Outside the abandoned glass factory in the western suburbs.
At some point, the rain had begun to pour down. A bolt of lightning tore through the horizon, momentarily illuminating the sky and the derelict workshop beneath the storm. Following a massive roar of thunder, the downpour intensified.
In a corner, a man as thin as a monkey could not help but yawn. He picked up his walkie-talkie and muttered, “When can we go back to sleep?”
A matching yawn crackled back through the device. “Probably have to wait until the boss and the others finish their business.”
“I did not think that kid would actually show up. The boss said he is a real fat sheep. This one job alone will be enough to feed us for a year.”
Suddenly, a thunderclap boomed, startling both men.
The abandoned factory was eerily silent, surrounded by dense, overgrown weeds. Every now and then, the cries of feral cats pierced the air. A gust of cold wind blew past, sending a layer of goosebumps across the man’s arms. Standing out here alone was starting to get creepy.
“Maybe I should just head inside,” he suggested again. “It is pouring out here, and we are in the middle of nowhere. There is nobody around; we do not really need to guard the perimeter, do we?”
“Shut up. We do what the boss says. Just stay out there.”
Drip, drip, drip.
Icy droplets fell one by one. The man wiped the water from his forehead, frowning in confusion. They were standing under the factory’s eaves; where was the water coming from?
Thinking the old roof was simply leaking, he slowly tilted his head back to look up.
A dark shadow was huddled in the corner of the ceiling above him, motionless. The water was dripping from that mass. Because the light was too dim, he could not tell if it was a patch of mold from the rain or something else. He squinted, craning his neck for a better look.
Suddenly, with a crash, a flash of lightning struck.
He instantly locked eyes with a pair of cold, piercing pupils; eyes that looked at him as if he were already a corpse.
This macabre sight froze him to the spot. His pupils shrank in terror. The next second, the shadow vanished. A cold aura brushed against his neck, and his vision went black. The chill seeped deep into his bones.
By the time the man reacted, his body instinctively tried to let out a scream.
“Ghost!”
However, before his wide-open mouth could make a sound, a force tightened around his throat. He lost consciousness instantly, and his body slumped heavily to the ground.
A cat-like figure landed gracefully beside him.
The pale youth was soaked to the bone. Water dripped from his black hair, and his eyes were indifferent. There was no trace of human warmth about him, making him look like a body recently pulled from a river.
Xie Yizhou looked at the man lying on the ground and expressionlessly flicked the water from his fingers. The strength of this body was still lacking.
In his mind, 0377 began to shriek, 【Aaaaah! Host, can you please be a little gentler? This is a society ruled by law! If someone dies, it is going to be a huge hassle!】
“He is not dead,” Xie Yizhou replied faintly before heading inside.
Inside the factory, a swaying incandescent bulb lit the center of the room.
Gu Yulan scanned the surroundings, seeing discarded parts scattered everywhere. He looked forward to where Su Jianyang was tied up under the light. A cloth was stuffed into his mouth, and his exposed skin was covered in purple bruises.
The moment Su Jianyang saw Gu Yulan, tears welled up and spilled over. He immediately struggled to stand up.
The next second, he was shoved back down. “Behave. Haven’t you had enough yet?”
At the threat, Su Jianyang’s body shook violently.
Gu Yulan’s gaze landed on a burly man with a buzz cut standing nearby. He said coldly, “State your demands.”
“Master Gu is straightforward, I like that.” The buzz-cut man exhaled a puff of smoke. “Five million is a small sum for you.”
Gu Yulan did not even blink. “Fine. Release him first. Send me the account details, and I will have someone wire the money tomorrow.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “That will not do. What if you take the person and run without paying?”
Gu Yulan’s brow knit slightly, his gaze sharp. “I, Gu Yulan, am a man of my word. I will not go back on it. But you must guarantee you will never harass them again.”
The man shook his head. “How about this: I have a debt transfer agreement here. Just sign your name, and I will let you both go. With it in black and white, I do not think Master Gu will be able to deny it.”
Gu Yulan took the agreement, flipped through it for a moment, and his eyes grew increasingly sharp. He lifted his eyelids to look at the man. “And if I do not want to sign?”
This was clearly an extortion agreement. The debt being transferred to him was far more than a simple five million. He might not be highly educated, but he was not stupid.
“If you do not sign, there are ways to make you.”
The man clapped his hands. Soon, several men emerged from behind mountains of glass shards, forming a circle. They were armed with clubs or long knives, eyeing Gu Yulan with ill intent.
“Why be so stubborn, Master Gu? We are just trash and bottom-feeders. We have got nothing to lose compared to you.”
Gu Yulan narrowed his eyes. At that moment, he realized these people were likely coming for him specifically.
The buzz-cut man pulled the cloth from Su Jianyang’s mouth. “Go on, say something soft to Master Gu. Do not let his long trip to save you go to waste.”
The moment the cloth was removed, Su Jianyang burst into tears. “I am sorry. I really did not mean to drag you into this.”
It was a bit late for that.
Seeing Gu Yulan’s cold expression, Su Jianyang was terrified that Gu Yulan might abandon him because of their previous misunderstandings. Terrified of the consequences, he cried out, “Actually, it is not that my heart never fluttered for you, but I never felt worthy of you. Gu Yulan, you are a good person. I never intended to fail you.”
Gu Yulan’s gaze was heavy. He let out a light chuckle. “Can you say that to Zhou Yichen’s face?”
He was indeed more tolerant of Su Jianyang than others, but that did not mean he was a fool. At that moment, a slender figure flashed through his mind. He had not apologized to the youth yet today; he wondered if the boy was still angry with him.
“Huh?” Su Jianyang was stunned by the sudden question, his eyes wide.
Gu Yulan expressionlessly pulled out his phone. “The call is connected. Go ahead.”
Feeling Gu Yulan’s gaze on him, Su Jianyang felt a pang of guilt as if he had been seen through. As the ringing ended, panic seized him. “You and Mr. Zhou are both people I like. Please do not force me to choose.”
Gu Yulan put away the phone. The screen had only been lit up; he did not actually have Zhou Yichen’s contact info. Hearing Su Jianyang’s words, he found it somewhat laughable. How could one heart hold two people at once?
Su Jianyang saw Gu Yulan’s reaction and felt a wave of panic. He wanted to explain, but the buzz-cut man interrupted.
“Alright, the reunion is over. Master Gu, sign it.” A black pen was tossed at Gu Yulan’s feet.
He lowered his eyes to hide the coldness within and slowly bent down to pick up the pen. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him. Just as he was about to sign, a pop echoed, and the light above suddenly died.
“What happened?” “Why is it dark?” “Someone go see what is wrong!”
The abandoned factory was suddenly filled with chaotic noise.
Gu Yulan sensed someone approaching from behind. He instinctively tried to dodge, but he was a step too late. The next second, his mouth was covered. The cool touch on his lips and the familiar scent in the air made him freeze. A specific figure leaped into his mind.
His eyes widened in disbelief. His breath hitched, and his heart began to pound like a drum.
It is him!
In that moment of shock, he was led away by the force on his wrist. Feeling the cool, wet sensation from the other’s skin, he frowned slightly and reflexively gripped the hand back.
Xie Yizhou felt the hand grasping his own and paused for a second before letting the other have his way. The palm holding his wrist was dry and warm, pressed against his icy skin. It felt comfortable. However, he was surprised Gu Yulan had recognized him so quickly.
Still, it was a good thing; it saved some effort.
“Boss, someone messed with the circuit breaker!”
A flash of lightning struck, momentarily lighting up the factory. Someone had already switched on a flashlight. Simultaneously, they realized Gu Yulan had vanished.
“Boss, Gu Yulan is gone!”
The buzz-cut man’s face turned ugly. “He could not have gone far in such a short time. He is still nearby. Search!”
He looked fiercely at Su Jianyang. “I am telling you, if Gu Yulan gets away, I am selling you to a nightclub at dawn.”
Su Jianyang’s legs went weak, and he slumped to the floor, pale with regret. If he had known, he would have just agreed to Gu Yulan, even if he was just humoring him.
However, this also reminded him of that elegant man. Last time he called, the assistant said Mr. Zhou was busy. But if the man truly did not care for him, he would not have sent such expensive gifts. Recalling their passionate night together, his cheeks flushed slightly as he bit his lip.
If something really happened to him, he believed Mr. Zhou would not just ignore it.
Gu Yulan heard the commotion and saw the searching silhouettes. He immediately pulled the person into his arms and hid behind some old wooden boards.
As he embraced the other, icy rainwater soaked through his clothes. He felt as if he were holding a block of ice. Even though the cold made the hair on his arms stand up, he did not let go.
The two held their breath as footsteps grew closer. Outside, the rain poured, and the occasional lightning provided enough light for Gu Yulan to see the person in his arms.
The youth’s skin was as white as snow, his black hair plastered to his ears. His features held a faint coldness and detachment. His pale lips were pressed together, and his long, thick lashes trembled slightly. He looked very cold.
Gu Yulan, however, felt increasingly hot. His palms were damp with sweat, and he tightened his embrace, hoping to use his own body heat to warm the other.
Xie Yizhou felt Gu Yulan’s gaze and looked up. Their eyes met abruptly.
Gu Yulan was instantly met with those clear, black-and-white eyes; clean and transparent, like a calm lake. In that lake, he saw his own reflection. He was lost for a moment, unable to describe the feeling in his heart. He turned his head away awkwardly.
The damp, musty air mixed with the faint, sweet fruit scent of body wash, leaving him momentarily lightheaded.