Chapter 18

Creak—

The rusty warehouse door was pushed open.

“This is the warehouse where I used to store goods. It’s been empty for a while since there aren’t many goods now. If you want to use it, go ahead,” Chen Ge said, kicking away a cardboard box at the entrance. “Come in and take a look, see if it works for you.”

Wen Yan walked inside.

In the corner, there were piles of cardboard boxes and discarded industrial machines. The windows were set high, allowing only a view of the distant sky.

Wen Yan nodded and handed Chen Ge a card, which contained all his savings.

“There’s a total of one hundred thousand yuan. Take it.”

“No need, if you want to use it, just use it. You really don’t need to pay,” Chen Ge insisted.

Wen Yan shook his head.

“Chen Ge, I also want to ask you for a favor.”

After confirming the location, Wen Yan went to work, continuing to work on the scene for the sixth level of “Quest.”

The details of the sea surface were already polished, leaving only the main scene of this level—the ship.

Ever since Wen Yan found out that the full name of the ship Wen Shichuan was on was Haitianyihou, he directly searched for it at Lin Wuyou’s ferry company. He indeed found the ship, and there was a dedicated video introduction on the information page, which Wen Yan watched repeatedly.

Then he led the art team to start modeling the ship, based on the interior of Haitianyihou.

At ten o’clock in the evening, Wen Yan packed up his things and prepared to leave work. Just as he stepped out of the company building, his phone rang.

-[Image]

-Sister-in-law, are you free?

Wen Yan opened the image.

The background seemed to be a winery, with a whole wall of wine on display. The lighting was dim and hazy, and several alphas and omegas were making peace signs at the camera.

-If you’re free, I’ll treat you to a drink.

Half an hour later, Wen Yan arrived at Lin Wanfu’s private winery in the eastern suburbs.

Wen Yan followed the staff inside, glancing around and noting the locations of the cameras.

Inside the winery, a long table came into view, with five people seated around it.

However, Lin Wanfu was nowhere to be seen.

These should be the loyal friends Lin Wanfu mentioned. Most of them looked at Wen Yan with curiosity. Wen Yan nodded slightly at them, maintaining a calm demeanor as he sat down at the staff’s invitation.

At this moment, an omega suddenly exclaimed, “What a coincidence!”

Wen Yan turned to look. It was the omega he had seen at Lin Wanfu’s birthday party last time.

His heart sank. Wen Yan pursed his lips. Last time, he had used a fake invitation from Chen Ge to get in. Lin Wanfu was smarter than Liu Ning. If he found out, Wen Yan might be exposed.

While Wen Yan was contemplating whether to pretend not to recognize the other person, Lin Wanfu came down from upstairs. “Yu Tangtang, what’s so coincidental?”

Yu Tangtang observed Wen Yan’s reaction. “Oh, I thought this new friend looked a lot like my ex from way, way, way, way, way, way back. I got it wrong.”

An alpha nearby couldn’t help but laugh. “Yu Tangtang, just how many exes do you have?”

Yu Tangtang tilted his head and started counting seriously, then said in frustration, “I can’t figure it out.”

Everyone laughed at that.

The atmosphere lightened up, and Lin Wanfu apologized to Wen Yan in a gentlemanly manner, “I just took a call.”

Wen Yan shook his head. “Work is important.”

Then Lin Wanfu introduced Wen Yan to everyone, “You probably don’t know him. This is Lin Chuanwu’s wife, Wen Yan.”

As soon as he said that, the expressions of the alphas and omegas changed instantly, as if Lin Chuanwu’s name was some terrifying creature.

Wen Yan heard the sound of swallowing and gasping.

“Lin, Lin Chuanwu’s wife?!”

Lin Wanfu snorted coldly, “What are you afraid of? He’s not here. Look at you, so spineless!”

“But we’re still scared. Lin Chuanwu isn’t here, but his wife is. They’re like two peas in a pod,” someone muttered softly.

“Don’t worry, Wen Yan is on our side.”

This statement eased their wariness towards Wen Yan.

“Why would you marry Lin Chuanwu? Don’t you know when he was a kid…”

Lin Wanfu interrupted, “Shut up.”

“I’m telling the truth. He should know how terrifying Lin Chuanwu is!”

“It’s okay, go ahead,” Wen Yan said with a smile.

The other person glanced at Lin Wanfu, and seeing that he didn’t intend to stop them, they continued, “When he was a kid, he was really gloomy. He would just hold a little dog and hide in the corner every day. You know Liu Ning, right? He was supposed to be here today, but he’s in jail for Wan Ge. When Liu Ning was a kid, he made a joke with him, and Lin Chuanwu broke Liu Ning’s arm, which is why Liu Ning is still scared of him to this day.”

“And there’s something even worse. Wan Ge kindly helped him bathe his dirty little dog, but the dog drowned. When he found out, he pressed Wan Ge’s head into the pool. If Wan Ge’s parents hadn’t found out, Wan Ge would have drowned.”

“Why would Old Master Lin hand over Lin Corporation to someone so violent?”

“He was indeed strange as a child, but after all, I’m his brother. I don’t blame him. I’ve always wanted to have a good relationship with him, but he…”

Lin Wanfu trailed off.

“Was he really like that as a child?” Wen Yan asked curiously.

“Of course, otherwise why would we be so scared just hearing his name? He was violent as a child, and after he matured, he developed a susceptibility period disorder. He almost killed Lin Wanfu’s omega. Later, during his susceptibility periods, he would lock himself in a prison he made for himself, which is that villa in the eastern suburbs. You should be living there now.”

No wonder he would decorate his living space in such a style.

Wen Yan thought deeply.

Lin Wanfu observed Wen Yan’s expression, seemingly believing their words, and couldn’t help but smirk.

During a break in the conversation, Wen Yan excused himself to the restroom, then pretended to get lost and wandered around the winery, confirming the number and locations of the cameras.

As he was about to return, he ran into Yu Tangtang.

“So you’re married to Lin Chuanwu,” Yu Tangtang said, crossing his arms and circling around Wen Yan.

“No wonder when I asked you last time if Lin Chuanwu was big, you turned so pale. Turns out you’ve really been with him!” Yu Tangtang’s eyes sparkled.

Wen Yan now looked at him like a cute little kid and smiled helplessly.

“Thank you for not exposing me earlier.”

“Does Lin Chuanwu really abuse you?” Yu Tangtang asked again.

Wen Yan looked guilty. “He’s… pretty good to me.”

“Then why are you getting close to Lin Wanfu?”

Wen Yan didn’t answer.

Yu Tangtang didn’t press further and said earnestly, “They’re lying to you. Don’t be fooled!”

“It’s because they always said Lin Chuanwu was an unwanted child, and Lin Chuanwu couldn’t take it anymore and hit them. Lin Wanfu drowned Lin Chuanwu’s dog on purpose. That dog was a gift from Lin Chuanwu’s mom before she went abroad, so Lin Chuanwu pressed him into the water.”

“And that omega who almost got killed by Lin Chuanwu was also deliberately provoked by Lin Wanfu during Lin Chuanwu’s susceptibility period.”

“Lin Chuanwu may be gloomy and violent, but he’s much better than a hypocrite like Lin Wanfu. Don’t do anything stupid!”

Yu Tangtang said a lot in one breath, afraid that Wen Yan might do something foolish and betray Lin Chuanwu.

“Mm.” Wen Yan lowered his eyes.

When Wen Yan returned, Lin Wanfu’s friends said they had to leave. Wen Yan checked the time; it was one in the morning, so he planned to leave too.

Lin Wanfu offered to drive him.

Lin Wanfu was never short of omegas, and he occasionally played with married types. These married types usually cheated because their husbands weren’t romantic or considerate.

Lin Wanfu used his usual charming tactics, displaying humor and attentiveness throughout the drive. Wen Yan seemed to be captivated by his charm, smiling from time to time.

“When will you be free next?” Lin Wanfu asked, opening the car door for Wen Yan when they arrived.

“Tomorrow.”

“In such a hurry?” Lin Wanfu’s tone was suggestive.

Wen Yan smiled.

“Then we’ll meet tomorrow, just the two of us,” Lin Wanfu said.

Wen Yan nodded.

Lin Wanfu smirked.

As the car drove away, Wen Yan stood there, watching until it disappeared before heading back.

Back home, he took a shower first, then went to check on the little wolf cub. It had just finished feeding, its belly round and pink, sleeping soundly in the mother wolf’s embrace.

Wen Yan lay on the bed, refining his plan. However, the scene shifted, and he found himself back in the earlier situation.

After Lin Wanfu dropped him off, as soon as he entered the room, he was tied up and thrown onto the bed. Before he could escape, a cold, massive body pressed down on him.

Wen Yan jolted awake, realizing it was just a nightmare. Even after waking up, he felt lingering fear and humiliation, covering his face in distress…

He didn’t know why he suddenly dreamed of him, and in such a way, leaving him inexplicably anxious and uneasy…

**

Country F.

Lin Corporation’s project construction site.

Lin Chuanwu, dressed in a black suit with a coat draped over him, wore leather gloves, the veins on the back of his hand bulging against the leather.

He bit down on a cigarette with a snow orchid flavor, staring at the construction progress.

Qiu Yi, after finishing a call, hurried over, “Mr. Lin, the person you sent to follow Mr. Wen called to report…”

“Speak,” Lin Chuanwu said in a deep voice.

“Mr. Wen went to Lin Wanfu’s winery at ten and didn’t return home until one in the morning…” Qiu Yi’s voice grew quieter, and Lin Chuanwu’s gaze on him felt like it could skin him alive. “Lin Wanfu personally drove Mr. Wen back…”

Silence, a terrifying silence, and Qiu Yi broke out in a cold sweat.

“When’s the earliest flight?”

A surge of oppressive, violent pheromones filled the air, and Lin Chuanwu’s eyes were dark and repressed.

“Mr. Lin, you can’t leave now. There’s a meeting with foreign partners this afternoon, and the day after tomorrow, you have an important international speech. These are crucial.”

The cigarette butt was crushed in his mouth, and Lin Chuanwu said, “Have them keep an eye on him, closely, and report every hour.”