A few minutes ago, the young man had been complaining about his hand hurting. It wasn’t a spoiled or unreasonable kind of complaining, but one tinged with grievance and a hint of playfulness.
He even looked like he was about to cry when no one untied the ropes.
Yan Lulin remained silent for a few seconds before finally stepping forward to untie the ropes.
The others didn’t say anything when they saw this. After all, the boy was so weak that even without being tied up, there was no chance he could escape, especially with everyone still present.
He couldn’t run even if they let him.
Zhou Jincheng, who was looking through some documents, clicked his tongue in mild discontent, but he didn’t try to stop Yan Lulin. Instead, he moved to another spot to continue his research, out of sight and out of mind.
After the ropes were untied, Ruan Qing stopped complaining and obediently sat on a nearby bench.
He sat there like a little kid in kindergarten, legs together, hands resting on his knees, quiet and well-behaved.
It was the kind of behavior that made people’s hearts melt.
So well-behaved.
So well-behaved that it made hearts race, so well-behaved that it stirred a strange feeling deep inside.
Because of his memory loss, Ruan Qing had completely forgotten the danger of his situation. He had also entirely forgotten that the people in front of him were the kidnappers who had taken him.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of anxiety or fear in his beautiful eyes—only innocence and naivety, and a sense of attachment and closeness to Zhou Jincheng.
Even though Zhou Jincheng hadn’t paid him any attention, Ruan Qing just sat quietly beside him, waiting.
When the others glanced his way, Ruan Qing tilted his head slightly in a confused and obedient manner, his delicate face showing a hint of puzzlement.
It was as if he was wondering why everyone was looking at him.
In his eyes, there was only purity and innocence. They were as beautiful as gemstones, undimmed even by the dark basement.
So beautiful that it was heart-stirring.
When the young man’s pure gaze swept over them, it not only made hearts flutter but also seemed to carry a hint of seduction.
It intensified that strange feeling from before.
In the deepest corners of their hearts, it was as if something had been planted, and now it was beginning to quietly take root and sprout.
And then, without a sound, it started growing wildly.
Duan Ming suppressed that strange feeling and somewhat unnaturally looked away, subconsciously asking in a low voice, "What do we do now?"
Zhou Jinchen, standing beside him, sneered at this and stuffed his phone back into his pocket. "What does his amnesia have to do with us? We're not his father. Why should we care if he's sick or not?"
Upon hearing this, Duan Ming's lips pressed tightly together, and he said no more.
Because he realized that he had just asked a foolish question.
Once they got the money, they would have nothing more to do with this young master.
They were people from two different worlds. If Ren Yanqing hadn't forced them into this by kidnapping him, they likely would never have crossed paths in this lifetime.
And this kidnapping would just be like two lines intersecting, only to drift further apart after that, never to meet again.
As long as Ren Yanqing gave them the money on time, he would still be the pampered young master.
Meanwhile, they had gone from being workers to kidnappers, a world of difference between them, and there would never be a day where they crossed paths again.
Yan Lulin, standing nearby, frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "His illness has nothing to do with us, but until we get the money, he can't die here."
All they wanted was the money that belonged to them. If someone really ended up dead, the situation would change completely.
Even if the young master died from his illness.
Zhou Jinchen, looking indifferent, said casually, "Don't worry. Even if he doesn't take his meds for a few days, he won't die."
However, without medication, he would frequently experience memory loss. But that didn't matter to Zhou Jinchen, so he couldn't even be bothered to mention it.
Whether the boy remembered anything or not had no bearing on their plan, as long as he didn't die before they got the money.
Moreover, all they wanted was their rightful wages, which wasn't much. To Ren Yanqing, it was just a drop in the bucket, something he could easily hand over.
They had also given Ren Yanqing half an hour. That was more than enough time for him to place the money at the designated location.
In other words, the boy would only be here for another half hour at most.
In half an hour, nothing could possibly go wrong. They might even make it back in time for dinner.
They glanced at the boy, who, though suffering from amnesia, seemed otherwise physically fine. Gradually, the inexplicable anxiety they had felt began to ease.
As long as he wouldn't die, it was fine.
After a few moments of silence, Duan Ming walked up to Ruan Qing and handed him the bread he had just brought over.
However, the once obedient and quiet Ruan Qing instinctively shrank back as Duan Ming approached, his entire body radiating resistance.
There was even a hint of nervousness in his beautiful eyes, as if he was somewhat afraid of Duan Ming.
No, it wasn't "as if"—he was indeed afraid.
Ruan Qing uneasily glanced around and, upon spotting Zhou Jinchen not far away, his gaze paused. Then, he immediately ran behind Zhou Jinchen, gently tugging at the hem of his shirt.
It was as though doing that gave him a sense of security.
Once Ruan Qing had grasped the hem firmly, he cautiously poked his head out from behind Zhou Jinchen, eyeing Duan Ming warily, as if Duan Ming were a bad person.
Zhou Jinchen: "???"
Duan Ming: "???"
Because Ruan Qing suddenly ran off, Duan Ming’s hand, which was holding a piece of bread, froze in mid-air.
After he regained his composure, his gaze darkened as he looked toward Ruan Qing, who was hiding behind Zhou Jinchen.
But Ruan Qing, as if having found a protector, clung tightly to Zhou Jinchen's shirt with his slender, pale fingers, glaring fiercely at Duan Ming.
However, due to Ruan Qing's slightly reddened eyes and his thin, delicate figure still hiding behind Zhou Jinchen, there wasn’t the slightest sense of menace or intimidation.
Instead, he gave off a feeling of adorable fragility.
It was like a small kitten puffing up its fur in anger—no matter how mad it got, it still looked incredibly cute.
But despite how cute he was, it was obvious to everyone that the boy disliked and was afraid of Duan Ming.
Duan Ming had been the first to enter the basement, long before the others came in.
No one knew what had happened during that time.
But since the boy had lost his previous memories, he wouldn’t hate someone for no reason. Clearly, something had happened that they were unaware of.
A few people glanced at Duan Ming and instinctively frowned. Their gazes held a mix of strangeness and subtlety, leaving everyone unsure of what to think.
Duan Ming’s expression darkened further as Ruan Qing glared at him. He looked at the boy, who was avoiding him, and spoke in a tone that brooked no refusal: “Come here.”
Though Duan Ming was handsome, his looks carried a certain aggression and hostility, making him appear somewhat fierce.
With his face darkened like this, he looked even more intimidating.
It was like an enraged wolf, as if it would pounce at any moment and ruthlessly tear its prey apart.
Seeing this, Ruan Qing grew even more terrified. He frantically grabbed Zhou Jincheng's hand with one of his own, while holding onto Zhou Jincheng's arm with the other, hiding behind him once again.
This time, he didn't even show his head.
It was as if a little cub had caused trouble outside and had come home seeking the protection of its parent.
This kind of behavior was usually something only mischievous brats would do, and it often only led to annoyance.
But when the young boy did it, it was completely different. He was simply too obedient, and hiding like this—so obviously pretending not to be seen—only made one's heart itch.
It even made people feel a bit out of control.
For a lamb to hide behind a big, bad wolf was an exceedingly dangerous thing to do.
Though Zhou Jincheng looked like a college student, he was actually twenty-five, and he was also significantly taller than Ruan Qing, completely blocking his figure from view.
Normally, if someone were to pull on Zhou Jincheng like this, he would immediately turn around and deliver a ruthless kick, knocking them down without hesitation.
After all, Zhou Jincheng had always disliked being touched by others, especially when it involved such intimate gestures like holding hands.
Yet at this moment, Zhou Jincheng stood stiffly in place, the words of mockery he had prepared stuck in his throat.
Soft.
So soft.
The sensation of the hand in his own was cool, soft like cotton candy, a feeling entirely different from his own rough hands.
The boy had probably never done any hard labor. His skin was smooth and delicate, as if boneless, soft to the point that Zhou Jincheng felt a slight pressure might break him.
For a moment, Zhou Jincheng's hand also stiffened.
And because the boy was pressed entirely against him, Zhou Jincheng could distinctly catch the faint fragrance emanating from his body.
It was a light, elegant scent of orchid, but to Zhou Jincheng, it felt overwhelming.
The fragrance made his heart skip a beat, and it made his heart feel... strange.
Realizing this, Zhou Jincheng mercilessly pulled his hand away and quickly took several steps back.
Then, with a fierce expression, he glared at Ruan Qing and spoke harshly, trying to cover up the strange feelings inside him.
"Talk if you want to talk, why all the pulling and tugging?"
Ruan Qing clearly hadn't expected Zhou Jinchen to react this way. He looked up at him in a daze.
When he saw the cold expression in Zhou Jinchen's eyes, it seemed as if Ruan Qing realized something. His eyes quickly reddened, and a layer of mist formed over them.
Tears began to dampen the roots of his long eyelashes, as if they were ready to fall at any moment.
He looked utterly aggrieved.
Like a child who had just been abandoned by his own father.
If he had started wailing loudly, it would surely have been incredibly annoying.
But Ruan Qing just looked at Zhou Jinchen with that pitiful, heartbroken expression, tears welling in his eyes, which only made him appear more beautiful.
It even stirred a faint sense of guilt in anyone watching.
Zhou Jinchen: "..."
Zhou Jinchen took a deep breath and roughly shoved his hand back into Ruan Qing’s, but his tone remained harsh. "You're a man—what are you crying for? It’s so ugly."
Ruan Qing looked at the man in front of him, immediately grabbing Zhou Jinchen’s hand again. He blinked, and just like that, his sadness vanished.
But because his eyes were already brimming with tears, when he blinked, the tears slid right down his cheeks.
Noticing this, Ruan Qing quickly let go of Zhou Jinchen’s hand, turning his back on him to hurriedly wipe his tears with his sleeve.
As he wiped his eyes, he sneakily glanced at Zhou Jinchen, clearly still concerned about Zhou’s comment, "It’s so ugly."
Watching Ruan Qing sneak looks at him, Zhou Jinchen felt a strange sensation rise in his chest again. He lifted his head and let out a cold snort, speaking in a commanding tone, "Next time, no more crying."
Ruan Qing pursed his lips in a slightly aggrieved manner but still obediently nodded. "Okay."
Off to the side, Duan Ming, who had been completely ignored by the two, watched them with eyes that had turned dark and stormy, as if some dangerous intent was brewing within them.
💕💕
ReplyDelete