Chapter 51: The Lin Family Goes Bankrupt, and the Fate of the Lin Family Members...
The study was warmly lit, with only the soft sounds of turning pages and the keyboard filling the air.
Standing behind Wang Shunduo, Meng Huaiwen wrapped his arms around his shoulders, rested his chin affectionately in the crook of his neck, and rubbed against him like a large dog, whining sleepily, "Brother, I want to sleep..."
Wang Shunduo stopped typing.
The warmth from behind, the gentle breath on his neck, and the slight itch caused by the soft strands of hair brushing against his skin felt like the most subtle electric currents, constantly stimulating his tense nerves.
He could feel Meng Huaiwen's breath brushing against his ear as he spoke, carrying a sense of complete dependence and a silent allure.
Meng Huaiwen seemed dissatisfied with his rejection, rubbing his cheek against his neck more closely, his nose almost buried in his hair, and muttered, "I'm not going to sleep alone... I'm going to wait for you."
The intimate little gestures were like a lit match thrown into Wang Shunduo's heart, which was already overflowing with gasoline.
With a "boom," all my proud self-control crumbled.
He wanted to kiss him. The thought had never been so clear and urgent.
The man took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress the restlessness in his chest, but with little effect.
He raised his hand, deftly removed his glasses, and gently grasped Meng Huaiwen's hand in front of him, his fingertips tracing the skin of the other's hand inch by inch.
The man's voice was much lower and hoarser than usual, even carrying a slight, uncontrollable tremor that he himself was unaware of: "Huaiwen..." he called out, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, "Do you know what usually happens after you hold someone like this?"
His question carried a certain implication, yet left room for maneuver, as if making a final confirmation, or as if giving the other party a chance to escape.
Meng Huaiwen clearly didn't realize the deeper meaning behind those words, or rather, he didn't even think about it that way.
He remained immersed in the coquettish atmosphere, even going so far as to rub his cheek against Wang Shunduo's neck again, with a hint of playfulness, and replied with a joking laugh: "Afterwards? Of course, I'll still hold you~ I'll hold you all the way to the bedroom, and onto the bed..."
Wang Shunduo suddenly moved!
He grasped Meng Huaiwen's hand and turned around deftly while still seated!
The sudden movement caught Meng Huaiwen, who had been leaning on his shoulder, off guard. With the force of his turn, the two were instantly face to face, so close that they could hear each other breathing.
Wang Shunduo tilted his head slightly, meeting Meng Huaiwen's amber eyes, which widened slightly in surprise.
Meng Huaiwen was already bent over, and now the two of them were almost touching forehead to forehead, their noses lightly touching, forming an extremely intimate and intimate posture.
Their warm breaths mingled completely, indistinguishable from one another.
Looking into those bewildered and innocent eyes so close to him, and listening to his pure yet alluring words, the last shred of restraint in Wang Shunduo's eyes finally crumbled completely.
He closed his eyes briefly, as if he had finally given up all resistance, and when he opened them again, his eyes were as deep as night.
Without a second thought, he turned his head slightly, avoiding a nose-to-nose kiss, and placed a gentle, feather-like kiss, precious yet filled with an irrepressible longing, on Meng Huaiwen's slightly parted lips, which were filled with surprise.
"..."
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
That warm, soft, and fleeting touch was like a thunderclap, exploding on Meng Huaiwen's lips and in his mind.
Meng Huaiwen was as if struck by an electric current, and he straightened up abruptly, instantly creating distance between them.
The young man almost jumped to his feet, and the sudden, exaggerated movement revealed his panicked state of mind.
"You...you..." Meng Huaiwen stammered for a long time, but couldn't form a complete sentence. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst his chest.
His cheeks, ears, and even neck quickly flushed crimson, like a ripe shrimp.
The fleeting touch, combined with the incredibly alluring scene before him, made his heart race wildly, almost suffocating him.
His first kiss was just... stolen by Brother Shunduo?!
"What about me?" Wang Shunduo rested his chin on his hand, looking at him leisurely, as if he wasn't the one who had just kissed Meng Huaiwen.
Having finally done what he had long wanted to do, Wang Shunduo felt much more relaxed and at peace than he had imagined.
He was probably afraid that Meng Huaiwen would hate him because of this, but at this moment, from Meng Huaiwen's reaction, he could see that Meng Huaiwen was close to him... and did not hate him at all.
Now that he had the answer, he naturally no longer needed to worry.
If we proceed gradually, one day Huaiwen's body and soul will belong to him, forever.
Meng Huaiwen stared at Wang Shunduo, his amber eyes filled with immense shock and bewildered embarrassment, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke: "This is my first kiss! Brother, what are you doing?!"
Meng Huaiwen covered his mouth, his cheeks flushed crimson, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his throat, his eyes darting nervously and shyly to Wang Shunduo's lips, his mind a complete blank.
Looking at his extremely innocent reaction, which was so different from his usual sunny and energetic appearance, Wang Shunduo's initial unease from the impulsive kiss was suddenly replaced by a subtle doubt.
The man, who had just been calm, raised his head, slightly raised his eyebrows, and his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses fell heavily on Meng Huaiwen's flushed face. His voice was still low and husky: "First kiss? Haven't you already been in a relationship?"
"Cough...that doesn't even count as dating." Meng Huaiwen's cheeks were burning hot. He didn't need to look in the mirror to know that his face was red all the way to his ears and neck. His eyes were darting around, and he turned his face away a little embarrassedly. His voice also lowered, "Sun Xin and I have never kissed."
As he spoke, he became increasingly embarrassed, and his somewhat sluggish reflexes only now began to savor the softness of Wang Shunduo's lips, a sensation that left him unable to recover for a long time.
Shunduo is such a quick-witted person... how come his lips are so soft, like jelly?
It wasn't until he realized that Wang Shunduo was still waiting for him to continue, and that Wang Shunduo's usually nonchalant eyes were now fixed on him with a determined light, that Meng Huaiwen came back to his senses.
The more he talked, the more he felt that experience was a dark history, and his tone became disgusted: "Besides, Sun Xin is just so-so looking, I... I just couldn't bring myself to kiss him!" He paused, and as if to emphasize his "innocence," he spoke faster, "We've never even held hands properly more than a few times. When we went out, we always booked two rooms. I've never slept with him."
Meng Huaiwen never expected that his somewhat farcical "romance" would lead Wang Shunduo to misunderstand it as a deeply moving and unforgettable relationship.
For some reason, mentioning Sun Xin in front of Wang Shunduo made him feel inexplicably guilty.
Seeing Wang Shunduo's serious expression, Meng Huaiwen couldn't wait to explain: "...No matter how bad my taste is, I'm still the heir of Xinghe. The number of beautiful girls and boys I've seen since I was a child could stretch from S City to the North Pole. When he confessed to me, it was just because he happened to appear when I wanted to find something to distract me, and he was also quite good at talking, so I agreed."
Sun Xin approached him around the time his sister told him not to get too close to Wang Shunduo.
Wang Shunduo was of course fully aware of this, and his unbelievable guess became clearer.
...Was Huaiwen desperately accepting Sun Xin's confession because he wanted to distract himself and get away from him?
“We were like friends. We would go out to eat together, and I would put my arm around his shoulder like I would with any other guy, but there was no intimate behavior at all... We never even slept together, so it wasn’t really a relationship.” The more Meng Huaiwen thought about it, the more absurd this relationship seemed.
He felt sad about Sun Xin's betrayal, but it was only as if he had been betrayed by a good friend.
Previously, when he caught Sun Xin and Jia Wandian having sex, Sun Xin's excuse, "He's too big," was only because Sun Xin had seen his size while they were soaking in a hot spring and jokingly said, "With your size, it would definitely hurt terribly to go in."
At the time, he felt a little offended, as if someone had made a dirty joke about him, and he was vaguely unhappy.
Meng Huaiwen continued to explain, "Anyway, we really just get along like friends, there's not even any ambiguous behavior between us."
This hasty and somewhat ill-considered explanation was like a gentle breeze, instantly dispelling the last bit of gloom in Wang Shunduo's heart.
So that's how it is.
It turns out that the so-called romance was nothing more than a hasty decision made in a fit of pique, or even with a hint of self-exile, during the period when Meng Huaiwen was estranged from her. It was devoid of any genuine feelings or any real intimacy.
Wang Shunduo continued listening, unaware that his hands had begun to tremble slightly with nervousness.
Meng Huaiwen had been in a relationship before, which was actually a thorn in Wang Shunduo's side.
Will Huaiwen fall for Sun Xin, and then Wang Xin or Li Xin come along to steal Huaiwen away from him?
But now it seems that everything has been regained. The barrier between them melted away like an iceberg in an instant. His heart, which had been slightly sour because of the thought that Meng Huaiwen might have had an intimate relationship with someone else, and even harbored a hidden sense of loss, was now completely filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and peace of mind.
Meng Huaiwen was not only his first kiss, but he was also... from beginning to end, his body and mind were only accustomed to and dependent on him.
This thorn, hidden deep in his heart and one he himself had never carefully examined, was gently removed at this moment by Meng Huaiwen's clumsy yet sincere words, disappearing without a trace.
The last invisible barrier between them, created by their past experiences that weren't exactly "romantic," also melted away.
Meng Huaiwen looked at Wang Shunduo, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance and possessiveness, and muttered softly, "I'm picky about beds and people, you know that. I can only fall asleep when I'm with you, except when I'm sleeping alone."
Looking at the handsome young man in front of him, whose cheeks were flushed with shyness and eagerness, and whose amber eyes were focused on reflecting his face, Wang Shunduo felt his heart melt.
He reached out, this time not to grasp his wrist, but to gently stroke Meng Huaiwen's still burning cheek, his fingertips caressing his delicate skin.
His gaze was incredibly focused, filled with a tenderness that was unseen by ordinary people, and he said softly, "I understand."
Meng Huaiwen felt the warmth of Wang Shunduo's fingertips and subconsciously rubbed against his palm, but immediately came to his senses: "You still haven't told me why you suddenly kissed me? That was my first kiss!"
The young man persisted, bending down to stare intently at the handsome man still seated in his office chair, a smile now playing on his lips: "Brother, you need to give me a reason for being a scoundrel, right?"
Wang Shunduo's heart was already filled with tenderness, and he spoke softly, "Is wanting to kiss you a reason?"
His gaze slowly moved downwards, almost tangibly, sweeping over Meng Huaiwen's straight nose inch by inch, finally settling firmly on those healthy-colored lips that were slightly pursed due to nervousness.
The man's voice was low, husky and sexy, and with each breath, his hot breath brushed against Meng Huaiwen's cheek.
Meng Huaiwen's eyes widened, not expecting Wang Shunduo to be so blunt: "...Huh?"
"So... can I kiss you, brother?" Wang Shunduo looked at him, gently pinching the boy's chin with his fingers. His index finger, which was usually used to pull the trigger, stroked the smooth and beautiful chin with a hint of suggestion.
The force with which he gripped Meng Huaiwen's chin was not heavy, but it carried an undeniable sense of control, forcing Meng Huaiwen to raise his head and meet his gaze.
His refined and handsome face was particularly angular under the light, and his usually affectionate peach blossom eyes now seemed to hide some deeper emotion.
Calloused fingertips, tinged with electricity, brushed across his chin. Meng Huaiwen looked absently at the person so close to him, the person he had always relied on so much, and murmured, "...Brother, you can do whatever you want."
***
The lights were off, leaving only the distant city lights outside the window filtering through the sheer curtains and casting a soft, hazy glow into the room.
The air was filled with the woody scent of Jo Malone's sage, and the central air conditioning was running continuously, making a soft hum.
Meng Huaiwen lay on his side, nestled in Wang Shunduo's arms, his head resting on his arm, his cheek pressed tightly against his left chest, the skin beneath the thin pajamas.
The rhythmic sound of breathing gently brushed against Wang Shunduo's neck, carrying a warm, damp sensation.
Wang Shunduo could clearly feel the heavy weight in his arms, as well as the body temperature and steady breathing of another person coming from his chest.
He closed his eyes, trying to regulate his breathing, attempting to make it sound steady and long, as if he had fallen asleep.
He felt the head resting on his chest move slightly.
Immediately afterwards, a warm hand, tentatively and cautiously, rose silently, its fingertips gently, like a feather brushing against his cheek.
The movement was extremely gentle, with an almost reverent sense of depiction, slowly sliding from his cheekbone to his jawline.
Wang Shunduo's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably, but he maintained his posture of closing his eyes and breathing steadily, without disturbing the other party.
The gentle touch lingered for a moment, and then he felt the head on his chest bury itself even deeper, pressing closer together.
Meng Huaiwen's forehead even unconsciously rubbed against his chest, as if searching for a spot where he could hear his heartbeat more clearly. Then, he stopped and quietly maintained that position.
The two of them always fell asleep in this position when they shared a room; it seemed to have become a deeply ingrained habit.
He wasn't from the beginning adept at vying for power, engaging in deceit and treachery, or wanting to seize everything from the Wang family and become the ruler.
On the contrary, fourteen-year-old Wang Shunduo only wanted to die.
Born as a tool, he was placed on the shoulders of his father, a man with whom he had a business marriage but no affection, as his heir. He had never experienced genuine love or care, and at that time, all he wanted was to use his death to take revenge on those who wanted to use him.
On that sunny afternoon, he lay on the cold floor, his consciousness swallowed by darkness. Meng Huaiwen, who was only nine years old at the time, cried her heart out and rushed to his side in the chaos, her little hands tightly gripping his clothes and her ear pressed against his blood-stained chest, trying to catch his faint heartbeat.
Before he completely lost consciousness, the last clear sound he heard was Huaiwen's broken cries and repeated pleas: "Brother Shunduo! Wake up! Don't leave me! Doctor! Call a doctor! Please... don't leave me..."
The despair and fear in that voice pierced through the shadow of death, becoming the weakest yet most resilient rope that pulled him back from the edge of the abyss.
This action almost became an instinct for Meng Huaiwen to confirm his "existence".
Since then, Meng Huaiwen has developed this habit.
Whether they occasionally slept in the same bed in the past, or were more intimate like they were now, he always wanted to press his chest tightly against his, listening to the steady and powerful heartbeat, as if only this pulse of life could dispel the immense fear of impending loss that lingered deep within him from that afternoon.
Wang Shunduo remained silent, subtly tightening his arms to draw the warm body in his embrace even closer to his own.
Only Huaiwen truly cared about him.
It's not because he is Wang Shunduo, but because he is who he is.
Having experienced such sincere love, he could no longer back down, no matter what.
***
The hustle and bustle subsided, and the guests departed. The Lin family's old house returned to the tranquility it deserved for the night, with only a few warm yellow wall lamps casting a soft glow under the eaves.
In the living room, Lin Suxing had changed out of her formal custom-made dress and was wearing comfortable light-colored loungewear. She was curled up on the soft, large sofa, holding a cup of warm milk in her hands.
Lin Siyi sat on the single sofa opposite him, loosened her tie, and shed the formality of the banquet. There was a hint of fatigue in her eyes, but more than that, she was relaxed.
"You must be exhausted today?" Lin Siyi looked at her younger brother and said gently, "How are you feeling? I think you had a pretty smooth conversation with the guests."
Lin Suxing took a sip of milk and smiled shyly, "Well, I'm just a little nervous, afraid of saying the wrong thing." He recalled for a moment and said, "What does that Uncle Li with the frameless glasses do? He seems to know a lot."
Lin Siyi nodded slightly and patiently explained, "Uncle Li is the founder of Qiming Capital, which mainly focuses on early-stage investments in the fields of biomedicine and artificial intelligence. Although our group does not do business in this field, we also have investment companies. Our family trust fund may cooperate with him. He has a very keen sense for cutting-edge technologies."
"I see." Lin Suxing suddenly realized, then remembered another person, "What about that other person, the always smiling President Wang?"
“Mr. Wang’s family business, ‘Dingsheng Group,’ is involved in high-end commercial real estate and hotel management,” Lin Siyi continued to explain. “We are considering introducing their top-tier hotel brand into our new commercial complex project in Nancheng to enhance the overall business level. He is a very easy-going person, but he is very shrewd when negotiating.”
The two brothers chatted like this, one patiently introducing and the other attentively listening, from giants in the new energy field to the agency rights of century-old European wineries, from low-profile internet upstarts to a jewelry family that has been passed down for generations.
Lin Siyi did not simply state his name, but briefly explained the other party's core industries and potential connections with the Lin family, as if she were quickly outlining a vast and complex network of connections and business empire for Lin Suxing.
Lin Suxing listened very attentively, and in his heart he was full of admiration for Lin Siyi for being able to remember so much.
The warm atmosphere of brotherly love and respect did not last long before it was interrupted by a female voice filled with obvious dissatisfaction and anxiety.
“Siyi, Suxing.”
Jiang Heyun, wearing a silk nightgown, walked quickly downstairs.
Her well-maintained face showed no sign of sleepiness; instead, her brows were furrowed. Her gaze swept over the two brothers, finally settling on Lin Siyi, her tone carrying urgency and a hint of barely perceptible questioning:
"The banquet ended so long ago, where is Xiao Ke? I haven't seen him at all. His phone is off. What's going on?"
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Lin Suxing, scrutinizing him, "Do you know something? Has he gotten into trouble again?"
Her behavior suggested that she was overly concerned and afraid that her beloved adopted son would be wronged, as if she was about to confront her biological sons for Lin Ke's sake.
Lin Siyi frowned slightly, about to speak, but Lin Suxing felt a chill because of her mother's obvious favoritism and the association she made, and subconsciously lowered her head.
Seeing Lin Suxing's appearance, Jiang Heyun's suspicions only grew stronger, and her tone became more forceful: "Siyi, tell me honestly..."
The system's oblivious notification sounded crisply amidst Jiang Heyun's questioning: [Ding! Host has completed the main quest [Reveal the true identity of the Lin family's young master within the circle; the fake young master's carefully crafted identity is exposed], reward: 300 points!]
[Host, host, I said before that if you complete this task, I'll tell you why the Lin family went bankrupt! Do you want to hear it now? Hehe!]
The already tense atmosphere in the living room seemed to freeze the moment the system's electronic voice rang out.
The color drained from Lin Suxing's face little by little, and he subconsciously clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
This main quest had been issued for quite some time, and if the system hadn't mentioned the "gossip" about the Lin family's bankruptcy, he would have long forgotten about it.
Although he once said, "What does the Lin family's bankruptcy have to do with me, Little Pig Peixing?", as Lin Yuan stayed in Europe, Jiang Heyun withdrew from the Lin Group's decision-making level, and Lin Siyi took power, the significance of the Lin family to Lin Suxing also changed.
The original Lin family was merely a place used by Lin Yuan and Jiang Heyun to favor Lin Ke, which Lin Suxing found repulsive.
But now, the Lin family home is a place where he can feel the warmth of family.
"You speak, I'm listening." Lin Suxing pursed her lips, her toes tapping lightly on the floor with some unease.
[Okay, we're searching for the truth behind the Lin family's bankruptcy... The Lin family's bankruptcy will occur three months from now! Oh no, to be precise, two months and sixteen days later!]
"So fast? How could this be?" Lin Suxing's eyes widened suddenly, all her attention focused on communicating with the system, and she had no time to pay attention to the conversation between Lin Siyi and Jiang Heyun.
Moreover, not only will the Lin family go bankrupt, but Lin Siyi, Jiang Heyun, and Lin Yuan will all meet very tragic ends...
What Lin Suxing didn't notice was that Lin Siyi, who had just been relaxed and smiling, also became serious the moment the system notification appeared!
Just moments ago, Jiang Heyun was aggressively trying to get an answer out of Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing. Just like Lin Siyi, she suddenly tensed up and stared intently in Lin Suxing's direction!
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Author's Note: [Rainbow Praise] I'm having writer's block again, especially the part with Wang Meng. I'll come back and revise it later.
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