APR 63

A familiar weight settled on his shoulder. Zhong Su turned his head and met Chen Huan’s dark, obsidian-like eyes. He was taken aback, a little surprised. “What are you doing here?” And so quickly at that.

The young man was handsome, carrying an unintentional, ascetic chill. When he looked up from below, his hazel eyes seemed to shimmer with a thin layer of watery light, like a cat gazing dependently at its owner, creating a subtle contrast with his aloof demeanor.

Chen Huan lowered his gaze to look at him, his eyes curving into a smile, filled with undisguised affection. He reached out and ruffled the wind-tousled ends of Zhong Su’s hair, saying, “Didn’t we agree last night? I came to pick you up.”

“But who is this? Do you know him?” As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Yu Zi, who stood in front of Zhong Su—broad-shouldered, round-eyed, with a warm smile, like a well-trained golden retriever.

Yet a faint, elusive scent of blood wafted from the other person, directly assaulting Chen Huan’s senses. The intimidating odor clashed starkly with that innocent, harmless face.

Chen Huan’s eyes flickered, and he raised an eyebrow playfully. With just one glance, he could tell this person shared his own enthusiasm for violence and blood.

Without even realizing it, when had such an abnormal character appeared around Su Er?

Zhong Su noticed Chen Huan narrowing his eyes dangerously and stepped forward to stand between the two. “I wouldn’t say I know him. We’ve only met once or twice before. He was just kindly asking if I needed a ride.”

He had no intention of introducing Yu Zi further to Chen Huan. In fact, keeping them apart was even better. Casually waving a hand at Yu Zi, he said, “The person picking me up is here. No need to trouble yourself with giving me a ride. You can go.”

Compared to the futile back-and-forth with the single-minded Yu Zizhuo, Zhong Su naturally stood firmly on Chen Huan’s side without hesitation.

But Yu Zizhuo didn’t nod agreeably as he had before. Staring at Chen Huan’s hand resting on Zhong Su’s shoulder, he said softly, “Little brother, let me take you. It’ll be safer.”

He emphasized the word “safer,” like a guard dog perking its ears, watching Chen Huan warily. If the other made any inappropriate move, he would pounce without hesitation.

Just as tensions were rising, Chen Huan tilted his head to study Yu Zizhuo, as if recalling something. He chuckled softly, his fingers sliding to Zhong Su’s jeans belt, hooking it lightly and pulling him behind himself. “Su Er, get in the car. No need to waste time here.”

Zhong Su replied, “Got it. Stop being clingy. I’ll get in myself.”

He brushed off the hand, opened the door of the black luxury car directly, and sat in the back seat.

Chen Huan closed the car door for him. As the door shut, the faint smile at the corner of his lips vanished, and his sidelong glance turned icy as it swept toward Yu Zizhuo.

Seeing a face that usually only appeared in case files, Yu Zizhuo showed no fear. Instead, he stared intently at him. “Chen Huan, I know you. Even though you weren’t involved in Li Zhaodong’s case, your record at the police station is far from clean.”

“And now, you’re controlling an ordinary person who can’t resist you. He shouldn’t be dragged into this.”

In his view, Zhong Su had just resisted Chen Huan’s touch but had no choice but to endure it.

"Control?" Chen Huan finally showed a flicker of emotion upon hearing the keyword "control," turning his head to glance at Yu Zizhuo. "Are you a cop?"

He curled his lips in a half-smile, reminiscent of a great white shark capable of easily snapping human bones, his teeth sharp and terrifying. "Then did your superior ever tell you, to mind your own business and keep your nose out of other people's family affairs?"

Chen Huan took a step forward, a crimson surge seeming to churn deep in his eyes, the aura of bloodlust emanating from him even more intense and intimidating than that around Yu Zizhuo. "Get lost."

"Don’t think you can act recklessly. What you’ve done in the past won’t just be wiped clean." Yu Zizhuo’s expression showed no hesitation, and he didn’t retreat a single step.

"You’d better keep pretending to be innocent and never make a single mistake. Otherwise, as long as I get even a shred of solid evidence, I won’t let you escape punishment."

"…Not let me escape? If you want to convict me, just talking won’t cut it." Chen Huan rubbed the tattoo on his neck, the thorns seeming to prick, his expression cold, fierce, and disdainful as he curled his lips and said, "Officer, since you’re so righteous, why not try a little harder? Dig deeper like a dog, sniff more carefully—maybe you’ll succeed. I even wish you get what you want, rather than waste your time and end up with nothing."

"But whatever you want, stay away from Su Er. Hear me clearly—he’s mine. Whether now or in the future, he has nothing to do with you."

After saying this, Chen Huan arrogantly brushed past him, walked around to the other side of the car, opened the door, and got in.

Seeing Chen Huan enter, the driver started the car, turned the steering wheel, and merged into the traffic flow.

Zhong Su watched Yu Zizhuo’s figure gradually recede through the car window. He turned around, caught sight of Chen Huan’s gloomy profile, and nudged him with an elbow. "You could tell too, right? That guy’s a cop. I’ve had a few run-ins with him since I was reborn, he’s a pretty odd character. What did he say to you just now? You didn’t look too good."

Inside the car, separated by the glass, he could only see their mouths moving but couldn’t make out the specifics of their conversation.

"Yeah, I could tell. But he didn’t say anything important, just a dog that can’t bite likes to bark, that’s all."

Chen Huan laughed, pulling Zhong Su’s head into his embrace. His fingers brushed the faint wound at the corner of Zhong Su’s mouth, his gaze focused and intense as he asked, "More than that, I want to know… what happened here? Who hurt you?"

His thumb grazed the injury, his voice lowering.

If it were the old days, when they were inseparable best friends, Zhong Su probably would’ve blurted out the scuffle with Lu Zhiyi without a second thought. But now, knowing full well what kind of feelings Chen Huan harbored for him, to let him fight his battles?

That would be far too inappropriate.

Zhong Su shook his head, nonchalantly saying, "No one. Just got scraped by a prop while filming."

"Is that so?" Chen Huan’s expression was unreadable—whether he believed this explanation or not, he meticulously stroked the skin around the wound at Zhong Su’s mouth, pressing against the soft lips, his fingernail grazing the edge as if his finger might slip into the warm, moist interior of the mouth at any moment.

"Open up. Let me see."

"It's not serious, why look so closely." Zhong Su turned his face away, preventing Chen Huan from touching him.

The warm, soft touch vanished abruptly. Chen Huan showed no emotion on his face, only pressing the person deeper into his embrace.

His nose brushed against Zhong Su's hair, catching the faint scent of disinfectant on the strands. Chen Huan's hand slid down imperceptibly, his voice low as a whisper: "Your mouth is fine… then what about the ring? You've been protecting your lower half since getting in the car, uncomfortable?"

The man's fingertips seemed to carry an electric current, leaving a tingling, numbing itch wherever they touched.

Zhong Su felt his lower back go weak from the touch, squirming and unwilling to answer Chen Huan's question: "It's off, it's off, stop touching randomly, hey! Don't take my pants off again!"

Zhong Su barely managed to grab Chen Huan's mischievous hand, but still couldn't avoid having his lower half kneaded.

Only after confirming there was no troublesome metal ring constricting it did Chen Huan seem somewhat satisfied. He released Zhong Su, tapped on the partition to the front seat, and asked the driver: "A Wei, where are we?"

"Mr. Chen, twenty more minutes to Moonlight Spring," A Wei responded succinctly.

Zhong Su suddenly heard the name of his own cemetery and asked Chen Huan curiously: "Moonlight Spring? What are we going there for?"

"To see the cemetery."

Whose cemetery, the answer was already self-evident.

Zhong Su fell silent, frowning. Wasn't that cemetery plot empty? He didn't understand why Chen Huan wanted to visit.

"Don't worry, Su Er." Chen Huan seemed to see through Zhong Su's confusion, pinching the bone stud in Zhong Su's ear, his thumb scraping over the metal surface again and again: "When we get there, you'll know."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, resembling a leopard estimating where to sink its claws first to feast on the warm, bloody flesh of its prey.

Moonlight Spring Cemetery was quite upscale. As the vehicle entered the cemetery gates, they first saw a meticulously maintained flower bed. Bright yellow and orange autumn chrysanthemums bloomed profusely, adding an untimely liveliness to the solemn cemetery.

Led by Chen Huan, Zhong Su walked up the stone steps until they stopped before a snow-white tombstone. He was somewhat surprised to find—Shou Hou was also there in front of the tomb, holding a long-handled sledgehammer.

"Shou Hou."

"Brother Chen!" Shou Hou seemed to have been waiting for a while, squinting from the sun, but upon seeing Chen Huan, he immediately straightened up, bowing his head respectfully: "I've brought everything you asked for. Do you have any other instructions?"

"Hmm, leave the things, you can go." Chen Huan waved dismissively, sending Shou Hou away.

"….Leave now? Alright." Shou Hou was puzzled but dared not ask more. He set down the tools in his hand and hesitantly descended the steps.

No joss paper, no incense or candles, but a sledgehammer instead… Brother Chen's preparations didn't look like he was here to pay respects at all. He muttered to himself, then consoled himself: But this is Xiao Zhong Ge's tomb. Given Brother Chen's relationship with Xiao Zhong Ge, he surely wouldn't do anything reckless.

Mountain wind swept up grass clippings; the rows of tombstones below lay silent as a sea under the sunlight. Chen Huan shielded the wind with one hand to light a cigarette, took a drag, and offered it to Zhong Su's lips.

Zhong Su hesitated slightly but finally took the cigarette between his lips, looking at Chen Huan with confusion, his eyes filled with questions. The man who had never been willing to mourn him and never believed in ghosts or gods, why had he suddenly brought him to his own tomb? What exactly did he intend to do?

Chen Huan: "This is the tomb Da Xiong and the others built for you. Since you didn’t leave many photos behind, the picture on the headstone was cropped from an old group photo taken with them."

Chen Huan rested his hand on the stone slab, his fingertips tracing the black-and-white photo embedded in the surface. The young man in the picture still had a youthful face, his eyes carrying a cold, untamed pride.

No matter how many times he looked at them, those eyes remained the same as when they first met, tightening his heart.

"So, Su Er, do you like this tomb?"

"Of course not," Zhong Su replied without hesitation. No matter how beautifully it was built, no living person could possibly like their own grave.

A cold, faint curve lifted the corner of Chen Huan’s lips. "What a coincidence. I don’t like it at all either."

The moment his words fell, he swung the sledgehammer.

BANG!!

A deafening crash erupted as the headstone shattered in response, the upper half of the stone slab crashing to the ground, sending fragments and dust flying in all directions.

Zhong Su’s pupils contracted slightly as he watched Chen Huan personally smash his own tombstone, momentarily speechless.

Tossing the hammer aside, Chen Huan turned and pulled him into a tight embrace, his fingers tangling in Zhong Su’s hair. The hug was so forceful it felt as though he wanted to embed Zhong Su into his very bones and blood, his scorching breath heavy against Zhong Su’s ear. "Zhong Su…"

He nuzzled against Zhong Su’s neck, his intense emotions both tender and deeply suppressed, each word seeming to sear the skin. "Welcome back. I’ve missed you so much all these years."

Not ‘remembering,’ nor ‘mourning,’ but ‘missing’—as if Zhong Su had never died, only temporarily left, and now returned to his side.

The shattered fragments of the tombstone lay scattered messily at their feet, resembling a violent yet grand celebration of rebirth. Zhong Su stepped on a piece of rubble, his heart lurching in response.

He finally understood why Chen Huan had brought him here and why he had taken such an action.

Chen Huan had smashed the tombstone to celebrate his rebirth, while also silently warning him: Zhong Su could hide, pretend to be indifferent, even reject his affection, but he must never leave his side again. Otherwise, Chen Huan would rather use even more violent means to keep him.

This obsession had already transcended life and death, entwining itself inextricably around him.

Zhong Su’s throat tightened. He didn’t know whether to return the embrace or not. Lifting his hand, he lightly patted Chen Huan’s back, his voice hoarse. "I understand… I care about you too. You can let go now."

"Zhong Su…" Chen Huan murmured his name again, his embrace tightening even more, as if afraid he might slip away.

Zhong Su tried to push again, his chest tight, almost able to hear his own joints creaking under the pressure.

Chen Huan’s embrace was thorny, making it impossible for Zhong Su to accept it peacefully. He wasn’t entirely incapable of understanding this overly persistent, even all-consuming emotion, but no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to accept it openly.

He and Chen Huan were not blood brothers, but in the time they had supported each other, their bond had grown tighter than any familial tie.

For this reason, he would never cross that line. Zhong Su only wanted a family, a place to belong that wouldn’t be tainted by desire or destroyed by possessiveness.

Zhong Su didn’t say anything like "let’s just be friends." Instead, he endured in silence until the other finally, bit by bit, loosened his hold.