Chapter 40: Guan Yaoming
Guan Yaoming’s sudden appearance interrupted the conversation between Jin Dachuan and Liang Gou. Both men looked at their boss with visible worry, secretly shocked in their hearts.
What was going on? From that expression, it looked like the talk hadn’t gone well at all.
Liang Gou asked quietly, “Yao-ge, how did the talk go?”
Guan Yaoming paused for a moment before saying, “Take the others and go. You don’t need to keep watch here anymore.” Then he turned to Jin Dachuan and added, “Dachuan, come with me.”
He said it while walking forward, his tall figure slightly hunched, moving ahead of his men.
Jin Dachuan immediately replied, “Got it,” and quickly followed.
Generally speaking, the two of them had a clear division of labor.
If Guan Yaoming was going to negotiate, he brought Liang Gou. If he was going to do the dirty work, he brought Jin Dachuan. And if it was a case of talking first and getting physical later, then both of them would go together.
Of course, the “killing” part was just a joke. Guan Yaoming didn’t kill people.
Even back in his father’s era, the Guans never encouraged murder.
What made the police chase them for decades was not killing, but their involvement in all kinds of illegal business, things like smuggling, for instance.
Once they got into the car, Guan Yaoming pulled out his phone and called Zhao Mian. “Where are you? I’m coming to the address you mentioned.”
Zhao Mian replied via text, “I’ve been waiting for you. You can come now.” A few moments later, another message arrived: “You’re alone, right?”
Guan Yaoming texted back: “Yes.”
After recklessly exposing Lin Mo’s identity, Zhao Mian had been living in fear, hiding in that remote house. He knew Guan Yaoming would definitely investigate Lin Mo’s background and, eventually, question how he had obtained that information in the first place.
Right now, all he could do was gamble. Gamble on two things: first, that Guan Yaoming still loved him, and second, that Guan Yaoming hadn’t yet found out who he really was.
Zhao Mian was certain of Guan Yaoming’s lingering affection. After all, they had been together for three years, and during that time, all he ever saw was the man’s gentle side.
But Zhao Mian was gravely mistaken. He had never truly understood what kind of person Guan Yaoming really was.
In the original story, the protagonist, deceived and bewitched by the scumbag lover, arrived alone at a remote house. The so-called “lover” had already set up the scene. When the protagonist let down his guard, the man shot him without hesitation.
But this time, with Li Dong’s interference, the story took an entirely different turn.
“Damn, this place is remote as hell. Are we walking into a trap?” Jin Dachuan muttered as they drove. They had set off around four in the afternoon, and by the time they arrived, it was already dark.
“Stay sharp,” Guan Yaoming said absentmindedly. “I’m worried there might be an ambush.”
Even as he spoke, his mind was elsewhere, tangled with thoughts of Li Dong.
Sometimes he saw that fiery smile in his mind, and sometimes he saw the cold look of disappointment that had cut him to the core.
“Got it,” Jin Dachuan replied.
When they reached the location, Guan Yaoming called Zhao Mian. “I’m here.”
“The door’s unlocked,” Zhao Mian said. “You can just come in.”
The faint sound of frying echoed through the phone. Anyone listening would think it was just a normal dinner invitation, but it was all a setup to lure the prey in.
However, after learning Zhao Mian’s true identity, Guan Yaoming wasn’t about to take any chances.
After a brief discussion, he and Jin Dachuan decided to split up.
One would approach through the main entrance, and the other would sneak in from the back. They entered the small villa from two sides.
“You came,” Zhao Mian greeted him. He was indeed wearing an apron, placing a freshly cooked dish on the table. Smiling, he said, “I figured you’d arrive around now, so I made a few dishes. Let’s eat first, then talk.” He turned to head back to the kitchen.
“Wait,” Guan Yaoming said. “I didn’t come here to eat.”
Standing in the middle of the room, he looked straight at Zhao Mian. “I came here today for one reason, to demand justice.”
“Justice?” Zhao Mian sneered. “You mean Lin Mo’s matter?” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “I assume you already have some idea…”
As he spoke, his right hand slid under the table, reaching for the gun he had hidden earlier.
“Why don’t we start by talking about you, Zhao Jun’an,” Guan Yaoming said, his voice clear in the silent dining room.
At that, Zhao Mian suddenly shouted, “Lin Mo!” toward the door.
He knew Guan Yaoming’s reflex that the mere mention of Lin Mo’s name would make him turn around instinctively.
The moment Guan Yaoming turned his head, Zhao Mian lifted his gun and pulled the trigger.
“Bang!”
A gunshot rang out, followed by a pained cry behind him.
Guan Yaoming spun back around, only to see Zhao Mian clutching his bleeding arm. Blood streamed through his fingers from the bullet wound.
“Damn it, when did my aim get so bad?” Jin Dachuan grumbled, stepping out from the shadows, gun still raised. “Boss, I was aiming for his wrist, but it went off course!”
Zhao Mian’s face was pale as he hissed, “So this was all premeditated?” He looked up, eyes full of hatred.
“The one who planned everything wasn’t me, it was you,” Guan Yaoming said coldly. “You’ve been plotting this for three years.” He turned to Jin Dachuan. “Bring him here.”
“Yes, boss.”
Jin Dachuan put away his gun and walked over, grabbing Zhao Mian like a hawk catching prey, dragging him in front of Guan Yaoming with ease.
Zhao Mian still refused to kneel. Even in defeat, hatred burned in his eyes.
Jin Dachuan kicked him sharply in the knee. “Kneel!”
“Ugh!” Zhao Mian cried out, collapsing to his knees. But even so, he spat on Guan Yaoming’s shoe. “Pah!”
“Lick it clean,” Guan Yaoming ordered, his face dark as he raised his shoe to Zhao Mian’s face.
“Pah!” Zhao Mian spat again, defiant.
“F*ck you.” Guan Yaoming’s voice was low and dangerous as he kicked Zhao Mian hard in the chest.
The impact sent Zhao Mian flying out of Jin Dachuan’s grasp. He fell to the ground and coughed up blood.
“Take him back to the city and lock him up,” Guan Yaoming said. “Tell A-Gou to give him a charge, the more time behind bars, the better.”
“Understood, Yao-ge.”
Jin Dachuan watched his boss wipe his shoe clean with a napkin, not even glancing at the bleeding man on the floor.
Yeah, the boss hated Zhao Mian’s guts. That kick just now had been filled with rage, enough to make even Jin Dachuan shiver.
Two days later, shocking news hit the entertainment world.
Breaking News: Award-winning actor Zhao Mian arrested for drug possession and use. Before his arrest, Star Emperor Entertainment announced their contract termination and filed charges for embezzlement of company funds.
When Li Dong saw the news online, his emotions were complicated.
He hadn’t told Guan Yaoming about Zhao Mian’s true identity and motives because he hadn’t wanted Zhao Mian to completely destroy himself in revenge.
But now, in the end, Zhao Mian still didn’t escape his fate. Another loop of the same tragedy, back in prison again.
Li Dong slowly comforted himself. From the very beginning, this had been a dead knot. No matter what, one of them: Guan Yaoming or Zhao Mian was destined to fall.
And this time, Guan Yaoming’s ruthless efficiency made Li Dong fully understand what kind of man he was dealing with a true underworld boss, and not some harmless “Hello Kitty.”
Zhao Mian had dared to provoke a tiger and now he had to bear the consequences of his failure.
At the end of the day, the law didn’t always protect the weak. Sometimes, it became the weapon of the strong.
Li Dong sighed.
By this point, he had returned to his parents’ home. He told them the company was on holiday and that he’d come back to spend New Year’s with them.
Three days later, a message came from Guan Yaoming:“Xiao Mo, let’s meet.”
Li Dong replied, “Sure.”
He wasn’t being coy. “It’s been a few days, and I’ve cooled off. We really should talk things through.”
When he saw that reply, Guan Yaoming took a deep breath.
If he didn’t know Li Dong’s personality so well, he would have thought the man was just toying with him.
He pressed a hand to his chest. His heart was thudding so hard from that one text that he could barely breathe.
Then he typed back: “You’re treating me like an outsider already. I still think we’re together.”
“We are,” Li Dong answered, lying lazily on the couch, half-watching the international news. “But we’re going to break up sooner or later.”
“Bullsht,” came Guan Yaoming’s instant reply. “Say anything you want, but not that.”
“That’s not up to you,” Li Dong rolled his eyes, picturing the expression on the boss’s face. It was probably not pretty.
“Then let’s talk in person. Where are you? I’ll come find you.”
“You tell me an address. I’ll come to you.”
“Then come to your place,” Guan Yaoming said.
“Alright.”
Li Dong sent the final message, then stood up and changed into warmer clothes. Before leaving, he told his mother, “Mom, I’m going out. No idea when I’ll be back.”
Mrs. Shen frowned. “What’s with that mouth of yours? It’s almost New Year’s!” With New Year’s just around the corner, what was this about not knowing when he’d be back?
Li Dong just thought, If I end up locked in some basement by Guan Yaoming, at least my parents will be mentally prepared.
He hadn’t bought a car recently, so he flagged a taxi.
When the car pulled up outside his apartment complex, he spotted a tall figure standing by the road from afar.
It was Guan Yaoming, dressed in a long black coat, dark pants outlining his long legs, and boots that contrasted sharply with his otherwise formal outfit.
When he heard the car stop, Guan Yaoming turned his head.
The moment he saw Li Dong step out, that casual gaze turned into a focused stare, his lips curving into a smile.
Li Dong walked toward him, squinting against the cold wind. “Are you stupid? Standing out here freezing?”
“Hm?” Guan Yaoming didn’t quite understand, but then he did something stupid indeed. He took off his leather gloves and placed his warm palm against Li Dong’s cheek. “Is that better?”
Li Dong rolled his eyes. Everyone look, here’s a fool named Guan Yaoming.
“Go inside, I’m freezing to death.” He hugged his arms and hurried toward the entrance on stiff legs.
Guan Yaoming followed behind him at a calm pace, though his long legs quickly closed the distance.
Once inside, Li Dong turned on the heater and sat on the sofa, finally feeling alive again.
“This weather is f*cking freezing,” Guan Yaoming muttered as he began to boil water for tea. He rinsed Li Dong’s favorite cup before pouring it.
“Yeah, freezing,” Li Dong agreed, inwardly laughing. What, are we here to discuss the weather now?
“Here, careful, it’s hot,” Guan Yaoming said, placing the steaming cup in front of him.
“Thanks,” Li Dong murmured, taking a sip.
Across from him, Guan Yaoming drank his tea and quietly studied the man who refused to look back at him.
A few days apart, and neither of them seemed outwardly changed, but something subtle lingered in the air.
“Did you see the news?” Guan Yaoming asked, turning his eyes away. “I put Zhao Mian in prison.”
Li Dong nodded, his gaze fixed on his cup. “Mm.”
“You think I was too harsh?” Guan Yaoming asked. “Then tell me, what should I have done instead?”
“I never said you were harsh,” Li Dong replied. Deep down, though, he couldn’t help feeling a flicker of sympathy for Zhao Mian.
“I have family, relatives, and you,” Guan Yaoming said. “And a lot of brothers depending on me. How could I sleep peacefully knowing Zhao Mian was still out there?”
Back when his father was still active in the underworld, their lives were filled with fear, always hiding from police raids and enemies seeking revenge.
He remembered countless nights of sleeping in strange places with his mother, afraid to go home. Those memories were carved into his bones.
“My father always told me never to trust people easily,” Guan Yaoming said, looking out the window. “But every time I fall for someone, I end up trusting them completely.”
Li Dong asked softly, “Do you trust me?”
“I do,” Guan Yaoming said. But he sighed. “That night, I hit you because I was furious. You kept something so important from me. You were the one who didn’t trust me first.”
“That doesn’t justify you hitting me,” Li Dong replied. “Don’t mix things up. You made a promise not to use your hands on me again. So if you can’t keep your word, how am I supposed to trust you with myself?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” Guan Yaoming said. “You dared to get on top of me, dared to yell at me, there’s nothing you don’t dare to do.” He moved closer, sitting beside Li Dong. “Don’t see me as a monster. I’m not heartless or cold-blooded. I’m just… human.”
Li Dong shot back, “Who isn’t?”
“You’re still young. I get that you can’t stand cruelty, but the world isn’t as simple as you think,” Guan Yaoming said with frustration, lowering his gaze. “I wish you could stay kind-hearted forever, but I don’t have the luxury of being that kind of person. Do you understand?”
No one got to choose their birth or their burdens. As the sole heir of the Guan family, he had been destined to inherit everything his father left behind, whether he wanted to or not.
Zhao Mian had been a painful example of that inevitability.
Li Dong nodded. “You’re a real man.”
If someone asked him what a man should be, Li Dong’s first thought would be Guan Yaoming. Someone strong, capable, responsible, and decisive.
Li Dong secretly admired him. That kind of blood and backbone was something he himself lacked.
It was why his ex-girlfriend had disliked him, why he’d been dragged into endless blind dates afterward until one day, he somehow became the man of Xi Xingling’s dreams.
Even after all those experiences, he still didn’t think of himself as particularly “manly.” He just did what he believed was right.
What he didn’t realize was that his small acts of decency, his quiet integrity, made him deeply endearing to others.
To be someone loved by Li Dong, that was happiness in itself.
Following his instincts, Li Dong reached out and tilted Guan Yaoming’s chin upward with one finger. “A real man shouldn’t bow to any evil force, not even the one trying to break up with him.”
Their eyes met.
Guan Yaoming’s breath hitched. Fck, too damn cute. Without thinking, he leaned in and kissed him. “Is there… such a thing as regret medicine?”
Li Dong frowned slightly, confused. “Hm?”
“I want to go back to that night,” Guan Yaoming said. “Even if I had to smash up the house, I’d rather die than lay a hand on you.” He had spent every day since then drowning in regret, distracted, restless, unable to hide it even from his subordinates.
He wanted everyone to know that he missed this little wolf dog so badly it had carved itself into his bones.
“Regret medicine?” Li Dong scoffed. “Forget it. The world doesn’t make that kind of thing.”
He stood up, taking off his jacket now that the room was finally warm.
“I know,” Guan Yaoming said, stripping off his own clothes. “Xiao Mo, I don’t want to explain anymore. I just want you to know that both my body and my heart belong to you. If I ever betray you, I’ll kill myself.”
From where Li Dong stood, he could see the full view of the man’s broad, powerful back. The sight, combined with that low, calm voice, carried a strange, dangerous beauty.
Li Dong took a deep breath. “If you’re going to push me like that, how can I still act like a coward?”
As a man, he loosened his collar, unbuttoning his shirt.
When Guan Yaoming turned around and saw that, his body shivered ever so slightly in the warm air.
“Xiao Mo…”
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