He Chu San knelt upon the ground, neither dodging nor evading as the blows rained down. Since childhood, he had been unusually sensible; Mr. He, who believed in measured discipline, had only ever beaten him twice in his life. The last time was when He Chu San had broken his leg and concealed it from him. Back then, every strike would draw out a howl, pitiful cries, and spoiled pleas for mercy.
But this time—no matter how viciously Mr. He struck—he clenched his teeth and uttered not a single sound.
Seeing this stubborn refusal to repent, Mr. He’s fury surged all the more! At this critical moment, the old man did not falter in the slightest—neither stroke nor heart ailment struck him down. With a kick, he sent He Chu San sprawling to the ground, then, brimming with vigor, beat him until he was half-dead. Xin Xin and Mrs. Wu rushed forward again and again to stop him, only to be shoved aside amid furious curses.
As the blows continued, He Chu San began to curl in upon himself, coughing violently—whether from unbearable pain or from the fever and inflamed throat choking his breath, none could tell. Unable to bear it any longer, Xin Xin burst into tears and threw herself over him.
“Then hit me! If you want to beat him to death, kill me first!”
“Move aside!” Mr. He barked, unable to bring himself to strike his daughter.
“Brother saved my life! I’d repay him with mine without hesitation!” Xin Xin cried. “Brother said Brother Liu Yi saved him too—he’s such a good man! What’s wrong with liking him?! What right do you have to hit him?! They’re together, and they’ve harmed no one! Just because he likes Brother Liu Yi, does that mean he’s no longer your son?!”
Brother He was struck speechless. Seeing He Chu San lying there in misery, he found himself unable to continue. With a snort of rage, he threw aside the broom, turned, and strode out the door. Mrs. Wu cast a worried glance at He Chu San, told Xin Xin to stay and watch over him, then hurried after Mr. He—fearful his heart condition might flare up, hoping to calm him once his anger subsided.
He Chu San lay sprawled on the ground as the world spun around him. His stomach convulsed, and he vomited up everything he had eaten.
In a daze, he felt himself being helped up by Xin Xin, staggering toward the bedroom. Yet before he could even reach the bed, his legs gave way and he collapsed again.
“Brother!” Xin Xin cried out in alarm.
“I’m fine…” He Chu San murmured softly, eyes closed. “Dad didn’t hit anything vital. Don’t take me to the hospital. I haven’t slept in a long time… let me rest.”
His mind swam in a haze—he suspected he truly had fallen ill. Always strong and full of vigor, he could not even remember the last time he had been sick. Never had he felt so utterly drained, body and soul alike, as though he might collapse at any moment.
In the eyes of others, he was a rising prodigy, an elite of his field, the jianghu’s so-called “Wealth-Reaping Prodigy”—young, wealthy, sharp-minded, composed. Yet he was not flawless, nor invincible, nor capable of effortlessly manipulating all things within his grasp. Every ounce of glory before others was bought with countless unseen efforts behind the scenes.
Born and raised in Gaau Lung Walled City, hardship and constraint had shadowed his childhood. He had witnessed too much sorrow and parting, too many trials and helpless fates. In a lifetime, how many could escape suffering, illness, and misfortune? How many could truly have all things go their way? The invincible heroes of films—who in reality could ever so easily become such a person?
Alone, young, and with little power, if he wished to turn the tide and overturn destiny, how many perils must he endure? How much blood and effort must he expend? He knew this all too clearly. Thus, step by step, he trod as if upon thin ice—never daring to underestimate, never daring to grow arrogant, never daring to slacken.
In recent days, on one hand he had been secretly investigating, laying plans, working tirelessly to weave a vast network and accumulate capital for a grand undertaking yet to come. On the other, he maintained his tactic of “luring the enemy by feigned retreat” toward Xia Liu Yi, keeping him dangling, waiting for him to come seeking reconciliation of his own accord.
Day after day of mental strain, relentless pressure, his concern and longing for Xia Liu Yi, the constant running about, suppression, sleeplessness—all of it had gradually hollowed him out…
And his father’s fury and disappointment became the final straw that broke him.
He felt regret—so overwhelmed by grief and indignation that he had even forgotten to retrieve the lost ring.
He felt guilt—never had he intended to hurt his father in such a way. Even if one day he confessed the truth, it would have been carefully prepared, not forced out so suddenly and passively.
He felt anxiety—Xia Liu Yi had yet to come seeking peace. He could not gauge how much weight he held in Xia Liu Yi’s heart. He feared Xia Liu Yi might act recklessly and step onto a path of no return before he could intervene.
Yet he no longer had the strength to think of what to do. He would not stop. He would not give up.
But he was so tired… so very tired…
He only wished to rest—even if just for this one night.
In his haze, he felt Xin Xin drag him onto the bed with great effort, wipe his face with a towel, help him rinse his mouth, remove his outer clothes, apply medicinal liniment to the bruises and swelling on his back and shoulders, and finally cover him with a blanket.
Having exhausted the last of his strength, he could hold on no longer, and sank into a deep, heavy sleep.
Xin Xin turned off the bedroom light and stepped out. As she cleaned the chaotic mess in the living room, she sighed again and again, feeling indignant on behalf of her brother.
—What right did Dad have to beat him? Such a good son! So what if he liked a man? He hadn’t harmed anyone!
Muttering complaints under her breath, she finished tidying up. Glancing at the clock, it was already past nine in the evening—yet that big-shot “sister-in-law” of hers had still not returned.
With a thought, she dug out He Chu San’s brick phone, intending to call and urge her to come back. Scrolling through the call records, she found only recent calls with what seemed to be colleagues and clients. Turning to the contacts list, she searched for a long while but did not see Xia Liu Yi’s name.
Instead, there was a contact labeled “Kitten”, who had sent messages days ago.
Opening them—there was no doubt.
That was her “sister-in-law.”
“Kitten”… meant a little cat.
“Pfft—”
Caught off guard by this display of affection, Xin Xin nearly burst out laughing. The thought of that handsome, imposing Xia Liu Yi being a “little kitten” in her brother’s heart made her shiver with goosebumps even as she suppressed her laughter.
Just as she was about to dial the number, a strange unease crept over her—
Dust covered the coffee table. Her brother said he’d been sleeping at the office for days. He looked utterly exhausted. The diamond ring had been discarded in a cabinet crevice. It was late, yet Xia Liu Yi had not returned. And their calls… had long ceased.
A sudden realization struck her.
A woman’s intuition told her—
These two had likely broken up.
But if they had broken up, why hadn’t he told Dad earlier? He might have avoided some of that beating.
And if they had broken up, why were Xia Liu Yi’s things still here?
Unable to make sense of it, she gave up thinking. Better not call for now—she didn’t understand their situation, and her brother might even blame her for meddling.
Wrapping herself in a coat, she sat on the sofa, intending to make do for the night and buy medicine for him in the morning. With the television muted, she grew drowsy, her head nodding as sleep crept in.
Suddenly—
Ding.
The elevator door opened outside.
Footsteps approached. Then—the sound of a key turning in the lock.
She jolted awake, instantly alert. Grabbing the broom, she rushed behind the door.
The door swung open—
—and the newcomer was greeted by a raised broom and Xin Xin’s tense, guarded face.
Xia Liu Yi, equally tense and wary, froze when he saw her. “Xin Xin?”
“Brother Liu Yi!” she exclaimed, startled and delighted. “You’re back!”
“Where’s your Dad?” Xia Liu Yi asked, as though facing a formidable enemy, craning his neck to peer inside.
“He’s gone! Gone!”
Xia Liu Yi had come prepared to defy Mr. He and risk his life to save A’San. Hearing he wouldn’t have to face him head-on, he let out a breath of relief—only to tense again.
“Where’s A’San?! How is he? Is he badly hurt?”
“In the room—” Before she could finish, Xia Liu Yi had already squeezed past her without even removing his shoes, hurrying toward the bedroom.
“Shh, he’s sleeping!” Xin Xin hurried after him. “Keep it down.”
Xia Liu Yi carefully opened the door and approached the bed, gazing at He Chu San’s sleeping face in the moonlight.
Pale. Worn. Brows tightly knit, as if even in dreams he was burdened with worry.
His heart clenched in pain.
He almost reached out to touch him—but feared waking him, forcing himself to stop.
After staring in a daze for a long moment, he finally came back to himself and quietly retreated.
“How is he?” he whispered. “Where is he hurt?”
“Just external injuries. I applied some liniment. But he’s caught a cold—he’s in bad shape, even vomited earlier.” Xin Xin paused, eyes narrowing. “How did you know he was beaten?”
Xia Liu Yi coughed awkwardly. “I… had bodyguards stationed next door.”
Earlier, the noise of shouting and beating had been loud enough to carry through the walls. The bodyguards sensed something was wrong and immediately informed their boss. Xia Liu Yi had been out at sea entertaining Master Qiao—upon hearing his “wife” was being beaten by his father-in-law, he nearly leapt into the ocean in panic. Making an excuse about urgent business, he left Master Qiao to the girls and rushed back by speedboat.
“Why did your Dad hit him?” he asked, puzzled.
Xin Xin reached into her pocket and pulled out the diamond ring she had picked up earlier, thrusting it before him.
“This. Dad found it.”
Xia Liu Yi stared at the dazzling ring in shock.
Wasn’t it thrown away? He hadn’t picked it back up?
And it was found by Mr. He?!
“S-so… Dad, he…” he stammered.
“He found out about you two,” Xin Xin said bluntly.
“…!”
In that instant, it was as if a roaring drill exploded in Xia Liu Yi’s ears. For the first time in his life, his legs went weak with fear. He clutched his aching jaw, frozen on the spot, utterly at a loss.
Seeing his face go pale, even trembling, Xin Xin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Thinking back to her brother’s equally flustered reaction earlier, she felt the two of them were truly a matched pair—one a financial elite, the other an underworld overlord, yet both reduced to terrified fugitives before Dad’s glare.
Then, catching the scent on Xia Liu Yi—alcohol, smoke, and the cloying perfume of women—her expression darkened.
“Were you out drinking with others?”
Xia Liu Yi grew even more awkward. “Ahem… I had business to discuss.”
“Have you not been in touch with Brother for a long time?” Xin Xin pressed step by step. “Did you break up with him? Did you bully him?”
Xia Liu Yi was backed into a corner by her, utterly embarrassed. “It’s not what you think. We didn’t break up—we just had a few arguments…”
Xin Xin’s eyes flared, killing intent rising. “Because of you, Brother almost got beaten to death! Not only did you argue with him—you even went out drinking with someone else! Sister-in-law, you’ve gone too far!”
You just said he was fine—how badly was he actually hurt?! Xia Liuyi felt both guilty and anxious, completely overlooking that “Sister-in-law” remark.
“I don’t care—go make up with him right now!” Xin Xin said decisively. “Brother’s in a bad mood, in bad health, and got beaten up—all because of you! You’re not allowed to leave tonight. You stay here, take care of him properly, and apologize when he wakes up!”
Xia Liu Yi nodded quickly. As if he would leave—tonight, even if Mr. He came back and beat him to death, he wouldn’t go.
“And take good care of the ring,” Xin Xin shoved the diamond ring back into his hand. “Something this important—how can you just toss it around?! Why are you so careless!”
Xia Liu Yi got scolded again for no reason, too aggrieved to argue—heaven as witness, it was clearly He Chu San who threw the ring.
After lecturing him at length, Xin Xin finally handed over the duty of caring for He Chu San and prepared to leave.
“I’m warning you—don’t bully my Brother again! I’m coming back tomorrow to check!”
Xia Liu Yi nodded helplessly. “Go on, it’s late. Have the bodyguards next door escort you.”
“No need—let them stay and protect you instead! What if bad guys come again to kill my Brother? Do you know how hard it is for him to be with you?!” Xin Xin stabbed him one last time before leaving.
Xia Liu Yi was left internally bleeding from all seven orifices. He hurriedly waved her off, mentally ranking her terrifying level just below Mr. He and He Chu San when he wore that eerie smile.
After she left, he placed the ring on the bedside table, carefully checked He Chu San’s condition, wrung out a wet towel to wipe his sweat, washed up himself, and finally climbed into bed beside him with utmost care.
He hadn’t slept well in a long time. Nights without He Chu San felt like sinking into a swamp—dead silent, suffocating.
He reached out to touch He Chu San’s face, gazing at him in the moonlight for a long while. Only when his consciousness finally blurred did he pull He Chu San into his arms and fall into a deep sleep.
…
Xia Liu Yi had a restless dream. When he woke, drenched in sweat, he couldn’t remember any of it. He stared blankly at the morning light filling the room, then instinctively reached out to feel He Chu San’s forehead—it was burning hot.
He immediately got out of bed and called the private doctor. The doctor rushed over, gave He Chu San a fever shot, and hung an IV drip by the bedside.
Xia Liu Yi kept replacing ice towels on He Chu San’s forehead to bring down the fever. The doctor was the same one who had been summoned to Thailand before—he had already witnessed how attentively this Mr. He had cared for the boss day after day, and had long guessed their relationship. Now, seeing the boss so anxious over the unconscious man, he couldn’t help asking:
“Did you leave ‘that’ inside after doing the ‘deed’ last night and fail to clean him up?”
“Drop dead!” Xia Liuyi cursed, lowering his voice quickly so as not to wake He Chusan. “I didn’t.”
“You really didn’t clean him?!” the doctor shot him a condemning look.
An image suddenly flashed through Xia Liuyi’s mind—He Chusan cleaning him up afterward. His backdoor tingled involuntarily, his face flushing red. “What nonsense are you thinking? We didn’t do anything last night.”
The doctor gave him a thoroughly unconvinced look. Somehow, Boss Xia found himself saddled with the label of “scumbag top” again, unable to defend himself, suffocating with grievance.
…
At noon, Xin Xin came by to check whether Sister-in-law had bullied Brother, and brought fish slice congee cooked by Mrs. Wu. Seeing He Chu San burning with fever, hooked up to an IV, weak and unconscious, she felt indignant and wanted to lecture Sister-in-law again. But seeing Xia Liu Yi’s anxious and guilty expression, she decided he at least knew he was wrong, so she went home and vented all her anger at Dad instead—
“You beat Brother until he has a high fever! He’s almost dying!”
Mr. He was still fuming, but couldn’t help feeling heartache for his son. He snorted angrily, “If I don’t beat him, I won’t care about him anymore! He can do whatever he wants!”
Love.
He thought of He Chu San’s birth mother’s dying words: “He takes your surname—don’t ever let him get involved in the underworld.” Now, though his son hadn’t entered the underworld, he’d gotten into bed with someone from it! What difference was there?!
He had raised him carefully, taught him earnestly, finally watched him grow into a proper man—and yet he still ended up walking this crooked path! And with another man, no less! How could he face He Chu San’s mother?
And that Xia Liu Yi! Decent-looking, seemingly reasonable and well-mannered—more reliable than those swindlers outside, at least a little—that was why he tolerated his son associating with him. And what happened?!
That damned boss hadn’t abducted some virtuous girl—he’d abducted a virtuous young man instead!
Mr. He was heartbroken. He went up alone to the rooftop, smoking gloomily, puff after puff. Mrs. Wu brought him a bowl of congee, trying to persuade him, but seeing he was still too angry to listen, she could only sigh and leave.
…
Late at night, He Chu San woke to a sharp, burnt smell. Still feverish and not fully conscious, he vaguely thought the kitchen was on fire. Struggling out of bed, he staggered out of the bedroom.
Just then, Xia Liu Yi came rushing out of the smoke-filled kitchen, coughing and covering his nose, wearing an apron and holding a ladle. The two met face to face—and both froze.
Am I dreaming? He Chu San thought blankly. Did I dream that Brother Liu Yi is cooking for me? How can he even burn the kitchen in a dream?
Xia Liu Yi hurriedly tore off the apron, awkward. “Cough… Xin Xin brought congee at noon. I wanted to heat it up for you.”
He Chu San stared at him in a daze, rubbed his face, and finally came to his senses.
“What are you doing here?” His expression instantly turned cold.
It was Xia Liu Yi’s first time taking the initiative to come mend things after an argument. He wiped the sweat off his face awkwardly and set the ladle aside. “You still have a fever. Go lie back down first.”
He stepped forward to help him, but He Chu San took a step back, avoiding his hand. “How did you know I was sick? Where are my parents? Where’s Xin Xin?”
Xia Liu Yi didn’t know where to begin, and didn’t dare force him. “Go lie down first. I’ll explain slowly.”
He followed him back inside. He Chu San climbed onto the bed himself and leaned against the headboard. Xia Liu Yi sat by the bedside, still unsure how to start, so he picked up the ring from the table and handed it over, nervously opening with something clumsy:
“I found the ring.”
“My Dad found it,” He Chu San corrected. “You keep it.”
Xia Liu Yi choked, unable to speak for a moment. He didn’t have He Chu San’d silver tongue. After thinking for a while, he said, “Do you remember you once said, ‘From now on, we won’t argue or sulk anymore’?”
“Brother Liu Yi, don’t you understand yet?” He Chu San looked at him sadly. “This time isn’t an argument or sulking—it’s a br—”
Xia Liu Yi covered his mouth. “Don’t say that word! I didn’t agree!”
He Chu San looked at him in silence, his eyes saying plainly: What does your agreement matter? I can decide unilaterally.
“What do you want me to do?” Xia Liu Yi let go, his voice pained. “I really don’t want to fight with you, and I will never break up with you!”
He Chu San remained silent.
Xia Liu Yi stood up, pacing restlessly, then sat down again and pulled out the photograph from his inner pocket.
“You want to know about this photo, right? Fine—I admit it. It’s related to Azure Dragon. My trip to Thailand was also because of him. The Thai man in this photo killed Azure Dragon’s father—and Azure Dragon himself. I went there for revenge. I lied to you before—I was afraid you’d worry, afraid you wouldn’t let me go. That was my fault!”
He Chu San glanced at the photo. “There are three people here. What about the other two?”
“…One is Azure Dragon’s father. The other has nothing to do with this.” Xia Liu Yi paused before continuing, “It’s all over now. I… I won’t go anywhere anymore. I’ll stay safe and be with you. Okay?”
He Chu San met his flickering gaze, and the mist in his heart slowly condensed into frost.
—If the Thai man was involved in Azure Dragon’s death, how could the other one, Xie Ying Jie, have nothing to do with it? If everything had truly ended in Thailand, why was Xia Liu Yi still trapped in nightmares, murmuring about revenge again and again? Why did he treasure this photo so much—keeping it on him at all times, and losing control when it was lost?
He didn’t want to expose Xia Liu Yi’s half-truths—that would reveal his own dealings with Lu Guang Ming. But at this moment, he truly felt exhausted and hurt by this relationship.
Xia Liu Yi’s cowardice, retreat, stubborn pride, and deception—each one like a blade stabbing into his heart.
Suddenly, all his persistence, his sacrifices, his careful protection of their relationship—felt meaningless.
Did Xia Liu Yi truly love him, or was he just a convenient partner—attentive, easy to get along with?
And why, if he had always loved without expecting anything in return, had he begun to feel hurt, wronged, dissatisfied—even resentful?
Love.
“Don’t be naive, Brother Liu Yi. How could this ever truly end? There will always be someone between us. As long as he’s still in your heart, as long as those grudges remain—you and I will always belong to different worlds. How could we be together?”
“I’m too tired,” he said softly. “The two of us… let’s just end it.”
Futile Devices Scans 
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