Futile Devices Scans

When the soothing music kept playing without pause, it transformed from something meant to ease people into sleep into something more akin to wailing ghosts.

Throwing off the blanket, Xue Bao Tian sat upright in bed with his hair sticking up in every direction. Before he even opened his eyes, he let out a string of curses.

Grabbing the phone from beside the bed, he answered it blindly. After listening with a frown for several seconds, he finally cracked one eye open and glanced at the screen. His expression darkened further, irritation and malice evident in his half-lidded gaze. “No need to verify it. I spent that money myself. What was it used for? Humanitarian aid for our neighboring island nation—sent them some fresh seafood to enjoy.” Xue Bao Tian deliberately dragged out his words. “Buddy, can you write the phrase ‘reaping what you sow’? Send it to those island midgets, and send it to yourself too. Fuck. If you keep running scams, I’ll send you over there to eat seafood too.”

He hung up, tossed the phone aside, and rubbed his sore eyes.

The previous night, after returning home, he had been exhausted. Although Yan Ye had said, “You sleep if you want,” he had carried out the unspoken second half—I’ll keep doing my thing—with remarkable dedication.

Still carrying both irritation and morning grumpiness, Xue Bao Tian touched his throat. Whenever Yan Ye got carried away, he lost all control of his strength. His throat was now dry and sore, desperately in need of warm water.

The moment he turned his head, he spotted a thermos sitting on the side table. Beneath it was a note written in Yan Ye’s atrocious handwriting:

I went to work. Sleep a little longer. I brewed some boat-fruited sterculia tea for you—it helps soothe the throat. Remember to drink it.

Holding the note up to the sunlight, Xue Bao Tian squinted at the crossed-out scribbles at the beginning. “Ba…by?”

“Fuck.”

Throwing the note aside, he suddenly remembered the events of the previous night. Every time that idiot had called him that, he had practically wanted to slap himself. Especially that final low, restrained “baby” whispered into his ear afterward—it had given him goosebumps all over.

After drinking a few mouthfuls of warm water from the thermos, the irritating ringtone sounded again.

The words “Grandson” flashed on the screen for a long time before Xue Bao Tian finally answered just before the call disconnected. “What?”

“You’re awake?” Yan Ye’s voice came through the receiver, carrying a bright warmth. “Did you sleep well?”

The hand holding the thermos paused. “Pretty convenient timing. How did you know I was awake?”

“My house has a security system. I can monitor it in real time.” Yan Ye answered honestly, his usual clinginess creeping into his voice. “Master Xue looked very cute when he was cursing someone just now.”

“Very what?”

Yan Ye immediately corrected himself.

“Very imposing.”

Xue Bao Tian glanced around the room but failed to find any visible cameras. “So I have absolutely no personal freedom now, huh? Where exactly are there no cameras in your house?”

“The bathroom.”

“Mm.”

Xue Bao Tian threw back the blanket, slipped into his slippers, walked into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut. “Let’s leave it at that. Bye.”

“There’s porridge in the pot—”

Ignoring whatever Yan Ye was still saying, Xue Bao Tian decisively hung up and set the phone on the shelf.

Standing before the mirror, he pulled open his sleep shirt and examined the marks on his body. Dark and light, old and new, layered atop one another. Like some poor heroine from a melodrama who’d been thoroughly ravaged.

For some reason, a memory suddenly flashed through his mind. A low sky. Endless snowfall. A cigarette between his fingers. Yan Ye, your future boyfriend is going to be very happy.

“Fuck!”

The man in the mirror looked like he wanted to slap himself.

A little alcohol really did make people say the dumbest things. Happy? Xue Bao Tian silently lit a candle for that hypothetical future boyfriend. Unless the guy had been reincarnated from a pig femur, there was no way he could survive all that chewing.

After showering, Xue Bao Tian was starving.

Yan Ye had left porridge simmering in the pot, still warm and ready to eat. He ladled himself a bowl while flipping through the documents Yan Ye had brought home. His body felt weak, and his thoughts wandered. His hand slipped. The bowl overturned.

Staring at his only meal spread across the floor, Xue Bao Tian grew irritated. Too lazy to cook again, he cleaned up the mess, changed clothes, and decided to go out for food.

The moment he opened the door, before he even stepped outside, a figure crouched in the corner startled him. Xue Bao Tian cursed under his breath and frowned. “Who are you?”

The man looked up. His face was harmless and pleasant enough. Fair-skinned, youthful, and reasonably attractive.

Slowly getting to his feet, he rubbed his fingers nervously against his pants. “Brother… you’re Brother Ye’s current boyfriend, right? I’m his ex.”

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Xue Bao Tian tilted his head. “You’re what?”

“I’m his ex.”

Suddenly, a smile bloomed across Xue Bao Tian’s face. Leaning casually against the doorframe, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and tapped it rhythmically against the pack. “Can you cook, senior?”

The young man twisted his fingers together. “I… I guess so. A little.”

⸻

The apartment door remained partially open.

With red-polished nails, Lin Ke Wei pushed open Yan Ye’s front door. Before even stepping inside, she smelled food. As the door swung wider, the lines between her brows deepened.

The door struck the stopper with a sharp thud.

The two men inside turned toward the sound. The younger one immediately looked panicked. “Chairwoman Lin!” The bowl of soup in his hand nearly spilled.

“Baby, careful. Don’t burn yourself.”

Sitting at the dining table, Xue Bao Tian accepted the bowl with a smile. “Thanks for your hard work, Xiao Fang.”

“Fang Fei.”

Lin Ke Wei’s voice carried unmistakable disapproval. “What exactly are you doing?”

After setting the bowl down safely, Xue Bao Tian finally looked toward the woman standing in the doorway. “Chairwoman Lin? Xiao Fang said you wanted to see me. I even left the door open especially for you.”

He rose and walked over. Hands in his pockets, he bent slightly and examined her. His expression carried both surprise and confusion. “You really are Chairwoman Lin? Doesn’t seem right.”

Turning back toward Fang Fei, he asked, “You’re not lying to me, are you? General Manager Yan’s stepmother can’t possibly be this young and beautiful.”

The woman fell silent. A crack appeared in her stern expression.

After receiving confirmation, Xue Bao Tian became even more attentive. He took her handbag and gently guided her inside with a hand at her lower back. “I’d heard Chairwoman Lin was beautiful, but now I think those descriptions were too modest. I’m not very educated, so I can’t find the right words. All I know is that I was starving just now, but the moment I saw you, I felt full.”

The compliment sounded oddly suspicious. As Lin Ke Wei tried to figure out exactly why, Fang Fei quietly supplied the answer. “Brother, I think the phrase you’re looking for is a feast for the eyes.”

Xue Bao Tian snapped his fingers. “Right. A feast for the eyes.”

He seated her at the dining table before returning to his own chair. Then, in a soft voice that sounded almost enchanted, he asked, “What can I do for you, Chairwoman Lin?”

Lin Ke Wei awkwardly touched the diamond earring on her ear, steadying herself before forcing her expression cold once more. “Why are you living in Yan Ye’s house? And what exactly is your relationship with him?”

Xue Bao Tian sipped his soup and smiled. “Chairwoman Lin already brought Xiao Fang here. Surely you already know the answer.”

He glanced toward Fang Fei, his tone unexpectedly gentle. “Xiao Fang, could you make Chairwoman Lin a cup of tea? The tea leaves are in the cabinet above the range hood. If you don’t like tea, there’s coffee too. Chairwoman Lin and I need to talk. Take care of yourself, alright?”

Fang Fei still looked nervous, but there was a little trust in his eyes now.

Just as he was about to nod, Lin Ke Wei interrupted sharply. “No. Come sit beside me.”

After Fang Fei reluctantly obeyed, Xue Bao Tian had nearly finished eating. The simple meal had improved his mood considerably. Pulling a cigarette from the pack, he smiled. “Mind if I smoke, Chairwoman Lin?”

“I do.”

She answered imperiously. “You really think this place is your home now? Yan Ye’s father and I paid for this apartment. It’s not your place to make decisions here.”

“Of course.”

Xue Bao Tian answered pleasantly while lighting the cigarette anyway. Just as he reached for the ashtray, Fang Fei hurriedly placed it before him first.

Tapping the table with his fingertips in thanks, Xue Bao Tian turned toward Lin Ke Wei. “Since you paid for the apartment, you’re practically the owner. The toilet’s clogged, by the way. Think you could arrange repairs?”

Lin Ke Wei’s face alternated between white and green.

“I didn’t come here to exchange insults. I came to inform you of several things.”

With a cigarette between his lips, Xue Bao Tian spread his hands. “Go ahead.”

Lin Ke Wei smoothed her hair. The jewels on her fingers were dazzling. So were the sharp words that followed.

“I may not be Yan Ye’s biological mother, but I’m still responsible for his future. I once hoped he would carry on the Yan family line. Although I’m disappointed he doesn’t like women, I won’t force him. But since he belongs to the Yan family, he must follow Yan family rules. His life and relationships must remain respectable. No fooling around.”

She looked toward Fang Fei. “Even if Yan Ye never intends to marry a woman, there’s still Fang Fei. They’ve known each other for years. They have a good relationship. Why insist on inserting yourself between them? Xiao Fang is someone our Yan family accepts. As for you…” Her gaze landed on Xue Bao Tian. “Get away from Yan Ye immediately.”

Xue Bao Tian clicked his tongue around the cigarette. He already knew last night’s conversation would create complications. So Lin Ke Wei showing up today wasn’t particularly surprising. What surprised him was how quickly she acted.

He had expected the woman who effectively controlled all of Yanyue Security to be ruthless and formidable. Yet after listening for quite some time, the worst she had managed was calling him a homewrecker. Nothing more.

“Anything else, Chairwoman Lin? If you have something to say, say it all at once.”

Lin Ke Wei froze. Then she slammed the table and glared. “Isn’t that enough?”

So that’s it? No backup plan? Xue Bao Tian considered for a moment. “Does Sheng Yu know you came to see me?”

“Xue Bao Chai, you’re asking questions that don’t concern you.”

“Fuck. Tian. Xue Bao Tian. Chairwoman Lin, before you said that, I was honestly wondering whether you had a brain.” He cut off her incoming reprimand. “If you’re finished, then let me say a few things too.”

His throat already hurt. The cigarette only made it worse, rendering his voice even hoarser. Across from him, Fang Fei hesitated. While Lin Ke Wei wasn’t looking, he quietly stood up and handed Xue Bao Tian the thermos. Returning to his seat, he also offered several wet wipes to Lin Ke Wei. The woman seemed mildly obsessive about cleanliness. Ever since slapping the table, she had been holding her hand awkwardly in the air.

Lin Ke Wei glared at him. “Sit still. What did I tell you? Do you still want Yan Ye or not?”

“I do.”

Fang Fei immediately folded his hands onto his knees and sat perfectly still.

Xue Bao Tian nodded toward him in thanks before taking another sip from the thermos. “Chairwoman Lin, I’d love to move out too. But circumstances won’t allow it. You know perfectly well how many debts I’m carrying. My father’s still in the hospital burning through money. Yan Ye wants something fresh and exciting. I want someone with money and influence. It’s an adult arrangement. You really don’t need to worry about it.”

Several boat-fruited sterculia seeds floated lazily in the warm water. Watching them made him sleepy. Lin Ke Wei’s level was simply too low. He no longer had the energy to keep sparring.

“If you insist on worrying, there is a solution. Would you like to hear it?”

The woman frowned. “Go on.”

“First, arrange somewhere for me to live. You know I’ve been a spoiled rich heir all my life, so the conditions can’t be too shabby. Second, cover the interest on my loan shark debt until I find Wei Hua. It’s only a few hundred thousand per installment. Third, provide emotional support. Call me ‘baby,’ ‘sweetheart,’ things like that every day and keep me happy.”

With a shameless grin, Xue Bao Tian leaned forward. “Actually, Chairwoman Lin, you could just move me into your place. I’m young. Reasonably handsome. Healthy. Strong.”

Lin Ke Wei’s expression turned increasingly ugly. The final sentence made her leap to her feet.

“Xue Bao Tian! Do you have no sense of shame whatsoever?!”

Sitting comfortably in his chair, Xue Bao Tian smiled coldly. “I don’t. And you do? I may be down on my luck now, but I used to spend plenty of time in nightclubs. I chased women. You chased men. Both of us were pretty famous for it. We’re all experienced drivers here. So what’s the point of pretending we’re riding bumper cars?”

Watching Lin Ke Wei’s face turn deathly pale, he suddenly addressed the silent observer. “Xiao Fang. Do you remember what Chairwoman Lin said earlier about the Yan family values?”

Fang Fei thought carefully. “She said that since Yan Ye belongs to the Yan family, he should follow the Yan family rules. He should keep his life and relationships respectable and not fool around.”

“Shut up!” Lin Ke Wei exploded. “You idiot! Whose side are you even on?!”

Xue Bao Tian burst out laughing. “Enough, Chairwoman Lin. Don’t bully the nice kid. I’m tired. I want a nap. If you’re not taking me home with you, then I’m afraid I’ll have to show you out.”

Furious, Lin Ke Wei left after delivering several final threats.

Fang Fei obediently stood as well. While changing shoes, he suddenly remembered the kitchen trash. “Brother, could you hand me the garbage from the kitchen? I’ll take it downstairs.”

Xue Bao Tian walked to the door with a smile. “No need. I’ll take it out later myself.”

Fang Fei nodded politely and prepared to leave.

“Xiao Fang.”

Xue Bao Tian stopped him. “Were you really ever with Yan Ye?”

Fang Fei was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head.

Xue Bao Tian clicked his tongue. Just as I thought.

But then the young, handsome man added:

“When I was with him, he wasn’t called Yan Ye. He was called Zhang Tian Ze.”

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