Chapter 38
“Bye-bye!” Yu Chen paid no attention at all to the change in He Zhen’s expression. After saying goodbye to Xiao Yu, he tugged on He Zhen. “Boss, let’s go.”
He Zhen’s steps were obviously hesitant as he slowly followed along beside him.
Yu Chen seemed to have endless things to say. He chattered on and on, sharing all the funny things that had happened during the trip.
“Boss, is your cold better? I think you—”
When Yu Chen turned his head, he happened to meet He Zhen’s gaze. Those light-brown eyes of He Zhen’s were especially intent, and there was a trace of scrutiny stirring in them.
“Boss, why are you looking at me like that?” Yu Chen scratched his head awkwardly and twisted a little. “Am I being weird?”
“Yu Chencheng.” He Zhen kept staring at him. “What did Xiao Yu mean just now by marriage partner?”
“Oh, that?” Yu Chen affectionately looped his arm through He Zhen’s and chirped out an explanation. “I was just joking with him. I told him my boss is beautiful as a flower, handsome and dashing, charming and elegant, and that the people who want to marry you must already be lining up all the way to Antarctica. If I could marry you, I’d definitely be the first one to sign up.”
He Zhen stared straight at him. “Marry me?”
“Yeah. If two boys could get married, I’d definitely want to marry you.” Yu Chen greeted the He family driver, then eagerly opened the car door. “Your Highness, please get in.”
A faint smile played around He Zhen’s lips as he climbed into the car.
“Why marry me?”
“Because my boss is outstanding.”
Sitting in the back, He Zhen fell into quiet thought.
After Yu Chen got in too, He Zhen asked again, “Why is it marry me and not marry into my family?”
Yu Chen grinned. By now, his attention had already shifted completely to the snacks He Zhen had prepared for him ahead of time.
He tore open a bag of cookies and said with puffed cheeks, “Marrying into your family works too. If you’re willing, I can even be your child bride.”
The driver smiled to himself, thinking these two children really did have a very close bond. For one boy to be willing to be another boy’s child bride—it really was something.
He Zhen looked at Yu Chen with an odd expression and asked after a moment, “You even know what a child bride is?”
“How could I not know?” Yu Chen chewed his cookie, his brows and eyes curving up happily. “In the old society, rich families would find a child bride for their little young master.”
He Zhen replied, “You said it yourself—that was the old society.”
Yu Chen argued with him, “But I’d be doing it willingly. Just for you!”
He Zhen looked at him deeply. “Fine.”
Yu Chen’s mind was occupied entirely by how many cookies he was allowed to eat at most, and he completely failed to notice the seriousness in He Zhen’s face.
When they returned to White Rose Manor, the moment Yu Chen stepped inside, he smelled the fragrance of steamed beef dumplings. Throwing down his luggage, he ran over to Li Huan in three steps, clinging to him and acting spoiled while pouring out how much he had missed him.
Holding Yu Chen’s cheeks in both hands, Li Huan examined him closely. “You’ve gotten thinner, but it also looks like you’ve grown taller.”
Yu Chen’s brows shot up at once. He immediately fetched a measuring tape and had He Zhen help measure his height.
“163.5.” Seeing the number, He Zhen’s expression turned slightly grave.
He remembered that last time Yu Chen had measured 163.2 barefoot. Today, with shoes that had about a two-centimeter heel, how was he only 165?
Hearing the number, Yu Chen pulled a miserable face. “How come I only grew this little?”
He Zhen did not have the heart to tell Yu Chen how much “moisture” there was in that height measurement, so he changed the subject. “Uncle, are the dumplings ready?”
Li Huan nodded. “Ready. Let’s eat.”
He Zhen glanced upstairs. “Has Grandpa eaten yet?”
“Old Master already ate. He’s resting right now and said he’ll eat with you again later tonight.”
“Alright.”
The steamed dumplings Li Huan made were incredibly delicious. Yu Chen could eat twenty in one sitting. Seeing Yu Chen wolf them down, Li Huan quickly reminded him, “Chencheng, slow down. It’s bad for your stomach.”
With oil glistening around his mouth, Yu Chen hugged his bowl and praised Li Huan, “Dad, your dumplings are the best dumplings in the whole world. I wouldn’t trade them even for a whole box of gold.”
Li Huan laughed. The more he looked at his son, the more precious he seemed. “If you like them, I’ll make them for you every day.”
He Zhen had not even taken a bite yet. He was busy peeling mantis shrimp for Yu Chen. Using the serving chopsticks, Li Huan picked up a dumpling for He Zhen and urged, “You eat first. Don’t worry about Chencheng, I’ll peel them for you.”
“It’ll be done in a second.” He Zhen still did not pick up his own chopsticks and instead fed the peeled mantis shrimp straight into Yu Chen’s mouth.
“Ah! Thank you, Boss!”
Yu Chen enjoyed He Zhen’s care with perfect natural ease. His bowl was never empty from beginning to end, and his mouth never had a moment of rest.
Li Huan studied He Zhen carefully and felt more and more that their Chencheng really was a little lucky star. Though he had suffered quite a bit before the age of four, ever since coming to the He family, he had not been wronged in the slightest. He had been cherished and cared for in every possible way, and he even had a gentle, considerate older brother like He Zhen.
“Chencheng’s back.” Old Master He’s voice appeared at the restaurant doorway. He Zhen and Yu Chen both rose. “Grandpa.”
Old Master He gestured for them to sit and continue eating, while he himself sat down on the sofa and looked Yu Chen over. “So, did Chencheng have fun playing abroad? Why don’t you look any plumper?”
Yu Chen curled his lips into a smile. “I ate really well. It’s just because I grew taller, so I don’t look fatter.”
“You grew taller? That’s good news.” Old Master He, not using his wheelchair today, nodded while leaning on his cane. “Chencheng, Grandpa actually came looking for you.”
“Looking for me?” Yu Chen walked over with a solemn expression and asked, “Grandpa, what do you need me for?”
Old Master He gave a little signal, and the teacher in charge of He Zhen’s course schedule walked in from outside the dining room.
“Teacher Li?”
He Zhen looked surprised, not understanding what Grandpa was planning to do.
“A few days ago, I was chatting with Li Huan, and he said Chencheng wants to become a scientist?”
“That’s right.” Yu Chen cleared his throat and began reporting his lofty ambitions to Old Master He, along with his future career plan.
After listening, Old Master He smiled gently. “You want to test into Fuda’s food science program? Qingda seems to have one too. Don’t want to go there?”
“I want to stay a little closer to Dad, so it’ll be easier to take care of him.” Yu Chen smiled at Li Huan. “And if I work in Hai City in the future, it’ll be more convenient to look after him too.”
Old Master He joked, “Stay in Hai City to work? Then how about coming to our group to help Xiao Zhen?”
“Help Boss?” Yu Chen hesitated. “But I don’t really like that kind of work. I want to be a scientist.”
In the novel’s original plot, the grown-up Yu Chen really did become He Zhen’s right-hand man and work at Hefeng Group.
“Grandpa.” He Zhen interrupted the conversation between the two of them. “Yu Chen isn’t very interested in business administration. Doing scientific research is his dream.”
Yu Chen nodded. “Exactly. I want to invent food-preservation technologies, the kind that ideally don’t harm the human body.”
Old Master He chuckled. “Being a scientist is fine too. But if you went to help Xiao Zhen, then one day he’d be the chairman and you’d be the general manager. Wouldn’t that be impressive?”
The moment he heard that He Zhen might need help, Yu Chen fell into hesitation. “If Boss needs me, then I can help him too.”
“I don’t need that.” He Zhen did not understand why Grandpa was suddenly saying all this, and he firmly stated his position once again. “I hope Yu Chen can do what he wants to do.”
“Fine, Grandpa won’t force you. Or when you grow up and have new ideas, you can always change your mind later.” Turning to Teacher Li, Old Master He said, “From now on, add Yu Chen into the logic and reasoning classes, foreign language classes, and courses like golf and international chess. Let him study together with Xiao Zhen.”
Teacher Li nodded. “I’ll do a diagnostic assessment for Yu Chen and provide course support suited to his level.”
Yu Chen went blank. “Huh? Grandpa?”
Old Master He smiled. “That surprising, little scientist? Your dad already agreed.”
Yu Chen turned to look at Li Huan. Li Huan explained, “Following along in your brother’s classes will let you learn a lot of things. Didn’t you say you want to get into Fuda? It’s not an easy university to get into.”
Yu Chen’s mind was having trouble catching up. His whole head was full of thoughts of the holiday life that was about to leave him and drift farther and farther away.
“Why aren’t you thanking Grandpa yet?” Li Huan reminded him.
Yu Chen solemnly inclined his head. “Thank you, Grandpa, for cultivating me.”
Old Master He nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Xiao Zhen will have company from now on.”
He Zhen had no objection to Grandpa’s decision. The logic and reasoning classes he took were taught by famous professors and great teachers from the top ranks of the academic world in China. Every month there were even small-scale academic exchange meetings. If Yu Chen truly wanted to become a scientist, it could only be beneficial for him to make those kinds of connections.
Besides, from now on, Yu Chen would be able to keep him company.
“Thank you, Grandpa,” He Zhen also said.
Old Master He waved a hand. “Go on and continue eating. I’m going out for a walk.”
He Zhen and Yu Chen escorted Old Master He out together before returning to finish dinner.
After the meal, Li Huan deliberately called Yu Chen out on his own. Worried that Yu Chen might develop a rebellious mindset from having less time to play, he earnestly advised him, “Chencheng, even though studying will be harder for you now, when you’re older you’ll understand how precious this kind of opportunity is. Grandpa letting you follow your brother into these classes is for your own good. As people, we absolutely have to know how to tell what’s good from what’s bad.”
“Don’t worry, Dad.” Yu Chen smiled obediently, his eyes curving into crescents. “I know all that. Other people couldn’t even get into these classes no matter how much money they spent. I’ll definitely work hard and study together with Boss.”
“Chencheng is so good.” Li Huan rubbed his head, already deciding that from now on he would make all late-night snacks and nourishing soups in double portions and properly nourish both children.
“When I earn money in the future, I’m going to be filial to Grandpa too.” Yu Chen’s eyes were full of clear laughter. “I know Brother and Grandpa are very good to us.”
Li Huan had originally worried Yu Chen would resist this arrangement and had prepared a whole belly full of things to say. He had not expected Yu Chen to be much more mature than he thought. On top of that, he was very clever and knew how to be grateful.
“As long as you understand.” A trace of bitterness welled up in Li Huan’s eyes. “Go sleep with your brother.”
Yu Chen blew him a kiss. “Goodnight, Dad~”
Li Huan smiled indulgently. “Goodnight.”
Watching Yu Chen’s cheerful departing figure, Li Huan felt conflicted.
People always said that if parents truly loved their children, then they would make long-term plans for them.
When Old Master He had first proposed cultivating Yu Chen, Li Huan had actually been very happy. Old Master He trusted Yu Chen. If Yu Chen could become He Zhen’s right-hand man, that would certainly be far better than leaving things to those people with ulterior motives, and it would also make He Zhen’s burden lighter.
What he had not expected was that Yu Chen’s determination to become a scientist would be this strong.
But fortunately, Old Master He was not forcing him.
Then let things take their natural course.
Li Huan could not provide Yu Chen with educational resources of this caliber himself, and he had always felt deeply guilty about that. So for this opportunity, he hoped Yu Chen would truly cherish it.
Once the matter was settled, Yu Chen became a thoroughly busy little person. Not only did he have no time at night to play games with Xiao Yu and the others, he also often vanished on weekends. If they wanted to have a meal together, they had to book him half a month in advance.
One evening during self-study, with the homeroom teacher absent, the class was especially lively.
Xiao Yu quietly turned around and asked Yu Chen across the diagonal aisle, “Chubby Chencheng, what’s been going on with you lately? Did your dad sign you up for a ton of interest classes?”
He Zhen was at the English teacher’s office helping out. If he had been there, he definitely would have strictly forbidden Xiao Yu from disturbing Yu Chen during self-study.
“Mm-hmm.” Yu Chen had already finished his homework and was reviewing the key points from his spoken English lesson. He was so busy that he did not even have time to lift his head.
Fang Jingrao asked, “Chencheng, what classes did your dad sign you up for?”
Yu Chen muttered, “He made me take classes together with Boss.”
“Damn, that’s way too tragic for you.” He Zhi’an had already emerged from the shadow of heartbreak. His eyes widened. “Brother Zhen’s classes are hell level. Can you even handle them?”
Yu Chen pulled a long face the size of a palm. “It’s okay. I only follow along for some of the classes. Boss is the one who’s really suffering. Recently they even added a public management class, so he can’t sleep until really late every night.”
Xiao Yu clicked his tongue and shook his head. “How tragic.”
“Yeah… so every night before bed, I have to massage his shoulders and pound his legs and basically attend to him until he sleeps.”
“Huh? Then you’re pretty tragic too…”
Fang Jingrao felt extremely sympathetic toward Yu Chen’s situation.
Wasn’t He Zhen going too far? He was actually making Yu Chen serve him?
After hearing all this, Xiao Yu could not help starting to overthink again.
Yu Chen was taking classes with He Zhen now, and at night he was serving He Zhen too. Could it be that the He family was actually grooming him into a child bride?
No, a child groom.
And the key point was—Yu Chen was a boy!
Animals!
He Zhi’an was furious over this and secretly swore that sooner or later, he would find a chance to tell his mother and expose just how overbearing that nephew she was always so proud of really was.
Day by day, under the grinding pressure of all these elite classes, Yu Chen’s abilities improved at a startling pace.
But Yu Chen himself was not nearly as happy about it. Faced with the pressure, he even began to wonder whether he would still be able to grow taller like this. The far-off winter break was the one last breath keeping him going.
And so Yu Chen waited and waited and waited, until at last winter break arrived.
Only it came bundled with a whole pile of extra classes.
For example, swimming, social etiquette, and waltz lessons.
Still, compared to school days, Yu Chen at least could sleep in sometimes. So that morning, when He Zhen had arranged to go to the fencing hall with his fencing teacher to watch a competition, Yu Chen stayed buried in bed and flatly refused to get out.
With no other choice, He Zhen went alone.
After the match ended, outside the fencing hall, he saw a familiar middle-aged man.
“Xiao Zhen, long time no see.”
The man who spoke was named Qin Jingqian, his mother’s cousin.
“Cousin Uncle, when did you come back to the country?”
He Zhen had some impression of Qin Jingqian. Back when his mother died, his father had been busy taking care of both sets of elderly parents, and it was Qin Jingqian who had handled almost everything related to the funeral and other matters.
He had heard from his maternal grandmother that Qin Jingqian had been very close to his mother and had loved her dearly.
“I recently came back to handle some business. I happened to pass by the fencing hall, thought that person looked like you, and came in.” Qin Jingqian patted He Zhen on the shoulder. “You’ve gotten so tall. Are you one-eighty yet?”
He Zhen replied, “Measured yesterday. One seventy-nine.”
Qin Jingqian sighed with emotion. “Your eyes really do look so much like your mother’s.”
He Zhen lowered his eyes and said nothing.
“Come on, Cousin Uncle will take you to dinner. Let’s catch up.”
“Alright.”
Inside the restaurant’s private room, Qin Jingqian kept putting food into He Zhen’s bowl.
“All of these were dishes your mother loved. Cousin Uncle doesn’t know what you like to eat, so I just ordered these.”
Picking up a piece of rose pastry, Qin Jingqian’s voice caught several times. “When she was little, your mother used to crave these so much she pestered me every day to buy them for her. Your grandmother loved her, so that was how she developed such good cooking skills.”
“Oh right, do you still keep in touch often with your grandmother and grandfather on that side?”
“No.” He Zhen’s eyes dimmed. Ever since his mother died, the loss of their only daughter had left his maternal grandparents bedridden with grief. They had already been in recovery from cancer, but after becoming heartsick, they remained long confined to bed. Especially after He Jingyue abandoned him, his grandparents, devastated by the betrayal of their son-in-law, had wanted to take him away. But the shock and anger hit too hard, and both of them suffered strokes. Even now, they still had trouble speaking.
He Zhen regularly sent messages to his grandmother, though they did not talk much. Almost all of it centered around his grandfather’s health. His grandmother’s caregiver had said that once the old couple’s health improved a little more in a few days, they would move back to China to settle down and reunite with He Zhen.
“The two of them are weak and sickly too, so there’s not much they can do.” Qin Jingqian poured He Zhen a glass of juice, then downed a glass of red wine himself. “These past years really have been hard on you.”
As he spoke, Qin Jingqian’s voice grew choked.
He Zhen had always felt goodwill toward his mother’s side of the family, not to mention that this was the cousin brother who had loved his mother the most. Slowly, He Zhen lifted a hand and placed it lightly on Qin Jingqian’s faintly trembling back. “Cousin Uncle, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m doing very well.”
Qin Jingqian drained all the wine on the table in one go. Perhaps he was drunk, because suddenly a fierce anger rose in his eyes. “There’s not a single good person in the He family! They used our Qin family’s power to rise, sucked almost all the Qin family’s resources dry, and caused your mother to be blamed by the rest of the clan. That was how she fell into depression. That bastard He Jingyue had someone else in his heart, yet still proposed to your mother. And your grandfather indulged his son in cheating! Your mother cried every single day because of it. Now I suspect the whole thing was your grandfather’s setup from the very beginning! The He family owes our Qin family!”
After hearing all that, all the blood in He Zhen’s body seemed to freeze in an instant. His eyes lost focus, and his whole body went numb and dazed.
No one had ever told him any of those things before.
He knew his father was a bastard.
But how could the grandfather he believed had always loved him be that kind of person?
And his mother’s depression…
“Cousin Uncle, what you said…” He Zhen had no strength left to finish the sentence. His heart was filled with confusion.
Beside him, Qin Jingqian did not respond for a very long time.
He Zhen turned to look at him and discovered that Qin Jingqian had fallen asleep with his head on the table.
Staring at the empty wine glass in front of him, there was not the slightest warmth in He Zhen’s black eyes. The chaos in his thoughts made his head throb as if it would split apart.
He did not know how much time had passed before his phone screen lit up.
[Yu Chen: My dearest boss, after waking up and not seeing you by the bed, I miss you terribly. When are you coming home?]
He Zhen stared blankly at the screen. The weight of everything he had just heard made it hard for him to breathe.
And so another two silent hours passed.
He looked at Qin Jingqian and studied the drunken state he was in.
Was it really truth spilling out after too much alcohol?
At that moment, arguing voices suddenly broke out in the restaurant corridor.
Awakened by the noise, Qin Jingqian slowly raised his head.
“Xiao Zhen?”
His drunken eyes were misty. He glanced at the time. “It’s this late already? Did I… fall asleep?”
He Zhen’s voice was hoarse. “Cousin Uncle, was what you said true? Grandpa has always treated me very well all these years.”
“What did I say?” Qin Jingqian pressed a hand to his temple, tiredly taking a small can of medicine from his pocket and washing it down with water. As he did, a business card slipped out.
“You said my mother marrying my father was all part of the He family’s plan. And her depression too—”
“I didn’t say that!” Qin Jingqian cut him off at once. “Xiao Zhen, was I drunk just now?”
Seeing Qin Jingqian’s secretive and evasive manner, He Zhen frowned. “Mm. You said a lot of things I’d never heard before.”
“Child, listen to me.” Qin Jingqian did his best to stay sober. “Your biggest task right now is to study hard and in the future become the chairman of the He family, so your mother can be proud of you!”
“I have to go now. Cousin Uncle has things to do.” He seemed very anxious, as though he had committed some enormous mistake. “Xiao Zhen, I’ll come see you again when I have time.”
“Remember this—don’t let anyone else know about what happened today. The methods of the He family… you have no idea.”
As he watched Qin Jingqian hurry away, all strength drained out of He Zhen’s body. It felt as though every ounce of energy had been sucked away, and the crushing suffocation pressed on him so hard he could not breathe.
Was it true?
Not one single word connected to any of it had ever been told to him.
He resolved that when his grandparents’ condition improved tomorrow, he would ask them directly to verify it.
He did not want to believe Grandpa was that kind of person.
And if Cousin Uncle had been lying to him, then what was his purpose?
That was when he noticed the business card on the floor. It must have fallen out by accident when Qin Jingqian took out his medicine just now.
He Zhen bent down and picked it up, his fingers settling on the name Qin Jingqian.
Then he closed his eyes. The pulsing pain in his head made him desperately want to filter out every painful memory.
[Yu Chen: My most handsome boss, Chencheng misses you. Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet? You weren’t kidnapped by bandits, were you?]
Looking at the glowing screen, He Zhen used the last of his strength to reply: “Yu Chencheng, I’m at Mingzhao Restaurant.”
[Yu Chen: Huh? Do you need me to ride over on a motorcycle and pick you up? No one else, just me.]
He Zhen’s mind was blank. “Mm.”
[Yu Chen: Roger that! I’m going to scan a shared bike and come get you right away!]
Putting down his phone, He Zhen buried his head deeply, forcing back the urge to cry.
At eight o’clock that evening, Yu Chen jumped out of a taxi and at a glance saw He Zhen sitting alone on the restaurant steps.
The mission his boss had given him was a secret one, which meant he clearly did not want other people to know. So Yu Chen had refused the driver’s offer to drop him there and come by himself.
“Boss, what’s wrong?”
The late-autumn chill had left He Zhen’s hands icy cold.
Looking at He Zhen’s reddened eyes, Yu Chen hurriedly took off his coat and draped it over him.
“Boss, you’re unhappy?”
Yu Chen had never seen He Zhen like this before and was badly frightened.
“Boss, I’ll warm you up.”
Placing both hands on the sides of He Zhen’s face, Yu Chen pulled He Zhen’s head into his own arms. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. No matter what happens, I’ll block it for you. Even if the sky falls, I’ll stand on a chair and hold it up for you.”
“Yu Chencheng…” He Zhen’s whole body was cold clear to the bone. His hands hung powerless at his sides, fingers weakly curled. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition.
“Hey, I’m here!” A hot tear suddenly fell into Yu Chen’s palm. He looked at He Zhen in burning panic, desperate to know what huge thing could possibly have hurt his precious boss this badly.
“I don’t want to go home.” He Zhen clung to Yu Chen. “I want to talk to you.”
“Alright. Let’s go to the twenty-four-hour McDonald’s and take advantage of their heat.”
“Mm.”
Today, He Zhen was obedient in a way that was almost unusual. Wherever Yu Chen tugged him, he went.
Once they finally got into the warmth of the restaurant, Yu Chen helped He Zhen sit down and quickly caught his icy hands, rubbing them over and over.
“Boss, no matter how upset you are, you can’t sit outside freezing like that.” Yu Chen frowned, and his eyes instantly reddened. “My heart is shattered.”
He Zhen weakly lifted his trembling hand, signaling for him not to cry.
Yu Chen shook his head, and tears still fell anyway.
His boss was so strong. He never made a sound when getting shots or medical treatment. For him to be this upset, he must have suffered some immense grievance.
“Boss, you mustn’t do this to yourself.”
“It was so cold out there. It hurts me just to think about you…”
The more Yu Chen spoke, the more choked up he became. Just like when they were little, whenever He Zhen was upset, Yu Chen would hurt right along with him.
He Zhen’s lips were pale, and his dark eyes were full of endless avoidance.
“Hurry and tell me—what exactly happened?”
After warming He Zhen’s hands, Yu Chen began straightening his clothes for him too.
He Zhen’s throat was dry. After taking a breath, he told Yu Chen everything he had heard that day.
While listening, Yu Chen’s brows gradually drew together. In his heart, he frantically searched his memory for the name Qin Jingqian.
He knew that someone would use the pretext of He Zhen’s mother to stir up trouble. But he did not know exactly who it was, only that it had something to do with He Zhen’s two uncles.
Qin Jingqian was He Zhen’s cousin uncle on his mother’s side.
How could he be working with He Zhen’s two uncles?
Clutching He Zhen’s hand tightly, Yu Chen’s eyes were faintly damp, but his gaze was extraordinarily firm. “Boss, do you trust me?”
He Zhen’s face was terribly pale, but he nodded lightly.
“Yu Chencheng.”
“You are the only person in this world I trust.”
Yu Chen frowned. “Boss, arrange to meet Cousin Uncle again. I want to have a face-to-face with him.”
“I think his motives aren’t pure!”
When Yu Chen said that, he actually had no evidence. He was worried that because He Zhen cared too much about the matter of his mother, he might not believe him.
The original reason Yu Chen had wanted to befriend He Zhen had been very simple.
He wanted to gain He Zhen’s trust and help him avoid all the malicious schemes aimed at him.
He wanted He Zhen to grow up safe and happy.
“Boss, do you not believe me?” Yu Chen’s voice turned weak and hesitant as he hurriedly tried to think of how to make He Zhen trust him.
The chill in He Zhen’s eyes suddenly calmed.
“I believe you, Yu Chencheng.”
“I also have doubts about this matter.”
A startled smile rose on Yu Chen’s face. He took hold of He Zhen’s hand. “Then we’ll investigate it together. Whoever bullies you, I won’t let him off!”
He Zhen held on tightly to Yu Chen’s palm, his knuckles turning faintly white.
“Okay.”
At the same time, Qin Jingqian was reclining on the sofa in his hotel room, the most prosperous night view of Hai City spread out beneath his eyes.
In his text messages, he was in the middle of composing one.
[I already did what you told me to do. I’ll keep following up afterward. He Zhen reacted strongly today. He should believe what I told him by now and hate your old man to the bone.]
[As for the gambling den, remember your promise.]
