"Boss, this is He Shun's place."
Ye Rou's men had tracked down He Shun's apartment in mere hours. Now, Ye Rou stood at the entrance, his gaze cold and unyielding. Behind him, his men gathered, their purpose clear—there was only one goal in sight: to bring back He Shun and Luan Xie, no matter the cost.
The men surged forward, taking control with swift precision. They kicked down He Shun's door, the wood splintering under the force.
Inside, He Shun sat alone on the couch, the room dimly lit, surrounded by scattered beer cans. His eyes, distant and hollow, flickered in the faint light as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.
Ye Rou entered the room with an icy glare, his presence commanding silence. He looked at He Shun, slumped on the couch, clearly defeated. Without a word, Ye Rou's men circled around, ready to act at their boss's command.
He Shun didn't flinch. He took a slow sip of his beer, his eyes never leaving Ye Rou's. "So... you finally came."
Ye Rou's lips curled into a cold smile. "Where is he?"
He Shun let out a bitter chuckle, setting the can down. "You're too late."
That smile faded as Ye Rou took a threatening step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't play games with me, He Shun. Where. Is. Luan Xie?"
He Shun met his gaze, defiant. "Gone. And you won't find him."
The air turned suffocating with tension. Ye Rou's eyes darkened, and in one swift motion, he grabbed He Shun by the collar and yanked him off the couch, lifting him until their faces were inches apart.
"Don't test my patience," Ye Rou growled, his voice edged with steel. "I'm not here to play. You'll tell me where Luan Xie is, or you'll find out just how far I'm willing to go."
He Shun's heart hammered in his chest, but he kept his gaze steady. "What are you going to do? Kill me?" He let out a mirthless laugh, staring back defiantly. "Go ahead. It won't change a damn thing."
Ye Rou's fingers tightened, his knuckles turning white as he stared into He Shun's unwavering eyes. For a moment, it seemed he might actually do it. But then he released He Shun with a shove, sending him crashing back onto the couch.
"Don't think I won't," Ye Rou warned, straightening. His men shifted uneasily, watching the exchange in silence.
He Shun rubbed his neck, glaring up at Ye Rou. "I'm telling you, he's gone. You think I'd be sitting here if he were still around?"
Ye Rou narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering in their depths. He studied He Shun, weighing the truth of his words. Then, with a sharp motion, he turned to his men. "Search the place. Tear it apart if you have to. I want every corner checked."
The men moved swiftly, scattering through the apartment, overturning furniture, ripping open cabinets, and smashing anything that could hide a secret. He Shun watched them, his expression resigned, his eyes hollow.
Ye Rou stood in the center of the chaos, his gaze never leaving He Shun. "Wherever Luan Xie is, I will find him. And when I do, I'll make him pay for what he did. He thought he could run? No one escapes me."
He Shun's jaw clenched. "You're the one who pushed him away. You did this, Ye Rou. Not him."
Ye Rou's smile returned, but it was bitter, cruel. "He's mine, He Shun. He always was. And I'll burn this whole world to the ground if I have to—to remind him of that."
He Shun's heart ached at those words. He knew the truth. Luan Xie would never belong to anyone—least of all Ye Rou. But he said nothing, his silence a shield against the storm that was brewing right in front of him.
The men continued their destruction, the sound of splintering wood and breaking glass filling the air. And as He Shun sat there, surrounded by the chaos, he couldn't help but wonder—where was Luan Xie now? Was he safe? Was he even alive?
But he refused to let Ye Rou see his fear. No matter what happened, he wouldn't give that satisfaction. Because deep down, he still believed Luan Xie was out there, fighting in his own way, refusing to be bound by anyone's chains.
And for that, He Shun would keep resisting too, until his very last breath.
"And Zhong Qing?" He Shun's voice wavered with a bitter edge as he forced out a hollow laugh. "You're such a playboy, Ye Rou. You wanted both Luan Xie and Zhong Qing. But now... Zhong Qing's dead, isn't he? Guess that makes it easier for you."
Ye Rou's expression twisted, a storm of grief and fury swirling in his eyes. "Don't—don't you dare talk about Zhong Qing!"
His voice cracked, his fists clenched as if holding onto the only thing left of Zhong Qing. He Shun stared back, pain lacing his words, "What's the matter, Ye Rou? Feeling guilty? Or are you just mad that you lost the one person who actually stayed by your side?"
The room seemed to shrink, suffocating them in the weight of words unspoken.
"Why... why did you let him come to me?" Ye Rou's voice broke, trembling with a vulnerability he couldn't hide. His once unshakable composure cracked, and in the dim light, the haunted look in his eyes spoke of wounds far deeper than anger.
He Shun's heart clenched at the sight, but his bitterness remained. "You think I had a choice?" he spat. "He was desperate, Ye Rou. He thought he could fix everything, thought he could save you... but you pushed him too far."
Ye Rou's knees weakened, his hands trembling as the weight of Zhong Qing's death pressed down on him. "I never... I never wanted him to die." His voice was barely a whisper, as if admitting it aloud made it too real.
He Shun's expression softened for a moment, but the hurt remained. "You did, Ye Rou. Maybe not with your hands, but you did."
"It's Luan Xie's fault..." Ye Rou's voice hardened, eyes darkening as the sorrow melted into cold, sharp vengeance. The vulnerability that had surfaced for just a moment was swallowed up by his growing rage.
He Shun shook his head, disgust washing over him. "You really believe that, don't you? You can't see past your own obsession. Luan Xie didn't make you do this. You ruined Zhong Qing with your own hands."
Ye Rou's fists clenched, trembling with fury. "No! He twisted everything, turned Zhong Qing against me! lf it weren't for him, Zhong Qing would still be-" His voice cracked, but he forced the venom out, clinging to the anger. "Luan Xie will pay for this. He has to."
He Shun stared at him, seeing now just how far Ye Rou had fallen. "You've already lost, Ye Rou. Killing Luan Xie won't bring Zhong Qing back. It won't fix what you've broken."
Ye Rou's chest tightened at He Shun's words, but he couldn't allow them to sink in. He wouldn't let them. If he admitted that, it would mean facing the truth—that Zhong Qing was gone, not because of Luan Xie, but because of him. That realization was unbearable.
"You don't understand!" Ye Rou spat, his voice rising, almost desperate. "He was everything to me! And Luan Xie... Luan Xie ruined that! He made Zhong Qing doubt me, he poisoned his mind. I had no choice!"
He Shun's bitter laugh cut through the tense silence. "No choice? You always had a choice, Ye Rou. But you're too consumed by your need to control everything. You couldn't handle that Zhong Qing might have wanted something more than you."
Ye Rou's face twisted in anguish, fury barely contained. "He needed me! He was mine! And Luan Xie took that away."
He Shun shook his head, standing up from the couch, his own anger boiling over. "Zhong Qing wasn't yours to own! And now you've lost him forever. You can keep blaming Luan Xie, keep chasing your revenge, but nothing you do will change the fact that it was you who pushed him over the edge."
Those words stung deeper than any blade, but Ye Rou couldn't allow them to penetrate. His hands trembled as his rage returned, swallowing the guilt that threatened to surface. "Luan Xie dies for this," he whispered, his voice cold and final.
But beneath that icy resolve, the cracks were starting to show, and He Shun saw it. "Even if you kill him, Ye Rou... you'll still be alone."
Ye Rou's jaw clenched, his body trembling as He Shun's words echoed in his mind. Alone. That word struck harder than any insult, any accusation. Alone. Wasn't that what he had been fighting to avoid all along? The emptiness, the loss, the unbearable silence left in the wake of Zhong Qing's death?
"No," he whispered, shaking his head, his voice breaking slightly. "I won't be alone. Not if Luan Xie is dead. I'll—"
"You'll what? You think killing him will make it all go away?" He Shun cut in, stepping closer, his eyes fierce and unrelenting. "You think ending his life will fill that hole in your chest, the one Zhong Qing left behind? It won't. You'll still be left with nothing. No one."
Ye Rou's hands balled into fists, his heart racing. He could feel his control slipping, feel the weight of He Shun's words pulling him under. But he couldn't stop. He couldn't let go of his hatred now. Without it, what was left of him?
"Shut up," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
He Shun didn't stop. He couldn't. "You're so blind, Ye Rou. You can't even see that you're the one who caused all of this. Zhong Qing's death, Luan Xie running from you—everything. This obsession is destroying you."
Ye Rou's eyes burned with unshed tears, the rage and pain boiling over. "What do you know?" he snapped, voice cracking, desperation leaking through the anger. "You don't know what it's like to lose everything! To have the one person who understood you ripped away, leaving you with nothing but this... emptiness."
He Shun's heart softened, his own anger giving way to pity. "I know what it's like to love someone who doesn't love you back. But this... what you're doing... it's not love, Ye Rou. It's self-destruction."
Ye Rou's breath hitched, his gaze faltering. For the first time, he allowed himself to feel it—the hollow, aching void left by Zhong Qing's absence. The truth was unbearable, and yet, standing there in front of He Shun, it was impossible to ignore. He was losing everything, and in his desperate attempt to hold on, he had become the very thing Zhong Qing had feared.
"I can't..." Ye Rou's voice was barely a whisper now, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I can't go back."
He Shun stared at him, his own anger dissipating into sorrow. "Maybe it's time to stop running and face the truth. You can't bring him back, Ye Rou. And no amount of revenge will change that."
For a long moment, Ye Rou stood there, silent, as the weight of his choices pressed down on him. His heart ached with the truth, but admitting it felt like a death sentence. And yet, deep down, he knew that He Shun was right.
Killing Luan Xie wouldn't fill the void. Nothing would.
But what was left of him without his vengeance?
"Let Luan Xie be happy. Please, just let him be safe," He Shun practically begged, his voice trembling with desperation.
Ye Rou's expression hardened, his fury bubbling beneath the surface. "You think you can just wish that away? After everything he's taken from me? You don't know what it's like to lose someone, to have your heart ripped out and trampled on!"
He Shun's heart raced as he fought to contain his rising panic. "I know loss, Ye Rou! I know it all too well. But taking Luan Xie from me won't bring Zhong Qing back. It won't fill that void inside you!"
"Shut up!" Ye Rou shouted, fists clenching at his sides. "You think your words can change anything? Luan Xie is a part of this chaos, and I will not let him slip away again!"
"But you'll only hurt him!" He Shun pleaded, desperation lacing his voice. "You'll only make things worse for yourself! This isn't the way!"
For a moment, Ye Rou faltered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. But it quickly morphed into something darker. "You're right, it won't be the way. I'll make sure he understands the consequences of his choices. I won't let him forget the price of defiance."
He Shun felt his heart sink as he took a step forward, anguish etched on his face. "Don't do this. Don't turn your pain into a weapon. It's not what Zhong Qing would have wanted."
"Don't you dare speak his name!" Ye Rou roared, fury igniting within him again. "You're just a pawn in this game, and you have no idea how deep the stakes go!"
Tears welled in He Shun's eyes as he fought to maintain his composure. "Then let me save him from this. Let me save both of you before it's too late."
Ye Rou's laughter was hollow, a bitter echo in the dimly lit room. "You really think you can save me? You think you can save anyone? This is a game of survival now, and I won't lose again."
He Shun's voice cracked as he whispered, "Please, Ye Rou… Don't let your pain blind you. You're stronger than this."
But the weight of Ye Rou's anger was suffocating, and He Shun felt himself slipping further into despair. The two men stood at an impasse, love and vengeance colliding in the air between them, leaving a lingering sense of inevitability in its wake.
"Will you stop everything if Zhong Qing comes back?" He Shun asked, his voice trembling with a mix of hope and desperation.
Ye Rou's eyes flashed with a fierce intensity, as if He Shun had struck a nerve. "You think it's that simple? You think he could just waltz back into my life and erase everything?" The bitterness in his voice was palpable, thickening the air around them.
"I'm not saying it's simple," He Shun replied, stepping closer, determined to reach the heart of Ye Rou's pain. "But you know that if he were here, things would be different. You wouldn't be consumed by this darkness. You'd find a way to move on."
Ye Rou's breath hitched, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his features before it was swallowed by rage. "Zhong Qing is gone! His absence is a void I can't fill! I won't let anyone else take his place, not even Luan Xie!"
"Then what are you doing?" He Shun implored, desperation spilling over into his words. "You're only creating more chaos! You're hurting yourself and everyone around you. Is that what Zhong Qing would have wanted?"
Ye Rou recoiled, the mention of Zhong Qing's name sending a jolt of pain through him. "Don't lecture me about what he would have wanted! You don't know the depths of my suffering, the nights I spent searching for a way to bring him back! It's not about wanting to replace him; it's about making those who took him from me pay!"
He Shun's heart raced, anguish flooding his veins. "But at what cost? You're losing yourself in this rage! You're risking everything, including Luan Xie, who cares about you!"
"Cares?" Ye Rou scoffed, a twisted smile on his lips. "What does he care about? He left me the moment I needed him most! And now he's chosen you—another pawn in this twisted game. I will not let that stand!"
"Ye Rou, please…" He Shun's voice cracked, tears brimming in his eyes. "Don't let your grief turn you into a monster. You can't bring Zhong Qing back with vengeance. You can only honor his memory by choosing love over hate."
For a moment, Ye Rou's facade wavered, the weight of He Shun's words penetrating the armor he had built around his heart. But the flicker of hope was quickly extinguished by the depth of his rage and despair.
"I won't let you or anyone else dictate my path," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "If Zhong Qing can't return, then I will ensure that those responsible for his death will pay the ultimate price. Even if it means destroying everything in my way."
He Shun felt his heart shatter at Ye Rou's words, realizing just how far gone he truly was. In that moment, he knew that the fight for love had transformed into a battle against the darkness consuming them all.
"Have you seen his body?" He Shun asked, his voice barely above a whisper, the weight of his question hanging heavily in the air between them.
Ye Rou's expression hardened, a flicker of pain crossing his features before he quickly masked it with defiance. "No, but it doesn't matter. I know he's gone—lost to the world, and no one can convince me otherwise."
"Not seeing it doesn't mean he's dead," He Shun pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. "What if he's still out there, somewhere, alive? We have to consider that possibility!"
"Don't play games with me!" Ye Rou snapped, anger boiling over. "You think I haven't held on to that hope? You think I haven't imagined a world where Zhong Qing walks back through that door? But it's a fantasy! I've accepted that he's gone, and now I'm left to deal with the consequences!"
He Shun's heart ached for Ye Rou, for the pain that twisted his heart into knots. "Then let's find proof! Let's investigate together! We owe it to Zhong Qing to know the truth. If there's a chance he's still alive, we can't just abandon that!"
Ye Rou's eyes narrowed, skepticism etched across his face. "And what if you're wrong? What if we go searching for a ghost? I can't afford to chase shadows, not anymore."
"It's better than drowning in this grief and anger!" He Shun pleaded, stepping closer, his resolve strengthening. "You need closure, not just revenge. Let's face this together. For Zhong Qing."
For a heartbeat, silence enveloped them, the tension crackling in the air. Ye Rou's expression flickered, caught between his pain and the glimmer of hope that He Shun's words offered.
"You think you can just drag me back to a place of light?" Ye Rou's voice wavered, revealing a crack in his armor. "I've walked too far into darkness; I don't know if I can find my way back."
"Then let me guide you," He Shun urged, his own heart racing with fear and determination. "I can't promise it will be easy, but together, we can face whatever lies ahead. We can find the truth, and maybe—just maybe—we can find a way to honor Zhong Qing's memory without losing ourselves in vengeance."
Ye Rou's eyes searched He Shun's, a battle raging within him. The thought of letting go of his anger felt terrifying, yet the idea of clinging to a ghost was equally suffocating.
"Will you stand by me, no matter what?" Ye Rou asked, vulnerability seeping into his tone.
"I will," He Shun promised, his heart swelling with resolve. "Together, we'll uncover the truth. You don't have to face this alone."
As the two stood on the precipice of a decision that could change everything, the weight of their choices hung in the air, intertwining their fates in a way neither could have anticipated.
"For Zhong Qing, who loved you from the beginning, try to change," He Shun said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "And… let the love of my life, Luan Xie, free."
Ye Rou's expression shifted, the anger in his eyes giving way to a storm of conflicting emotions. The name "Luan Xie" hung in the air like a delicate thread, pulling at the very core of his being.
"Free him?" Ye Rou echoed, the bitterness creeping back into his voice. "You think I want to lose him? He's all I have left that connects me to Zhong Qing. If I let him go, what am I left with?"
"You're left with the possibility of healing," He Shun replied softly, stepping closer. "Holding on to Luan Xie as a reminder of Zhong Qing won't bring him back. It will only bind you to this darkness. You can't continue to let your grief turn into obsession. It's consuming you."
Ye Rou clenched his fists, the fight within him raging on. "You don't understand! I lost everything because of Luan Xie. If I let him go, I'm admitting defeat."
He Shun took a deep breath, grounding himself as he searched Ye Rou's eyes for any sign of understanding. "Letting go doesn't mean losing. It means giving yourself a chance to heal, to honor Zhong Qing's memory without being shackled by revenge and pain. You loved him; wouldn't he want you to find peace?"
The room fell silent, the weight of He Shun's words settling heavily around them. Ye Rou's heart ached at the thought of letting go of the rage that had fueled him for so long. But beneath it all, a flicker of doubt gnawed at him—was holding onto this anger worth losing himself entirely?
"If I let Luan Xie go, what if it leads to more pain?" Ye Rou whispered, vulnerability creeping into his voice. "What if I can't find my way back?"
"Then I'll be there to help you," He Shun promised, sincerity radiating from him. "We can face whatever comes next together. You don't have to carry this burden alone. For Zhong Qing, for Luan Xie, and for yourself, let's try to move forward."
Ye Rou's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and for a moment, the anger that had consumed him flickered like a candle in the wind. "You really believe there's still hope for me?"
"I do," He Shun replied, his heart racing. "But you have to take that first step. Let the love you once shared guide you toward healing, not vengeance."
As the weight of the moment enveloped them, Ye Rou felt the walls he had built around himself begin to crack, allowing the light of possibility to seep in. Maybe, just maybe, there was a path forward—one that honored Zhong Qing while freeing him from the chains of his own making.
"Alright," Ye Rou finally said, his voice steadying. "For Zhong Qing, I'll try. But it won't be easy."
"I'll be with you every step of the way," He Shun vowed, a spark of hope igniting between them, illuminating the darkness that had threatened to consume them both.
"Besides, like I said, Zhong Qing might still be alive, somewhere here, but he just can't find his way home," He Shun said, his voice steady but full of uncertainty.
Ye Rou's brow furrowed at the thought. "What are you saying? You really believe that?"
"I have to," He Shun replied, his gaze unwavering. "If there's even a chance that he's out there, fighting to return, we owe it to him to keep hope alive. We can't give up on him, just like he wouldn't give up on us."
The idea hung in the air, fragile yet powerful, igniting a flicker of something within Ye Rou. It was a glimmer of hope, buried beneath layers of pain and resentment. "And what if he's gone for good?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "What if I let go of everything, and I'm left with nothing?"
"Then you find a way to honor his memory without being consumed by grief," He Shun urged. "Zhong Qing wouldn't want you to suffer like this. He loved you too much to see you drown in anger and revenge. He'd want you to live, to find joy again."
Ye Rou clenched his fists, torn between the remnants of his grief and the promise of healing that He Shun offered. The conflict raged within him, but for the first time, he felt a hint of possibility. "You really think I can find joy again?"
"I know you can," He Shun said, stepping closer, the sincerity in his eyes anchoring Ye Rou. "But it starts with letting go. If you believe Zhong Qing is still out there, fighting his own battle, wouldn't you want to live a life that honors his spirit?"
Ye Rou's breath hitched as the weight of He Shun's words sank in. A part of him longed for the freedom that came with letting go, but another part of him feared the emptiness that might follow. "And if I can't?"
"Then we'll figure it out together," He Shun promised, a warm resolve emanating from him. "You don't have to face this alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."
As the tension in the room began to shift, Ye Rou felt the walls he had built around his heart start to crack. The possibility of hope, however fragile, urged him to take a step forward. "Alright, I'll try. For Zhong Qing. For me."
With those words, Ye Rou began to see a path illuminated by the love and friendship that surrounded him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt the weight of despair lift just enough to let in a flicker of light.
Ye Rou seemed to change, slowly but surely. He Shun could sense the shifts within him, the grudges beginning to melt away, at least for Zhong Qing's sake. But as much as Ye Rou's transformation gave him hope, He Shun couldn't shake the lingering worry for Luan Xie.
Would Ye Rou truly stop haunting Luan Xie? The thought gnawed at He Shun, filling him with unease. Luan Xie had been through so much, and the last thing he needed was the shadow of Ye Rou looming over him, especially in his quest for freedom and happiness.
He Shun's heart ached with the uncertainty. Would this newfound resolve in Ye Rou provide Luan Xie a chance to finally stay back, to live a life unburdened by the chaos that had followed him? Or would it all be for naught, swallowed by the past they couldn't seem to escape?
He longed to reach out to Luan Xie, to assure him that he wasn't alone in this fight. The connection they had forged was a fragile thing, and He Shun feared that without the right support, it could shatter.
He wanted to believe that if Ye Rou could change, then perhaps Luan Xie could find peace, a place where love could flourish without the specter of revenge and pain. But deep down, He Shun knew that hope was a double-edged sword. It could lift them to new heights or plunge them into despair.
As he paced the room, He Shun made a silent vow to himself and to Luan Xie. He would do everything in his power to protect him, to shield him from the darkness that threatened to consume them all. No matter the cost, he would fight for their love, for the chance to build a future where Luan Xie could finally be free.