In the end, Chu Yan declined the lawyer’s proposal for a retrial, but the lawyer’s points were valid.
Life in prison was too wearing; in less than two days, his body started running a high fever. Despite taking medicine for two consecutive days, it had little effect. His headache was almost unbearable. On the third day, the prison guard noticed something amiss and had him sent to the infirmary. After being diagnosed with pneumonia, he was rushed to the hospital overnight.
Drips continued until the early hours of the morning. Chu Yan slowly regained consciousness, and a faint lingering smell of disinfectant hung in the room. The room was dimly lit as the early morning light seeped through.
Chu Yan closed and opened his eyes a few times to adjust to the light. Suddenly, there was a soft thud.
The ceiling light was switched on, flooding the entire room with a burst of intense light. The glaring illumination reflected down from the white ceiling, making it quite dazzling.
Subconsciously, Chu Yan turned his head away to avoid the strong light, and it was then that he finally noticed another person standing by his sickbed.
The person was looking down at him from a higher position, with bright light shining behind them. Their thin lips curled into a cold arc, and they remained silent. Their handsome yet aloof face bore a dignified expression, with their eyebrows elegantly shaped.
Their attire was very formal, and in the quiet early morning, they emitted an indescribable sense of suppressed presence.
Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Chu Yan furrowed his brows slightly and hesitated for a moment before asking, “How… How did you end up here?”
His voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible. Shen Muchuan looked at him and realized that it was probably due to his fever not having subsided yet. Just speaking a few words made him pant heavily.
His pupils were pitch-black, and his skin appeared as pale as ice on the sea under the lamplight. Cold and transparent, this stark contrast of black and white seemed to add a kind of morbid beauty to him.
Shen Muchuan slid his hand into his pants pocket, took a slight breath, his lips slightly curled, but his gaze gradually darkened, “What? Brother, it seems you’re not very eager to see me?”
His tone was chilly, and upon closer examination, there was something peculiar about the meaning behind his words.
Faced with this question, Chu Yan had no idea how to respond. He felt a dryness in his throat upon waking up and was quite thirsty. As a result, he shifted his gaze to the water bottle beside him and involuntarily moistened his lips.
Faced with his silence, Shen Muchuan let out a cold snort, then picked up the overturned water cup, poured a glass of water, and offered it to Chu Yan’s lips.
After taking a few sips of water, Chu Yan’s chapped lips appeared slightly more moist, and a few transparent droplets of water traced down his jaw before disappearing into the deep collar of his clothes.
Only after he finished drinking did Shen Muchuan look at him. His tone was calm and emotionless, revealing no discernible feelings, as he said slowly, “I sometimes find myself wondering… How did you manage to bring yourself to such a miserable state, brother?”
Chu Yan looked at him with confusion, but he saw Shen Muchuan actually smile, with a hint of mockery in his expression.
“I really can’t comprehend it,” Shen Muchuan lowered his head, his gaze tracing over Chu Yan’s attractive lips. “That day, were the things you said to me intentionally meant to provoke me?”
Chu Yan remained silent.
Shen Muchuan had long grown accustomed and indifferent to this, and he watched as Chu An continued on his own track, saying, “So, why did you want to provoke me? Hm?”
Chu Yan’s gaze flickered, and he calmly said, “Your statement is quite amusing. Clearly, it’s you who wouldn’t let me go, but now it’s become me…”
However, Shen Muchuan suddenly interrupted him, his voice firm and steady, “I can let you go.”
Chu Yan abruptly looked up, only to find Shen Muchuan’s gaze fixed on him, his lips curled into a smile, but his eyes held indifference.
“What… do you mean?”
Shen Muchuan bent down, his hand lightly resting on Chu Yan’s straight shoulder. He chuckled softly, his tone gentle to the point of tenderness, “I can help you forge a medical record… For someone with a short-term detention like yours, no one will pay any attention.”
Chu Yan’s eyebrows furrowed, “What exactly do you mean?”
Shen Muchuan smiled faintly, lifting a hand to adjust his tie. The hand on Chu Yan’s shoulder, however, audaciously slipped beneath the collar of his open sleepwear. He spoke in a low voice, “Brother, you clearly understand what I’ve always wanted… And the meaning behind my words, isn’t that quite obvious?”
The other person’s skin was so scorching and smooth that it felt like it could melt his fingertips inch by inch. A numbing current surged through his nerve endings almost instantly.
Shen Muchuan’s action was too audacious, catching Chu Yan off guard and leaving him momentarily frozen. It wasn’t until his sensitive area was lightly grazed by his fingertips…
Shen Muchuan’s fingers paused abruptly, his movement freezing in an instant.
Almost in the next second after he stopped, Chu Yan’s complexion changed drastically. His face turned crimson to the point where it seemed blood might actually drip from it. He angrily grabbed Shen Muchuan’s hand, then forcefully flung it away, glaring at him and gritting his teeth, “What are you doing?!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he coughed violently, his fair cheeks turning a deep red. It seemed like he was genuinely infuriated, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Shen Muchuan adjusted his fingers and looked at Chu Yan’s cold profile. His throat inexplicably felt dry, preventing any words from coming out.
However, the color in his face faded as quickly as it had come, leaving him deathly pale within moments.
After hesitating for a while, Shen Muchuan shifted his gaze away from Chu Yan’s face and noticed that a button on his chest had somehow come undone. The deep collarbone was partially exposed as it moved along with his heaving chest.
Shen Muchuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he pursed his lips, but he merely adjusted the blanket for Chu Yan, his actions carrying a meaningful undertone. “Just like this, and you’re already angry, my dear brother? What should I do in the future then?”
His voice was so deep and hoarse that it seemed like he was struggling to suppress something, and his attitude was also quite peculiar, deliberately so.
“Get lost!” Chu Yan squeezed out the word from his throat without even turning his head.
In the end, he stood up from the bedside, glanced down at the lying Chu Yan, and softly said, “Then you rest well, brother. If you want something to eat in the morning, I’ll have someone get it for you.”
Chu Yan ignored him.
Shen Muchuan raised his hand to turn off the main light and then switched on a small bedside lamp, casting the room back into darkness. He stood by the bed for a while before finally turning around and leaving, closing the door behind him.
[Wow, Host, is the male lead about to forgive you? He promised not to let you go to jail.]
[It’s just out of reluctance, forgiveness is still a long way off… ] Shen Muchuan’s actions were driven more by compassion than anything else. However, there was also a considerable element of threat in them. The implication was clear — he could easily send Chu Yan to jail, but he could also get him out just as effortlessly.
However, this didn’t matter much. Being able to get out of jail, regardless of his motives, was all that counted.
—
He had been lying in the hospital bed for two days. During that time, the lawyer came once to discuss matters related to his personal property. However, by the third day, Chu Yan felt like he had slept a particularly deep sleep. When he opened his eyes, he found that the environment before him had completely changed.
The room was extravagantly decorated yet stifling. Crystal light fixtures on the ceiling reflected a dim and ambiguous light, giving the impression that he was in the master bedroom of a hotel suite.
Chu Yan stayed still for a moment, then immediately rolled out of bed and pushed the covers aside. The floor was covered with soft white wool carpet, and stepping on it produced no sound at all.
With a swishing sound, the heavy floor-length curtains were drawn apart, allowing the bright sunlight to flood into the room. Before his eyes were the azure sky and an endless expanse of the sea. The distant brown beach glistened in the sunlight, and tropical vegetation on the shoreline flourished. Flocks of seagulls could be seen gliding low over the sea.
However, just by looking at it, he could almost sense the salty tang of the ocean in the air, as if his nose had dipped into a pool of seawater.
But in reality, he should not be able to smell anything at all—because all the windows were tightly shut and securely locked.
The system was also taken aback by the scene before it: [Master, this is a remote island!!!]
[… Why do I feel like you’re rather excited?]
While Chu Yan was enjoying the sea view alone, at some point, the door had been opened.
“Good morning, Brother.”
The sudden voice startled Chu Yan, and he turned around to see Shen Muchuan standing at the doorway.
Shen Muchuan was wearing an extremely loose short-sleeved shirt. He walked a few steps to Chu Yan’s side, pressed his back against Chu Yan’s forehead, and then slowly asked, “When did you wake up, Brother?”
His hand was cold, carrying the unmistakable scent of seawater. Chu Yan was taken aback by the chill, and he asked, “Where is this?”
His voice sounded very weak and pale.
In response to Chu Yan’s question, Shen Muchuan didn’t mind answering, “On a small island in Southeast Asia.”
He said it calmly and then smiled at Chu Yan’s astonished expression, “Brother, it’s time for breakfast.”
Chu Yan seemed to realize something suddenly. His pupils slightly contracted, and he hurriedly walked towards the door, ignoring Shen Muchuan, who remained standing in place.
Shen Muchuan stood still, not moving, as he allowed Chu Yan to open the door and walk out.
The spacious living room downstairs featured a television playing lively programs. Through the glass doors, one could glimpse two security guards in uniform standing outside the villa, chatting and laughing.
Descending the stairs leisurely, Shen Muchuan observed the seemingly bewildered expression on Chu Yan’s face as he stood in the middle of the living room. Calmly, Shen Muchuan inquired, “Do you have any further questions, brother?”
Trembling lips, Chu Yan looked at Shen Muchuan and asked, “Is this what you meant by letting me go?”
The bright light filtered through the transparent glass door, casting its glow upon his pallid and cold visage. The visible quivering of his lips seemed like a tangible manifestation.
Seeing him in such a state, Shen Muchuan almost anticipated that he might faint in the next moment.
“Is this not acceptable?” Shen Muchuan said as he approached step by step, lifting his foot and advancing towards Chu Yan. However, he noticed a sense of despair emerging in Chu Yan’s expression upon hearing his words. Uncontrollably, Chu Yan stumbled backward.
Shen Muchuan’s complexion subtly changed, and he immediately moved forward to lend a hand, steadying Chu Yan. He discovered that the exposed skin of Chu Yan’s arm was incredibly cold, as if even the blood flowing in his veins was icy.
Shen Muchuan slowly withdrew his hand, his words laden with meaning as he said, “What is there to fear, brother? I wouldn’t do anything to you.”
“My lawyer will notify the authorities if they can’t reach me soon, not to mention, your actions are unlawful.”
“No need to worry about that, brother. Just focus on recuperating here…” He paused, lowering his head to gently kiss the corner of Chu Yan’s lips, his tone tender. “Brother, I’ve missed you so much these years. I’ve been thinking of you every moment. How about you? Do you miss me?”
Chu Yan was taken aback for a moment and then turned his head with a sense of sadness, “… We shouldn’t be like this…”
Shen Muchuan looked at him inexplicably for a while, noticing the profound pain in his expression. His gaze flickered, and then he scanned him from head to toe, recalling the icy temperature of his skin earlier. Finally, he picked up the remote control from the coffee table and turned off the air conditioning in the room, “Brother, don’t be afraid. Rest assured, I won’t hurt you.”
“As long as you behave and listen a little… I’ll treat you well, brother.”
Chu Yan remained unmoved, giving him a casual glance and asking, “How long do you plan to keep me here?”
Shen Muchuan didn’t answer immediately. He sat for a while, watching Chu Yan, and then got up to bring breakfast from the kitchen. He placed it on the coffee table in front of Chu Yan and spoke in a gentle tone, “After breakfast, would you like to go out and take a look?”
Seeing his approach, Chu Yan couldn’t help but mock, “Go out? Aren’t all the people around here yours?”
“What’s the difference between this and imprisoning me?” he added, his tone full of sarcasm.
Even though he said those words, he was well aware that there was a significant difference. In prison, where could he find seafood porridge to eat or a seaside villa to stay in?
However, Shen Muchuan was unaware of his inner thoughts. Upon hearing Chu Yan’s words, his expression darkened, and he sneered, “I’m trying to have a civil conversation with you, but you insist on provoking me. What good does it do for you?”
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