Two whole days passed before Lu Jiu finally regained some sense of calm.
In those two days, Bai Yun hadn’t called him, hadn’t sent a single message, and the tenuous thread that had still connected the two of them simply went silent, cut cleanly, like it had never existed.
Dr. Gao, however, reached out once, reminding him to come for regular check-ups. Given his unique condition, she said, he needed to be more cautious than most during pregnancy.
The system 111, for once, didn’t dare to make a sound in his mind. No one around Lu Jiu noticed any difference, he went to classes as usual, worked as usual, talked and smiled when he needed to. Everything looked perfectly normal.
That Thursday evening, he and his senior colleagues headed to the CBD district to meet another potential investor.
As they hurried along the pavement, a Maybach parked by the curb caught his eye, more precisely, the man leaning halfway out of the passenger-side window did.
“Jiu Jiu?”
It was Ye Qin.
Lu Jiu blinked, a little surprised, then smiled politely, “Ye ge!”
“What are you doing around here?”
“Came with my seniors, we’re meeting someone at XX Tower.”
“Oh, I see.”
Realizing Lu Jiu was in a rush, Ye Qin didn’t stop him for more small talk. He waved him off with a friendly grin.
Lu Jiu returned the smile and took a step forward but just then, his gaze brushed past the half-lowered window of the back seat.
Inside sat a man, silent and composed, who had clearly been watching him for some time.
Their eyes met for the briefest of moments.
Lu Jiu’s smile froze. Then, expression flat, he turned away and walked off without another word.
Ye Qin, noticing the whole exchange, chuckled softly and turned back to look at his passenger, “…Did you offend him somehow?”
Bai Yun didn’t answer. He only looked through the rearview mirror at Lu Jiu’s rapidly retreating figure, his expression unreadable.
That night, Shen Ke messaged him on WeChat.
Shen Ke: “Jiu-ge, Jiu-ge! This Saturday is Yun-ge’s little niece’s birthday! Are you going?”
Lu Jiu: “No.”
Shen Ke: “What?? You got plans that day?”
Lu Jiu: “I didn’t get an invitation. Why should I go?”
Shen Ke: “But your dad should’ve gotten one! Didn’t he tell you?”
Sure enough, that night before bed, Lu Mingyang texted him: “Come home Saturday. We’re going to the Bai family together.”
Lu Jiu: “Not going.”
A phone call came right after. Lu Jiu hung up without hesitation, forcing his father to switch back to messages.
“It’s their granddaughter’s birthday!”
“I said I’m not going.”
“What’s so important on Saturday?!”
“My internship. Busy.”
“That stupid game company internship? What’s so great about that? Come home!!”
“No.”
Lu Mingyang fumed, typing a string of incoherent symbols:
“??!!@#￥%&*!!”
Lu Jiu didn’t reply. He simply blocked the old man.
The next morning, Friday, Lu Jiu slept in until late, then grabbed a bun from the cafeteria on his way to campus.
Halfway there, Shen Ke began harassing him again.
“Jiu-ge, Jiu-ge, I heard Yun-ge’s family is trying to make him go on a blind date!! What the hell!”
“You really won’t go to the party? Please, come on! You’re the only one who can save him!”
“Jiu-ge, why aren’t you replying to me!”
By noon, people he barely even remembered as acquaintances began messaging him too.
“Lu Jiu, you’re going to the Bai family’s party tomorrow, right? Big news, apparently they’re introducing a marriage prospect to Bai Yun right at the event.”
“I can’t imagine how he’ll react. It’s hard to picture him actually sitting through it.”
“Hey, Lu Jiu? Are you there?”
“Don’t you have any thoughts about this?”
By evening, yet another “family friend” popped up in his messages, saying much the same.
By Saturday morning, the gossip had changed hands again, same story, different sender.
By noon, again.
By dusk, still.
And by then, Shen Ke was on the verge of losing his mind.
“Jiu-ge, why aren’t you answering?! Yun-ge’s chastity is in danger! You can’t just let it happen!”
“[Location Pin]”
“Don’t you love him anymore??”
“Have you already forgotten your passionate kis.. uh.. moment at the vineyard?!”
“Do it for me at least! I miss you too, come on (╥﹏╥)”
“If you don’t come, I swear I’ll die (╥﹏╥)”
Lu Jiu was napping in his dorm when the relentless vibrations of his phone finally drove him insane.
With a groan, he grabbed it, read the flood of messages and after a moment’s pause, clenched his teeth, tossed aside the blanket, and got up.
At the Bai family estate, guests had already started arriving even though it wasn’t yet five in the evening.
Luxury cars filled the driveway. Inside the vast villa, crystal chandeliers gleamed over laughter, chatter, and clinking glasses.
Lu Quning, dressed immaculately in a tailored suit, followed his parents, Lu Mingyang and Yang Yu, through the crowd. He quickly slipped into “networking mode,” greeting acquaintances and flattering the elders.
He looked every bit the charming young heir tonight, his hair neatly styled, his suit perfectly pressed, his every word and smile exuding confidence.
And yet, the uncles and aunts who usually fawned over him seemed oddly distracted. When they saw him, they glanced past him instead.
“Your brother didn’t come today?” one of them asked.
Lu Quning blinked, “He’s busy with his internship. Couldn’t make it.”
“Oh, what a pity,” one of the ladies said, exchanging a knowing look with the others, “That’s really unfortunate.”
Lu Quning frowned slightly, puzzled, but didn’t think much of it.
Not long after, Bai Yun appeared.
He wore a pristine white suit that accentuated his tall, composed figure and striking looks.
The moment he stepped into the hall, conversations paused and heads turned. Even his sister laughed teasingly, “Why are you so dressed up? You look like it’s your party.”
Bai Yun only smiled in return.
Lu Quning tugged at his father’s sleeve, “Dad, Yun-ge’s here. Shouldn’t we go greet him?”
And maybe it was his imagination, but right after he said that, Bai Yun’s gaze flicked briefly in their direction.
To his surprise, Lu Mingyang seemed to flinch a little, ducking his head, “Later. Too crowded right now.”
“…?” Lu Quning stared at him. Since when did his father get shy about brown-nosing someone?
Wasn’t the whole reason they came tonight to use his “good relationship” with Bai Yun to get closer to the Bai family?
While he was still trying to make sense of it, a sudden commotion rippled through the crowd.
Gasps spread across the hall.
From the corner of his eye, Lu Quning saw someone stride quickly through the sea of people, a familiar silhouette.
He froze.
Lu Jiu?!
What was he doing here?! And dressed so casually, at that!
The murmur swelled toward the center of the room. Bai Yun, caught mid-conversation, lifted his gaze and in that instant, that figure crashed straight into his line of sight.
A heartbeat later, the collar of his immaculate white suit was seized in a firm grip.
Gasps and exclamations burst all around. In front of the shocked crowd, Bai Yun’s parents, his sister, every stunned guest, Lu Jiu yanked him forward without a word and dragged him up the spiral staircase.
“What’s going on?”
“Who is that?”
“That’s the elder Lu boy!”
“Wait, is he… Is he robing him?!”
“Why isn’t anyone stopping him?!”
Shen Ke, buried somewhere in the crowd and mid-text rant, looked up just in time to see his chat partner storm across the hall.
“Holy crap! Jiu-ge, you’re amazing!” he whispered, awestruck.
Lu Mingyang, who had just taken a sip of wine, choked so hard that it spilled straight out of his mouth.
Lu Quning gaped. “Dad, what’s my brother doing?!”
He darted forward, as if to intervene and one second later, Lu Mingyang jolted and hurried after him, not to stop Lu Jiu, but to stop the son who wanted to stop him!
Under the uproar downstairs, Lu Jiu hauled the man all the way up to the second floor.
He kicked open the nearest door, shoved Bai Yun inside, slammed it shut, and locked it tight.
Then he pushed him down onto the bed, climbed up after him, straddled his waist, and leaned forward, hands already tugging at the man’s belt.
111: “HOLY! holy crap! I’m shutting down, I’m shutting down, you’re too sudden, I’m out of here!!”
Lu Jiu’s breathing came quick and harsh, his movements rough and impatient.
The man beneath him, though, didn’t resist. He simply lay there, perfectly at ease, letting his belt be yanked open, his slacks dragged halfway down, his chest shaking with a low, unhurried laugh.
“Jiu Jiu,” Bai Yun murmured, voice tinged with teasing amusement, “Don’t you think this is a little… too exciting?”
Lu Jiu froze for a moment, eyes snapping up.
He glared at the man, at that infuriating, half-smiling face and his hand clenched hard in retaliation
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A small offering may keep this translator’s soul attached to their body.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (1)Chapter 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (2)Chapter 3 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (3)Chapter 4 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (4)Chapter 5 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (5)Chapter 6 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (6)Chapter 7 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (7)Chapter 8 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (8)Chapter 9 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (9)Chapter 10 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (10)Chapter 11 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (11)Chapter 12 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (12)Chapter 13 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (13)Chapter 14 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s room (14)Chapter 15 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (15)Chapter 16 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (16)Chapter 17 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (17)Chapter 18 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (18)Chapter 19 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (19)Chapter 20 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (20)Chapter 21 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (21)Chapter 22 Part 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (22)Chapter 22 Part 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (22)Chapter 23 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (23)Chapter 24 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (24)Chapter 25 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (25)Chapter 26 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (26)Chapter 27 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (27)Chapter 28 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (28)Chapter 29 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (29)Chapter 30 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (30)Chapter 31 Part 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (31)Chapter 31 Part 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (31)Chapter 32 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (1)Chapter 33 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (2)Chapter 34 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (3)Chapter 35 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (4)Chapter 36 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (5)Chapter 37 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (6)Chapter 38 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (7)Chapter 39 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (8)Chapter 40 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (9)Chapter 41 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (10)Chapter 42 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (11)Chapter 43 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (12)Chapter 44 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (13)Chapter 45 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (14)Chapter 46 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (15)Chapter 47 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (16)Chapter 48 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (17)Chapter 49 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (18)Chapter 50 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (19)Chapter 51 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (20)Chapter 52 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (21)Chapter 53 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (22)Chapter 54 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (23)Chapter 55 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (24)Chapter 56 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (25)Chapter 57 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (26)Chapter 58 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (27)Chapter 59 · Hatching Baby Zombies (1)Chapter 60 · Hatching Baby Zombies (2)Chapter 61 · Hatching Baby Zombies (3)Chapter 62 · Hatching Baby Zombies (4)Chapter 63 · Hatching Baby Zombies (5)Chapter 64 · Hatching Baby Zombies (6)Chapter 65 · Hatching Baby Zombies (7)Chapter 66 · Hatching Baby Zombies (8)Chapter 67 · Hatching Baby Zombies (9)Chapter 68 · Hatching Baby Zombies (10)Chapter 69 · Hatching Baby Zombies (11)Chapter 70 · Hatching Baby Zombies (12)Chapter 71 · Hatching Baby Zombies (13)Chapter 72 · Hatching Baby Zombies (14)Chapter 73 · Hatching Baby Zombies (15)Chapter 74 · Hatching Baby Zombies (16)Chapter 75 · Hatching Baby Zombies (17)Chapter 76 · Hatching Baby Zombies (18)Chapter 77 · Hatching Baby Zombies (19)Chapter 78 · Hatching Baby Zombies (20)Chapter 79 · The Mermaid on the Shore (1)Chapter 80 · The Mermaid on the Shore (2)Chapter 81 · The Mermaid on the Shore (3)Chapter 82 · The Mermaid on the Shore (4)Chapter 83 · The Mermaid on the Shore (5)Chapter 84 · The Mermaid on the Shore (6)Chapter 85 · The Mermaid on the Shore (7)Chapter 86 · The Mermaid on the Shore (8)Chapter 87 · The Mermaid on the Shore (9)Chapter 88 · The Mermaid on the Shore (10)Chapter 89 · The Mermaid on the Shore (11)Chapter 90 · The Mermaid on the Shore (12)Chapter 91 · The Mermaid on the Shore (13)Chapter 92 · The Mermaid on the Shore (14)Chapter 93 · The Mermaid on the Shore (15)Chapter 94 · The Mermaid on the Shore (16)Chapter 95 · The Mermaid on the Shore (17)Chapter 96 Part 1 · The Mermaid on the Shore (18)Chapter 96 Part 2 · The Mermaid on the Shore (18)Chapter 97 · The Mermaid on the Shore (19)Chapter 98 · Give me a drop of blood (1)Chapter 99 · Give me a drop of blood (2)Chapter 100 · Give me a drop of blood (3)Chapter 101 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (4)Chapter 102 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (5)Chapter 103 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (6)Chapter 104 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (7)Chapter 105 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (8)Chapter 106 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (9)Chapter 107 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (10)Chapter 108 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (11)Chapter 109 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (12)Chapter 110 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (13)Chapter 111 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (14)Chapter 112 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (15)Chapter 113 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (16)Chapter 114 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (17)Chapter 115 · Extra 1: A Little Conversation After Drinking (1)Chapter 116 · Extra: A Little Conversation After Drinking (2)Chapter 117 · Extra: A Little Conversation After Drinking (3)