Lu Quning had tried to hold himself together. He really had. But after Ye Lin left, something inside him cracked.
It wasn’t only the people slipping away from him, he also knew that Lu Mingyang’s business had been failing, sinking deeper each week.
His father had once pinned all his hopes on Bai Yun. With the Bai family’s influence and Bai Yun’s vast business network, reviving the Lu enterprise should have been effortless.
But things hadn’t gone that way.
And why not?
The answer was obvious.
It was because of Lu Jiu.
Because Bai Yun truly loved Lu Jiu. He didn’t see him as a plaything or a temporary amusement.
And Lu Jiu, in turn, despised Lu Mingyang so deeply that he’d rather watch his own father’s empire crumble piece by piece than lift a hand to save it.
He didn’t care that the Lu family still had other people, still had him.
The thought festered inside Lu Quning’s chest like poison, twisting into hatred.
He stood at the doorway, his gaze fixed on Lu Jiu for a long moment. Then, as though something dark and silent took control of him, he moved forward.
Lu Jiu had just finished chatting with a few friends and felt his throat dry. He walked toward the refreshment table to get a glass of juice.
But before he could take a sip, a strange chill swept across his back, a cold, creeping sensation that made his skin prickle.
He turned sharply.
Lu Quning was standing behind him.
Lu Jiu frowned.
Lu Quning didn’t seem to notice his reaction. He reached for a small plate of cake, speaking in a tone that tried too hard to sound casual. “Brother, you really don’t want to go over there? Father worked so hard to organize this party for you.”
Lu Jiu watched him closely. That uneasy feeling still lingered.
What was that strange aura just now?
“111,” he called silently in his mind, “did you feel that?”
“Yes!” the little system’s voice replied, its tone serious. “But I can’t identify what it is yet.”
Meanwhile, Lu Quning continued talking, his words spilling out as if he hadn’t heard anything.
“You don’t even try to help Father,” he muttered, stabbing his fork into the cake and forcing a large bite into his mouth. Cream smeared across the corner of his lips. “He’s been having such a hard time lately.”
Lu Jiu’s voice dropped coldly. “Are you asking me to help him, or to help you?”
Lu Quning froze, then turned abruptly, his eyes darkening. Gone was the gentle, affectionate boy he used to pretend to be. What replaced it was a heavy gloom, almost sinister.
He stared at Lu Jiu’s face with an intensity that could burn through flesh.
“I know,” he whispered. “You got close to Bai Yun for his money.”
He tilted his head, his voice filled with quiet venom. “You found out by accident that he liked men, and with that pretty face of yours, you seduced him. You just wanted to use him, to crush all of us under your feet. Lu Jiu, you’re just as greedy and fake as the rest.”
Lu Jiu listened to the entire tirade in silence. Then, slowly, he smiled.
The sight made Lu Quning stiffen. “What are you laughing at?”
Lu Jiu’s long, slender fingers began tapping lightly on the white tabletop. Once. Twice. Three times.
He seemed to be thinking.
Then he stepped closer.
That eerie sensation from before flared for an instant, like static, then vanished completely.
111, the system said, alarmed, “what are you doing? Be careful!”
Lu Jiu braced one hand against the table and leaned in.
Lu Quning didn’t know what he intended. Panic flickered in his eyes, quickly smothered by forced composure. He straightened, every muscle tense, his breath held tight.
Lu Jiu leaned even closer, until his lips were beside Lu Quning’s ear.
His gaze shifted, sharp and cutting, locking directly on the other’s eyes as he spoke, slowly, clearly, each word landing like a blow.
“So, even after realizing I might not be corrupted code anymore… you still expect me to react like I did back then? To snap and lose control whenever you provoke me?”
For a moment, Lu Quning’s face went blank, completely devoid of expression.
…What?
He stared at Lu Jiu, stunned, as the man straightened and began to walk away.
…What had he just said?
…Corrupted code?
…Did Lu Jiu know about the code?
A wave of horror and disbelief surged through Lu Quning.
Who, who exactly was Lu Jiu?
Hmm? That wasn’t the reaction he expected.
Lu Jiu touched his chin thoughtfully.
He had hoped that by saying that, he might trigger whatever strange reaction had flared earlier.
“Do you think that weird feeling has something to do with his soul code?” 111 asked nervously.
Lu Jiu’s tone was calm. “It was just a guess. Looks like I was wrong.”
“But! but! Host! You just revealed your identity to him?!”
“So what?” Lu Jiu asked calmly. “He’s too shocked to do anything.”
“…”
Lu Jiu wasn’t wrong. Lu Quning was completely stunned. His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes vacant, as if all rational thought had been knocked clean out of him. Judging by the look on his face, he probably wouldn’t recover for at least an hour.
“But when he finally comes back to his senses, what will you do then?!”
“What will I do? If he doesn’t ask, I won’t say anything. If he asks, I’ll act surprised,” Lu Jiu spread his hands casually, “What gibberish? I have no idea what nonsense he’s talking about.”
“And besides, what else can he do? Kill me to keep me quiet? Didn’t you already tell me his system’s practically broken, that there are barely any functions left? You think I can’t take him in a fistfight?”
System 111 was suddenly filled with admiration. He had a point. Human cleverness and deceit were truly awe-inspiring.
Lu Jiu once again looked Lu Quning up and down from head to toe, confirming that the man was well and truly frozen like a statue.
Feeling it was a shame to waste such a rare sight, he picked up his juice, left the petrified Lu Quning standing there like a piece of art, and strolled away in style.
When Luo Yi dragged himself into the banquet hall with his parents, Shen Ke was just pushing out an enormous five-tiered cake tower.
A lively crowd had gathered around Lu Jiu, laughter and chatter filling the room. Bai Yun stood slightly behind him, and the once-cold, distant young man had once again become the center of attention, surrounded by admiration and envy.
Luo Yi found the whole scene nauseating.
Ever since that disastrous encounter at the winery pool table, he had developed a kind of PTSD whenever he heard Lu Jiu’s name. But the entire rich second-generation circle wouldn’t shut up about him.
Today it was “What amazing thing did Lu Jiu do?” Tomorrow it was “Where did Lu Jiu go?”
Luo Yi wanted to quit all thirty something chat groups just to escape the constant chatter, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it. What if he missed some juicy gossip?
His parents went ahead to greet people, but Luo Yi, unmotivated, wandered idly along the buffet table.
Then he spotted Lu Quning standing rigidly in place, staring into the void.
Luo Yi snorted. “What are you standing there for like that?”
Lu Quning didn’t respond.
Luo Yi didn’t care much either. “By the way,” he asked casually, “someone in your family expecting a baby or something?”
Still no reaction.
Luo Yi clicked his tongue and gave him a light shove. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”
Lu Quning jolted, like a soul abruptly yanked back into its body. “W-what did you say?”
“I asked if someone in your family’s having a baby,” Luo Yi repeated impatiently. “A few days ago, I went to your school to meet a friend and saw Lu Jiu in the supermarket, shopping in the maternity section.”
That day’s encounter had been completely by chance.
Lu Jiu hadn’t seen him; he was carefully comparing a pack of diapers, focused as ever. Luo Yi hadn’t said a word, just turned and left. But later, the more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
Why would Lu Jiu be in the maternity aisle?
It wasn’t likely he was buying for a relative’s baby, who sends someone that young to shop for them? If it really was for a relative, it would make more sense to just bring a red envelope to the hospital.
And certainly not from an ordinary supermarket, people from their social circle always sent expensive gifts.
Now, seeing Lu Quning standing here like a lost soul, Luo Yi brought it up out of idle curiosity.
Lu Quning, still consumed by confusion and panic, stammered, his face pale. “No… no one, as far as I know…”
“Not your relatives?” Luo Yi frowned, looking up as if trying to recall something. “Then I haven’t heard about anyone in our circle expecting either. Have you?”
“Not… that I know of…”
Luo Yi turned toward him again and suddenly noticed how uneasy the man looked. His expression was tight, his face almost white as paper.
“What are you so nervous about? You look like you’ve done something wrong.” He followed Lu Quning’s gaze, straight toward Lu Jiu. “…Lu Jiu?”
The name hit like a dart. Lu Quning visibly flinched, jumping so hard that Luo Yi himself was startled.
Just then, the cake was finally sliced open, and the room erupted in cheers.
“Happy birthday, Jiu-ge!”
“You look guilty,” Luo Yi teased over the noise, smirking. “What, did you do something bad?”
Already on edge, Lu Quning turned even paler.
And then, out of nowhere, a ridiculous thought popped into Luo Yi’s head. His brain buzzed, a wild idea taking shape. “Wait… don’t tell me those maternity products were for Lu Jiu himself?”
Lu Quning’s eyes widened in horror, staring blankly at him.
What did that even mean, Lu Jiu buying maternity products for himself?
Lu Jiu was a man. Why would he, oh.
Oh.
Did Luo Yi mean that Lu Jiu had done something… indecent behind Bai Yun’s back?
The gears in Lu Quning’s mind turned rapidly, and Luo Yi saw every flicker of realization cross his face. He didn’t need confirmation; that expression said it all.
Luo Yi nearly burst out laughing.
So Lu Jiu had been in the maternity aisle buying things for himself! He must have gotten some girl pregnant!
“Luo Yi, what are you doing over there? Come here!” His father’s voice suddenly cut through the crowd. Spotting his son, he waved sharply.
Luo Yi reluctantly put down the slice of cake he’d picked up and trudged toward them.
As he drew closer to where Lu Jiu was standing, a storm brewed inside him once more.
Lu Jiu had a girlfriend. A secret girlfriend!
No wonder. No wonder everything made sense now.
This must be why he’d been acting strange lately. Clearly, Lu Mingyang had no idea, and only Lu Quning was in on the secret!
No wonder Lu Jiu had been shopping in an ordinary supermarket, he probably couldn’t use the Lu family card for it. Without his father’s financial support, he could only afford common maternity supplies.
Luo Yi was both scandalized and thrilled.
Lu Jiu was openly dating Bai Yun, and yet he’d gone and gotten another woman pregnant! Wasn’t he afraid of what would happen when this came out?
His mother looped an arm through his and smiled warmly at Lu Jiu. “Jiu Jiu, you and A’Yi are the same age. You two should spend more time together. A’Yi, you too, don’t forget to invite Jiu Jiu when you go out!”
Lu Jiu just smiled politely.
Luo Yi’s face twisted.
He’d been hearing this same line since childhood. The only time his mother had stopped nagging was during those three years when Lu Jiu had gone off the rails.
But now that Lu Jiu was “normal” again, she had resumed her old tune, repeating it dozens of times this past month alone.
It drove him insane.
His father chimed in as well, sighing, “You’re still so lazy, A’Yi. Look at Lu Jiu, already interning in his junior year. You should learn from him. No matter how wealthy our family is, you can’t just waste your life away.”
Not only was Luo Yi seething inside, even Lu Jiu found the exchange tedious.
He lowered his head slightly and slipped his hand into his pocket. Inside was a small box, Bai Yun’s birthday gift.
Noticing the gesture, Bai Yun looked down at him with a gentle smile. “Haven’t opened it yet?”
Lu Jiu tilted his head and murmured softly, “I’ve been wondering about it for hours. Don’t tell me it’s another piece of jewelry?”
Bai Yun didn’t answer, only smiled even deeper.
Lu Jiu narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “It really is, isn’t it? You always give me jewelry. Not that I’m complaining, but I’m not exactly the flashy type.”
He gave a small, amused snort. “Don’t tell me it’s a ring? I’m not accepting that this early, you know.”
Bai Yun’s smile grew, but he still didn’t say a word. His silence was a clear invitation, “open it and see.”
Lu Jiu suddenly had the urge to reach out and poke that flawless, fox-like face of his just to see if he could make a dent in that perfect calm.
The towering cake gleamed beside them, and the air was thick with the sweetness of sugar and frosting.
Not far away, the boys were fooling around again. Shen Ke had cream smeared all over his face, standing on the table dramatically and calling for help.
It was a chaotic, laughter-filled scene, his twenty-first birthday.
And in another world, this day marked the first birthday he’d spent after his mother’s passing.
Lu Jiu’s eyes softened. He lowered his head and smiled faintly.
Somehow, this timing felt just right.
He lifted his gaze toward Bai Yun again, the corners of his lips curving into a mischievous smile.
“Hey,” he said, voice low and teasing, “how about I give you a gift too?”
The words came so suddenly that Bai Yun blinked, amused. “A gift? For me?”
“What kind of gift?” He casually ran his fingers through Lu Jiu’s hair, his voice low and teasing. “Why are you smiling like that?”
Lu Jiu picked up his phone.
He opened the photo album, found the screenshot of the ultrasound report, and, without hesitation, tapped open Bai Yun’s chat window before pressing send. The entire sequence took no more than a few seconds.
Once he made up his mind, he always acted decisively.
The phone vibrated softly. Bai Yun lowered his eyes, seeing the notification pop up from Lu Jiu. He raised an amused brow at him.
“Go on,” Lu Jiu said lightly.
Bai Yun chuckled, unlocked the screen, and tapped the image open.
Then, he froze.
“…When you start working, you really ought to learn from Jiu Jiu. You’re already twenty-one, you should learn to control that temper!”
Luo Yi felt his frustration boil over completely.
Jiu Jiu, Jiu Jiu, Jiu Jiu, always Jiu Jiu!
What was so great about Lu Jiu anyway? What he did was no different from those spoiled rich kids his parents always criticized!
Watching Lu Jiu chat casually with Bo Yun, relaxed and even smiling, something ugly surged up inside Luo Yi.
He suddenly blurted out, “Hey, Lu Jiu, how’s the diaper shopping going?”
The words dropped like a stone into still water.
Everyone fell silent and turned toward him.
Even his parents looked stunned.
A twisted satisfaction flashed through Luo Yi’s chest.
Always comparing me to him, huh? Let’s see how they look at him now, after this!
Once Bai Yun finds out what kind of trouble he’s caused, he’s finished!
He went on loudly, “So, were you buying diapers or formula milk? Oh, and you’re really planning to use those cheap brands from a discount store?”
His father and mother finally caught on that something was wrong and hurried to grab his arm. “Stop it right now, don’t talk nonsense!”
Luo Yi shook them off, lifting his chin defiantly. “What nonsense? Didn’t you want me to get closer to him? I’m just talking to him, asking how it went when he was hanging around the baby section the other day!”
His voice was loud enough for half the hall to hear.
Lu Jiu slowly set his phone down and lifted his gaze to him, calm and quiet.
Beside him, Bai Yun had his head slightly lowered, black hair falling forward, his face unreadable.
Luo Yi pressed on, sneering, “Especially since it’s for your own kid, right? You should pick something better! If you can’t afford it, I can lend you some money. Don’t know which brand to buy? I can tell you!”
“You’re out of your mind! What are you even saying!” his father hissed, yanking him hard.
“I’m saying, someone got another person pregnant!” he shouted.
The room went utterly still.
Everyone stared at him.
In the silence, a soft laugh suddenly broke through, sharp and startling.
Luo Yi’s expression froze. He glared at Lu Jiu. “What are you laughing at?”
Ah, familiar words, he’d heard them once already that day.
The man beside Lu Jiu finally lowered his hand.
Lu Jiu leaned lazily back into his arms, his tone light. “Finished reading?”
Bo Yun’s Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, his arm tightening around him. His eyes shifted, deep and unreadable.
Lu Jiu thought that in that single look, every word he wanted to say was already there.
Then those dark eyes lifted and fixed on Luo Yi, whose bravado had vanished, replaced by confusion.
Mr. Luo felt a chill and immediately stepped forward. “We’ll leave now!”
“Why?” Bo Yun’s voice was mild, gentle even, but his eyes carried no trace of a smile.
“Stay a little longer,” he said. “I want to hear what else your son has to say to me.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
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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)