Chapter 19
The wind at the summit was chilly. Looking out, one could see the clouds swirling around the mountain peak, a calming and serene sight.
Wen Linyu took a photo. He and Gu Chi were the only ones here now. Gu Chi led him to the Three Lives Stone.
Gu Chi was disappointed. It was just an ordinary rock, artificially inscribed and adorned with red strings symbolizing love and fate.
Nevertheless, since they were already there, he followed the custom, tying a red string on the stone with Wen Linyu.
Wen Linyu remained silent, observing Gu Chi. He noticed that the smile in Gu Chi’s eyes wasn’t malicious or mocking, but genuine.
As genuine as any ordinary couple completing their mountain pilgrimage, a sense of accomplishment after reaching the summit.
This, in itself, was abnormal.
After all, Gu Chi had initially coerced him. Their relationship was far from romantic. Why was he acting so naturally, as if this was how it should be?
After the Three Lives Stone, Gu Chi led him to the cliff.
A railing protected the edge, offering the best view from the summit. Endless clouds and shimmering sunlight in the distance, the bustling world below. A breathtaking sight.
Wen Linyu took more photos, while Gu Chi rummaged through his interspatial pouch, selecting the largest and brightest red lock.
Wen Linyu was certain he heard the lock cry out when it was produced.
This lock was either a demon or a spiritual artifact. Gu Chi, holding Wen Linyu’s hand, fastened it to the railing.
After locking it, he even glared at the lock, as if daring it to escape.
Red lock: …Seriously?
I’m a soul-locking artifact, not a love lock! I’m meant to capture enemies, not guard romantic relationships! And I’m stuck out here exposed to the elements!
Unfortunately, no one heard the lock’s protests. Wen Linyu glanced at it, unconcerned. Gu Chi’s preferences didn’t matter to him.
Their relationship wasn’t defined by a lock.
Gu Chi, satisfied with completing the ritual, looked at Wen Linyu expectantly. His gaze lingered on Wen Linyu’s impassive face, traveling from his eyes to his lips.
In that soap opera, the couple had hugged and kissed after hanging the lock.
His apprentice’s lips looked soft. He hadn’t kissed them yet. What would it feel like?
He stared intently, but Wen Linyu simply took more photos, waiting for Gu Chi to finish so they could descend.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” 998 munched on its cyber snacks, thoroughly amused.
Look at that, the mighty Demon Lord looking so expectantly! Going through the motions without any genuine emotion is pointless! Trying to imitate a soap opera, does he even understand?
The system reveled in his misery. Serves him right for treating me like a slave!
Gu Chi didn’t understand why it wasn’t like on TV. But he wasn’t one to deny himself. If the mountain wouldn’t come to Mohammed, Mohammed would go to the mountain!
He pulled Wen Linyu close and kissed him. Wen Linyu, startled, quickly turned his head, the warm touch landing only on the corner of his lips.
“What are you doing?” Wen Linyu frowned, pushing Gu Chi away, wiping his face.
998 cackled gleefully. Playing the forceful lover, huh? Just you wait!
Gu Chi, barely getting a taste, felt unsatisfied. He was about to pull Wen Linyu back when he saw the coldness return to his face.
He didn’t understand. What was wrong? Weren’t they allowed to do this? Others did it. Why couldn’t they?
Wen Linyu, reading his thoughts, scoffed: “Others can do that because they’re lovers. You and I are not.”
Not lovers? Why not? Gu Chi’s face darkened as they descended the mountain.
His foul mood worsened when a group of men surrounded Wen Linyu: “Young Master, Mr. Wen requests your presence at home!”
Passersby stared curiously. Such a dramatic scene was rare in real life.
Wen Linyu wasn’t surprised, only that they had found him so quickly. It had only been a few hours since they arrived, and this place was quite far from A City.
To find him in such a short time, besides modern technology, had his dear parents employed other methods?
“Scram!” Gu Chi, already annoyed, was now even more irritated by these unwelcome intruders.
The men exchanged glances. They hadn’t seen Gu Chi before and assumed he was Wen Linyu’s bodyguard. They attacked.
Gu Chi didn’t hold back, sending them flying with a single blow, each one falling into a deep, baby-like sleep.
He had held back considerably. He knew the laws in this world were different. He couldn’t just kill people.
Not out of fear of repercussions, but because he didn’t want to cause trouble for Wen Linyu.
The thought made him even more frustrated. Look at him, being so considerate. In the past, he wouldn’t have cared.
Yet his little apprentice insisted they weren’t lovers.
So annoying! He wanted to destroy the world!
Wen Linyu, seeing the unconscious men, didn’t scold Gu Chi for his actions. He simply said: “I need to go back.”
Gu Chi’s mood slightly improved. At least he was still asking for his opinion.
It didn’t matter where they went in this world. The only thing that mattered was being with Wen Linyu.
He naturally agreed. Besides, after ten years of teaching Wen Linyu, he knew his parents were just like his own—trash.
He hadn’t fully vented his anger yet. These new punching bags would serve their purpose.
This time, Wen Linyu bought plane tickets. With cameras everywhere, he didn’t want to attract official attention, especially with Gu Chi by his side.
He wasn’t in a hurry.
He even browsed the airport shops, buying a few trinkets before boarding the plane.
He wondered what awaited him at home, a flicker of anticipation in his heart.
During the journey, Gu Chi was unusually quiet, glued to his phone, seemingly chatting with someone. Wen Linyu didn’t ask.
The car stopped at the villa. Wen Linyu got out, followed by Gu Chi, whose expression was a mixture of confusion, shock, and disbelief. Wen Linyu couldn’t help but stare. What had he been discussing that could elicit such a reaction from a Demon Lord?
He shook his head and entered the villa, walking past the spacious front yard and lawn to see Wen Hongbo and Lin Wanshow.
A healthy Wen Hongbo, and a radiant Lin Wanshow.
A faint smile touched Wen Linyu’s lips. Had they found a solution?
They were chatting and laughing, seemingly in high spirits, not noticing Wen Linyu until he reached the doorway. They looked at him, their eyes widening slightly, then they forced a warm smile.
Wen Linyu frowned: “That smile is disgusting.”
Gu Chi, still preoccupied with whatever he had seen on his phone, chuckled at Wen Linyu’s words. Good! That’s his apprentice!
The forced smiles on his parents’ faces faltered. Wen Hongbo was about to curse, but Lin Wanshow stopped him. They exchanged glances, then continued their sickeningly sweet smiles, addressing Wen Linyu in an uncharacteristically gentle tone.
“You should have told us you were leaving. Your father and I were so worried!”
“Yes! You’re a bit too unruly. Now that you’re back, we’ll have an etiquette tutor starting tomorrow.”
“And you should go back to school. You’re still so young. Not studying is unacceptable.”
The sun seemed to have risen in the west. They smiled, and Wen Linyu smiled back. But his smile sent chills down their spines.
“Brother, you’re back!” The sound of wheels on the floor announced Wen Cheng’s arrival. He smiled at Wen Linyu, but his face was pale, dark circles under his eyes, his entire being radiating exhaustion and frailty.
Wen Linyu looked at Wen Cheng’s legs in the wheelchair, then at Wen Hongbo’s now-healed legs. Disgust churned in his stomach.
He remembered Wen Cheng’s birthday was the same as Wen Hongbo’s.
And Wen Xi shared a birthday with Lin Wanshow.
In the past, their birthdays had been joyous family celebrations, emphasizing their “destined” parent-child bond, while he remained an outsider. He had envied them, wanting to belong.
Now, he felt only disgust.
It wasn’t just him. All the children in this family were tools for their parents to exploit.
As if to confirm his suspicions, Wen Xi emerged from her room, her face as pale and exhausted as Wen Cheng’s.
This made Wen Linyu wonder—how much did his parents know? And who was helping them?
The Wen Xi in her memories was so different from the current Wen Linyu that she didn’t recognize him at first: “Brother, who are these people?”
Only then did the others notice Gu Chi.
He was hard to miss, but their attention had been focused on Wen Linyu. “This is…?”
Wen Cheng opened his mouth, then closed it.
Gu Chi wanted to announce “partner” or “lover,” but the online responses to his relationship questions had made it clear that this wasn’t a relationship, but coercion, the kind that could land him in jail.
He lost his nerve.
He looked expectantly at Wen Linyu, wanting to hear his answer.
However, Wen Linyu’s reply was the same as on the first day: “Someone insignificant.”
Those words pierced Gu Chi’s heart like a sword. He wasn’t insignificant! His apprentice only said that because he didn’t know he was his teacher!
The Wen family didn’t pay much attention to Gu Chi’s identity, only slightly surprised that Wen Linyu had a friend, and had even brought him home.
The seemingly ordinary family reunion ended peacefully. They even had dinner together.
This time, Wen Linyu didn’t fight for the head seat. His attention was on Gu Chi.
Gu Chi continued his usual routine, removing the things Wen Linyu disliked from his plate, leaving only his favorites.
Wen Linyu tested him, requesting specific dishes, and Gu Chi would promptly place them on his plate, giving him a “do you even need to ask?” look.
Wen Linyu ate everything Gu Chi gave him.
The Wen family’s expressions turned strange. Wen Hongbo seemed about to explode several times but held back. Wen Xi couldn’t hide her surprise and curiosity, glancing repeatedly at Wen Linyu and Gu Chi.
After dinner, Wen Linyu took Gu Chi to his room, deliberately asking him to fetch clothes, books, and other items.
Gu Chi grumbled about the numerous requests but complied without complaint.
Was this normal? Of course not. A Demon Lord, accustomed to giving orders, wouldn’t be so obedient.
Unless he wasn’t the Demon Lord, or he had another identity besides Gu Chi.
The thought startled Wen Linyu. He withdrew his hand, afraid to delve deeper.
His mind in turmoil, he watched Gu Chi frowning at his phone on the balcony, then went to his treasure room, carefully storing the photos he had taken.
He didn’t know that Gu Chi, while seemingly engrossed in his phone, was watching him.
Later that night, after Wen Linyu fell asleep, Gu Chi snuck into the treasure room. What was he hiding?
With a click, the barrier Wen Linyu had set was easily dispelled, and Gu Chi retrieved the small box.
He opened it. Just landscape and food photos, nothing special. But if it wasn’t special, why lock it up? He flipped through the pages, his patience growing. Reaching the last page, he saw only two words written in elegant calligraphy: “Teacher.”
Gu Chi froze, understanding dawning.
That one was the rice cake. His little apprentice telling him he had eaten something delicious.
That one was the lotus flower in the park. His little apprentice telling him he had seen beautiful flowers.
Each photo, each item, held a weight beyond its physical form.
His earlier frustration and resentment vanished, replaced by a surge of elation.
Ha! He likes me!
