Chapter 36#
“The deal between us is over.”#
Qin Mu raised his wrist to check his watch; the hour hand had quietly crept toward “2.” The gauze on his palm stung slightly with an itch, but he didn’t care, propping his face up and letting out a yawn.
Jian Jinbao had fallen down the stairs, but his layers of fat had protected him, leaving him without even a single fracture. The handful of blood from before was merely due to his palm being sliced by glass during the struggle; he had subconsciously thought his head was cracked open and scared himself into a dead faint. He was still lying unconscious in the hospital now.
Or perhaps he simply hadn’t sobered up yet.
They had finished treating their wounds and first went to the police station to record their statements. The two were in separate small rooms. Qin Mu’s side had already concluded, but for some reason, Jian Yunchen had yet to come out.
Another ten minutes passed. Qin Mu was getting a bit impatient waiting outside and was just about to get up and ask when he saw Jian Yunchen push open the door and walk out.
Seeing the man emerge, Qin Mu lazily leaned back again, tilting his chin slightly toward Jian Yunchen. The police officer behind Jian Yunchen pulled him back to say a few more words. This day couldn’t be described as anything but eventful; Jian Yunchen’s face was weary and his lips were pale, making him look a few degrees more pitiful.
Qin Mu watched with amazement, lamenting that it would be a true waste of talent if Jian Yunchen didn’t enter the entertainment industry with those skills.
After dealing with the police, Jian Yunchen walked straight toward Qin Mu and sat down beside him, slowly letting out a breath.
He was much calmer; his original impulses and worries had been suppressed once more with the passing of time.
Nevertheless, his gaze lingered for an extra two seconds as it swept over Qin Mu’s bandaged palm.
He pursed his lips, his voice slightly hoarse: “Thank you for today.”
“The money will be transferred back to you once the police investigation is complete.”
Qin Mu rested his chin on his palm, tilting his head to look at him, the corners of his mouth curling up in a tease: “So polite, boyfriend?”
“……”
Jian Yunchen shut his mouth.
He had indeed acted dishonorably in this matter, and Qin Mu’s attitude was already much better than he had anticipated. He was rarely in the wrong, so he lowered his eyes slightly, “I did wrong in this matter, but you didn’t lose out either. If I return to the Jiang family smoothly, I will still help you.”
By the end, Jian Yunchen’s voice grew quieter out of guilt.
“Jian Yunchen.”
The man’s voice was light, yet it carried a trace of coldness.
“Do you think I have too good a temper?”
Qin Mu stopped smiling and looked at him quietly. Jiang Yunhan was merely an excuse; if he wanted something, he didn’t need Jian Yunchen’s help—let alone the fact that he didn’t want it at all.
From the very beginning, this game was up to him to decide: when to start, when to end, and how to play. Jian Yunchen had no standing to refuse.
“Didn’t I tell you that those who betray me meet a miserable end?”
“Do you think I’m joking with you?”
Qin Mu’s tone was calm, seemingly unbothered. But Jian Yunchen could hear it—he was angry. Perhaps not furiously so, but he was definitely displeased.
Jian Yunchen clenched his fists and lowered his head, not daring to look at him.
Qin Mu let out a soft chuckle, the sound prodding at Jian Yunchen’s strained nerves. He heard the man’s voice: “The deal between us is over.”
Jian Yunchen stiffened abruptly and suddenly snapped his head up to look at him.
Qin Mu’s expression was indifferent, a faint smile even lingered on his lips, but the look in his eyes clearly told him there was no room for negotiation.
When he handed the recording to Qin Zheng, Jian Yunchen had already prepared himself for Qin Mu to turn against him. Given the current situation, it could already be considered dignified.
Qin Mu’s meaning was clear: this time, he’d let it go, and he had followed through on his word, but aside from that, everything was finished.
Jian Yunchen looked at Qin Mu’s face and blinked slowly.
Yes, this was already the best possible ending. He pursed his lips tightly, swallowing down all the emotions that had risen for some unknown reason.
The silence was broken at that moment as an officer called out in their direction:
“Which one is Jian Yunchen? Someone is here to pick you up.”
Jian Yunchen turned his head and frowned toward the door.
A black Lincoln was parked outside, hidden in the darkness.
The Jiang family had sent someone.
This outcome should have been what Jian Yunchen hoped for. Under pressure, the Jiang family had no choice but to recognize his identity, and because of Qin Mu’s protection, they temporarily acknowledged his value.
The car outside sat silently in place, shrouded in an invisible pressure.
Jian Yunchen clenched his fists and turned to look at Qin Mu again. His dark, moist eyes no longer put on a fragile and harmless facade. He looked at Qin Mu without saying a word, then stood up and left.
The car slowly started and drove out of Qin Mu’s sight.
Qin Mu sat with his legs crossed for a while before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
77 had already filled in the plot points that occurred during its absence, and it was indignant: [Host, I warned you, the villain is an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. You shouldn’t have gone along with his wishes. Letting him return to the Jiang family so easily will make the task difficulty skyrocket.]
Qin Mu scoffed: “A white-eyed wolf?”
He recalled the look Jian Yunchen gave him as he left.
“He’s just a little cat who likes to scratch people, that’s all.”
[……]
Qin Mu stood up, stretched, and walked straight toward his car.
The next time he saw Jian Yunchen was a week later.
The Jiang family was hosting a banquet to celebrate the recovery of the young master who had been lost for many years.
The recognition banquet was low-key yet luxurious. Only those within the circle were invited, and not a single media outlet was present.
Jiang Sheng was announcing Jian Yunchen’s identity to the social circle.
As for the world outside the circle, that would depend on Jian Yunchen’s own abilities.
Qin Mu was dressed much more casually this time compared to before. He had been extremely busy lately; his new company had just gotten on track and immediately made big moves. Several mergers and expansions had caused many people to notice the existence of “Zhaohui.”
Among them, Qin Zheng goes without saying; he had even tried to schedule several meetings, all of which were imperceptibly dodged by Qin Mu.
He was busy beyond belief, working day and night. He had to pose as a rich second generation at the Qin Corporation while also handling various projects at the new company, wishing he could split himself in two.
It wasn’t until nightfall today that he remembered the Jiang family had sent him an invitation a few days ago.
The signature was Jian Yunchen.
Qin Mu, of course, had to give face to his “boyfriend’s” invitation.
Without even having time to eat, he arrived at the venue.
Fortunately, Qin Mu was tall with long legs—a walking clothes hanger—so his casual attire didn’t look too shabby by comparison.
As soon as he entered the venue, he began picking out things to eat. The banquet appeared grand, but the food was terrible, offering no desire to even open one’s mouth.
Qin Mu curled his lip and barely managed to drink a glass of orange juice.
As the time hit the hour, Jiang Sheng’s figure appeared on the second floor for the first time, overlooking the entire venue from the railing.
Two teenagers dressed identically appeared behind him, standing fixed to his left and right respectively.
The lights on the first floor slowly dimmed, while the lights on the second floor gradually brightened, focusing on the two teenagers.
Once everyone saw the faces of the two, another wave of shocked murmurs rose and fell one after another.
Jian Yunchen stood to Jiang Sheng’s right, looking down. When his gaze swept past, it paused slightly.
The man was leaning against a long white table, looking up at him with a smile.
No one noticed his frivolous attitude; only Jian Yunchen’s gaze remained fixed intently on him.
Qin Mu had come.