eyes. “Don’t hit him anymore.”
Ye Jinzhou raised Xie He’s chin and looked into his eyes. Suddenly, he broke out into a smile, “Does your heart hurt for him?”
Xie He was startled. He just instinctively didn’t want them to fight anymore, that’s all….
Ye Jinzhou suddenly stopped caring about Lu Jianing. He reached out and dragged Xie He out by the arm.
Xie He stumbled from being pulled. He tried to break free of Ye Jinzhou’s grip, but the other’s hand was like iron, not budging in the least. Ye Jinzhou’s hold made his bones hurt. He couldn’t help but say, “Let go of me.”
Ye Jinzhou didn’t do that. He wordlessly shoved Xie He into the car, put on his seatbelt, locked the car, and drove home.
Xie He was brought back home by Ye Jinzhou. He was dizzy and looked at the other with misty eyes.
Ye Jinzhou squeezed Xie He’s arm and pulled him into the washroom roughly. He pressed him into the bath tub and turned on the shower, soaking him.
It was currently late autumn. The cold water soaked Xie He thoroughly. The icy water flowed down his neck. His clothes stuck to his body, and he immediately began to shiver from the cold. He struggled with all his might.
However, his strength was weak, and he was drunk. He could not break free from Ye Jinzhou. A short while later, he was so cold that his lips turned blue and he softened powerlessly.
Only then did Ye Jinzhou turn off the shower. He looked down into Xie He’s eyes, “Sober yet?”
Xie He’s lips were trembling. There was some clarity in his eyes now. When he thought about how he had kissed Lu Jianing while drunk and was caught in the act by Ye Jinzhou, he had no way to think about how Ye Jinzhou had been trailing him. His guilt made him unable to look into Ye Jinzhou’s eyes.
“Why won’t you look at me?” Ye Jinzhou pinched Xie He’s chin, making it so that he could not avoid his gaze.
Xie He furrowed his eyebrows in pain. Apology emerged in his eyes. “I’m sorry….”
“Sorry about what?” Ye Jinzhou sneered.
Xie He explained, “I was drunk. It wasn’t on purpose. I went to see him today because I wanted to make things clear, to tell him not to look for me again in the future…. I was afraid that you wouldn’t be happy so I didn’t tell you….”
“Well, your talk didn’t go well, ah…” Ye Jinzhou’s voice was cold.
Xie He really couldn’t quibble about his kiss with Lu Jianing. He looked at Ye Jinzhou, feeling guilty, “I won’t see him again, OK?”
Since Ye Jinzhou had gotten angry because he had gotten entangled with his ex before, Xie He really was the one in the wrong. Even if he hadn’t meant to, he did not deal with it properly, resulting in these consequences. As his boyfriend, he should take responsibility for his mistakes.
Ye Jinzhou looked at Xie He like this and suddenly tore off the other’s clothes and pressed him onto the cold bathroom floor.
Xie He shook in pain from being entered so roughly. However, he felt guilty, so even though it hurt and he felt cold, he bit his lips and didn’t make a sound. He let Ye Jinzhou vent on him.
However, this kind of compliant behaviour did not cool Ye Jinzhou’s temper. Instead, it only made his sadistic emotions grow. Why didn’t he resist? Because he felt guilty? However, what made him even angrier was that he realized that he himself had become furious and irrational.
“Who cares if you see him or not?” Ye Jinzhou lowered his head and said into the other’s ear in a frigid tone.
……………………………………
Ye Jinzhou let go and discovered that the man beneath him was motionless, as if dying. Finally, reason gradually came back to him.
He looked at the marks on Xie He’s body and the blood between his legs. Suddenly, it felt like he had hit his head. He stood up and stumbled backwards, unsteady.
Why was he angry? From the beginning, his tender affection had just been an act that he had put on. He didn’t care about Xie He. It was even more impossible to like him…. He didn’t care whether Xie He loved another man or if he had another man or if he slept with another man!
But when did he start… to care about Xie He’s feelings? When did he start getting angry when he saw the other kissing another person?
Had he fallen for him?
【Ding, the target Ye Jinzhou’s Favourability Value +10. The current Favourability Value is 60.】
Ye Jinzhou closed his eyes. He could not like him. How could he like this person? Even if everyone else in this world died, he could not like him.
Perhaps he had become too engrossed in his act. Perhaps… he should put an end to this sooner.
He opened his eyes again and carried Xie He to the bed. He stroked Xie He’s forehead. Since the other had been drenched in cold water while drunk and then tormented, he had already broken out in a high fever.
Ye Jinzhou walked over and grabbed a fever reducer, but Xie He’s eyes were shut tight. He could not eat it himself.
If it was as usual, he would use his own mouth to feed Xie He medicine, feigning affection. Even if he shared a bed with this person on a daily basis and did the most intimate of things, he had never felt any ripples inside his heart, so he never hesitated…. But this time, he hesitated.
There was a voice in his mind constantly warning him not to get any closer!
Ye Jinzhou kneeled by the bed on one knee. His fingers were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. In the end, he still put the medicine in Xie He’s mouth, supported the other’s neck, took a sip of water, and passed it through to the other’s mouth.
A long time later… he let go, albeit reluctantly.
He gazed at the man in his arms. Because the man was in pain, his brows were furrowed together. He didn’t sleep in peace.
Ye Jinzhou stroked his cheek with his fingers. There was a complicated emotion brewing in his pitch-black eyes. He said softly, “Perhaps I shouldn’t have come see you.”
……………………………………
Xie He woke up in the morning. His fever had already broken, but he still had some symptoms of a cold. When he got up, he poured himself a cup of water. Ye Jinzhou was not home. This was the first time since coming to this world… that Ye Jinzhou was not by his side when he woke up.
【444：Host dada, Ye Jinzhou went out this morning. According to his phone call, he is going to continue to ruin you!】
【Xie He：Mn.】
【444：Why is it that although his Favourability Value is rising, he’s actually quickening up his actions, ne? _(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：A Favourability Value of 60 is nowhere near enough to change his mind. But it’s enough to make him hesitate. Because he’s afraid of falling in love with me, he will definitely try to leave earlier. That’s why he’s speeding things up. Smile.JPG】
【444：(⊙o⊙) Oh.】
【Xie He：If he doesn’t ruin me, he will still feel unresigned. If he’s unresigned, he won’t be able to love me wholeheartedly. This company had given birth to the grudge between us. It is the obstacle to our love. As soon as it’s moved out of the way, he won’t have to spend as much time thinking about insignificant things and will spend more time thinking about loving me. Therefore, I will cooperate with him well. 】
【444：……】
【Xie He：It’s a bit late for him to want to free himself. 🙂 】
【444：……】
Xie He gave Ye Jinzhou a call a while later, but the call didn’t go through. He then sent a text, saying that he was going to work.
Ye Jinzhou had actually heard Xie He’s phone call come in, but he had pretended not to. He waited until the other hung up. He looked at the text Xie He sent and a while later, called someone else, “Steven, start suppressing Rongzhi Media’s shares. Prepare to pull in the net.”
………………………………………
Xie He came to the company and very soon received bad news. Recently, the internal financial report had been leaked. It had a really bad effect on the company.
Lin Ran was really anxious. He paced in Xie He’s office, face ashen, “Who did this? Wasn’t the traitor found? This time, who was it?”
Xie He closed his eyes tiredly, “Yes, ah, who is it, ne…?”
Lin Ran was very aware that this was the other making things worse for their company. The other person’s moves came one after another. It was clear that he would not stop until they were destroyed. Furthermore, they already could not hold on any longer….
Xie He returned home very late. He coughed and then turned on the living room light.
No one was at home. Ye Jinzhou, who had always been by his side, had been missing all day. Even now, he hadn’t gone home. The home that used to be full of life was covered in a layer of cold. His company was already on the brink of breaking down, and his lover was nowhere to be seen….
Xie He didn’t sleep. He sat on the sofa in the living room and turned on the TV, wrapped in a blanket.
He watched TV until his eyelids grew sleepy, and he could no longer hold on anymore. Just as he was getting muddleheaded… he finally heard the door open. He forced himself to open his eyes and look over there.
Ye Jinzhou didn’t want to meet with Xie He, so he purposely returned home late. Who would have expected that as soon as he opened the door, the home would be brightly lit. Xie He hadn’t gone to sleep. He was waiting for him in the living room.
He really wanted to turn around and leave. But when he saw Xie He’s pale and feeble appearance, the way those black eyes looked at him with anticipation… he suddenly couldn’t leave…. His legs didn’t listen to him and brought him over.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Ye Jinzhou said.
Xie He didn’t ask him where he went, nor did he criticize him. He only looked at him with a gentle gaze as always. “I was waiting for you to come home.”
Ye Jinzhou’s breath became sluggish, and his heart seemed to slow down.
You shouldn’t wait for me. This isn’t my home.
A long time later, Ye Jinzhou bent down and carried Xie He to their bed. “Sleep earlier. You must be tired.”
Xie He nodded. He flashed him a clear smile. “OK.”
After saying this, he closed his eyes again and fell asleep. He was indeed very tired. He had only resisted it for the sake of waiting for Ye Jinzhou.
Ye Jinzhou watched Xie He close his eyes and suddenly couldn’t hold it in anymore. He asked, “Aren’t you angry at me?”
“I was the one in the wrong first. It’s my fault you didn’t have a sense of security… but you don’t have to doubt me. The one I love is you. I won’t betray you.” Xie He opened his eyes and looked at Ye Jinzhou earnestly.
Ye Jinzhou looked at his own reflection in Xie He’s eyes. For the first time, he didn’t say ‘I also love you’ like he usually did or kiss and comfort the other. He only indifferently said, “Oh.”
Xie He just thought that he was still angry. Furthermore, because he was exhausted, he didn’t think too much about it. Very quickly, he shut his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
………………………………
A few days later, the company’s stocks continued to fall. The other company projects could not rake in enough money. The company, which lacked funds, couldn’t even pay their own employees.
Xie He’s days became harder with each day. He had not been able to sleep peacefully for many days already.
However, no matter how tired he was, he still had to hold on. This was the company in which he had invested his blood and tears. It was what his father left him. He could not give up so easily.
Today, Xie He received an invitation to go to another company’s celebratory reception.
Xie He was absent-minded with a glass of wine in hand. Although he wasn’t willing to give up, they had already reached such a step…. Except for selling shares to make money, he had no way to save it from this desperate crisis…. For how long could he continue on?
At this time, a handsome young man smiled at him and came over. He asked, “Are you Rongzhi’s President Bai?”
Xie He looked at him questioningly. This person’s face was unfamiliar to him. He probably wasn’t an entrepreneur from around here. He nodded. “Yes. May I ask who I’m speaking to?”
The young man smiled and stretched a hand out. “SL Group’s Xu Zhen.”
Xie He was a bit surprised. Of course he knew of SL Group. He heard that they were recently entering the domestic market. He promptly shook Xu Zhen’s hand politely. “President Xu, hello.”
Xu Zhen smiled and looked at Xie He. “Our group thinks highly of the domestic film market. Perhaps we will have a chance to cooperate in the future. I’m very happy to make your acquaintanceship today, President Bai.”
Xie He thought about his current situation and forced a smile. “I’m also very happy to have met you.”
Xu Zhen was about to say something when he suddenly looked up and saw Ye Jinzhou, who was coming from afar. He silently took his gaze back and said, “This is my business card. I have something to attend to. I will come visit next time. At that time, I hope that President Bai can give me some pointers.”
“All right,” Xie He said politely.
Ye Jinzhou had just gone to the washroom. When he came back, he saw that Xu Zhen was unexpectedly with Xie He! He didn’t know why, but an inexplicable unease grew in his heart. However, by the time he came over, Xu Zhen had already left.
For the first time, there was an imperceptible nervousness in his voice. “Who was that just now?”
Xie He didn’t notice. He casually said, “Just now was President Xu of the SL Group.”
Ye Jinzhou pursed his lips, eyes dark. “What did he say to you?”
Xie He glanced at Ye Jinzhou, a bit surprised, as if he didn’t understand why he cared about Xu Zhen. Only, he still patiently said, “Nothing much. We were just getting acquainted, to talk about the possibility of cooperating in the future.”
Ye Jinzhou frowned. He didn’t ask anything more.
After a while, he said to Xie He, “It’s a bit stuffy in here. I’m going to go outside for a bit.”
Xie He smiled. “OK.”
Ye Jinzhou left and went outside. He went to a remote corner and called Xu Zhen.
Xu Zhen came very quickly. He smiled at Ye Jinzhou, eyes filled with deep love. “You were looking for me?”
Ye Jinzhou’s face was taut. He suddenly said coldly, “Who let you come here?”
Xu Zhen had come with a chest full of joy. However, now that he was being coldly interrogated by Ye Jinzhou, his smile fell. He was silent for a few seconds and then said, “Didn’t you tell Steven to acquire Rongzhi Media? I told him that I was in the country and could do this for him. He didn’t have to come over.”
A cold, stern glint flashed through Ye Jinzhou’s eyes. His voice was low, “Who said that the two of you could do that?”
Xu Zhen looked up at Ye Jinzhou and stressed, “What’s the difference between him and me doing it? Do you think that I can’t even handle this trifling matter?”
Ye Jinzhou choked. A while later, he said insipidly, “I don’t like others acting on their own accord.”
Xu Zhen looked at this version of Ye Jinzhou. Although he always knew that the other didn’t like him all that much, he had always shamelessly followed after him, always chasing after him from behind…. However, at this moment, he felt sad. Why was it that, although he had been by his side for all these years, the other cared about someone who he had only known for less than a year?
Was he destined to be unable to have this person’s heart no matter what he did?
Xu Zhen’s gaze was fixed on Ye Jinzhou, eyes slightly wet. He smiled bitterly and slowly said, “You make it seem like… I’m the third party in this relationship.”
………………………………………
Xie He leisurely stayed in the main hall for a while. When he thought that it was about time, he headed outside. It was time to make things a bit interesting.
【Xie He：Baby, have ZhouZhou and ZhenZhen met yet?】
【444：They’re together right now! (⊙v⊙)】
【Xie He：Very good. Lead the way. 🙂 】
【444：After exiting, turn to your left and walk 100 metres… Right now, take a right turn and walk 28 metres…. Keep heading straight and walk around the big tree. They’re behind that tree. \(≧▽≦)/】
Ye Jinzhou looked at Xu Zhen like this, and the expression in his eyes slowly sunk.
Actually, there was currently a raging storm in his heart.
Just like Xu Zhen said, what difference did it make as to who did it? Why did he care? Why was he afraid of Xu Zhen and Xie He meeting?
Xu Zhen’s words seemed to have exposed a secret that even he hadn’t been aware of. He couldn’t respond for a moment.
Ye Jinzhou clenched his fists. He was about to respond when Xie He’s voice came from behind him. “So you were here. I’ve been looking for you for a long time… Yi? Isn’t this President Xu? Do you guys know each other?”
Ye Jinzhou’s body suddenly stiffened.
The author has something to say:
There’s no way to pull yourself out of the scene of bloody slaughter once you’ve become absorbed….
Eve: Eagerly waiting for him to be exposed. There’s no winners here. My heart hurts for everyone. Except YJZ. Fk you. Tbh, everyone has their own criteria to measure which world ML is the worst, but personally, I really can’t stand people who tread on other’s feelings.
sere: ^^ plz EXPOSE HIM. What Eve said +1 See this is why i warned yall this ML is the worst. Also Xu Zhen leave this man damn he’s not worth it.