There is nowhere to go
As expected, it happened. Du Junwu asked him which school he graduated from and what his major was. Yu Zou answered truthfully, and Du Junwu looked quite regretful after hearing it: "It was pretty good, but it hasn't been doing so well in recent years."
"The students are getting worse with each new batch. You've been a professor for many years, you should feel that even more keenly, right?"
Du Junwu waved his hand, changing the subject: "I heard you have a project collaboration with Pianjian, and you met through the collaboration. What kind of project is it?"
After Yu Zou rattled off a long string of technical terms, Du Junwu's expression showed a moment of displeasure. Yu Zou considerately added, "You don't understand? Would you like me to explain it again?"
"What kind of academic knowledge are you deliberately showing off?" Du Junguang spoke first in a reprimanding tone, then immediately changed his expression to a friendly smile, pointing at Yu Zou, "Trying to show off in front of your fiancée's elders? You're trying to embarrass yourself by showing off your skills in front of Guan Yu."
Yu Zou smiled, his tone both respectful and relaxed: "I am self-aware, but everyone has their own expertise. I didn't expect that you two elders are so learned and knowledgeable in this area."
"Oh? You mean I lack self-awareness?"
"Why does Second Uncle always misinterpret my meaning? Is this also part of the test? Pianjian, you didn't tell me this." Yu Zou looked at Du Pianjian, his tone quite aggrieved.
Du Pianjian grasped his hand and looked at Du Junguang and his wife: "Second Aunt, were you treated like this when you got engaged? Second Uncle, what did you do back then? Tell me quickly, I want to learn it and apply it now."
Du Junguang was caught in a dilemma. Unable to answer, he could only drink tea, using the teacup lid to conceal his pleading glance at his elder brother. This was how the brothers always worked: the younger brother would lead the charge, the older brother would bring up the rear, their seamless cooperation was incredibly skillful.
Du Junwu said, "Alright, Junguang, stop joking with the younger generation. Junzhang, you're from the Pianmei generation. I never expected you to be the first father-in-law. That's good, though. Your wife passed away early, and Pianjian was sick when she was young. Although it's unexpected that you've reached your current position, it's good that you got married early."
Du Junzhang nodded to his elder brother, then turned to Yu Zou and said, "If there's anything wrong with him, let us know immediately."
"I will take care of him for the rest of my life, so you all don't need to worry."
Du Junzhang nodded calmly, showing neither relief nor worry.
Du Junguang, however, seemed amused and let out a cold laugh through his nostrils: "You? Truly a fool's confidence. Try biting off the sugar coating and bleeding yourself, and see if you have the life to bear it."
"Junzhang," Du Junwu lowered his voice, suddenly becoming serious, "Didn't you tell him?"
"He's recovered," Du Junzhang said calmly.
“It’s just your opinion. Marriage isn’t a game, and I don’t want to hear about divorce scandals in the future.” Du Junwu turned to Yu Zou, “Are you aware that Du Pianjian has a history of mental illness?”
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone had different expressions, eagerly awaiting the start of the show.
"I don't know." Yu Zou's smile faded. "So what?"
Du Junguang's wife suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "What? Are you out of your mind? When he goes berserk, he doesn't recognize his own family. He even injured his second uncle and cousin who tried to stop him." As she spoke, she pointed to the scar next to Du Junguang's ear for Yu Zou to see, still feeling lingering fear.
Du Junwu ordered Du Junguang to comfort his wife, and said seriously, "If that day ever comes, I don't want it to become public knowledge and bring shame to the Du family. You can send him back, and we will handle it."
"Deal with it?" Yu Zou asked coldly.
Du Junwu raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup and took a sip, as if to say that everything was understood without words, and slowly said: "If someone is sick, they should be sent to the hospital. If someone is mentally ill, they should be locked up in a mental hospital."
My second aunt suddenly screamed, pointed at Du Pianjian, and shouted, "I think he's showing signs of getting sick right now!"
Du Junguang and Du Pianxing immediately stood up, while Du Qianmei shrank to the side, peeking curiously. The others remained seated, keeping their composure. Du Pianjian kept her head down, her curly hair obscuring her eyes, leaving only a glimpse of her chin, and remained motionless. Yu Zou, on the other hand, crossed her legs, propped her head up, and looked at Du Junguang, saying, "I think someone else should go to a mental hospital."
The words "mental hospital" seemed to trigger something in my second aunt, causing her to tremble and curl up in a chair, repeatedly muttering "no."
Du Junguang stopped his wife with a look, then turned to Yu Zou and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
“‘If you’re sick, you should go to the hospital,’ that’s what my uncle just said.” Yu Zou shrugged, then looked at each person in turn, starting with Du Junguang, pausing for a second on each person’s face.
Du Junwu picked up his cane from the back of the chair and slammed it on the ground, scolding, "What are you doing?! Du Junguang, why don't you appease your wife? Yu Zou, Du Pianjian, is this the attitude you juniors should have? You're misinterpreting my meaning and talking back to your elders."
"What attitude should I have?" After saying that, silence returned. Yu Zou looked back and said, "You've bullied my fiancée like this, and you expect me to just swallow my anger? I can't do that!"
"Where are you bullying me? I'm doing this for your own good," Du Qianmei whispered.
"It's not convincing to say that it's for the benefit of my relatives, someone I have no blood relation to and whom I've only just met, but for my own relatives."
“It’s a fact that he has a history of mental illness! What’s wrong with telling the truth?” Du Junguang replied.
"You're deliberately trying to upset me by bringing this up now."
"You'll be the one who loses face then, so don't blame us for warning you beforehand." Du Junwu slammed his cane on the ground again, like a teacher using a pointer to intimidate a student.
“I didn’t make him sick, so what’s shameful about me?” Yu Zou retorted.
Du Junwu had not been so disrespected in many years, and he was immediately furious: "You can afford to lose face, but the Du family can't! Even if we get married, if you let him embarrass himself in public, I can send him back to a mental hospital."
"I said I would take full responsibility for Du Pianjian's case, and no one should try to interfere, or they will bear the consequences."
Shen Xin sat there bewildered, while the others each had their own thoughts. In the midst of the stalemate, Du Junzhang stood up, walked to the center of the hall, bowed slightly to Du Junwu, and said, "Brother, I'm sorry. The children were impulsive. I apologize on their behalf. You are highly respected; please don't take offense. The time for ancestral worship is almost here."
Shen Xin also tried to persuade her: "Yes, let's stop chatting here. There are other guests coming. It wouldn't be good if they found out."
The ancestral worship ceremony was simple and wasn't originally intended for them. Given their behavior that morning, lunch was unusually peaceful.
The Du family had a midday rest. After the meal, Du Junzhang silently led the two to a secluded place, no longer asking about Yu Zou's performance in the hall. They walked straight through a bamboo grove and arrived at a small courtyard in a secluded corner. In the center of the courtyard, where the four water features converge, the gnarled branches of an old plum tree pierced the gray sky.
The sandalwood incense in the spotless room was almost tangible, pricking Yu Zou so much that he sniffed. Du Junzhang walked straight to a shrine and meticulously offered incense to the goddess statue. He knelt on the prayer mat, clasped his hands together, and chanted scriptures with utmost piety.
Du Pianjian took out a box of saline swabs from the sandalwood drawer and handed it to him. Seeing that Yu Zou had not improved, she pulled him out. Du Junzhang did not ask any questions.
Beside the now-desolate pond, there were still places overlooked. A tiny spiderweb, an inch above the water's surface, connected two ancient stones, though their owner was nowhere to be found. The two chatted idly. Yu Zou seemed to know a little about everything, or perhaps he knew nothing at all, but his negotiation skills kept the conversation going.
At 3:30 p.m., the party began. The two followed Du Junzhang to the hall. Not wanting to socialize, they decided to hide in a corner and continue chatting until Du Pianjian said, "Do you still want to stay? Let's run away."
Yu Zou's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.
Du Pianjian said, "The two of you are too obvious. You go out and wait for me in the car."
Yu Zou left happily. Du Pianjian watched him go, then immediately turned cold and said to the door, "Don't you want your eyes anymore?"
“Yes, but you don’t want to kneel in the ancestral hall today, do you?” Du Pianxing walked out from behind the door and stood where Yu Zou had just been. “You’ve grown temperamental, is it because you found an Alpha? Tsk, I’ve told you the thing I hate most is that look in your eyes. Even your dad isn’t on your side, do you expect him to be? It’s just a novelty. He can say that on the first day, but will he say it on the second or third day? Once it’s not a novelty anymore…”
Du Pianxing reached out to touch Du Pianjian's nape but was slapped away. A poison-like pain immediately shot through his arm and lingered. Du Pianxing immediately frowned and pointed out the window, "Look, my cousin-in-law is over there!"
Du Pianjian looked down and saw that the courtyard was empty.
Du Pianxing laughed heartily, never getting enough of the pleasure he derived from fooling others: "You're quite the actor."
"Du Pianjian!"
Du Pianxing was about to say something more when he heard Du Junmei's voice. He immediately looked disgusted, rolled his eyes, and walked away.
Du Junmei walked over, giving Du Pianxing the same eye-roll. With her bangs and fox-like eyes, she always gave the impression of being ready to pounce and bite at any moment—far more terrifying than Du Pianxing. Looking at Du Pianjian, she said coldly, "Du Pianjian, are you really going to marry him? You're only twenty-four, he's thirty, older than me!"
"So what?"
"Someone who is eliminated from their peer group can only reach out to those below them. Don't you understand?"
"Me? A subordinate?"
"Otherwise what? Omega."
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."
"You!" Du Junmei was furious and threw out another famous quote to support her point. That's how she was; she always used other people's words to argue: "There is no such thing as a tailor-made love in the world, only a carefully designed trap."
"At least, he won't send me to a mental hospital for no reason."
"I'm really full. Congratulations on your marriage." Du Junmei rolled her eyes and clapped.
"If I could, I wouldn't want to invite any of you."
"Tch, do you think I want to go?"
Du Pianjian glanced at the time on her bracelet: "Hurry up and tell me why you're here."
"Find your husband to collaborate on a project."
“Brother-in-law, come here. I have something to tell you.” Du Pianxing pulled Yu Zou to the corridor, and after looking around mysteriously, he spoke, “I really can’t stand it anymore, I have to be honest with you.”
Yu Zou calmly withdrew his arm: "What?"
"Please don't blame us for what happened this morning. There was a reason for it. This relative of mine loves to climb the social ladder. Over the years, she has brought countless 'fiancés' to our house to say they want to get engaged. My dad and uncle initially thought it was true and took it seriously every time. But after it happened so many times, they couldn't stand it anymore. They were just reminding you at the dinner table."
Yu Zou opened his mouth slightly, utterly surprised, and offered a cigarette: "Really? Cousin?"
Seeing that someone had taken the bait, Du Pianxing became bolder and continued, "It's true! Go and ask around. That father and son can only fool someone like you who just returned to the country and doesn't know anything. When he was in high school, he had an ambiguous relationship with an Alpha named Xu Bo. The two of them would always disappear after school, no one knew where they went to do it. You also know that he used to be Jin Feng's fiancée, right? He was very attentive to Jin Feng, and Jin Feng had already gotten his hands on him."
Why are you telling me this?
"I'm a kind-hearted person. Seeing you being completely fooled by that father and son makes me feel uneasy." Du Pianxing examined the cigarette in his hand. The pure white paper felt soft and light in his hand, definitely top-quality. He cursed inwardly at this nouveau riche for his enjoyment and couldn't wait to take out a lighter from his pocket.
"I see." Yu Zou approached Du Pianxing, grabbed his hand, and whispered, "Thank you. I'll tell you a secret too."
Du Pianxing's wrist was tightly gripped, and he couldn't break free at all. As he watched him lower the bracelets on both of them, his pheromones immediately swept through his internal organs like a whirlwind. The cigarette fell from his uncontrollably trembling fingers and was forced to accept its fate of falling to the ground and being crushed.
“Du Pianxing, I never want to hear you say those words about Pianjian from anywhere or from anyone again. If I find out, whether it’s a rumor or the truth, you will only be more miserable than you are today.”
Du Pianxing's legs went weak, his eyes rolled back, and his esophagus swelled up, making him about to vomit. Yu Zou then released him and stepped back, putting his hands in his pockets as he said, "The secret is, you can't be marked anymore."
A person suppressed by a powerful pheromone cannot function properly due to the pheromone's own malfunction. This not only causes extreme pain in the body, but also prevents glands from functioning properly. In mild cases, this can lead to loss of marking ability, while in severe cases, it can result in death.
"You!" Du Pianxing's face turned a deep shade of liver color. He trembled as he adjusted the bracelet, his fingers twisting and turning, unable to press the right button.
"Yu Zou! I want to tell..."
"Go ahead, go tell Dad." Yu Zou laughed, slowly adjusting the bracelet higher. "Even if your dad comes, it'll be the same. Or do you want to call the police?"
Yu Zou tapped the bracelet a few times, and an image appeared, landing on the ground. The cropped image showed Du Pianxing cradling a slender, injured bone, with needle marks clearly visible on the back of his neck.
Du Pianxing's pupils constricted, his blood rushed back, and his mind went blank. He shouted, "You, you! If one of us is harmed, we are all harmed. I am Du Pianjian's cousin. If something happens to me, he won't get away with it either."
"You don't need to worry about that. Once he marries me, he's mine. None of you have anything to do with him."
Yu Zou stood up, straightened his ring, looked up and saw the wind chimes on the eaves, and flicked them.
The lingering sound echoed for a long time.
Wangyuan Garden was truly vast, and Yu Zou quickly lost his way among the similar pavilions and towers. Suddenly, he spotted a signpost ahead – a real lifesaver! He jogged over to check its location, only to realize he had unknowingly strayed further from the exit.
Yu Zou was taking a picture of the map with his phone when Du Pianjian slowly entered the frame, standing next to the map, and asked, "Are you looking around?"
"No, I'm lost."
In the video, Du Pianjian smiles, points her finger at Yu Zou's spot, slides it to the doorway, and mimics a tour guide's words: "This tourist, there's another famous attraction near Wangyuan Garden. Would you like to go?"
Yu Zou recorded the conversation and asked, "Are you charging sect fees? Do you want to buy souvenirs? Are you trying to rip me off?"
"It's free and very effective."
"where?"
Temple of the Goddess.
An old tree in the temple is covered with red tags, and the statues of the gods inside are lifelike.
Du Pianjian asked, "Does this look familiar?"
The goddess held a jade ruyi wrapped in celestial gauze and cast an equal and compassionate gaze upon the crowd.
"Isn't that the one in your house?"
“Yes, in my dad’s heart, this is my mom.” To Yu Zou’s surprise, Du Pianjian continued, “When I was little, I thought my father was feudal and superstitious. What was the use of praying to gods and Buddhas all day? My mom wouldn’t come back to life. It wasn’t until I saw my mom’s notes that I realized that my mom’s pheromones smelled like sandalwood, and that my dad wasn’t praying to a god, but to my mom.”
“They loved each other so much that they didn’t have any extra love for me. My mother had a habit of writing notes, and my father got to know her by borrowing and replying to the books she had left notes on. Pianjian, that’s where my name comes from, but…” Du Pianjian looked at Yu Zou, “Isn’t a few words a bit too short?”
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