After an hour and a half of driving and a two-hour flight, the show’s crew finally arrived at their destination. The staff busied themselves unloading the props, while Su Ran and Lu Huanjin each placed their luggage in their respective rooms. When they came back out, they still hadn’t seen Su Weisheng or You Sui.
It was obvious. Great-Grandfather had been whisked away for some quality time by Great-Grandmother.
“Scheming! Cunning! No honor in battle!” Su Ran grumbled, but at least it was just a private getaway for two and not a full family trip including Su Ning, so his reaction wasn’t too extreme.
While they chatted, Old Lu and Sunny heard the commotion and emerged from the kitchen, enthusiastically inviting them to dinner, saying they had prepared a grand feast to welcome them.
Lu Huanjin eyed his father skeptically. “Dad, I remember you don’t know how to cook.”
Old Lu was unfazed. “Not knowing doesn’t mean I can’t learn! I heard you and Ranbao finally made up, and in my excitement, I picked up cooking!” He waved at Su Ran. “Ranbao, I heard from Ajin that you like spicy food, so most of the dishes are made to suit your taste!”
Su Ran was pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, Uncle Lu! I’ll be sure to eat a lot!” He eagerly trotted over, only for both of them to fall into stunned silence at the sight of the colorful spread before them.
This could no longer be called “food”—the term “animal remains” would be far more accurate.
And yet, Old Lu and Sunny, the self-proclaimed chefs, were brimming with enthusiasm as they urged them on. “Go on, try it!”
“Uh…”
Su Ran hesitated, then slowly picked up a piece of charred meat, gently and considerately placing it in Lu Huanjin’s bowl. Old Lu followed suit, giving his son a scoop of oddly purple-green vegetables, and Sunny, not wanting to be left out, poured him a bright pink drink. All three of them watched Lu Huanjin with eager anticipation.
Lu Huanjin: “…”
Old Lu urged him impatiently, “Ajin, what are you standing there for?”
Lu Huanjin was determined to reject the culinary abomination before him.
Su Ran parroted eagerly, “Ajin, hurry up and try it!”
The single utterance of “Ajin” sent Lu Huanjin into full-body paralysis. His hand, poised to push the dish away, froze mid-motion. Like a malfunctioning robot, he slowly turned his head toward Su Ran, his voice tinged with incredulity and disbelief. “What did you just call me?”
“Ajin!” Su Ran replied. “Didn’t I used to call you that before? Though, yeah… It’s kind of cheesy. I can’t take it. I’ll just use your full name from now on—”
“No, keep calling me like before.” Lu Huanjin cut him off immediately. Then, with the tragic determination of a warrior accepting his fate, he picked up a piece of meat from his bowl and shoved it into his mouth, chewing resolutely.
Su Ran was stunned.
Old Lu watched the two youngsters with fatherly satisfaction, nodding approvingly. He thought to himself, If my son ends up with an upset stomach later, that’d be even better. Playing the suffering card is the best way to earn sympathy and deepen their bond!
Feeling that the plan had gone far enough, he was about to call off the torture and spare the pitiful young men when Su Ran suddenly muttered, “Is it really that good? I should try it too.”
Clearly, the top star had failed to grasp the gravity of Lu Huanjin’s noble sacrifice and, out of sheer curiosity, took a bite himself.
The next second—
“Ugh—!!”
Both of them bolted outside to vomit.
“…”
Old Lu’s kind smile froze for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he consoled himself. Well, well. Even though Ajin didn’t manage to use self-sacrifice to make Su Ran feel his deep affection, going through hardships together should help strengthen their bond too!
Beijing, in a private courtyard restaurant.
Su Weisheng sat on a wooden chair by the window in the private dining room, gazing outside. The osmanthus tree in the courtyard rustled as the wind passed through, its delicate petals drifting in through the open window and landing in his palm, carrying a rich fragrance.
Looking at the soft yellow petals resting in his hand, he suddenly felt a bit dazed. “I remember your palace had a lot of osmanthus trees back then, and the windows were always left open like this. Every time you clung to me and refused to let go, there would always be osmanthus blossoms scattered across the bed.”
Another gust of wind swept through, sending more petals his way. Su Weisheng instinctively lifted a hand to shield himself, but it was futile.
From behind, You Sui wrapped an arm around his waist, lowering his gaze to the High Priest’s long, ink-black hair. The golden petals sprinkled across it only made him appear more striking, softening even his typically aloof expression.
Su Weisheng, clearly irritated, flicked his hair. “Aren’t you going to clean this up for me?”
You Sui chuckled under his breath, reaching out to brush the petals from his hair while teasing, “Maybe it’s because you always look so adorable when you’re annoyed that I can never bring myself to shut the window.”
As they talked, the server had already brought out dish after dish, placing them on the table before tactfully retreating to leave the two alone.
You Sui handed him a pair of chopsticks. “Try it?”
Su Weisheng picked up a piece of fish and took a bite. The rich broth carried a sweet umami that lingered on his tongue. The familiar taste took him by surprise. “It’s barely any different from the flavors I grew up eating at home. Even the texture has been refined. Is this the descendant of our old family chef?”
You Sui nodded. It was obvious.
Su Weisheng understood immediately. “Such careful preparation… You must have something you want to say to me.”
You Sui leaned in, nuzzling his cheek against his partner’s hair as he murmured, “Shengsheng, after the variety show ends, what do you plan to do next?”
Su Weisheng answered without hesitation, “I’ll get through this final tribulation, break free from the crisis of losing my senses every time my spiritual energy runs low, keep making money, and if I feel like it, I’ll take on some projects. If not, I’ll just buy an island and retire.”
“What if you fail the tribulation again?”
Su Weisheng shot him a sidelong glance. “Afraid I’ll leave you behind again?”
You Sui slowly shifted his embrace, sinking into a half-kneeling position before him, just like in the past, resting at Su Weisheng’s knees. He tilted his head upward, his gaze devouring every detail of the High Priest’s expression from this angle, unwilling to miss a single moment.
He took Su Weisheng’s hand and placed it against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. A gentle smile graced his lips as his voice dipped into a soft, lingering murmur. “Shengsheng, I can’t endure another two hundred years. If I lose you again, I don’t know what I’ll become.”
Su Weisheng lowered his gaze, meeting the dark, empty depths of You Sui’s eyes—void of anything but the heavy, unrelenting desire that clawed at its confines, threatening to break free.
He knew that You Sui always carried himself with an easy, knowing smile, like a ruler certain of his victory. But in truth, the man lived in perpetual unease, every second haunted by the fear of losing his beloved.
Su Weisheng chuckled lightly, his tone utterly relaxed. “It’s fine. If I fail, you can pull some strings as the Lord of the Underworld and save me. And if not, I’ll take you with me. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you behind again.”
He leaned down and brushed a kiss against the corner of You Sui’s lips.
You Sui froze.
For a moment, the man softened, his lips yielding to deepen the kiss. Slowly, reason dissolved into instinct—
“Shengsheng… Shengsheng…”
His voice was a hushed whisper, barely coherent. Kneeling before him, he gazed upward with the reverence of a devout follower, consuming every trace of divine sweetness from his god’s lips, as if only by melding him into his very bones could he find peace.
The two had no idea how long they had been tangled together until the sudden ring of a phone interrupted them.
You Sui grabbed the phone off the table, ready to crush it, but Su Weisheng lightly slapped his wrist, just enough to make him pause. He scowled, clearly displeased, but begrudgingly handed the phone over to his wife without daring to protest.
Su Weisheng, his voice still husky, said, “Something might be wrong. I have a feeling.”
He glanced at the screen and saw an unsaved number calling. Without hesitation, he pressed to answer. “This is Su Weisheng.”
“Great-Grandfather, it’s Su Qian!” The voice on the other end was urgent, tense. He wasted no time getting to the point. “I’m calling you because Brother Ning is in trouble. He’s been trapped in the forbidden grounds for hours now and hasn’t come out. And now, the elders who were locked up are starting to get restless. We’re afraid we won’t be able to hold them off much longer…”
His first instinct had been to contact Su Weisheng, clearly knowing there was no one more capable of turning the situation around.
Su Weisheng’s eyes narrowed. His response was swift and to the point. “Come pick me up.” He sent his location immediately after.
After hanging up, he looked down at You Sui, still resting against his leg with a face full of grievances. Amused, he ruffled his hair, his voice soothing. “This isn’t the time or place. Go deal with your disciple first. I’ll make it up to you when we get home, alright?”
You Sui tilted his head slightly and bit down on Su Weisheng’s wrist—not too hard, just enough to make a point. His voice, rough and raspy, carried a sulky edge. “You promised… You have to make it up to me.”
What an obedient little monster.
Su Weisheng sighed softly, then leaned down to press a brief kiss to his lips in reward.
Before long, Su Qian’s car pulled up at the entrance of the courtyard. Su Weisheng and You Sui climbed in. As they drove, Su Qian quickly explained the full situation to ensure his great-grandfather could handle it efficiently.
Su Weisheng rubbed his temples, listening as Su Qian recounted how Su Ning had orchestrated the removal of the Elders’ Council, forcing them to reveal their last resort, how he had seized the opportunity to gain control over them, and then—recklessly—had led people straight into the forbidden grounds, giving the elders the chance to turn the tables…
Su Qian waited for a response, but silence stretched on for so long that he began to grow uneasy, fearing even Su Weisheng was at a loss. Just as doubt crept in, he finally heard Su Weisheng’s calm voice addressing You Sui. “Make sure you properly educate your disciple. If he had even seventy percent of your cunning, I wouldn’t have to clean up his mess.”
You Sui smiled harmlessly. “I’ll teach him well.”
Not out of kindness—just because the timing of this brat’s trouble was far too convenient.
Su Qian paused, momentarily stunned. Brother Ning never mentioned that You Sui was his teacher. But there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. He quickly pulled up to the Su family’s old estate, only for his expression to change drastically before they even stepped inside. “Great-Grandfather, it’s bad—control of the Su family has fallen back into the elders’ hands. I’ll get you out first—”
Too late.
The moment Su Qian’s car came to a stop, they were surrounded. He instinctively tried to drive away, but Su Weisheng’s hand pressed firmly on his shoulder, signaling him to stay put. “Open the door,” he instructed coolly.
With no other choice, Su Qian gritted his teeth and obeyed.
Standing at the forefront of the crowd was the Third Elder. He slapped a hand against the hood of the car, his expression dark and his arrogance unrestrained. “Take them all! They’ll answer for their crimes along with that brat trapped in the forbidden grounds!”
His order barely left his lips before Su Weisheng stepped out of the car.
“Whose crimes are you questioning?”
The young man who emerged wore a dress shirt and a long coat, his jet-black hair cascading like ink, his porcelain-pale skin striking against his sharp, vividly defined features. His gaze, cold and piercing, fell upon the Third Elder, carrying a presence so overpowering that the old man struggled to breathe.
The Third Elder’s pupils contracted in alarm, immediately realizing—this was Su Ning’s hidden pillar of support.
“Even if you’re from another branch of the Su family, you should know the proper etiquette. Besides, you have no proof that you’re—” The elder raised a finger at him, his voice laced with false bravado, only for his words to be cut short as Su Weisheng brutally kicked him to the ground before all eyes.
The Third Elder’s vision went dark as he hit the ground. It took him a long moment to regain his senses, his eyes widening in shock. He found himself lying flat, with the young man’s foot pressing firmly against his chest as he gazed down at him from above.
“Etiquette?” The youth’s lips curved into a mocking smirk. “You’re lecturing your ancestor about etiquette? Pathetic.”
