The stalemate, or that stormy night, all that was torn apart...
Mickey caught a glimpse of Chen Diao sneaking around the door, eavesdropping. He went out and closed the door behind him. The moment the door closed, a crisp sound of a wine glass shattering came from the bedroom.
The crystal glass was smashed to pieces.
Mickey knew perfectly well that his boss was truly enraged this time. He pushed Chen Diao downstairs, saying, "Don't be so reckless, get down here right now."
Chen Diao was always extremely cautious when it came to matters involving Yu Chaoxian. He didn't care about Yu Tang herself, only about how her actions would affect Yu Chaoxian.
Chen Diao's expression was grave. He lowered his voice and said, "Everything concerning the boss needs to be kept secret. Miss Yu knows so much about the boss. What if she's arrested and forced to leak his information? In my opinion, either arrest her immediately and lock her up, or..."
Chen Diao's eyes suddenly turned fierce. He had always believed that Yu Tang was the boss's weakness and a burden. Because of Yu Tang, the boss had caused so much trouble.
Mickey immediately frowned and warned him, "If you still want to follow the boss, don't get any funny ideas about Miss Yu."
Since you've become Yu Chaoxian's subordinate, you should understand what your boss wants and what he dislikes, and never presumptuously make decisions for him.
Mickey couldn't understand how someone as intelligent as Chen Diao couldn't see Yu Tang's place in the boss's heart. Anyone who touched Yu Tang would be killed by the boss.
Yu Chaoxian, who was in the bedroom on the second floor, did not come out for a long time.
Chen Diao looked upstairs and muttered softly, "The boss wouldn't..."
Mickey rolled his eyes at him. "What nonsense are you going to spout now? I think you should go back to base with Mingming and the others."
"The boss hasn't come out for so long, could he be secretly crying?" Just as Chen finished speaking, the sound of a door opening came from the second floor.
Yu Chaoxian had just taken a shower and changed his clothes. With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he came downstairs and gave Chen Diao a cool glance.
Chen Diao pursed his lips, seemingly very busy as he looked down and swung his phone.
Mickey glanced sideways and saw that Chen Diao was sending a message to the file transfer assistant in order to pretend he was busy with important business.
Chen Diao placed the iced liquor on the table in front of Yu Chaoxian and suggested, "Boss, should I go and bring Miss Yu back and lock her up? She definitely can't escape from the base's prison."
Yu Chaoxian was extremely annoyed. "Go back to the base."
Chen Diao immediately turned to look at Mickey beside him, "Did you hear that? The boss is talking to you. He's telling you to get back to base."
Mickey rolled his eyes at him speechlessly, walked straight to the door, opened it, and unceremoniously pushed Chen Diao out, then closed the door behind him.
After Chen left, the living room fell silent.
Yu Chaoxian's personal cell phone lit up on the table, and he looked at it. It was a call from Mingming.
Mickey had a misconception that Yu Chaoxian was somewhat disappointed to see the incoming call. Did the boss still hope Yu Tang would call him? That was practically impossible; otherwise, why would she go to such lengths to escape?
The call connected, and Mingming's voice came through: "Boss, as you arranged, the deputy minister of the Mo Zhou Security Bureau has handed over the documents on Garcia's corruption to Garcia's political enemies. In addition, the Black Group believes that Garcia was behind the leak of the leader's information and is also doing its best to investigate him. But after Garcia failed to track us down that night, he ran away early this morning without even having time to go home."
Yu Chaoxian scoffed, "You run pretty fast, though."
“Give the Mozhou Group some information about Garcia’s whereabouts.” Yu Chaoxian picked up his wine glass, paused, and added, “By the way, post his family’s information first. According to the way those people in the group are, they will definitely torture his family first. Garcia will find it quite enjoyable to watch his wife and children die tragically in front of him.”
Mingming immediately set about making arrangements, knowing that his boss wouldn't let Garcia go so easily. He was just unlucky to have angered his boss at this crucial moment.
Although Mickey hadn't participated in this mission, he knew his boss's style well. If there was a grudge, he would settle it today and not leave it for tomorrow. The current boss was the same as the previous boss. He was a little lost in thought, recalling the scene on the ship when a young soldier climbed onto the ship, and the boss didn't kill the young soldier on the spot because of Yu Tang.
At this moment, Mickey suddenly realized that they had done too many inhuman things and were already used to it. Yu Tang was the only one who could bring back some humanity to the boss. The boss was even willing to follow her arrangements and even wanted to do charity. Faced with the constraints Yu Tang imposed on him, the boss not only did not find it annoying, but enjoyed it and insisted on keeping Miss Yu by his side and possessing her completely.
The eldest brother was unaware that Yu Tang had long since become an inescapable shackle for him.
Yu Tang may seem like a fragile girl, but in reality, she possesses the power to easily sway the leader's will. In a sense, Yu Tang is the only one who can control Yu Chaoxian.
The chimes of Big Ben echoed deep in the humid air. At nine o'clock in the morning, Yu Tang's flight landed in the foggy city of England.
The Thames flowed slowly, and the spires of the Gothic buildings were shrouded in the morning mist.
The red telephone booths on the street corner have slightly faded paint. Double-decker buses drive past Regent Street, splashing water that startles the pigeons foraging in Trafalgar Square. The faint aroma of bergamot from Earl Grey tea wafts from the cafes.
Yu Tang looked at the unfamiliar and strange environment, took a deep breath, and prepared to start a new chapter in her life!
She took out her phone and opened the notes app, which contained a detailed record of her pre-planned route to school. Dragging her suitcase and carrying a backpack, she stopped every few steps to check her bearings.
On her first solo journey, she was exceptionally cautious, nervous but without a trace of regret; all she felt was the determination to finally escape Taicheng and embrace freedom.
She was like a bird just released from its cage, even the wind blowing in her face carried an air of freedom.
The shop window reflected her shining eyes and her smile, which no longer needed to be hidden, and her heart pounded with joy in her chest.
This is what freedom feels like.
Her dark eyes shone, and a relaxed smile always played on her lips.
Under the same sky, the girl's smile seemed to dispel the lingering mist. But she didn't know that inside a car not far away, it was as cold as an icebox.
Unbeknownst to Yu Tang outside, she was completely unaware that she was being watched. Birds can fly freely, but canaries, no matter how much they fly around, will eventually end up in a cage.
The eighteen-year-old girl was bright and vibrant, her laughter innocent and fearless. Her pure and youthful appearance was enough to touch even the hardest heart and ignite the most obsessive possessiveness.
It's been so long since I've seen her smile like that.
Mickey, in the driver's seat, felt that the inside and outside of the car were two different worlds. Outside the car, Yu Tang was smiling brightly and happily, while inside the car, the boss's face was as frighteningly gloomy.
Yu Tang glanced at her phone; the car she had booked in advance was almost here. Although there were still two days before school started, if she stayed in Taicheng for two more days, Yu Chaoxian would have to come back soon, so she might as well go to Wudu in advance, since she had already booked a hotel.
When she gets to university, she must get along well with her classmates and build good relationships. After all, she doesn't have any relatives around her now, and if she doesn't have any friends either, she doesn't know how lonely she will be during her four years of university.
Thinking this, Yu Tang became a little nervous again. She should learn from Mo Fei and be more generous and confident in front of her classmates so that she could make friends more easily.
Just then, a taxi approached from a distance. Yu Tang checked the license plate number and confirmed that it was the one she had booked.
She subconsciously checked her carry-on luggage. Her phone, ID, suitcase… everything was there, nothing was missing. She finally breathed a sigh of relief; she'd always read online that things were easily stolen near airports.
As the taxi drew closer, Yu Tang's heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat. Freedom was within reach.
However, the next second, the piercing sound of brakes almost pierced Yu Tang's eardrums.
A black Bentley cut in from the side, its shadow abruptly blocking her path. The rear window slowly rolled down, and with each inch it descended, Yu Tang's heart grew colder.
Until she met those dark eyes completely—Yu Chaoxian's face was reflected in her eyes perfectly and clearly.
Yu Tang froze on the spot, the light in her eyes suddenly went out, and her face turned as white as silk.
All her hopes, her impending freedom, and her longing and excitement for a new life turned to ashes little by little under his indifferent gaze.
The surrounding noise seemed to vanish instantly, leaving her feeling icy cold. He moved his thin lips, and the word "Little Aunt" pierced her ears clearly.
Just like when they first met at school, that instinctive fear and chilling feeling descended upon Yu Tang again; or like that stormy night, where all the tearing pain replayed in her bones.
Yu Chaoxian's face was as cold as ice. When she saw him, she didn't even manage a smile. The man's patience ran out, and his icy gaze locked onto the slender figure that was trembling slightly.
"Yu Tang, you don't know to get in the car when it's raining?" He frowned, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority. "Have you forgotten your lesson again?"
The foggy city is often rainy, and the rain gradually intensified, wetting her hair and coat.
Yu Tang didn't know how she got into the car, nor did she even know when Yu Chaoxian took her hand.
Her fingers were as cold as ice, held tightly in Yu Chaoxian's palm.
He looked at her again, and nothing about her pleased him. Her eyes and nose were red, but her face was even paler. Wearing such a thin coat, didn't she know to check the temperature in Chongqing beforehand? Her shivering was probably from the cold in this awful weather.
He usually seems timid, but he's surprisingly agile when he runs. He even dared to secretly change his college application and apply to Chongqing University. There's not a single truth in that infuriating mouth of his.
The car ride was silent, filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Mickey looked at the two figures in front of him, one tall and one short. One walked forward without looking back, while the other followed behind, dawdling.
At the door, Mickey cautiously reminded him, "Boss, we need to see General McCarthy tonight. We need to confirm the drone issue first. Should we... have Ajin come over?"
Since the boss wasn't home that night, Miss Yu definitely needed someone to stay. Ah Jin had been with her the longest and was the one she disliked the least. "You make the arrangements. Have someone bring the food up first," Yu Chaoxian said, then grabbed Yu Tang's wrist and pulled her into the room.
In the spacious suite, Yu Tang stood blankly next to the large suitcase, looking exceptionally small.
Yu Chaoxian glanced at Yu Tang, who had completely wilted without saying a word, and found her utterly irritating.
I don't know if she's been eating air or grass for the past three days, but she's starved herself to the point that her face is completely pale. She's supposed to be working part-time? With her physique, working part-time is practically abuse.
Yu Tang was so frightened by Yu Chaoxian that her face turned pale and her hands went cold. She remembered that Yu Chaoxian had said she had forgotten her "lesson" before she got into the car, but she hadn't forgotten at all, and she didn't dare to speak rashly. But looking around, she saw that he had no knife or gun in his hand. How was he going to torture her, who had sneaked away?
This apartment is on a high floor. Is it like when she was a child, someone grabbed her by the neck and tried to throw her off?
Yu Chaoxian approached step by step, and Yu Tang staggered backward in fright. Was this really how she was going to die? She was too young and had no idea how to face death. Her immediate reaction was to burst into tears, which she couldn't stop.
The man couldn't handle her crying. What was she crying about? Had he touched her or hit her? Yu Chaoxian frowned as he watched. Even if crying looked good, she didn't need to keep crying like that.
Yu Tang stubbornly remained silent. Even a single coquettish word from her would have given anyone a way out. Wasn't she quite adept at charming Yu Yanting before, calling him "brother" all the time when she didn't want to go to school? Why did she become mute with him now?
She kept her neck turned away from him, sobbing intermittently.
Just then, the waiter arrived and delivered the food, breaking the deadlock.
Yu Chaoxian glanced at her irritably: "Come and eat first."
Even though Yu Tang didn't feel hungry at all, she still breathed a sigh of relief, at least she could live for one more meal.
She was eating at the table, while Yu Chaoxian was smoking on the balcony. Yu Tang wondered if this was her last meal before she died.
She ate her meal slowly, as if eating a little longer would mean living a little longer. Yu Chaoxian saw that she had even finished her sandwich, and knew that she must have been starving these past few days.
Even the biggest sandwich eventually comes to an end, and Yu Tang could only sip her milk in the end.
She was so hungry she even finished her milk. I'll take her to a restaurant for a nice meal later. Out of sight, out of mind, Yu Chaoxian went to the bathroom for a cold shower.
When he came out, his anger had subsided considerably. Seeing that she had eaten everything clean, he figured she had regained some strength.
Yu Tang pursed her lips and watched him sit down on the sofa opposite her. It had been almost four days since they last saw each other, and Yu Tang secretly glanced at him, trying to gauge his expression.
The man was still damp, wearing only a loosely wrapped bath towel. He sank into the sofa, exuding an aura of indifference and detachment.
“Yu Tang, let me teach you a lesson,” Yu Chaoxian looked up at her. “If you want to fool me, you have to be smart enough. If you don’t have that ability, at least you have to be honest. Tell me, are you able to be honest enough, or are you able to be smart enough?”
Yu Tang wanted to say that she was smart, but... she decided not to say it. She had already been caught, so she wouldn't be stubborn anymore.
She lowered her head even further. "Be honest."
So, why leave?
"W-what?" Yu Tang didn't know how to answer, thinking she had misheard. Didn't he see the sticky note she left? It was the reason written on it: she wanted to end their relationship, so she was leaving.
Yu Chaoxian wanted to grab her ear to see what was wrong. She had run away for four days without knowing the immensity of the world, and now that she had been found, she couldn't even understand what he was saying.
In reality, Yu Tang was wondering if Yu Chaoxian wanted her to repeat what was written on the sticky note. But she couldn't remember exactly what it said; she only remembered that it said she wanted to end the relationship and wanted freedom.
"Come here, don't make me count to three."
Seeing Yu Chaoxian staring at her, she walked slowly over with tears in her eyes. She really didn't want to die; she was still so young.
When Yu Tang walked up to him, she closed her eyes as if resigned to her fate.
Yu Chaoxian was too lazy to guess what she was thinking, and his little patience ran out: "Is it because I didn't let you go find Mo Fei to play with?"
"Is it because I didn't agree to let you go out that you feel restricted and want to leave?"
With tears still clinging to her eyelashes, Yu Tang stared blankly at Yu Chaoxian, shocked by his guess.
While that's part of the reason, it doesn't encompass the whole story. The most fundamental reason is that she wants to leave him.
Yu Tang gave the result directly on a sticky note, while Yu Chao wanted a solution to the problem; the two were simply not on the same wavelength.
"You've made such a fuss over such a small thing." If she runs away from home because of this today, what will she do tomorrow if things don't go her way? Will she turn the world upside down?
Yu Chaoxian instinctively felt he should teach her a lesson, otherwise she might get too bold and cause trouble next time.
Upon reaching this conclusion, Yu Chaoxian's gaze towards Yu Tang darkened, and before he could finish speaking, he patiently asked, "Were you scared on the way?"
Yu Tang's dark eyes swept across his face, wondering why he suddenly asked this.
Thinking about what he had just said about "intelligence" and "honesty," if she had to choose one, she could only choose the latter right now. She choked up and said honestly, "I am a little... scared."
Yu Chaoxian saw that her hands were clenched tightly at her sides, and she was "a little" frightened.
If he continues to discipline her, she will inevitably hold a grudge like she did when she was a child. If she goes back to the way she was at the beginning, she will be afraid when he gets close and cry when he touches her. Wouldn't that be annoying?
In any case, it was just Yu Tang throwing a tantrum; it's normal for a girl to have a temper.
Yu Chao first picked up her hand; she was still pinching her palm, almost purple from it. He glanced again at the suit he'd casually tossed on the sofa earlier; the brand-new cufflinks gleamed slightly under the light. It wasn't that she was heartless; she'd remembered to give him a gift before leaving.
He stared into her eyes and warned in a deep voice, "This is the first time, so let it go. But if there's a next time, it won't be so simple."
Yu Tang couldn't believe it; was this all over just like that?
"Did you remember?" The man frowned. Didn't she say in the store that she liked gentle men? He had been so gentle, but she hadn't shown any reaction. She didn't kiss or hug him, and all she did was scan him with her eyes.
"I...I remember!" Yu Tang nodded quickly, having been spared.
Seeing her disheveled appearance, Yu Chaoxian said, "Go take a shower first."
Yu Tang squatted down and rummaged through her suitcase for a change of clothes. Yu Chaoxian looked at the pile of "junk" and felt annoyed. "Throw it away and get new clothes."
"But these are all new..." Yu Tang muttered softly, "If I lose them, what will I wear now?"
"Naked!"
Yu Tang didn't know what she had done to offend him again. She glanced at the new shirt Mickey had brought earlier, thinking it must be new. Afraid that Yu Chaoxian would leave her with nothing to wear, she quickly grabbed the shirt and hid in the bathroom.
The warm water washed away the fatigue and tension of the past few days. Seeing that Yu Chaoxian really didn't intend to pursue the matter, her tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
"Yu Tang, have you thought it through? Chongqing University."
Yu Chaoxian's voice came from outside the bathroom door, sounding like he was asking her to finally decide between Chongqing University and Hong Kong University.
If he were in Hong Kong, he would definitely stay in Tai Long Wan. Hong Kong and Tai Shing are so close, Yu Chaoxian would definitely go back often. But it's different in Chongqing. Chongqing is far away, and Yu Chaoxian would definitely get tired of it after a few visits.
Besides, Chongqing University was also among the universities she wanted to apply to at the time.
With that thought in mind, she made up her mind and gave a definite answer through the door.
When Yu Tang came out of the bathroom, she saw Yu Chaoxian wearing only suit pants, his strong upper body bare, still sitting on the single sofa, with a half-empty bottle of wine on the table.
Seeing that he wasn't dressed properly, Yu Tang hurriedly looked away.
She remembered what Mickey had said before: Yu Chaoxian was supposed to meet with a man named McCarthy later to discuss drones. He had already changed his clothes and seemed to be getting ready to go out.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door. Yu Tang thought that Yu Chaoxian, with his arrogant attitude, would definitely not go to open the door. Fortunately, her shirt was long enough, so she walked towards the door.
Yu Chaoxian caught a glimpse of her running around in his shirt, her two pale legs dazzling the eye. Yu Chaoxian suddenly felt his mouth go dry and took a sip of iced wine.
She didn't see the man's naked gaze behind her. Just as she was about to walk past, a large hand suddenly wrapped around her waist and lifted her up from the middle of the road, as if she were in the way.
"Yu Tang, this isn't over yet. Go put on your shoes, no one's going to carry you." Yu Chaoxian left her behind and went to open the door on his own.
Yu Tang hadn't really wanted him to carry her; she could have just walked around her.
Mickey Mouse was outside the door. He brought in a bunch of shopping bags, closed the door, and left. Yu Tang grabbed a sweatshirt from one of the bags and went to the bathroom to change.
Yu Chaoxian laughed at her for going to unnecessary trouble. He had seen everything on her body, why did she need to go to the bathroom to change?
When she came out after changing her clothes, she saw that he was still shirtless. She then realized what was going on, looked at the black shirt she had taken off in her hand, and tentatively asked in a low voice, "This... do you still want to wear it?"
"What do you think?" Yu Chaoxian was too lazy to argue with her. "You want me to go out naked?"
Not long after, there was another knock on the door. This time it was Ah Jin who came to deliver the dinner ordered from the restaurant to Yu Tang.
Yu Chaoxian didn't have time to go out to eat with her. Yu Tang said she wasn't hungry, but she still ate two big bowls of food with great fear, her cheeks bulging as she ate one bite after another.
Yu Chaoxian sat opposite her, watching her eat with relish, without saying a word, as if he was thinking about how to deal with her.
"What about cash?" Yu Chaoxian suddenly asked, knowing she still had money on her.
Yu Tang obediently rummaged through her schoolbag and took out the remaining money.
Yu Chaoxian counted a few bills from a roll of green coins, while Yu Tang stared at them longingly.
Finally, he left her one. This wasn't given away for nothing; he only gave it to her because Yu Tang had run errands for him to get her suit jacket.
Not long after Ajin arrived, Yu Chaoxian prepared to go out.
He took a step forward, then suddenly turned back: "Yu Tang."
The girl whose name was called looked up and felt his fingertip pressing against her brow. She breathed a sigh of relief; it was just a finger, she had thought it was a gun.
"Wait for me to come back, or I'll have someone take off your brother's oxygen mask, you hear me?"
"I heard you, so... when are you coming back?" Yu Tang nodded quickly. Although Yu Tang felt that Yu Chaoxian was definitely trying to scare her, Yu Yanting was, after all, her father, and no matter how cold-blooded Yu Chaoxian was, he wouldn't lay a hand on his own father.
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