PBMM CH29.1

Lin Wan was the person Zhao He was forced to enter an arranged marriage with back then. It was just that after he recovered, he kept dragging it out. It had been eight years, and she was still only a fiancée.

What Yan Xizhi meant by bringing up Lin Wan at this moment was self-evident. The gloomy man took a step back, “Impossible! How old was Lin Wan back then, what could she possibly do?!”

“An eighteen-year-old girl can do a lot of things,” Yan Xizhi’s voice hissed like a venomous snake. “Besides, A-Qing was only seventeen back then. Young and ignorant, naturally, he would believe whatever others told him!”

Zhao He desperately wanted to deny it, but scenes from the past flashed through his mind. Lin Wan always liked to pester him. Hindered by the relationship between their two families, he couldn’t refuse too forcefully. Every time the delicate and naive youth saw this, a crestfallen expression would appear on his face—

After learning his family was in trouble, the youthful boy tried hard to comfort him, “It’s okay, A-He. I’ll ask my dad to help you, my dad is amazing.”

Everything was normal and very warm, until one day, He Qing disappeared, leaving behind a letter that was practically a humiliation.

Having just lost the protection of his elders, followed immediately by the blow of his lover’s betrayal, Zhao He gradually grew from an ignorant youth into a gloomy man with a vicious mind. To save his family, he did not hesitate to enter into an engagement with Lin Wan, all for the Lin family’s support. After successfully stabilizing the situation, because of the complex mix of hatred and love for He Qing in his heart, he dragged his feet and refused to complete the marriage.

Lin Wan didn’t blame him. Instead, she constantly helped him placate the Lin family. Zhao He actually always felt a bit of guilt toward her in his heart, but he never expected that one day, he would hear a different answer from Yan Xizhi’s mouth.

“What are you trying to say.” Zhao He clenched his fists, his eyes dark. Yan Xizhi, however, was completely unaffected. He put down his wine glass, shrugged, and said in a despicable tone, “You really are stupid, being deceived by a woman for so many years. But if you weren’t this stupid, A-Qing wouldn’t have given up on you. Don’t you agree, A-He…”

After he finished speaking, he staggered to his feet and headed outside. Zhao He reached out to stop him but was easily dodged. The beautiful man smiled gleefully and said, “You, and Xinyang, both regret it now, right?”

“But it’s too late. A-Qing liked both of you, but look at what you’ve done? You… Xinyang, you shared him with me, and right in front of A-He. Then look at A-He, tsk tsk tsk. A-Qing definitely thinks that today’s dinner was entirely A-He’s idea, and all the humiliation he suffered was also because of A-He…” Yan Xizhi’s face bore an uncontrollable joy, “A-Qing won’t like you guys anymore. He hates you, he loathes you…”

“You guys!” He made a gesture with a grinning face, “Are out of the game!”

Feng Xinyang felt as if he was meeting this androgynous-looking, playboy friend who flirted around every day for the very first time. He looked at him in disbelief, “You did this on purpose!”

“That’s right!” Yan Xizhi admitted readily, “I did it on purpose.”

“Who asked A-Qing to like you two and not me? Every single time! As long as you guys are around, his eyes can’t see me at all!” Yan Xizhi sounded a bit resentful when speaking of this. “I’m not bad looking either, why does A-Qing just not like me…”

“You! You’re simply insane!” Feng Xinyang’s hands shook uncontrollably, his entire body trembling with anger, “How could you do this, are you even human?!”

“Pfft!” Yan Xizhi couldn’t hold back a laugh. He stifled his chuckles, looking at Feng Xinyang as if looking at a rarity, “Xinyang, is there something wrong with your brain? What did I do? I didn’t do anything! The ones who did wrong, haven’t they always been you two?”

“Even if you guys only made one fold of mistakes, in A-Qing’s eyes, those mistakes will be multiplied tenfold! A hundredfold! At a time like this, he needs me to comfort him. It’s a pity, though, that Ning Feng actually beat me to it. Good thing he’s frigid, thank goodness.” He patted his chest as if he was very fortunate.

However, even if he was frigid, Yan Xizhi still felt a bit uneasy. He didn’t want to talk to these two idiots anymore. Pushing Feng Xinyang aside, he said, “Alright, move aside. I’m going to find A-Qing! He must be very down right now, just waiting for my comfort!”

Zhao He had been standing in a daze the whole time, staring blankly as Yan Xizhi left, watching Feng Xinyang grit his teeth and chase after him. He didn’t know how long he stood there before he finally snapped back to reality.

His thin lips were already dry and cracked, “Impossible…”

It couldn’t possibly be like what Yan Xizhi said…

If it really was like that, then what was everything he had done all this time for the sake of revenge?

No, it’s fake, it must be fake!

Zhao He hugged his head in agony, squatting on the ground. His gaze inadvertently swept over the sofa. The image of the youth lying there in despair last night, meeting his eyes, flashed past. A heart-wrenching pain slowly spread from the depths of his heart. The man forcefully suppressed this agony, found Lin Wan’s number in his phone, and dialed it—

The Ning family’s garden was very large. He Qing sat on a bench, the overly loose clothes on his body making him appear even more frail and thin. Ning Feng stood on the rooftop, looking down at him from above. Just this view of his back alone could ease the agonizing pain that had tormented him for five years. This person must be kept here.

But, how should he make him stay?

The butler respectfully walked up to his side, “Sir, Mr. Yan is here to visit.”

“Not seeing him.” Ning Feng looked at that figure from the back and said, “Tell him to leave.”

Before obtaining this precious treasure, it was best to chase these people who coveted the treasure far, far away.

[Zhao He favorability: 80. Zhao He favorability: -30. Zhao He favorability: 89…] Even though it was a monotone voice, the system somehow managed to read it out with an air of having nothing left to live for. He Qing sat on the bench and sighed softly. What about Little Cutie Xinyang?

[Feng Xinyang: 95. Host should stabilize Zhao He’s favorability as soon as possible.]

I want to stabilize it too, but Ning Feng won’t let me leave. What can I do? He had to think of a way to leave this place. Otherwise, if he always stayed at the Ning residence, would Zhao He just deliver himself to the door?

Right, did you find out why Ning Feng is acting differently from the original world?

[No.] A simple and crude answer.

Forget it, better to just work hard myself!

After dinner in the afternoon, the youth weakly brought up the request for Ning Feng to return his phone. That’s right, after being brought back by Ning Feng, everything on him had been taken away.

The man frowned and put down his chopsticks. “You want to look for Feng Xinyang?”

“N-No!” The youth explained hurriedly, “I was thinking, I’ve stayed at your place long enough. I still haven’t asked for leave from the hospital. If I just hide in another city, maybe…”

“No matter where you hide, they will find you!” Ning Feng interrupted his words, saying coldly, “You will stay by my side. I will give the hospital a heads-up.”

“But…”

Without waiting for the youth to finish, Ning Feng stopped eating and headed straight upstairs, leaving the gentle youth staring blankly as his back gradually disappeared. He truly didn’t want to see those people ever again, but he also didn’t want to just stay beside an unfamiliar person all the time!

Alongside the bewilderment, He Qing also felt some panic. He had no way of contacting the outside world. Ning Feng had even instructed the guards not to let him out. Furthermore, the man’s attitude today made him feel afraid. Could it be that Ning Feng… planned to lock him up here for the rest of his life?

Ning Feng was thinking exactly that.

The excruciating pain in his heart hadn’t been alleviated in the slightest despite seeking countless experts over these past five years. But as long as he saw He Qing, the pain would lighten. As long as he touched him, his heart would return to peace. All humans are selfish, and Ning Feng was no exception. To keep this ‘medicine’ around, he was willing to use any means necessary!

Now he was starting to regret why he had called a doctor when he brought the youth back last night. If there was no doctor, and He Qing was drugged…

Ning Feng disdained forcing anyone, but his heart… hurt too much.

The image of the youth sitting on the bench looking at the flowers from behind surfaced in his mind. The man lay flat on his bed and slowly drifted into sleep.

He woke up in the dead of night. After the familiar pain woke him, he couldn’t fall back asleep. In the past, Ning Feng would process some documents, but today, he suddenly wanted to go see He Qing. Just one look, and the pain would disappear, right?

Like an addiction, Ning Feng got out of bed and went to the guest bedroom where He Qing was placed.

The guest bedroom was locked. If it were the past, Ning Feng would have just let it go. But today, a stubborn, inexplicable urge to see the youth rose from the bottom of his heart. He turned around, fetched the spare key from his own room, and opened the door.

Under the dim lighting, the youth was sound asleep. His sleeping face was peaceful. His beautiful, good-looking hands rested lightly on top of the blanket, rising and falling with his light, shallow breaths. Ning Feng stood at the doorway watching. The youth’s eyes were closed, his long eyelashes drooping naturally, casting a shadow at the corners of his eyes that made one want to examine him closely.

Even though the pain in his heart had started to lessen, Ning Feng didn’t want to leave. As if possessed, the man slowly approached, walking right up to the head of the bed. With every step he took closer, the pain in his heart grew lighter and lighter. By the end, he even felt a sense of joy springing from the deepest depths of his heart.

A kind of joy, as if a long-lost treasure had finally been found.

This state was abnormal, Ning Feng knew this, yet he couldn’t control himself from leaning down. He wanted to press a light kiss onto the youth’s fair cheek, as if a voice in his heart was urging him to kiss down. A kiss as soft as a feather landed. The moment it touched the warm skin, Ning Feng nearly lost his composure.

He wanted to possess him. He wanted to keep this person captive, keeping him by his side for a lifetime.

He couldn’t restrain the urge to continue kissing, but reason made him let go and slowly straighten up. No, now was not the time. The youth had just experienced a failed romance; he needed to take things slow and plot his course gradually.

Ning Feng had no lovers in the past, simply because he disdained seeking one out. Now that he had a target, his brain—comparable to a high-speed rotating machine—quickly drew up a plan. He told himself in his heart: be patient, be a little more patient.

As long as he dealt with those three people, He Qing would be his.

Ning Feng left. Under the dim light, the quietly lying youth slept peacefully.

The next day.

The youth looked at the man in pleasant surprise, “Can I go out now?”

“I never said you couldn’t go out. Yan Xizhi has been looking for you. During this time, I will drive you to and from work,” Ning Feng said in an unprecedentedly gentle tone. “With me here, they won’t dare to do anything.”

He Qing looked at him hesitantly, “Mr. Ning, wouldn’t this be too much trouble for you?”

“It’s fine.” Ning Feng’s face was completely serious. “I can’t stand seeing them act like this either.”

If He Qing still had a trace of vigilance toward him before, now that remaining vigilance had vanished. He gave Ning Feng a grateful smile, his voice returning to its usual gentleness: “Thank you.”

It was just that the melancholy on his face wouldn’t leave anytime soon. Ning Feng took this all in, but remained impassive, giving the butler a look. The butler understood tacitly and left.

Thus, right after finishing his meal, He Qing heard a commotion coming from outside. The familiar voice made his nerves tense up. He barely managed to maintain a calm facade, but the panic in his eyes couldn’t be hidden no matter what. He started to fidget uneasily. “Outside, is that Xi… Yan Xizhi…”

Ning Feng gave him a seemingly unintentional glance and nodded. “It’s him. He’s been making a scene since yesterday up until now, clamoring that he wants to see you.”

“Does A-Qing want to see him?”

The youth completely missed the man’s overly intimate form of address. Without a second thought, he hurriedly refused, “I won’t see him!”

Hearing that voice was like feeling those hands roaming over his body again. That feeling of despair and disgust—He Qing never wanted to experience it a second time!

“Alright, then you won’t see him.” Just as Ning Feng agreed, a man with messy hair and reeking of alcohol burst in. His features were still exquisite and beautiful, but in He Qing’s eyes, it was like seeing a devil.

He let out an uncontrollable, short scream, got up, and hid behind Ning Feng. The man naturally held his icy hand and comforted him, “Don’t be afraid, A-Qing. I’m here, he wouldn’t dare do anything.”

He Qing was so scared his body turned stiff, allowing the man to stroke his hand to comfort him. Yan Xizhi, however, instantly locked his eyes onto Ning Feng’s hands gripping He Qing’s. His eyes, already bloodshot from staying up, grew even redder. “A-Qing! Come here!”

This shout scared He Qing even more. He gripped the man’s hands tightly in return seeking comfort, not even daring to spare a single glance at the exquisite man in front of him.

Yan Xizhi gritted his teeth in anger, but he didn’t dare lash out, afraid of making the already terrified youth even more scared of him.

He never expected that after Ning Feng took the person away, he wouldn’t let the youth out again, and even avoided seeing him. As time dragged on, Yan Xizhi grew increasingly uneasy. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. He wanted to be the oriole, but he hadn’t expected Ning Feng, this eagle, to be glaring covetously from behind!

He exhausted all his efforts to knock Feng and Zhao out of the game, only to end up making a wedding dress for someone else.

The more he thought about it, the more hateful he felt. Yan Xizhi wished he could just go up and snatch the youth away directly. But watching He Qing, who shivered in terror at his approach and wished he could shrink entirely behind Ning Feng and never come out, and then looking at Ning Feng, who patted the person behind him soothingly with a smile on his lips—he gritted his teeth and stood rooted to the spot.

“A-Qing, the night before last was truly a misunderstanding. Xinyang told me you were willing, so I thought you really…” Yan Xizhi’s tone was pitiful, shamelessly pushing all the blame onto Feng Xinyang and Zhao He. “And A-He, he said that when he was with you before, you liked it this way. Really, you have to believe me, after I realized they tricked me, I came looking for you right away…”

The youth trembled, hiding behind Ning Feng and refusing to show his face. Yan Xizhi didn’t know if he was listening or not, so he could only try to make himself sound more pathetic. “A-Qing, from yesterday morning until now, I’ve been waiting for you all along. I haven’t even taken a shower, just so I could explain things to you. If you don’t believe me, I’ll take you to confront those two, they will definitely…”

“You leave…” Hearing this sentence, the youth’s entire body shuddered. With a trembling voice, he said, “Go tell Zhao He, I, He Qing, do not owe him anything!”

“A-Qing…”

Yan Xizhi wanted to persuade him further, but Ning Feng turned around and shielded the youth. Raising an eyebrow, he said to his friend who was glaring at him hatefully, “Xizhi, you should leave first. I will take care of A-Qing.”

Glaring fiercely at Ning Feng, who was taking advantage of someone’s precarious position, Yan Xizhi didn’t forget to smear Zhao He’s name before leaving. “A-Qing, I’ll go then. But as for Zhao He, his fiancée has returned to the country. I’m afraid he doesn’t have the time to deal with me.”

Ning Feng sensed the person under his hand stiffen. He Qing, with a pale face, slowly raised his head. “Fiancée…?”

“Right, named Lin Wan, the eldest miss of the Lin family. Zhao He loves her to death…” Seeing the youth’s frighteningly blank gaze, Yan Xizhi’s heart chilled. Zhao He had gone this far, yet A-Qing actually still had lingering feelings for him?

Zhao He, Zhao He! What right or merit do you have!

He stifled a breath of anger and poured dirty water on Zhao He: “I’m leaving then, A-Qing. Zhao He keeps muttering about wanting to deal with you. Make sure you stay far away if you see him.”

Ning Feng knew perfectly well he was sprouting nonsense, but was happy to see it happen. So he remained silent, gently patting the youth’s back in mute comfort.

He knew that, at least for this period of time, He Qing wouldn’t think about moving away.

Just as Ning Feng wished, because of Yan Xizhi’s harassment, the youth had no choice but to reside temporarily at the Ning family’s house. During the day, he took the Ning family’s car to work, and at night, he took it back. Not knowing if it was because those people had lost interest in him, for this entire week, he never saw a single one of those three people again.

Although sometimes he would jolt awake abruptly from his midnight dreams, as time flowed by, those unhappy matters were slowly hidden away.