This chapter is brought to you K, thanks for the ko-fi! （人´∀`*）
As New Year’s Eve approached, without realizing it, I had already moved into a new home for over half a month.
Finally, his moving process was exposed.
On the day when Song Jianchu brought back the youngest brother from the rescue station, Song Jianchu took a photo of the dog alone and posted it on Weibo.
[Song Jianchu: Wait [image]]
The comment section celebrated all day long.
[Congratulations on getting your smelly treasure! You finally realized your dream of raising a dog!]
[Lucky, Denglun, reincarnated as a dog with different abilities [tearful]]
[So, the luxury dog house in New Zealand has an owner now, right? I still want to give it a try…]
[Ah ah ah, such a cute little guy, why is he called Denglun?]
[Ah! This one!! I saw it at the rescue station. It’s a stray dog mom who gave birth in a garage. The family discovered it after the garage door was closed for several days. The dog mom had been hungry for several days but still insisted on feeding her pups. The pups are all healthy, but when they were discovered, the dog mom was already extremely thin… Fortunately, they were eventually taken to the rescue station, and both mother and pups are safe [heart]]
Mu Ye couldn’t help it and also posted a photo in the Moments that only a few close friends could see, showing Denglun playing in the yard.
[Mu Ye: Welcome Denglun [heart]]
That night, several neighbors rang the doorbell with good wine in their hands.
“Brother! Open the door! I know it’s your house!”
“You dare to post on Moments but don’t dare to open the door? Hurry up!”
“Your garden is so exquisite and expensive. I recognized it at a glance!”
“I can see you, Mu Gou. Open the door, the wine is too heavy.”
Mu Ye turned off all the lights in the house and hid behind the curtain, holding Denglun and Song Jianchu, and apologized with a lowered head: “I’m sorry, I should have resisted.”
Song Jianchu tightened his lips: “Let him in.”
Mu Ye wanted to struggle one last time: “Can I delete the Moments now?”
Song Jianchu smiled and said, “What do you think?”
Song Jianchu turned on the lights and opened the door for the neighbors.
The new home became lively throughout the night after moving.
Qin Fang didn’t know about it. Pei Shinian and Denglun were having a great time. He casually mentioned, “Qin Fang also lives here, one more family.”
Mu Ye thought for a moment and brought his wine glass close to Song Jianchu’s ear, asking, “Should we invite him now that we’ll eventually find out? Shall I invite him?”
Although Song Jianchu was reluctant, he still agreed.
When Qin Fang arrived, he carried a stack of frozen steaks and seafood. He smiled meaningfully at Song Jianchu and said, “My eyes, not only good at spotting things, but also good at seeing through matters. I knew that you two would end up together sooner or later. I’ve prepared the betrothal gifts in advance.”
Song Jianchu took half of the things and said, “Enough with the nonsense, come in.”
Mu Ye took the other half and smiled gently, “Welcome. Did you empty your fridge and bring it all here? It’s on me.”
Qin Fang said, “I don’t cook normally. The good stuff at my place just goes to waste.”
Denglun wore a small bib and held its teething stick, running to the door to welcome them.
“Hey, you must be Denglun,” Qin Fang introduced himself kindly, “Good child, I am your uncle.”
Song Jianchu: “???”
Song Jianchu almost tripped over Denglun’s toys on the floor, his eyelid twitching.
“Xiao Qin, come in quickly,” Bai Xingyu called out, “Join me for a drink.”
“Coming,” Qin Fang hurriedly went to sit at the table, “In this lifetime, I can still have a drink at Teacher Mu’s house.”
Song Jianchu simply called Yin Chi as well.
Yin Chi also brought a trunk full of good wine, and after entering the house, he picked up Denglun and held its little paw, saying, “Hello, Denglun, I am your uncle.”
Song Jianchu: “…”
Qin Fang called out, “Denglun, come to your second uncle.”
Song Jianchu: “…………”
Mu Ye hugged Song Jianchu’s waist with one hand, kissed his cheek, and said with a smile, “I’m so happy, it feels like we’re getting married, my dear.”
Song Jianchu blushed but remained calm.
“Brother! Jianchu!” Pei Shinian called out, “What are you doing? Hurry up!”
“Go ahead,” Song Jianchu said, removing Mu Ye’s hand from around his waist.
“Just a moment.”
Mu Ye lifted up a part of his clothing that was rubbed off by his hand, looking at a small bruise on Song Jianchu’s waist, he furrowed his brow, “Did I do this?”
Song Jianchu calmly adjusted his clothes and lowered his gaze, “It’s nothing.”
Mu Ye said with concern, “I’m sorry, I’ll be more gentle next time.”
“It’s not you,” Song Jianchu smiled faintly, “I bumped into something.”
Denglun bit on the hem of Song Jianchu’s pants, whimpering for a hug.
Song Jianchu lifted Denglun up and smiled, saying, “Come in.”
Mu Ye gently rubbed his hand over his clothes and said, “Hmm.”
They played together until the early morning before dispersing.
Song Jianchu went to the bathroom to take a shower. Afterward, he checked his body in the mirror for any bleeding marks, calmly dressed in his pajamas, and went out.
Mu Ye had already finished washing up and was playing a game on his phone at the bedside. He looked up, waved at Song Jianchu, and eagerly said, “Chu Chu, you’re so slow. Hurry up.”
Song Jianchu walked over, and Mu Ye couldn’t wait to pull him onto the bed. He lay on the covers, lifted his hand to lightly press against Mu Ye’s shoulder, and moved Mu Ye’s hand away when he tried to unbutton his pajamas.
Mu Ye paused and looked at him with questioning eyes.
“I don’t really feel like it today,” Song Jianchu pushed Mu Ye onto the pillow and said, “I’ll take care of you.”
“In that case, let’s forget about it,” Mu Ye held Song Jianchu’s chin to stop him from lowering his head and kissed his lips, smiling gently. “Let’s go to sleep.”
They turned off the lights, and Song Jianchu lay in Mu Ye’s embrace, his nose nuzzling against Mu Ye’s pajamas, breathing in the warm and familiar scent.
“Mu Ye.”
Mu Ye stroked his hair and said, “Hmm?”
“I need to go to the company tomorrow to discuss some matters with Yin Chi. Do you have work? I can drop you off.”
“I have a photo shoot for an advertisement,” Mu Ye said. “What time will you be done? Maybe I can visit after you finish.”
Song Jianchu said, “Once I’m finished, I’ll message you.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Mu Ye nuzzled his forehead with his nose and smiled, saying softly, “Goodnight, my baby. Have sweet dreams, preferably dreaming about me.”
Song Jianchu looked at the neckline of Mu Ye’s pajamas, chuckled softly, and said, “I’ve already dreamt about you.”
Mu Ye curled up his lips slightly, tightened his arms contentedly, and said, “Me too.”
…
The next day, Song Jianchu dropped off Mu Ye at his studio first. Mu Ye unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over, and pecked the corner of Song Jianchu’s lips. “Remember to message me. I sent you the address for the photo shoot.”
Song Jianchu checked his phone and said, “Got it.”
“By the way, I’m dating the Weibo tycoon. Gotta make more money to buy lots of good stuff for Jianchu,” Mu Ye pinched his cheek playfully and laughed. “I need to earn more.”
Song Jianchu smiled faintly and said, “Keep up the good work.”
Reluctantly, Mu Ye looked at him and said, “I’ll be waiting for you. You must come see me.”
Song Jianchu nodded and said, “Hmm.”
He watched Mu Ye enter the elevator, then put on a mask and hat before driving to the hospital.
Dr. Zhao examined the bleeding marks on his body and said seriously, “We can’t wait any longer for the bone marrow match results. The medication’s effectiveness is decreasing, and organ bleeding can occur at any time. If any new bleeding occurs, we will have to admit you to the hospital.”
Song Jianchu calmly asked, “If I were to be hospitalized, how long would the treatment generally last?”
“It depends on the situation,” Dr. Zhao said, indicating the worst-case scenario, but added, “At least we need to stabilize the bleeding symptoms first. Do you have any relatives who can be a match? We don’t know how long it will take for a bone marrow match from the registry, so if you have any potential donors, please contact them as soon as possible.”
Song Jianchu lowered his gaze and replied with a simple “Hmm.”
Upon returning to his car, Song Jianchu dialed his uncle’s phone number, but it was still unreachable.
After confirming with Mu Ye, he hired a private detective to locate his uncle’s whereabouts. The investigation revealed that his uncle had fled the country to evade debt and was causing trouble abroad. It would take some time to track him down.
He found Song Yan’s phone number and rested his head against the car window, closing his eyes for a few minutes.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and made the call.
Song Yan was surprised that Song Jianchu would contact him on his own accord.
Since childhood, Song Yan had lived a life of privilege, but his father had left him to deal with the mess and escape. It was the lowest point in his life. To avoid debt, Song Yan had to flee in a sorry state every now and then, and he had now moved into a basement, spending his days relying on alcohol.
Unexpectedly, Song Yan laughed, his voice tinged with drunkenness. “Song Jianchu? You’re still trying to show off to me?”
“You’re really holding a grudge, aren’t you? Just because I was a little better than you when we were kids, you showed off a few times and started throwing money around, even making videos.” Song Yan threw away the bottle in his hand and slurred, “Suk went bankrupt all because of you! You squandered all my money! You ruined my entire family!”
Song Jianchu couldn’t be bothered with idle talk. “Let’s meet and discuss something.”
“Who do you think you are?” Song Yan sneered. “You don’t have the right to call me.”
Song Jianchu spoke in a casual tone, “I’ll give you one hundred million for a ten-minute conversation.”
Song Yan sobered up slightly, gritted his teeth, and asked, “Where?”
Song Jianchu booked a cafe for their discussion. When he got out of the car with his belongings, he saw Song Yan already seated.
He suppressed a laugh.
The cafe had a concealed location, no surveillance cameras, and the waitstaff had been dismissed. It was just the two of them in the conversation.
Song Yan glanced at the box in Song Jianchu’s hand and said with mixed feelings, “I’m not interested in your measly money. I just want to know what a heartless person like you has to discuss with me.”
“I’ll offer you a sum of money that can revive your family’s dying business. Whether you’re willing to earn this money is up to you.” Song Jianchu pushed the box of money towards the table.
Song Yan opened the box and looked inside, cynically curling the corner of his mouth. “All of a sudden, you’re so conscientious. It’s quite unusual for me.”
Song Jianchu pulled down his mask and lazily crossed his arms, leaning back. He didn’t want to waste words and went straight to the point. “Come with me for a bone marrow match. If the match is successful…”
Song Yan’s eyes widened in surprise as he observed Song Jianchu’s pale face. “You too…”
Song Jianchu concisely stated, “If the match is successful, I’ll give you ten billion.”
“I must say, you’re being unexpectedly generous, offering me money,” Song Yan chuckled. “Are you asking me to donate bone marrow to you?”
“Is this your way of expressing your attitude?” Song Yan laughed. “I never thought that even someone as unfeeling as you would fear death. When it comes to a matter of life and death, you only offer one million for a ten-minute conversation. Are you not sincere enough?”
Song Jianchu remained indifferent, and before Song Yan could spout any more nonsense, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Mu Ye, asking when he would be finished.
Song Jianchu glanced at the time, furrowing his brow, and replied “as soon as possible.”
Song Yan pushed the money box back, mockingly smiled, and said, “Father taught me about manners and upbringing. Don’t think that I’m like those poor people who would kneel and lick you for a few benefits.”
“Song Jianchu, I know exactly what kind of person you are. Your heart is softer than a stone. That’s why I relied on you from the beginning. When Suk went bankrupt, if it weren’t for my father asking me to call you, I wouldn’t have bowed my head and asked you for money. It was an insult to myself.”
Suddenly, Song Yan felt a sense of balance, looking at his terminally ill younger brother. His resentment completely dissipated, and he smiled calmly, saying, “I apologize, I’m not satisfied with your attitude.”
Song Jianchu put down his phone and looked up expressionlessly. “Don’t waste time. Just tell me how much money you want.”
“I want all your money,” Song Yan said coldly. “You’re not worth me being emotionally invested. Since it’s a transaction, let me see your sincerity.”
Song Jianchu sneered, “You dare to ask for that much?”
“If you don’t want to save your own life, that’s fine by me,” Song Yan shrugged indifferently. “When you come to your senses, contact me. Don’t wait until it’s too late and you need to beg me.”
Song Jianchu’s face remained expressionless, and his gaze gradually turned cold.
Song Yan sarcastically chuckled, calmly adjusted his shirt collar, and looked down at him from a higher vantage point. “This is your retribution.”
As he turned to take a step, a police car suddenly pulled up, and several officers approached and stopped Song Yan.
Confused, Song Yan turned back and angrily asked Song Jianchu, “What the hell are you doing again? Are you threatening me?!”
Song Jianchu furrowed his brows, realizing that he had called the police.
One of the police officers showed his identification in front of Song Yan and said, “Song Yan, your father is suspected of large-scale tax evasion. After fleeing abroad, he colluded with international drug traffickers to sell drugs. He was arrested and died of drug overdose while in custody. Please come with me to assist in the investigation.”
Song Yan’s body trembled, shocked, and muttered, “What did you say…”
Song Jianchu also froze for a moment.
Uncle has died?
“Your father has passed away, and his body is currently being transported back to the country. Please come with me to confirm his identity.”
“Song Jianchu, as a relative of the deceased, we also need you to cooperate with the investigation.”
Song Jianchu furrowed his brow tightly, nodded, and stood up.
“Song Jianchu!!” Song Yan suddenly turned around, his eyes bloodshot, and threw a punch, shouting angrily, “It’s all because of you!”
Song Jianchu stood still and took the punch, slightly tilting his head.
The police restrained Song Yan, struggling, and handed him over to their colleagues. “Take him away.”
“It’s all because of you! If it weren’t for you turning a blind eye, he wouldn’t have gotten involved in drug trafficking!” Song Yan, with despair in his eyes, shouted uncontrollably, “Ever since you appeared in our family, nothing good has happened! You killed your own parents, and now you want to destroy me too!”
“I could have saved you, but you can go die with your money! You repay kindness with enmity! You must pay for my father’s life!”
Song Yan was escorted into the police car.
“Are you okay?” an officer handed him a piece of paper. “Stop the bleeding with this, and if you feel any discomfort, go to the hospital.”
“No need,” Song Jianchu wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Please temporarily hand over your phone. You’re not allowed to contact anyone externally during the investigation.”
Song Jianchu handed over his phone, picked up the box, and calmly said, “Let’s go.”
Due to the seriousness of the situation and the need to cooperate with the investigation, Song Jianchu was not able to communicate with Mu Ye all night and was only allowed to leave the next morning. Since getting into separate police cars yesterday, he hadn’t seen Song Yan again and couldn’t inquire about Song Yan’s situation.
Song Jianchu stood outside the police station, lowering his hat to shield his eyes from the glaring morning light, and turned on his phone.
There were over a hundred missed calls, some from Mu Ye and Yin Chi.
Pei Shinian and Bai Xingyu had sent him a few WeChat messages, and even Qin Fang had sent him multiple messages.
The news had already made it to the trending searches.
[Suk Group Suspected of Massive Tax Evasion]
[Song Jianchu Under Investigation]
The whole internet was in an uproar, and Song Jianchu’s comment section was bombarded. Since the show started, the haters finally found an opportunity to attack him, and the comments section was filled with their celebrations, while his fans and the haters engaged in a night-long battle.
[I knew this guy wasn’t clean. The law will catch up sooner or later!]
[They’re just conducting an investigation. The official statement said so. Why are you acting smug?]
[You red-eye disease, stay away and don’t dirty your father’s eyes.]
[Ha, so you admit it. I have red-eye disease, but are you a better gold-digging dog than I am?]
[What’s this? Weibo still hasn’t banned him? Are they saving it for the new year?]
[Even Teacher Mu has a toxic little brother. Waiting to attract more criticism?]
[Song Jianchu has long been associated with Suk. Some people just believe any rumors without any basis. The internet can’t hide your disgusting face.]
[Haters, get lost. If you have something to say, comment in public or challenge me privately. Dad is waiting for you.]
…
The car was still parked outside the café. Song Jianchu called Yin Chi and asked him to pick him up.
Yin Chi had been inquiring all night but couldn’t find any information due to the seriousness of the case. He only knew that Song Jianchu was also under investigation, but he didn’t have any other details and didn’t know when Song Jianchu would be released.
Yin Chi quickly drove over to pick up Song Jianchu, and he got into the car.
“F*ck, your uncle’s family is a bunch of idiots,” Yin Chi slammed the steering wheel, furious.
“Fortunately, you withdrew your investment early. Once this kind of thing is investigated, it’s as good as evaporated. I couldn’t find anything, even which police station you were at.”
Yin Chi let out a sigh of relief. “It’s good that you were released so quickly. It seems you’re not connected to this mess. It’s the fault of that stupid father and son duo.”
Song Jianchu couldn’t open his eyes, his face pale. He weakly lowered his head, leaning against the passenger seat, his hat covering his eyes.
“Fuck, what happened to your face?” Yin Chi only just noticed the bruise on Song Jianchu’s mouth and clenched his teeth. “That idiot Song Yan actually dared to lay a hand on you?!”
Song Jianchu wearily closed his eyes and said in a low voice, “I’m tired. Let’s go to your place first.”
“Don’t you want to let Teacher Mu know you’re safe?” Yin Chi quickly started the car and sighed.
“Teacher Mu contacted me several times yesterday. I guess he was worried all night.”
Song Jianchu slowly opened his eyes, took out his phone, and opened the chat with Mu Ye. The screen was filled with messages.
[MY: Chu Chu, are you done? I’ve finished filming.]
[MY: Are you close? Waiting for you. ❤️]
[MY: Why aren’t you answering the phone?]
[MY: Busy?]
[MY: Chu Chu, where are you? Are you being investigated?]
…
[MY: Call me when you see the message.]
[MY: Are you done? Couldn’t find out where you are.]
[MY: Chu Chu, do you still have your phone?]
The most recent message was from ten minutes ago.
[MY:I asked around. It should be unrelated to you. No need to worry. After the phone call, I’ll come to pick you up. 🤗]
Song Jianchu replied briefly to Mu Ye’s message.
[Song Jianchu: I’m fine, it’s resolved.]
Mu Ye immediately called him back.
Song Jianchu lowered his gaze and looked at the notification on the screen. His finger hovered hesitantly over the answer button.
“Go ahead,” Yin Chi said. “I know you’re afraid of going back and being implicated. At the very least, let him know you’re with me and not to worry. I can clean up the online rumors before tomorrow.”
Song Jianchu closed his eyes for a moment, then answered the call. He cleared his throat and brought the phone to his ear. After a restless night, his voice was still hoarse. “Teacher Mu.”
Mu Ye’s voice was also hoarse, carrying exhaustion, but his tone was gentle. “Where are you? I’m already out. I’ll come to pick you up right away.”
“No need,” Song Jianchu said in a calm tone. “I’ll go to Yin Chi’s place for a few days.”
“Send me the address, I’ll come.”
Song Jianchu’s voice softened. “Teacher Mu, please wait for me at home. I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Darling, don’t overthink it. I can protect you too.” Mu Ye also spoke softly, his voice warm. “I want to hold you.”
Song Jianchu clenched his phone, hesitating in silence. “…”
The car was quiet, and Yin Chi could faintly hear Mu Ye’s voice saying, “Let him be. I’ll find a safe place for him, nothing will happen.”
With a wry smile, Song Jianchu whispered, “I’ll let you, Yin Chi, talk to him.”
Mu Ye chuckled. “Okay.”
Yin Chi took the phone and gave an address in Lincity. He drove straight onto the highway.
Song Jianchu slept in the car the entire way.
Yin Chi caught a glimpse of Song Jianchu’s pale complexion and touched his forehead, clicking his tongue. “Why do you have a fever? Your body is burning up. We should go to the hospital first.”
Song Jianchu shook his head slightly. “I just want to sleep.”
Yin Chi sighed helplessly. “Then I’ll call a doctor to come to the house. Get some rest.”
When Mu Ye arrived, Song Jianchu was receiving an IV drip with a fever patch on his forehead, already asleep on the bed, his complexion poor.
Mu Ye stood by the bed, furrowing his brows as he looked at Song Jianchu. His heart ached. He didn’t dare touch his cold hand and nodded at Yin Chi beside him. “Thank you.”
Yin Chi replied, “You’re welcome.”
Mu Ye covered his warm hands and gently touched the bruise on Song Jianchu’s mouth.
He lightly touched the bruised area with his fingertips, and his hand clenched into a fist. He asked in a deep voice, “Do you know how he got this injury on his face?”
“He explained it to me,” Yin Chi said, his gaze filled with irritation. “It’s probably that stupid cousin of his.”
Mu Ye furrowed his brows. “Why did he go to see him?”
“I’m not sure,” Yin Chi shook his head. “If he hadn’t gone to meet him, we wouldn’t have been caught in this unlucky investigation together. That relative of his is no good. I knew something bad would happen sooner or later. Fortunately, Jianchu had the foresight to withdraw his investment early. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have found him.”
Mu Ye sat down by the bed and gently held Song Jianchu’s cold fingers. “How long has he been living with that relative?”
“Almost ten years,” Yin Chi said. “When I met him, he was just a kid and had to work part-time on weekends to save up for his school fees.”
Mu Ye looked at the young man with his pale and peaceful sleeping face and asked in a low voice, “With such an age difference, how did you meet?”
Yin Chi suddenly laughed softly and shook his head with a meaningful expression. “It’s still because of you.”
Mu Ye raised an eyebrow. “Because of me?”
“That year, when you had just debuted, he wanted to attend your concert. He managed to get tickets online, but I guess the front-row tickets were too expensive for him,” Yin Chi said. “My family owns an entertainment company, and my dad managed to get many front-row tickets. I was planning to invite friends to attend.”
Yin Chi looked at the young man on the bed, lost in memories, and said softly, “I remember it was raining that day. My friends and I were entering through the VIP entrance, and we saw a kid with wet hair and a pretty yellow umbrella. He was outside the venue, trying to buy a ticket with cash. Some heartless people were trying to rip him off by demanding a high price. He almost paid the money.”
Mu Ye stared at the young man whose sleeping state was restless, his eyelashes trembling slightly. His gaze became distant.
A yellow umbrella… it was that child.
A distant image suddenly flashed in Mu Ye’s mind.
It was from a few years before he debuted.
When his family opposed his decision to become a singer, he had gone out to sing on the streets. It was raining that day, and he had grabbed his little sister’s yellow umbrella before leaving. There was only one child standing in the rain, carrying a backpack, listening to his music. He wasn’t in a good mood at the time, with his family against him and doubting himself. He could only manage to sing one song before he couldn’t continue.
Before leaving, he gave his umbrella to the only listener who had supported him that day.
Mu Ye’s emotions became complex as he tightened his grip on Song Jianchu’s cold fingers, gazing at the young man’s face that had grown into adulthood. Warm and tender emotions surged within his chest.
“I couldn’t bear to see it, so I gave him an extra ticket,” Yin Chi said with a laugh. “After that, he added me on WeChat and insisted on transferring the money to me. He even treated me to a meal to express his gratitude. That’s how we became friends.”
Mu Ye whispered softly, “Thank you for the ticket.”
“I should be thanking you,” Yin Chi sighed. “If it weren’t for your concert, I wouldn’t have gotten to know him so well.”
Yin Chi chuckled, “No, this friend of mine is indeed your loyal fan. Since your debut, his eyes have never looked elsewhere. I’ve witnessed it all along the way.”
Mu Ye bent down and gently placed a kiss on the back of Song Jianchu’s hand.
“I know,” Mu Ye’s eyes were misty and tender, and he smiled softly.
Although I recognized you after all these years,
During every concert, I could always find you at a glance.
I am actually teary eyed. :(( Jianchu went through a lot.