SDVPP Chapter 85

The news of Elder Fang’s critical illness had been tightly concealed by Fang Jingluo. Even his second uncle, Fang Chen, had no idea.

It wasn’t until Fang Chen grew suspicious when the elder failed to appear for too long and brought people to the old Fang residence to make a scene that he finally learned the old man was on the verge of death.

“Fang Jingluo, impressive tactics. You really didn’t let even a sliver slip through. Heh…”

Fang Chen stood red-eyed at the door, the buttons of his usually pristine suit popping open. He sneered, “Let me guess who’s behind you. The Rong family? What promises did you make to Xu Man? Pfft…”

Fang Jingluo brushed his wrinkled suit smooth with an elegant sweep of his hand. Arrogant and flamboyant as ever, he unexpectedly smiled calmly. “Uncle, you’re joking. This was grandfather’s own will. Just now, he even told me personally…”

He paused, and then a serpentine smile finally crept across his face. He leaned in and whispered, “You’ve been the stain on his life, a bastard.”

Fang Chen’s face went completely pale.

The venomous glint in Fang Jingluo’s eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared. He straightened up and didn’t spare Fang Chen a single glance.

“All right. Throw him out. Anyone not of the Fang family, remove them.”

Fang Chen was shoved aside, but suddenly lunged toward the room behind Fang Jingluo like a madman. Caught off guard, the others failed to stop him, and he managed to fling the door open.

In the center of the traditional room stood a large antique bed. On it lay a frail figure, the face now covered with a white shroud.

Fang Chen froze. Before he could react, he was violently kicked into the corner of the wall. Clutching his stomach, he couldn’t get up for a long time.

Fang Jingluo calmly locked the door, gave him a cold glance, and let out a curious little smile.

If he sent Fang Chen down there too, he wondered, what kind of face would the old man make then?

How very intriguing.

…

Chi Han reclined comfortably against Rong Xu in his airplane seat. He started watching a movie, completely unaware that the world within the book had already veered off course by a staggering distance, all because of him.

Rong Xu idly kneaded Chi Han’s fingers, occasionally lifting one for a playful nibble, all the while glancing down at a message from Song Yao.

The old patriarch of the Fang family had succumbed to his illness just like that, and the will had yet to be announced. In the vast Fang household, there were only two legal heirs.

Logically, the title should have passed to Fang Chen, as father to son. But the patriarch’s favorite during his lifetime had clearly been Fang Jingluo, leaving everyone unsure of what to expect.

Song Yao’s family had ties to the Fang family. Upon receiving news, her parents originally intended to pay their respects, at least to keep up appearances. But when they arrived, they found there was no mourning hall at all.

At this, Rong Xu’s brows rose ever so slightly.

No mourning hall?

Even if Fang Jingluo were careless, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to misstep on something so serious. Besides, the Fang family still had many elders. How could he act recklessly without consequence?

Unless…

Unless Fang Jingluo had something to do with the old man’s death. That would explain his hesitation to hold a proper memorial. The Fang family was hardly united. If anyone came to pay respects, they’d surely sniff out something suspicious.

Rong Xu gave a cold, cutting smile.

Perhaps what Fang Chen needed most right now was a little… push.

He just had to throw in one bone and let the dogs tear each other apart.

Rong Xu tucked away all his darker thoughts, closed his eyes, and gently turned to kiss Chi Han on the cheek, his expression soft and lingering.

Right now, the most important thing was to protect Chi Han, just in case some mangy mutt came barking without knowing its place.

The kiss made Chi Han squirm a little; he rubbed his cheek against Rong Xu’s and continued flipping through the photos in his hand.

“Why did you even take this one?”

Barely holding back laughter, Chi Han raised the photo for Rong Xu to see. In it, he was sneaking up behind Rong Xu while clutching a snowball, only to be caught red-handed the moment Rong Xu turned around. His pose, halfway frozen in retreat, made him look exactly like a sideways-scuttling crab.

Rong Xu took the photo, eyes pausing on Chi Han’s awkward pose. He couldn’t help but chuckle and pinched Chi Han’s cheeks with a gentle lift. “Maybe the photographer was getting revenge on my behalf.”

Chi Han retorted with mock indignation. Though most of it was just playful nonsense, Rong Xu never showed the slightest impatience. On the contrary, he listened intently, clearly enjoying every word.

This—this was the life he used to dream of while sitting in a wheelchair.

Chi Han talked himself into laughter and finally gave up with a smile. “Alright, alright. No more nonsense from me. I can’t even finish the story I’m making up.”

To others, Rong Xu was all frost and reserve. Yet in front of him, he was endlessly indulgent.

Chi Han licked his lips, couldn’t resist, and hooked an arm around Rong Xu’s neck to kiss him.

He felt arms tighten around his waist, pulling him in until he surrendered completely.

Opening his eyes, he looked into Rong Xu’s gaze now laced with longing. His hand traced the arc of his brow, brushed past the bridge of his nose, and came to rest gently on his lips.

“You’re mine.”

Rong Xu’s eyes darkened as he took that fingertip into his mouth and gently licked it.

“I’m all yours.”

…

It was already nighttime when they got off the plane. Carrying his backpack, Chi Han rolled his shoulders, a soft popping sound escaping without surprise.

Long-haul flights were truly the worst. Thankfully, this was the last of the far-flung journeys. Any more, and his neck might have given out entirely.

Their assistant had flown with them and had arranged for someone to pick them up in advance. But apparently, there’d been an accident on the way, and the road had only just cleared. It would be a while before the car could get through.

Rong Xu took Chi Han to wait in the VIP lounge while the assistant went off to handle the air-shipped luggage.

Most of the people in the lounge were dressed in suits, sipping coffee. Chi Han, never fond of that bitter taste, ordered a juice instead.

Rong Xu disliked the smell of cheap coffee, too. He took a light sip from his cup and then set it down.

Meanwhile, Fang Chen had already begun reaching out to Rong Xu’s contacts still in the country, but Rong Xu had no intention of revealing his stance just yet.

After all, wasn’t it when prey was at its weakest that the bite landed best?

Chi Han sipped his juice idly and glanced around. The VIP area mostly offered partitioned seating, unlike the shared benches outside.

Especially now, with only a handful of people inside, it was easy to count them all at a glance.

Chi Han absentmindedly gnawed on his straw when his gaze happened to lock with a young man seated alone in the corner. He blinked, gave a polite smile, then looked away. But when he glanced back, that man was still staring at him.

Chi Han frowned, discomfort creeping in.

Who was that guy, and why was he staring at him like that?

The young man had shoulder-length black hair, clean-cut features, and an inexplicable air of melancholy. He wore a black face mask, and beneath it, Chi Han could just make out a slender jawline.

Overall, he looked like the privileged son of a wealthy household, though maybe the brooding, artistic type.

Chi Han couldn’t explain why, but something about him felt… strange.

As if they’d met somewhere before.

The young man was still watching him. Chi Han furrowed his brow and shot him a questioning glance. The man’s lashes fluttered, and slowly, his gaze dropped away.

Chi Han: “???”

Soon after, the young man got up and left, checking his phone repeatedly as he walked out. Whether it was messages or calls, Chi Han couldn’t tell.

Normally, he’d have already dismissed something like this. The world was full of people. Who knew what kind of characters you’d bump into by chance?

But this time, the unease lingered. Even after returning home, Chi Han couldn’t shake it off.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, clutching his head, he racked his brain. That strange mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity had been gnawing at him for what felt like forever.

Then, his gaze inadvertently landed on the full-length mirror beside the bed, and a chill ran down his spine. Cold sweat broke out across his back.

Those eyes… they looked just like his own.

Could that guy have been Xu Ting?

The ex’s white moonlight has returned?!

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