Chapter 44 Pain! [Super Powerful Three-in-One] Better to remain steadfast in familiar territory...
Ning Buyi sat down next to Li Chang with practiced ease, grabbed a disposable chopstick, broke it open, and began to enjoy the fragrant and delicious congee with preserved egg in front of him.
Pei Qing leaned against the front desk, defiantly saying, "Ten thousand, will you come with me to see it?"
He paused in his chewing of porridge, wondering if he could make this much in a day of live streaming. Then he scooped another mouthful of porridge into his mouth.
Li Chang nudged Ning Buyi, saying, "Aren't you in a bad mood? Why don't you go have some fun? Concerts are really interesting."
He's a brat who won't take advantage of a windfall; he's just getting impatient.
Hearing Li Chang say this, Ning Buyi asked him, "Is it as interesting as that game competition?"
"Wrapped up, wrapped up."
He turned to Pei Qing and winked, "I want to go, I want to go."
Pei Qing looked at the person nodding vigorously in front of him and gave Li Chang a thumbs up. He only wanted to recognize that guy as his own brother, and he valued brotherhood and loyalty.
After breakfast, Pei Qing took Ning Buyi away.
Inside the mall, as soon as Ning Buyi lifted the curtain of the fitting room, a salesperson came up to him with a polite smile: "Little brother, this suits you perfectly, and it makes your skin look even whiter."
Ning Buyi gave an uneasy smile. He didn't know why he had to change clothes just to go to a performance. The boy in the mirror was tall and had long legs. He was wearing a windbreaker and straight-leg pants. He was good-looking and at first glance looked like a young master from a wealthy family.
"This outfit is fine, just wear it." Pei Qing nodded repeatedly, admiring his masterpiece with satisfaction.
He looked down at the coat he was wearing, which felt very comfortable to the touch, and then at Pei Qing's coat; they looked so alike.
Is this expensive?
The salesperson explained, "We have a promotion in our store; this outfit of yours is now 21,000 yuan."
Ning Buyi was startled for a moment upon hearing this; all the clothes he had worn since childhood combined hadn't cost that much. Ning Buyi turned to go back into the fitting room, but a large hand grabbed his wrist, and he looked up in confusion.
"I'm paying, why are you taking it off?"
Ning Buyi let him pull her along, stretched out her hand and took a step, and popped her head into the fitting room to take out the clothes inside: "Who wants to take them off! My clothes are inside."
Pei Qing chuckled twice. He thought Ning Buyi thought it was too expensive and wanted to take it off, but he wouldn't allow it.
As dusk approached, the temperature dropped several degrees due to the sudden chill. A gust of wind swept by, and Ning Buyi shrank his neck. Suddenly, the person next to him grabbed him, reached out and pinched the chain head, pulling it all the way up in one go.
"That way you won't be cold."
The stand-up collar completely covered his chin. Ning Buyi stood there stunned for a moment, his hair fluttering as he nodded.
"Tsk tsk tsk, when has Pei Qing ever treated anyone like this?" A friend nudged someone next to him.
The person speaking is the one who posted on WeChat Moments last time; his name is Shen Bai.
The boy who was touched scoffed, "Last time I said I was cold, and he said, 'Why didn't I freeze to death?'"
These words reached Ning Buyi's ears without him missing a single one. He secretly glanced at the man beside him. He also considered him a good brother!
It is better than wishing for peace, but it is worse than wishing for peace!
Ning Buyi secretly wrote down the blessing and a stroke of the pen in his heart.
Inside the air-conditioned room, with a movie narration playing in the background and the farming game on the computer lying aside, Zhu Zhu lay on the beanbag chair scrolling through her phone, forking fruit from the small table and stuffing it into her mouth.
She opened her WeChat Moments and her eyes widened suddenly. The latest post was by Pei Qing. The scene in the photo was clearly a concert. Pei Qing's face was visible, and the person next to him had half his face hidden in his collar. Zhu Zhu recognized him at a glance as Jianjianbao.
The fruit in her mouth had lost its flavor. She zoomed in on the picture, examining each piece carefully. How did Pei Qing and Jianjian Bao meet? How did they end up going to a concert together? They were wearing matching outfits! Wasn't Jianjian Bao her sister-in-law?
Does her brother know?
The announcements in the lobby sounded mechanically. In the business lounge, Zhu Yanhe was waiting for his flight. The room was quiet. He held a book in his palm, his eyes scanning the black text.
I don't know if it's because the air conditioning in the lounge is too strong, but my assistant always felt a chill sitting on the side.
Zhu Yanhe took out his vibrating phone from his pocket, glanced at it, and saw that it was another message from Pei Qing.
Pei Qing: [Image].
Pei Qing: Brother Zhu, what do you think of my baby wearing this outfit?^^
He almost gritted his teeth and swallowed them. In the picture, Ning Buyi's eyes were shining, and he was wearing clothes that were completely different from his usual style. His fair skin was reflected in his dark pupils, a hidden message that they should never cross paths again.
He had considered deleting Pei Qing, but selfishly he admitted that, apart from Pei Qing, how else could he openly see Ning Buyi?
He still wanted to see Ning Buyi.
Zhu Yanhe flipped through the photos of Ning Buyi and Pei Qing's date over the past two days as if in self-torture. Each photo was ordinary, seemingly sweet, yet containing a hidden blade that pierced his heart. It hurt whether he didn't jump or jumped.
Ning Buyi treats everyone the same, except him; he's always the cruelest to him. Pretending to know nothing to get close to him—is that an explanation for why it's perfectly justifiable to leave?
Zhu Yanhe closed his eyes briefly, his expression unreadable beneath his raven-feather-like eyelashes. He exited the chat window, and Zhu Zhu sent him several more messages.
Does he really need to remind him again, with the same photo, that Ning Buyi is no longer under his control?
Zhu Zhu: Brother, why is Jianjianbao with Pei Qing?
Zhu Zhu: Brother, didn't you say you'd be in an online relationship forever?
Zhu Zhu: Brother, it seems your wife has a new boyfriend.
If Zhu Yanhe were to pass away peacefully, it would surely be thanks to Zhu Zhu.
He stared at the messages, then turned off his phone. Zhu Yanhe picked up his book again, but he couldn't shake off Ning Buyi's image. Even the character "Yi" on the page reminded him of the boy's every smile and frown.
It was only at this moment that Zhu Yanhe realized that it wasn't Ning Buyi who needed him, but rather that he was indulging in the impulses Ning Buyi brought him. On the contrary, Ning Buyi never needed him.
Even without him, there is Pei Qing, and there are others.
He just arrived a little early, and considered himself to be Ning Buyi's everything.
He once thought Ning Buyi was a kite, and that he could simply hold the string in his hand. But Ning Buyi was not like that. He was a gust of wind. He would brush past him, gently rub his head, and rush into his arms.
That's all.
What we desperately pursue is the most illusory thing.
The assistant, observing his boss's ever-changing expressions, felt as if a comet had collided with Earth. As Zhu Yanhe's assistant for several years, his astonishment was no less than if someone had run for president of the United States.
This was something that would have been impossible in the past. Based on his intuition as an assistant, President Zhu would never show such an expression in his career, let alone in his family matters, which were common knowledge throughout the company. All that remained was...
She must have been heartbroken. Could something have happened to that little boy?
The assistant glanced over every now and then. Zhu Yanhe frowned slightly and said indifferently, "I have words on my face."
"Huh?" The assistant looked up, met those cold eyes, and quickly waved his hand, "No, no."
Are legendary romantics only found in imperial families? He was furious; he wouldn't need the coupon for a taxi ride home today!
The huge stadium was packed with people, a few of them sitting in the best seats. The stadium was bustling with noise. Ning Buyi held a cheering stick on his lap, his head buzzing.
Many people say their ears hurt, but that's a lie.
"What's wrong?" Pei Qing asked, close to his ear.
Ning Buyi turned her head and covered her ears: "This isn't fun, my ears hurt."
Neither of them is as fun as that game competition. Pei Qing is a big liar, and so is his brother.
Pei Qing put his arm around his shoulder, covered his ear with his hand, and Ning Buyi leaned his head against his chest, feeling the heartbeat frame by frame, which was even more deafening than the sound system on the stage.
"Are you feeling better now?"
The surroundings seemed to quiet down. He listened quietly to Pei Qing's heartbeat and suddenly remembered when Zhu Yanhe hugged him. Zhu Yanhe's heartbeat was like that too, as if it was hitting him.
Shen Bai captured this scene on camera and leisurely shared it in their group chat.
Zhu Zhu saw the message immediately. Her brother hadn't replied. Could it be true? Had Jianjianbao broken up with her brother and started dating Pei Qing? She felt like a weasel in a melon patch—she had melons but couldn't get any.
The singer on stage started singing a love song, and the sound system vibrations stopped. Only then did Ning Buyi speak: "I'm fine now."
“I will not move.” Pei Qing looked at him.
Ning Buyi looked up at him.
The gentle, flowing music became the background sound for the two of them at that moment.
The music suddenly reached a climax, filling the entire venue with emotion. Everyone around shouted. Pei Qing approached and said, "I want to be with you."
Their faces were almost touching. Ning Buyi stared blankly for a moment, then turned to look at him with surprise and anxiety in her eyes, but not a trace of expectation.
"I have a girlfriend."
Pei Qing's fingertips caressed his face, the soft touch lingering on his fingertips. He asked, "Is that why you rejected me?"
If that's the case, then he's just a second candidate, someone he can afford to wait for.
The boy slowly shook his head, not just because of that: "You're very good to me, but I don't think I want to be with you."
His brother said that you can only truly like someone if you keep thinking about them, but he doesn't think about Pei Qing often, so he doesn't like Pei Qing.
Pei Qing looked at his serious expression and chuckled, "Alright, then I'll just stay your good brother."
Once he gradually takes over Ning Buyi's entire world, he will be able to successfully ascend to the throne!
Upon hearing this, the boy grinned and patted his chest: "Good brother!"
As the concert drew to a close and darkness fell, Pei Qing heard two vibrations in his pocket. A bad feeling crept over him, and as he answered the phone, his expression grew increasingly grim.
He responded softly into the microphone, "Understood."
Ning Buyi stared intently at the dazzling lights on the stage, oblivious to what was happening here.
Pei Qing nudged Shen Bai beside her: "The old man wants me to go back now. Could you see him off for me?"
Shen Bai asked, puzzled, "Are you calling me back now because you know you're dating a guy? Fine, I'll take him."
Pei Qing irritably ran a hand through his hair, when suddenly he was reminded of something. Last time, he had just met Zhu Yanhe when the old man had been watching him for over a month. This time, he knew without a doubt that Zhu Yanhe had tipped him off. He wouldn't eat it himself, but he wouldn't let others eat it either!
He was filled with regret at that moment, wishing he hadn't sent the photos to Zhu Yanhe.
Before boarding the plane, Zhu Yanhe took out his phone, swiped around, and sent the photo to Pei Qing's father. His father was quite old-fashioned, and he estimated that Pei Qing wouldn't be able to see Ning Buyi again for at least ten days to half a month.
Thinking of this, a slight smile appeared on his lips. Pei Qing was dreaming. Winning the beauty's heart? Dream on.
Ning Buyi turned his head and saw that there was a different person next to him. He peeked around and asked, "Where's Pei Qing?"
Why did he leave him behind?!
Shen Bai put his arm around his shoulder: "He had something to do and left first. I'll take you home later."
Upon closer inspection, Shen Bai noticed that his eyelashes were curved and upturned, and his pupils were dark and shiny. He was staring at her like that, and her heart inexplicably started to beat faster.
He immediately withdrew his hand and sat up straight, inwardly cursing himself for being shameless.
One must not deceive one's brother's wife.
Ning Buyi gave a soft "Oh," took out his phone and glanced at the messages. A small red dot finally lit up next to Zhu Yanhe's profile picture. He suppressed his excitement and opened the chat window.
But it was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her head; Zhu Yanhe only sent one message.
Zhu Yanhe: We're no longer friends. I'll go get the suit I left with you last time tonight.
With her fingertips hovering in the air, Ning Buyi pursed her lips. The white light from the light stick made her face appear even paler. Her heart felt like it had been twisted into a knot, dull and unable to beat.
Why did Zhu Yanhe suddenly break off their friendship? He could imagine Zhu Yanhe's voice when he said those words; it must have been fierce. He raised his head, rubbed his dry eyes, and gently tapped the screen.
Ning Buyi: Good.
Shen Bai secretly glanced at the person next to him. He was fine just a moment ago, but suddenly he looked wronged. Could it be because Pei Qing abandoned him?
"What’s wrong with you?"
His eyes stung with tears, and he said slowly, "I want to go back too."
Shen Bai stared blankly for a moment, then quickly came to his senses and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, let's go."
At the airport, the howling wind whipped up the hem of the man's coat, making his hair a little messy. The first thing he did after getting off the plane was to take out his phone. He thought Ning Buyi would bombard him with a bunch of messages again, but he didn't.
Only a single, quiet "good" rolled through Zhu Yanhe's mouth, and he scoffed lightly. Ning Buyi truly didn't care anymore.
He doesn't need another suit.
The car was unusually quiet. Ning Buyi just stared out the window. Shen Bai wanted to say something to ease the tension but didn't know how to start. He pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "What's wrong? Actually, he didn't do it on purpose. His dad is quite strict."
When the words reached Ning Buyi's ears, he didn't reply to Shen Bai, and that wasn't because of that.
This sight deepened Shen Bai's impression of Ning Buyi's insatiable love for Pei Qing.
How can Pei Qing be so lucky!
The sports car stopped in front of an alley following the navigation. It was pitch black inside, and the internet cafe was a short walk through the alley. Chen Bai asked, "Do you want me to take you in?"
There were hardly any pedestrians around at this time, and even though it was a short distance, Chen Bai was still worried about safety.
Ning Buyi pushed open the car door and shook his head. He just wanted to retreat to his little corner, not wanting to talk and only wanting to be alone: "It's just a short distance, I'll walk by myself."
Seeing that he refused, Shen Bai did not force him to stay. He just looked at the boy's lonely figure, took out his phone, took a picture, and sent it to Pei Qing.
Shen Bai: Look how badly you hurt your wife.
A gust of wind was blowing at the alley entrance, making Ning Buyi's hair dance wildly. He pulled up his collar, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and walked inside.
The white car was no longer at the alley entrance. The dark alley was gloomy and dark, with no light penetrating. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on his heart.
He had never come home this late before, and there were always New Year's greetings and conversations with him.
The cold night wind blew fiercely in gusts, seemingly hindering his steps. Ning Buyi walked forward step by step, his eyes red from the wind.
Suddenly, a large hand covered his mouth, and his body was dragged backward. He froze for a moment, fear threatening to overwhelm him like a surging tide. He struggled violently, prying his hands off the hand covering his mouth, his fingertips turning white from the effort.
Ning Buyi could only groan a few times, but the sound was so faint that it was barely audible, not to mention there wasn't even a dog nearby.
The man exerted even more force, barely managing to stay still. Ning Buyi clenched his fist and pounded on the hand clasped under his armpit, but he still couldn't stop the dragging marks on the ground from extending. Even the surrounding gale seemed to be helping the man drag him back into the alley.
The boy was like a fish on a chopping board, completely at their mercy. Ning Buyi almost ground his back teeth to powder. He took a deep breath and suddenly struck the body behind him with his elbow.
The man released his grip, clutching his abdomen and cursing in pain. He finally breathed in fresh air, tinged with the smell of blood. Ning Buyi had no time to think; he turned and ran.
The light at the alley entrance was within reach. He ran, stumbling and staggering, but dared not stop for even a moment. The devil behind him was relentlessly pursuing him, and his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his ribs.
That glimmer of light was right in front of him. Ning Buyi ran forward, panting heavily. His hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead. He already felt the relief of escaping death.
Suddenly, Ning Buyi was kicked to the ground. A sharp pain shot through his abdomen. He clutched his stomach and curled up on the dusty cement floor, his rapid breathing raising dust.
The newcomer leisurely shone a flashlight in Ning Buyi's face, the blinding light causing him to close his eyes tightly.
That was not the dawn that was about to break, but a darker abyss.
The man Ning Buyi had beaten caught up from behind and kicked him hard in the stomach. His stomach throbbed with pain again. The two men rushed forward and tied his hands and feet tightly, leaving the boy curled up like an animal.
The man clapped his hands and spat at the person on the ground.
"Pah, you dare hit me?"
Another man with a flashlight sneered, "Useless trash, letting such a stinking idiot beat you up."
"You still dare to say that? You fucking came so late."
Ning Buyi's head felt like it was filled with water; their words seemed to be wrapped in a membrane, making them hard to hear clearly.
It was too dark here; he couldn't see anything, didn't know who they were, and the fear of death spread throughout his body. He closed his eyes tightly, and even his breath was mixed with dust and pain.
"What did they say over there?"
"They don't really say anything, they might just take his organs to pay for it."
A man squatted down in front of him, the light from a flashlight illuminating his face. The man reached out and grabbed Ning Buyi's chin, revealing half of his face that had been hidden in the shadows.
Ning Buyi was breathing weakly, his face deathly pale, as if he would break at the slightest pressure.
"Damn it, he looks so innocent, how dare he call the police to arrest me?"
The man bit the flashlight, and with a crisp "snap," his head tilted to one side. His face burned with pain, and his once fair skin instantly turned bright red. His weak breathing became rapid.
it hurts……
Is there anyone who can save him...?
The man seemed unsatisfied and raised his hand to slap again, but was stopped by someone on the side.
"That's enough, the boss will be here soon."
He spat, stood up, and kicked him again: "Damn it, I'll settle the score with you for the time I was detained."
The cold wind continued to blow relentlessly, and Ning Buyi lay sprawled on the ground like a dead fish, utterly powerless to resist. He recognized them clearly; these were the people who had come to collect their debts from him.
Ning Buyi's trip to S City wasn't premeditated. That day, he was planning to repeat his studies when debt collectors came to his door again. Aunt Chen saw him downstairs early on and called him to her house to hide.
The group of people, armed with axes, saw that Ning Buyi hadn't opened the door for a long time, so they chopped it open. Then, people started watching from inside the stairwell as well.
He then realized that he couldn't even stay there any longer. Ning Buyi took the little money Aunt Chen had given him and jumped out of the window to run away.
To prevent them from contacting Aunt Chen, Ning Buyi immediately called the police. He then bought a ticket at random, boarded a train, and drifted to S City.
The wind whipped up dust that choked him, and he could only let out a weak whimper. Why was he always so unlucky?
Why did fate pull him back so cruelly every time he was about to escape?
He stubbornly bit his lip. The two figures stood at one end of the alley. Ning Buyi tried to control his body to roll. The uneven cement ground and rough hemp rope caused him unbearable pain in his wrists with each roll.
Red marks must have appeared from the rope, and blood might have dripped down into the dust, leaving traces. But he couldn't stop. The other end of the alley led to the city; if he could just roll out, he would be saved.
Footsteps sounded outside the alley, like three or four people. Ning Buyi immediately sensed something was wrong and quickened his rolling speed.
A deep, venomous voice rang out: "Where are they?"
The two men, who had previously been so domineering, became respectful in their tone: "Brother Qian, he's over there."
As they were talking, one of the men shone a flashlight into the alley and discovered that Ning Buyi had almost rolled to the alley entrance.
The two of them took off after him. Ning Buyi rolled even harder as he heard the footsteps behind him, but he had already exhausted a lot of energy to get here, and now he was crawling out with his last breath.
He was just a hair's breadth away from exiting the alley and reaching the spot where he had just gotten off the bus, where he would have been able to wait for the person to arrive.
He did.
The two men stepped forward and kicked him again. The man, panting heavily, said, "You fucking dare to run? If you're so capable, why don't you crawl?"
Ning Buyi continued rolling out, his hands tied behind his back were numb. He clenched his teeth tightly, and the two of them stood there watching him crawl like a dog. When he was almost out, they dragged him back.
The man called Brother Qian spoke up: "Alright, why don't you drag him over here?"
The two then brought the person in front of him.
He lay quietly in the dust, wishing he could turn into a grain of sand and drift away with the wind.
A basin of water drenched his delusions, forcing him to open his eyes. A flashlight shone on his face, water droplets falling from his eyelashes. His clothes were soaked through, hanging heavily on his body, and a chill made him shiver.
Lin Qian squatted down, and Ning Buyi finally saw the face he never wanted to see again in his life.
Lin Qian had squatted down in front of him in the same way, pinching his chin as if he were appraising a product, and mocked, "Can you afford it?"
"You have a pretty face, but it's a pity you're a guy. But you better not try to run away."
Lin Qian leaned close to his ear and whispered, his tone as cold as ice, saying each word clearly, "Even if you run to the ends of the earth, I will find you."
Today, Lin Qian squatted in front of him again, pinching his chin with such force that it almost crushed his jaw. He said calmly, "Didn't I warn you? It's true, a dog that bites doesn't bark."
Lin Qian toyed with a small knife in his hand, a chilling smile playing on his lips: "Isn't it only natural that debts must be repaid, and that sons must pay for their fathers' debts?"
The cold, sharp dagger tapped against Ning Buyi's cheek, its owner seemingly contemplating where to begin.
Ning Buyi, his lips dry, said, "I can pay it back."
Lin Qian seemed to have heard something funny, and only then did he look at him properly. He reached out and tugged at Ning Buyi's wet collar.
Lin Qian scoffed. Still a big shot.
"You can pay back three million? Then show me. If you do, I'll let you go. I'll even forgive you for calling the police."
Three million?! He suddenly coughed violently, his eyes turning red, and questioned Lin Qian, "But you said it was five hundred thousand that day!"
Lin Qian pinched his nose and stepped back a little with disdain: "That was two months ago. Now it's three million. It's all clearly written down."
In that instant, the light in Ning Buyi's eyes suddenly went out, the nerves that had been taut in his brain snapped with a crack, and it seemed that only he remained in the world. Everything was still, and everything he had done was in vain.
He initially climbed out again and again because he was determined to pay it back.
As long as someone saves him, as long as someone...
He now faces a debt of three million. Paying off one three million will only bring another three million, and the debt will continue to grow...
No one can save him; is he going to die here today?
Ning Buyi tilted his head back, his consciousness already somewhat blurred. Every part of his body ached faintly, and the hemp rope on his wrists and ankles rubbed into his flesh, causing him to tremble at the slightest touch.
it hurts.
A series of past scenes suddenly flashed through his mind: fighting with his brother for food, Pei Qing taking him to play, Jingjing taking pictures of him, watching TV with Aunt Chen, Zhu Yanhe...
Ning Buyi blinked, trying hard not to let the tears flow down his cheeks. That would be too cowardly. A real man sheds blood, not tears, especially in front of his enemy!
Lin Qian played with the knife, the blade tracing over Ning Buyi's cheek. It only lightly grazed him, yet beads of blood oozed from his cheek, turning his fair skin crimson.
"Can't you pay it back?"
"If you can't pay it back, I'll have to pay it back for you."
As he spoke, he moved the back of the knife down, circling around Lin Qian's abdomen. Ning Buyi's breath hitched, his dark eyes fixed on Lin Qian. He parted his lips slightly, his throat filled with the taste of rust: "I will repay you."
Lin Qian rested his chin on his hand and asked with a smile, "How are you going to pay me back? I can't wait any longer."
The knife tip pierced his jacket slightly before being withdrawn. Lin Qian stood up and said to the people behind him, "Didn't you want revenge for being detained? Let's go."
The men behind him were rubbing their hands together, eager to fight. Ning Buyi watched their footsteps getting closer and closer, and just kept his head down. He couldn't escape, but he still had to live.
A black car pulled up near the internet cafe, and Zhu Yanhe glanced at the entrance from outside.
The wind chimes on the eaves rang to welcome guests. Li Chang thought it was Ning Buyi returning from the concert, but when he looked up, he sat back down speechlessly.
Zhu Yanhe coldly asked, "Is Ning Buyi here?"
“He hasn’t come back yet,” Li Chang replied.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yanhe turned and went out the door. He had already seen Ning Buyi's location heading this way when he was driving.
Do you really not want to see him?
Zhu Yanhe turned on his phone again. The screen showed that the location was nearby and then stopped moving. His eyelids kept twitching, and he decided to follow the location to find it.
The closer he got to the location, the higher his heart rate became.
"Call the police! Call the police!"
"I'll fucking tell you to call the police!"
...
He heard a string of profanities and curses, and a red dot on the screen pointed to a dark alleyway in front of him where no one could be seen.
Zhu Yanhe immediately realized what was happening. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. The fact that Ning Buyi was inside made him want to grind his teeth to pieces.
He would rather Ning Buyi cheat on him. His blood surged uncontrollably, filling his internal organs. His eyes were bloodshot, yet his gaze was frighteningly sharp. He stood there like a lurking lion, waiting for the moment to pounce and bite off his prey's neck.
The violence in the alley continued. He suppressed his anger and remained calm as he glanced around. An iron bar stood in front of the abandoned shop.
The man, panting heavily, said, "Weren't you supposed to be so capable?"
Several people surrounded the man curled up on the ground. He stared blankly ahead, his body covered in mud, his skin under his clothes must have been covered in bruises, and blood seeped from the cuts on his body, falling into the cement floor and nourishing the black hearts of these abusers.
He was unconscious, as if his soul had left his body and he had become an observer, quietly watching several people punch and kick him.
I'm so tired.
In an instant, a loud "bang" rang out, and the iron rod whistled through the air like a beast unleashed from its cage. The person struck immediately collapsed to the ground, his life hanging in the balance. The surrounding people screamed in panic for a moment.
Zhu Yanhe's gaze swept steadily over the outlines of the group. One of them pulled out a flashlight and turned it on. The sudden light startled everyone for a moment. Zhu Yanhe was the first to react. He swept his leg across the room, gripped the iron rod tightly with both hands, and swung it around, creating afterimages as he turned and slammed it down on the man's head.
The man fell to the ground with a loud thud, the sound clearly indicating that it was aimed at killing him.
The flashlight beam finally found its target, and the remaining three rushed towards him. The man pulled him out of the alley and into an open area. In the midst of the chaos, he saw the person on the ground, trembling and barely breathing, tearing his heart apart. In that instant, Zhu Yanhe's sharp gaze turned bloodshot.
Under the streetlights, the shadows cast by the lamps gradually lengthened. Zhu Yanhe exhaled a breath of stale air, gripped the iron rod, and took a few steps back. He hadn't used his skills in a long time, and his hands and feet were a little rusty.
"Oh, that bitch even brings helpers?" Lin Qian looked him up and down mockingly. He was dressed in a suit and tie, a beast in human clothing.
Without further ado, the other two rushed forward to join the attack. Zhu Yanhe raised his leg and kicked straight at the man's abdomen, sending him sprawling unprepared. Another gust of wind came his way, but he quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the heavy punch. He then swung his iron rod, creating a gust of wind as he smashed it towards the man opposite him.
A sudden "crack" sound rang out in the silent night—the sound of a bone breaking. The crude man instantly groaned on the ground like a maggot, clutching his arm.
After a few moves, Zhu Yanhe stood unharmed, while the other two lay on the ground, breathing weakly. Only then did Lin Qian realize something was wrong. He suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed straight at Zhu Yanhe and his lover. The tip of the dagger gleamed, the white blade went in and the red blade came out, the tip of the blade licking blood as it fell to the ground with a piercing screech.
Zhu Yanhe, expressionless, swung his fist back to deflect the knife that Lin Qian had stabbed him into, then pulled it out. While Lin Qian was still in a daze, he struck him several more times with his staff, giving him no chance to catch his breath. Every move was a deadly strike.
The man, unable to withstand the attack, fell to the ground, feeling as if every bone in his body was broken. He clutched his bleeding arm and screamed, "I'm going to fucking kill you!"
Zhu Yanhe, without changing his expression, gripped the iron rod and continued to smash it viciously against him. A speck of crimson blood splattered onto his arm, and the man, with his usual expression, clicked his tongue in disgust. "Damn, that's filthy."
Lin Qian screamed in alarm. Seeing that the ghost-like man in front of him still showed no sign of stopping, he began to beg for mercy. Zhu Yanhe's coldness in his eyes became more and more obvious, and each blow was more vicious than the last.
Until Lin Qian curled up on the ground, groaning in agony, Zhu Yanhe casually tossed the iron rod aside, bent down to pick up the blood-stained dagger, and walked step by step toward the man who was lying on the ground, barely clinging to life.
He crouched down, his eyes fixed on the blade: "How much does he owe you?"
Lin Qian dared not answer. The man in front of him really would take his life. The fear of impending death climbed up his spine and was about to devour him. He regretted coming tonight.
"One million?"
"Ten million?"
"Still one hundred million?"
The blade grazed Lin Qian's cheek with considerable force, instantly drawing blood from the corner of his eye to behind his ear. Drops of blood slid down the curve into the corner of his mouth, revealing the pink flesh beneath the skin.
Lin Qian was in so much pain that he was almost speechless, but he didn't dare to utter a sound. His dying heart felt like it was going to jump out of his throat. This man was too terrifying.
The knife tip was pressed against his neck again. Zhu Yanhe asked, "Is one hundred million enough to buy the lives of the five of you?"
The man choked on blood, crying uncontrollably, "Don't kill me, don't kill me, don't kill me..."
A stream of water gushed out from under him.
Zhu Yanhe looked at him coldly, clicked his tongue impatiently, and plunged the dagger straight into his palm. A deafening howl rang out. He patted off the non-existent dust on his body, got up, took out his phone, and made a call.
"Huaikou Street, clear the area."
After hanging up the phone, Zhu Yanhe picked up the iron rod again and viciously struck the wriggling pests several more times until the five people collapsed on the ground like corpses before he stopped.
Zhu Yanhe took a deep breath and walked into the alley. The light from the flashlight shone on the person trembling on the ground. He was covered in mud, his hair was stuck together and dripping water. Zhu Yanhe's heart ached. He slowly squatted down and said in a soft voice, "Ning Buyi."
The boy whimpered like a small animal upon hearing the sound.
His heart felt like it was being squeezed and crushed by that sound. Zhu Yanhe examined him all over with a light on, and found that he had external injuries. Those guys had no other weapons except for a knife.
Zhu Yanhe breathed a slight sigh of relief and gently hugged Ning Buyi. The boy's face was flushed with an abnormal redness, and he was soaking wet. He must have caught a cold and had a fever from being exposed to the wind. Zhu Yanhe hugged him even tighter.
Ning Buyi vaguely felt himself lying on a cloud. He tried to open his eyes to see, but everything in front of him was blurry.
He exhaled softly: "Wishing you peace."
"I am here."
In the spacious and clean ward, the smell of disinfectant permeated the air, and the silvery moonlight shone in, giving the room a faint glow.
The boy lay quietly on the hospital bed, while Zhu Yanhe sat steadily by the bedside, his gaze gently tracing the boy's features.
Zhu Yanhe was almost drowning in a river of regret. If he had listened to Ning Buyi's explanation, would he not have given him up so easily?
The boy had a slight scar on his cheek, a bluish-purple patch at the corner of his mouth, and his wrist was wrapped in gauze. He vaguely remembered what it looked like when flesh and blood were mixed together.
If he had kept people close to him, wouldn't Ning Buyi have avoided suffering so much? So small, trembling in his arms.
But it's too late to say anything now, and he doesn't even know what his status is for sitting here.
In the early morning, Ning Buyi slowly opened his eyes. Instead of the dark alleyway, the sunlight gently moved onto his hand, bringing a little comfort to his scarred heart.
He raised his hand; his wrist was wrapped in gauze, and it itched.
There was a medical bandage on the back of his fair hand where he had received an injection. He tried to sit up, but the blanket was pressing down on him and he couldn't pull it off. Ning Buyi then moved his gaze and saw Zhu Yanhe quietly sleeping by the bedside.
He gave up pulling the blanket off and lay down with his back to the man. Zhu Yanhe had saved him, but he couldn't be happy; they were strangers now.
Ning Buyi lay in bed, trapped in a dead end, getting angrier the more he thought about it. Why didn't they become good brothers? He thought for a moment, then turned over to face Zhu Yanhe, hating Zhu Yanhe.
He reached out and grabbed two strands of Zhu Yanhe's hair, tied them together in a knot, and was about to lie back down when a large hand grabbed his wrist.
Ning Buyi pretended to be in pain from being pinched: "It hurts!"
Zhu Yanhe immediately withdrew her hand and simply looked at him quietly. The two looked at each other without saying a word.
Ning Buyi broke the silence first.
Why are you ignoring me?!
He had expected Ning Buyi to wake up with tears in his eyes, but his first words were a question.
Zhu Yan said calmly, "We're not friends anymore."
Ning Buyi, with his little head held high, launched into a string of questions: "Then why did you save me? Why are you still here with me?"
He clearly still considers me his good brother! He's just being hypocritical!
The man's tone remained cold: "I would have saved anyone else, but you? Who do you think you are? I'm leaving right now."
Seeing that he was really getting up to leave, Ning Buyi reached out and grabbed his sleeve: "Don't go, no one will keep me company." He didn't want to tell Li Chang that his brother would definitely be worried sick, and he didn't know if those people would come back.
Zhu Yanhe took a deep breath, turned around and braced herself on either side of Ning Buyi, trapping him beneath her. The distance between them suddenly shortened, and their breathing became somewhat erratic.
At that moment, Zhu Yanhe thought, if Ning Buyi could "cheate" the first time, why couldn't he do it a second time?
He scoffed lightly, his breath spraying Ning Buyi's face: "Isn't your boyfriend Pei Qing with you?"
Ning Buyi was stunned. What boyfriend? He has a girlfriend!
The boy shook his head vigorously, clarifying, "Pei Qing is not my boyfriend."
Zhu Yan's tangled emotions eased a little, and he pressed her for answers step by step: "Then what about you making rings with him, eating out, and going to concerts? And you even said you were with him willingly."
Ning Buyi was so preoccupied with the problem that he didn't notice the sour smell emanating from Zhu Yanhe. He shook his head and counted on his fingers: "You didn't accompany me when we were making the ring, but I ate with you, and he invited me to the concert. I went to dinner with him voluntarily."
He suddenly came to his senses, unable to use his wrist, and could only shove Zhu Yanhe away with his shoulder, angrily saying, "You're ignoring me because of this, but I do these things with you too, are you my boyfriend too?!"
Zhu Yanhe stood up and looked at Ning Buyi, whose cheeks were flushed with anger, and wanted to pinch them.
He was fooled by Pei Qing, but at the time he was already disheartened with the boy, so Pei Qing was just a strong medicine to make him want to break up with Ning Buyi, which is why he believed her without any reason.
Zhu Yanhe couldn't help but smile and said, "I'm sorry."
The young man scoffed, "Then I'll forgive you if you stay with me."
He reminded him, "You don't need to be hospitalized; you can be discharged today."
He'll be discharged today, but won't his brother see him all bandaged up when he gets home? Then his brother will nag him like an old woman!
Ning Buyi shook his head, thinking, "No, no."
"Can I go home with you? I'll go back when I'm better."
-----------------------
Author's Note: [doge] Jianjianbao has superficial injuries, but whoever hit him might be wrong. [doge] Isn't he your boyfriend, Jianjianbao? [doge]
After they got together, Ning Buyi would sometimes imitate Zhu Yanhe: "You think everyone would be interested in you?" Zhu Yanhe, completely speechless at being imitated, would take out his phone to transfer money to Ning Buyi, which would make Ning Buyi nuzzle against him: "Zhu Yanhe, actually I don't care at all, really." Zhu Yanhe would then pinch his chin and give him a long kiss, "No one but me is allowed to be interested in you." [doge emoji]
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