ASH | Chapter 7

The​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ next day, Fei Huan was sent back to He Donghua.

The Dongtang headquarters was not particularly grand, but it had a strong air of antiquity. Walking in made one think of ancient Korean warriors dressed in robes and wielding Goryeo swords.

He Donghua sat solemnly in the seat of honor, coldly staring at Fei Huan, who was bound hand and foot.

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao and Tan Feng sat leisurely to one side, watching lazily to see how He Donghua would give them an explanation. His future brother-in-law had damaged the Shengtong boss’s beloved car and humiliated Xu Luotao, so justice naturally had to be done.

Fei Huan stood in the middle of the hall with his hands bound, showing several purplish bruises on his face. Without a few injuries, the story would not have seemed believable. Xu Luotao had refused to lay a hand on him, and in the end Tan Feng had given Fei Huan a few punches for the sake of appearances.

“Boss Xu, this was the result of my failure to discipline him properly. Whatever you want as compensation for the car, I’ll pay it.” Anyone else would have been one thing, but Fei Huan was He Dongfang’s future husband. He Donghua could ignore anyone else, but he had to look after Fei Huan. He spoke calmly,

letting​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Xu Luotao name his terms while firmly keeping the matter centered on compensating him for the car. That way, at worst it would be settled with money, and no one would be hurt.

That was precisely what Xu Luotao wanted. He only wanted to return Fei Huan safely to Dongtang and had no intention of letting anything else happen to him. Still, they had to put on at least a semblance of a show.

He tilted his head slightly and gave Tan Feng a meaningful glance.

Tan​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Feng understood immediately and said lightly, “Boss He, young people can be a little reckless. We won’t hold it against him. We’re very sorry. We didn’t know yesterday that he was your future brother-in-law, so the brothers laid hands on him. Fortunately, he didn’t suffer any serious injuries. We’ve brought him back. You just need to keep him under control from now on.”

Knowing that Xu Luotao had no intention of pursuing the matter, He Donghua also breathed a sigh of relief.

What a game of intrigue. Who would have thought that these two rivals would be so perfectly united in their intentions this time, both going to such lengths to protect Fei Huan?

Xu​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Luotao felt a little more at ease, knowing that He Donghua treated Fei Huan well. He hoped Fei Huan would end his ridiculous stubborn plan and return to his side as soon as possible. Being in the wolf’s den was no pleasant experience.

He Donghua merely assumed that Xu Luotao did not want to quibble with a minor figure like Fei Huan and was doing Dongtang a favor. If anything happened to Fei Huan, how could he explain it to He Dongfang, his beloved illegitimate half-sister who was publicly regarded as his younger sister?

That said, he still had to give them an explanation.

Putting​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ on the bearing of a great man, He Donghua walked over to Fei Huan and solemnly untied the ropes around him. Then he slapped him across the face. “Smack!”

Before anyone could react, his hand cut through the air again, delivering several more loud slaps back and forth.

Xu Luotao of course knew that He Donghua was only putting on a show, demonstrating that he could distinguish public from private matters and would not shield his family. If it had been anyone else, Xu Luotao would have forced He Donghua to beat him half to death before he was satisfied. But it was Fei Huan taking the beating, and Xu Luotao’s heart pounded so violently it felt as if someone were jabbing at his very vitals.

I’ve​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ been tormented by Fei Huan for a whole year, suffering through all that longing. Even after finally seeing him, I couldn’t bear to lay a finger on him, and you actually dared to slap him in the face!

Watching Fei Huan stand there obediently, with bright red handprints on both cheeks, Xu Luotao could hardly resist rushing over and punching the old bastard.

Sitting rigidly in his chair, Xu Luotao wore a smile while grinding his teeth.

He​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ Donghua was hurting too. Seeing Fei Huan’s face flushed red, he secretly worried about what would happen if He Dongfang saw him later. After finishing, he roared, “You good-for-nothing bastard, who told you to go looking for trouble? Hurry up and pour Boss Xu some tea and apologize!” He glanced at Xu Luotao, and when he saw that the man had no intention of pursuing the matter, he felt somewhat reassured. For now, Dongtang had no desire to make an enemy of Shengtong openly.

“You’ve disgraced Dongtang!” As he said it, he signaled to Fei Huan to apologize quickly and seal Xu Luotao’s mouth.

Everyone in the hall watched Fei Huan get beaten, but Fei Huan himself was the happiest of them all.

His​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ face burned, but he had caught every detail of Xu Luotao’s fleeting, panic-stricken expression. He Donghua had been hurting him in the face, but the pain was in his heart: Of course, he was not worried about Fei Huan. He was worried about He Dongfang.

I really have to wonder if I’m a masochist. I’ve been beaten, yet I’m still this delighted.

But as long as Xu Luotao felt sorry for me… … Haha, this feels great!

Feigning​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ reluctance and forced submission, Fei Huan shot Xu Luotao a glance and obediently served the tea.

He approached Xu Luotao with an ingratiating air, a bitter expression on his face and laughter filling his heart, and offered him the tea. “Boss Xu, I was reckless last night. You’re a magnanimous man, so please drink this cup of tea.”

Xu Luotao knew that He Donghua had been watching him from the side. There was no way he could let the man see through him. Putting on an arrogant, lofty posture, he accepted the tea Fei Huan offered.

The​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ instant his fingers touched the teacup, he wanted nothing more than to pull Fei Huan into his arms and race back to headquarters, locking his lover away in some corner where no one could find him, just as Xu Luqing had done, so he would not have to suffer this humiliating ache of longing.

Fei Huan raised his head at just the right moment and gave Xu Luotao a warning glance without revealing anything to the others, dispelling the thought.

Hmph. You dare ruin my plans?

You​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ know what my temper is like, don’t you?

Swallowing the tea in his hand without tasting it, Xu Luotao and Tan Feng took their leave. He Donghua could not have been happier. He personally escorted them to the entrance, exchanging pleasantries for quite some time, acting like close friends who had not seen each other in years and felt a deep affinity for one another.

Fei Huan remained alone in the hall, laughing helplessly. The other Dongtang members had no idea what he was laughing about. They merely assumed that He Donghua’s future brother-in-law was a little strange, and that his handsome face had helped him rise above his station.

Before​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ his laughter had even faded, He Donghua returned after seeing off his guests and looked at Fei Huan, unsure whether he ought to scold him or praise him.

In theory, he had been standing up for Dongtang and cutting down Xu Luotao’s arrogance, which was straightforward and rather endearing. But with recklessness like this, how could he accomplish anything important?

When he looked up and saw Fei Huan’s face red as fire, he hurriedly called out, “Bring some ice! Hurry, hurry!”

As​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ someone carefully pressed ice against the swelling on his face, Fei Huan held back a stomachful of laughter that threatened to split his sides. He considerately said to the worried He Donghua beside him, “Big Brother, don’t be like this. It was all that bastard Xu Luotao’s fault. If Xiao Fang asks, I’ll just tell her that Xu Luotao and the others beat me.”

He Donghua feared neither Heaven nor earth. He disrespected his father and secretly carried on with his stepmother, yet for some reason he was most afraid of this nominal younger sister. He had been worrying about what would happen if He Dongfang saw the injuries on Fei Huan’s face, so he relaxed at Fei Huan’s words and laughed heartily. “Ash, you were far too impulsive. What if Xu Luotao had been so furious that he took your life? What would Xiao Fang have done then? Sigh… … Big Brother only hit you for your own good.”

“I know. Big Brother was giving that Xu fellow some face. How could I not understand?” Honest, broad-minded, quiet, and sparing with his words, that was the role Fei Huan played.

With​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ a face that handsome, anything he said sounded a little better.

He Donghua gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder. “Good, you understand! Use your head more in the future and don’t be so impulsive. You’re one of our own now. When something important comes up, you’ll be the one handling it.”

Fei Huan stared at He Donghua and nodded repeatedly.

That​‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍​ last sentence was the important part.

He Donghua, if I didn’t pretend to be simple-minded, would you let me enter Dongtang’s inner circle so easily? In your eyes, only fools and simpletons are easy to command.