Chapter 33

Chapter 33

"033"

Showing up now would make Xiao Lancui suspicious again, and Lu Ao knew it.

But he had no choice.

He lowered his gaze to Xiao Lancui's bloodshot eyes and called out again, "Brother?"

A raindrop slipped off the black brim of his cap and landed on Xiao Lancui's eyelashes. Xiao Lancui stared at those narrow black eyes, a little dazed for a second.

But it didn't last. He stepped back at once, and before he could speak, Lu Ao hurried over, grabbed the umbrella, shook off the rain clinging to it, and jogged back to hold it over Xiao Lancui's head, handing it back. "Brother, your umbrella."

Lu Ao was still standing in the drizzle. The sky was dim, and the warm orange streetlight fell on him—everything else about him was swallowed by the dark, except for those eyes.

Xiao Lancui took the umbrella, his fingertips unavoidably brushing against Lu Ao's hand. For a second, he couldn't tell which of them was running a fever.

Lu Ao's fingers were burning hot, like iron fresh from the fire.

Xiao Lancui pulled himself together and said flatly, "You were following me."

The youngest son of the Lu family had no reason to tail him—unless it was the Lu Ao he knew.

He'd forgotten about Lu Ao's twisted sense of fun.

Lu Ao wasn't the type to just kill someone outright, either. For people he hated, he had a much more sadistic way of having fun.

Keep them dangling by a thread, teetering on the edge of life and death—unable to die, but clinging to a sliver of hope that wasn't quite snuffed out.

Torment them, then deliberately let them escape. Just as they're ecstatic thinking they've gotten their freedom back, they come face to face with a grinning Lu Ao.

Hope and despair hitting at the same time. The second the head came off, Lu Ao would laugh and say, "Nice look on your face. You'll make some pretty lively human jerky."

The first human jerky was the Second Prince—the one who'd sent assassins to hunt them down and nearly got them killed in the mountains.

He was also Lu Ao's second brother.

Lu Ao's second brother had almost gotten him killed, and he ended up as human jerky. So how could Xiao Lancui think Lu Ao would just snap his neck and be done with it?

Maybe the poison pill he'd taken before dying wasn't that strong—it was his own weak body that did him in. Otherwise, he'd have hung on, getting tortured by Lu Ao.

Lu Ao's torture methods were more creative than any cruel official's.

"I didn't..." Lu Ao clenched his hands, lowering his gaze. The rain grew heavier, streaming off the brim of his cap like broken threads. His voice was very low. "I know you and my brother were classmates. I—I hid in his trunk this morning."

Lu Ao was telling the truth. To make it convincing, he really had hidden in Lu Siye's trunk that morning—except Lu Siye had gone to the hospital to visit Fu Chen.

Lu Ao didn't say the rest. His voice sounded just as soaked. "No one's ever been that good to me. I... I figured if I followed my brother, maybe I could find you."

He suddenly looked up, his narrow black eyes shining with pure, uncomplicated joy. "The campus is huge—it took me forever to find you!"

Xiao Lancui figured he'd misjudged him again.

Lu Ao could torment people, sure, but he wouldn't go that far to hurt himself, and he wouldn't stoop so low as to play the helpless kid.

Xiao Lancui said flatly, "Stop following me."

He turned and kept walking, umbrella in hand.

Behind him, footsteps still followed cautiously. Xiao Lancui let it slide. He walked off campus, skipped the Xiao family car, and found a noodle shop instead.

He still had no appetite, but if he didn't eat something, he'd only get worse.

While waiting for his plain noodle soup, he glanced out the restaurant's glass window. That tall figure in pure black stood guard outside, cold rain falling on him without him even flinching. He stood ramrod straight, like the most loyal guard you could imagine.

Xiao Lancui looked away. The steaming bowl of plain noodle soup arrived—just how he'd asked: hand-pulled noodles boiled soft, no oil, a pinch of salt, two leafy greens, and a boiled egg on the side.

Xiao Lancui chewed the noodles slowly, barely tasting a thing, but at least he didn't feel like throwing up anymore.

He ate half the small bowl of noodles and only the egg white—the yolk was too much for him right now.

He rested a bit, asked the server for a glass of warm water, took a pill, paid, and walked out.

Outside, it had gotten darker. That upright black silhouette was still standing in the rain. Xiao Lancui ignored him and walked to the curb to wait for a cab.

Cabs were always hard to get in the rain. Time passed, and a faint voice came from behind him.

"Brother, I'm hungry."

Xiao Lancui didn't react, and the voice went quiet.

A stream of water had formed along the curb, reflecting the streetlight, the decorative trees, and the crouched figure behind him.

The cast was off, but his right arm still hung straight down to the ground. His left hand could move a bit, wrapped around his knees, staring at the ground in silence.

He was completely drenched.

An empty cab pulled up slowly in front of Xiao Lancui. He opened the door and climbed in.

The door shut, but the cab didn't move. After a few seconds, the driver glanced outside and asked, "You know that guy? Is he coming or not?"

Outside, Lu Ao had gotten up, just staring straight at Xiao Lancui in the cab, not making any move to get in.

Xiao Lancui said, "Never seen him."

The driver pulled away.

The street slid past, and that tall figure gradually faded from view. Xiao Lancui closed his eyes. The meds were probably kicking in—he dozed off for a bit. This time, he had the driver check in and drive straight through the gate.

He just didn't have the strength to walk the extra distance.

Xiao Lancui also started thinking about getting a car. Charging it to Xiao Jingli's card wasn't hard, but it'd be a hassle. Day after tomorrow, he had the auction house—a calligraphy piece, plus the appraisal fee. That'd be enough, after furnishing the place, to buy a basic everyday car.

And to hire a PI to look into Xiao Jingli's whereabouts.

Back at the Xiao house, Xiao Jingli and Xiao Liqin were talking in the living room. When Xiao Lancui came in, Xiao Jingli immediately called out, "Dong Dong, come here a sec."

Xiao Lancui walked over. His sickly look was obvious, and Xiao Jingli quickly asked, concerned, "You look awful. You feeling sick? I'll call a doctor."

Xiao Liqin didn't react—didn't even glance at Xiao Lancui. While Xiao Jingli fussed over him, he just kept flipping through papers.

Xiao Lancui gave a faint smile. "Just caught a little cold. No need to make a fuss." He asked, "Something up?"

Xiao Jingli pulled some brochures out from under the files on the coffee table and said with a smile, "There are a few nice sanatoriums here. One's on an island in the Atlantic—warm all year, plenty of sun. It'd be great for your health. Take a look and see which one you like."

This was about shipping Xiao Lancui off abroad.

Xiao Lancui took the brochures without a fuss. "Got it."

The bombshell was Xiao Mian. Xiao Mian had finished his exams today and rushed back after a gathering with friends. As soon as he entered, he heard Xiao Jingli's voice.

Xiao Mian threw off his backpack and ran into the living room, staring at Xiao Lancui with nervous intensity. "You're going abroad?"

Xiao Lancui said flatly, "I guess so."

"No way!" Xiao Mian blurted out.

Xiao Jingli and Xiao Liqin both looked at him. Xiao Jingli frowned. "What do you mean, no way?"

Xiao Mian was pissed! Before, he couldn't wait for Xiao Lancui to get the hell out of the Xiao family—southern hemisphere, northern hemisphere, as far as he could get.

But not now. Xiao Lancui still owed him two slaps, and he wasn't going anywhere until those were repaid!

Xiao Mian craned his neck stubbornly. "No way! Going abroad for recuperation is too expensive." He pulled a lame excuse out of thin air.

Xiao Jingli assumed he just disliked Xiao Lancui and averted his gaze, saying, "Even if it's expensive, it's my money. He's your brother too. Don't act like you're the only one who gets to spend the family's money."

Xiao Mian gritted his teeth, glaring at Xiao Lancui with red-rimmed eyes.

Xiao Lancui, on the other hand, smiled. He exchanged a few more words with Xiao Jingli before heading upstairs. As he passed Xiao Mian, he patted him on the left shoulder and said with a smile, "Good night."

Then he went upstairs.

Xiao Mian's resentment ballooned. Xiao Jingli had also left, so he couldn't help complaining to Xiao Liqin, "Dad's so unfair!"

Xiao Liqin suddenly glanced at him and frowned. "Don't you think you've been way too focused on Xiao Lancui lately? You need to get this straight." He said in a low voice, "He's an outsider. You, me, and An Feng—we're the real family."

Xiao Mian choked and shut his mouth for a second.

Xiao Liqin walked past Xiao Mian with his files and added, "Don't forget, no matter how much he tries to please you, he's still the son of the mistress who tore our family apart."

Xiao Mian swore in his head.

Pleasing him, my ass! Xiao Lancui treats me like an errand boy at best!

He automatically ignored the latter part, using what little brain he had, and a few minutes later stormed upstairs to complain to Xie Jingfang. "Mom, Dad's playing favorites! He's sending Xiao Lancui abroad before me!"

A flicker of change crossed Xie Jingfang's face. She pressed her lips together and said nothing. Seeing that Xiao Mian hadn't even taken off his coat, she changed the subject. "You're a grown man but still so careless. Aren't you hot in that coat?"

The villa was temperature-controlled year-round, and only then did Xiao Mian realize he was roasting. It was freezing outside today, and raining to boot. He had on a long down jacket that went down to his ankles. He yanked at the zipper. "I'm burning up!"

On the third floor, Xiao Lancui stood by the window. The rain had picked up, hammering against the glass.

It looked cold as hell out there.

Because of his frail constitution, Xiao Lancui had always been sensitive to the cold. In winter, he'd keep a blazing charcoal brazier indoors and carry a small hand warmer when going out.

He went back to the bathroom but didn't dare take a shower. He just washed up, changed into his pajamas, and got into bed.

He left a light on, but even with his eyes shut, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

After a moment, he propped himself up on his elbows, sat up, and reached for his phone.

He dialed a number.

"Damn it, if I find out who ambushed me, I'll wipe out their entire bloodline!" When Fu Chen's phone buzzed, he was lying in the hospital bed, his face all bruised up, cursing up a storm.

And it was a real mess—black and blue, with his mouth swollen to one side.

Huo Shenan, with a cast on his leg, lounged on the sofa munching a burger and laughed. "Hey, buddy, you're a real friend—knowing I'm bored alone in the hospital, you came to keep me company. Good brother!"

"Shut your mouth—" Fu Chen cursed, ignoring the pain from his bruises as he grabbed the phone. His cursing stopped instantly.

Fu Chen blinked a few times to confirm.

The skinflint Xiao was calling him again???

Huo Shenan noticed Fu Chen suddenly go quiet and glanced at him. "Your dad calling?"

"Your dad!" Fu Chen scrambled up to answer, but just then the ward door pushed open, and Lu Siye walked in carrying bags of food.

He added, "You wanted that damn mashed potato and bacon pizza in the middle of the night—I ran several blocks to find it."

Fu Chen felt inexplicably guilty. Glancing at the flashing incoming call, he slid off the bed and edged toward the door. "You guys eat first—I'm going out for a smoke!"

Lu Siye watched his suspicious retreating figure and muttered skeptically, "You can smoke in here, can't you?"

"You guys are just uncivilized." Fu Chen pulled open the ward door, looking serious. "Hospitals ban smoking—you have to go to the smoking area!"

Fu Chen limped off.

Lu Siye cursed with a laugh and turned to Huo Shenan. "Who was that call from? He had to hide to answer it."

Huo Shenan was already digging into the food bags and said casually, "His dad."

Fu Chen ran to the innermost stall of the public restroom on the first floor. The call had already stopped. His heart was racing; he took a few deep breaths and quickly called back.

As soon as it connected, he yawned and pretended. "Just fell asleep—what do you—"

Xiao Lancui cut him off. "Which hospital are you in?"