Lin Sui squeezed Meng Chengyuan’s hand firmly, desperately suppressing the turmoil in his heart. His eyes held a touch of bitterness, yet he spoke with absolute certainty: “Brother Yuan, I want to be with you forever. If we ever part, I will die.”
The word “die” weighed heavily between them, and in that moment, Meng Chengyuan was utterly unable to discern whether this promise was genuine or false. However, from Lin Sui’s earnest demeanor, he seemed to feel a sweet, thick love that could not be diluted, making him irresistibly want to embrace the person in front of him.
And Meng Chengyuan indeed did so instinctively.
Lin Sui buried his face in Meng Chengyuan’s chest and inhaled deeply several times, as if wanting to use the familiar scent on this man to dissolve his whole day’s fatigue.
Nightfall swallowed the final trace of twilight. The streetlights shone dim and yellow, casting blurred shadows onto the wet ground, and everything around them was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere.
Right at this moment, Meng Chengyuan received a phone call from Zhou Bosen and was subsequently asked out to meet.
Zhou Bosen’s purpose for calling Meng Chengyuan out this time was still regarding Lin Mian’s whereabouts; however, this time he brought even more shocking news.
Uncertain whether Meng Chengyuan could accept it, Zhou Bosen felt anxious and uneasy all along the way.
Meng Chengyuan remained his usual self, the sharp intensity between his brow and eyes easily drawing attention; even Zhou Bosen, who knew him well, would occasionally feel a chill from that piercing gaze.
The place where they met this time was a somewhat dim tearoom. A faint aroma of tea filled the room, but this fragrance could not disperse the solemn atmosphere between the two men.
“Brother Yuan, are you living under too much pressure? Should you find an excuse to go out and relax?” Zhou Bosen poured a cup of flower tea for Meng Chengyuan and offered the suggestion cautiously.
Noticing the hesitation in Meng Chengyuan’s reaction, Zhou Bosen quickly added: “Brother Yuan, while carrying out the revenge plan, you also need to consider your own actual situation. You have been masquerading for almost three years, so taking a rest is very necessary.”
Seemingly to cover up the momentary emotional flutter deep within his heart, Meng Chengyuan suddenly relented, his tone sounding perfectly ordinary: “I will consider it.”
Meng Chengyuan picked up the flower tea beside his hand and took a sip. His eyes carried a look of scrutiny as he asked: “What new situation is there?”
Zhou Bosen slowly brought up Lin Mian’s current state: “It has been confirmed that the person seen in that report last time was indeed Lin Mian. However, he keeps hiding and fleeing, and he ran away again. But…”
Hearing Zhou Bosen hesitate, Meng Chengyuan knitted his brows and pressed further: “But what?”
Zhou Bosen reached out to grab his own cup of flower tea, taking a large gulp as if to steel his courage. After swallowing the tea, he took a deep breath before saying: “You, take a look at these photos.”
As Zhou Bosen spoke, he pulled the printed photos out from an envelope, his fingers trembling slightly as he handed them over to Meng Chengyuan.
With just a single glance at the photos, the rage that showed on Meng Chengyuan’s face was enough to make anyone’s blood run cold.
The subject of these photos was Meng Yan, lying naked on a bed. His eyes were closed, appearing as though he had been secretly photographed without his knowledge.
Meng Chengyuan stared fixatedly at these photos. Within his deep, dark pupils, an extremely dangerous storm was brewing. He asked in a voice cold as ice: “Where did these photos come from?”
Zhou Bosen swallowed hard with difficulty and explained: “They were seen on a social platform. Someone was reselling these photos, so I bought out the rights to them. However, we still cannot trace who shot these photos or who started spreading them.”
Almost without a moment’s hesitation, Meng Chengyuan placed this debt square on Lin Mian’s head. Gritting his teeth, he said: “I will definitely make that guy named Lin suffer just as much as I do!”
Zhou Bosen felt equally heavy in heart. He did not know how to comfort Meng Chengyuan to make him feel better. He also detested Lin Mian, but after all, there was still no hard evidence proving that Lin Mian was the one who did this. Thus, after deliberating for a moment, he spoke slowly: “Brother Yuan, it might not necessarily be Lin Mian’s doing. I am still investigating.”
At this point, Meng Chengyuan’s logic was blurred by pain, and he asserted firmly: “Besides him, who else could do such a despicable thing? Xiao Yan didn’t have many friends while he was alive; except for being close to him, there was no one else!”
If hatred could give Meng Chengyuan a clear target to make him feel better inside, then Zhou Bosen chose to say no more. After all, last time he had seemed to notice that Meng Chengyuan’s attitude toward Lin Sui was faltering.
The matter with the photos might not have been done by Lin Mian, but Meng Yan was indeed killed because of him. Based on that crime alone, it was already enough to execute him by a thousand cuts.
Zhou Bosen felt he had a duty to pull Meng Chengyuan back in time whenever he seemed to lose his direction.
Evidently, Zhou Bosen had achieved his goal.
When Meng Chengyuan returned home, Lin Sui had already sliced cantaloupe and placed it on a plate, waiting for Meng Chengyuan to come back and taste it.
When slicing it, Lin Sui had tasted a piece. The cantaloupe was fragrant and sweet, so he couldn’t bear to eat any more, wanting to save all the rest for Meng Chengyuan.
“Brother Yuan, try this cantaloupe. It’s sweeter than rock sugar.” Lin Sui greeted him with a beam of joy, habitually attempting to take Meng Chengyuan’s hand as usual.
However, just as Lin Sui’s hand touched the fabric of Meng Chengyuan’s clothes, he heard the man’s severe and harsh warning: “Don’t touch me!”
At this moment, Meng Chengyuan’s mind was completely filled with those photos of Meng Yan and the way Meng Yan looked when he died. He could no longer care about his so-called disguise, venting all his resentment onto Lin Sui right then and there.
Lin Sui did not know what had happened to Meng Chengyuan, yet he still made excuses for this inexplicable behavior, guessing that he might have encountered frustrating matters outside or felt physical discomfort to display such a demeanor.
Lin Sui did not dare to touch Meng Chengyuan’s nerve again. He swallowed back all the words he had wanted to say and silently turned into the bedroom, leaving a quiet space for Meng Chengyuan.
In an instant, the entire space fell quiet. Meng Chengyuan’s originally clenched fist slowly loosened, and the surrounding atmosphere grew so quiet that only his own heartbeat seemed audible.
He sat limply on the sofa, trying to calm down, yet his breathing felt as difficult as if he were lacking oxygen.
Meng Chengyuan closed his eyes, wanting to rest for a short while, sitting there unconsciously until late at night.
That night, he did not return to the bedroom, and Lin Sui did not sleep either. Not daring to disturb Meng Chengyuan, Lin Sui was merely worried he would catch a cold, so he quietly walked out halfway through and gently placed a blanket over Meng Chengyuan.
The next day, before dawn, Lin Sui went out, having no chance to interact with Meng Chengyuan.
When Meng Chengyuan woke up, seeing the blanket over him and the breakfast waiting on the table inside the thermal container as usual, he felt a mixed sentiment he couldn’t quite describe.
However, regarding those photos of Meng Yan, the hatred in his heart did not dissipate in the slightest. The moment he touched upon that thought, the blood throughout his body felt frozen, stiff and unable to flow.
Meng Chengyuan spent a whole day looking into the matter of the photos, but because a long time had passed and it happened abroad, he ultimately gained nothing.
In the evening, the sky was slowly covered by a giant gray curtain, so gloomy that it made people feel suffocated. Before long, a dazzling bolt of lightning ripped through the heavy clouds. Accompanied by lightning and thunder, a torrential downpour cascaded down.
Lin Sui had not brought an umbrella when he went out, and given his personality, he certainly wouldn’t be willing to spend money to buy a new umbrella to block the rain.
Meng Chengyuan stood by the window and glanced at this severe weather; in the very next second, he chose to call Lin Sui at this time.
Meng Chengyuan’s proactive call caused a surge of delight to flash in Lin Sui’s heart. Coincidentally, he had just finished his photography work, so he hastily pressed the answer button and ran to a corner to take the call.
“Hello, Brother Yuan.” Lin Sui was a little nervous, yet he couldn’t conceal his joy.
Meng Chengyuan’s expression was dark and unpredictable. Even though there was no special expression on his face, it inexplicably gave people a chilling illusion.
Using a tone laden with a bit of command, he said: “I forgot to bring an umbrella when I went out. Bring one over to me.”
Lin Sui didn’t hesitate for a moment. After agreeing, he asked: “Where are you? I will bring it over to you right now.”
Regarding himself, Lin Sui was unwilling to buy an umbrella, intending to wait until the rain stopped before returning home; but regarding Meng Chengyuan, he was already planning to buy a larger umbrella to deliver to him.
Meng Chengyuan gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly to remain calm, his tone still carrying the posture of a superior: “I will send the location to your phone. Hurry up.”
Lin Sui agreed repeatedly: “Okay, sure.”
After hanging up the phone, Lin Sui received the location sent by Meng Chengyuan, which turned out to be a remote resort. Lin Sui was curious why Meng Chengyuan had gone there for no apparent reason, but he did not dwell on it too much. After replying to Meng Chengyuan, he prepared to buy an umbrella at a nearby shop.
Just then, Shen Xinglan came over to invite Lin Sui for a drink, but Lin Sui hurriedly turned him down with a few words and vanished from Shen Xinglan’s sight.
After buying the umbrella, Lin Sui hailed a taxi to head to the destination.
He was completely unaware of the danger ahead. The road leading to the resort was a rugged path surrounded by majestic mountains, and in stormy weather, most drivers were unwilling to continue halfway through.
The driver Lin Sui met was no exception. Amidst the sound of thunder and torrential rain, the driver first tried to dissuade him: “Going up on a stormy day is very dangerous. Let’s head back the way we came; at worst, I won’t charge you the fare.”
Lin Sui, however, was anxious about Meng Chengyuan’s safety. He earnestly pleaded with the driver: “Please, I beg you. My partner is still over there waiting for me to bring him an umbrella. I must go, driver.”
Seeing that persuasion was fruitless, the driver hardened his heart: “Then get out and walk there yourself. I am certainly not willing to take this risk. Get out, get out!”
Outside the car window, the violent wind howled like an enraged beast roaring at will. Trees shivered violently under the assault of wind and rain, and some fragile branches were already snapped, with cracking sounds echoing from time to time.
Lin Sui did not dare to force others to do what they didn’t want, nor was he willing to turn back the way he came. He had no choice but to get out of the car, intending to deliver the umbrella to Meng Chengyuan all by himself.