Because no other clues related to He Lang’s death were found at the scene, and coupled with Lu Zixi’s examination that night revealing nothing, He Lang’s death could only be considered an accidental death.
For the sake of the company, Lu Yue concealed this matter. Internally and externally, he claimed that He Lang was ill and unable to handle company affairs for the time being.
In fact, on the night He Lang’s accident, Deng Hui had already gone back and eradicated all the evidence. The hotel’s surveillance footage, as well as the bribed waiter, were all dealt with very cleanly. Even if someone now suspected him, they couldn’t find any evidence. Perhaps even if He Lang suddenly emerged to accuse him, it wouldn’t stick to him.
Besides, He Lang was already dead.
Therefore, Deng Hui was not worried about his situation at all now, and when he heard the excuse that “He Lang was sick,” he just smiled unscrupulously.
He knew Lu Yue was considering the company’s interests.
The day Lu Yue ruthlessly kicked him out, humiliating him, Deng Hui was really angry.
He Lang was just a He Lang, now that he was dead, why was Lu Yue still so stubborn?
Just the thought of Lu Yue glaring at him with annoyance made Deng Hui feel his whole body heat up with excitement, wishing he could press this man that’s covered in thorns, under him and watch him cry and beg for mercy.
No matter how stubborn Lu Yue is, Deng Hui had plenty of means to make him submit.
Meanwhile, Lu Yue lived day and night intensely monitored by the male lead.
During the day, he had to face the assistant, who hid his true intentions, and endure the gaze of death from him. And at night, he had to face a cold, stiff corpse and pretend to be deeply affectionate.
These things are bearable, but kissing a dead body before bed every night and sleeping with it, even for someone as resilient as Lu Yue, it’s just too much.
That’s not the only problem; it’s summer, and the body won’t last long before it starts to smell, right?
One morning, when Lu Yue suddenly opened his eyes and saw a white, wriggling creature on the corpse, he finally made up his mind to take the male lead’s body to the crematorium.
Of course, Lu Yue didn’t make this decision lightly. Perhaps because he had treated the body quite well these past few days, the male lead’s blackening value had dropped to 90. Although still high, Lu Yue knew it wasn’t easy to bring the male lead, who initially wanted to kill everyone, down to this level.
That day, Lu Yue casually pushed a stack of documents to the other side of the desk and said to the tall assistant standing silently in front of him, “I have something to do this afternoon. Pass these documents to Manager Wang to handle, and give them back to me tomorrow.”
The tall assistant nodded, “Yes, Mr. Gu.”
After instructing him, Lu Yue expressionlessly picked up his coat from the chair and left.
Just as he stepped out, 001’s voice sounded in his mind: [Host, the male lead put a tracker on your coat!]
Lu Yue: [It would be strange if there isn’t. He Lang knew he was killed, but Deng Hui is too cunning. Even if the male lead were to find him, he wouldn’t have any evidence. He can only target us.]
001: [But, Host, you didn’t kill the male lead. And these days have passed, haven’t the male lead’s doubts for you diminished?]
This is the first time 001 feels sorry for its host.
Lu Yue: [My pathetic act can only reduce some of his hatred towards me, and since I just betrayed him, he definitely won’t dispel his doubts.]
001: [But Gu An didn’t really betray him!]
Lu Yue: [Of course, Gu An didn’t really betray him, but he doesn’t know that. Unless I let him know I didn’t betray him, the male lead’s blackening value won’t truly decrease.]
001 expressed confusion: [Then why don’t you just tell him you didn’t betray him?]
Lu Yue gave him a sarcastic look: [First of all, I don’t even know if He Lang is still alive, how can I tell him? Also, even if I tell him myself, he may not believe it. It’s only when it comes from Deng Hui’s mouth that it will have the maximum effect.]
001 looked at his host, who seemed to have everything under control, and felt that his previous worries were completely unnecessary.
The young man on the screen picked up the stiff body on the bed and walked out, and the originally dynamic scene returned to stillness.
The icy eyes of He Lang swept across with a piercing light, then that light quickly disappeared into the darkness, like a snake lurking in the dark, restraining its wild impulse to capture its prey for the time being, but still closely watching like a shadow.
Lu Yue pretended to be completely unaware and went to the crematorium according to the planned itinerary.
Lu Zixi had been waiting there early.
The young man, who hadn’t been seen for several days, looked even paler, his figure thinner. He looked like a bead that had suddenly lost its luster and became dull and lifeless.
Lu Zixi’s gaze became fiery as the young man approached, but as soon as he met the young man’s cold and distant eyes, he had to fiercely suppress the burning heat rising in his heart.
He casually asked, “How have you been these past few days?” It was a simple greeting, not exceeding the boundaries of friendship.
Lu Yue raised his slightly grayish eyes and squeezed out a polite smile, “I’m fine, thank you.”
After the brief greeting, the two didn’t say anything more. Lu Zixi knew that Lu Yue didn’t need his comfort, so quietly accompanying him like this was also good.
With this thought in mind, a bitter smile appeared on Lu Zixi’s lips.
During the cremation, Lu Yue’s expression remained calm. He stood there quietly, watching as the flames gradually consumed the body of his lover, his eyes tinged red by the fire, showing no signs of emotion.
But no one knew how much pain he was in beneath his calm exterior.
As He Lang was engulfed by the flames, he could no longer touch this person, could no longer embrace or kiss him.
It felt as if his heart was being gnawed at by the flames, the pain making his head spin white, bitter liquid rushing to his eyes only to be instantly evaporated by the unstoppable blaze.
He Lang had truly left…
At the corner, the man who had been silently observing everything finally turned slowly.
“When do you plan to hold the funeral?”
Inside the car, Lu Yue held the urn in his arms, stunned by the sudden question from Lu Zixi.
“Not now, let’s wait a little longer,” Lu Yue gently stroked the wooden box as if whispering softly to his beloved.
“Ah Lang, just wait a little longer…
…Wait a little longer for me…”
The first thing Lu Yue did when he returned home was to place the urn on the bedside cabinet, then he placed a photo of himself and He Lang on top.
He did this to let his deceased lover, who had been monitoring him all the time, see how much he loved him!
Not only did he not reject his body, but he even cherished his ashes. Lu Yue decided that he would kiss the urn every night before going to bed.
001 popped up in his mind: [You’ve been working hard, host.]
Lu Yue: [It’s good that you know. By the way, how’s the thing you promised me before going?]
001: [Are you referring to the three-day trip? This request has been approved by the main system, as long as you successfully complete this task.]
Lu Yue: [Would the main system agree so easily?]
001: [Our system has recognition rules, and the host’s performance has been consistently rising over the years, so the main system can still meet this small request.]
Lu Yue gave a knowing look, and 001 felt a bit scorned by his host. It wanted to explain that it also played a part in this, but as a high-level intelligent system, how could it argue with a human soul?
Well, after some thought, 001 decided to be a lofty and aloof system.
It had been five days since the cremation. These days, Lu Yue had secretly observed his assistant and found no signs of anything unusual, which was both perplexing and worrying.
Logically speaking, by cremating He Lang’s body, it’s like admitting his death was accidental, and that clue about He Lang is completely cut off. So unless the truth is heard from the killer’s mouth, there’s no possibility of exposing the truth.
Lu Yue had no doubt that He Lang hated him, otherwise, why would his blackening value remain so high?
Even if he acted affectionately now, it would only probably seen as acting in He Lang’s eyes.
Thinking of this, Lu Yue was truly anxious. If He Lang didn’t take the initiative, he couldn’t proceed.
On the third day when Lu Yue was lamenting about this, the aloof 001 finally couldn’t help but speak up.
001: [The male lead has taken action now.]
Lu Yue astonished: [When did he take action?]
Rarely seeing his host puzzled, 001 regained its sense of superiority as an advanced intelligent system for the first time.
001: [Shortly after the cremation, he drugged your coffee.]
Lu Yue: [Drugged?]
001: [Yes, it causes fatigue initially, then nightmares, hallucinations, confusion, and has significant long-term health hazards.]
Lu Yue couldn’t help but be shocked. He hadn’t expected He Lang to have already taken action, he just hadn’t noticed. The blackening male lead was truly not to be trifled with…
001 reassured: [Host, don’t worry, I can remove the drug components from your body.]
Lu Yue pondered for a moment: [No need, isn’t this just perfect?]
001: [?]
Lu Yue: [He Lang wants to find out the truth from my mouth, no, it should be from both of us.]
001: [Both of you?]
Lu Yue: [Me and Deng Hui. We are the prime suspects. Although I’ve been trying to act pitiful these days, He Lang won’t fully believe it, so he wants to find the truth from both of us.]
001 had to admit: [Well, that’s true. The male lead bribed someone a few days ago to drug Deng Hui, just like you.]
Lu Yue: [Ah, He Lang wants to know the truth, so I can only cooperate with him! Don’t worry, the blackening value will drop soon!]
001 silently expressed doubt.