Chapter 142#
A sudden sense of the absurdity of being played rose within his heart.#
“Liu Yi was beaten to death while trying to protect the child.”
“Just now, Jian Jinbao was arrested and imprisoned.”
As the words landed, these two sentences caused Jian Yunchen’s brain to go blank for a moment.
He stood frozen on the spot, his expression a complete void, his dazed eyes instinctively turning toward Qin Mu.
Qin Mu frowned, also somewhat surprised.
Upon receiving Jian Yunchen’s gaze, he took two quick steps forward, firmly blocking Jiang Yunhan’s line of sight. He pulled Jian Yunchen into his arms and tilted his head to issue an order to the guest: “Leave first.”
His tone was cold, possessing a forceful authority that brooked no refusal.
Jiang Yunhan watched Jian Yunchen’s instinctive movement of relying on Qin Mu, and a subtle discomfort rose in his heart. He paused for a moment before saying, “Xiao Chen, the police station called… they said we need to go identify the body. I’ll wait for you at the door.”
After speaking, he turned and left the room.
The door was gently closed. Jian Yunchen seemed to only just regain his senses. He gripped the hem of Qin Mu’s clothes and looked up, his voice dry and raspy: “Just now he said… Jiang Yunhan said…”
Jian Yunchen swallowed with difficulty, but those last few words simply wouldn’t come out.
Such a vibrant life, someone who was just talking to him in this very place yesterday, smiling and saying she only hoped for Jian Dan to grow up safe and sound.
Dead?
How did she die?
Beaten to death?
Jian Yunchen’s heart was in total turmoil. He tightly gripped Qin Mu’s clothes. “Liu Yi… how could she die? She just had a baby. What about Jian Dan?”
Qin Mu tightened the corners of his mouth, cupped Jian Yunchen’s cheeks, and soothed him softly: “We’ll go confirm exactly what happened first. I’ll figure something out for Jian Dan; I will settle everything.”
Jian Yunchen opened his mouth, his fingertips tightening slightly, and after a long while, his eyes slowly reddened.
Qin Mu’s brow furrowed. His thumb brushed over the slightly red corner of the eye, his tone softening even further: “Didn’t you say you have me? Why are you crying?”
Jian Yunchen shook his head gently and looked straight at Qin Mu. Qin Mu couldn’t help but lean down, touching the corner of his lips. His somewhat frustrated mood lightened considerably because of this simple touch. Qin Mu looked down into his eyes and gave him a dose of reassurance: “Don’t worry, you aren’t alone anymore. With me here, I will help you resolve everything.”
Jian Yunchen’s heart, which had been hanging mid-air, slowly and steadily descended.
Time was pressing, and the two didn’t have time for more words. He turned to wash up.
The water flowed and then stopped. Jian Yunchen didn’t even have time to wipe the droplets from his face before he turned and rushed out. Genuine anxiety showed in his eyes: “Just now Jiang Yunhan said… said Jian Jinbao suspected Liu Yi of having an affair. Did Liu Yi tell him… that she told me everything? Then wouldn’t Jian Jinbao know that we know everything? Would he tell Qin Zheng?”
Qin Mu’s movements paused. He smiled softly, his knuckles sliding across Jian Yunchen’s chin to catch a droplet of water about to fall. “It’s fine. Even if Qin Zheng knows, it doesn’t matter.”
Jian Yunchen frowned slightly: “Then the method you mentioned last night will be useless…”
“If this one doesn’t work, we’ll switch to the next. For a man like Jian Jinbao, there are ten thousand ways to handle him.” Qin Mu’s tone was calm, yet it allowed Jian Yunchen to slowly feel at ease. “Relax, I’m here for whatever happens.”
Jian Yunchen’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed. Looking at the smile on Qin Mu’s lips, his tense nerves gradually loosened. It seemed that as long as Qin Mu was there, everything could be easily resolved.
He leaned in close and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of Qin Mu’s lips. The cool kiss still carried the moisture of water vapor. His clear voice sounded close to Qin Mu’s ear: “Thank you…”
Qin Mu reacted extremely quickly, reaching out his arm to encircle the waist that was retreating. He tilted his head to return a kiss, his tongue sweeping over the lips and taking away a hint of minty coolness. Qin Mu hooked his lips and said softly: “This is the reward.”
Jian Yunchen instinctively pursed his lips. A faint flush rose on his pale face, and the unease in his eyes gradually faded.
He turned, took his clothes, and entered the bathroom.
The door slowly closed. The smile on Qin Mu’s face dimmed slightly, and his eyes turned ice-cold.
If Jian Jinbao really did learn all this and told everything to Qin Zheng…
He let out a cold sneer. Then there was no reason for the man to remain alive. If it weren’t for the fact that he had spared his life before, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.
A few minutes later, Jian Yunchen pushed the door open. He opened the room door and exchanged a glance with Jiang Yunhan, who was standing behind it.
Jiang Yunhan glanced at Qin Mu behind him, coolly withdrew his gaze, and said softly: “Let’s go.”
Jian Yunchen, however, stood still. He glanced up at Qin Mu, hesitated for a long moment, then gently pushed Qin Mu’s arm, pushing him back into the room: “Qin Mu, your injuries aren’t healed yet… don’t go for now…”
Jiang Yunhan looked at his actions with some surprise but did not speak to stop him.
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow: “Do you find me in the way?”
Jian Yunchen’s brow snapped together instantly as he retorted: “How could I!”
He paused, looking into Qin Mu’s eyes. He swallowed the words of evasion. He turned sideways to avoid Jiang Yunhan’s gaze and whispered to Qin Mu: “We don’t know yet how much Qin Zheng knows. If he finds out… that you were behind this, I’m worried he will target you. Stay in the hospital for now. I’ve arranged bodyguards outside. Your injuries haven’t fully healed… I’ll come back immediately after I handle the matters at the police station.”
A warm current flowed through his heart. The curve of Qin Mu’s lips deepened. He gently pinched Jian Yunchen’s cheek and nodded in agreement: “Then be careful yourself and come back early.”
Jian Yunchen’s eyes lit up, and he nodded.
The figures of the two slowly disappeared at the end of the hallway.
Qin Mu turned back into the room. He sank into the sofa, leaning back against the headrest, his gaze fixed on a point in the void, gradually losing focus.
Just as his thoughts were drifting deep, a glowing blue translucent screen suddenly appeared in mid-air.
Qin Mu snapped back to his senses and blinked his dry eyes.
His gaze stayed on 77 for a few seconds. He frowned slightly—was 77 always this faint before?
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
77 remained silent. Right at that moment.
Qin Mu’s phone suddenly rang abruptly.
The urgent ringing sent Qin Mu’s heartbeat racing.
He looked at the caller ID on the phone screen, then looked up at the system that had become transparent. A bad premonition suddenly surged within him.
He frowned and answered the phone.
The next second, a woman’s sobbing rang out.
Qin Mu’s heart sank heavily.
“Xiao Mu… Xiao Mu, what should we do…”
The woman’s voice was panicked and helpless.
“Zhao Zhao suddenly fainted today. The doctor just gave me a notice of critical condition…”
“She was fine, how could this happen all of a sudden? It’s all my fault, wu… Xiao Mu…”
One sob after another exploded in Qin Mu’s ear. His fingertips suddenly tightened, and he looked up at the system hovering in mid-air.
A sudden sense of the absurdity of being played rose within his heart.