Seeing his actions, Gu Ziheng was momentarily stunned. Chi Chen, on the side, seemed to notice nothing, while Chi Yu was still muttering to himself, “How could Uncle take a fancy to an illegitimate child from such an upstart family…”
His words were filled with disbelief at what he had just seen. When Chi Chen heard him, he quickly turned back to look at him with a stern expression. Although he said nothing, that single look was enough to make Chi Yu realize he had said the wrong thing. He hurriedly clapped a hand over his mouth and cautiously looked ahead at Chi Mingzhou, who was leading Feng Mian further and further away.
Chi Mingzhou was also an illegitimate child, but the head of the Chi family had always treated him as his own. Now that Chi Mingzhou held significant power, no one dared to criticize him, let alone utter the words “illegitimate child.” Even those who used to mock Feng Mian with that term had stopped once Chi Mingzhou returned, fearing it might lead to unpleasant associations.
Gu Ziheng watched the two figures ahead in a daze. When the butler saw he wasn’t responding, he tentatively called out, “Mr. Gu?”
Gu Ziheng belatedly came back to his senses, hurriedly collected his thoughts, and said, “Please lead the way.”
Chi Mingzhou led Feng Mian toward the upper floor.
The old family estate was vast, occupying most of the hillside. Previously, Feng Mian had lived on the second floor with the younger generation like Chi Chen and Chi Yu, but now, Chi Mingzhou was leading him toward the third floor.
Watching Chi Mingzhou’s steps, Feng Mian felt a surge of unease.
Once they reached the third floor and Feng Mian saw him heading toward the guest rooms, he hurriedly said, “Uncle… Uncle, I shouldn’t be staying on this floor.”
The third floor housed the rooms of Chi Mingzhou and Chi Yunsheng. As a member of the younger generation, staying here was inherently inappropriate. Although Chi Yunsheng was not as capable as Chi Mingzhou, he was no simple character; if he noticed anything amiss, he would never allow Feng Mian to remain in the Chi residence unscathed!
Chi Mingzhou, however, had never once cared about his life or death!
Chi Mingzhou seemed not to hear him and led him toward an empty guest room. Distraught and in desperation, Feng Mian reached out and grabbed Chi Mingzhou’s wrist, begging, “I can just stay in the storage room downstairs. Uncle, you don’t need to trouble yourself. I… I’ll just go back to the storage room now.”
He turned to run, but no sooner had he moved than his collar was grabbed, freezing him in place, unable to move.
Chi Mingzhou looked at him with icy, cold eyes and curled his lips into a mirthless smile. “Don’t let people think the Chi family mistreated you, causing you to catch a cold from sleeping downstairs, or perhaps… you were infected because you weren’t cleaned properly?”
Feng Mian felt his scalp tingle. Just as he was about to explain, a voice of surprise interrupted them, filled with confusion, “Mingzhou?”
Chi Mingzhou looked at the person approaching not far away and smiled faintly. “Brother.”
Although the two were at odds in private, Chi Mingzhou had just returned to the country and was currently riding a wave of power; even if Chi Yunsheng didn’t like him, he couldn’t afford to provoke him right now. Chi Yunsheng was about to make some polite small talk when his gaze inadvertently landed on the person Chi Mingzhou was holding. He peered closely and spoke with near-disbelief, “This is… Feng Mian?”
Feng Mian felt a chill surge up his spine. He turned back, stiffly, to face Chi Yunsheng, trying to appear as normal as possible. “Uncle Chi.”
Chi Yunsheng’s eyes scanned the two of them inquisitively. “This is…”
Chi Mingzhou said indifferently, “A-Chen said to move him to a different room, so I’m bringing him here to take a look.”
“He was hospitalized for a high fever and is having some trouble walking, so I’m helping him along.”
It would have been better if Chi Mingzhou hadn’t said anything. His explanation only drew more attention; the way he was currently clutching Feng Mian’s collar looked nothing like “helping someone.”
Chi Yunsheng sized them both up, deep in thought.
Chi Mingzhou held Feng Mian’s collar, which was slightly open, revealing what looked like strange marks on his fair, pale neck. Chi Yunsheng, standing at a distance, couldn’t see clearly and was about to move closer to take a better look, but as soon as he approached, Chi Mingzhou let go.
Chi Mingzhou put on an act, asking Feng Mian, “Can you stand steady?”
Feng Mian pulled his collar together and lowered his head, whispering, “Yes.”
Chi Yunsheng paused, then reluctantly withdrew his gaze from Feng Mian.
Chi Mingzhou asked, “What are you doing here, Brother?”
Only when reminded did Chi Yunsheng remember his purpose. “I heard Ziheng has arrived, so I’m going downstairs to greet him.”
With that, he hurriedly headed downstairs.
Chi Mingzhou watched his retreating back and gave a sneer of disdain.
Chi Yunsheng had been eyeing the fat piece of meat that was the Gu family for a long time, even willing to let his own son be with a man if it meant securing a marriage alliance between the Gu and Chi families. That way, Chi Yunsheng would have a chance to turn things around, and the old man would have to show him some restraint. With the power of the Chi family now in his own hands, and the old man’s health failing day by day, once the man died, everything would be settled. Chi Yunsheng was merely struggling in vain, hoping for a turnaround.
Chi Mingzhou turned his gaze back and let out a cold laugh.
Gu Ziheng would never take a fancy to a stubborn simpleton like Chi Chen…
He reached out, grabbed Feng Mian by the shoulder, and dragged him into the empty guest room. “Get in.”
Feng Mian stumbled, pushed inside without the strength to resist.
The bedroom before him was sunlit and far better than the storage room downstairs. As Feng Mian was taking in the room, he heard Chi Mingzhou say slowly, “This is next door to my bedroom.”
At those words, Feng Mian’s expression froze.
Chi Mingzhou said softly, “Downstairs is Chi Chen’s bedroom.”
Feng Mian turned pale. He started to speak, but before he could utter a sound, Chi Mingzhou raised a hand and pinched his chin, silencing him.
Chi Mingzhou’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “At night, will you be in your room, or mine? If nothing goes wrong, that useless idiot Chi Chen will definitely arrange for Gu Ziheng to be next door to him. Downstairs from here should be Gu Ziheng’s room.”
“The soundproofing between the floors isn’t great. Tonight, which of them do you want to hear you?”
Every word from Chi Mingzhou was dripping with malice.
Feng Mian’s lips trembled; his complexion was ashen.
Chi Mingzhou watched the despair in his eyes, unmoved.
Feng Mian was on the verge of a breakdown.
Chi Mingzhou had no intention of letting him go tonight. Even setting aside the tearing and infection, Chi Yunsheng’s expression just now clearly showed he had become suspicious.
Chi Mingzhou seemed to take pleasure in teasing him and watching his fear; he simply didn’t care whether Feng Mian lived or died.
Feng Mian’s eyes began to sting, and hot liquid welled up, blurring Chi Mingzhou’s figure before him.
He asked in a choked, hoarse, and trembling voice, “Do you really hate me this much? You hate me so much… that you want me to suffer a miserable death?”
Chi Mingzhou’s palm was stained by his tears.
He reached up to wipe them away, his movements gentle, yet the coldness in his voice was like a sharp blade, piercing Feng Mian’s already shattered heart until it bled.
“I climbed to this position just to trample you underfoot, to watch you struggle and despair, until in the end, no matter what, you cannot escape a miserable death…”