Volume 1, Chapter 146: Tigers and Wolves

Qin Man was terrified.

"Mr... Mr. Bai..."

"Get out!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Qin Man scrambled out of the private room, all thoughts of seduction completely vanished.

Fu Linhan sat with his head bowed, lost in thought. Bai Yinian looked at him, his heart twisting with pain, full of regret and vexation. "Han..."

Before he could say more, Fu Linhan landed a heavy punch on him.

When Bai Yinian had struck him earlier, he had been angry but had restrained his strength. Fu Linhan’s punch, however, was solid and unreserved.

Bai Yinian’s nose immediately began to bleed. Fu Linhan, like a wild, agitated beast, grabbed Bai Yinian by the collar and struck him several more times.

"You dare hit me!"

"You damn well dare to hit me for the sake of another man!"

He beat Bai Yinian like a madman. Bai Yinian, pinned to the ground, did not fight back.

"Fight back! Damn you, keep hitting me!"

Fu Linhan did not like men, yet he insisted on engaging in such acts. Bai Yinian had been pushed beyond his limits and had lost control, resulting in the scuffle. Now, even if Fu Linhan were to beat him to death, he would not retaliate.

With blood streaming from the corner of his mouth, Bai Yinian looked deeply at the enraged Fu Linhan. "It was my fault for raising a hand against you. You can hit me, but you shouldn't sink so low."

"Sink low? If you can do it, why can't I?"

"I didn't sink low. I truly like—"

Before he could finish, a warm droplet fell onto his face. Bai Yinian stared blankly at Fu Linhan.

This was the first time he had ever seen Fu Linhan cry. His heart contracted instantly, and he gripped Fu Linhan’s trembling hand tightly.

"Hanzi..."

Fu Linhan shook him off, wiped his eyes haphazardly, and stood up, looking at him coldly. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have meddled in other people's business and delayed Young Master Bai’s romantic escapades."

"We’ve been brothers for so many years; thank you for always tolerating and taking care of me. From now on, we go our separate ways."

He tore the jade Guanyin pendant that Bai Yinian had given him from his neck and tossed it at him. "You are no longer my brother, and I will no longer care about you."

Fu Linhan left with resolute steps.

Bai Yinian clutched the jade Guanyin, his fingertips brushing against the tear Fu Linhan had left on his face, and he let out a stifled, low growl.

—

Pei Jingmo had been swamped with work lately. He was just about to head out to meet someone when he received a call from Bai Yinian.

"What did you say?"

"I hit him."

Pei Jingmo frowned. "What happened?"

Bai Yinian told him everything. Pei Jingmo had never imagined that things would reach such an impasse between the two of them.

"So what are your thoughts? Are you really not going to be his brother anymore?"

"Whatever he wants, he can have."

Pei Jingmo cursed under his breath. "If I had known, I should have taken Hanzi into the military back then."

Bai Yinian gave a bitter laugh. "It wouldn't have mattered."

It was true. If Pei Jingmo had taken Fu Linhan to the military, Bai Yinian would surely have followed. Liking someone was not something that could be restrained by distance. Bai Yinian knew Fu Linhan didn't like men, and he had intended to keep it a secret forever. But as luck would have it, Fu Linhan had stumbled upon that scene.

The situation had spiraled in an unexpected direction, and neither knew what to do. Even Pei Jingmo couldn't find a perfect solution.

"I understand. I'll keep an eye on him."

The car pulled up in front of an apartment building. Pei Jingmo got out, and Guo Rang said, "Boss, she's inside."

"Alright, let's go in."

When they reached the door, Guo Rang knocked. As the door opened, a delicate and pretty woman appeared before them. She was heavily pregnant and looked somewhat pale. Seeing the man in the mask, her expression shifted slightly. "Come in."

Pei Jingmo walked inside. The apartment was small but looked very cozy.

"Please, have a seat."

Pei Jingmo sat on the sofa. As he observed the woman pouring water, he gave Guo Rang a look. Guo Rang understood and immediately walked over, saying to the woman, "Miss Pang, let me handle that."

"Sorry for the trouble."

Pang Yunshang walked over and sat down opposite Pei Jingmo.

"How many months?"

Pang Yunshang touched her belly. "Seven months."

There was a quiet, serene aura about her—the exact style his boss liked.

"Miss Pang, would you mind telling me the story between you and my elder brother?"

Pang Yunshang’s face remained expressionless. "There is nothing to say. He is a madman."

In Pei Jingmo’s memory, Gu Mubei was a gentle and considerate brother; he couldn't reconcile the word "madman" with him at all.

"Was this child not conceived willingly?"

"Of course not."

Pei Jingmo fell silent. It seemed his boss had forced her.

"Then why keep it?"

The moment she learned she was pregnant, Pang Yunshang had wanted to abort the child. But her health had been poor during that period, and her uterine wall was very thin; if she had terminated the pregnancy, she might never be able to conceive again.

Pei Jingmo’s sharp eyes fixed on Pang Yunshang. "Is that really the only reason?"

Pang Yunshang clenched her fists, unwilling to say more.

"On the day my boss had his accident, what exactly happened?"

Recalling that day, a sharp pain pierced Pang Yunshang’s heart. She didn't want to remember, nor did she want to talk about it.

Pei Jingmo did not press her. As Guo Rang finished serving the water, Pei Jingmo stood up. "I know my brother must have done something unforgivable to you. He’s lying in the sanitarium now, half-dead. If you want revenge, you can go and pull his oxygen tube."

Pang Yunshang looked at Pei Jingmo in disbelief.

"Living as a vegetable is worse than being dead. If you kill him, you'd be doing him a favor. Don't worry, I won't let you face the consequences, and if you want to go abroad, I can even arrange that for you."

Pang Yunshang said nothing.

After leaving the villa, Guo Rang couldn't hold back anymore. "Boss, aren't you afraid Miss Pang will actually kill your brother?"

Pei Jingmo curled his lips. "She won't."

"Huh?"

"If Pang Yunshang had no feelings for Gu Mubei, she wouldn't have kept this child, nor would she have followed you back after you found her."

"But she was forced to come back by me."

Pei Jingmo tapped Guo Rang on the head, too lazy to explain further. "Keep a close eye on her. If she wants to go to the hospital, let her go."

"Oh, right."

That night, when Pei Jingmo arrived home, Song Qingyu had just finished showering. She was wearing soft pajamas, smelling sweet and fresh.

Pei Jingmo’s eyes darkened. He strode over, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and kissed her deeply.

"Wait... wait a second..."

Song Qingyu pushed him away. "There’s a package for you on the sofa. Take a look first."

"I'll look later."

Pei Jingmo picked her up, causing Song Qingyu to wrap her legs around his waist, his hands becoming restless.

Song Qingyu felt ticklish and laughed as she pushed him away. "I just finished showering."

"You can shower again in a bit."

"Haha... don't—"

Pei Jingmo looked at her deeply, his eyes burning like a predator, and pulled Song Qingyu’s hand to his lower abdomen. "Are you sure you don't want to?"