Chapter 28 Part 2
The true date of the first rift, the reason Shi Yan sent his siblings into the rifts, and the location of the pollutant that killed his sister.
Shi Yan trembled, his mind racing, searching for a way to keep Shi Xu under his control.
Shi Xu was different. He couldn’t become the most important person in Shi Xu’s life. He saw hope in Shi Xu’s brother, which was why, after his death, he fabricated lies, hoping to bind Shi Xu with false affection.
Now, he wanted to use Shi Xu’s sister, but Shi Xu wouldn’t fall for it again.
A thought occurred to him, and he laughed. “You must have regained some of your memories. You know how your brother died. You know he became a monster, and you killed him! You didn’t rebel against me before, so why now? You’ve been waiting for this opportunity, haven’t you? Waiting for your memories to return, to confront me, to blame me for your brother’s death…”
Shi Xu’s expression remained unchanged. After Shi Yan finished, he said, “I was waiting for my memories to return…”
Because he sensed he had forgotten something important, a voice reminding him that it was crucial, that if he acted prematurely, he would lose it forever.
Now, he finally knew what it was—
His brother wanted him to live, to be happy.
So, he wouldn’t seek mutual destruction with Shi Yan.
He always listened to his brother.
“I’ll submit my resignation to Director Shen.”
Shi Yan: “What are you trying to do?”
Shi Xu: “I want to live a normal life.”
Shi Yan looked incredulous. “You think you can live a normal life?”
“Why not?” Shi Xu looked up, no longer respectful. “What can you use to control me now?”
Shi Yan’s breath hitched.
Without the bond of fabricated affection, he had no control over Shi Xu.
Shi Xu chuckled. “I’ve said what I needed to say. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. We have plenty of time.”
A chill ran down Shi Yan’s spine. He admired Shi Xu’s ruthlessness, a trait he himself had instilled.
Now, having become Shi Xu’s enemy, he was afraid, filled with regret.
Shi Xu walked towards him, extending his hand.
Shi Yan flinched. “What are you doing?!”
Shi Xu didn’t answer, continuing to approach.
Shi Yan knew his methods all too well. He could torture someone without leaving a visible mark.
Was Shi Xu really going to do that to him?
“You’re insane! Help! Shi Mu!” He backed away, bumping into the bookshelf, knocking over a pile of books, the heavy volumes hitting his head and shoulders.
He finally remembered the emergency call button, reaching for it, but Shi Xu grabbed his wrist.
Shi Yan trembled, staring at Shi Xu, still clinging to his identity. “Shi Xu, I’m your father! You can’t do this!”
Shi Xu’s grip tightened, threatening to break his wrist.
“Shi Xu!”
Only after Shi Yan’s voice turned hoarse did Shi Xu release him.
Shi Yan stared blankly, forgetting to breathe.
“Still want to call for help?” Shi Xu asked.
Shi Yan couldn’t speak, paralyzed by fear.
Shi Xu glanced at the clock, sighing. “It’s been half a minute since you called for help. No one came. I could kill you silently in less than half a minute, if I wanted to.”
Shi Yan swallowed, sweat dripping down his forehead, soaking his collar.
“Killing you is too easy, not worth the trouble afterwards. I won’t do anything that’s not worth it. You taught me that. I remember.”
Shi Xu’s coldness vanished, replaced by a polite smile. “Come downstairs, Father. It’s time to meet my boyfriend. We shouldn’t keep our guest waiting, should we?”
Previously, Shi Yan was the one in control.
Now, the roles were reversed. Shi Xu stood above him, smiling condescendingly, as if looking at an insignificant insect.
Seeing Shi Yan’s fear, Shi Xu savored the power.
Absolute power demanded obedience, even from the most arrogant.
He walked forward, then stopped, turning back to look at Shi Yan, still cowering by the bookshelf. “Father, you looked quite amusing just now, calling for help.”
“…” A sharp pain stabbed at Shi Yan’s chest. He wanted to tear Shi Xu apart.
He valued his image above all else, and Shi Xu had just destroyed it.
This was Shi Xu’s revenge.
And it was just the beginning.
After Shi Xu left, Gu Sui waited patiently in the living room, untouched by the tea and pastries the servants offered.
He wasn’t interested in food, and he wouldn’t eat without Shi Xu’s permission.
Even before seeing him, Gu Sui recognized Shi Xu’s footsteps, rushing to the bottom of the stairs, meeting his gaze.
“Wife!”
Shi Xu imagined a wagging tail behind Gu Sui. He was more enthusiastic than a dog.
Shi Xu hummed in response, placing his hand in Gu Sui’s outstretched one, his fingers enveloped by a warm, firm grasp.
“Wife, did… your father… bully you?” Gu Sui asked worriedly.
The question was misplaced, but Shi Xu didn’t correct him. “No.”
“Good.” Gu Sui reached for Shi Xu’s waist, but Shi Xu swatted his hand away. He pouted, retracting his “paw.”
“Wife, are… we… going home… now?”
Shi Xu: “Not yet. Let’s meet my father first.”
Gu Sui replied obediently, “Okay.”
Shi Xu suddenly looked at him. Gu Sui blinked, his face flushing. “Wife, why… are you… looking at me? Are you… going to… confess?”
“…”
Shi Xu chuckled.
He hadn’t scolded him or denied it. Could it be true?!
Gu Sui’s eyes lit up. He leaned closer, looking at Shi Xu’s smiling eyes. “Wife, are… you… really… going to… confess?”
Shi Xu caressed Gu Sui’s cheek, the flushed skin burning hot under his touch.
“Remember our agreement?”
Gu Sui: “Which one?”
Shi Xu: “A reward for good behavior.”
They waited for almost 20 minutes before Shi Yan appeared.
Obsessed with his appearance, Shi Yan had gone to the bathroom to compose himself, returning impeccably dressed.
Even though Shi Xu had seen his most pathetic state, he still maintained the facade.
It seemed ridiculous to Shi Xu.
Shi Yan’s expression was grim upon seeing him, his gaze quickly shifting away, then freezing upon seeing Gu Sui.
Shi Xu had warned him. He had imagined a grotesque creature, but this pollutant was different.
Without Shi Xu’s warning, he wouldn’t have recognized its true nature beneath the handsome exterior.
While Shi Yan was stunned, Gu Sui approached, greeting him politely. “Hello, I’m Gu Sui, Shi Xu’s boyfriend.”
Shi Yan snapped out of it, looking at the outstretched hand, a normal human hand.
Overwhelmed by the series of shocks, he forgot his aversion to pollutants, instinctively reaching for Gu Sui’s hand.
But he grasped something slimy instead.
The handsome young man before him transformed into a mass of filth, the same height, but dripping with black sludge.
Shi Yan’s hand was covered in the repulsive substance. He recoiled in disgust.
A pair of golden eyes appeared amidst the sludge, glistening with tears.
The pollutant said, its voice laced with grievance, “You… don’t like… me? You… don’t approve… of me… and your son?”
Approve?!
How could he possibly approve?!
“Disgusting creature! Get out!” Shi Yan’s contaminated hand trembled. For someone with severe OCD, contact with a pollutant was unforgivable.
“Shi Xu, kill this pollutant!”
Shi Xu remained motionless, calmly observing the scene, smiling. “Are you insane? I would never kill my boyfriend.”
“You’re the one who’s insane! How can you be with a pollutant?!” Shi Yan’s eyes widened, shouting for another savior. “Shi Mu! Shi Mu! Where are you?! Kill it!”
By the time Shi Mu arrived, Shi Xu and Gu Sui were gone. He stared at his distraught father in disbelief, his faith shaken.
How could his always composed and aloof father behave like this?
Shi Xu didn’t take the car, walking with Gu Sui along the tree-lined path.
Away from the estate, Gu Sui returned to normal, leaning against Shi Xu’s shoulder, sobbing like a wronged spouse.
“Your dad… doesn’t like… me…” He repeated the phrase, his voice filled with grievance.
Shi Xu patiently comforted him.
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
Gu Sui sobbed, “Am… I… really… that ugly?”
Ugly enough to drive Shi Yan insane.
That was his main concern.
Shi Xu chuckled, stopping. Gu Sui stopped too.
Shi Xu cupped Gu Sui’s face. Gu Sui reluctantly lifted his head, murmuring, “I wasn’t finished leaning on you.”
Shi Xu scrutinized his face. “You’re not ugly. You’re very handsome.”
Gu Sui, dazed by the compliment, licked his lips, his tongue accidentally brushing against Shi Xu’s thumb. The brief contact intoxicated him.
He wanted more of Wife’s taste!
“Wife, I… fulfilled… our agreement. Can… I have… my reward?”
He seized the opportunity, grabbing Shi Xu’s hand, guiding his fingers towards his lips…
