extra ko-fi chapter for Apricat (1/2) I really appreciate it!! ❤️
After school on Friday, Lu Heyang looked out the window as he was packing his backpack. He saw He Wei standing in the hallway of the opposite school building, pretending to be an innocent fool while chatting with Chi Jiahan.
At noon, Xiao Feng sent a message to tell him that Seventeen wouldn’t be fighting tonight.
The driver was waiting for him at the school gates. Lu Chengyu was returning home today, so Lu Heyang had to go back for dinner.
“The Chairman just got off the plane. He’ll arrive in an hour and a half,” the driver drove slowly and said to Lu Heyang.
“Okay.”
Lu Heyang leaned back in his seat and looked out the window. The bike lane in front of the Preparatory School consistently remained empty, with occasional motorcycles speeding by.
As the setting sun slanted over him, he sat up a little straighter, squinting against the harsh light.
There, that out-of-place old bicycle came into view. With the wind blowing through the alpha’s hair and school uniform, he resembled an amber silhouette in the sunset.
Whenever Lu Heyang looked at Xu Ze, he felt that the world was becoming calmer, which was a strange feeling. As the car was about to pass, Lu Heyang suddenly extended his hand and put his index finger and thumb together, as if to gently pinch Xu Ze’s cheek between them.
Lu Qingmo didn’t come back this time. Lu Heyang did homework in his room and when it was almost time, he went downstairs to the dining room and sat on a chair to wait for Lu Chengyu.
Ten minutes later, a car drove into the courtyard, and Lu Chengyu got out. He was accompanied by a beta secretary who followed him with a briefcase.
“Dad,” Lu Heyang stood up.
Lu Chengyu glanced at Lu Heyang, unbuttoned his suit, and sat down, “Let’s eat.”
It was another conversation-free dinner. Lu Chengyu set aside his utensils after eating a few bites and went to his study. After he left, the beta secretary came into the dining room and laid a folder on the table.
Although he didn’t say what was in the folder, Lu Heyang could guess. He asked, “Has my dad seen it?”
“No,” the secretary replied, “The Chairman doesn’t have time to look at it currently.”
“Got it, thank you,” Lu Heyang said.
In the evening, Lu Chengyu went out to attend a banquet. Lu Heyang stood on the balcony after taking a shower. While wiping his hair, he texted Xu Ze: Did you have a match today?
This was the first time he had sent a text to Xu Ze. Two minutes later, Lu Heyang received a reply. Xu Ze said: No, I didn’t have a match today. Did you go to the Westside?
This sentence implied that Xu Ze wasn’t currently in the Westside and should be at home. Lu Heyang replied: I had something to do and didn’t go today, so I don’t know if you’re lying to me.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
This time, Xu Ze replied quickly: I’m not lying. I’m at home.
Oe Lfsjcu: Pa vbfrc’a wjaafg lo sbe ilfv ab wf, pera vbc’a ufa tega lc atf wjamt.
We If: P vlvc’a oluta jcv vlvc’a ufa tega.
Oe Lfsjcu: Lbk mjc sbe qgbnf la?
Coafg j ktlif, atfgf kjr j qlmaegf jr j gfqis.
We If rja bc atf mtjlg lc ogbca bo atf vfrx, ajxlcu atf rtba rilutais jybnf tlr tfjv ab mjqaegf tlr fcalgf ybvs ogbw tlr wbeat ab tlr ibkfg jyvbwfc, qgbnlcu rlcmfgfis ab Oe Lfsjcu atja tf kjr cba lcpegfv. Ktf kjgw sfiibk iluta rtbcf bc tlr cjxfv eqqfg ybvs, jcv atf kjgw abemt bc tlr mbiijgybcf, mtfra, jcv jyvbwlcji wermifr kjr qfgmfqalyif fnfc atgbeut atf rmgffc. Ktf dejilas bo atf qtbcf’r mjwfgj kjrc’a ugfja, yea la kjr fnlvfca atja atfgf kfgf cb cfk lcpeglfr lc jvvlalbc ab atf biv rmjgr. Ktf ragjcueijalbc wjgxr bc We If’r cfmx tjv jiwbra ojvfv, jcv bcis atf abbat wjgxr kfgf ojlcais nlrlyif, yea atfs rtbeiv vlrjqqfjg lc j vjs bg akb.
If Lu Heyang had used a little more force to bite through Xu Ze’s skin, the scar might have lasted longer.
Even though he knew Xu Ze didn’t have the slightest twisted thoughts, Lu Heyang still asked him: Why did you send me a nude photo?
Within seconds he received a reply: It’s not.
Then Xu Ze sent another message: I really didn’t fight in a match and didn’t get injured.
Lu Heyang could imagine the expression on Xu Ze’s face as he eagerly explained. He smiled at the screen and replied: OK, I believe you.
Xu Ze replied: Thank you.
After looking at these two words for half a minute, Lu Heyang changed Xu Ze’s nickname to “Xu Fool” in his contacts.
After that, he sat down on the chair and picked up the folder from the table. He opened it and found a thin document inside. There was a one-inch photo of Xu Ze taken when he enrolled in the Preparatory School. He was wearing a school uniform and staring at the camera with no expression. Because it was a black-and-white copy, his face looked even colder and more somber than usual.
17 years old, S-level alpha, currently a second-year high school student in Class 11, home address… It matched the basic information Lu Heyang knew.
As for Xu Ze’s family, it was simple. His father was a policeman who had been accidentally killed while on duty ten years ago. His mother used to be a stage actress but committed suicide six years ago. The only living relative was his grandmother, Ye Yunhua, who was currently receiving long-term treatment in a private nursing home due to cardiovascular disease and mental problems.
The information for these three people was only one page long. After all, two were deceased and one was a patient, so there was no need to dig deeper.
Lu Heyang turned to the next page, which contained information about Xu Ze’s other social connections. A cheap underground boxer who also worked part-time as a waiter and handyman in the underground club. Tang Feiyi had taken him to drinking parties more than once. The information included specific details regarding the time, location, room number, and an estimated list of participants for each social gathering.
Xu Ze might not know who these people were, but some of the names were familiar to Lu Heyang. In short, they were people like Tang Feiyi. He even saw the name of his brother-in-law Wei Lingzhou.
Lu Heyang put the document back in the folder. The secretary said that Lu Chengyu didn’t have time to look at this report for the time being, and Lu Heyang believed it was true. It wasn’t that Lu Chengyu didn’t have time to look at it, but the Chairman’s time and energy were precious and wouldn’t be wasted on a high school student. Xu Ze’s existence was too unremarkable for Lu Chengyu.
Therefore, the purpose of giving this file to Lu Heyang was simply to remind him to be aware of what kind of people he should associate with and what kind of people he should keep away from.
After all, he hadn’t received a black-and-white investigation report of any of his former close friends.
Lu Heyang looked up at the night sky. In fact, there was nothing to see. There was no moon tonight, and the stars were not bright.
He picked up his phone again and sent good night to Xu Ze.
Xu Ze quickly replied: Good night to you too.
The next day, when Lu Heyang got up, Lu Chengyu had already left for a meeting. The housekeeper said that he came back late after having a few drinks at the party, but he still got up early today.
Lu Chengyu was an excellent leader. Even though many people in the Union were dissatisfied with his political bias and the way he handled things, hardly anyone accused him of incompetence or questioned his abilities.
After having breakfast, Lu Heyang spent two hours doing his homework. After ten o’clock, he drove to Luanshan alone.
As he passed through the old town, Lu Heyang slowed down and looked at the crowded streets. Naturally, it wasn’t that coincidental that he would run into Xu Ze again. Lu Heyang recalled the last time Xu Ze helped him change the tire here. Back then, they were still strangers.
Halfway up the mountain, the bodyguard’s car, which had been tailing him from ten meters away, stopped and didn’t continue further. After driving up for a few minutes, Lu Heyang arrived at the gates of a mountain villa. He waited for the access control system to recognize his license plate number and raise the sensor pole.
After that, he proceeded to drive the car into the garden. He got out and called to the omega who was wearing a sun hat and pruning an olive tree, “Dad.”
The omega stopped the scissors and stood up, turning to Lu Heyang with a smile, “Why didn’t you tell me in advance that you were coming?”
He washed his hands in the basin beside him. After drying his hands, he rolled down the sleeves of his shirt. He poured a cup of water and handed it to Lu Heyang. Lu Heyang took a sip and said, “I forgot.”
“Come inside.”
Lin Yumian took off his hat in the living room, exposing the red and swollen bite marks on the glands at the back of his neck that had been concealed by the hat. Lin Yumian quickly buttoned up his shirt and covered his neck with the collar.
Lu Heyang was feeding the fish with his back turned to him. Lin Yumian asked, “Are the final exams coming up?”
“Mn.”
“S-level students will apply to schools in the first semester of their third year to prepare for early admission.”
“Mn.”
“Are you going to start making decisions?”
Lu Heyang didn’t answer, but asked after a while, “Did dad come here yesterday?”
“Why do you say that?” Lin Yumian’s smile faded a little.
“Every time he comes to your place, you ask me whether I have made decisions.”
“Is that so?” Lin Yumian sat down on the sofa, “Well, I’ve said it before, my place is not a safe haven, it’s the eye of the storm.”
The fish flopped around on the surface of the water after eating its food, its tail flinging up a few drops of water that splashed onto the back of Lu Heyang’s hand.
“No matter what you ultimately decide, I still hope you don’t leave evidence that can be used against you.” Lin Yumian said, looking down as he carved a thin piece of wood and compared it to the paintbrush next to him. “Qingmo had no choice after being caught with a weakness.”
After a pause, he smiled again, “Actually, being caught is nothing, it’s the same as hardening your heart. Your sister appears disinterested and indifferent to everything, but it’s all an act. You are very much like her, but I wonder if your true nature is the same.”
“It seems to be too late,” Lu Heyang said suddenly as he put down the fish food.
Lin Yumian raised his head, “What?”
“It’s getting late. I should head back.”
“Didn’t you just arrive? Aren’t you going to stay for a meal?”
“I want to go somewhere.”
“Are you going skydiving or gliding again?” Lin Yumian sanded the piece of wood, “Besides, the ground is too dangerous, go fly in the sky more.”
Lu Heyang finally laughed, “Then, I’ll head off.”
“Hmm, drive slowly.”
After driving out of the gates, Lu Heyang stopped by the side of the road and picked up his phone to make a call.
When the call connected, Lu Heyang heard a pen drop on the other end, so he asked, “Are you doing your homework?”
“Mn,” Xu Ze’s voice sounded tense.
“So you’re at home now?”
“Yes, I’m at home.”
“Good, I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Xu Ze didn’t waste time being dazed and immediately asked, “Did something happen?”
“No,” Lu Heyang said, “I thought you wanted to see me.”
The other end of the phone was so quiet that he couldn’t even hear his breathing.
Lu Heyang wanted to smile, and he did, but his tone remained normal, “If you don’t want me to come over, I won’t bother you.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Xu Ze replied quickly. Realizing that his reaction was too obvious, he was silent for two seconds before saying in a low voice, “Then be careful while driving.”
“Yeah.”
I can sense the upcoming storm…🙁
+1
Aww our precious buns. 🥹
Thank you for the chapter. 🤍
« I thought you wanted to see me » Are we sure it’s not just the other way around~ 🤨
Thank you once again for your hard work giving us all these chapters~
Thanks for the chapter ⸜(｡ ˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
Thank you for the chapter 🙂