Chapter 26: That Nightmare from Fourteen Years Ago
“Xiaoyao, thank you for risking your life to save me from that dark dungeon all those years ago.”
Yu Xiuqing spoke with a hint of a smile as he gazed at the slightly embarrassed youth across from him. His eyes, like depths of amber, appeared both passionate and cold. For once, his tone carried a trace of genuine sincerity.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be sitting here today; I would have become a cold corpse instead.”
Su Huaiyao was momentarily stunned. He pursed his lips, forcing a layer of tears into his eyes as he looked at the man with determination.
“Don’t talk nonsense. You wouldn’t have been a corpse. Xiuqing-gege must live a good life. Even if I had to sacrifice my own life, I would have brought Xiuqing-gege out of that wretched dungeon!”
“Silly boy, I almost let you fall into danger.”
A flicker of heartache appeared in Yu Xiuqingās eyes. He then took the youth’s hand, his clear phoenix eyes curving upward slightly.
Even now, he clearly remembered that damp, putrid dungeon from fourteen years ago. At only twelve years old, he had been tied to a wooden stake by wanted criminals. His hands and feet were bound tight with iron chains, and not a single patch of skin on his body remained unharmed.
The criminals had held thick, long whips, lashing them ruthlessly across his bare chest.
The blood that sprayed out traced an arc in the air, splattering against the filthy walls in a startling display.
His upper body was a mess of torn flesh, and his collarbones and arms were covered in needle marks from excruciating chemical injections.
Yet he refused to let out even a single groan. His body had already been numbed to all sensation by the pain. He simply gritted his teeth with all his might, staring at those thugs with a chilling gaze.
“Kid, you’ve got quite the endurance, don’t you? I suggest you stop playing dumb and quickly report all the remnants of your father’s spies hidden among us! If you still won’t talk, what comes next won’t be as simple as physical pain!”
Indeed, his father, Yu Jinglin, had been an undercover agent. He specialized in gathering intelligence on various criminal syndicates for the police and then coordinating with organizations to wipe out those dens.
His father had lurked in the shadows for ten whole years without ever being exposed. Even when legendary, cunning bosses were thrown behind bars, they could never figure out who the mole was.
But this time, when Yu Jinglin was handing over information to the police, his identity was mysteriously compromised. The mission failed, and he was caught red-handed by the criminal syndicate, tortured to death bit by bit.
Those cruel criminals then quietly reached out their claws toward Yu Jinglinās wife and his two young sons.
Back then, in order to escape for her life, Jiang Rou only took the youngest son, Yu Beikuo, leaving Yu Xiuqing behind for the criminals.
Unfortunately, this biological motherāthe pampered eldest miss of the Jiang familyāhad heartlessly abandoned him.
Even now, Yu Xiuqing still hated his mother’s heartlessness from that time. Even though she had wept and expressed shame before him countless times, claiming she was forced by circumstances, he remained unmoved.
Perhaps he would never forgive his mother for that so-called act of “considering the bigger picture.”
After all, the marriage between Yu Jinglin and Jiang Rou was only because Old Master Yu had forced his son into a business alliance to carry on the family line. There was no affection to speak of.
He, Yu Xiuqing, was merely the product of his parents’ aphrodisiac-fueled union.
Old Master Yu had never intended for his son to take on such life-threatening work, but he couldn’t sway the stubborn Yu Jinglin.
That year, covered in wounds, Yu Xiuqing had watched helplessly as his own father died before his eyes.
His father, who was covered in honors but could never be seen in the light, lay lifelessly on the ground. His eyes and organs had been gouged out, his heart was incomplete, and only half of his skull remained.
And beside his father lay another battered corpseāa handsome young man.
At that time, Yu Xiuqing knew that this young man had gone through life and death with his father for many years; he was his father’s lover.
The two remained tightly clung together even in death.
His father probably felt regret until the moment he diedāthat he hadn’t been able to marry the person he deeply loved in this life, nor had he been able to protect him well.
Through eyes blurred by blood, Yu Xiuqing had clearly seen the two being dismembered by the criminals.
He couldn’t make a sound; he only wept in silence.
Since those criminals couldn’t get the information they wanted, they naturally wouldn’t let the boy die so easily.
In reality, Yu Xiuqing had been barely over twelve years old at the time. Even if his mind was more mature than children his age, he had absolutely no idea who his father’s collaborators were.
But they still hung him in mid-air day and night, taking turns to whip and torture him.
They made it so he could neither live nor die.
Until one night, he was carefully lowered down. In his dying moments, he seemed to see a youthful face, the mouth moving as if calling his name.
He couldn’t hear clearly, nor could he speak.
The days of torture finally caused him to fall into a dead faint.
Later, when Old Master Yu received word and sent people to the rescue, Yu Xiuqing had already been sent to the hospital.
When he woke up in the hospital bed, he saw Su Huaiyao, covered in blood, looking at him anxiously.
He would probably never forget that face for the rest of his life. Clearly panicked, with tears and snot covering his face, yet when Su Huaiyao saw him wake up, his eyes had sparkled brilliantly.
…
“Xiuqing-gege, what are you thinking about?”
A delicate voice sounded in his ear. Yu Xiuqing was startled out of his memories, his pupils gradually regaining their focus.
As the unhurried evening breeze brushed gently against his face, he suddenly realized that the nightmare from all those years ago had actually passed fourteen years ago.
Furthermore, his father’s death still weighed heavily on his mind.
He had investigated the superiors who were in contact with his father back then and used every means to identify the undercover agents lurking within the criminal syndicate, yet he still couldn’t uncover the truth behind Yu Jinglinās exposure.
Even the criminals who were caught fourteen years ago yielded no results in the interrogation room.
The truth was like a stone sinking into the ocean, unable to surface.
Even though he was now powerful and was the one trampling and torturing others, the intense shadow from when he was twelve would still return in his dreams at midnight. He often suffered from nightmares that prevented him from sleeping soundly, which was why he needed that fool to play the piano to help him sleep.
Thinking of Shen Yuan, the image of the youth in the bathroom with misty eyes and exposed skin involuntarily surfaced in Yu Xiuqingās mind, along with those two soft, sweet lips.
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. It felt as if countless ants were crawling in his heartāan unbearable itch.
Shen Yuanās body and face were like addictive poppy flowers, causing him to mysteriously start feeling restless and flushed.
Yu Xiuqing took a deep breath, immediately throwing these suggestive thoughts to the back of his mind. He was currently accompanying his beloved; how could he think of that idiot?
Seeing the man staring at the red wine in silence, Su Huaiyao swallowed nervously. He gently shook the man’s arm: “Xiuqing-gege, why aren’t you speaking?”
“It’s nothing.”
Yu Xiuqing came to his senses. He balled his fingers into a fist and rubbed his aching temples. His furrowed brows unconsciously revealed deep fatigue and melancholy.
But Su Huaiyao still noticed the irritability on his face. He said with some concern, “Is it really nothing? I feel like Xiuqing-gege is a bit unhappy…”
The man shook his head, then reacted, “By the way, Xiaoyao, I have a gift for you.”
Upon hearing there was a gift, Su Huaiyaoās eyes instantly lit up. He said in surprise, “Wow! What gift is it?”
Yu Xiuqing picked up a heart-shaped white box from the rose bushes beneath the table and slowly untied the ribbon.
Seeing the box, which looked very much like one for a ring, Su Huaiyao was incredibly excited. His fingers resting on the table were trembling.
Was the other planning to propose to him?!
Furthermore, that ring pillow looked much larger than a palm; the diamond ring inside must be huge too!
Maybe it was over ten carats!
Su Huaiyaoās eyes beamed. He stared fixedly at the box, waiting with expectation and excitement for a brilliant, large diamond to appear in his sight.
However, when the man opened the box, it didn’t contain a large diamond ring. Instead, there was a property deed, a car key, a gold card, and a diamond necklace of no small price.
Seeing these items worth a hundred million, the excitement and joy on Su Huaiyaoās face didn’t fade, but deep down, he still felt a small, vague sense of loss.
Why was there no engagement ring…
As long as he could marry Yu Xiuqing and become the mistress of this manor, the things he would receive would be countlessāfar more than just that hundred-million-yuan gift on the table.
Moreover, he could enjoy life to his heart’s content without having to rack his brains to write music scores.
Compared to performing the piano on stage, he preferred to gain without effort and spend money while sitting down. After all, the status of the Nangang Yu Furen was enough to make him the center of attention.
“Xiaoyao.”
The man’s soft call pulled him back from his distant, beautiful fantasies.
Su Huaiyaoās heart trembled slightly. A trace of panic flashed in his eyes, but he remained calm as he said, “What is it?”
“This is a sea-view villa I bought for you near Weihai. Only your name is on the property deed.”
Yu Xiuqing moved the items in front of the youth. Perhaps because the earlier memories had disturbed the romantic atmosphere of the moment, his expression was so calm there wasn’t a single emotional ripple.
“There’s also a Volvo and a gold card for free shopping at the downtown mall. I’m giving them all to Xiaoyao now.”
Toward his beloved, he had always been generous, granting every request and never allowing the other to feel even slightly aggrieved.
Su Huaiyao looked at his somewhat cold expression, which lacked the gaze of a doting lover, and couldn’t help but feel a bit troubled. However, he still pushed the items back, feigning shock:
“Xiuqing-gege… why give me so many things all of a sudden? They’re too valuable! I can’t take them!”
“They aren’t valuable. Xiaoyao has just returned and still has many things to prepare. This is just a small gift from me. There will be more in the future.”
Yu Xiuqing stood up, then put the items into the box. He walked to the youth’s side, bent down like a gentleman, lifted his hand, and placed the gift in his palm.
“Welcome back to my side, Xiaoyao.”
The man’s eyes curved slightly with a faint smile. He looked at that pure and beautiful face, his eyes filled with deep doting.
Su Huaiyao cradled the gift, showing a shy expression. His eyes couldn’t help but grow moist as he said in a low voice:
“Thank you, Xiuqing-gege…”
“Let me put it on for you.”
Yu Xiuqing took the pink crystal necklace from the table and gently put it around the youth’s neck.
“It’s so beautiful!”
Su Huaiyao lowered his head to touch the necklace, enjoying the feel of the diamonds. His bright eyes were full of love for it.
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