Xiu Lin's participation underground made quite a lot of noise after he came back from disappearing for weeks.
Underground is the home for different kinds of materials unavailable in the legal markets. If you compare it to the internet, it is a live deep web, a black market of sorts. Different kinds of things could be seen and sold. Auction of rare materials, lands, body parts, artifacts, and more. It also organizes underground fights where the participants either live or die. Center of drugs and other medicinal substances. Turf for assassins, hitmen, fraternities, upper gangs, and mere psychos.
But on the upper deals, the Xiu underground business is mainly weapons. Guns, knives, personalized items, bombs so on and so forth.
So to say, it is a quick money-building business with risks but when you can control even the law, nothing is impossible.
This is the case with the Xiu family mafia. They have the money which means they also have the power.
.
Roars of applause surrounded the spacious arena as Xiu Lin stood up, panting a bit under his chest. He stood in the center, wearing a black shirt and jeans that were grazed from all over his body almost ripping off his upper wear. His fist was bruised and peeled from punching his enemy until he lost consciousness. The bloody man was down on the ground without a fight.
This level of participation was what the original soul in Xiu Lin's body usually does. He goes down and releases frustration by fighting others. He doesn't exactly kill his enemy but leaves them near death.
This is a normal event in the underground where several gangsters gathered. Getting off the ring, a servant came to him and handed him a towel which he used to wipe his sweat while his hand was being tended by another servant who had the first aid, wrapping his slim and long fingers with gauze.
When everything was done, he left the place immediately. Underground is no different from the Intelligence. It is also found under a corporate building. The building belonged to Li Yudi, Xiu Lin's biological mother. Li Yudi has a partnership with Xiu Cui and hid the entire ship under her building as it was the most hidden. The Building was named after her son, Xiu Lin when he was under her custody: "LiLin" which centers on Art. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and even exotic antiques almost make it look like a museum.
On the outside, the LiLin building is a high-class art exhibit. It was merely the tip of the iceberg. its underground is an entirely different world.
Li Yudi loves her son too, her son was pampered to no end until Xiu Cui picked him up. Li Yudi had no choice but to leave the boy in his father's care but she couldn't help but worry about the things Xiu Lin will learn.
When the other underground executives learned that Xiu Lin's original name was Li Lin, of course, Li Yudi became a mortal enemy. Her car had been tampered with and died in a car accident.
All properties were transferred to the only son to manage. Overall, Xiu Lin became a busy son who caters to bother his mother and father's business. But as young as he is, he received a lot of criticism. He took over Li Yudi's business at sixteen but decided to work in the shadows after realizing how dangerous it was and had the CEO filled by his mother's trusted assistant as the pseudo boss. With this, everyone looked down on him, thinking that Li Yudi's business had been robbed from her son.
A laughing matter to Xiu Lin as he watches them ridicule them like idiots.
He was really busy recently. If it continues like this, he might not be able to enjoy his wealth and die overworking for two companies.
This is why while his father is still alive, he decided to slack a bit and help out when things go unexpected as planned later on.
.
Xiu Lin went to nearby food stalls and ate like a normal teen who recently got out of school. He was also planning to continue his normal life.
But for now, let's eat our problems away.
Eating barbeque on the streets, not noticing that someone was taking photographs of himself, Xiu Lin ate without worries. His face looked decent and nice, athletic and friendly. He's not too big nor too small in others' eyes, just a little tall and slim. But his image was attractive and eye-catching with both his hair and eyes being quite outstanding and cool. People who would look at this young man would think that he was a teen star or part of an idol group.
His attire was simple and clean, White shirt and black jeans hugging his fair to pale skin. Being out of the sun for long really had his image looking like a little vampire.
Today was his day off, everything was going well in the business as per usual so he didn't need to work overtime too much and could enjoy the sticks of barbeque he was currently holding.
He rounded up the food stalls that he liked, taking small portions each to taste before taking seconds to fully enjoy the taste of the food he liked. His face was really at peace even the vendors enjoyed cooking for him when he looked impressed.
Overall, these food stalls became his own entertainment... well, not until he saw a familiar person approaching calmly, but with quick strides with his long legs.
Xiu Lin ignored him and moved aside, specifically, towards the dumplings he's been eyeing since earlier.
However, before his excitement could revolve around food again, he was suddenly pulled away from happiness, being hooked to his waist and carried away.
"Xuni-- you..." Xiu Lin glared at him.
Mo Xunian's eyes darkened the moment the call for his name changed into something unfamiliar coming from the boy's mouth.
"Hey, you stop dragging me, or I'll punch you!" Xiu Lin warned.
The older didn't stop, however. He continued to make big strides and managed at least tens of meters away from the crowd, only then did he put the boy down and let him sit on a bench.
Xiu Lin crossed his arms and looked at his lover with an inquiring gaze. "What now?"
"Why did you leave?"
"That's the first oddly ridiculous question I've heard today." The boy sneered and looked away.
"Don't you know you might have been killed if you took the wrong direction?" Mo Xunian observed the younger with soft dark eyes as he asked this.
Xiu Lin raised an eyebrow before smiling. "You have no idea that that day is my lucky day." He informed.
Xunian did know what he meant by that. But he didn't reply and still stuck to his questions over why he left or the consequences he might have had if he was caught.
The boy huffed. "Who do you think I am? Do you think I'm not afraid to die? I don't care about the what-ifs you're trying to emphasize. And why I left is because your room service is so crappy I think I'm going to vomit." He replied.
Basically, because of the never-ending porridge he ate those days he stayed at the intelligence.
"Seriously, all my shits are basically water. Do you have a heart?" Xiu Lin complained.
Mo Xunian didn't know how he should react to this reasoning. But looking at his boyfriend back to his 'cheerful' appearance, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
Everyone in the headquarters panicked as soon as Xiu Lin escaped. As a mafia boss' son, it would have been normal for him to immediately dispatch enemies to attack their headquarters. But it's been more than a month after the boy's escape. All the spies ever saw was Xiu Lin, basically doing 'mukbang' in his office. His so-called 'tiring overtime' is actually just him, handing out paperwork to his trusted assistants while eating leisurely. He even has a personal kitchen filled with supplies in the office just to satisfy his cravings.
The man couldn't help but feel amused.
Xiu Lin is a laid-back young man whose personality can't be negative for long. Most of the time, his eyes were shone on the smallest things whenever they were together. Mo Xunian really regretted not paying attention more to Xiu Lin back then.
What an idiot lover he was.
"What do you want to eat next." He decided to change the serious topic and wanted to indulge this boy more.
Hearing this, Xiu Lin stopped cursing in his head and looked up at the male lead who was staring back at him. "Milk tea. Cakes," he replied.
[Host, are you so easy to coax?] 1204 sighed and watched the forgiving host.
'No, he offered free food. I must take advantage of it.' Xiu Lin said with determination.
[...] the system felt like he was stupid. Yes, yes. He should have known! He should have known! The host is a foodie with a black hole intestine. Eat all you want and eat more after.
1204 sighed in his heart. As long as the host doesn't curse him.
[But you're rich enough to buy your own meals host...] 1204 suddenly thought about it. Mafia heir, lots of billion-dollar business.
'It's tiring to go around picking money. It's better for someone doing it for me.' Xiu Lin explained. 'He offered, so I must accept his kind offer. Although I'm still mad at him.'
[As expected. My diligence has limited my imagination of how an extremely lazy person thinks... sighs.]
Mo Xunian guided Xiu Lin to a coffee shop they often dated at. The coffee shop was near Xiu Lin's senior school where the two frequently met. A place filled with Xiu Lin's sweet voice detailing his school life, how his friends spent the day with him, how he tells him about new school gossip, and his laughter.
Xiu Lin loved this place. Because his favorite custard cake is served here. He once said that this place had the best ones as it was not too sweet and the pudding on top is thicker than the usual ones. Although he loves sweets, he preferred the ones that balanced out his taste buds.
He looked at the young man for any reaction as they entered the shop. What he saw didn't disappoint as the boy's eyes were sparkling when he saw the cake still available. Then let out a sigh of relief with his usual "I'm glad it hasn't sold out yet." whenever he sees a piece left.
Xuinian couldn't help but smile. Ordered the two remaining custard cakes for Xiu Lin and his favorite milk tea while he took a coffee for himself. Like before, sat on the seat they also frequently sat while waiting for the orders to be served.
Back in those times, the two ate and Xiu Lin's mood gradually improved to actually have a conversation with Mo Xunian. As if it was the original owner's reflex to tell his lover how his life has been faring thus far. His eager voice, his bright tone when he was trying to suppress the excitement to tell the next story while finishing the other one.
Xiu Lin never thought he'd actually become so talkative that he almost slapped his mouth. But he must admit, talking about his past experiences- except his life as a mafia kid- was therapeutic. Maybe this was the reason the original owner was so fond of Mo Xunian... because the bastard listens so well with a smile on his face, not interrupting him or looking bored.
'Ah, I never knew this guy could help my psychological pains.' Xiu Lin shared his thoughts on the system.
[According to the original script, this was Xiu Lin's way to cope with the stress he was experiencing while managing the family business. In a way, he was emotionally dependent on Mo Xunian.]