When Zheng Yan snuck back into the Qin residence, it was around two or three in the morning—at a time when everything was still and quiet.
He crept carefully to the door of the study, cautiously taking out the fingerprint membrane and applying it over the door’s lock. The membrane was thin, barely noticeable once placed over the lock. It was a meticulous task, and by the time he finished, he was more exhausted than when he’d made the trip to retrieve it.
After returning to his room, a message from Li Si arrived: “Three days later, the Qin family garden will receive this season’s latest arrivals.”
Zheng Yan read the message carefully, word by word, and then deleted it. Everything had been prepared—whether it would succeed or fail depended on the actions three days from now.
That day, Qin Xuan spent the entire time in meetings at Qin Corporation, giving Zheng Yan ample time to carry out his plan.
Zheng Yan was so tired that the moment his head hit the pillow, he quickly drifted into sleep. He vaguely remembered something important that he had yet to do, but he couldn’t muster the energy to recall it. Soon, he fell into a deep slumber.
What was it? What was it that I forgot? In his dream, he asked himself.
Clothes… the clothes! Startled, Zheng Yan sat bolt upright.
His shirt had been torn during the scuffle with Li Si. If Qin Xuan saw it, there would be no way to cover it up.
Zheng Yan jumped out of bed.
“Had a nightmare? You’re pale as a ghost,” came a voice.
Zheng Yan’s pupils constricted as he spoke in a hoarse voice, still thick with the remnants of sleep. “Why are you in my room? Weren’t you going to see Mr. Qin?”
Qin Xuan, holding a set of pajamas, walked over and sat down on the bed. Without answering, he reached out to unbutton Zheng Yan’s shirt. “Change into your pajamas and go back to sleep.”
Zheng Yan quickly grabbed Qin Xuan’s hand. Qin Xuan raised an eyebrow and said calmly, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll change by myself. You should go,” Zheng Yan forced a smile.
Normally, Qin Xuan would tease him or even sneak in a kiss, but today he said nothing, simply giving Zheng Yan a look before leaving. “Get some more sleep. I’ll have the servants prepare breakfast.”
Something felt off. Qin Xuan’s attitude was strange, but Zheng Yan was too preoccupied with dealing with the torn clothes to dwell on it.
As soon as Zheng Yan finished stashing the torn jacket away, Qin Xuan knocked on the door. “Give your clothes to Zhang Ma for washing.”
“No need,” Zheng Yan replied as steadily as he could. “I’ll wash them later; I’m not doing anything at home anyway.”
Qin Xuan didn’t insist and simply told him to rest before leaving.
Zheng Yan sat down on the soft bed, massaging his temples. Something was definitely off about Qin Xuan. Had he discovered something? Should he move up the plan?
But altering the plan rashly could be disastrous. Zheng Yan suppressed his anxiety and spent the next two days observing Qin Xuan carefully. Yet everything seemed normal—Qin Xuan showed no signs of suspicion.
Then, on the third morning, Zheng Yan made his decision. It was time to act.
At first, everything went surprisingly smoothly. The second floor, where the study was located, had no guards and no cameras. Using the fingerprint membrane, he easily gained entry.
The safe was protected by nothing more than a simple combination lock, and Zheng Yan had no trouble cracking it open.
He wore gloves as he sifted through the contents inside, but to his surprise, he found only ordinary documents.
His heart skipped a beat. He glanced toward the door, almost expecting Qin Xuan to appear any second.
But no one came.
His heart pounded faster.
He scanned the room again and spotted a desk with a computer on it. Could the information be stored on the computer? Or in one of the drawers? He rifled through the drawers, but found nothing.
Just as he prepared to turn on the computer, a chilling voice came from the doorway, freezing him in place.
“Stop searching. What you’re looking for isn’t here.”
Zheng Yan knew he had failed. Yet strangely, a sense of relief washed over him.
He meticulously tidied the desk before turning around to face the man standing there, his eyes blazing with fury.
In just a few months, the once frivolous playboy had transformed into a man whose hardened demeanor cut like a knife. He stood silently watching Zheng Yan, his black eyes filled with a seething anger, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Zheng Yan smiled faintly. “Let’s go somewhere more appropriate to talk.”
Qin Xuan only led him downstairs. In the living room, Zheng Yan saw Li Si being restrained by a few bodyguards.
Li Si, dressed in a work uniform, was pinned to the floor by Luo Wen, though he didn’t seem particularly angry. In fact, when he saw Zheng Yan, he burst out laughing. “I thought you had sharp ears, but I’ve been pinned down here, and you didn’t even notice.”
Zheng Yan said nothing, but Qin Xuan replied, “The study is soundproof. How could he have heard?”
As Qin Xuan spoke, he sat down, crossing one leg over the other. “I have a lot of questions for you. Let’s start with how the two of you got connected.”
Zheng Yan sighed softly. “So you’ve suspected me for a while now.”
Qin Xuan’s expression twisted for a moment. Luo Wen glanced at him but, seeing that Qin Xuan had no intention of answering, sneered. “Young Master Qin never suspected you. The first time you appeared at Yuan Ming Du for no reason, Qin Xuan believed it was for your sister’s illness. The second time, at the villa in Dongjiao, Qin Xuan saw your silhouette and joked that it resembled his teacher. The third time, when you snuck out of the Qin residence at night, he assumed you were too worried about Zheng Min to sleep. If it hadn’t been for the surveillance catching your texts with Li Si, Qin Xuan would still be making excuses for you. Zheng Yan, do you think you’ve treated him fairly?”
Zheng Yan was stunned. He never imagined… never suspected that Qin Xuan had never doubted him.
But—
As if reading his thoughts, Luo Wen added, “That night when I came to see you, it was my own decision, not Qin Xuan’s.”
Zheng Yan’s body jolted. He couldn’t help but glance at Qin Xuan, but the man’s face was expressionless. He couldn’t read a single emotion.
He wanted to ask—yet what could he ask?
Suddenly, Qin Xuan stood up. “There’s too much to discuss. Let’s get the important things out of the way first. Luo Wen, take them out.”
Luo Wen’s eyebrows twitched, and he swallowed back whatever protest he had.
Zheng Yan’s skills were certainly impressive, but could Qin Xuan really handle him?
Soon, the large living room was empty, leaving only Qin Xuan and Zheng Yan.
“All signals in this house are under surveillance,” Qin Xuan said as he slowly approached Zheng Yan.
“I understand,” Zheng Yan replied, feeling utterly lost. Despite sensing the imminent danger, he had no desire to retreat.
Qin Xuan grasped Zheng Yan’s chin. This gesture, once filled with affection, now carried the weight of hatred. “What should I call you? Officer Zheng?” Qin Xuan’s words dripped with venom. “Oh, I almost forgot. People in your line of work usually have a fake name. What’s your real name?”
Zheng Yan slightly raised his head, the pain in his chin barely registering. “My name is Zheng Yan. I don’t use aliases.”
For a moment, Qin Xuan’s expression softened, but it was fleeting. His face quickly hardened again. “So, you do tell the truth sometimes. But how many lies have you told with this mouth? You must have enjoyed playing me for a fool, didn’t you? Officer Zheng, how many times have you done this—using your acting skills to manipulate someone?”
Zheng Yan blinked in confusion. It took him a few seconds to fully process Qin Xuan’s words. When he did, a wave of realization crashed over him. “What are you saying?”
Qin Xuan grabbed his arm roughly. “You know exactly what I’m saying. Isn’t this how you do your missions? You pretend to be so meek and docile, seducing people into trusting you completely…”
Zheng Yan’s face turned ashen. He gritted his teeth. “Stop it!”
“Oh, so you can do it, but I can’t say it?” Qin Xuan suddenly lashed out, flipping Zheng Yan onto the floor. His head slammed into the thick carpet, sending a shockwave through his brain. His vision blurred, and before he could react, Qin Xuan’s weight pinned him down.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Qin Xuan pinned Zheng Yan’s wrists above his head, holding them firmly. “Are you feeling guilty? Come on, say something! Have you done this before or not? Have you done it before?!”
Zheng Yan shook his head, trying to clear the dizziness. “No… let me go… We can talk this out.”
“Now you want to talk things out?” Qin Xuan’s forehead throbbed with rage, his face twisted in fury. “How can I trust anything you say? Out of every ten words you’ve spoken, how many were true? Was even one of them real?”
“I admit I lied to you a lot,” Zheng Yan said, his voice bleak. “But do you think I wanted things to end up this way? I never expected this mission to spiral into such a mess. But ultimately, if it weren’t for you—” His voice cracked with emotion, his words almost a growl. “If it weren’t for you—”
“If it weren’t for me being delusional, for thinking I knew everything, for… for falling for you!” Qin Xuan’s eyes were red with fury and frustration.
Zheng Yan froze, completely speechless.
“You told so many lies, and I don’t even know if you’re still lying now.” Qin Xuan’s voice dripped with bitter sarcasm. “I need to check for myself. I need to see if you’re capable of telling the truth.”
Zheng Yan’s eyes widened. “You—”
Qin Xuan sneered, reaching for Zheng Yan’s shirt. “I need to verify it. If you serve me well enough, I’ll give you what you want. After all, they say it’s better to die under a beautiful flower’s shade, right?”
Zheng Yan’s face drained of color. He struggled, but Qin Xuan’s iron grip held him down. As he reached for Zheng Yan’s collar, Zheng Yan’s eyes darkened. Just as Qin Xuan yanked his jacket open, Zheng Yan raised his leg, delivering a swift kick aimed at the back of Qin Xuan’s head.
Qin Xuan stumbled, loosening his grip slightly. Zheng Yan seized the opportunity, twisting his body to throw Qin Xuan to the ground with a dull thud.
Zheng Yan managed to get to his feet, but Qin Xuan kicked him hard in the leg, making him buckle. In seconds, Qin Xuan was back on top, pinning Zheng Yan’s arms behind his back.
Qin Xuan’s strength was formidable, and now, with all restraint gone, Zheng Yan couldn’t move at all.
“Stay still.” Qin Xuan’s forehead throbbed, and his anger erased the last shred of restraint. He dragged Zheng Yan toward the couch, slamming him into it. Zheng Yan’s leg struck the coffee table, causing him to groan in pain.
Gritting his teeth, Zheng Yan rammed his head back into Qin Xuan’s chest, but it didn’t budge him. Instead, Qin Xuan shoved him deeper into the couch, using his legs to pin Zheng Yan’s.
With his every movement locked down, Zheng Yan was trapped.
“So eager? Now I’m starting to doubt your words.” Qin Xuan tore open Zheng Yan’s shirt, exposing his pale chest.
He twisted his hand, watching as a flicker of shame and anger crossed Zheng Yan’s face.
But instead of satisfaction, Qin Xuan felt an unexpected pang of discomfort. Not anger, not sorrow—just a deep, suffocating ache, as though something had lodged in his chest, too painful to ignore.
How had their relationship come to this, built on lies and deceit? How could this be? His teacher, his Zheng Yan—the shy, reserved man he knew—was all an illusion. Was this karma for deceiving his teacher?
“Teacher, tell me I’m wrong. Tell me I misunderstood everything,” Qin Xuan murmured, leaning close to Zheng Yan’s ear. “As long as you say it, I’ll believe you.”
“There’s nothing to misunderstand,” Zheng Yan trembled with rage. Despite his outward composure, he was proud and deeply loathed violence.
He spoke with a voice full of hatred. “What you’ve done is enough to keep you in prison for life. As long as I’m alive, I’ll bring down the Qin family.”
“So, you’ve always planned to send me to jail,” Qin Xuan spat, laughing in disbelief. “Tell me, Officer Zheng, what unspeakable crime have I committed to deserve that?”
Zheng Yan sneered coldly. “You really don’t remember what you’ve done? Let me ask you—how did Li Wu die?”
Qin Xuan froze, his face contorting with both shock and anger. “You think I did that?”
“If not you, then who?” Zheng Yan demanded, though doubt crept into his voice.
“Others can misunderstand, but you—” Qin Xuan faltered, his expression turning despondent. “Is that really how you see me?”
Zheng Yan hesitated. “So it wasn’t you?”
“No, it wasn’t.” Qin Xuan’s eyes locked onto Zheng Yan’s. “Do you believe me?”
Zheng Yan hesitated for a moment longer. “If it wasn’t you, then who?”
“Li Wu had enemies all over. Who do you think it was?”
Qin Xuan tilted his head up briefly before turning back to Zheng Yan. “Do you believe me now?”
A pang of guilt shot through Zheng Yan at the sight of Qin Xuan’s tear-streaked face. “I believe you.”
Qin Xuan chuckled bitterly. “But I don’t believe you anymore.” He reached for his phone and dialed a number. “Bring two pairs of handcuffs.”
Within moments, someone arrived with the handcuffs.
Qin Xuan methodically cuffed Zheng Yan to the leg of the sofa. Zheng Yan ground his teeth. “You can hit me, curse me, but don’t do this.”
Qin Xuan pressed down on his leg, mockingly asking, “Don’t do what?”
Luo Wen had known Qin Xuan would retaliate, but he hadn’t expected him to go this far.
As he stood by watching the servants clean up the mess, the bloodstains covering the floor were enough to make even someone as hardened as Luo Wen uneasy.
The furniture in the living room lay scattered and overturned, a testament to the intensity of what had happened.
Luo Wen went upstairs to report on how to deal with Li Si, just as Qin Xuan was calling for the family doctor to tend to Zheng Yan’s wounds.
Zheng Yan’s hair was soaked with sweat, his pale body limp in Qin Xuan’s arms as the doctor worked. From the doorway, Luo Wen could see the faint blue veins on his neck.
When Qin Xuan saw Luo Wen, he gently laid Zheng Yan back down, tenderly tucking the blanket around him.
“Dr. Chu, please look after him. Let me know when he wakes up.”
Qin Xuan whispered to the doctor, then gestured for Luo Wen to follow him outside.
When Zheng Yan finally woke, his throat was parched. He opened his mouth slightly, and someone helped him sit up, offering him a glass of water.
He glanced at the man—a middle-aged doctor with a kind face.
The doctor told him that Qin Xuan would return soon and advised him to cooperate to avoid further suffering.
Moments later, Qin Xuan arrived.
The doctor bowed and left after Qin Xuan gestured for him to go. Qin Xuan sat down beside the bed.
The two of them sat in silence for a long time.
Zheng Yan could feel that his wounds had been treated well, though a deep sense of shame gnawed at him.
More harsh words and cruel actions would undoubtedly follow. He had to endure it, bear it for now, and then find a way to escape.
After what felt like an eternity, Qin Xuan finally spoke. “Li Si has already been released. He has what he needs.”
Zheng Yan stiffened, staring at Qin Xuan in disbelief.
Qin Xuan continued, as though speaking to himself. “By now, the police should have arrived at Qin Corporation. The Qin family has fallen. Are you happy?” He didn’t wait for a response. “Too bad. What remains of Qin Corporation is just an empty shell. I’ve already transferred all the assets. Everything was done so cleanly, they won’t trace it back to me. The old man left for abroad last night. The law doesn’t punish the son for the father’s crimes. You won’t be able to send me to jail.”
Qin Xuan reached out, as if to touch the bruises on Zheng Yan’s chin, but pulled back before making contact. “For the past few months, I’ve been working on this. If only you’d waited just one more day…” He trailed off. There were no “what ifs” in this world.
“What do you plan to do with me?” Zheng Yan asked in a hoarse voice. Qin Xuan was taken aback by the calmness in his tone. After a moment, he replied coldly, “You? For the rest of your life, you’ll stay in the Qin family. One year, two years, ten years!”
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