Chapter 39: Guan Yaoming
Liang Gou was a tall, slender man with a refined appearance. He didn’t look as tough as Jin Dachuan, nor was he particularly good-looking.
But anyone who gave it some thought would realize, if he didn’t have real skills, how could he possibly become Guan Yaoming’s most trusted subordinate?
In truth, Liang Gou was a genius obsessed with studying black market technology. Under his command was a team of genius hackers, a group of tech-savvy misfits who specialized in tracking, searching, and stealing data or information.
The police had once claimed that, for the sake of protecting the undercover’s safety, they had erased every trace of the undercover’s information.
But if a person had truly existed in society, it was impossible to completely erase all information about them.
As long as a person truly existed in this world with friends, classmates, or family, it was never possible to erase them completely.
Liang Gou’s investigation began with Zhao Mian. When his subordinates reported that Zhao Mian came from a family of police officers and that his father had died while investigating Guan Ye, Liang Gou’s heart sank, and his face changed color.
Before long, someone came running to him.
“Gou-ge, we found out about Lin Mo’s background. He’s a police undercover.”
“What?!” Liang Gou roared. He immediately grabbed the young man by the collar. “Say that again, you little sh*t! What did you just say Lin Mo is?”
The nervous techie stammered, “G-G-Gou-ge, I said it wrong!” He already knew that Lin Mo was the boss’s lover, so he spoke cautiously, lowering his voice. “But the day after he slept with the boss, he contacted the police and said he wanted to resign.”
“Why did he want to resign? Explain it to me clearly, from the beginning.”
“Yes, Gou-ge.” The young man adjusted his glasses and started to read from the file in his hands, though his speech was halting and awkward, typical of a shut-in who didn’t know how to talk to people.
“Enough.” Liang Gou snatched the folder from his hands. “I’ll report to the boss myself and give you credit after this matter is resolved.”
“Th-thank you, Gou-ge.” The poor tech geek stuttered from excitement.
By this time, a full twenty-four hours had passed.
In the villa, Li Dong had slept straight through noon in the study.
When he finally got up, a few of the guys were sitting around in the living room, playing cards with cigarettes in their mouths.
“Hey, good morning, Xiao Mo-ge.”
“Morning.” Li Dong looked around. “Where’s Chuan-ge?”
The blond-haired young man answered nervously, “Chuan-ge went out to buy lunch. Are you hungry, Xiao Mo-ge? I can call him and have him bring you something.”
“Sure, thanks. I’ll go wash up first.” Li Dong stood, only to feel a dull ache in his leg.
When he got to the bathroom, he sat on the toilet and rolled up his left pant leg. His shin was swollen, bruised dark blue and purple.
“Xiao Mo-ge, you’re up?” Jin Dachuan came in holding a lunch box. “Come, come, eat first.”
“Thanks, Chuan-ge.” Li Dong really was starving. He sat down and started eating immediately. “Thanks, really.”
The blond youth poured him a cup of hot tea and handed it over. Li Dong nodded. “Thank you.”
“Xiao Mo-ge, you’re too polite.” The boy grinned. He already knew from Jin Dachuan that this man was the boss’s lover and not just any fling and their relationship was serious. Word had it that at the company’s annual party, the two even drank a cross-cupped toast together.
That was official, a relationship acknowledged in front of everyone. Not one of those shady, unspoken things.
When everyone finished eating, the guys went back to playing cards.
Li Dong joined in, holding his cards in one hand while reaching for Jin Dachuan’s pack of cigarettes with the other. “Chuan-ge, give me one.”
“Hey, no, no, no!” Jin Dachuan quickly snatched the pack away and stuffed it into his pocket. “Yao-ge told you not to smoke, right? I’m not giving you one.”
If the boss found out, they’d all be dead.
Li Dong was speechless. I’m already thinking about breaking up and he’s still trying to control me? Damn it.
So instead of a cigarette, he reached under the table, pulled out a candy, unwrapped it, and stuck it in his mouth while studying his cards.
The blond smirked. “Heh, I’m not taking that card, Xiao Mo-ge.”
“Suck-up.” Jin Dachuan drew a card, slapped down a higher one, and said smugly, “Three with one.”
“…” Fck you.
Holding a weak straight, Li Dong managed to keep a calm face, pretending not to care.
Fine, Jin Dachuan, he thought darkly. Very good. Your opponent will remember this.
Meanwhile, Liang Gou was driving toward Guan Yaoming’s villa with the report in hand.
He pushed open the gym door. “Yao-ge.”
Their boss was boxing and boxing quite fiercely.
“Got results?” Guan Yaoming stopped and ripped off his gloves, tossing them to the floor. His body was covered in sweat. “What’s that in your hand? A report? Give it here, I’ll look myself.”
He walked over, yanked the papers out of Liang Gou’s hands, and began flipping through them.
“Yao-ge, are you sure you want—” Liang Gou started, but stopped himself. Normally, the boss hated long explanations. He always wanted results, not process.
“He’s an undercover,” Guan Yaoming muttered. He flipped a few more pages, then suddenly threw the report to the floor. “A-Gou,” he said quietly, “I really am a f*cking joke, aren’t I?”
Zhao Mian was the son of a police officer, out for revenge against his father’s killer and he’d loved him for three years.
Then, Lin Mo turned out to be an undercover, who was sent to investigate his own father’s crimes, and he had believed that man loved him sincerely.
“Boss, at least Xiao Mo-ge really did protect you,” Liang Gou said carefully. They’d found the recordings of Li Dong’s contact with his handler. In the last message before resigning, Li Dong had reported that Zhao Mian intended to kill, and even after resigning, he said he wouldn’t leave Star Emperor Entertainment because he wanted to stay close and protect Guan Yaoming.
“He was protecting Zhao Mian, not me,” Guan Yaoming said flatly. “After all, Zhao Mian was the son of a fallen police officer. The department wouldn’t want to see him become a criminal.”
Liang Gou fell silent. The boss’s personal affairs were not his place to comment on.
“You wait here,” Guan Yaoming said. He checked the time and went to shower.
Twenty minutes later, the two drove into the city.
Guan Yaoming called from the car. “Dachuan, I’m coming with A-Gou. How’s everything there?”
“Yao-ge? We’re just playing cards,” Jin Dachuan replied, one hand holding his phone and the other juggling cards and a cigarette. “Hey, hey, don’t move that, I’m eating your card!”
Guan Yaoming’s brow furrowed. “I told you to keep an eye on him, and you’re playing cards?” Damn it, could this guy ever be reliable? Nearly forty and still acting like a kid!
“No, no, Yao-ge! Xiao Mo-ge said he was bored, so we played with him!”
Li Dong shouted from the side, “Don’t drag me into this! You liar!” He glared, pointing the candy stick at him.
“Whatever. Keep playing.” Guan Yaoming hung up, his face dark.
Liang Gou glanced at him and sighed inwardly. Damn it. Both Zhao Mian and Lin Mo, a pair of ungrateful bastards. And our boss, the poor fool, went and fell for both.
Only their Yao-ge was foolish enough to develop real feelings for people. Now that this kind of thing had been uncovered, who knew how much he was hurting inside.
Guan Yaoming asked, “Ah Gou, what do you think I should do?”
Liang Gou replied carefully, “This... no one can make this decision for Yao-ge.” He said cautiously, “Because only you know how deep the feelings between you two go.”
If it were up to these outsiders to decide, they would of course handle it cleanly and efficiently. They’d treat Lin Mo like a cop and keep a respectful distance. At worst, they just wouldn’t interact in the future.
But their Yao-ge was obviously deeply in love. Otherwise, he wouldn’t seem so unable to make a decision.
He pressed his forehead with a sigh. “I’m not asking what to do with my feelings. I’m asking how to face him when I hit him last night.”
Liang Gou blinked. That’s your problem?
“Boss, men fight. It’s normal.” Everyone knew the boss’s temper. Losing it occasionally was hardly shocking.
But this situation was obviously more complicated.
Guan Yaoming shook his head. “We fought once before. He told me afterward never to raise a hand against him again. He’ll definitely be furious.”
Liang Gou was speechless. So this is love now? Even after finding out he’s an undercover?
By the time he recovered, they had already reached Li Dong’s apartment.
“I’ll grab some medicine,” Guan Yaoming said as he got out of the car. “Wait here.”
Liang Gou watched his boss’s weary back and sighed. These days, it’s not just wives that need careful handling. Boyfriends too.
Ten minutes later, Guan Yaoming stood at Li Dong’s front door with a key in hand.
He saw that the living room was quiet. A few young guys were playing on their phones and chatting. No one was playing cards.
“Yao-ge. Gou-ge.”
Everyone immediately stood up.
“Where’s Chuan-ge?” Guan Yaoming asked, looking around. His eyes landed on the bedroom door. “Sleeping?”
“Chuan-ge’s in the bathroom. Xiao Mo-ge’s asleep,” the blond answered.
Guan Yaoming glanced at the time. Barely half an hour ago, they’d been laughing over cards. Now the kid was already in bed.
“You guys stay here,” he said, taking the medicine and heading to the bedroom. He knocked twice, then opened the door.
Li Dong was lying on the bed, legs crossed, reading a magazine.
When he saw Guan Yaoming, he flung the magazine at him. “Why the hell are you in my room? Did I say you could come in?”
Guan Yaoming caught it smoothly, like he’d practiced. “Let me see your leg.”
The moment he mentioned it, Li Dong fell quiet. He stared at the ceiling, gathering his thoughts.
Guan Yaoming walked over, knelt beside the bed, and gently rolled up his pant leg.
The bruise was purple, swollen, and ugly that it hit him like a punch to the gut.
He had grown up surrounded by violence and injuries, but somehow, this one hurt to look at.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. He opened the medicine and began applying it with careful precision, wrapping it in gauze.
Li Dong sighed. “It’s not a big deal. A man bleeding a little isn’t worth fussing over.” He paused, then added, “So, you’ve finished checking everything, haven’t you?”
“Pretty much,” Guan Yaoming said quietly. “You approached me at first to investigate my father’s crimes, didn’t you? But then you said you realized the evidence was gone. Why?”
Li Dong froze. His mind spun. Fck. Even that conversation got out?
No wonder the police had never found evidence all these years, the Guans had ways to make things disappear completely.
“If I said it was just me giving up, would you believe that?” Li Dong said. “The police have searched for years, sacrificed countless officers, and still found nothing. What could a rookie like me possibly do?”
He gave a small, bitter laugh. After all, the original Lin Mo had been a trained agent. He was just an ordinary man.
“You didn’t stay with me just to monitor Zhao Mian,” Guan Yaoming said. “Then what did you stay for?”
“I told you,” Li Dong replied. “I meant no harm. I stayed because I wanted to stop Zhao Mian from hurting you.”
He met Guan Yaoming’s eyes. “You’ve already dug up Zhao Mian’s past, haven’t you? Then take my advice: be careful. Don’t meet him alone. He’s more dangerous than you think.”
“I know.” Guan Yaoming stood and sat down beside the bed. “Now let’s talk about us.”
“That’s simple,” Li Dong said, sitting up. “The undercover stuff’s over, right? Do you have any other questions?”
Guan Yaoming frowned.
“If not,” Li Dong said, “then I’m done here. You should take care of yourself. You’ve got too many enemies. Be more careful next time, okay?”
If Guan Yaoming had been more cautious before, none of this would’ve happened.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Guan Yaoming asked. “You’re breaking up with me?”
“Yeah.” Li Dong nodded calmly. “I’m dumping you.”
“…”
“What’s with that look?” Li Dong sighed. “Breaking up is normal. What, you can dump people, but no one’s allowed to dump you? Fine then, you say it. You dump me instead.”
“Xiao Mo, about what happened last night, I’m not going to make excuses,” Guan Yaoming said. “If you’re angry, take it out on me. I’ll accept it.” He stood up, pulled off his jacket, and waited for Li Dong to hit him.
“That doesn’t work on me.” Li Dong’s tone was cool. “I’m not breaking up because of that kick. I just think you need to be rational.”
“Then what is it?” Guan Yaoming demanded. “Were all the things you said lies? You said, ‘it’s settled.’ You said that in front of everyone that day.”
Li Dong shook his head. “I just realized we’re from different worlds. You’re a predator, and I’m a herbivore. Get it?”
He gave a wry smile. “You’re dangerous, and I’m not built for danger.”
“And besides,” he said, “you care so much about my identity, don’t you? You checked me once and now you’re fine with it? What if something like this happens again? Are you going to ‘deal with me’ every time?”
Dating a man like Guan Yaoming was exhausting.
“I don’t agree to a breakup,” Guan Yaoming said. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Talk your a** later,” Li Dong snapped. “You think it’s all up to you?”
Counting the days, the New Year was barely a week away. Perfect timing. If they broke up now, he could go home, rest his leg, and spend some quiet time with his parents.
“You’re still angry,” Guan Yaoming said, pacing the room. “I’ll handle Zhao Mian first.”
“Fine,” Li Dong said. “Just don’t restrict my freedom. Then we can talk.”
“…” Guan Yaoming exhaled slowly, back turned, looking pained. “Where do you plan to go?”
“Do I have to tell you when I’m mad?” Li Dong shot back. “Do what you need to do and call off your men.”
“If Zhao Mian’s dangerous, and he knows we’re together, it’s safer for someone to follow you.”
“So you still don’t trust me?”
The air grew tense.
“I just want you to calm down,” Guan Yaoming said finally. “Think things through. Don’t be so reckless. I—” His voice faltered. Li Dong’s expression made him crumble. What happened last night wasn’t all one person’s fault.
“If you want me calm, give me space,” Li Dong said coldly. “Stop trying to control me. You’ll only make me hate it more. You’ve got Zhao Mian to deal with, and your family’s banquet coming up. Handle those first. We’ll talk after.”
When breaking up with someone like Guan Yaoming, one had to tread carefully. Push too hard, and things could turn dark.
“The two bodyguards I assigned to you will stay,” Guan Yaoming said. “Other than that, I won’t interfere. But understand this, it’s not that I don’t trust you.” He was just afraid that once Li Dong left, he would never give him any response again.
Li Dong pressed his lips together and took a deep breath, saying nothing.
He was too angry to care about how Guan Yaoming felt.
Guan Yaoming, however, couldn’t stop watching him. Seeing that expression on Li Dong’s face felt like a knife twisting in his chest.
“Fine. I won’t force you,” he said at last. “Do whatever you want. I’m leaving. I have things to handle.”
There was a tremor in his voice.
Li Dong watched him walk out, sighed, and muttered to himself.
Love was always tormenting. And when the two people involved didn’t belong to the same world, it was even worse.
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