Chapter 22
Yu Congyi's hand was on the bathroom doorknob, about to open the door, but he suddenly turned around and looked at the empty wine glass next to the sink, and his movements stopped for a second.
Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Zhan Yuewei's face appeared before him. Through the half-open door, he smiled slightly at Yu Congyi, "Brother Congyi, where did you run off to? I've been looking for you."
Yu Congyi stepped back, clearing a doorway, and returned to the sink. He naturally picked up the wine glass. "I was a little dizzy just now, so I came here to sober up."
Zhan Yuewei came in and left the sanitary napkin door slightly ajar behind him. Naturally, he also walked to the sink. He didn't notice the empty wine glass on the counter, but looked at Yu Congyi's face in the mirror and asked, "Brother Congyi, how much have you drunk?"
Yu Congyi washed his hands again, then straightened up and took a step back. "How many cups? I didn't count." The bathroom wasn't large; two men standing in front of the mirror already felt cramped, and Zhan Yuewei was still close to him, a smile always on her face. Yu Congyi faintly caught a whiff of the sweet, cloying scent of perfume from the other man's collar. He thought the other man resembled a colorful butterfly, but upon closer inspection, he wondered if those markings were poisonous. Nodding at him, he said, "It's a bit confusing here. Let's go outside and talk."
Zhan Yue raised an eyebrow, nodded, and followed him out of the bathroom.
The two quickly walked side by side. Since Yu Congyi didn't like dancing, after a few rounds of socializing, Zhan Yuewei also accompanied him to sit on the sofa. The banquet was about to begin. Zhan Yuewei produced two glasses of white wine from somewhere and handed one to Yu Congyi.
Yu Congyi glanced at him and suddenly remembered what Tang Zefei had said: "This man likes to get him drunk." However, at this moment, he couldn't immediately offend the other party, so he took the wine glass and, in front of Zhan Yuewei, drank half a glass of white wine in one gulp.
Zhan Yue smiled. "So this is how you drink, Brother Congyi. No wonder you get dizzy."
Having finished what he had been thinking, Yu Congyi felt slightly uneasy. Looking around but not seeing Zhan Chu, he was unsure and looked at Zhan Yuewei, "Where is your father?"
"He went to rest in the back." Zhan Yuewei also took a sip of wine. "He has a lot to do, let's just have our own fun and ignore him."
Yu Congyi nodded. "I left in a hurry just now, please give my regards to your father." However, as soon as he said this, he felt a sense of doubt. Judging from the other person's tone, Zhan Chu was perfectly fine after drinking the wine. Could he have made a mistake? Yu Congyi had no doubt that he must have fed the poisoned wine to the other person, but he knew nothing about the exact time of poisoning or the symptoms. Tang Zefei had not told him about the properties of this poisoned wine beforehand, so he had no way of testing it.
Most importantly, he completely forgot to ask about it. Whether he simply didn't think of asking or took it for granted that he could handle everything and made such a mistake, none of that matters now. What he should be most concerned about right now is how Zhan Chu is doing.
Thinking of this, Yu Congyi lowered his head, suddenly feeling a surge of irritation. This irritation, however, was stuck in his chest, incredibly suffocating, and growing increasingly hot and oppressive. His ears felt like they were plugged with rubber; he could even hear his own breathing. He felt dizzy for a moment, realizing that this wasn't actually an emotion from his heart. Looking up at Zhan Yuewei, his mind suddenly went blank.
Zhan Yuewei's smile blurred before his eyes. Yu Congyi raised his hand to brace himself against the edge of the sofa, but Zhan Yuewei's voice rang out in his ears with unusual clarity, "Brother Congyi, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
"What was in that glass of wine...?" Yu Congyi wanted to stand up immediately, but a breath caught in his throat. He suddenly coughed and looked down, then stood up with unwavering determination. Without a word, he turned away from the other person, slightly hunched over, and swayed as he walked into the crowd.
However, Zhan Yuewei immediately stood up as well; he had no intention of letting him go. He took a large step towards the other man, grabbed Yu Congyi's arm with such force that the man instantly lost his balance. With this pull and tug, he drew Yu Congyi closer, glanced at him, and chuckled softly, "Brother Congyi, you're a little drunk. I'll take you to sober up."
At this moment, Yu Congyi finally understood the other party's intentions. He hadn't expected the other party to resort to such underhanded tactics, and he gave a dismissive laugh, admitting defeat, but he hadn't given up resisting. His limbs felt as if they were filled with lead, his vision blurred in waves, and even breathing was difficult. He was certain that the drink he had just received was either a sleeping potion or a sleeping potion.
“Don’t worry about me,” Yu Congyi said vaguely, dragging his elbows behind him. “If Young Master Zhan is so kind as to take pity on me, please let go.”
Zhan Yuewei ignored him and pulled him toward the guest rooms next to the mansion. Along the way, she said to everyone she met, "Excuse me, excuse me, someone here is drunk." In an instant, everyone became her "proof of being drunk." Yu Congyi was furious and started punching and kicking the other party.
However, his legs, which usually had only eight-tenths of their strength, were now completely limp. Zhan Yuewei held him even tighter, half-hugging and half-carrying him away from the sight of everyone in the hall.
Outside the mansion were several detached small buildings, all of which were the usual living quarters for guests. Zhan Yuewei was obviously not here for the first time and knew everything about the place. He used all his strength to throw the stubborn and unyielding Yu Congyi into a guest room, and then slammed the door shut with a "bang". Exhausted, he put his hands on his hips and looked at Yu Congyi by the bed.
Yu Congyi's strength was simply too great. Under normal circumstances, Zhan Yuewei couldn't guarantee that she could subdue him. But at this moment, the effects of the drug were quite significant. Yu Congyi was half-lying on the bed, his legs weakly supporting him as he knelt down. He was panting heavily from the struggle just now. Even in this state, he still appeared calm and composed, showing no sign of losing his composure. However, the sound of his throat moving clearly and distinctly when he breathed indicated that he was desperately suppressing something.
Zhan Yue rubbed his wrist, stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed, violently ripped off his tie knot, tied it into a tight knot, and dragged it onto Yu Congyi's wrist. He pressed down hard on Yu Congyi's shoulder, forcing him to lie down as he pleased, then grabbed his neck and unbuttoned his pants.
Zhan Yuewei was very strong. Yu Congyi was almost pinned to the bed by her, his neck was choked and he had difficulty breathing. He was forced to remain in this position, his cheek pressed tightly against the sheets, but he could clearly see Zhan Yuewei's every move above him. "Brother Congyi, don't blame me..." Zhan Yuewei's voice trembled at this moment, "I've been dreaming of having sex with you!"
Trembling, he reached for his belt and climbed onto the bed, dragging Yu Congyi down with him. Grabbing the man by the neck, he knelt at Yu Congyi's waist and began tearing at his belt. In that instant, in a panic, Yu Congyi suddenly straightened up and bit Zhan Yuewei's wrist. Zhan Yuewei cried out in pain and had to release his grip. He was a spoiled brat who had rarely engaged in real combat, so he was caught off guard by Yu Congyi's sudden attack. Yu Congyi released his grip, then turned and kicked upwards with a bent knee. Seeing this, Zhan Yuewei scrambled off the bed, forgetting to pull up his pants. He clutched his bleeding arm in shock and cursed loudly. Yu Congyi stumbled off the bed, grabbed a vase from the table, and smashed it at Zhan Yuewei.
The vase shattered against the wall with a deafening crash. Zhan Yuewei raised her hand to block it, and in the ensuing chaos, Yu Congyi flung open the door and staggered out. His limbs were still completely immobile; those few movements had exhausted all his strength. He suddenly found himself gasping for breath, the collar of his shirt wrapped tightly around his neck, making him feel suffocated and dizzy. As he ran into the courtyard outside the mansion, Yu Congyi heard loud cursing behind him. It was Zhan Yuewei, who had also run out, looking for him to settle scores.
Yu Congyi fled to the gate of the Qian mansion. It was far from the end of the banquet, and his driver was nowhere to be seen. Zhan Yuewei's soft shouts suddenly became clear behind him, "Stop! Brother Congyi, don't fucking run away, I..." Yu Congyi didn't turn around, just kept walking. Actually, he was already too tired to walk anymore, but he didn't know what else he could do in his current state besides leaving.
Suddenly, he saw a black Pontiac parked beside the open gate ahead. A tall figure leaned against the hood, chatting casually with a guard from the Qian Mansion. He looked relaxed, and the guard chuckled twice. Who else could it be but Tang Zefei? Yu Congyi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, his whole body stiffening. He didn't really believe in fortune telling, yet the coincidences in this world were unexpected. Tang Zefei hadn't even attended the banquet today, so why was she here at this particular time? Yu Congyi didn't want Tang Zefei to see him like this, but it was no use, because at that moment, Zhan Yuewei's voice rang out again, a desperate cry, "Brother Congyi! Stop! I want to talk to you properly..."
Upon hearing the sound, Tang Zefei looked up and first saw Yu Congyi not far away. Then, looking back, he saw Zhan Yuewei with blood on her left hand. He raised an eyebrow in surprise and straightened up, leaning against the front of the car.
Yu Congyi's expression was far from calm. He sighed, and awkwardly walked towards Tang Zefei, having no other choice but to speak, "I..." Tang Zefei didn't need him to say more. The moment Yu Congyi approached, he instantly understood. He went around to the back seat, opened the car door, and practically shoved Yu Congyi into the car. Climbing into the driver's seat, he started the car without hesitation, swerving around the mansion's entrance, nearly hitting Zhan Yuewei who was following behind. Zhan Yuewei cursed angrily, pounding on his car window. "Damn it, Tang Zefei, what do you mean by this? Hey, get out of the car! Hey, hey!!..." Tang Zefei whistled at him, then drove away without looking back. The shouts faded behind the car; Zhan Yuewei hadn't caught up. In the back seat, Yu Congyi took a deep breath.
Sitting in the back seat, his frozen body suddenly warmed up as if awakening. His heart was pounding, and he could hardly control his breathing. The increasingly intense heat surged through his body. He sat up straight, gripped the doorknob, and silently endured the heat.
After getting on the bus, Tang Zefei didn't say a word. Yu Congyi controlled his breathing and remained silent; he couldn't speak, or he would lose his composure. He didn't know what Tang Zefei was going to do or where she was going. He had no choice but to wait for the shock to pass on its own.
When they parked on the road, Tang Zefei glanced back at him. She couldn't really tell what was wrong with Yu Congyi, but he was definitely different from usual. He seemed dizzy, or perhaps he was just resting, leaning against the door with his eyes closed.
When Yu Congyi was asleep, his brows were relaxed, lacking his usual ruthless and cold demeanor; he was serene. Tang Zefei suddenly reached out a hand, intending to touch his face. However, at that moment, cars behind him began honking, forcing him to turn back and continue driving.
Tang Zefei probably knew what Zhan Yuewei had done to Yu Congyi. Apart from himself, Tang Zefei knew Zhan Yuewei's tricks best. When he stopped downstairs at his own mansion, he got out of the car and opened the back seat. He saw that Yu Congyi was already fast asleep in the back, his forehead against the front license plate seat, and his face had regained its uneasy expression.
Tang Zefei patted his shoulder, but couldn't wake him. He touched the other's neck; it was burning hot. This was the aftereffect of the sedative, something Tang Zefei knew very well. Yu Congyi must have already passed out and needed time to recover before waking up. He didn't call for the butler or his men, but instead reached into the car and carried Yu Congyi out.
Tang Zefei knew his own body perfectly well; he possessed only a tall, imposing frame. When he held Yu Congyi in his arms, his arms trembled incessantly, yet he simply didn't want to let go. Yu Congyi leaned quietly against his shoulder, his breathing slightly rapid, his entire body burning with heat. Tang Zefei listened intently to his breath, able to feel the subtle, uneasy rise and fall of his body held in his embrace. That bastard Zhan Yuewei… Tang Zefei's brows furrowed in annoyance, a sudden surge of hatred rising within him. He didn't consider what would have happened if he hadn't encountered her today.
Upon entering the mansion, the servants were startled and swarmed around. The young master's face was extremely grim, and he was holding someone in his arms. His breathing became rapid. "Don't block the way," Tang Zefei said in a hoarse voice, "all of you, get the hell out of my way."
Upon reaching the second-floor bedroom, Tang Zefei bent down and laid Yu Congyi on his bed. His arms were already numb and aching. The weight of a grown man was not to be underestimated; he even felt slightly dizzy. Gazing at Yu Congyi's face, he leaned down and reached out, this time actually touching his cheek. Yu Congyi's brows furrowed again, his breathing uneven. Tang Zefei pulled a blanket over him, unsure how to counteract the drug. Did it have an aphrodisiac effect? Tang Zefei didn't know. Looking at Yu Congyi's lower body, Tang Zefei couldn't make a judgment. A fire was burning within him, and it seemed to be intensifying.
As his breathing gradually calmed, Tang Zefei couldn't help but touch the hem of Yu Congyi's clothes again, then moved downwards, touching Yu Congyi's thigh. Staring intently at Yu Congyi's face, he could clearly hear his own breathing. A burning heat surged in his lower abdomen, almost overwhelming him. Through the fabric of his clothes, Tang Zefei practically pressed down on Yu Congyi's legs, propping himself up.
Leaning down to face him, Tang Zefei's face was almost touching the other's neck, and he took a deep sniff. His hair fell onto Yu Congyi's face, and Yu Congyi suddenly opened his eyes, looking at Tang Zefei with a dazed expression. Tang Zefei suddenly met his gaze, the distance between them terrifying, and he was speechless. Yu Congyi was probably not fully awake; he only opened his eyes briefly before quickly closing them again, turning his face to the side. It was unclear whether he was unconscious or asleep.
Tang Zefei immediately propped himself up from the bed. Facing Yu Congyi, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. The more he thought about it, the more he hesitated, the more unwilling he became. He knew he would regret it if he did it now. It was as if he needed the other's approval before he felt like a permitted dog, entitled to be enjoyed. But the Heart-Cleansing Mantra couldn't cleanse his heart. He could only rely on his remaining reason to forcibly suppress his lust and leave the room. He gently closed the door; a servant was waiting for him outside.
"Don't disturb him, let him sleep for a while." Tang Zefei said this and left.
Yu Congyi woke up. He opened his eyes and stared straight at the ceiling. The crystal chandelier with its floral pattern and the Western-style cornice around the walls made him rub his eyes. He then turned to look at the window. The curtains were drawn, and light streamed into the bedroom from behind them, casting a deep orange glow on the floor. It was dusk.
Yu Congyi propped himself up on his arms and sat up, his head throbbing with pain. He regained some strength, but his body still felt heavy and unclear. He sat upright for a while, and his memories of the time before he lost consciousness gradually became clearer.
Suddenly throwing back the covers and getting up, he stood barefoot on the floor and found his shoes. Pulling down his clothes, Yu Congyi ran to the door and turned the doorknob. But it wouldn't turn. Undeterred, he tried a second time, still without success. Yu Congyi stepped back and looked around the room's layout—a blend of Chinese and Western styles. He knew this should be the Tang Mansion, but listening to the sounds from the outer room, it was eerily quiet, as if no one was there.
He was unaware that the Tang mansion was always deserted. After knocking on the door to no avail, Yu Congyi knocked harder, but still received no response. This suddenly made him uneasy, and he realized that he might be imprisoned by Tang Zefei. This person had always been a source of conflict for him. A wave of inexplicable irritation washed over him, and Yu Congyi paced back and forth in the room, completely forgetting to consider the fact that the other party had actually rescued him that morning. Yu Congyi disliked conflict; they were entangled in too many things. Remembering that this was the Tang mansion, he only wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
He walked to the window and abruptly pulled back the curtains, revealing that the room was on the second floor. Looking down, he saw a path winding around the mansion's perimeter, extending towards a wide, snow-covered lawn. Tall sycamore trees stood beside the path, all now bare, their branches laden with a thin layer of snow from the morning's fall; some high branches almost reached the edge of the second-floor bed. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a pale golden light on the snow-covered lawn, a tranquil and comfortable scene, but Yu Congyi had no heart to appreciate it. The mansion had a high ceiling, about ten meters below. He went to the door and knocked, feeling little chance of escape, so he returned to the window, pushed it open, and prepared to jump.
Just then, the door clicked open from the outside. Yu Congyi, who was almost ready to climb out the window, turned around warily. Tang Zefei was standing in the doorway, and a servant entered, carrying a tray with some food and drink, and a hot towel. Both of them looked at Yu Congyi, wondering what he wanted to do with the window wide open.
Yu Congyi stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Tang Zefei. "What are you doing locking me in this room?"
When Tang Zefei saw that he had woken up, she first breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that he had returned to his usual self, she felt relieved but also sighed softly. She walked towards him nonchalantly, took the plate from the servant, placed it on the table, and then turned and closed the door.
"You did a good job." Tang Zefei leaned against the table, his tone as usual. "Zhan Chu is dead, and the Qian Mansion is in chaos right now. That kid Zhan Yuewei is probably going to be very busy." He didn't deliberately bring up what happened at the banquet at the Qian Mansion earlier, and Yu Congyi also avoided talking about it.
This was within Yu Congyi's expectations, and he nodded expressionlessly.
“In that case,” Yu Congyi walked away from the window, “may I go now?”
Tang Zefei sat down on the edge of the bed. "You haven't eaten or drunk anything all day, why don't you eat something first?"
Yu Congyi shook his head, refusing to look at him. "I'm afraid of people like you. Do you think I'd dare touch this food here again? How would I know if it's been tampered with?"
"Why would you doubt me like that?" Tang Zefei looked at him and gave a faint, almost bitter, smile. Yu Congyi remained silent, but her next sentence shifted to a teasing tone, "Is it because I like you?"
Yu Congyi's heart tightened, and he felt utterly speechless. He took a step forward to leave, but Tang Zefei's voice rang out again, this time genuine, "And I... am also very worried about you."
"Worried about me?" Yu Congyi, with his back to him, suddenly spoke in a low voice, "That would be my honor, but Young Master Tang need not worry about me. Not only will it not yield any results, but it might also disrupt other matters."
“Actually, my father’s death has little to do with me,” Tang Zefei said quietly behind him.
Yu Congyi didn't want to listen to his nonsense, so he walked towards the door to leave. Suddenly, Tang Zefei stood up from the bed, grabbed him, and pressed him against the wall.
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