That day, for some reason, Feng Lin felt restless for no clear reason.
When he passed by the East Courtyard, Xia Xunqian’s room was completely dark, no lights on.
Feng Lin glanced at the time and, without thinking much, went to his own room.
It took three consecutive days before Feng Lin started to feel suspicious.
On the third day, Feng Lin returned very early. The East Courtyard room was still tightly closed, not a single light shining.
This time, Feng Lin didn’t leave; he went straight toward Xia Xunqian’s room.
When he opened the door, the room was quiet and heavy. Feng Lin switched on the lights, and the bed was empty—only neatly folded blankets remained.
A cold breeze moved the bed curtains.
By the moonlight outside, on the desk below the window, the silver bracelet gleamed softly.
Feng Lin’s expression immediately darkened.
He walked over to the window. That silver bracelet was the one he had given Xia Xunqian.
Feng Lin remembered that Xia Xunqian had said he really liked it.
He reached out and held the bracelet in his hand.
All the people in the Feng family were going crazy! How dare they touch something he brought back!
Feng Lin left the room holding the bracelet, his anger burning, his brow dark and threatening.
He hated being provoked more than anything.
No one was allowed to cross his boundaries.
Feng Lin looked at the pomegranate tree outside the window and, for some reason, thought of Xia Xunqian’s face.
The thought that came to his mind was strange, unlike him.
“Xia Xunqian’s body is so weak… what would happen without him?”
When this thought appeared, Feng Lin paused for a moment.
He seemed to always feel pity for Xia Xunqian.
But right now, Feng Lin felt more anger—it was his authority being challenged.
Feng Lin went to find the housekeeper. The housekeeper stood with his head down, hesitating, unable to say a word.
The order to send Xia Xunqian away had come from Madam Xue. Feng Lin, the Third Master, didn’t care about internal affairs. Madam Xue had instructed everyone to act as if they knew nothing. The housekeeper didn’t dare speak.
“Third Master… I… I… that child was sent away by madam…” The housekeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead.
As a servant, he feared everyone and had to obey anyone’s words. His head hung lower and lower, his face hidden from view.
Feng Lin’s face was cold. His words made the housekeeper’s heart tremble. “Have you gone completely blind, old fool?!”
“This courtyard—while I, Feng Lin, am still alive—it’s me who decides!”
The housekeeper was too scared to speak a word. Feng Lin didn’t want to deal with the servants, so he went straight to Madam Xue’s room.
Her door was open. She was in the outer room drinking tea.
Everyone knew that the late Master Feng had elevated a concubine to become the legal wife.
Madam Xue was not Feng Lin’s biological mother.
After Feng Lin’s mother passed away, Madam Xue took over the inner courtyard. She had always worked to secure wealth and power for her own son.
The Feng family’s Wanhe Group was founded by the late Master Feng in the late Qing period, but its real control in Beijing was completely in Feng Lin’s hands.
However, according to the will, the shares were largely in the hands of Madam Xue and Feng Jianjue.
Feng Lin knew their ambitions and had long turned a blind eye.
That was also why Feng Lin returned home so often—to constantly remind them who was in charge.
They were just useless worms.
But they should know their place.
Driving Xia Xunqian out crossed Feng Lin’s red line.
“Lin’er, you’re back.” Madam Xue looked at Feng Lin smiling.
Feng Lin stepped into the room, eyes narrowing in contempt. “Since when did the concubine also become the master of my house?”
His deep, heavy tone pressed down on the room, freezing the atmosphere.
Madam Xue was taken aback for a moment. “You mean that man in the East Courtyard? The Feng family cannot tolerate that kind of actor.” She noticed Feng Lin’s displeasure and spoke more directly.
“Actor?”
“Hmph,” Feng Lin’s eyes flicked with disdain, “If the concubine can enter, why can’t he? You are the actor, but Xunqian is much cleaner than you.” Feng Lin’s cold gaze was challenging, leaving no room for compromise.
“You…!” Madam Xue was stunned by Feng Lin’s words. She slammed the table. “You’ve gone against everything, Feng Lin! I am your mother!”
Feng Lin turned away with contempt, his voice icy. “You’d better pray that I can find him today.”
These past few days, Xia Xunqian had been sleeping in a youth hostel that cost 15 yuan per night.
Twelve people shared a room, with bunk beds, no windows. Everyone there was trying to make a living in the city. The room smelled of mixed odors. Xia Xunqian was always the last to go to bed and the first to wake up.
Because no one was willing to hire him, Xia Xunqian was running a deficit after three days.
That day, he walked to a club with a very attractive job posting.
The job was delivering wine, fruit, and platters.
He called to inquire and was told that they wanted to see his face first.
“Age is fine. Come upstairs so the boss can see if your features are good-looking.”
Xia Xunqian followed the instructions and walked to the second floor of the club. At the reception desk, he saw the boss counting cash.
The moment he recognized the person, Xia Xunqian immediately stepped back.
He turned quickly, about to leave.
A sharp, urgent voice called from behind, “Xia Xunqian!!”
“Oh, it’s you!”
Xia Li didn’t expect to see Xia Xunqian in his own club. Last time, he had been humiliated at a banquet and had been frustrated he couldn’t get revenge. What luck!
“Come on! Grab him! Damn it! He’s coming right to us!”
The moment Xia Li spoke, the security personnel immediately blocked Xia Xunqian’s escape from the side.
It was 8 p.m., and the club was noisy. Xia Xunqian didn’t even have a chance to call for help.
Xia Li was vengeful and dull-witted, acting without thinking.
Xia Xunqian’s breathing became slightly rapid.
Since there was no way to escape, he stood straight and asked, “What do you want?”
Xia Li twisted his wrist and stepped closer. “Want? You tell me what I want! You dared to humiliate me openly—you should have expected two knives from me!”
“I was worried I couldn’t find you. Didn’t expect you to deliver yourself!”
His lips curved into a half-human, half-demon expression. “What? Can’t survive on your own, finally willing to sell yourself?”
His words were sharp and mocking.
Xia Xunqian clenched his fists. He understood Xia Li’s meaning. Xia Li’s business was big. Because he liked to play, he had clubs all over Beijing. One, to entertain clients; two, to earn clean and not-so-clean pocket money.
Meeting him here today was both sad and ridiculous.
“Xia Li, I advise you not to provoke me,” Xia Xunqian warned, his tone sharp, protecting himself.
“Hahaha…” Xia Li laughed. “You’ve sunk so low, and you’re still pretending in front of me?”
He signaled the men blocking Xia Xunqian. “Strip him! Let me see if he meets my standards!”
Xia Xunqian panicked and backed up to a huge ceramic vase in the lobby. He pushed it to the floor.
“Bang…!”
The sharp crash echoed through the lobby.
“Damn it! Strip him!” Xia Li shouted angrily.
For someone like Xia Xunqian, who lived with dignity, using humiliation was more effective than just hitting him.
Xia Li had already figured it out. He wasn’t planning to beat Xia Xunqian today.
By the time he spoke, Xia Xunqian had already been pinned to the ground by the club staff.
“Let go of me!” Xia Xunqian struggled, gathering his strength, and kicked one of them in the waist.
“Ah…!” One person tore Xia Xunqian’s clothing, exposing his fair shoulder, which gleamed enticingly.