Chapter 120 - It’s Still a Scene of b.l.o.o.d.y Slaughter
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina, Kitty
7. It’s Still a Scene of b.l.o.o.d.y Slaughter
Xie He looked at Ye Jinzhou and Xu Zhen in surprise, “You guys… know each other?”
Ye Jinzhou was rigid for a moment. A moment later, he slowly turned around, looking uncomfortable. He said to Xie He, “Yes, actually, we’re university cla.s.smates. I didn’t think that I’d meet him here…” When he said this, he looked too embarra.s.sed to continue speaking and looked away, afraid to meet Xie He’s eyes.
Upon seeing this, Xie He felt even more suspicious. Just now, Ye Jinzhou had acted like he didn’t know Xu Zhen. Now, he was standing here together with Xu Zhen. Moreover, his expression… it was clear that the other didn’t want him to know that he knew Xu Zhen. It was just that he was exposed just now so he had no choice to admit it. But why?
Xu Zhen was also really nervous. His lips were pursed in a straight line, and he didn’t speak.
Xie He looked at Xu Zhen and then at Ye Jinzhou. Although he was really curious as to what their relations.h.i.+p was, he wouldn’t interrogate Ye Jinzhou here. That would only embarra.s.s Ye Jinzhou.
Therefore, Xie He smiled and politely said to Xu Zhen, “I didn’t expect that President Xu and Jinzhou were cla.s.smates. It’s truly rare. Why not sit together for a while?”
However, before Xu Zhen could respond, Ye Jinzhou spoke first. He said, “It might not be convenient today.”
Xu Zhen was going to retreat, afraid that Ye Jinzhou would be displeased. However, when he heard Ye Jinzhou speak before he did, looking like he was afraid of Xu Zhen interacting with Xie He, he only felt waves of pain in his heart. For the first time, he wanted to rebel.
He was obviously Ye Jinzhou’s boyfriend, no? So why did he have to cower and hide?
Xu Zhen didn’t go along with Ye Jinzhou’s words and refused. Instead, he said, “All right. I have the time.”
Xie He was only saying this to be polite. Seeing that Ye Jinzhou wasn’t willing, he was about to brush it off. He didn’t think that Xu Zhen would really agree. He could only smile. “Then that’s great.”
【444：Host dada, why are you doing this? @[email protected]】
【Xie He：Baby, this is called dividing the enemy. He’s the official boyfriend, but he has to watch on helplessly as his beloved acts all lovey-dovey with the third party. He even has to pretend he doesn’t care. This is an extremely cruel test. Even the most generous of people could not bear it. This is me helping him wake up earlier. There are so many fish in the sea, so why waste himself on this man? Smile.JPG】
【444：……】
【Xie He：But I really admire our ZhouZhou. His adaptability isn’t bad. A considerate and elegant boyfriend like me would not expose him on the spot if he were to openly act embarra.s.sed over this. If there’s something I want to say, I would only say it to him behind closed doors. At that time, wouldn’t it be easy to figure out some kind of excuse? 】
【444：Host dada, can you make it more clear? _(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：Baby, there are typically only two types of people that men don’t dare to be caught secretly meeting behind their current partner’s back: their exes and their ‘mistresses’. Ye Jinzhou can’t say that ZhenZhen is his mistress, so the innocent ZhenZhen can only be made ‘the ex’. 】
【444：Σ( °△°|||)︴So it’s like this! Won’t Xu Zhen be angered to death?!】
【Xie He：That’s why, ah, although these kinds of men always think that having a harem is a relaxed, joyous thing, it’s really not. I’ll make him realize that this kind of thinking is really too naive.】
【444：……】
Xie He smiled and spoke to Xu Zhen while walking, “President Xu has come from so far away. This opportunity is indeed rare. Allow me to act as host and treat President Xu to some local delicacies.”
Xu Zhen’s expression was very amiable. “I shall do as the host sees fit. Today, I’ll listen to President Bai.”
Thus, Ye Jinzhou drove while Xie He and Xu Zhen sat in the back together.
Xie He found a rather characteristic but quality local restaurant. The three of them ate while chatting.
Ye Jinzhou was very quiet. From beginning to end, he didn’t speak unless he had to.
Xie He and Xu Zhen chattered for a while. Xie He then turned and naturally used his chopsticks to place some food onto Ye Jinzhou’s plate. Shoulders close, he looked at him with a gentle haze and said, “You like this.”
Although Xu Zhen pretended not to care, he was always secretly paying attention to Ye Jinzhou and Xie He. Right now, seeing Xie He naturally put food in Ye Jinzhou’s plate, looking like a normal, loving couple, his heart suddenly hurt so much that he couldn’t breathe.
He had been by Ye Jinzhou’s side for so many years but had never been this intimate with the other. It had always seemed like… there was something between them….
Even though Ye Jinzhou had said time and time again that he wouldn’t fall in love with Xie He, that he wouldn’t love the son of the enemy that had killed his father….
Was everything really an act?
Xu Zhen sucked in a deep breath. He looked up, smiled at Xie He, and said, “Are President Bai and Ye Jinzhou lovers?”
Xie He calmly said, “Yes.”
“I can tell… that you really love him,” Xu Zhen looked at Xie He dimly, voice taking on a regretful tone, “It’s just a pity….”
Xie He looked at him questioningly, “What’s a pity?”
Ye Jinzhou suddenly gave Xu Zhen a cold look, voice frosty, “Nothing’s a pity. We love each other. Everything’s great.”
Xu Zhen paled. He almost couldn’t maintain the expression on his face.
Xie He didn’t ask anything else. However, Ye Jinzhou grabbed his hand and smiled at him. “It’s really late. We should go home.”
This wasn’t very polite. Xu Zhen was still there, after all. Xie He’s expression changed, “If you have something, leave first, ba. I’ll stay with President Xu.”
Ye Jinzhou squeezed Xie He’s arm with a bit more strength, eyes rigidly fixed on him.
Xu Zhen watched for a while, the hand beneath the table clenching tightly. He looked down, hiding the sadness in his eyes, and then said insipidly, “Since it’s like this, I won’t hold you two back. I’m very glad to have met President Bai today. I believe that we will meet again.”
Since things were already like this, Xie He couldn’t insist. He urged the other to stay for a while, but Xu Zhen insisted on leaving. He refused Xie He’s invitation to leave together.
As soon as Xu Zhen left, the smile on Xie He’s face disappeared. He looked at Ye Jinzhou seriously. “You owe me an explanation today.”
Ye Jinzhou turned his head to the side, expression stern. A while later, he raised his voice and said, “Are you the only one allowed to have ex-boyfriends?”
A few seconds pa.s.sed before Xie He reacted. He was really surprised, “Xu Zhen is your ex-boyfriend?”
Ye Jinzhou shrugged his shoulders and nodded. “Yes, I was afraid that he would say something to make you misunderstand….” He fixed his eyes onto Xie He, hesitation flas.h.i.+ng through them. He suddenly reached out and hugged the other. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have hidden it from you.”
Xie He had felt estranged from Ye Jinzhou these last few days. He thought that the other was initiating a cold war with him over Lu Jianing. Right now, being held tightly in Ye Jinzhou’s arms, he felt warmth fill his chest. Being hugged so tightly… seemed to cause all of the misunderstandings and silences to disappear.
The corner of his lips rose. “I don’t think Xu Zhen is that kind of person. Moreoverk2026; do you not trust me?”
Ye Jinzhou’s lips moved. He seemed to look down, ashamed.
Xie He placed a soft kiss on his lips, a faint, warm smile appearing in his eyes. His soft voice was like a feather against his heart. “Since you’ve also met your ex-boyfriend, then we’re even. The past matters are done with. Don’t be angry anymore, OK?”
Ye Jinzhou looked into Xie He’s eyes and saw the sincerity and love within them.
When this person considered someone his lover, he would trust them unconditionally…. He would not betray them, leave them, or make trouble for no reason. He was both romantic and faithful. He was also tolerant and broad-minded.
He made them feel the most beautiful emotions in the world… and gave them all of his love.
Unfortunately, we cannot be together.
【Ding, the target Ye Jinzhou’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 65.】
Ye Jinzhou slowly released his hold and averted his eyes. He said, “Let’s go back, ba.”
Xie He and Ye Jinzhou returned home. Xie He was rather tired, and Ye Jinzhou didn’t want anything from him for once. He only held him to sleep. For once, Xie He slept well.
Even though his career was not going well, at least he had his beloved by his side.
……………………………………
Reality was always the cruellest. There was no such thing as getting lucky.
Xie He’s company took a turn for the worse. Since the first fall, the debt only continued to s...o...b..ll, becoming increasingly greater.
Today, Xie He called Lin Ran into his office and said, “I’m going to go see if anyone wants to acquire our company. Otherwise, we will have to declare bankruptcy.”
When he said this, his expression was extremely tranquil. It looked like he wasn’t selling the company he had built single-handedly with his own blood, sweat, and tears. He acted like it was a simple matter. But the calmer he was, the more Lin Ran’s heart ached.
Lin Ran knew that Xie He must have put a lot of thought into this before making a decision. They really had no other choice. However, it was still very upsetting. “Are you sure?”
Xie He smiled softly. “Don’t look like that. Actually, it’s nothing much. The marketplace is like a battlefield. I’ve seen the rise and fall of many companies. Many others have also disappeared. Who can guarantee that I will always succeed and never fail? However, this time, I failed quite…. I’d prefer to sell the company. At least this way, I can preserve some of my efforts. Furthermore, this won’t change much for the employees. It’s just that the company’s situation is really bad right now. We also have a ma.s.sive debt. I’m afraid that no one will be willing to accept us as is.”
“No, I think that someone will definitely be willing to take us,” Lin Ran suddenly said.
Xie He’s eyes flashed and he lowered his voice. “The person attacking us from the shadows.”
“Are you willing to sell to him?” Lin Ran gave Xie He a meaningful look.
Xie He was silent for a long time. He then smiled. “I could first struggle one last time and look for someone else first… If I have to sell to him in the end, I can only bear with my unwillingness.”
Lin Ran sighed. He hated his own powerlessness. At such a crucial time, he couldn’t do a thing. In the end, he only said to Xie He, “Wherever you go, I will follow. If you have other plans in the future, don’t forget about me.”
Xie He looked at him seriously, raising a brow, and smiled. “As long as you don’t dislike it, sure.”
Xie He sent Lin Ran off, and the smile on his face slowly disappeared. He closed his eyes, disappointed. He silently sat in his office for nearly half an hour before making a painful choice. He took out Xu Zhen’s card and gave him a call.
The call went through after a while. Xu Zhen’s warm laugh came through the other side. “President Bai?”
Xie He sucked in a deep breath and smiled again. “President Xu, I don’t know if you have time today. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Xu Zhen was very frank and straightforward. “I have time.”
………………………………
Xie He agreed on the meeting place with Xu Zhen and then drove away from the company. They had agreed to meet at a cafe.
Xu Zhen was dressed in a blazer. He sat facing Xie He. With a beaming smile, he gestured with this hand. “President Bai, over here.”
Xie He immediately went over and smiled, embarra.s.sed. “I made you wait a long time.”
Xu Zhen shook his head and said, “No, I was just closer. What did President Bai want to talk to me about today?”
Xie He covered up the helplessness and sorrow in his eyes. He gazed deeply into Xu Zhen’s eyes and said, “What does President Xu think of our company?”
Xu Zhen smiled and said, “It is quite good amongst the domestic entertainment companies.”
Xie He directly said, “Then does President Xu have any interests in taking over our company? I heard that the SL Group has plans on entering the domestic market. However, you have not had any previous experience in producing movies and television shows. It would be more convenient to take over a mature company than to start anew.”
Xu Zhen couldn’t help but look shocked. He looked at Xie He, his voice a bit shaky. “You… want me to buy your company?”
Xu Zhen’s shock was real.
Because of Ye Jinzhou, he had investigated Xie He before. He knew how much he cared about his company. He thought that Xie He would rather choose bankruptcy than to sell his company. However, what Xu Zhen didn’t expect was that before he even acted, Xie He would actually take the initiative to look for him!
This completely messed up his plans.
“Why?” Xu Zhen pacified his emotions and fixed his eyes onto Xie He.
Xie He laughed bitterly. “I think that President Xu must have heard about the state of our company.”
Xu Zhen nodded.
Xie He gripped his knee and slowly said, “I am very attached to this company. I don’t want it to be destroyed in my hands. I think that your gracious company has the capability to make it better. Moreover, I have no conditions. I just hope that you can keep the company as much the same as possible.”
The reason he chose Xu Zhen was because Rongzhi Media was no small business. It wasn’t something that could be taken over by just any company. It would be simpler to take it apart and sell it like that. However, that would cause too much turmoil to the company. Many of the employees that had followed him for so many years would not be able to keep their jobs. But if SL Group was willing to take over the entire company, then it would only be a change in management. Moreover, with a steady flow of income and support, this company would be able to go further than it could have in his hands.
As long as he left, the situation could be saved. He had nothing to hesitate over.
He was even worried that the other was unwilling.
Xu Zhen looked at Xie He and sighed inwardly. Suddenly, he couldn’t quite bear to do this.
However, business was business. Even without Ye Jinzhou, Xu Zhen’s heart would not overflow with sympathy for Xie He. He said calmly, “If it’s like that, it will be much more troublesome on our end. Moreover, you should know that we will have to take on Rongzhi Media’s debt if we acquire you and invest in it a lot in the future. Therefore, I won’t be able to give you a good price. President Bai, allow me to be frank; I am happy that you came to me, but this has no benefits for you.”
“I know,” Xie He said.
Xu Zhen looked at him and then nodded. He said, “Since it’s like this, I’ll have to go discuss this with the other directors of my company. When the time comes, I will contact you again, all right?”
Xie He smiled, “All right.”
The two of them finalized a preliminary proposal, and then Xie He took his leave.
Xu Zhen watched Xie He leave. When the other was far away, he gave Ye Jinzhou a call. He told everything Xie He had said to him today. In the end, he said, “He was the one who came looking for me. I plan on contacting him in two days. I will be agreeing to his conditions.”
Actually, the conditions Xu Zhen had just told Ye Jinzhou were a lot more generous than the latter had initially planned. But to his surprise, the other was not against it. He just said, “Ok. Do it, ba.”
Xu Zhen squeezed his phone. He seemed to hesitate for a while and then said, “When do you plan on leaving him?”
Ye Jinzhou said, “Very soon.”
Xu Zhen suddenly felt a bit angry. He did not end the call as compliantly as usual. Instead, he aggressively said, “We’ve already come this far. Your goal has been attained. Why do you still have to stay? Didn’t you say that you haven’t fallen in love with him?”
Ye Jinzhou said in a bland voice, “I didn’t fall for him.”
Xu Zhen said, “Then why don’t you leave?”
Ye Jinzhou’s voice made it clear he was losing his patience. “Just do what you have to do.”
He then hung up.
Xu Zhen heard the disconnect tone, and his expression became extremely ugly. He wanted to smash his phone to pieces.
………………………………
Xie He returned home and saw that Ye Jinzhou was already home. Since the day their misunderstanding had been cleared, the two of them seemed to have become as joined at the hip as they had been before this all happened. It was just that, although Ye Jinzhou seemed to be the same, something about him seemed different, making Xie He feel a baffling sense of unease.
Xie He went to the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Ye Jinzhou’s waist from behind. Feeling the other’s warmth, his unease dissipated a bit.
He hugged the other for a while before saying softly, “Jinzhou, I’m only going to be busy for the next few days. After that, I’ll be free. Let’s go travelling, OK? You said that you wanted to go out before but I never had time….”
Although Xie He had always acted like everything was fine—he had acted calm throughout, even while deciding to sell his company—he didn’t feel as indifferent as he looked…. It was just that, sometimes, when there were no more paths he could take and he would end up more and more miserable, he might as well act optimistic.
However, when he returned home and was faced with the person he loved, he could shed the fake outer sh.e.l.l. He couldn’t help but expose his soft inner side.
“How can you have time now?” Ye Jinzhou clearly knew why but still asked this question.
Xie He hung his chin on Ye Jinzhou’s shoulder. He mulled things over for a while before slowly saying, “I decided to sell the company, so… I’ll be very free for some time afterwards. We can do a lot of the things we didn’t have time to do before. Sound good?”
Ye Jinzhou didn’t look back. His voice was a bit dark. “You’ve decided?”
Xie He softly said, “Mn.”
Ye Jinzhou thought that this was his goal. He had achieved his goal. When Xie He sold the company, he could mock him and ask him, How could you be so stupid? How could you be toyed with by me like this.… He should be really happy.
However, now that the time had come, he didn’t feel any happiness whatsoever. He didn’t feel any sense of accomplishment. Instead, he felt like he himself was a despicable clown.
The kind of person that fooled others, deceived others, and put on an act for others.
It didn’t make him happy at all.
Ye Jinzhou’s lips moved, and he said, “The person that… suppressed you. Do you hate him?”
Xie He was silent for a while. “A bit. But it’s too much of an effort to hate someone. Someone who can’t even show his face, how could he be worth my hate?”
Ye Jinzhou pulled on Xie He’s hand, turned around, and looked at him fixedly.
If that person was me, would you hate me?
But he didn’t say that out loud. He looked into Xie He’s gentle black eyes that held a faint reflection of affection and kissed him.
When he thought that he would never be close to this man again, that he would not be able to hold him like this again….
It felt like something was missing from his heart.
【Ding, the target Ye Jinzhou’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 70.】
The feeling of being on the eve of losing something made Ye Jinzhou unable to control himself. He pressed Xie He heavily onto the bed and kissed those soft lips again, as if biting at them.
Xie He wrapped his arms around Ye Jinzhou’s neck. At this moment, he didn’t want to think of anything. He just wanted to be engrossed in his beloved.
They did it with all their might, as if this was the last time in their life. They wanted to a.s.similate the other into their own body and never part again.
Xie He panted softly and bit Ye Jinzhou’s earlobe. His voice was hoa.r.s.e and s.e.xy. “You won’t leave me. We’ll always be together… right?”
……………………………………
The next day, Xie He woke up and went to the company. He gathered all the executives and held a meeting. Soon after, he didn’t rest, making arrangements for all sorts of things.
Very quickly, he got Xu Zhen’s agreement. The two of them bargained for several days. One party was in a hurry to buy, the other in a hurry to sell. For a huge company like this, this speed of negotiation was already faster than imaginable.
When Xie He finally signed the agreement, he realized that this company that his father had left him, this company that he had spent ten years of his life on, no longer belonged to him.
He put down the pen and could no longer cover up the disappointment and helplessness in his eyes. There was also sorrow and an inability to cope.
【Xie He：Finally sold it. It also wasn’t easy being me, having to sell it without arousing suspicion. Smile.JPG】
【444：O(∩_∩)O~】
……………………………………
Xie He didn’t have to go to the company anymore. Most of the time, he and Ye Jinzhou were at home. He guessed that Xu Zhen would soon be unable to bear it any longer. Right now, he might as well sleep a bit more because he wouldn’t be able to sleep easy in the future.
He was very satisfied with ZhouZhou’s ‘efforts’. The two of them were lovey-dovey everyday, as if they were on a honeymoon.
One time, after doing it, the two of them were lying in bed in each other’s arms. Xie He gazed into Ye Jinzhou’s eyes and spoke in a soft voice full of pa.s.sion, “Right now, I only have you….”
Ye Jinzhou looked into Xie He’s eyes and suddenly closed his own.
He was afraid that Xie He would see the pain and struggle in his eyes.
He should have left, but he hadn’t…. Every time he was faced with Xie He’s deep love, it felt like his heart was being interrogated. He should hate the other, but now he was reluctant to part.
A few days pa.s.sed like this. Xie He listened to the call between Xu Zhen and Ye Jinzhou via 444 again and then said to Ye Jinzhou, “Lin Ran has asked me to meet up with him for something today. I have some plans after the meeting, so I’ll probably come back in the evening.”
Ye Jinzhou said, “OK.”
Xie He left the home alone.
【Xie He：ZhenZhen, that little cutie, will soon be at the end of his patience.】
【444：(⊙v⊙) Hm?】
【Xie He：When he comes, remember to warn me, Baby.】
【444：Mn!】
【Xie He：Moreover, it’s time to give ZhouZhou a pleasant surprise. Baby, help me exchange for a pair of wedding bands. Smile.JPG】
【444：(⊙o⊙) Oh. A pair of platinum wedding bands costs 10 experience points. There are over a thousand kinds. Host dada, which ones do you want?】
【Xie He：Baby, just choose whatever. I believe in your eyes.】
【444：……】
As soon as Xie He left, Ye Jinzhou’s expression sunk. He and Xu Zhen had parted on bad terms again after their call.
Ye Jinzhou hesitated for a long time before deciding to go see Xu Zhen. However, before he left, Xu Zhen came to his door.
After Xu Zhen had signed the agreement with Xie He, he had been waiting for Ye Jinzhou to come back. But he had waited and waited until he could wait no more.
He couldn’t help but call and interrogate the other, but Ye Jinzhou’s tone was more and more impatient with each call.
Why? Why was it that even though things were like this, you’re still not willing to leave? Aside from having fallen, what other explanation could there be?
Xu Zhen finally couldn’t hold back and came over!
Ye Jinzhou opened the door and looked at Xu Zhen, surprised. “How do you know of this place?”
Xu Zhen did not smile docilely like he did before. He only said indifferently, “Are you the only person capable of investigating? Moreover, Bai Mu’s home is no secret.”
Ye Jinzhou’s eyes darkened slightly. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
When Xu Zhen heard these words, he could no longer hold back the grief and indignation in his chest. His eyes reddened slightly. “Why shouldn’t I have come? Aren’t you my boyfriend? Didn’t you say you haven’t fallen in love with him?”
Ye Jinzhou averted his eyes and said, “I said I’d leave very soon. What else do you want?”
Xu Zhen’s eyes were rigidly fixed on Ye Jinzhou, and he spat out, “You can’t let go of him, can you?”
These words finally caused Ye Jinzhou’s expression to change. No, how could he be unable to let go of that person? He just… didn’t think of how to lay his cards on the table just yet, that’s all….
The words of humiliation he had previously imagined himself saying with delight… when he thought of Xie He’s face now, he found that he couldn’t say them out loud….
But he couldn’t tell that to anyone.
Ye Jinzhou was silent for a while before slowly saying, “You should leave.”
“Why? Are you afraid of Bai Mu seeing us together?” Xu Zhen laughed in a self-mocking manner. “Right, I almost forgot. You told Bai Mu that I was your ex-boyfriend. He told me that. Ex-boyfriend… hah….”
A flash of embarra.s.sment flickered over Ye Jinzhou’s face. His tone was stiff. “It was just a makes.h.i.+ft plan at the time.”
Ye Jinzhou was not used to Xu Zhen not allowing him to skirt the topics. Moreover, he also didn’t understand his own feelings. In the end, he eased up his tone and said in a low voice. “Go back first. I’ll clear things up with him as soon as possible.”
Xu Zhen grit his teeth. “No, I won’t leave.”
Ye Jinzhou’s voice turned cold. He grabbed Xu Zhen’s arm and lowered his head to say, “Enough.”
A dark smile appeared on Xu Zhen’s face. Enough?
Why was this being said to him? What had he done wrong? He only wanted to take back his own lover. Was that wrong of him?
At this moment, the sound of the key unlocking the door suddenly sounded. Soon after, someone pushed the door open. When Xie He walked in, he saw Ye Jinzhou holding Xu Zhen’s arm. The two of them seemed to be fighting. Immediately, Xie He revealed a look of surprise.
Ye Jinzhou’s pupils suddenly shrunk. Xie He had come home earlier than planned!
Xu Zhen’s arm hurt from Ye Jinzhou’s hold. He turned to look at the surprised and shocked Xie He. Suddenly, he gave Ye Jinzhou a cold smile and said, “Since you can’t say it, I’ll say it for you.”
The author has something to say:
Hehe, exposed~
Eve: Happy belated Canada Day ? and early Fourth of July!
Aaaaaand here comes the start of the angst. To be honest, it doesn’t feel like it’s enough abuse to me. By the time I read the last chapter of this arc, I just felt tired and sad. Good on the author for making me become numb to the pain.
sere: ^^ no words. I only recently realized some friends of mine are super m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic and enjoy this kind of sc.u.mbag revenge, so all i can say is good for you….