ASH | Chapter 4

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan stood smiling at the cinema entrance, holding an unmistakable token of affection, a movie ticket.

It was not time to go in yet, so he stood idly by the entrance. Among the countless couples passing by, there were always a few girls who secretly glanced at him from the corners of their eyes.

Confident in his looks, Fei Huan usually gave girls like that a roguish smile. It was purely to satisfy his own mean little streak.

As​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ he waited, he remembered the amusing interlude from noon.

…

“When I go to the movies, I’m not suddenly going to find someone sitting beside me whom I wasn’t prepared for, am I?” Fei Huan pulled a movie ticket from Lin Tongxue’s hand, leaned back in his chair, and lit a cigarette.

Lin Tongxue hesitated for a moment. It seemed he really had been planning to take the other ticket and create an opportunity for them to spend time together.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan frowned and lazily extended his pale, slender hand toward him. “Could you give me the other ticket too?” He smiled sweetly at Lin Tongxue. “I want to go with a friend.”

When Lin Tongxue handed the remaining ticket to Fei Huan with a trace of disappointment, Fei Huan’s shoulders began to shake with silent laughter.

“Thank you…”

…

Should​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ I ask Xu Luotao to come see the movie with me?

Fei Huan considered it. He knew Xu Luotao definitely would not come, but he called him anyway.

“Fei Huan, what is it?” Xu Luotao answered as soon as the call connected, his voice sounding somewhat displeased as he asked hurriedly.

“Will​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ you watch a movie with me?”

“Fei Huan, don’t call me about something so boring. I told you I don’t like movies.” Xu Luotao paused, seeming to realize that his tone had been too harsh, then softened his voice. “I’ve prepared a surprise for you. Will you be a good boy and wait for me tonight?”

Fei Huan replied softly into the phone, disappointed. “Okay.”

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ hung up.

Watching everyone entering through the ticket gate in pairs, Fei Huan’s mood sank. He tore the extra ticket into tiny scraps, as small as they could possibly get, and threw them into the trash.

Inside the dark screening room, Fei Huan finally found his seat. He casually placed the soda and popcorn he had bought on the seat beside him. No one would be coming. He had already torn up that seat’s ticket.

His​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ gloomy mood lasted until the movie began.

The massive speakers played a mournful theme song. The star of the film was the actress Fei Huan admired most. He put Xu Luotao out of his mind and focused on the movie.

The plot was terribly clichéd, nothing more than a story about a man and woman falling in love, unequal family backgrounds, and their courage to fight for their relationship. But Fei Huan loved one of the lines in it: “All my pride comes from the eyes that love me.”

It​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ was something the aristocratic heroine said to her impoverished lover. The expression on her face when she said it was so beautiful and moving that Fei Huan had wanted to see that scene ever since he had spotted the image on the poster.

“Do you think that woman is going to fall for the lord’s son?” a woman’s voice came from the row behind him, apparently asking the person who had accompanied her.

Of course not, you idiot! Fei Huan had already learned the plot, and he silently cursed her. He hated anything that interfered with his enjoyment of the heroine’s voice.

After​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ a while…

“Do you think she’s pretty?”

Her boyfriend said something Fei Huan could not make out, making her laugh affectedly before she asked, “Do you think she’s prettier than me, or am I prettier?”

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan impatiently glanced back. It was pitch-black, and he could not make out the lovesick woman’s face.

Her boyfriend must have said something else disgustingly sweet, because the woman replied in a syrupy, shrilly coquettish voice that made Fei Huan’s whole body shudder, “I don’t believe you. All you ever do is sweet-talk me.”

He really wanted to dump all the popcorn in his hands over her head!

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan suppressed the satisfying impulse and tried to concentrate on the movie. The scene he had been waiting for was coming up soon. He did not want to miss it just because he had to curse at some lovesick idiot.

The heroine wore an ornate gown. She abandoned her maidservants and chased after the hero along the muddy road.

Breathing hard, she gazed at the hero with extraordinary resolve. “What could make me proud? It is not being born in the main house of an estate, not being given a certain family name, not wearing some magnificent dress!” She came closer step by step, gazing up at her lover with deep emotion.

“All​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ my pri…”

“The dress she’s wearing, I have one in the same vintage style. I’ll wear it one day…” The sudden voice drowned out the line Fei Huan most wanted to hear.

He could not hear it!

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan’s eyes widened, his anger rising to its peak. He quickly turned around and shouted in the woman’s direction, “Shut up!”

At once, everyone nearby turned their eyes toward Fei Huan.

Apparently frightened by him, the woman timidly tugged at the sleeve of the person beside her. Tears kept welling in her eyes, perhaps about to spill over and ruin her carefully applied makeup.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan did not like bullying foolish-looking women, so he redirected his anger toward the person beside her. A woman’s poor upbringing was a man’s fault.

But he soon froze, staring at the person beside her with his mouth hanging open. “Xu Luotao…”

Xu Luotao sat at ease beside the woman, who was putting on a carefully crafted demure-wife act. He smiled at Fei Huan. “Hello, Fei Huan.” His tone was distant.

The​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ woman beside him was surprised and asked in a tiny voice, “Is he your friend?” She did not want to do anything that might displease Xu Luotao, including offending his friend.

“Just an ordinary friend.” Xu Luotao soothed the beauty beside him. The words exploded in Fei Huan’s ears like a heavy bomb.

Fei Huan sucked in a breath and asked softly, “What did you just say?”

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao showed no sign of embarrassment. He asked courteously, “Fei Huan, you don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”

Feeling a little dizzy, Fei Huan wondered if he was suffering from oxygen deprivation.

He blankly nodded at Xu Luotao, then walked out under everyone’s watchful eyes.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ had expected Xu Luotao to come after him, but he never saw him. Fei Huan did not get in his car either. He simply walked all the way home.

Hmph. So this was the “surprise.”

Fei Huan opened the beer he had bought a few days earlier to drown his sorrows and thought calmly.

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao had found a new lover. He had fallen for someone else. He did not like me anymore.

To be honest, his taste really was terrible.

But he was willing to go to the movies with her. Wasn’t he the one who hated movies most? I asked him so many times, and he refused to come with me. Yet he was willing to force himself for some lovesick idiot.

The​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ thought of Xu Luotao forcing himself to accommodate someone else’s preferences made Fei Huan’s heart ache.

He tossed the beer can in his hand into the trash in a high arc, then pulled open another one with a sharp “pop.”

There must have been signs all along. No wonder he was always so cold and indifferent toward me, never worried about me at all.

Who​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ would have thought that Xu Luotao, that fickle man, would one day be tied down by someone?

…

Lost in these wild thoughts, Fei Huan finished his beer. It had grown completely dark outside. He glanced at the sky and thought: Xu Luotao said he would have dinner with me tonight. I wonder if he plans to celebrate my birthday and then break up with me.

There was a sound at the front door, as though someone was unlocking it.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan remained motionless on the sofa and lazily turned his head.

Xu Luotao came in. Fei Huan glanced at the key in his hand. Should I take my key back? After we broke up, Xu Luotao should naturally lose the right to come and go freely in this house.

“Give me the key.”

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao had just entered and looked up in astonishment. “What did you say?”

“I don’t know how to break up, but you should at least return the key to my apartment, shouldn’t you?”

“Don’t throw a tantrum, all right?” Xu Luotao said coaxingly as he loosened his tie.

“Haven’t​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ you already taken a fancy to her?”

“Her?” Xu Luotao laughed as if he had heard a joke. “What makes you think I’m interested in her? Fei Huan, how could she compare to you?”

Fei Huan shook his head. “You were willing to go to the movies with her, even though it meant putting yourself out.”

“I​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ often go to the movies with people. What’s strange about that?” Xu Luotao said lightly, stepping forward to kiss Fei Huan’s lips.

Fei Huan dodged him at once. Hearing Xu Luotao say he was not interested in that woman cheered him slightly. “Then why wouldn’t you go with me?”

“Because you’re a man!” Xu Luotao scratched his head impatiently, then turned and sat on the sofa with a cigarette between his lips. “I can’t exactly go out with another man, can I?”

It​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ was as if a sharp needle had pierced some part of him. Fei Huan sprang to his feet. “So that’s it. You look down on me for being a man. You dare sleep with a man, but you don’t dare go out with one? Aren’t you Xu Luotao? Aren’t you so capable, afraid of nothing, the famous playboy?” He was furious and breathing hard.

Compared with Fei Huan’s frantic anger, Xu Luotao remained utterly relaxed. “I’m still a prominent member of society. Sleeping with men doesn’t matter. I’m not afraid of rumors, because that is just being amorous. But if the papers put a picture of me strolling down the street with a man in my arms on the front page, that would be a joke.”

Fei Huan sneered. “You’re photographed in the papers with one escort today and a third-rate actress tomorrow, and you’re worried about your reputation?”

“Those​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ are women. It’s different.” Xu Luotao explained slowly, “Women are like lighters. When you take one out with you, you have to change them now and then to keep things fresh. No matter how poor the quality of a lighter is, there will be a time when its owner takes it out. But a man…” He glanced at Fei Huan standing in front of him. “No one would carry even the most beautiful ashtray out to meet people, would they?”

Fei Huan could hardly breathe. Grinding his teeth, he said coldly, “I’m an ashtray?”

Before Xu Luotao could even nod, Fei Huan pounced like a beast driven mad by drugs. He snatched away the ashtray Xu Luotao was using and hurled it without hesitation.

It​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ nearly struck Xu Luotao in the head. Fortunately, he was quick enough to dodge to the side and narrowly avoid it.

Fei Huan had poured all his strength into the throw. The ashtray flew over the sofa and slammed into the wall several yards behind it with a loud “crash,” shattering into countless tiny pieces that glittered as they fell across the floor.

Smoke, ash, tray…

His​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ blood boiled and surged into his brain, making it impossible to breathe… He could clearly hear the great artery in his neck throbbing again and again.

Fei Huan’s face was as pale as if he had spent an entire winter frozen in a freezer, yet his eyes were blood-red. The intensity of his agitation robbed him of the strength to shout. In a hoarse voice, he pointed at the door and forced the words through clenched teeth. “Get out…”

What a hot-tempered little thing…

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao yawned indifferently, stood up magnanimously, and walked toward the door.

How many days would he be angry this time?

Three days… Xu Luotao glanced back at Fei Huan’s expression. No, five days…

I’ll​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ call him again in five days. After five days without touching him, Fei Huan would certainly be even more passionate and impressive in bed.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder…

Fei Huan held his back straight until he heard the front door close softly.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ stared blankly at Xu Luotao’s back disappearing behind the door, then suddenly could not suppress the trembling of his shoulders. He collapsed face-first onto the sofa…

Ashtray, ashtray. I’m nothing but an ashtray.

Something that cannot be taken out to meet people…

I​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ hate you!

I never want to see you again!

…

Five days had passed.

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao finally admitted that he missed Fei Huan a little. More precisely, he missed the passionate, uninhibited, naked Fei Huan who moaned in bed.

No one excited Xu Luotao more than he did.

Five agonizing days…

But​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Xu Luotao knew that Fei Huan should have been the one suffering most. He knew how infatuated this little beauty was with a hint of wickedness and an astonishingly innocent nature. If he went even one day without hearing from Xu Luotao, he would become so anxious that he lost all reason.

Where was Fei Huan now, staring daggers at his phone?

Xu Luotao smiled proudly at the thought.

Fei​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Huan, stubbornly refusing to contact him first while waiting for him every moment, was truly adorable.

Should he prepare some new tricks today to ease the pain of their longing?

While considering new positions for making love, Xu Luotao dialed Fei Huan’s number.

“We’re​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ sorry, this number has been disconnected. Please contact your mobile carrier…” Unexpectedly, that was the voice notification he heard from the phone.

Xu Luotao furrowed his thick, heavy brows.

Disconnected?

He called Fei Huan’s home next. The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao impatiently listened to the monotonous ringing.

All right, Fei Huan, answer the phone. Stop throwing a tantrum!

There was still no answer, so he angrily hung up.

Hmph.​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Then you can wait a little longer.

It was not long before he began to feel restless again. Xu Luotao picked up the phone he had tossed onto the table and dialed again.

He called dozens of times, back and forth, but no one answered.

Nothing​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ could have happened to him, could it? Being a police officer was dangerous work.

He was, at least, a little worried.

While blaming Fei Huan for causing him trouble, Xu Luotao called Tan Feng.

“Tan​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Feng, I need you to investigate someone. Name: Fei Huan. Address: Sai Wan…” He gave Tan Feng every detail about Fei Huan in one uninterrupted stream. Even Xu Luotao himself found it strange that he remembered Fei Huan’s information so thoroughly. At the end, he added, “Find out whether he was injured in the line of duty. I don’t think he was. He may simply be throwing a tantrum. And don’t let him know you’re investigating him…”

After speaking with Tan Feng, he felt somewhat better. He closed his eyes and leaned against the comfortable leather sofa while waiting for news.

Sure enough, Tan Feng soon sent back a report.

“He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ wasn’t injured. He resigned.” Tan Feng’s report over the phone was brief.

Trying to avoid me?

Hmph, Fei Huan, don’t you know who I am?

“Give​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ me his current address.” I’ll go find him immediately and teach him a proper lesson, followed by finding any bed I can lie down on.

But Tan Feng’s answer nearly made Xu Luotao’s jaw drop. “I can’t find his address. He has disappeared completely.”

Xu Luotao asked incredulously, “Disappeared completely? What do you mean? Tan Feng, I told you to use the organization’s intelligence network, not just call the police station and ask.”

“I​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ mobilized the organization’s intelligence network. The result is that we can’t find him. This person seems to have vanished completely.” Tan Feng answered crisply. “To prevent him from leaving the country through another route, I activated search resources on other continents. The result was the same.”

“That’s impossible!” Xu Luotao roared. “He’s nothing but a minor police officer. How could he possibly evade my search?”

Tan Feng replied, with remarkably poor timing, “It’s possible. He already has.”

“Keep​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ looking until you find him.” Xu Luotao issued the order in a heavy voice, hung up, and hurried out of the office.

Sending dust and gravel flying in his wake, Xu Luotao sped straight to Fei Huan’s home.

“Fei Huan! Open the door!” He pounded on it loudly, and the neighbors around them poked their heads out to see what was happening.

Only​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ then did Xu Luotao remember that he still had Fei Huan’s key. Cursing himself for losing his composure, he quickly took it out and unlocked the door.

Nothing in the room had changed.

The floor was still covered with dazzling shards of glass, and beer cans lay scattered everywhere…

It​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ was very quiet. There was no sound. Fei Huan was not there.

Everything was exactly as it had been when Xu Luotao left five days earlier.

That made Xu Luotao uneasy.

If​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ no one had been here for five days, where had Fei Huan been all this time?

Tan Feng had said that Fei Huan resigned the next day and disappeared without a trace.

Xu Luotao suddenly sprang up and rushed to the wardrobe like a whirlwind, yanking open the doors as though he had gone mad.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ stared blankly into the wardrobe for several seconds before finally letting out a breath of relief.

It was still packed with Fei Huan’s clothes…

If he had gone away for good, he would have packed his luggage.

Feeling​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ a little more relaxed, Xu Luotao walked over and sat on the sofa, preparing to wait for Fei Huan to return.

That Tan Feng, I wonder if he’s playing a trick on me. But given his character, it doesn’t seem like something he would do.

Xu Luotao speculated shrewdly: Could that little brat Luqing be taking revenge? He should be on the island, having the time of his life with his little lover. Would he really have the energy to deal with me?

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ took a cigarette from his pocket and deftly held it between his lips. Xu Luotao suddenly realized there was no ashtray to use. He certainly could not use the shards covering the floor to hold the ashes.

After a moment of hesitation, he tossed the cigarette into the trash can.

Fine. He would put some thought into coaxing Fei Huan.

As​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ a result, by the early hours of the next morning, there was still no sign of Fei Huan.

Xu Luotao’s patience had run out. He began to fly into a rage, pacing back and forth around the room, yet refusing to leave, afraid that Fei Huan might return at some inconvenient moment.

The news Tan Feng sent was still disappointing.

On​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ the third day, he began carefully searching through everything in the room. Nothing that could reveal Fei Huan’s whereabouts escaped his notice.

Tan Feng investigated everyone connected to anything that had appeared in the room, but the result was still the same.

On the fourth day, Xu Luotao was like an agitated bear, filled with a violent desire to vent his frustration. One moment, he decided that once he found Fei Huan, he would teach him a thorough lesson. The next, he wanted to find him and lavish him with affection.

In​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ the end, he moved his company affairs to the house because he did not want to leave it even for a moment.

He also gave Tan Feng a vicious tongue-lashing, berating him for his incompetent intelligence work.

The fifth day, the sixth day, the seventh day…

Finally,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Xu Luotao decided he would wait no longer. He moved out of the house without hesitation, determined to forget that damned, hateful brat who deserved to be treated in the cruelest way in the world.

Not a single piece of furniture in the house he left behind remained intact…

He forbade Tan Feng from continuing to investigate Fei Huan and threw himself back into his work.

However,​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ he grew increasingly rough with his male lovers, in stark contrast to the increasing tenderness he showed his female lovers. As a result, no one in their circle still felt honored or secretly delighted to share his bed.

With his wealth and power, he still had no shortage of bedmates.

He was simply especially interested in men whose names contained the character Huan, while also being especially brutal toward them. The luckiest of those unfortunate men, doomed merely because their names contained a character he disliked, ended up crippled. Several even died crying out in anguish on his bed. Every trace of it all was buried beneath thick stacks of banknotes…

And​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ so a year passed. The name Fei Huan had practically become taboo to Xu Luotao. He believed he had forgotten Fei Huan completely and no longer felt anything toward that utterly irredeemable man.

Until he…saw Fei Huan again…