Chapter 12: Afraid of Fire, He's Found the Best Way to Escape Death
Su Jinmu was listening to her parents' conversation when she learned of this news.
Father Su cleared his throat, looking rather serious, and avoided mentioning the previous affair between the skinny horse and his elder brother's lover.
"Xiao Mu, we're going to be preparing for your birthday party soon. There will be a lot of guests, so you should practice your piano recently and play a piece at the party."
His birthday has already passed, but no banquet was held. This is the same every year. Usually, we wait for a suitable time to gather more people and build more connections for the Su family.
Therefore, his birthday parties are either held earlier or later than scheduled, and are rarely on time.
He might have felt disappointed about this before, but not at all now.
Because he doesn't even know when his birthday is.
He thought his previous birthday was the day he was adopted, but after reading the original text, he realized that it wasn't. His childhood birthday was the date of adoption. After deciding to raise him as a "skinny horse," he changed his birthday.
I chose a time that was easy to remember.
May 20.
The gentle and lovable young master Su was born on the special day of May 20th.
How beautiful! Just hearing it makes one feel tenderness.
Su Jinmu twitched the corners of her mouth, her mind wandering as she stared blankly into space.
Seeing that he remained silent, Su's father solemnly repeated, "You've had enough fun these past few days, practice the piano."
Su's father had heard about his frequenting of clubs and frowned, "Tell the cleaning staff to come into your room and tidy it up."
Su Jinmu has always been transparent and without secrets in their eyes, so they mustn't let her be led astray by the Feng family.
Su Jinmu snapped out of her reverie, looked up, and smiled slightly. Her features were delicate, but her eyes were clear and sharp. "Thank you, Father, but no need. My room is very clean; there's no need to tidy it up."
"I'm going to practice the piano," he said.
Su Jinmu lowered his eyes, nodded and left. In the original story, although his parents sent him to the Li family, this has not happened yet. They used to treat him as a "skinny horse" or a "mistress in reserve," but they never mistreated him.
My mother also dotes on me a lot.
Perhaps it was genuine, perhaps it was feigned.
In any case, he will die and leave this place soon. Let it be that he is grateful for the kindness of his parents and is willing to cooperate with them in the time before he dies so that they can use him to make more connections.
Su Jinmu overheard a few servants mentioning at the door of the music room that the college entrance examination ended today.
So... Li Xin is leaving?
Su Jinmu played the zither with a calm expression. The music echoed in the well-soundproofed room, but Su Jinmu felt inexplicably stifled and irritable.
It's so noisy.
Su Jinmu pressed her palms on the piano keys, producing a dull, sharp, and noisy sound. She pursed her lips and took a few deep breaths.
He inexplicably lost the mood to practice the piano, so he simply booked a room at a club on his phone.
Last time he went, Li Xin didn't call him to make a reservation; the owner said to just order by phone.
Su Jinmu pressed the red virtual key she had reserved.
“Clatter.”
The phone screen was suddenly turned off.
A slow, low breath pressed down from behind, warm and gentle, sweeping across my neck.
"Is the young master going to find Number Two again?" Li Xin's voice was deep as he glanced sideways at the young master Su on the piano bench.
His arm went from Su Jinmu's side to her front, almost completely surrounding her, and a faint, cool aura spread out.
A refreshing coolness.
Su Jinmu felt strangely calmer and looked up. "What are you doing here? Are you packing your things?"
Li Xin: "???"
Li Xin raised the corners of her lips and said dignifiedly, "I'll serve the young master personally to prevent some shady people from taking my job."
Su Jinmu: "...The college entrance exam is over, aren't you leaving?"
Li Xin paused, realizing what he meant, and chuckled softly, "I'll stay until the results are in, or maybe until the start of the semester."
Su Jinmu: "??"
Yes, the Su family still wants to use him as a brand name, so they'll definitely wait until he gets his grades or an acceptance letter.
It seems we can bully Li Xin for a while longer.
Su Jinmu raised an eyebrow, feeling a little more relaxed. She thought that going out now would be more interesting than going out just now. She smiled and got up to leave.
Li Xin's eyes darkened, and he followed. Just as he reached the door, before he could stop anyone, he heard a sound coming from the end of the corridor.
That's where Su Jinmu's room is located.
Several servants, carrying cleaning tools, knocked on the door but received no answer, and then tried to open it from the outside.
However, it did not come to fruition.
Su Jinmu watched quietly, her beautiful porcelain-white face expressionless, only her eyes dimmed slightly, and the faint smile on her face faded.
Su Jinmu kicked Li Xin's ankle, slightly raised her delicate chin, and said in a soft, casual voice, "Look, the person who's going to steal your job is here."
.
On the day of the banquet, Su Jinmu calmly played a piano piece, and the guests in the hall were bustling with activity, and bursts of applause rang out.
"Young Master Su is so handsome and refined; President Su and Mrs. Su have done an excellent job in educating him."
"No wonder everyone says that Young Master Su is different from others."
"As expected, the second young master of the Su family is indeed as gentle and shy as he is known."
Su's parents strolled around chatting and laughing, saying, "Not at all, we'll visit each other more often when we have the chance."
The entire hall was magnificent. Su Jinmu, dressed in expensive clothes, stood there with a slight smile on her face, but her heart was heavy.
Today is his birthday party, and he's the main character, so it's not appropriate for him to leave. Naturally, these people didn't come empty-handed; some of them brought gifts directly.
It can be seen as a display of financial strength, and also as a prelude to goodwill and cooperation.
Lang Xiuyi, the eldest son of the Lang family, lingered in the hall for a while before his gaze fell on Su Jinmu in the middle.
She wore a well-fitting and figure-hugging outfit that accentuated her waistline. Her eyebrows and eyes were delicate, and her lips were rosy with a hint of plumpness. Her demeanor was both cool and bright.
The snowdrifts are beautiful, like jade.
Lang Xiuyi called his assistant, and a short while later, the assistant drove back with a contract and delivered it to Su's parents.
Lang Xiuyi smiled elegantly and said, "President Su, this is the contract we discussed before. We originally wanted to take a better profit, but since it is your son's birthday banquet today, please consider it a small gift from our Lang family."
Su's father glanced at it, a smile slowly spreading across his face. He shook hands with Lang Xiuyi and said, "Then we'll settle on the details another day."
"Let's not reschedule." Lang Xiuyi looked at Su Jinmu beside him, "Would the Second Young Master do us the honor of having dinner together tomorrow?"
Su Jinmu was already annoyed when she heard his voice. Her long eyelashes lifted, and her annoyance intensified. She pursed her lips.
Su's father glanced at him and replied, "That would be even better—"
"President Su."
Another voice broke in, and a tall young man in a suit stepped in, carrying a square gift box. He interrupted Su's father and stepped forward, saying, "This is a gift from our boss to the second young master."
Su's father stared at him, not recognizing him, but Lang Xiuyi looked slightly stunned, "Xin Jin's man."
This company has recently risen to prominence unexpectedly, climbing to a high position almost above everyone else. People in the industry are waiting to see the true face of the person in power, but the person is quite mysterious and has never shown up.
The Spring Banquet Archery Range and Horse Farm in the suburbs are also said to be under his name.
The Su family and they had never been in contact before, so why did they suddenly come?
Moreover, most of the people who came to the birthday party had been invited in advance.
This person was not invited.
The tall young man nodded politely, "I came uninvited, just to give the Second Young Master a birthday present. Please don't take offense."
"Not at all." Father Su reached out to take it, but the young man gently declined. "It's for the Second Young Master. Please go upstairs and open it yourself."
Su Jinmu: "??"
Su Jinmu glanced over indifferently, and the other person's expression softened slightly, nodding politely in acknowledgment.
Su's father was unsure of the other party's intentions, and since Su Jinmu didn't want to stay downstairs any longer, she took her things and went upstairs.
The young man didn't stay long; he left after dropping off the child.
Su Jinmu returned to his room, where the crowds downstairs had temporarily dispersed, allowing him to catch his breath.
Li Xin was wiping things in the room, wearing the Su family's usual white shirt and black trousers, with the cuffs rolled up, revealing a sharp, pale forearm.
He was wearing an apron and was slightly bent over wiping something, his expression indifferent and refined.
Su Jinmu glanced at him, then glanced at him again, and then glanced at him once more.
Something seems off.
Look away.
He had heard of this suddenly appearing behemoth, but only heard about it.
Su Jinmu smirked, too lazy to speculate, and called Li Xin over to open the box.
Li Xin walked in slowly and deliberately, her apron hanging close to her body, gently outlining her waistline. She bent her long legs and squatted down to open the box.
The contents inside had a dark metallic sheen and were quite heavy.
It's a lock.
Door lock.
Su Jinmu: "...???"
Su Jinmu was stunned for two seconds.
What does that mean?
Who gives a door lock as a birthday gift?
Su Jinmu picked it up and looked at it, puzzled. It was a very sophisticated, high-end lock.
Below is another card, simply blank with only a single handwritten letter, written in a strong and vigorous hand.
Su Jinmu: "P, or D? Or is it a drawing of a little flag in the wind?"
Li Xin: "..."
Li Xin skipped over the letters and said casually, "Perhaps it's a new product; I'll just give it as a gift."
Last time, when the maid tried to come in to clean, Su Jinmu saw her and stopped her, but Su Jinmu couldn't keep an eye on the door all the time.
He glanced at the door, then casually smiled and looked back, "It just so happens that the young master's spare key is with the butler, so sending it is just right and will save trouble."
Su Jinmu clicked her tongue, put the lock back in the box, and pouted, "Forget it, it's something of unknown origin and it's all very strange. My parents might take it to study it, so I'll just put it aside for now."
He pushed it away.
Li Xin: "..."
Li Xin clicked his tongue softly, his gaze slightly lowered, surprised that Su Jinmu wouldn't change her mind.
He turned slightly away from him, squatted down on one knee, the strap of his apron tied behind his waist, revealing his lean and strong waist.
Su Jinmu: "..."
He finally realized where that sense of unease came from.
When did Li Xin start wearing an apron?
Su Jinmu raised an eyebrow slightly, her fingertips seemingly bewitched, reaching inside the apron's tie, gently hooking it, then releasing it and springing back.
"hiss……"
Li Xin let out a soft inhale, pressed the strap back with his hand, and turned to look at him with a refined air, "Young Master."
He only called out once, and then fell silent.
Su Jinmu leaned back on the sofa, her eyes crinkling into a smile, "What, you won't let me play?"
Li Xin's eyes were deep and unfathomable as he gazed over, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I'm afraid the young master will develop bad habits?"
Su Jinmu: "??"
Li Xin said calmly, "I can let the young master play, after all, I only serve the young master."
"But if the young master gets used to it and accidentally injures the second-in-command at the club, it will affect their ability to entertain the guests later."
Su Jinmu: "..."
The boy in front of me had a calm expression, even a faint smile. His upright face exuded a strong sense of righteousness, and he seemed to be speaking with conviction as he stared straight at me.
Su Jinmu suddenly laughed, her fingertips hooking into the ribbon, "You're so petty, maybe others are more magnanimous and don't care as much as you."
How many times have he met Number Two in total? Do you remember?
Li Xin's eyes suddenly darkened, and he stared intently at Su Jinmu without saying a word.
Su Jinmu felt a little uneasy under his gaze, and tickled his lower back with her fingertips. "Okay, okay, you're so magnanimous. He's petty and will only flick you."
Li Xin felt a tingling, itchy sensation as his lower back was brushed against. He stared at him for a moment, then gently curved his lips into a smile, turning his back again to reveal the smooth lines of his back and the thin straps.
Li Xin glanced back at him, his dark eyes seemingly hooked at the corners, and his scarlet lips curled up. "Young Master, please play."
Su Jinmu's fingertips itched, and her heart felt a little itchy too.
.
The birthday party lasted until late at night, with fireworks and culminating in nineteen cannons in the manor that shot upwards and burned all night long.
It happened to coincide with his nineteenth birthday.
Su Jinmu stayed in the room for a while before going downstairs again. When he returned to the room, he encountered the maid who wanted to open the door for him to clean.
Su Jinmu was in a bad mood and secretly thought about speeding up the preparations for her death escape.
He's been obedient for too many years, and now all he wants is to let loose.
When he's in a bad mood, he wants to cause trouble for others. Li Xin mentioned the lock again, and Su Jinmu looked at him and thought of a brilliant idea.
then.
Late at night, Li Xin brought a mattress and blanket and made a bed at Su Jinmu's door.
Li Xin sat in bed. There were blankets in the corridor, and then a mattress on top. It wasn't cold or hard. He could reach out and touch Young Master Su's door.
Through the thin door panel, one could almost hear rustling sounds coming from inside.
It's subtle and alluring, captivating the heart.
Li Xin's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and he unconsciously leaned his body, staring intently at the door with a burning gaze that seemed to pierce through it and allow him to see the person not far inside.
He knew the layout of the room.
Su Jinmu was lying less than five meters away from him at that moment.
...five meters.
Li Xin's mouth was dry, he licked his lips, and a hint of dark excitement flickered in his eyes.
So close.
I can't believe this is a good thing that happened after the lock replacement failed.
"Clatter—"
The door was suddenly opened, and the young master, dressed in loose pajamas, appeared in front of him without warning.
Li Xin looked up at the two slender, straight legs.
Su Jinmu was surprised to see that he had already sat in bed. "You've made up the bed so quickly? I was just about to ask if you wanted to add a mattress; I have extras."
Li Xin's eyes flickered, his breathing quickened slightly, and he curled his lips into a smile, "Demon—"
"Never mind, it seems we don't need to." Su Jinmu smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, looking sweetly at the nest by the door and Li Xin sitting inside.
Li Xin's skin was pale, and his bedding was all simple and pure white. Su Jinmu patted his head repeatedly, as if petting a large snow wolf.
"Sweetie, if we let anyone in, you can leave all your work to Number Two."
Light streamed into the room, casting Su's shadow entirely on him. His blanket carried a faint sweet scent. Li Xin's breathing deepened as he looked up at him.
The mattress beneath me suddenly felt a little cold.
No, maybe he's just too hot.
Li Xin propped up one leg, his abdomen burning hot.
Four o'clock.
Before dawn, when all around was pitch black, a bright spark pierced through the window and ignited the soft, fine carpet in the corridor.
The flames suddenly flickered, swept rapidly by the wind, accompanied by a surging whooshing sound.
Li Xin suddenly opened his eyes, saw the fire around him, his expression changed slightly, his muscles tensed for a moment, and he turned the doorknob beside him.
The door suddenly opened.
Li Xin paused briefly, noting that Su Jinmu had been locking the door whenever she came in or out lately.
But tonight, it's unlocked.
The heat was intense, and a cacophony of shouts could be heard outside. Li Xin quickly snapped out of his daze, stepped inside, and locked the door behind him.
Su Jinmu is a light sleeper. She tensed up and sat up the moment the door opened, but relaxed the moment she saw who it was, her eyes slightly glazed.
"How could you—?"
Before he could finish speaking, Li Xin stepped forward, scooped him up with his long arms, and quickly carried him into the bathroom, covering his mouth and nose with a wet towel.
"Is it on fire?" Su Jinmu was fully awake when she saw Li Xin skillfully wetting a large bath towel and blocking the bedroom door crack, his arm taut with clean lines as he moved.
Su Jinmu said, "The Su family has a complete set of fire-fighting facilities. The fire will be extinguished soon. We will be fine staying in the room. Don't worry."
Li Xin hummed in agreement. The early morning blue light outside gradually brightened, filling the room with a hazy, deep blue hue.
Su Jinmu looked at Li Xin, who was standing by the door with dark and gloomy eyes and a tall and slender figure that exuded a sense of power.
He stared at the door, his face grim, his fingers clenched into fists, his whole body appearing stiff and tense.
Su Jinmu initially thought he had been burned or scalded, and put down the wet towel, wanting to say something, "You, cough cough—"
Smoke spread through the room, and Su Jinmu choked twice before he was caught off guard. A tall figure loomed over him, and a hand suddenly grabbed a towel and covered his mouth and nose.
A slightly damp feeling on my face.
They were extremely close, and Su Jinmu could almost feel the slight pressure from the boy's finger bones on her cheeks.
He paused inexplicably, a strange feeling welling up in his heart, a tingling, itchy sensation. He caught a glimpse of the other person's dull, lifeless eyes, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
"...Are you afraid of fire?"
Li Xin lowered his gaze slightly, stared at him for a while, and made sure he didn't choke again.
"Yes," he said, frankly revealing his weakness to him.
I'm very scared.
Su Jinmu pursed her lips slightly.
Yes, back then, Li Xin's father conspired with his mistress to kill Li Xin and her son.
In addition to poisoning the food, they also set fire to it.
He averted his gaze, avoiding looking into Li Xin's eyes.
It seems he's found the best way to fake his death.
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