DREB CHAPTER 54

That day, the Lu household fell into an eerie silence. Everyone downstairs trembled, listening to the screams coming from the master bedroom. What had begun as low moans soon escalated into uncontrollable sobs, interspersed with broken pleas that were barely audible through the tears.

Lu Lianning had brought Li Yan back home around three or four in the morning. He had taken Li Yan straight upstairs, and as evening approached, the noises finally started to fade.

It was only then that the butler exhaled softly. Turning to the servants standing beside him with their heads lowered, he instructed, “Call Dr. Zheng and ask him to come.”

Li Yan stayed bedridden for half a month after that. When he finally emerged from the room, he appeared noticeably thinner, standing in the hallway in cotton pajamas that hung loosely on his body, as if a breeze could easily pass through them.

The butler moved to close a window, and when he turned back, Li Yan had disappeared from the hallway.

A cat had climbed over the wall from the backyard. It was beautifully patterned, though a bit thin.

Li Yan’s thin cheeks made his eyes appear even larger, giving him an almost unsettling look when he stared at someone for too long. He stumbled after the cat, watching as it darted slyly into a room at the corner of the second floor. The door was open just a crack, and the cat nudged it wider with its head before slipping inside with an elegant stride.

Li Yan followed the cat inside. The lights were off, but since it was daytime, the faint natural light allowed him to discern his surroundings.

Two walls were lined with bookshelves with a ladder nearby. The shelves reached the ceiling, and many of the books had titles Li Yan couldn’t even read.

There was a large antique wooden desk with a computer on it. Behind the desk stood a shelf cluttered with various items, some coated in a layer of dust. This level of neglect was uncharacteristic of the Lu household, indicating that Lu Lianning clearly didn’t permit anyone to clean this study without permission.

Li Yan looked away and crouched down, softly calling out to the cat, which had already climbed up the bookshelf. “Kitty…”

The cat paid him no mind, vanishing behind the expensive-looking curtains.

Li Yan, though reluctant, hurried over and drew back the curtain. However, despite the window being securely closed, the cat had somehow disappeared.

Just then, there was a soft “click” as a lock turned. Startled, Li Yan spun around to see Lu Lianning stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

Lu Lianning’s face was unreadable as his gaze fell on Li Yan, who stood there trembling. In a soft voice, he asked, “What are you looking for?”

Li Yan pressed his lips together and quickly shook his head.

Li Yan wanted to leave, but Lu Lianning blocked the door, making him hesitate to approach.

As Lu Lianning started walking toward him, Li Yan instinctively dodged to the side. With each advance, Li Yan circled to the opposite side, trying to hide.

Lu Lianning was never known for his patience. After only a couple of attempts, his voice dropped as he said, “Come here!”

Li Yan looked at Lu Lianning’s expression, then at the tightly shut door. Fearful, he shook his head and whispered, “I’m not… I’m not healed yet…”

But Lu Lianning ignored his muttering, stretching out his hand. “Come here! Don’t make me repeat myself!”

Lu Lianning stood still, no longer bothering to chase him around the desk. With a cold expression, he demanded that Li Yan come to him on his own.

Li Yan was terrified of him by this point. Trembling, he extended his hand, appearing as though he feared it might be severed. He hesitantly placed it into Lu Lianning’s open palm.

The moment their hands touched, Lu Lianning pulled him, pushing him face-down onto the antique black wooden desk. Items scattered to the floor, but Lu Lianning paid no attention.

Li Yan struggled desperately. “I really… I still haven’t recovered…”

“You’re fine.” Lu Lianning expertly tugged at his clothes.

He lifted Li Yan and placed him in the black leather chair by the desk.

Li Yan, still clearly dazed, leaned his head against the back of the chair. Lu Lianning didn’t even bother to pull up his pants.

The motion jolted Li Yan back to reality. His eyes filled with fear once more as he watched Lu Lianning’s hand move.

“What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you really can’t do it anymore,” Lu Lianning deliberately said this, watching as Li Yan’s face changed instantly.

Without saying another word, Lu Lianning grabbed the suit jacket he hadn’t had time to take off upon entering. He draped it over Li Yan’s lower body and carried him out of the room.

As he walked down the hallway, he glanced at the butler who was looking up from downstairs, and said, “Don’t serve the food yet.”

The butler immediately understood as he saw Lu Lianning carry Li Yan back to the master bedroom. He signaled the servants to remove the half-served dishes from the dining table.

This time, Lu Lianning was gentler in his actions. He realized that his earlier behavior in the study had been too hasty. Seeing the marks on Li Yan’s body, he thought to himself that since Li Yan had just barely recovered enough to leave the bed, it might be best to show a little more self-control.

After all, if Li Yan fell sick again and ended up bedridden for another half month, it would only leave Lu Lianning more frustrated each night.

Yet, despite Lu Lianning’s gentler movements, Li Yan’s body remained unresponsive.

When it was over, Lu Lianning stopped, an inexplicable irritation rising within him.

He hadn’t expected to truly ruin Li Yan this time.