APR 36

After the guests had dispersed, the once elegant room appeared even more disheveled.

Amber-colored liquor mixed with shards of glass seeped across the floor tiles, a small stream of alcohol creeping toward Zhong Su’s feet.

Zhong Su retreated half a step without changing expression, avoiding the spreading stain.

Chen Huan shook the liquor from his hand, pulled a cigarette case from his inner suit pocket, deftly tapped out a cigarette and clamped it between his teeth, attempting to light it with his lighter.

Click, click

But tonight the lighter seemed to have developed some problem – the flint wheel scraped several times, producing only scattered sparks, refusing to catch properly.

A shadow of irritable gloom flickered through Chen Huan’s brow.

“Your lighter isn’t working. Use mine instead.” Zhong Su approached, holding out his already lit lighter near Chen Huan’s lips.

He waited for Chen Huan to take the light, the dancing flame casting warm reflections between his pale fingers, clearly attempting to ease the tension.

Chen Huan lifted his eyelids slightly, glanced at him, his gaze lingering on Zhong Su’s pale neck before finally bringing the cigarette to the flame to light it.

Smoke drifted past Chen Huan’s eyelashes, obscuring the fleeting darkness in his eyes.

Seeing that Chen Huan seemed to accept his peace offering, Zhong Su put away his lighter and got straight to the point: “Now that everyone’s gone, shall we discuss business?”

His gaze swept over Chen Huan’s right wrist, where the Bone Chain hung against his golden-wheat skin like a small snake tempting him to reach out.

Zhong Su lowered his eyes. His timing was good – if possible, he wanted to take advantage of Chen Huan’s drunken and emotionally unstable state to trick the Bone Chain away.

But Chen Huan ignored the question, exhaling smoke rings without even giving him a sidelong glance as he walked out the door alone.

“Wait, what do you mean? You don’t want to talk anymore?” Zhong Su paused briefly before following him out.

Shou Hou, who had been accompanying them for social duties while doubling as the driver, had already brought a car to the entrance of the “Orchid Room.” This was another luxury vehicle Zhong Su hadn’t seen before, with subtly sparkling silver-gray paint and equally sleek, refined lines.

-Probably the car that Xiao Lao Dao had scratched was still being repaired at the factory, so Chen Huan had switched to another intact vehicle for transportation.

Chen Huan took the lead in getting into the back seat, leaving the door open, the interior dimly lit.

Zhong Su sensed something amiss and stopped in his tracks.

But with the door left open like that, Chen Huan didn’t need to say anything – Shou Hou understood his meaning and urged Zhong Su: “What are you standing around for? Get in the car, don’t keep Brother Chen waiting.”

Zhong Su turned to look at him: “Where is this car going?”

“Kid, that’s not your question to ask,” Shou Hou glanced at him with an expression suggesting Zhong Su was being unreasonable, “When you’re given an opportunity, take it. Do you want to get in the car or keep asking questions?”

Zhong Su had no choice but to get in the car. He consciously slowed his breathing, but the cold, unfamiliar aura emanating from Chen Huan beside him was palpable, with only the blue tobacco smoke remaining familiar.

Chen Huan smoked, curled his fingers and tapped on the car window, saying: “Shou Hou, drive home.”

Hearing the word “home,” Zhong Su instinctively looked at Chen Huan – he hadn’t anticipated this development of “going to Chen Huan’s home.”

But most of Chen Huan’s face was hidden in shadow, making his emotions unreadable and his thoughts impossible to discern.

“Yes.” Shou Hou responded, glancing at the backseat through the rearview mirror before increasing the speed slightly.

The luxury car drove further into the remote area, winding up the mountain road until it stopped in front of a standalone villa. The entire villa was painted in a cold gray tone. What should have been a front lawn had been completely cleared and paved with cement, forcibly expanded into a driveway where seven or eight visibly expensive cars were parked.

Zhong Su looked out the car window. He always enjoyed admiring these luxury cars parked outdoors. Whether Chen Huan felt distressed about leaving his car baking under the sun, he didn’t know, but he knew just looking at this row of cars gave him pleasure.

The only drawback was the villa’s lack of greenery in its decoration, making it resemble a concrete box. Staring at the gray tones for too long could strain the eyes.

However, when he imagined Chen Huan having a garden at home, rolling up his sleeves daily to tend to flowers and plants… better not to think about it. That would be even more unbearable.

Zhong Su decided not to care about how Chen Huan decorated his home.

After the car stopped and the engine turned off, Shou Hou pulled up the handbrake and said, “Brother Chen, we’re home.”

Just as he was about to walk around to the other side of the car to open the door for Chen Huan, Chen Huan had already stepped out first. The man’s strong arm rested on the car roof, his forearm muscles subtly tensed as he reached out to Shou Hou and instructed, “Shou Hou, give me the car keys. Also tell A Wei he doesn’t need to come tomorrow. I’ll drive myself.”

“Ah, yes, Brother Chen.” Shou Hou was somewhat surprised by this arrangement, thinking to himself: It’s rare for Brother Chen to decline a driver. Does he want to drive somewhere himself tomorrow?

But he knew better than to ask unnecessary questions, respectfully handing over the car keys: “I’ll call A Wei right away about this.”

Having worked under Chen Huan for many years, Shou Hou had long understood the boss’s temperament and knew he disliked others lingering in his personal space.

Seeing that Chen Huan had no further instructions, he bid farewell politely and swiftly left the villa.

As Shou Hou’s figure disappeared beyond the courtyard gate, Chen Huan tilted his head toward Zhong Su, who was still curiously examining the cars, and slightly raised his chin: “What are you still looking at? Come with me.”

“Walk slower.”

Chen Huan led Zhong Su across the driveway to the villa’s main entrance. The front door was made of walnut wood, its deep brown grain blending seamlessly with the cold, rigid architectural style.

Embedded along the door frame was a gray-black electronic Password Door Lock. Chen Huan pulled out the lock’s panel and entered the code.

This was Zhong Su’s first time seeing such a novel device as an electronic lock, and he couldn’t help but take a closer look. “What’s this? A door lock?”

Chen Huan didn’t answer him, quickly pressing several number keys.

He didn’t avoid Zhong Su, so Zhong Su clearly saw the entrance code he entered.

With a light “beep,” the lock clicked open.

Watching Chen Huan push the door open, Zhong Su had accurately guessed the purpose of this Password Door Lock. He rather liked this little device – just input the code to open the door, perfectly suited for someone like him who often misplaces things and forgets keys.

As the door swung open, the interior lights automatically turned on, their glow hitting the polished marble floor and reflecting a dazzling halo.

Zhong Su instinctively narrowed his eyes against the swaying motion. When his vision cleared, a massive fish tank facing the entrance came into view. The tank stood empty, devoid of decorative elements like artificial rocks or aquatic plants—with only a water pump and a solitary lamp in operation.

Under the dim yellowish light, the water appeared murky. A grass carp approximately seventy centimeters long swam sluggishly through the water, appearing frail with large patches of scales missing, revealing raw, festering wounds beneath.

Zhong Su suppressed his look of astonishment. This grass carp… it had to be Hanzai, didn’t it?

He never expected Chen Huan to have taken it from that large tank and kept it by his side all this time, especially since, back when they lived together in the safe house, Chen Huan had always ignored Hanzai, leaving tasks like feeding and water changes entirely to Zhong Su.

“Chen Huan, this fish of yours…” Zhong Su turned around, intending to ask about Hanzai’s condition, when a soft click sounded behind him, Chen Huan had shut the door.

Zhong Su’s heart skipped a beat. Before he could react, Chen Huan had already closed in. His tall, imposing figure cast a long, narrow shadow under the light, enveloping Zhong Su completely.

“I don’t have the patience for games right now,” Chen Huan said, a faint, blood-tinged smile curling at the corner of his lips. “Since you mentioned having photos of Su Er, show them to me.”

His demeanor was razor-sharp, reminiscent of blades surging through a dark river, eager to slice Zhong Su’s flesh open and draw blood.

“The photos aren’t on me right now,” Zhong Su replied, forced to retreat several steps. Instead of showing fear, he lifted his head to meet Chen Huan’s shadowed gaze. “And I never said I’d give them to you for free. If you want the photos, you’ll have to trade that Bone Chain you’re wearing.”

“No need to be so serious,” Zhong Su softened his tone, trying to finish his point. “You’re getting the better end of this deal. Compared to an ominous bone-ash bracelet, a photo album is clearly more fitting for commemorating an old friend, isn’t it?”

But his words clearly failed to sway Chen Huan, who continued advancing step by step, backing Zhong Su against the wall.