Chapter 142

Li Qing made several phone calls, switching between a few different phones. He didn’t avoid Li Xiu, because Li Xiu had finally recognized the situation and understood what was most important for the two of them.

“Your guess might be correct.”

Li Qing’s expression was solemn. “Zhong Zeyong wants to drag us all down, waiting to reap the benefits from my downfall.”

“That child cannot go abroad,” Li Qing waved his hand dismissively. “Once he’s overseas, things become more complicated. I don’t have the time or energy to be distracted by this matter right now. Zhong Zeyong, that old fox, thinks he can do whatever he wants with us by controlling that child? He’s oversimplifying things.”

Li Qing spoke coldly, his attitude shifting quickly, clearly already accustomed to Zhong Zeyong’s new position.

“Li Xiu,” Li Qing placed a hand on Li Xiu’s shoulder, “you are my son, the only son I have personally groomed. My expectations for you have always been high. I can sense you have your own ideas, and while they might seem beautiful, they are too naive. I am glad you can now see the reality of the situation. I will ask you one more time: you must give me a definite answer.”

“Between youthful romance and your future, which do you choose?” Li Qing stared intensely into Li Xiu’s eyes.

“My future,” Li Xiu replied.

“Good—”

Li Qing clapped his hands decisively, his eyes bright. “Li Xiu, you never fail to impress me.”

With Li Xiu’s assurance, Li Qing felt confident to proceed. He immediately made several more calls, becoming increasingly convinced through these indirect confrontations that Zhong Zeyong indeed harbored ill intentions. His anger was cold, different from the frustration he felt towards his own son.

“He’s taken the child to his own territory and is now rushing to process his passport and visa. He’ll be on a plane first thing in the morning. If I try to retrieve the child now, it’s impossible, and it might even alert them. If pushed too far, the hotel surveillance footage will ensure you can never pursue this path again. However, Zhong Zeyong’s ambition is too great; he wants to drag both you and me into this mess. This gives us a night to respond,” Li Qing said calmly. “Li Xiu, only you can take action now. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say and follow my instructions exactly.”

Li Qing was brimming with the fire of battle, while Li Xiu maintained his usual aloof expression, which reassured Li Qing. Li Xiu said, “Okay.”

*

Zhong Jiaming left, and the room fell into complete silence. Outside the window, near dusk, the sunset was falling. Large swathes of twilight spread across the lawn. Mo Yin gazed at the sunset, feeling a strange sadness welling up in his heart.

It was odd; every time he saw a sunset, he felt a deep sorrow.

It felt as though he had lost something during some past sunset.

He had always had so little, so if he had lost something, he would surely remember it clearly. Why couldn’t he recall what he had lost, yet feel this strong sense of loss so vividly?

Could it have been in a dream?

Mo Yin mocked this childish thought, laying down on the sofa. In his mind, Li Xiu’s name faintly appeared again.

Thinking of Li Xiu did not lessen the sadness; instead, it intensified.

Mo Yin buried his face in his arms.

He was still thinking about Li Xiu. There was no need to deny it; he didn’t want to deceive himself.

Thinking about someone wasn’t a big deal, and it didn’t mean he had become weak. Liking someone wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

Mo Yin paused, suddenly finding it unbelievable. Did he subconsciously always think that liking someone was a shameful and weak thing?

How strange, where did this idea come from?

In what might be his last sunset in the country, Mo Yin seemed to realize that his mind was filled with many strange thoughts.

Was this really what he thought?

Why had he never noticed before?

When Zhong Jiaming knocked and entered, seeing Mo Yin lying down, he thought Mo Yin was crying. After putting down the dinner tray, he walked over and gently asked, “Are you okay?”

Mo Yin lifted his face, which was clean and tearless. Realizing his mistake, Zhong Jiaming awkwardly said, “I brought you dinner.”

Mo Yin looked at the tray on the small table, then glanced outside. The sky hadn’t completely darkened, and the intense twilight had gradually faded, nearly disappearing.

When it was as brilliant as fire, Mo Yin felt sad and lowered his head, refusing to look at the sunset glow. But as it was about to disappear, Mo Yin felt a bit reluctant.

A little longer, just a little longer, it was so beautiful.

“Do you like sunsets?” Zhong Jiaming asked.

Mo Yin didn’t answer his question and went over to the small table to eat.

The food was delicious, but Zhong Jiaming’s scrutinizing gaze made him a bit uncomfortable.

After a while, Zhong Jiaming also sat down. He sat opposite Mo Yin, leaning slightly forward, lowering his voice, and said, “Li Xiu contacted me.”

Mo Yin’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. He looked up at Zhong Jiaming, his gaze calm.

“He called me just now,” Zhong Jiaming said, “he escaped from home.”

“Escaped?” Mo Yin asked.

“That’s what he said.”

Zhong Jiaming lowered his head, his expression seemed complicated to Mo Yin. “He contacted me, thinking I could help him.”

“Help him with what?” Mo Yin asked, not urgently but with some tension.

Zhong Jiaming was countless times more nervous when he received Li Xiu’s call than he was now.

“I ran away,” Li Xiu’s voice was breathless, as if he had just gone through intense exercise. “Are you at school? I can’t reach Mo Yin.”

Due to shock, or perhaps a certain sense of guilt, Zhong Jiaming’s mind went blank for a moment. He barely calmed down and decided to tell part of the truth, “I’m at home.”

“There’s a problem on my end, you should have heard about it.”

It seemed like Li Xiu started running again.

This matter was handed over to Zhong Zeyong by Li Qing. Denying it would obviously be unreasonable. Zhong Jiaming said, “I know, you and Mo Yin…”

“It’s fake.”

Li Xiu said firmly, “Mo Yin isn’t that kind of person.”

“Is that so…”

Zhong Jiaming said, “Then what exactly happened?”

“Is Mo Yin with you?”

Zhong Jiaming was shocked again. He instinctively wanted to discuss it with his father, but was afraid Li Xiu would get suspicious. Just as he hesitated, Li Xiu said, “I overheard my dad’s phone call in the study. Are you guys planning to send him abroad?”

Zhong Jiaming walked outside while saying, “I don’t know.”

“I want to see him. I’m coming over now.”

Li Xiu’s voice was urgent on the other end of the phone, “I can’t let him leave. I need to ask him in person.”

“Li Xiu, don’t be impulsive. Let the adults handle these things.”

“No, I must see him. I’m already on my way. I’ll come in through the back door, make sure your family doesn’t find out.”

Zhong Jiaming had already reached his father’s study door. After agreeing with Li Xiu, he knocked on the door.

“Dad, Li Xiu ran away and is coming here.”

Zhong Zeyong was also very busy, much like Li Qing. The study was filled with documents and several phones. Distrusting anyone, he managed everything himself.

Mo Yin and Li Xiu’s matter was actually his personal agenda. It didn’t benefit his current affairs but was very useful in toppling Li Qing.

In middle age, as Li Qing sought further advancement, didn’t he have the same ambitions?

Having finally found an opportunity to bring down a rival, he couldn’t miss it.

After hearing from Zhong Jiaming, Zhong Zeyong immediately grabbed one of the phones and dialed. Soon, a confirmation came through.

Li Xiu was injured, reportedly with a head wound, and had escaped from a car on the way to the hospital during a traffic light stop.

Li Qing was also busy. Since Mo Yin was hidden by Zhong Zeyong, Li Qing seemed to allow Li Xiu to cause a commotion, as long as the two didn’t meet. He didn’t send anyone to chase him.

Now, Zhong Zeyong was in a dilemma.

Helping Li Qing catch his son could risk alerting Li Qing and ruin everything. His nerves were tight, and he was very reluctant to contact Li Qing again. Li Qing was no pushover, and one mistake could be catastrophic.

Alternatively, he could let Li Xiu come in.

What could the boy do?

The key was to control that child, but he was currently too occupied. He thought he had handled the situation, just waiting for the formalities to send the child abroad to end it completely.

Zhong Zeyong told Zhong Jiaming, “I’m very busy now. Go and sound out that child.”

Zhong Jiaming nodded, “I’ll go right away.” He hurried to the kitchen to get some food and then knocked on Mo Yin’s door.

He felt both nervous and excited, as this was his first competition with Li Xiu outside of school, on a different track.

All his life, Zhong Jiaming had been compared to Li Xiu. Li Xiu was indeed excellent, surpassing him in every way. His parents would constantly praise Li Xiu, but back at home, his father would pat his head and say, “Jiaming, being smart doesn’t guarantee you’ll laugh last. Sometimes, being too smart can backfire. Li Xiu is too arrogant; you have many advantages over him in certain areas.”

What advantages did he have over Li Xiu?

Zhong Jiaming thought wryly, was it cunning and scheming?

Zhong Jiaming said slowly, “Li Xiu said he wanted me to help you meet.”

He didn’t look directly at Mo Yin while speaking but observed him from the corner of his eye. He didn’t want Mo Yin to realize he was probing him.

Mo Yin was silent for a few seconds, picking at a few grains of rice with his chopsticks, and said, “I’m going abroad.”

“Going abroad is tomorrow’s matter. If you want to see Li Xiu…”

Mo Yin shook his head, his tone indifferent, “There’s no need to see him.”

Zhong Jiaming wasn’t very surprised. In his eyes, no, in the eyes of everyone who had ever been close to Mo Yin, Mo Yin was like this: a cold stone that couldn’t be warmed, a wolf that couldn’t be tamed, someone who would turn his back and not recognize you.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhong Jiaming asked again, “Do you really not want to see Li Xiu? He’s coming because he likes you…”

Mo Yin’s expression remained indifferent, “I know he likes me, but what good is liking? Liking can’t send me to study abroad, nor can it solve my family issues. I’ve made my decision, and it won’t change.”

Zhong Jiaming conveyed Mo Yin’s attitude to Zhong Zeyong, who nodded while smoking, “Alright, when Li Xiu arrives, stall him for a bit. I’ll call someone to pick him up. Don’t let it turn into a conflict.”

“Okay.”

Just as Zhong Jiaming was about to leave, Zhong Zeyong called him back, “Wait a minute.”

Zhong Zeyong fell into brief contemplation.

For years, he had been overshadowed, with even his family members seeming like mere foils, from spouse to child. All the flattery and accumulated resentment, he silently noted each time, waiting for the day he could return all the grievances in one go.

Zhong Zeyong knew now wasn’t the time for complications. Once Mo Yin was abroad tomorrow, the father and son pair would be under his control.

However, since Li Xiu had run away and delivered himself…

Zhong Zeyong pondered, thinking about Li Qing’s pride in his son. As a father, he knew how to break another father’s spirit most effectively.

“You and Li Xiu have always been good friends,” Zhong Zeyong said with a faint smile. “Don’t disappoint a good friend. Let them meet.”

*

The Zhong family’s estate was large. Zhong Jiaming led Mo Yin to a walled area covered in vines, with an iron gate also covered in green, blending into the wall.

Zhong Jiaming looked at Mo Yin, “Don’t be nervous. If you don’t want to talk later, just stay behind me.”

“I can’t act,” Mo Yin said stiffly.

“I know…” Zhong Jiaming said softly. “That’s why I said, if you don’t want to talk, just stand there.”

“Do I still need to video call when I’m abroad?”

Zhong Jiaming was a bit troubled, “Yes, you do.”

Mo Yin coldly curled his lips, “The money you promised won’t be less, right?”

Zhong Jiaming found himself quickly adapting to this role and conversation. He didn’t feel ashamed or awkward at all, even feeling a strange pleasure. He smiled, assuming a magnanimous posture of a superior, “No, it won’t be.”

The sky grew darker, and the exterior lights turned on.

Mo Yin leaned against the wall, not looking outside, seemingly uninterested in this meeting. He only looked up at the sky, where the sunset glow was very dim, almost gone.

Then he heard footsteps.

Someone was running towards him.

His hands behind his back, he pretended his heart wasn’t racing.

Zhong Jiaming glanced at him.

Mo Yin was still looking at the sunset.

He heard urgent breathing, separated by a wall. He heard Li Xiu say, “Where’s Mo Yin?”

Zhong Jiaming opened the door as planned, saying, “Li Xiu, don’t get too worked up.”

The iron gate creaked open just a crack before Li Xiu forcefully pushed it open and stepped inside. Instinctively, he looked to his right, where Mo Yin was quietly leaning against the wall. When Mo Yin saw the wound on Li Xiu’s forehead, his eyes flickered.

Zhong Jiaming subtly glanced at the surveillance camera above, “Li Xiu, let’s talk this through calmly. Don’t hurt Mo Yin…”

Before he could finish, Li Xiu had already grabbed Mo Yin’s arm, pulling him close. His hand slid down, and he held Mo Yin’s hand, dragging him along.

“Li Xiu—”

“Mo Yin—”

Zhong Jiaming called out to both of them, rushing forward to block their path. The surveillance camera outside the wall rotated to focus on the three of them, triggered by the infrared sensors.

“Li Xiu, you can’t treat Mo Yin like this,” Zhong Jiaming said urgently.

As Mo Yin tried to take a step forward, Li Xiu released his hand, then swung his arm and punched Zhong Jiaming, knocking him to the ground.

Zhong Jiaming groaned, feeling a burning pain in his nose. “Li Xiu, you’re crazy…”

“Let’s go.”

Li Xiu grabbed Mo Yin’s hand again. Mo Yin followed, whispering, “You’ve fallen into their trap. There are cameras.”

“I know.”

Li Xiu quickened his pace along the narrow path lined with trees, until they were both running. Mo Yin heard Li Xiu’s casual laugh, “It doesn’t matter.”

“How can it not matter?”

Mo Yin frowned, “Don’t you understand? They want to ruin you.”

Li Xiu laughed again, repeating, “It doesn’t matter.”

The sun was nearly gone, the sky darkening. Li Xiu pulled Mo Yin close, and Mo Yin stumbled slightly. Suddenly, he heard the sound of many footsteps approaching from behind.

“Don’t look back,” Li Xiu said.

Mo Yin quickly said, “Stop. They want me to record a video to prove you forced me. I haven’t recorded it yet; I can help clear your name. They’re out of options.”

“It’s not Zhong Zeyong’s people.”

Li Xiu held Mo Yin’s hand tightly, “It’s my dad’s.”

Li Xiu led Mo Yin into a crowded street, up a pedestrian bridge, and stopped at the center. The pursuers hesitated, thrown off by the unexpected crowd and unsure what to do.

Mo Yin looked at the group of people who clearly didn’t blend in with the passersby, then at Li Xiu. He sensed something and his gaze questioned Li Xiu.

Li Xiu looked into Mo Yin’s eyes and smiled, “I’ve been thinking at home these past few days. If it weren’t for me, if you didn’t like me, none of this would have happened.”

“Breaking the stalemate is simple,” Li Xiu squeezed Mo Yin’s hand, “I just need to stop caring about the things they think are important. And the truth is,” Li Xiu smiled again, “I really don’t care.”

Mo Yin understood a bit of what Li Xiu meant, but not completely.

As he tried to grasp it, Li Xiu suddenly kissed him gently on the forehead.

On the crowded pedestrian bridge, such an intimate gesture between two boys naturally drew many eyes, especially since they were both quite good-looking. Passersby turned to look multiple times.

The people hidden among the crowd panicked. Hearing instructions through their earpieces, they began closing in on the two.

Mo Yin looked at Li Xiu, who turned to protect him, saying to the surrounding people, “It’s pointless now. Too many eyes have seen this. You can’t cover it up.”

The leader seemed to be communicating with someone through his earpiece.

Mo Yin grabbed Li Xiu’s arm, wanting to ask what was happening, but then he heard a familiar siren. Looking back, he saw an ambulance parked below the bridge. From his angle, he could clearly see it was a psychiatric hospital’s vehicle.

Mo Yin’s grip tightened.

Li Xiu turned around.

Their eyes met.

For the first time, Li Xiu saw clear tension and fear in Mo Yin’s eyes.

Li Xiu smiled at him, “It’s okay. Everything’s fine now.”

Mo Yin looked at the smile on Li Xiu’s lips and seemed to understand his meaning.

The sunset had completely disappeared, and Mo Yin felt a pang of sadness. But soon that sadness was replaced by another feeling, one he couldn’t quite describe. It felt like his heart was slowly filling up. He smiled back and said, “Okay.”