Ye Rou managed to find Zhong Qing. The Black Serpents threw Zhong Qing onto the floor with a careless shove, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud. Ye Rou's breath caught in his throat as he rushed forward, the sight of Zhong Qing's battered form sending a wave of inexplicable anger surging through him. Zhong Qing's clothes were ripped, his body marred with bruises and cuts, and his usually bright eyes were clouded with pain and exhaustion.
"You got your guy. Hand over the bracelet," the leader of the Black Serpents demanded, his voice cold and unyielding.
Ye Rou ignored the leader for a moment, his focus entirely on Zhong Qing. He knelt beside him, his hands trembling as he helped him to support his body. Zhong Qing winced in pain, his body barely supporting him, and Ye Rou's fury deepened. He clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face the leader.
"The bracelet is not yours," Ye Rou spat, his voice filled with venom. "I won't give it."
The leader's expression darkened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You're in no position to refuse, Ye Rou. You think you can just take what you want and walk away?"
Ye Rou's grip on Zhong Qing tightened, his protective instincts kicking in. He had never felt this level of anger before—not even with Luan Xie. It was as if something had snapped inside him, a part of him that he had never known existed. He wasn't about to let anyone take what was his.
"Do you think you can harm me?" Ye Rou scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt as he met the leader's gaze. "Think again."
The leader of the Black Serpents paused, his eyes narrowing as he sized Ye Rou up. There was a tension in the air, thick and palpable, as the two men stared each other down. The air seemed to crackle with the threat of violence, but Ye Rou stood his ground, his posture defiant.
Ye Rou's lips curled into a cold smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "You have no idea who you're dealing with. If you think you can intimidate me into handing over something as valuable as that bracelet, you're more foolish than I thought."
The leader's expression hardened, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. He hadn't expected Ye Rou to push back so forcefully, especially not with Zhong Qing in such a vulnerable state. But Ye Rou's resolve was unshakable, his anger simmering just beneath the surface, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation.
"Make no mistake," Ye Rou continued, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper, "I don't take kindly to threats. And if you think you can use Zhong Qing to manipulate me, you're gravely mistaken."
The leader remained silent, the weight of Ye Rou's words settling over the tense scene.
"Zhong Qing is my strength, not my weakness," Ye Rou declared, his voice firm and resonant with power. His words sliced through the tension like a blade, leaving a stunned silence in their wake.
Zhong Qing, still battered and weak, stared at Ye Rou with wide eyes, his heart skipping a beat. In that moment, something shifted within him—a realization, perhaps, or a flicker of hope that he hadn't dared to entertain. The man who had always treated him with cold indifference, who had never shown a hint of vulnerability, was now standing before him, declaring his importance in a way that Zhong Qing had never imagined.
Ye Rou's eyes never left the leader's, but his hand tightened around Zhong Qing's arm, a silent reassurance in the midst of the chaos. For a brief moment, Zhong Qing forgot about his pain, his injuries, and the danger that surrounded them. All he could focus on was Ye Rou—fearless, and protective in a way that made Zhong Qing's heart ache.
The leader of the Black Serpents hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Ye Rou's resolve. The situation had taken a turn he hadn't anticipated. He had expected Ye Rou to crumble, to trade the bracelet in desperation, but instead, he was faced with a man who would not be moved by fear.
Zhong Qing swallowed hard, his throat dry as he continued to gaze at Ye Rou. There was a new intensity in Ye Rou's eyes, one that Zhong Qing had never seen before. It was as if, in that moment, Ye Rou had finally acknowledged the bond between them, something deeper than either of them had been willing to admit.
"Let's go," Ye Rou murmured, his voice softer now as he turned to Zhong Qing, his expression gentler, though no less determined. He helped Zhong Qing to his feet, supporting him as they began to walk away, leaving the leader and his men behind.
Zhong Qing leaned heavily on Ye Rou, but it wasn't just physical exhaustion that made him cling to the other man. It was the overwhelming surge of emotion, the unexpected warmth that had blossomed in his chest at Ye Rou's words. For the first time in a long while, Zhong Qing felt...protected.
But he knew better than to let his guard down completely. The warmth in his chest was tainted with the memory of pain, and the emotional scars that still lingered. He wasn't going to be an idiot in love anymore. He had suffered enough, both mentally and physically, and he wasn't about to forget that—no matter how much he might want to believe in the momentary safety Ye Rou offered.
Zhong Qing moved slowly, each step echoing in the empty warehouse, his mind a mess of emotions he couldn't quite untangle. He could feel the warmth that Ye Rou's presence gave him, but it was overshadowed by the painful memories that still haunted him. He wasn't about to be fooled again. He'd been through enough—both mentally and physically—and he knew better than to let his guard down completely. The scars on his heart were still fresh, a constant reminder of the dangers of letting anyone get too close.
As they stepped outside, the night air hit him, cool and damp from the recent rain. The ground was slick under their feet, making each step feel deliberate, almost heavy. Zhong Qing kept his gaze forward, trying to focus on the path ahead rather than the storm inside his head. He wasn't that naive, lovestruck fool anymore. He had learned his lesson the hard way, and no matter how much he might want to believe in the safety Ye Rou seemed to offer, he wasn't about to let himself be hurt again.
The two of them walked out into the street, the dim light from a nearby streetlamp casting eerie shadows across the pavement. The silence was almost oppressive, a sharp contrast to the chaos in Zhong Qing's mind. But something felt off. When his eyes scanned the area, he quickly realized why—Luan Xie and He Shun were gone. The realization hit like a punch to the gut. The spot where they should have been was empty, and Zhong Qing could feel the tension radiating from Ye Rou.
Ye Rou's frustration was immediate and intense. His eyes flashed with anger, and he practically growled, "Those idiots! I won't let them escape so easily!" His voice was sharp, filled with a mix of anger and determination. Without hesitating, he yanked his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed his men. The orders were brief, barked out in a tone that brooked no argument—he wanted a car sent to their location right away.
Zhong Qing stood by, watching as Ye Rou took control of the situation. There was something almost admirable in Ye Rou's fierce determination, something that reminded Zhong Qing of what had drawn him to Ye Rou in the first place. But now, all it did was reinforce the walls around his heart. He had to stay sharp, to remember that trust was a luxury he couldn't afford anymore.
As they waited for the car, Zhong Qing's thoughts drifted to Luan Xie and He Shun. He had to give them credit—it took guts to pull off an escape like that right under their noses. But this wasn't a game. They were all in too deep, and Zhong Qing wasn't going to let himself get dragged down by misplaced sympathy or admiration. He had to focus on protecting himself, on making sure he didn't end up a casualty of whatever game Ye Rou was playing.
The sound of a car approaching broke the silence, and Zhong Qing snapped back to the present. The car pulled up alongside them, the engine humming softly in the quiet night. Without missing a beat, Ye Rou opened the door, motioning for Zhong Qing to get in.
He could still feel that familiar warmth in his chest, but now, it was tempered with cold caution. He wouldn't be fooled by it this time. He knew what was at stake, and he wasn't going to let his guard down—not for anyone, not even for Ye Rou.
Zhong Qing wasn't that same fool in love anymore.
Zhong Qing walked to the other side of the car, his expression set as he opened the door himself. He wasn't willing to accept Ye Rou's help, not even for something as simple as getting into the car. The act felt like a quiet declaration, a way of holding on to the last bit of control he had over the situation. He wasn't about to rely on Ye Rou any more than he had to.
Ye Rou was taken aback, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He had never experienced this kind of resistance from Zhong Qing before. It was subtle, but it pricked his heart in a way he hadn't expected, a sharp reminder that things were changing between them. For a moment, he hesitated, caught off guard by the shift in Zhong Qing's demeanor. But he quickly regained his composure, forcing the emotion down as he slid into the car, masking any trace of his discomfort.
As Ye Rou settled into the seat beside Zhong Qing, the tension in the car was palpable. The silence between them was thick, weighted by everything unspoken. Ye Rou couldn't shake the unease gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. Zhong Qing had always been dependable, someone he could count on to follow his lead without question. But now, there was a new distance between them, one that Ye Rou couldn't quite place.
The car began to move, the gentle hum of the engine filling the quiet. Ye Rou glanced sideways at Zhong Qing, his eyes searching for a sign, something that might explain this sudden shift. But Zhong Qing's face was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his posture stiff and closed off. Ye Rou clenched his fists in his lap, trying to push down the nagging feeling that something was slipping out of his control.
He wanted to say something, to bridge the gap that had formed between them, but the words wouldn't come. For the first time in a long while, Ye Rou found himself uncertain, unsure of how to handle the situation. He prided himself on being in control, on knowing how to maneuver every situation to his advantage. Yet now, with Zhong Qing sitting just inches away, he felt an unfamiliar sense of vulnerability.
The car pulled up to Ye Rou's mansion, its headlights cutting through the darkness as it rolled to a stop. The moment the engine quieted, Zhong Qing was already reaching for the door handle. He stepped out of the car with purpose, not bothering to glance back at Ye Rou. The cool night air greeted him as he straightened up, taking in the imposing silhouette of the mansion before him.
Without a word, Zhong Qing began walking toward the entrance, his footsteps brisk and determined. There was no hesitation, no lingering, as if distancing himself from Ye Rou was the only thing on his mind. The grand facade of the mansion loomed over him, but Zhong Qing barely registered it. His focus was solely on keeping his emotions in check, on maintaining the barrier he had so carefully constructed around himself.
Ye Rou watched from the car, a mixture of confusion and frustration brewing inside him. He wasn't used to being ignored, especially not by Zhong Qing. It stung more than he wanted to admit, that cold shoulder, that deliberate avoidance. But instead of calling out, instead of demanding an explanation, Ye Rou simply clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay composed. He had never felt this kind of distance from Zhong Qing before, and it unsettled him more than he cared to acknowledge.
Finally, after a moment of hesitation, Ye Rou stepped out of the car as well. He followed after Zhong Qing, his expression unreadable, though a storm was brewing beneath the surface. But he kept his pace measured, his steps slow, allowing the distance between them to remain. As they approached the massive double doors of the mansion, Ye Rou couldn't shake the feeling that something between them had irrevocably changed.
As they entered the house, the soft glow of the chandeliers casting a warm light over the grand foyer, Ye Rou finally broke the silence. "I'll get the doctor for you," he said, his voice carrying a tone of authority mixed with a hint of concern.
But Zhong Qing barely acknowledged him, his gaze fixed straight ahead as he moved further into the mansion. The grand, elegant surroundings seemed to close in around him, but he refused to let it affect him. The offer, though well-meaning, felt like just another way for Ye Rou to maintain control, to keep him dependent. Zhong Qing wasn't going to play into that anymore.
Ye Rou hesitated for a moment, watching Zhong Qing's retreating figure. It was strange, seeing him so detached, so distant. There was a time when Zhong Qing would have accepted the offer without question, trusting him implicitly. Now, that trust seemed fractured, replaced by an icy indifference that Ye Rou wasn't sure how to navigate.
He turned away, his thoughts racing as he made his way to the other room.