Chapter 29
After yelling, Yu Congyi shut his mouth, suddenly realizing he had been very wrong. His initial surge of anger was quickly replaced by a chilling realization, leaving him stunned and speechless. He stared blankly at the other man, took two steps back, and leaned against the wall in despair, a wave of unspoken frustration washing over him. From Jiang Fengming's perspective, shouldn't he have asked questions? Shouldn't he have been afraid? Yet, he had responded with such irritability.
Yu Congyi knew this was his way of proving himself, but he was too agitated and could barely control himself.
He sighed, guilt welling up again. He opened his mouth, feeling his throat was very dry, and the voice that came out was low and hoarse. His gaze was fixed on the ground. "Feng Ming, believe me, I won't let them bully you."
Jiang Fengming was stunned by his brother's outburst. In his memory, his older brother had never treated him like that before. He stared at Yu Congyi with a mixture of grievance and anger, his emotions unchanged. The worry and anxiety of the afternoon had turned into rage, and Jiang Fengming's eyes were bloodshot.
"You always say that, you always say it like that! But what have you done? Do you know how scared I've been?! I hate it when you lie to me!!" In a sudden fit of rage, Jiang Fengming raised his foot and kicked the pear wood table by the bedside hard. The ashtray on the table flew off instantly, and the poor table rolled over and crashed to the ground two meters away with a loud bang and the sound of shattering glass.
The table was completely overturned, the three drawers were smashed open and fell off with a loud crash, scattering all the jewelry, documents and other miscellaneous items on the floor. The ashtray was smashed into pieces, and the scene was instantly a mess.
Hearing the loud noise upstairs, the servants in the villa rushed up in a panic, but before they could speak, they were all scolded and blocked from entering by Jiang Fengming.
"Get out, all of you! No one is allowed in without my permission!!" Jiang Fengming walked to the door with a dark face, slammed the door shut with a loud "bang." Yu Congyi closed his eyes.
Jiang Fengming believed that Yu Congyi hadn't told him the truth, but Yu Congyi had no way to refute him. Similarly, he had never seen the other party so angry, which almost took him by surprise.
"Jiang Fengming!!" Yu Congyi's voice hardened again. He walked up to the other man, raised his hand, and grabbed his wrist. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant... I didn't lie to you. I just got anxious seeing you like this. These are truly turbulent times. Leave these matters to me. You don't need to worry. I will keep my promise to you. I'll take care of everything."
“I know.” Jiang Fengming raised his hand, quickly wiping it away, whether to wipe away tears or something else, Yu Congyi couldn’t quite see, but he saw him take a deep breath, his words still coming out like a machine gun, still on the verge of collapse and rage, “I know you’re busy, with lots of trivial matters, but can’t you think of me before you do those things? At least, like informing your subordinates, you should at least inform me! Don’t you find it funny that I’m kept in the dark and know nothing? I was planning to talk business with Yang Ruinian this morning, and look at the state I’m in now, not to mention whether I have the face to go, how dare I go in the future? Have you thought about what will become of the Yang and Jiang families in the French Concession, huh?”
"I…"
"And even if you didn't kill Yang Xianglao, you did kill his godson, right? Why would you kill a kid for no reason??? Brother, I really wonder if you're missing a screw in your head. Did Dad push you into military school when you were little and make you stupid? Did you think about the consequences? Did you think about me? Did you even think about it?!" Jiang Fengming gasped for breath, his voice rising again, "I heard that you didn't come home for a while, and there wasn't anything important going on in your unit! What are you trying to do, brother? I'm really scared of you!"
Yu Congyi's head ached from Jiang Fengming's tirade. He felt both distressed and heartbroken that the other still didn't believe him, and his lingering guilt was about to vanish. His brother was nearly insane; perhaps the accumulated anxiety and impending collapse were driving Jiang Fengming to increasingly ramble on and on, leaving Yu Congyi with no chance to interject. His patience remained, but it was like dealing with a tangled mess of knots; what should have been a simple matter was becoming increasingly complicated by misunderstandings. He couldn't understand why Jiang Fengming was so insecure; these weren't things he should be exhibiting. Yu Congyi was also somewhat adept at dredging up old grievances and engaging in verbal battles. The fact that his subordinates had been unfairly targeted had already distracted and troubled him, and now, faced with his brother's endless accusations, his own thoughts were in turmoil. He understood Jiang Fengming's feelings, but that was far from something he needed to worry about. He had already said he wouldn't put him in danger.
Unfortunately, Jiang Fengming didn't believe it.
"What I do is none of your business to question me like this! First of all, I want to talk to you about Jiang Fengming. How our godfather trains us is his own decision, and you don't need to ask him about it now. To put it bluntly, I'm in a position to fulfill my duties, and I don't need to reveal everything to you. I'm your brother, but besides being your brother, I'm also the commander of the Military Police. I'll tell you what needs to be said, but you need to understand that this isn't mandatory. Both of you have preconceived notions and deep-seated prejudices. The so-called truth you insist on is something even you yourself don't know is true or false. You think it's useless for me to speak? You don't believe me? Then will it be useful for me to tell you? Let me ask you again, what I said earlier..." "Have I ever told you how to treat people? Do you know that Yang Shucai threatened to jump off a building because of you? Jiang Fengming, that's what you should be concerned about! Compared to what happened today, which do you think is more important?" Yu Congyi glared at Jiang Fengming, seeing him just staring at him blankly, he suddenly reached out and grabbed the other's collar, saying sternly, "Jiang Fengming, wake up! What do you think I'm trying to do by telling you all this? I know what you're thinking and worried about, but do you really think these things are important to you? A gentleman focuses on the fundamentals. When you figure that out, when will you be able to let go of your burdens?"
"Important? What's important and what's not important? I only know that if you kill someone and get into trouble, it's very important to me!! Why are you mentioning that woman Yang Shucai? I just know that even if I'm not worried about what happened today, you should be worried about me, right, big brother? Don't be so selfish, okay??" Jiang Fengming completely failed to understand his older brother's meaning. With Yu Congyi grabbing his collar, he could only raise his head slightly. He squinted his eyes, feeling a mix of wanting to cry and wanting to laugh. The words he shouted out in grief, anger, and incomprehension were so harsh that they made Yu Congyi's throat tighten for a moment. He stared intently into his younger brother's eyes, opening his mouth several times but unable to utter a word.
Both of them knew what they were arguing about, but one had no responsibility to explain, and the other had no obligation to understand. Yet, neither of them knew what they were arguing about, leaving one heartbroken and the other disappointed.
"You... since that's the case, I have nothing more to say. I don't know why you just won't believe me." After a long pause, Yu Congyi released his grip on the other man's collar, his voice hoarse as he coughed twice, head bowed. Turning away, he felt a chill in his heart and left the room without looking back.
Without hesitation, Yu Congyi went straight downstairs and walked towards the porch. The servants on the first floor stood in the corner of the living room, watching him tremblingly, none daring to come up and ask him a question. He walked all the way to the courtyard gate before stopping, without turning back, but simply looking up at the sky.
It started to drizzle; the winter rain in Tianjin at the end of November was so cold it could seep into your bones. Yu Congyi raised his arm, quickly tugged at his collar, and restrained himself from turning back. He abandoned the idea of going back to get an umbrella and silently walked into the rain.
…
He walked aimlessly for an unknown amount of time, his eyes following the rain puddles reflecting the moonlight on the cement road. His clothes were almost soaked through, and he didn't know which way he was going. He was just feeling depressed and his head was spinning. He knew he needed to relieve this, so he just let himself wander in the rain like a madman.
The rain drizzled steadily, neither increasing nor decreasing. Yu Congyi walked along the roadside, opening his eyes in the rain, hastily wiping the water droplets from his eyelashes, and staring blankly ahead. The shops on both sides of the street were brightly lit, the wide alleys overflowing with neon lights, but there was hardly a soul in sight. It must be because of the rain; nobody wanted to come out and shop. "Damn it," Yu Congyi muttered to himself, shaking off a handful of water.
After cursing, he cursed again, this time louder. Not satisfied, he cursed again. He hadn't eaten dinner, and he was full of anger. Yu Congyi felt that he hadn't walked across the road so freely in a long time. No one was watching his actions, so he became bold and unrestrained, walking further and further into the street.
He glanced up casually and caught sight of a sign with three large, brightly lit neon characters: "New Xianlin," exuding an air of extravagance and grandeur. Yu Congyi whistled, a strange sense of familiarity creeping in. His mind went blank as he tried to recall something, but the rain blurred his thoughts. Yet, something felt off. He squinted and looked more closely, then suddenly stopped.
Two people were hiding under the eaves, concealed in the darkness, entwined together, intimately embracing. Suddenly, Yu Congyi thought he must have seen Tang Zefei—the figure was too distinctive, and his eyesight was exceptionally sharp; he and his lover were also sheltering from the rain, but unlike him, they weren't standing foolishly in the rain. Tang Zefei was holding a boy in his arms, kissing him intimately.
What a coincidence! But the timing is not good. Yu Congyi frowned subconsciously, and the moment he recognized the other person, he immediately looked away, as if trying to escape from something. He pretended to be nonchalant, turned his face away, lowered his head, and quickly walked away.
Yu Congyi hadn't expected to encounter the other person here in his current state, especially while the other person was being intimate with their lover. A strange feeling welled up inside him, and the ease he had finally managed to muster vanished. He was afraid of being seen by the other person, and he didn't want to look any longer, but somehow, as he took a step, his heart tightened, and at the same time, he couldn't help but feel contempt.
"Yu Congyi!" Just then, a sudden tingling sound reached his ears; it was Tang Zefei calling his name. Yu Congyi, his face soaked and hair drenched, stopped in his tracks, utterly disheveled and speechless. He hadn't expected Tang Zefei to notice him. As if he hadn't heard her, Yu Congyi continued walking forward.
"Yu Congyi... Yu Congyi!" The sound of splashing water came from behind. Yu Congyi heard the breathing getting closer and closer. Suddenly, as if he could not bear it any longer, he turned around abruptly. His gaze first fell on the eaves. He saw that the boy who was his lover was still standing there stupidly. Tang Zefei had already caught up with him. He turned around and glared at Tang Zefei. His expression was full of impatience and coldness.
Tang Zefei only saw that he was soaking wet, disheveled and frantic, and wanted to ask him what had happened, but Yu Congyi glanced at him and recognized that this "New Fairy Forest" was the dance hall where he had met the other party before.
Yu Congyi was unaware that his expression looked so disdainful and indifferent. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his already cold face, combined with the recent argument and being soaked in the rain, immediately stunned Tang Zefei.
"Hahaha!" At this moment, another strange laugh came from somewhere. Yu Congyi and Tang Zefei turned around and saw Zhan Yuewei walking slowly from the entrance of the ballroom, holding an octagonal umbrella.
Yu Congyi's eye twitched twice. He had a feeling that this person was up to no good when he saw her. Sure enough, Tang Zefei didn't seem surprised at all. Instead, she took a few steps closer to Yu Congyi, blocking his way, and said in a calm voice, "It's raining heavily, why did Young Master Zhan come out?"
Yu Congyi sensed that his words were tinged with wariness, but before he could figure out what they meant, Zhan Yuewei had already waded through the shallow water to stand in front of him, tilting one side of her umbrella towards him. The young master Zhan smiled and said, "I've found my beauty for today."
Yu Congyi looked up at him in confusion, feeling bewildered, and turned to leave; but then he saw Tang Zefei turn around, push Zhan Yuewei's umbrella aside, and raindrops on his forehead dripped down his brow bone. His eyes were hidden behind the rain and mist, cold and unreadable.
"Didn't we agree? I said I've found the beauty for today." Zhan Yue smiled, leaned forward suggestively, stood on tiptoe, cupped Tang Zefei's chin in her hand, and lightly rubbed the small mole under his left eye with her thumb. Then she let go of him, took a step forward, and hugged Yu Congyi tightly.
“It’s been almost a month since we last parted at the Qian Mansion,” Zhan Yuewei took a step closer and completely embraced Yu Congyi, who was about to leave. Her arms tightened like iron hoops, holding him back. “Commander Yu, do you miss me?”
Goosebumps immediately rose all over Yu Congyi's body. He shuddered and shoved Zhan Yuewei hard. The memory of his previous encounter suddenly flooded his mind, and he instinctively shouted, "Get out of my way!"
"Don't be so unromantic. I'm committed to you today, and you can't escape." Zhan Yuewei hugged him from behind, and Yu Congyi helplessly and unwillingly began to pry his arms off—it was like a woman without any moves facing a rogue man, and he felt that this was simply ridiculous.
Suddenly, Zhan Yuewei leaned forward, her umbrella-holding hand pinching Yu Congyi's chin. She boldly licked Yu Congyi's brow, then sighed passionately, watching the water droplets that had gathered at the tip of his brow roll down his nose and linger on his chin. "Your eyebrows are so cruelly long and thin," Zhan Yuewei murmured involuntarily, "You are such a solitary person, but the more solitary you are, the more I love you."
"Zhan Yuewei!" Tang Zefei suddenly roared, stepped forward, yanked his arm away from Yu Congyi, grabbed Zhan Yuewei by the collar, and slapped him hard. "Shameless thing, what are you doing?!"
Zhan Yue took a few steps back, stunned by the sudden blow. He touched his cheek in disbelief, looked at Yu Congyi, and then at Tang Zefei. Yu Congyi also looked over and saw that Tang Zefei's face was deathly pale, with faint blue veins showing under his eyes, giving him a somewhat eerie look. His eyes were also frighteningly cold, and his aura was no different from his gaze.
"You want to back out?" Zhan Yue touched her face and laughed, taking two steps forward and pointing at Tang Zefei's chest. "Don't forget what we were playing. You want to back out, huh?"
It turns out that Tang and Zhan were playing "Tea Picking," which is essentially a lewd betting game. The rules are that they can find a satisfactory "tea pick"—that is, a bed partner—on the street in broad daylight without going to a dance hall. The game is based on preference and first come, first served. First, once a person is chosen, it cannot be changed, and whoever chooses first wins. Second, if one person's chosen "tea pick" happens to be desired by both, or even if both want to have it all and neither is willing to give it up, then the loser, the later party, either willingly accepts that the "tea pick" is taken by someone else, or they can take the person but must accept the other person's "price."
Tang Zefei was shocked the moment he saw Yu Congyi. He didn't know why Yu Congyi would come here at this time. He knew Zhan Yuewei's habits too well and thought that if Zhan Yuewei were here, she would definitely not give in. Unfortunately, it was too late!
The boy shivering under the eaves, who had just been intimate with Tang Zefei, was the "partner" Tang Zefei had found tonight, and that was already irreversible; however, Zhan Yuewei wasn't into his type, so she had waited until now, and only when she saw Yu Congyi did he say that he had found his man for today, which clearly meant to tell Tang Zefei that this man belonged to her no matter what.
Zhan Yuewei didn't know what had happened between Tang Zefei and Yu Congyi, but judging from the last incident, Tang Zefei was definitely not going to give in. Well then, with Yu Congyi on one side and the bargaining chips she had offered on the other, whichever side she got, it would be enough to make her gloat for a very long time.
"You'd better think this through," Zhan Yuewei touched his cheek, which was already a little bruised. He spat to the side, lifted his eyelids, and glared fiercely at Tang Zefei. "Young Master Tang, do you want him, or something else? You'd better think it through!"
At this moment, the boy who had been hiding under the eaves ran over, stood beside Tang Zefei in the rain, grabbed his arm and shook him, "Young Master, let's go, let's go, let's not play with them anymore, let's go."
"Get lost." Tang Zefei shouted this succinctly at him, and with a forceful wave of her hand, she sent the boy away. He had already begun to regret his actions, but he knew Zhan Yuewei's personality better than anyone else—he couldn't tell whether today's events were a pre-planned scheme by Zhan Yuewei to get back at him or just a coincidence. However, nothing mattered now. In this game, Zhan Yuewei had already gained the upper hand. What choice should he make?
Zhan Yuewei continued to hold onto Yu Congyi, using even more force than she had at the Qian Mansion, once again locking him firmly in her arms. The umbrella was thrown aside and left to drift in the wind and rain, floating like a rootless duckweed. Zhan Yuewei lowered her head, her eyes fixed on Tang Zefei, but she breathed into Yu Congyi's ear, "Guess what price I'm asking for."
Yu Congyi had already discerned the tricks these two were playing from their words, but he hadn't realized he was being used. Zhan Yuewei's soft breath brushed against his ear, making him extremely uncomfortable. The rain seemed to have lessened a bit; his clothes were soaking wet and clung to his body, and he felt the other's body against his skin growing increasingly hot. His agitated rage was about to reach its peak; he didn't want, and loathed, being controlled by this man like this. Tang Zefei was someone he didn't want to rely on; both of them were making him feel helpless and angry, wanting to laugh and go crazy. How could he get rid of them both?
"Spit it out, you bastard! How am I supposed to know what kind of bullshit price you're offering?" Yu Congyi gritted his teeth and roared at Zhan Yuewei.
"My offer was for him to get out of China."
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