Chapter 16

The Qin Family Ancestral Home was built on a mountain in the suburbs of Shen City. Qin Juanshu had little impression of the place. He only remembered that before he turned ten, the manor had been covered in the roses his mother loved most—pink and red cascades spilling down from walls built of beige bricks, bathed in golden sunlight for what seemed like three hundred and sixty days a year.

But overnight, with a gunshot and a storm, everything was washed away by rain and wind. It took some time before Qin Juanshu learned that the rain had been falling in his mother’s heart for a very, very long time. Protected too well, he had been completely oblivious. With the help of his maternal clan, he resolutely left the place behind.

Qin Juanshu had thought that his return here would be the day he completely severed ties with Qin Chi. However, the appearance of Qin Chi’s illegitimate son disrupted all his plans.

The breakup had to be postponed, and some invitations could not be declined.

When Qin Juanshu arrived at the ancestral home, the sun was nearly set. The iron gates slowly opened inward, startling a flock of crows into flight. He stepped out of the car and looked up at the sky, which was almost pitch black, save for a streak of dark red at the horizon.

In mid-March, the early spring roses had already bloomed. In the night, at a glance, he saw only gray-white walls and dark-gray flowers. The roses seemed dead, decaying as they clung to the somber manor.

Qin Juanshu glanced indifferently and paid no more attention. The person was dead—who was he pretending to be sentimental for?

After entering the main building, he took off his trench coat and handed it to the servant who approached, then strode into the dining room. He had no interest in this “family dinner” and just wanted to get it over with quickly.

The Qin Family Ancestral Home had been almost entirely rebuilt a hundred years ago, heavily influenced by Western art. The dining room was resplendent in gold and crystal chandeliers hung over a long table. Qin Juanshu didn’t even glance at the chair Qin Chi had pulled out beside him and sat down at the farthest spot instead.

Qin Chi laughed in anger. “Sitting so far away—how are we supposed to talk?”

Qin Juanshu’s face was expressionless. “We have nothing to say to each other.”

“Don’t be childish. I called you here tonight for something important!” Anger flashed across Qin Chi’s face, but he suppressed it, thinking of what he had to say next. “Do you remember the Shen Family? That major clan in the central region. Their eldest daughter is only three years younger than you. Her father wants to find her a good husband and contacted me a few days ago. You’ve just come back…”

Qin Juanshu’s expression turned strange. “You want me to marry into an alliance?”

He didn’t know where Qin Chi got the confidence that he would obey.

“The Shen Family’s young lady is a perfect match for you in status, and she’s quite good-looking too.” Qin Chi said, “If you’re concerned about feelings, they can be cultivated after marriage. If they really can’t be, it doesn’t matter—plenty of alliance marriages let each party do their own thing outside. It won’t interfere with you finding others…”

“Qin Chi!” Qin Juanshu said coldly. “Don’t lump me in with the likes of you.”

The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly grew tense, like swords drawn.

“How dare you speak to me like that? Do you still remember I’m your father?!” Qin Chi slammed the table in fury. “All your uncles are eyeing your old man’s position. Before, you wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t come back no matter what, letting your cousins take all the key positions. I’m telling you to form an alliance to give you support, so inheriting the Qin Family will be easier down the line. Everything I’m doing is for your sake, isn’t it?”

“You’re doing it for yourself.” Qin Juanshu remained unmoved. “You know all of this was seized by you. If the Qin Family falls into someone else’s hands, you’ll crash harder than any of them. That’s why you’re rushing to call me back—your illegitimate son is useless, and you don’t dare to gamble.”

Qin Chi’s expression stiffened. “Nonsense! It’s because I loved your mother that I want to hand the Qin Family to you…”

“Love?” Qin Juanshu seemed to hear the biggest joke in the world.

He stood up and walked out of the dining room, ignoring Qin Chi’s furious roars behind him. In the end, this dinner for just the two of them ended unpleasantly.

After leaving the Qin Family Ancestral Home, Qin Juanshu drove back to the city. Along the way, his mind wandered aimlessly as he drove numbly, adjusted his speed, watched traffic lights, and yielded to pedestrians… By the time his awareness returned, he was already standing in that Gay Bar he had visited once before.

Qin Juanshu: “…”

His already foul mood worsened.

In his distraction, he had subconsciously followed the familiar path, entered the familiar bar, and now stood at the counter. It was too late to leave. Qin Juanshu could only keep a cold face, his low pressure scaring off all the men who approached.

Even the bartender didn’t dare say much. The one serving Qin Juanshu this time was the same as last time, and the guest’s mood seemed even worse—his aura so intimidating that no living thing dared come near.

The bartender set down the mixed drink and slipped away to the farthest spot.

Drinking to drown sorrows didn’t improve a bad mood, especially since Qin Juanshu’s tolerance was too high—he couldn’t even get properly drunk. He scanned the bar hall. Patrons were in groups of three or five, the atmosphere lively. There wasn’t a second cold face, nor many loners.

Qin Juanshu downed his glass and signaled the bartender for a refill.

Maybe he should find someone to keep him company.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. Most were foreign names—partners or subordinates. Chat about company prospects, future work, life plans? Pointless. They probably didn’t want to talk to him either. Qin Juanshu scrolled up and down, then exited to the home screen and opened the green app.

One contact was inexplicably pinned at the top. Qin Juanshu stared at the white dumpling avatar for a long moment.

The bartender quietly set down the refill and quietly slipped away. Qin Juanshu took a big gulp, reducing the glass by a third. No matter how good his tolerance, drinking like this burned his throat.

He could pretend he was drunk.

With that thought, Qin Juanshu tapped the white dumpling avatar, sent his location, then typed one-handed: [Can you come over?]

He had no memory of ever saying anything so weak.

But… he was drunk, right? So he added: [We can do hourly rates. You name the price.]

He stared fixedly at the screen. “The other party is typing” appeared for one second, and his heart leaped in that second. Then he saw Bai Ying reply “Okay.”

Qin Juanshu suddenly relaxed.

But the relaxation didn’t last. He began a tense wait. Time crawled by like years. Qin Juanshu glanced at the bar entrance over and over, then felt embarrassed and looked away—only to look back soon after.

After a torturous half hour, he heard a commotion at the door. He frowned and saw a group of men with gleaming eyes, all getting up and heading toward the entrance. One second he wondered what was happening; the next, he spotted the familiar figure.

He only caught a glimpse—a tall, burly man in front, shoving others aside. His sturdy build blocked half the view at the door, but Qin Juanshu still caught the flash of jet-black hair and snow-white profile.

When he saw the man’s hand reaching for Bai Ying, Qin Juanshu’s face darkened.

***

The location Qin Juanshu sent was a bit far, so Bai Ying took a cab. Good thing it was app-based; otherwise, he wouldn’t have known how to pronounce that mouthful of English to the driver.

Traffic was fine that night, but it jammed up at the bar street. Bai Ying got out at the intersection and walked the rest.

The street buzzed with energy; thick doors couldn’t muffle the passionate music from each bar. Bai Ying rarely came to such decadent places and just wanted to bolt. When a promoter grabbed him at the door, he wanted to hide in a hole.

“No need, no need—I have an appointment…” Bai Ying waved his hands frantically.

The sales girl smiled. “Which place is so lucky? Want sis to show you the way?”

Maybe because of the crowd and extra devices, the navigation was glitchy. Bai Ying thought for a moment and showed her the map on his phone.

“Sorry to trouble you…” he said softly.

“No trouble. If you’re not having fun there, come to ours~” The sales girl flashed a sweet smile, but it turned meaningful the next second when she saw the bar name.

Oh, a Gay Bar.

She pointed the way for Bai Ying and patted his shoulder on parting. “Little bro, take care of yourself.”

Bai Ying nodded, but his clear, foolish eyes told her he had no idea what to protect himself from.

The sales girl watched him head to the Gay Bar, feeling like she was sending a little lamb into a wolf’s den.

Thanks to the kind stranger’s directions, Bai Ying quickly found the oddly named bar. He was staring at the sign’s letters when a group surged toward him enthusiastically.

A big guy’s bulk blocked his view of the sign.

“Handsome, first time here?” The muscular hunk reached to drape an arm over his shoulder. “Drink with me? My treat.”

The crowd erupted.

“Damn, that direct? How scared is he of losing out?!”

“Shameless—don’t block me!”

“I’ve got money. Drink with me, then we can ‘exchange’ after. Little bro, look at me—I can top or bottom!”

Bai Ying looked baffled. What were they even saying? The voices overlapped too much.

The only clear thing: the big guy in front wanted to buy him a drink.

“No need, I…” He refused while instinctively stepping back, but the man eagerly stepped forward, his hand about to land on Bai Ying’s shoulder—

An arm suddenly wrapped around Bai Ying’s waist, pulling him into an embrace.

“Kindly stay away,” Qin Juanshu said politely, but his tone was hostile. “He has company.”