Chapter 25: Two Hundred Thousand in Hush Money
Seeing him staring straight at him with eyes that were not as easy to bully as that fool’s, Su Huaiyao was suddenly panicked, but even more so he was afraid of being discovered.
He kept looking around vigilantly, his fingers gripping the bars involuntarily tightening, his palms sweating as he asked anxiously:
“Just what did you come here for?”
Shen Nianzhu appreciated his “guilty-thief” appearance and said unhurriedly: “Did Su Xiansheng forget? My 200,000 in hard-earned money hasn’t been given to me yet.”
The person in the surveillance video who looked exactly like Shen Yuan was Shen Nianzhu. And this “bitter-meat-trap” of framing Shen Yuan by being pushed down the stairs was also entirely planned by Su Huaiyao.
“200,000?!”
Su Huaiyao couldn’t control the volume of his voice, shocked by this number. But he immediately realized he was too agitated and covered his mouth, lowering his voice in a growl:
“Didn’t we agree on 100,000 before? And the one who was hurt was me! You were fine, you even pushed me down the stairs—how do you have the face to open your mouth so wide?!”
But the other didn’t care at all about how miserable he was, his tone hard and cold: “It’s already been a week, and you still haven’t given me the money. Shouldn’t interest be added?”
“Is there anyone who adds interest by directly doubling it?!”
Su Huaiyao glared at him, grit his teeth, and said: “I’ve only just returned from studying abroad. Where would I have that much money!”
“You would be without money? Don’t you have a boyfriend with a net worth in the billions? Don’t you have a pianist mother?”
Shen Nianzhu pressed step by step, hitting every point, determined to skin this person before him for a large sum.
He knew Su Huaiyao’s weaknesses clearly. 200,000 was enough for him to live comfortably for a long time.
The young man’s mouth curved slightly, his face full of disdain. Using a tone that was half-smiling yet full of threat, he spoke:
“If you don’t give me the money, be careful or I’ll spill all your dirty methods. I’ll let your CEO boyfriend see that his ‘gentle and considerate’ white moonlight is actually a lowly and shameless, treacherous villain behind his back!”
Hearing these words, Su Huaiyao panicked. He knew the other would dare to do anything. He suddenly began to regret that he shouldn’t have cooperated with such a person in the first place.
If it weren’t to completely eradicate the substitute that was Shen Yuan, to be able to live as a couple with Yu Xiuqing, he wouldn’t have had to aggrieve himself and even be threatened!
The person outside the iron gate was clearly impatient, kicking the bars and urging: “Have you thought it through? Believe it or not, I’ll go in right now and tell Yu Shao?”
“Wait!”
Su Huaiyao hurriedly called out to him, reaching his hand through the bars to grab the other’s clothes. Even though his chest was filled with a ball of rage, he could only endure the pain: “Fine, 200,000 is 200,000! Get lost quickly! Don’t let anyone see!”
“Heh, consider yourself sensible.”
Shen Nianzhu curled his lips in triumph, his eyes revealing a look of contempt. He offhandedly blew at his hair:
“Of course I’ll get lost. Don’t let the great Su pianist worry. After all, I know the difference between being full for one meal and having food for every meal.”
After saying that, he winked at the furious Su Huaiyao. His gaze was misty, revealing a mysterious charm. Then he turned around and walked away, satisfied.
Su Huaiyao kicked the iron bars in rage, only to let out an “aiyou” in pain, holding his leg as he leaned against the wall.
He glared maliciously at Shen Nianzhu’s shadow disappearing into the night, secretly vowing that sooner or later he would find someone to kill this thing that didn’t know the height of the sky or depth of the earth!
While he was fuming, a middle-toned male voice suddenly sounded from beside him—gentle, yet carrying a trace of coldness:
“Xiaoyao, why are you here?”
Su Huaiyao was startled into a jump, letting out a “ah!” and staggering several steps. He was quickly supported by a sturdy large hand, preventing him from falling to the floor.
His beautiful face was visibly pale, and fine cold sweat seeped from his forehead. He could only desperately suppress the tension in his heart, inhaling several breaths of air as he looked at the man guiltily.
Then he forced a smile on his mouth that looked worse than crying. Although his expression was calm, his voice still trembled:
“Xiu… Xiuqing-gege? You’ve finished bathing…”
“Mm. I just came out of the bathroom and went to your room to find you. You weren’t there. Lin Ma said you were outside.”
Yu Xiuqing supported him as they walked a few steps into the light. His sharp eyes instantly captured the panic on the other’s face, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit suspicious.
He hadn’t made that much noise just now, had he?
He raised his hand to stroke the other’s slightly pale face. His eyes, as thick and dark as ink, couldn’t reveal any emotion, nor was there much heartache. He only asked with symbolic concern:
“Xiaoyao, why is your face so white? Did I scare you just now? Sorry.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s not Xiuqing-gege’s fault.”
Su Huaiyao shook his head. He tilted his head, pressing his face into the man’s warm palm. His eyes were full of deep emotion as he stared at the man, a smile on his lips as he lied logically:
“I just felt it was too hot and stuffy indoors, so I came out for a walk and then unconsciously walked to the gate.”
“By the way, who were you talking to just now?”
The man’s sudden question made Su Huaiyao’s heart shake violently. But looking at the other’s calm appearance, he was 90% sure Yu Xiuqing hadn’t heard.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feigning joy as he waved his phone: “Me? I was just on the phone with my mom. She was asking if my injury had improved.”
“Mm.”
Yu Xiuqing indeed didn’t suspect much. He shifted his gaze, looking him up and down, and suddenly noticed the leg wrapped in a cast, asking:
“Xiaoyao, why didn’t you take your crutch? If your leg is inconvenient, don’t walk around randomly. Or find a servant to accompany you.”
Hearing this, Su Huaiyao’s heart was startled once again. Only then did he remember he was still in an “injured” state. Because of Shen Nianzhu’s sudden arrival just now, he had lost his composure and forgotten!
He immediately performed a “shaky” appearance, leaning against the man’s shoulder and bending his left leg.
The terrified expression had been suppressed. His flickering gaze was piteous, and his soft voice carried a trace of hoarseness:
“I don’t want to use a crutch…”
“Why?”
Yu Xiuqing looked down at him, one hand holding his shoulder to let him lean completely into his chest.
Su Huaiyao lowered his eyes, slightly biting his red lip. His entire body was like it had no bones, sticking to the man.
His white and slender finger was slowly raised, placed on the man’s chest. Through the shirt, he could clearly hear Yu Xiuqing’s steady and powerful heartbeat.
Su Huaiyao felt very satisfied and secure. His fingertip ambiguously traced a circle on the man’s heart. His clear eyes were flowing with tears, his soft voice feigning strength:
“I feel I can walk by myself. Using a crutch only makes me feel like a cripple, very useless. And I’ll also be a burden to Xiuqing-gege… I don’t want to…”
Hearing this, Yu Xiuqing felt a bit of heartache. His cool thin lips rubbed against the other’s forehead as he comforted:
“Xiaoyao, with me, you don’t have to be too strong. Just rely on me completely. And if you don’t like crutches, I can be your crutch and take care of you.”
“Really?!”
Su Huaiyao’s eyes were sparkling. He looked up at him, his face full of undisguised joy.
“Really.”
Yu Xiuqing nodded, his smile growing even warmer. He stroked the other’s face and said: “Go. I’ve prepared a surprise for you—consider it a belated gift for your return to the country.”
the other was full of smiles: “Mm!”
Yu Xiuqing took a black silk scarf from his pocket: “Tie this on; keep a bit of mystery.”
“Okay! Xiuqing-gege, I’m ready!”
Su Huaiyao stood straight and closed both eyes, allowing the man to gently tie the gauze over his eyes.
His vision went dark. He leaned even more like a “little bird depending on a person” as he held the man’s arm, his face flush and full of expectation. He spoke in a shy and delicate voice:
“Xiuqing-gege, where are you taking me?”
Yu Xiuqing took his hand, their fingers interlocked. He dotingly smoothed the hair on the other’s forehead and said warmly:
“You’ll know in a moment.”
“Okay~”
Yu Xiuqing carefully supported him, circling around the courtyard, always paying attention to the path beneath his feet, reminding:
“Watch the steps.”
Su Huaiyao was led to the back garden, his hand holding the man’s arm with a death grip for fear of falling.
This was the largest and most luxurious back garden in the Yu Family Manor, filled with all sorts of famous and expensive flowers and trees.
In the center of the garden was a stone table and chairs. He was carefully supported by the man to sit on a stone stool.
“Xiuqing-gege, are we there?”
Su Huaiyao’s heart was filled with immense joy. He couldn’t wait to take the gauze off his face.
“We’re there.”
Yu Xiuqing answered softly, then reached out to untie the silk scarf over his eyes and turned to sit opposite him.
Su Huaiyao slowly opened both eyes. Upon seeing the exquisite decorations around him, his mouth was wide enough to fit two eggs.
He saw cluster after cluster of red roses blooming on the lawn, surrounding the stone table in the center.
Each rose was embedded with a Sri Lankan blue sapphire worth hundreds of thousands, sparkling with a soul-stirring light.
From the stone slabs to the grass, it was paved with petals. The tree trunks were tied with heart-shaped lights. At a glance, it was like a dream or a fantasy.
In this beautiful and atmospheric sea of flowers, the two figures looked so striking and eye-catching.
“So romantic! It’s truly too beautiful!”
Su Huaiyao looked at all of this specially arranged for him, his eyes revealing a look of surprise and emotion.
That man always knew he liked roses.
Yu Xiuqing took the red wine from the table and slowly poured it into the high-heeled glass in front of the other. His eyes were deep as he asked mysteriously: “Xiaoyao, do you know what day today is?”
“What day is it?”
Su Huaiyao blinked his beautiful apricot eyes, resting his chin in his hands. His eyes rolled: “Hmm… is it our anniversary? That doesn’t seem right. And it’s not my or Xiuqing-gege’s birthday.”
He couldn’t guess it and said anxiously: “Xiuqing-gege, speak quickly! So what day is it?”
Yu Xiuqing lowered his eyes, picked up a piece of salmon, and put it into the other’s mouth, saying gently: “Today is the day you saved me from that dungeon fourteen years ago.”
Hearing this, Su Huaiyao’s joyful emotion suddenly lessened by several degrees. His movement of chewing food paused as he said in realization:
“Oh! If Xiuqing-gege hadn’t said it, I would have forgotten!”
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