Volume 1, Chapter 129: Ruined

It was four o’clock in the afternoon when Pei Jingmo received a video call from Fu Linhan.

On the other end, Fu Linhan was in a state of furious, incoherent collapse, cursing Bai Yinian while downing shots of hard liquor one after another. It was clear that the two had had a falling out, and a significant one at that. Concerned, Pei Jingmo finished his work and rushed to the club.

By the time he arrived, Fu Linhan was already nearly incapacitated by alcohol. He was curled up on the sofa, muttering curses under his breath while looking utterly aggrieved.

"What’s going on?" Pei Jingmo walked over and hauled him up. "Did you call me here just to watch you wallow in this sorry state?"

"Jingmo—" Fu Linhan opened his bleary eyes and wrapped his arms around Pei Jingmo’s neck in distress. "You’re the only brother I have left."

The smell of alcohol was overpowering. Pei Jingmo pushed Fu Linhan’s face away with a look of distaste. "Well, well, have you severed ties with Yinian?"

"Severed! I never imagined he... he was actually—"

Pei Jingmo’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Bai Yinian had finally cracked and confessed? Was the brotherhood over?

"He even told me to get lost! He actually told me to get lost!"

Pei Jingmo was baffled. A failed confession followed by verbal abuse didn't seem like Bai Yinian’s personality at all. "What on earth happened?"

Recalling the events of the afternoon, Fu Linhan was so angry he felt like killing someone. He didn't know what had gotten into Bai Yinian lately; he hadn't spoken to him for days. Though he had told himself he wouldn't go crawling back to appease him, he had found himself unable to even muster the interest for a date with his goddess. Even someone sentenced to death deserved to know the reason why!

So, he went to Bai Yinian’s home to get to the bottom of it. When he arrived, he didn't find Bai Yinian, but instead discovered a naked man in his bed.

Fu Linhan wasn't some naive rich kid; he had seen plenty of things in their social circles. Precisely because he had seen so much, a surge of rage instantly rushed to his head. He dragged the man off the bed, furious. "Who gave you the nerve to get into this bed?"

The man recognized Fu Linhan and immediately begged for mercy, "Young Master Fu, you’re hurting me!"

"Hurting you? I’m going to beat you to death, you bastard!" Fu Linhan, consumed by anger, began to kick and punch the man.

The boy cried out miserably, "Young Master Bai, help me!"

The bathroom door opened, and Bai Yinian stepped out wearing a bathrobe. Upon seeing the enraged Fu Linhan, his expression froze for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. He walked over, pulled the man up, and draped his own coat over him before looking at Fu Linhan with indifference. "Something you need?"

Watching Bai Yinian pull the boy into his arms, Fu Linhan felt like his eyes were bleeding from rage. His body trembled. "Who is he? Why is he in your bed? What... what have you two done?"

Bai Yinian glanced at the man, who lowered his head, not daring to look back. If he hadn't been caught in the act, Bai Yinian would never have intended to tell Fu Linhan about this.

He took a deep breath and said blankly, "It’s just as you see. I slept with him."

"You—" Fu Linhan’s eyes widened. "What the hell did you just say?"

"You asked me before why I didn't have a girlfriend, didn't you? This is the answer."

From Bai Yinian’s thin, sensual lips came five words that felt like a death blow to Fu Linhan: "I like men."

For a moment, Fu Linhan thought he was hallucinating, or as if he had been struck on the head with a club; his mind was buzzing. How was this possible? How could his best brother like men?

After coming back to his senses, Fu Linhan didn't say a word; he grabbed Bai Yinian and started dragging him outside.

Bai Yinian frowned. "What are you doing?"

"This is a sickness. I’m taking you to see a doctor."

Bai Yinian had finally revealed his sexual orientation to Fu Linhan, but hearing him call it a "sickness," he shook off Fu Linhan’s hand with a cold face. "It’s not a sickness."

"You’re a man, and you like men—how the hell is that not a sickness?" He looked angrily at the shivering man nearby. "He’s the one who infected you, right? I’m going to finish him off right now!"

Fu Linhan lunged toward the boy, fists clenched, but Bai Yinian grabbed his arm. "Enough! No one 'infected' me. I was born this way."

Fu Linhan looked at Bai Yinian in disbelief. "You’re actually protecting him? You have the audacity to protect him?"

"He has nothing to do with this."

"How does he have nothing to do with it? If he hadn't seduced you with those filthy tricks, would you have turned out like this? Watch me destroy him!"

Fu Linhan was usually easygoing, but that was only when he was in a good mood. When he was in a bad mood and acting out, no one could stop him. He broke free from Bai Yinian and ran over to kick the man, but Bai Yinian grabbed his waist and dragged him into the living room.

Fu Linhan struggled violently, and in his fury, he punched Bai Yinian in the face, instantly drawing blood from the corner of his mouth.

Bai Yinian lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.

Fu Linhan felt a pang of regret, his voice softening involuntarily. "Xiaobai, let’s go see a doctor, okay? You’re the only son of the Bai family; you have to carry on the family line. You can’t just—"

Before he could finish, Bai Yinian coldly interrupted him, his dark eyes devoid of any expression. "What the Bai family needs has nothing to do with you."

"What did you say?"

"Young Master Fu should just mind his own business. Whether the Bai family needs an heir or what my sexual orientation is—it has absolutely nothing to do with you."

Fu Linhan felt like his heart was being scorched. Bai Yinian’s words were like a sharp blade stabbing into his chest. He hadn't expected that after so many years of brotherhood, he would say something like that.

"Ha—" He laughed out of pure rage. "Fine. I’m the one who was sticking my nose where it didn't belong. I apologize to you. I’m sorry!"

"Sorry for disturbing your good time today!"

"From now on, whoever you want to be with, I won't care anymore!"

Watching Fu Linhan’s retreating back, Bai Yinian pressed his lips into a thin line, his hands clenched into fists.

The man who had been in the bed emerged cautiously. "Young Master Bai?"

Bai Yinian glared at him with a terrifying, icy gaze. "Get out of here right now, and I’ll pretend nothing happened. If you’re a second late, I’ll cripple you myself!"

—

"Jingmo, we grew up together, so how did he end up so twisted?"

"There are so many beautiful women in this world, yet he doesn't like them and chooses to like men instead."

Fu Linhan complained drunkenly to Pei Jingmo. Witnessing his best friend "turn" had left him feeling deeply distressed.

"Do you think he’ll still be good to me after he gets a boyfriend? Will I still be able to play games on his phone?"

"I won't be able to sleep in his bed anymore, either, so his boyfriend doesn't get jealous."

Pei Jingmo listened quietly to Fu Linhan’s ramblings, pushed him down onto the sofa, and covered him with a blanket. "Whether someone likes men or women, it’s normal. It’s not a sickness."

"You’re lying. Why don't you like men, and why don't I like men, but he does?"

Suddenly struck by a thought, Fu Linhan sat up abruptly. "Song Qingyu... he isn't a man, is he?"

"...Shut up!" Pei Jingmo gave Fu Linhan a ruthless slap.

Fu Linhan felt even more aggrieved. He suddenly noticed Pei Jingmo was wearing a turtleneck sweater and reached out to tug at it. "You don't like wearing turtlenecks, do you?"

"Yeah, I’m injured, so I have to."

"What?" Hearing that Pei Jingmo was hurt, Fu Linhan pulled the sweater down to check the wound, only to see a hickey.

"This is, what the—"

"My wife bit me. She doesn't want me to show it off, so I have to wear a turtleneck."

Already feeling depressed, Fu Linhan was suddenly force-fed a mouthful of PDA. He wanted to sever ties with Pei Jingmo too. He shoved a glass into Pei Jingmo’s hand. "Enough with the sad stuff. Keep me company and drink."

Pei Jingmo finished his drink and stood up. "I have to go home and cook for my wife. Drink slowly by yourself."

"Damn it! Do you have any humanity? I’m so miserable, and all you can think about is your wife."

"Xiaobai likes men; I can accept and understand that. Why can’t you? Think about it. I’m leaving."

Pei Jingmo walked out of the private room and called Bai Yinian.

"He’s almost drunk himself to death. Are you sure you’re not going to do anything?"

"I can’t see him right now. He probably doesn't want to see me, either."

"He said you told him to get lost."

"I didn't."

"I don't know who said they would never tell him for the rest of their life, but now that it’s been exposed, what are you planning to do?"

"I don't know. Just let nature take its course."

Pei Jingmo said sternly, "I’ll say it again: if Hanzi isn't interested, you absolutely must not force him."

Bai Yinian took a restless drag of his cigarette. "I know."