Wu Yu maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, but inwardly, he was burning with frustration. When he turned slightly, his snow-white neck resembled the graceful line of a swan.

No one could tell, but he was actually very angry inside.

It was Huo Zhou who suggested they sit down and talk things out, but Huo Zhou himself seemed distracted. While he pretended to listen, his attention seemed to wander off to some corner of the island, his gaze unfocused.

The conditions at the small bar were less than ideal; the glasses seemed greasy as if they hadn't been properly cleaned. After picking one up, Wu Yu looked at it for a moment before putting it back down, untouched.

"A Zhou," Wu Yu stared into his eyes and asked, "Can you tell me the truth... do you still love me?"

Huo Zhou snapped back to attention, picked up his glass, and tried to cover his embarrassment with a sip of the drink. However, the taste was so awful that he nearly choked. Despite the terrible quality, he forced himself to swallow it for appearances' sake.

"I... don't know," Huo Zhou's features contorted from the unpleasant taste of the cheap alcohol, his speech slightly awkward. "During the years when I heard nothing from you, I still loved you. I brought Qiao Guangyu here because I didn't want to forget you. But... after you came back, I realized that my feelings for you weren't as pure as I thought."

"You've shifted your affections," Wu Yu noted softly.

"I really don't know," Huo Zhou shook his head with a bitter smile, sounding dejected. "I was genuinely happy to see you, but my heart was in turmoil. Yet, being with him... makes me feel at ease, peaceful."

Feelings develop over time, and after years of being with Huo Zhou, Qiao Guangyu had become a familiar presence. His companionship was like a steady stream, gradually fostering emotions, and no one knew exactly when those feelings took root.

Huo Zhou was not one to pity himself. He didn't want to give up on Wu Yu, nor did he want to let go of Qiao Guangyu. Wu Yu was the cinnabar mole on his heart; picking at it would cause pain, yet he couldn't bring himself to remove it. Qiao Guangyu, on the other hand, was the warmth he had grown accustomed to, bringing him comfort while igniting his desire for conquest.

Huo Zhou had to admit that when he was with Qiao Guangyu, he felt youthful, full of passion, and energy, like an impetuous young man.

Hearing his description, Wu Yu's last shred of hope was ruthlessly extinguished. He stared coldly at Huo Zhou and said, "Huo Zhou, you're nothing but a scumbag."

Huo Zhou tugged at the corners of his mouth, wanting to laugh but looking more miserable than tearful. "I can't deny that."

Wu Yu's hands trembled with anger, but he remained composed, clenching his fists slowly. "I didn't inform you before going abroad, so I'm at fault. Now, you claim to still love me while confessing your affection for that boy. You've wronged me... Let's call it even. From now on, aside from business matters, I don't want any further contact with you."

"Xiao Yu, this isn't fair," Huo Zhou's gaze became gloomy. "You kicked me without even a hello. I waited for you for three years, and even found someone to imitate you, reminiscing about the time we spent together. Three years can change a lot of things. I waited for you for three years, couldn't you give me some time to think things through?"

"You still have the nerve to talk about finding a stand-in?" Wu Yu laughed in frustration, his anger towards Huo Zhou more intense than ever. "True love for someone cannot be replaced by anyone else. Your behavior not only disrespected me but also him. Have you even considered his feelings?"

"I..." Huo Zhou opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

Previously, Huo Zhou thought that anything he did to Qiao Guangyu during the contract period was reasonable, as long as it didn't involve the final step of kissing and embracing. He even had a hidden hope that his tenderness and devoted companionship should be reciprocated, that Qiao Guangyu should love him as he loved him, even more. Even the large bedroom arranged by Quan Quan was entirely selfish.

That night, when Qiao Guangyu ran out, Huo Zhou felt genuinely disappointed and guilty. He felt despicable.

Seeing him like a guilty thief, Wu Yu's anger flared even more. If it weren't for his image, he wanted to smash the glass in front of Huo Zhou's face.

He actually had a pretty good impression of Qiao Guangyu and wasn't happy to see such a good kid being harmed by Huo Zhou.

Buzz...

As he was about to leave, Wu Yu received a WeChat message.

When he saw that the sender was Wu Jun, he didn't really want to open it, afraid of seeing another long lecture. However, when he opened it, Wu Jun did send a long message, but not a single word was about his and Huo Zhou's emotional debt.

Before he finished reading the first message, more messages from Wu Jun poured in, accompanied by images and text, making the phone vibrate incessantly, leaving Wu Yu increasingly shocked.

Finally, he completely forgot about the person sitting across from him, stood up abruptly, and spilled the liquid from the overturned glass onto his white clothes. Wu Yu didn't care at all; almost as soon as he stood up, he rushed out, stumbling and looking embarrassed.

Huo Zhou looked at Wu Yu in surprise. In his impression, Wu Yu had always been quiet, elegant, delicate, and proud. He never expected to see Wu Yu in such a hurry and flustered state.

He thought of Qiao Guangyu and felt a sudden pang of anxiety.

Could it be that Wu Jun did something to Qiao Guangyu?

Thinking about this, Huo Zhou couldn't sit still either. After hesitating for a moment, he also followed suit and ran out.

*

Wu Yu ran out of breath, and when he finally reached the shore, he saw his big brother sticking to the young man as if he were glued to him. The strong man held the young man tightly in his arms, whilst the young man was patting his back while saying, "It's okay," "Don't cry," "Things will get better," with a helpless expression on his face.

Wu Yu: "..."

Seeing Wu Yu, Wu Jun's eyes turned even redder. "Second brother, come here quickly! This is our little brother!"

Wu Yu: "..."

Whether it was "Second Brother" or "Little Brother," neither was a flattering term!

"Is this true?" Wu Yu approached with some doubt. "Show me the photo." The pictures taken in WeChat were unclear, probably because Wu Jun's hands were shaking when he took them.

Qiao Guangyu handed over a phone with a cracked screen to Wu Yu. When Wu Yu saw several photos in the album, each showing Qiao's mother with the same warm smile from different angles and outfits, his eyes reddened as well.

However, he wasn't as weak-minded as his brother. Pinching his sour nose, Wu Yu looked at Qiao Guangyu and seemed to have many words to say, but in the end, he simply stated, "Come back home with us, forget about Huo Zhou."

"Yeah, even though Mom is gone, Grandpa will be thrilled to know he still has a son in his twenties," echoed Wu Jun.

"But..." Qiao Guangyu hesitated.

"There's no 'but.' Our family can afford to pay the penalty. He spent five million, we'll double it with ten million! Letting him bully you! And he still wants to have it both ways! Even with my good temper, I can't stand it. I feel like I've been blind all this time," Wu Yu vented all his accumulated anger onto Huo Zhou, speaking through gritted teeth. "Moreover, if he breaches the contract, so be it. Does he really think he can sue you with that contract? It's not an employment contract, and its legal effectiveness is questionable. Even if he dares to sue, isn't he afraid of losing face?"

Wu Jun: "..."

Wow, when did his music-playing little brother become so legally sensitive?

Indeed, if you want someone to grow up, you should let them encounter a scumbag.

Qiao Guangyu was dumbfounded. "Can... it be played like this?"

Seeing their yacht not far away, Wu Yu pushed Qiao Guangyu forward forcefully. "We're wealthy; you can have whatever you want. You don't need that bit from Huo Zhou. Come home with us today. Tomorrow, let Big Brother handle your matters. You won't have to worry about anything."

"But..." Qiao Guangyu walked and looked back at Quanquan, still hesitant.

Only then did Wu Jun and Wu Yu remember the fourth person present. They all looked at Quan Quan with a somewhat unfriendly gaze.

Quan Quan slowly, slowly revealed a gentle smile.

He waved to Qiao Guangyu and turned to face Huo Zhou, who had found their location and was running out of breath.

Quan Quan stepped forward to stop his boss.

 

 

Translator : DarNan