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01 An Overturned Life!
In a flash, eight years passed by. Eight years ago, all the childhood friends who had never held back anything and stuck with Gu Hai, became strangers in the blink of an eye. Once, when Gu Hai went abroad, he incidentally came across Li Shuo who had immigrated to Canada long ago. As he discussed his life abroad and other various details, Li Shuo could not help but to sigh and lament on how life was before. “You know, I really missed those youthful days in the Imperial City, envy that you can celebrate New Year by visiting. What I wouldn’t do to eat a bowl of authentic hotpot right now.” “You can go back any time.” Gu Hai had said, somewhat indifferent at his predicament. Li Shuo sighed with sorrow again, “I don’t have a home there anymore. If I return, I’ll just be a migrant worker without residency.” “Even if your home is gone, the people are still there.” As if not hearing what Gu Hai had advised, Li Shuo suddenly recalled something. “Oh, that’s right! Where’s Bai Luoyin now?” “I don’t know.” Gu Hai said, veiling his unspoken emotions safely within the depths of his chest. “He should also be abroad.” “He should be?” “Yeah.”
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This was a private high-tech enterprise, situated in Beijing’s Zhōngguāncūn High Tech Development Zone, known for electronic shops and bookstores. Its primary profession was to supply the military and civilians’ electronic industries with high-level system integration services along with a variety of communications equipment. Although many companies like this could be found everywhere in Zhōngguāncūn, this company has its own unique administrative style that has continuously enable it to receive much public attention, especially in the industry. In this company, aside from the president, everyone else ranging from top-level senior management leaders to the lower-level employees were all women. Furthermore, their features can only be described as having only one main ingredient, beauty. Normally in this kind of industry, female workers would not occupy such a dominant position, but the president of this particular company had severe sexual discrimination, specifically discriminating against males. As a result, the company’s annual recruitment fair naturally attracted beautiful women from all around the country. However, the company’s selection system to search for the best of the best was extremely strict and said to be an arduous journey. The ladies that came to apply for employment must be beautiful, be a science graduate, have higher education such as holding a Master’s or Doctoral degree and most importantly, be ingrained with phenomenal intelligence. In addition, they must be single. Their future spouse must be an individual linked with the business’ operations. As the prior notion implied, they are highly encouraged to court and date their clients as much as possible. Since women are scarce in this field, this company’s recruitment policy will undoubtedly compete in a rigorously pursue of all the female science graduates in the capital and bring them together under one umbrella. That, inadvertently, eliminated all older male science graduates. Therefore, during the company’s annual meeting, with one president confronting hundreds of beautiful women, the scene resembled that of a crown prince selecting an imperial concubine. Every day, these older ‘leftover women’ who are successful but has remained single, favorite hobby was to talk about their president. They enjoyed it so much that none has yet to get tired of it. Since the company’s new annual recruitment fair has just started a few days, there was an abundance of topics for them to discuss to their heart’s content. “Hey, did you hear about it? This year, the number of people at the recruitment fair doubled that of last years. The scene there was like attending an interview to get into Beijing Film Academy, with one girl prettier than the next.” “What’s the use of only being beautiful? If she has no abilities, she’s completely useless! Last month, the new employee, Xiao Liang, who was recommended by the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, gave her letter of resignation after only a few days of work.” “Please, she came running here purely for our president, thinking she could take this chance to snag a wealthy husband. In the end, our president didn’t give a damn about her!” “Who has our president ever given a damn for? Did he give a damn about you? Did he give a damn about you?” “No, I’ve been here for over a year and still haven’t been able to say more than a few words to him.” “Exactly, what do you think our president is thinking? He used all means possible to recruit so many beautiful women here, yet he doesn’t give any of them a single glance. HA! They actually believed they’re here to just be a pretty face but instead, it’s to fucking work hard!” “He is waiting… waiting for a person who is able to touch his heart in a very deep way. Who knows when the day will come when a lucky young lady will be admired and captivated by him.” “I really pity that young lady. Think about it, our president is the son of a high-level general who has genuine talent and abilities, operates his own company, and most importantly, he is also
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extremely handsome! This is the very definition of Mr. Perfect: tall, rich and handsome! Come on, if you were given this kind of man, would you be able to control him? Would you be able to endure it if a hundred or so pairs of eyes from all those beautiful women glared enviously at you every single day?” “I also heard our president lives alone, never hires a housekeeper, and even better, he’s extremely skilled in cooking!” “Oh my god! It’s so rare to encounter such a person even in a hundred year! I pity the young lady that he falls for even more!” “Give me a break! If he really falls for you, you’ll immediately hide under your blanket and laugh your lungs out!” “Hush!… stop talking, the president is coming.” With an expressionless face, Gu Hai walked through the sales department and went directly into his office. Following promptly behind him was the vice president, who is also a young and beautiful lady, full of elegance and knowledge. Not long after Gu Hai sauntered in, the work office that was quiet just a moment ago, flared up with loud bustling noises again. “Did you see it? Our Gu-zong1 is wearing a purple shirt today.” “I saw it!! I saw it!! It matches his personality really well!” “Hey, I really envy our vice president. She can freely go in and out of the president’s office as she wishes.” “How can we compare to her? She was personally scouted over here with a high salary by Gu-zong himself. Maybe she’s the young lady that has captivated him, but their situation hasn’t been made known to the public yet.” “Don’t say that. I still have to endure two more years here, give me some fucking space!” Back in the office, Yan Yajing stood near the desk and handed Gu Hai a stack of documents, “Sign this.” Without looking up at her, Gu Hai sensibly flipped through it for a moment, then signed his name boldly on the contract. Every time Yan Yajing witnessed Gu Hai signed his name, she would always sigh, deeply moved by the stroke and elegant of each character. “Gu-zong, why are your characters so beautifully written? How did you perfect it like that?” Like clockwork, Gu Hai always kept his lips sealed and never responded. Already used to Gu Hai’s unresponsive attitude, Yan Ja Jing grabbed a glass of water and sat across from him. She looked anomalously at his cold, harsh face for a minute then faintly said, “Guzong, why did you want to recruit such a large group of beautiful women here? Don’t you know by now? Every day, they talk about you behind your back. The other day, when I was on the elevator, I had the luck of hearing two employees talking about your muscles. They laughed and giggled to themselves, saying that it must be very firm and soft to the touch.” Gu Hai unperturbedly replied with an impassive tone. “If you hear it again, kindly thank them all for me.” “You!...” Yan Yajing feigned anger and looked at Gu Hai again, “You must like the feeling of being the center of attention, don’t you?” “This is just one method to establish prestige and trust.” Gu Hai said, his smile masked by a pretense that all is well. After glaring at him from the corner of her eyes in disbelief, Yan Yajing gave him a glass of water and continued their discussion. 1
Gu-zong (President Gu) – the Zong is derived from zǒngjīnglǐ (总经理) , CEO/President
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“Oh yeah, Gu-zong, a transsexual person applied for employment today.” Gu Hai nearly spewed out the water in his mouth at those unexpected words. “Anyways, the point is, she is pretty good in all other aspects. That is, in the sense that she possessed a man’s mentality for new and innovative ideas, as well as a woman’s meticulous eye for details and patience. Such genuine talent is honestly hard to come by.” Yan Yajing sternly said, her expression extremely serious as she recounted the person’s qualities in detail. “Recruit her for the sales department,” Gu Hai faintly said. “Perhaps a client will take a liking to her.” “Hey, you rather recruit a transsexual than accept an all-around proper man with great credentials. Why do you hate men so much? But I guess this is also a good thing, at the very least, it’s proof that you’re not GAY.” Gu Hai lifted his eyes and gave Yan Yajing a glance that made her soft hair stick out. However, his eyes returned to normal a couple of seconds later. “Take out the meeting records from my computer and transmit the vital parts of the document over.” Remaining silent for a moment, Yan Yajing put the glass of water in her hand down and swiftly turned Gu Hai’s computer on. As per the company custom to maintain an efficient manner, she sorted the files and went through them all, but in the end, she could not find Gu Hai’s so-called meeting record. “Gu-zong, there’s nothing here.” Gu Hai narrowed his eyes in contemplation, “It might be in my personal laptop since I took it to the meeting with me yesterday.” “Hmm...can I open it?” Yan Yajing asked trying to sound him out. Without looking at her, Gu Hai casually replied with a couple of words, “It’s up to you.” As a result, just as Yan Yajing flipped the laptop open, the desktop image immediately appeared. Seeing the large photograph displayed in front of her, she moved in closer for a better look before bursting into a peal of cheerful laughter. “Gu-zong, seeing this picture of yours reminds me of when I first met you.” Aware of what the image was, Gu Hai did not raise his head. He was already used to this desktop background and, even though more than eight years had passed by, he still had yet to change it. “Who’s this boy?” Yan Yajing asked without thinking much of it. Gu Hai’s gaze finally swept towards the desktop. It was the image of a mischievous face that has been deeply etched in his memory from all those years ago, yet it was still so vivid in his mind as if it had just happened yesterday. “He’s a... a brother that I have lost contact with for many years now.” “Lost contact? Why did you lose contact with him?” After a moment of silent, Yan Yajing realized that Gu Hai was not willing to bring up this matter at all, so she cleverly changed the subject. “Did you take this picture in Qingdao?” This time, Gu Hai nodded, “Yeah, it was taken the year I ran into you in Qingdao.” Yan Yajing looked carefully at the photo, but still, she could not hold back her laughter. “This photo looks really stupid. It reminds me of the halo of light that surrounds Buddha!” Why does it feel like a Buddhist ceremony? Have you ever seen such a handsome Buddhist monk before? “Gu-zong? Gu-zong? Gu Hai!!” Yan Yajing shouted loudly.
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As the loud voice entered his ears, Gu Hai pulled out of his thoughts and recovered his spirit. He looked squarely at Yan Yajing and asked, “What’s going on?” There was a mysterious smile tugging at the corner of Yan Yajing’s lips, “There’s a question that I really want to ask you.” “Then ask,” Gu Hai faintly said. “When I sprayed perfume on you that time, was it effective or anything in particular happen?” At those words, Gu Hai smiled coldly. “Write a letter of resignation and hand it to me tomorrow. I think I need to hire a new vice president.” Yan Yajing obediently shut her mouth and retrieved the document from Gu Hai’s laptop. Early morning in the prodigious Gobi Desert, the bitter coldness reigned throughout the normally sweltering wasteland while the remnant of brilliant reddish-orange flames streaked across the horizon. A young and handsome Air Force Major with keen and fierce eyes, coldly shouted, “Attack!” In just a split second, a dozen or so war hawks whizzed towards the horizon, signaling the beginning of the Beijing Military Region Air Force’s long-range live ammunition assault training. This was not a simple one-time aviation training; their target was somewhere thousands of miles away in the vast barren desert. Lurking everywhere were air-launched cruise missiles ready to intercept, electromagnetic interferences, and a one-time dogfight aircraft2 entered the target’s area, waiting to greet them with a great deal of danger. This meticulous setup could be described as going in the same direction as a road paved with thistles and thorns, all prompt to kill the aircraft from all sides! In his own invisible stealth aircraft, the Air Force Major led the entire attack formation, directly striking the ground missile battlefield. “Accelerate and dive down!” The Major’s firm order was like a heavyweight bomb exploding in each of the pilot’s ears. Then, the Major’s aircraft along with dozens of other fighter aircraft uniformly aligning across the sky, dove to the ground at an alarming speed. As the aircraft sped up, the slow-paced camels roaming the Gobi Desert quickly dodged in front of the pilots’ eyes. Each aircraft lifted the sand chaotically like a blade slicing across its wings. A rocket blasted its raging flames directly towards the target. After rumbling burst of loud noises resonated throughout the area, the target was destroyed and reduced to a ten meters pile of sand. After successfully completing the first stage of the mission, the Major emerged from the cockpit and took off his mask—revealing a handsome and willful face. “Major, have a drink of water.” The Major took the water bottle, drank a few mouthfuls and threw the bottle back to the person in front of him, “Thanks.” “Major, how sure are you that we’ll have a chance to win this?” Bai Luoyin pulled back the corner of his lips, exposing a very rare and deadly smile. “100%!”
Translate: Sae dogfight - an aerial battle between fighter aircraft, conducted at close range; dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane.
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02 The Adorable Police Officer
That evening, every pilot who participated in the military drill camped in the wilderness. Bai Luoyin slept alone in his own tent. Although the cold wind whistled outside, Bai Luoyin’s cashmere sweater was drenched in sweat. Feeling rather uncomfortable, he took it off only to discover that the surface of the sweater was daubed in weeds and barbs. He shook it several times, but none of the stubborn invaders proved unmoved. With no other choice, he slowly picked them out one by one. Liu Chong readily lifted the flaps to Bai Luoyin’s tent, without giving any prior warning. Once he caught a glimpse of Bai Luoyin sitting down with his chest bared, his heart suddenly tightened with a deep sense of concern that weaved into his voice. “Major, are you injured?” Bai Luoyin’s brows rose when he was met with a bashful face, looking at him. “Do I look like I’m injured?” “Actually, you don’t,” Liu Chong said, feeling rather embarrassed. “I noticed that took your clothes off, so I thought you were wrapping your wounds.” “You should let the flap down first. Either you come in or go out!” Bai Luoyin shouted immediately. Since he was stripped naked to the waist, the chilly wind drifting into the tent made it somewhat unbearable. Without any other options, Liu Chong was forced to squeeze himself into Bai Luoyin’s tent, with a thinly rolled up blanket tucked beneath his armpit. Once Bai Luoyin saw the thin blanket, a hint of shock streaked across his eyes.
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“Did you run here to sleep in my tent because you’re scared that there’s going to be a surprise attack in the middle of the night?” “No, it’s not like that…” Liu Chong denied awkwardly. “I was scared that you might be cold, so I purposely brought you another blanket.” The corner of Bai Luoyin’s lips pulled back into a smirk as he reached out and hooked his arm around Liu Chong’s neck. Then he faintly asked, “Are you trying to bribe your superior?” Liu Chong simpered naively before letting out a burst of laughter. “How can you say it like that? We’re in the same squadron now and you’re also the main force of our squad. You already know that all the tasks for tomorrow’s mission depend on your command. You of all people must not catch a cold!” Bai Luoyin snorted, “Forget it. Take the blanket back, each person only gets one blanket. It’s not right for anyone to be cold.” “Aren’t you more susceptible to the cold than the rest of us?” Liu Chong laughed. At those words, Bai Luoyin’s dashing brows knitted into a slight frown. “How am I more susceptible to the cold?” “Do you remember the mission we carried out last New Year’s Day in the northeast? That time we shared the same dorm, and at night you always moved to my side. One night, you even put your hands on my stomach. As a result, I had a bad case of diarrhea the next day.” Bai Luoyin coughed lightly, “It’s been a habit of mine to move around. I sleep like that even in the summer.” Without permission, Liu Chong quickly grasped Bai Luoyin’s hand and spoke in a depressing tone. “But your hands are very cold.” “That’s because my blood is cold, so the temperature of my body is lower than normal people.” Hearing that, Liu Chong simply scratched the back of his head, “I see…” Bai Luoyin continued to remove the barbs stuck on his sweater. “Let me help you take those out,” Liu Chong said eagerly. For someone with Bai Luoyin’s nature, some things… never changed. Since it was clear that he does indeed have little to no patience towards this kind of tedious task, it did not take long for him to hand his clothes over to Liu Chong. Then, he wrapped the bedding sheet around himself and lied on the ground, contemplating the strategy for tomorrow’s mission. Dididi… The alarm sounded off loudly. Bai Luoyin’s movements were akin to that of a wild leopard as he swiftly leaped up from the ground. He snatched the clothes from Liu Chong’s hands, efficiently put it on, then rushed out of the tent only to discovered that two ‘enemy’ were circling above their territory. “Fucking A!” Liu Chong swore at the top of his lungs, “There’s a fucking surprise attack even at this time? Don’t they ever think about taking a break?!” Quickening his legs, Bai Luoyin sped towards the center of the territory while Liu Chong who had also thoroughly trained and was adept in this kind of situation went back to his own tent to retrieve the necessary equipment. In less than two minutes, all the pilots convened in an orderly manner, completely armed. At that moment, the enemy ’s closed in above their territory and started to launch a volley of fierce and violent attacks. “Split into two groups and go either way!” Bai Luoyin instructed his squadron, his thoughts exceptionally clear amidst the incoming assault.
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As the fighter aircraft soared even higher, Bai Luoyin swiftly led two fighter aircraft away from the strategized formation. And, using the thick layers of cloud to veil their presence, they stealthily streaked towards the “enemy's’ aircraft. Keeping their communication tight at all time, the hidden fighter tenaciously pursued the enemy without breaking concentration. As their proximity lessened, two mid-range air missiles were guilefully shot ahead at the speed of lightning. Bang! Bang! Two thunderous sounds resonated, and the sky ignited into two staggering balls of fire, successfully striking two targets head on! Since the attack happened so suddenly, they were not adequately prepared. Although Bai Luoyin’s fleet breached the enemy’s surprise attack, the damage sustained was tremendous and the time consumed was too long. In the end, this fierce tug of war phase was not declared over until the wee hours of four o’clock. As a result, after lying down for less than an hour, the alarm blared once more. Bai Luoyin had just managed to close his eyes, intending to take a nap when the maddening noise forced it open again. His pupils beamed with icy glares that if scattered would have torn apart anyone in his presence. Fucking bastards! You’re fucking doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You know that I love to sleep so you deliberately picked to fight at midnight?! If I don’t obliterate you all in less than a day, my last name isn’t Bai! After three days of strenuous training, the mission successfully came to an end. Due to his remarkable performance, the higher-ups granted Bai Luoyin an exclusive two days’ vacation. Liu Chong was tasked to pilot the helicopter in order to take Bai Luoyin home. Bai Luoyin leaned back into the passenger seat beside him and looked straight ahead without paying much attention to anything else. By now, it was clear that even the fatigue radiating from his eyes could not be concealed. “Major, why did you enlist back then?” After some time passed and he did not get any response, Liu Chong shot Bai Luoyin a glance from the corner of his eye only to discover that the Major has already fallen asleep. Bai Luoyin was leaning against the inner wall of the cockpit with his head resting against the seat and his chin slightly raised, sketching out the distinctive edges of his charming face. Liu Chong could clearly remember when he arrived at the military base two years ago, Bai Luoyin was transferred to their squadron as a Commander. At the first glimpse of Bai Luoyin, all the new recruits were immediately captivated by his valiant and formidable aura. Even now, Liu Chong could vividly recall the first time Bai Luoyin looked straight at him. That glance alone evoked a kind of feeling that made his heart beat wildly as if trying to burst of out his chest. Now that he has been in the military for two years, Liu Chong braved himself and genuinely approached Bai Luoyin. Before long, he discovered that Bai Luoyin was extraordinary adept in many aspects of the military and his knowledge of aviation was, for the lack of a better word, phenomenal. However, outside of his remarkable merits, the same cannot be said of his living arrangement. To perfectly describe it, his place was like that of an idiot. During every dorm evaluation, like clockwork, he placed first in uncleanliness. He always forgot where he had last placed his daily necessities, and every few days or so, he would somehow break the lock on his door… But, once he stepped on the training base or exercise scene, his meticulous and perspicacious mind was sharper than anyone else. Looking at Bai Luoyin sleeping so peacefully without any distracting thoughts, Liu Chong could not help but linger in fear. Fortunately, he was personally taking Bai Luoyin back, otherwise, if
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Bai Luoyin fell asleep while flying the helicopter en route home, the Air Force would suffer a tremendous loss! While Liu Chong was still deep in thought, Bai Luoyin suddenly spoke. “Even though I’m sleeping, I can still fly the helicopter safely back home.” A streak of astonishment flashed across Liu Chong’s face. Shit, how does he know what I’m thinking? In the middle of his slumber, the corner of Bai Luoyin’s lips rose into an enticing curve. It has been more than a year since Bai Luoyin returned home, and unsurprisingly, another layer of Bai Hanqi’s hair had gone grey. “Why don’t you just dye your hair?” Bai Luoyin complained loudly. “You’re not even fifty years old yet but you already look like a little old man!” Unable to restrain her laughter, Aunt Zou finally spoke, “I’ve also told your father the same thing many times already, but he refused to dye it. He kept on saying that the greyer his hair, the more often his son will come to visit.” Despite Bai Hanqi’s continuous denial, Bai Luoyin nevertheless felt rather upset. Contrary to expectations, Aunt Zou wore brightly colored clothes. Ever since they moved to a new apartment complex, every few days, Aunt Zou would go out and mingle with a group of middle-aged elders, and together they would coordinate dance practices to work out their bodies. In contrast, Bai Hanqi appeared to live a more reclusive life. There were only three years left before he could officially retire since his health was no longer as it was. Every day after work, he would laze around on the sofa and refused to budge. Sometimes, he would even fall asleep while watching the television. Moreover, during this trip back home, Bai Luoyin also discovered that Bai Hanqi nagged and talked more than before; even the most minute details could not help but escape his lips once he dragged Bai Luoyin into the conversation. He has never behaved this way before. Perhaps, he is really getting old. In the afternoon, taking advantage of the time Bai Hanqi was at work, Bai Luoyin went to Haidian District3 local police station located on Huayuan road. His ‘good sister’ Yang Meng was a police officer assigned in that area. Just as Bai Luoyin expected, Yang Meng did not pass the military entrance examinations which in turn prevented him from entering military school. But Old Man Yang was unwilling to give up and had said, ‘If you can’t be a soldier, then you can at least be a police officer, right?’ Thus, after pulling some strings and giving a series of gifts as bribery, he finally succeeded in enrolling Yang Meng into the police academy. From then on, nearly every day, Yang Meng suffered from working overtime, experienced bitter days of being insulted and belittled by his colleagues and not to mention, being bullied by society. While Bai Luoyin was driving, Yang Meng was currently resolving a domestic dispute. A woman was weeping her hearts out as she complained to Yang Meng. “Officer, you have to give me justice. He secretly found a mistress and doesn’t have the nerves to admit it!” Before she could say anything else, the man beside her retorted angrily. “Who has a mistress? Which eye of yours saw me looking for a mistress?” The woman slammed her hands on the table vehemently and stood up. “Do you want me to expose you in public? I’ve saved all the messages that were on your phone!” Haidian District is an inner district located in northeast Beijing which includes Peking University, Tsinghua University and Zhōngguāncūn (a neighborhood in Beijing which is famous for its electronic shops and bookstores)
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Unwilling to back down, the male also stood up. “You’ve violated my privacy rights!” “You shameless bastard!” “You’re the shameless one!” The couple quarreled until the woman began to bawl her eyes out. She stared straight at Yang Meng and asked, “Officer, tell me. What should we do about this?” Yang Meng looked at them with hesitation, adjusted his police cap then cleared his throat. “That… you’ve come to the wrong place. You should go to the Bureau of Civil Affairs to file for a divorce!” “…!!!” When Bai Luoyin arrived, Yang Meng was being pummeled to the ground by the couple. “Laopo4, this good-for-nothing is trying to drive a wedge between us. Use all your strength to beat him the fuck up!!!” “Laogong,4 he was an eyesore the moment I fucking saw him. The more I look at him, the more he looks like that mistress of yours!” Bai Luoyin had never encountered such a silly and cowardly police officer before. He calmly entered the room, grabbed the man firmly by the collar then with a cold and indifferent expression, he threw him outside. Once the woman saw that her man at a disadvantage, she wanted to attack Bai Luoyin at all cost. However, when she caught sight of his cold gaze and imposing aura, she merely swallowed and walked out, cursing loudly. Once the vexing couple left, Yang Meng looked at Bai Luoyin with tears clouding his eyes. Feeling frustrated for him, Bai Luoyin removed Yang Meng’s cap and ruffled his hair. “There, there. You’re already a police officer, don’t be so argumentative and always get that affected by any of this!” Yang Meng bit his teeth and boldly said, “Even a man made of steel has a vulnerable side!” Having said that, Yang Meng suddenly hugged Bai Luoyin tightly and beat his back several times with his weak fist. “Bro, you’re finally here. If you appear here two years from now, you’d only see my ashes.” An intense chilliness crept up Bai Luoyin’s spine causing him to shiver for a moment, “That’s unlikely to happen, right?” “Unlikely?” A sinister look played on Yang Meng’s face, “What the heck! It’s very likely!!!” After that, he dragged Bai Luoyin to sit down and began to pour out all his grievances as if his life was on the line. Yan Yajing straightened the applications and passed it to Gu Hai. Just as she was about to leave Gu Hai’s hardened voice suddenly halted her steps. “Are you going to the Public Security Bureau?”5 Yan Yajing nodded her head, “Yeah. Aren’t we supposed to take these applications to the Public Security Bureau to get them officially stamped?” “Then, I’ll go with you.” Gu Hai calmly said. Never expecting that, Yan Yajing was suddenly struck speechless. What exactly happened to the president today? Why does he suddenly know how to treat a woman with pity and tenderness by personally driving me there?
Laopo – wife; Laogong – husband (I prefer keeping it the Chinese way – Sae) Public Security Bureau is a government office of a province or municipality in China responsible for exercising public security functions, including law enforcement, fire prevention, traffic control, immigration control and registration as well as other matters affecting public security.
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“A few days ago, I entrusted the Deputy Chief of Police to help me deal with something. It just happens that I need to go there and ask him a few things.” Fine, I should have known that you don’t have such a heart! Yan Yajing’s expression faded to sadness in the blink of an eye.
Translate: Sienna | Edit: Sae
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03 The Encounter, Eight Years Later
Yang Meng and Bai Luoyin were in the midst of a joyful chat when a police officer, who was about a head taller than Yang Meng, walked over and stopped right in front of them. Without warning, he threw down a pile of documents with a rather nonchalant attitude. “This is the weekly report. Take it to the sub-bureau as soon as possible.” Yang Meng, much to his chagrin, could only take the documents and sighed. His face was quickly written with annoyance and resentment as he narrowed his eyes to glare at the other office. “Seriously?! I can’t even chat in peace for one day!” “I’ll take you there, my car is parked outside.” “Great!” Yang Meng said cheerfully as his hand landed on Bai Luoyin’s shoulder. “I can finally experience what it feels like to ride in a military car today.” On the road, Yang Meng asked, “Yin Zi, do you know how to fly all kinds of aircraft?” Bai Luoyin remained silent then replied in an unenthusiastic tone, “Pretty much.” “Then, why didn’t you fly a helicopter here?” “We only fly it during emergency operations since it’s normally not necessary. Besides, you can’t just land it wherever you want. When you look at it like that, it’s not as convenient as driving!” Listening to the stern and forceful tone in Bai Luoyin’s voice, Yang Meng stared at him enviously. “Yin Zi, you are so handsome.”
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Bai Luoyin snorted with a laugh, “If you’re able to meet the required conditions now, you can enlist in the military and join the Air Force squadron with the goal of becoming a pilot, are you willing?” Yang Meng shook his head without hesitation, “I don’t want to.” “There you have it! Honestly, I’m actually envious of your easy and comfortable working environment. Every day, you just need to do your shift, patrol the streets and write up some reports. And, if an urgent task springs, the issue can be easily resolved by sending out a few men.” “I wish. How can it be as easy or relaxing as how you put it?” Yang Meng bluffed before his expression changed. “However, compared to your job, mine is indeed considered a bit easier and more comfortable.” Bai Luoyin remained silent. Yang Meng glanced over and asked, “Yin Zi, it’s extremely tough in the military, isn’t it?” “It’s not as tough or life-threatening as you make it sound. It’s okay… it was a bit unbearable in the beginning, but now I don’t feel anything.” “Even now, I still don’t understand why you suddenly enlisted back then. But, thinking about it, being selected as a candidate for the Air Force isn’t easy. The average person doesn’t even have a chance no matter how hard they try. For people like you who has connections within the military, it will be even easier to get promoted if you perform well. You have a promising future ahead of you! Brother, keep striving! The latter half of my life is depending on you.” While chatting along the way, the two finally arrived at the sub-bureau. Bai Luoyin parked the car then followed Yang Meng into the Public Security Bureau building. “Walk this way.” Yang Meng said to Bai Luoyin whose eyes were wandering around. Just as Bai Luoyin was about to turn the corner, his footsteps suddenly came to a standstill. His body froze—shocked by a pair of silhouettes just a short distance away. He did not blink as his foot became rigid as if they were cemented to the floor. “The Deputy Chief of Police isn’t here?” Yan Yajing gave Gu Hai a side glance, “You didn’t give him a call beforehand?” Gu Hai continued to walk while he spoke, “Something urgent came up at the last minute. But he’ll rush back after an hour or so.” “Then are you going to wait around for him?” Yan Yajing followed closely behind Gu Hai. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” Since Gu Hai’s pace was too quick, Yan Yajing practically jogged behind him just to keep up. As a result, when Gu Hai suddenly halted like a formidable mountain, Yan Yajing lost her balance and bumped into him. Catching himself from his momentary stupor, one of Gu Hai’s hand reached out to grabbed Yan Yajing’s shoulder to help her steady her footing as to not fall. All the while, his eyes only shifted once from the sight ahead. “Why did you stop all of a sudden?” Yan Yajing asked after she regained her balance. Gu Hai’s eagle eyes aimed unwaveringly toward Bai Luoyin who stood only a short distance from him. In that second, the surrounding air seemed to have frozen over as their eyes locked while their hearts became encased by a glove of ice. There were only two meters of space between them, yet neither took a step forward to lessen the distance. With neither breaking eye contact, they had even forgotten to greet each other. Standing to the side, Yang Meng poked Bai Luoyin. “Isn’t that Gu Hai?” Like being unwillingly awoken from a profound dream, Bai Luoyin blinked. Once he focused his gaze on Gu Hai again, he suddenly felt as if a lifetime had passed by. Has it really been
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eight years? It felt like it was only yesterday that he was fooling around with this person in his dreams. But, seeing him again today, he has unexpectedly become an unfamiliar face. As he meticulously picked out all the details of Gu Hai’s appearance, he could make out that the silhouette of his face has become even more mature and charming, and the suit he wore led him to emit a faint aura of intelligence and respectability. His gaze was still as sharp as ever, but the only difference was, Bai Luoyin could no longer decipher the latent meaning that slumbered beneath. Gu Hai looked ahead unyieldingly—the Bai Luoyin that dwelled in his eyes now has already shed his youthful appearance. The pure and bright sunshine smile that once remained in his memories no longer appeared calmly on his face. Sometimes, the things you believe would always endure, has in fact been lost a very long time ago. Without shifting his eyes, Bai Luoyin took the initiative and walked sternly towards Gu Hai. Then, as if in slow motion, his elongated arm stretched out to give Gu Hai a warm hug. But the second he let go, Gu Hai’s willful derision daringly sauntered into his ear. “As expected, you’ve really changed after staying overseas for a few years. Compared to before, you’re even more polite now.” At those words, Bai Luoyin’s heart felt like it had been pricked by something sharp. However, an endearing curve still remained on his lips. “It seems you’ve grown taller.” Gu Hai laughed coldly, rendering the temperature around him to drop a few degrees. “I had legs lengthening surgery.” As the memory of the car accident trickled into his mind, the fear that lingered on from then, still vividly burrowed into his bones unto this day. Gu Hai held his hand up and made a few gestures in front of Bai Luoyin’s forehead. “It seems, you’ve also grown quite a bit.” “Perhaps, the natural environment oversea was more nourishing.” Standing beside them, Yang Meng listened to their conversation to the point that he himself was completely bewildered. What nonsenses are these two talking about? Yan Yajing stared at Bai Luoyin for a long time without blinking. The more she looked, the more familiar that face became. All of a sudden, she excitedly pulled Gu Hai’s hand as if she remembered something. “Hey, isn’t he the one on your desktop…” “He’s my Ge.” Gu Hai quickly cut Yan Yajing off before she could finish her sentence. Eight years ago, if he could force Gu Hai to call him Ge just once, Bai Luoyin would have been in seventh heaven for three days. However, now that Gu Hai t willingly called him Ge, a bitter chilliness penetrated his heart instead. After staring at Yan Yajing for a while, Yang Meng couldn’t resist no more and asked, “Who’s this?” “That’s right, I forgot to introduce you all.” Gu Hai stiffly pulled Yan Yajing into his arms and forged a smile, all the while looking at Bai Luoyin. “This is my fiancé, your future sister-in-law.” Bai Luoyin’s heart dropped immediately, nearly missing a beat. However, eight years of being a soldier were not all for nothing. Now, his psychological endurance could rival the outer layer of a military fighter aircraft. “That’s nice, don’t forget to give me an invitation when you get married. As your Ge, how can I miss out on such an important day?” Gu Hai smiled faintly, “Even if I forget everybody else, I wouldn’t forget you. Now that I think about it, you were the one who brought us together! If you didn’t smell the perfume on me that day, I wouldn’t have known that someone had fallen for me at first sight.”
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Looking squarely at him, Bai Luoyin replied indifferently. “Then, be careful when you’re taking your wedding photos. Don’t drop my sister-in-law into the water.” “Don’t worry, even if she fell into the water, I can still dive in and get her out.” The two stared attentively at each other, with neither shifting their gaze. With one glance, it was obvious to anyone that their expression did not match the real emotions that sank in their eyes. It was unclear why Yang Meng, who was standing to the side, could not stand watching them act like that anymore. A second later, he said rather peculiarly, “Then, you two should go to the Bureau of Civil Affairs and sign the marriage certificate right now. A bickering couple just went there to file for divorce not too long ago. Perhaps you two can make it in time to soak up some of their luck.” Remaining calm and collected, Gu Hai merely gave Yang Meng an icy glare. “This is a highaltitude battle. There’s no use in you trying to join in.” At first, Yang Meng did not understand what Gu Hai meant, but after looking up at him, and seeing Gu Hai looking down at him, he instantly understood. What the fuck, high altitude… high altitude…… “How about you? Are you still single?” Gu Hai asked again. “Yes.” Bai Luoyin bluntly admitted. “No one wants you?” Before Bai Luoyin could speak, Yang Meng took another turn and spoke yet again. “How is it possible for nobody to want our Yin Zi? He is now a Chief…” Bai Luoyin forcefully grabbed Yang Meng’s arm, quickly suppressing the rest of his words. “Meng Zi, what are you doing here?” Someone called from the corner. The person was one of Yang Meng’s colleague who had transferred to this substation earlier. Now that he had a chance to see Yang Meng, he could not help but be happy. It has been a while since he had the chance to make fun of Yang Meng, so without any explanation, he pulled Yang Meng aside and began to banter and tease him. “May I ask, what are you the Chief of now?” Gu Hai questioned closely. Bai Luoyin paused for a moment, then calmly said, “Chief Executive Officer!” “Woah…” Yan Yajing exclaimed in admiration as she looked on from the side. “You’re so young yet you’re already a CEO in a foreign company?” Laughing rather shamelessly, Bai Luoyin looked at Gu Hai again and asked, “How about you? What are you doing now?” “I’m not talented6, I’m just a president of a small company.” Bai Luoyin had never seen such a humble expression on Gu Hai’s face like this before. Although it appeared like a hoax but seeing a guy who was once straightforward and temperamental changed into someone who could maintain a calm posture, made Bai Luoyin felt rather surprised. Yang Meng shouted from a long distance away, “Yin Zi, are you going or not? I’m off work now but I still need to go back and pack up my things.” Bai Luoyin glanced back at Gu Hai once more, “I have to go.” Gu Hai acknowledged him with a nod. The moment their shoulders silently brushed pass each other and their eyes locked, a tempestuous and overwhelming plight similar to that of the seas and rivers being turned over, raged within their hearts. Yet even then, the surface of their faces was not ruffled in the least as they maintained their respective calmness and unchanging demeanor. 鄙人不才 - “I’m not talented…” - 鄙人 biren (I or your humble servant). I really wanted Gu Hai to say to BLY, “Your humble servant is untalented.” BAHAHAHAHA
6
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Once Bai Luoyin walked out of the entrance with Yang Meng, he suddenly pulled him onto the road and flagged down a taxi. “Didn’t we drive here?” Yang Meng was dumbstruck, “You don’t want your car anymore?” Bai Luoyin spoke with a calm expression, “I’ll come back and get it later.” This time, Yang Meng was even more puzzled, “Why?” “Military vehicle.” When Yang Meng turned back and caught sight of Gu Hai walking out, as if he faintly understood something, he obediently followed Bai Luoyin into the taxi. Even after they got into the taxi, Bai Luoyin’s gaze remained outside of the window, making it hard for Yang Meng to clearly see his expression. “Yin Zi.” “Yeah?” “Why don’t you want to let Gu Hai know you’ve enlisted in the military?” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin slowly turned his gaze back. The distinctive edges that sculpted the side his face now carried a hint of emotions that have long been held back deep within him. No matter how hard he tried to conceal it, Yang Meng could still sense the immense change in his emotions now in comparison to what it was before. “Are you afraid he’d go look for you?” “No, it’s not that. Don’t ask me anymore. I’ll tell you later when I have a chance.” Even after Gu Hai got into the car, the engine was never started. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, narrowed his eyes and stared at a random corner in the car. During the entire time, he did not utter a single word. “Gu-zong, what you said just now…something about fiancé. What exactly was that all about? It confused the heck out of me when I heard it.” Gu Hai’s face abruptly darkened. Without any warning, his fist smashed hard against the steering wheel and shook the entire car. When Yan Yajing studied in university, she incidentally reunited with Gu Hai. Since then, she had remained at his side for more than five years already. But, never had she ever seen such an intense and fierce change of emotions splayed over Gu Hai’s face like this before. “You… don’t misunderstand…” Yan Yajing stuttered a bit, somewhat at a loss, “I know you were only joking so I didn’t take it to heart. I’m just asking for the sake of it.” During the conversation, Gu Hai had already started up the car and took a sharp U-turn onto the road. Strapped in the passenger seat, Yan Yajing gripped the door handle as her heartbeat increased along with the speed of the car. Gu Hai, on the other hand, did not stop speeding, overtaking another car, urgently braking, or seize an opportunity to maneuver in an out… Yan Yajing incessantly urged, “Gu-zong, don’t drive like this…it’s very dangerous…” As she said that, the roof of the car slowly pulled back and open up. Then a gust of cold wind charged in and eclipsed the air, making it extremely difficult for Yan Yajing to breathe. “Ahhhh…what the heck are you doing? It’s winter!! Gu-zong…GU HAI!!…” Gu Hai hissed and spat, “This is the only way to shut your mouth.”
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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04 Fate is Unstoppable
That night, Bai Luoyin he received a call from the instructor just as he was about to go to sleep. “Xiao Bai, our Combat Wing is holding a celebratory banquet tomorrow, you have to be there!” Pulling one side of his lip back as if in contemplation, Bai Luoyin remained silent for a while before he asked, “Is it at the military base or somewhere else?” “It’s being held in a banquet hall on the fifth floor of the International Conference and Exhibition Centre. Let me tell you, the banquet has already been booked, so don’t bother trying to find some excuses to get out of it. Many youngsters are eager to get out and walk around but you, on the other hand, don’t participate in any activities other than training. At this point, should I praise you or punish you?” “Fine. I’ll go, okay?” Bai Luoyin’s tone seemed helpless once he answered. A hearty burst of laughter transmitted from the other side of the phone, “As the Deputy Commander, you have to interact with the new recruits more often to bond with them. Even if prestige needs to be established, there’s no need to go overboard. Some of the new recruits are quite intimidated by you to the point that they don’t even dare to raise their head when they see you.” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin’s brows knitted together, forming a slight frown. “Isn’t that a bit too exaggerated?” “Go look at yourself in the mirror right now!” Although reluctant, Bai Luoyin actually sauntered to stand in front of the mirror.
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Once again, the instructor urged him, “Remember to wear your military uniform, some of the higher-ranking leaders will be present during the start of the banquet and just know that they want to take photos as a souvenir.” “Okay, I know.” Once the call ended, Bai Luoyin closely examined the face in the mirror and silently contemplated to himself. Is my face really that scary to others? In order to make his image look more approachable, Bai Luoyin decided to shave his beard off after taking a nice shower. Just as he smeared the shaving cream onto his face, he heard a knock on the door. “Who is it?” “Major, it’s me.” Liu Chong’s voice sounded off from the other side of the door. When Bai Luoyin opened the door, he was met with Liu Chong wearing a thick cottonpadded coat with a thin layer of snow already covering his shoulder. “What’s going on?” Bai Luoyin asked indifferently. Without shifting his eyes, Liu Chong quickly shoved some clothes into Bai Luoyin’s hands. Then, he backed up and wandered back into the gelid wind without uttering a word. Somewhat taken aback at that peculiar behavior, Bai Luoyin lowered his head for a glance. The clothes that were shoved in his hand was the military uniform that he needed to wear for tomorrow’s banquet. He had left it at the laundromat earlier and haven’t had the time to pick it up yet, but surprisingly, Liu Chong brought it back for him beforehand. Having avoided the hassle of going out, Bai Luoyin felt a sense of warmness cradle his heart. Today, a spectacular annual conference in a banquet hall on the fifth floor of the International Conference and Exhibition Centre was also taking place for Gu Hai’s company. And, from the look of it, only a single wall separated this room from Bai Luoyin’s Combat Wing celebratory banquet. During this time of the year, it was always the happiest moment for all the older women in the company. Aside from being presented with all kinds of incentives, they can also be in close proximity to their President. Even if their eyes were to simply meet his for just a second, it would keep them extremely excited for many days to come. Consequently, days before this conference took place, these women were usually extremely busy organizing the event while taking their time to choose the most dazzling outfit. All of this was so that they can parade their elegant charisma at the annual conference in hope of gaining some attention from their President. Since the banquet room was packed with beautiful women soft like that of a buoyant of cloud and each one dressed elegantly like blossoming flowers, all the young waitresses dared not enter. As a result, they were all exchanged for a horde of male waiters instead. Unsurprisingly, since this group of older women had not come in contact with any men for so long, now that they caught a glimpse of a male waiter, their hawked like eyes stared at them without so much a blink. Naturally, Gu Hai made a brief introduction to the entire staff to welcome them. Then, he handed the remaining lineup of programs over to Yan Yajing to manage while he simply tasked himself with the responsibility of acting as a mere attendee and recorded everything. Occasionally, if he was in a cheerful mood, he “might” stretch his hands out for a round of applause but for the majority of the time, he remained cold and withdrawn. When the award ceremony and short speeches ended, it was time for dinner to commence. Since dinner was presented in a buffet style, the atmosphere was all the more relaxing. With that, many of the beautiful women took this opportunity to warm their way closer to Gu Hai.
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Halfway through dinner, a beautiful woman suddenly walked into the hall and spoke hysterically to her school of sisters. “When I went to the bathroom, I saw a room full of soldiers in the banquet hall beside us. Not only that, they are all Air Force pilots. Oh god, they were all so handsome I could barely breathe!!” “Look at you, throwing away your maturity!” Another woman could not help but ridicule her, “How long haven’t you seen so many men? Is it really necessary to be overly excited like this?” “I’m not lying to you all! They are extremely handsome. If you don’t believe me, then go have a look for yourselves. I promise you will have the same reaction as me when you come back.” This particular woman was unwilling to believe this preposterous farce, so as a result, with, she arrogantly walked out—the sound of her heel tapping the floor. Less than a minute later, she came back defeated. “My God!! I saw a very handsome officer standing guard outside the doorway. He even gave me a glance. Ughh…. ahhhh… my heart is beating so fast right now. I can’t! I have to go back for another look.” Once those words spread around the banquet, over a dozen or more of them immediately dashed out behind her. In the other banquet room, Bai Luoyin sat quietly in the last row and watched the bustling atmosphere rage on. After a few minutes passed, he felt a wave of cool breeze caress his back. When he turned around to search for the source, he saw that the door was not closed properly, so he got up to close it. Just when he stopped in front of the door, a devilish looking woman was staring at him so intensely that a frigid gust of air infested every vertebra of his spine. Unable to stand the chill, he quickly closed the door with a loud thud. Thus, this dozen or more beautiful women returned to their own banquet with dampened spirits and even gave the woman who “fabricated” the rumor a good beating. A long while later, nearly all the prominent military leaders from the different branches formally took their leave from the banquet, even the photographers went as well. With them gone, the remaining flock of young bachelors, long time bachelors to be more precise, began to banter and openly flirt with the female hostess. While the room was bustling with noise and excitement, a new recruit walked back in from the bathroom. He turned with a click of his shoes to face the boisterous crowd and whistled three times to get their attention. After everyone quietened down, he looked over each one of them with a rather enigmatic expression. cough, cough, “Hehehe. You want to know what I just saw?” All eyes uniformly aimed towards him, full of excitement and inconspicuous needs. This person suddenly pounded the table with his fist and howled with laughter before he spoke. “There’s a company holding their annual conference in the banquet hall next to ours. Shit, all the ladies are fuckin’ gorgeous! My eyes were going to explode by just looking at them! I really want to destroy their leader. It’s practically a reckless waste of the Lord’s gift. With just one man possessing so many gorgeous women, how does he expect us bachelors live?” Just as these words dropped, the whole banquet hall flared up. “Let’s quickly check it out. There won’t be another opportunity if we missed this one!”7 “We might as well snatch two and bring them here. That way we can all have some fun!’” “What the hell, how is two enough to share? We need at least twenty of them!” After the rowdy bunch quarreled for nearly five minutes, the instructor finally spoke, his voice deep and demanding. 7 “...过了这个村就没这个店了!”
- Literal: “...after this village, there won’t be another shop!” but it actually means: “There won’t be another opportunity if we missed this one!”
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“All of you sit down. Behave yourselves and eat.” As if being shot, every excited face immediately sank and shattered into pieces, then the sound of sighs repeated continuously from one person to the next. Without bothering to look at their disgruntled expressions, the Instructor simply cleared his throat, “Send someone over there to invite them. See if they’re interested in joining us for a friendship party.” Once the stern words dispersed, the awkwardness and silent that overtook the banquet hall a moment ago became boisterous again. “Hahaha…you’re indeed worthy of being our instructor! The way you think is definitely more perceptive than us!!” Hearing those praises, the instructor tried his best to conceal a smile. We’re all men, how was it possible to not understand each other?!! After a quick discussion, there was a unanimous vote for Bai Luoyin to make an appearance. Being ranked number one as the most handsome amongst the Air Force pilots, his presence alone was worthy of representing them in this venture. These mischievous bachelors even went as far as to guess that even if Bai Luoyin simply stood at the door, the group of beautiful women will obediently walk out. Since he was at such a joyous occasion, Bai Luoyin did not have the heart to shatter everyone’s hope, so he summoned up all his courage and forcefully dragged his legs out. Arriving outside, the two doors to the other banquet hall were left wide open. Bai Luoyin was about to lift his leg and walk in when he suddenly caught a glimpse of Yan Yajing. She stood pleasantly on the stage and said something into the microphone that he could not make out. Feeling strange, Bai Luoyin’s gaze gradually shifted towards the center of the room, and with a glimpse, he saw Gu Hai— who was unsurprisingly surrounded by a group of gorgeous women at all corner. Seeing this kind of scene, it was hard for one not to think that this was a well-organized swingers party8 for a second-generation son of an affluent official. Letting his eyes remained on Gu Hai for just a bit longer, Bai Luoyin’s heart tightened. He lowered his head only to see his own epaulet9, stitched neatly on his uniform. Then, without looking back up, he hastily escaped the beautiful women’s line of sight. All the bachelors in this side of the banquet hall were all eagerly looking around. Standing amongst them again, Bai Luoyin cleared his throat as a guilt-ridden expression coiled his face, “They didn’t agree” After hearing this grievous news, the group of unyielding, tough men wept disconsolately on each other’s shoulder. Meanwhile, in this side of the banquet hall, the beautiful woman that was berated by others a while ago spoke again, “I think I just saw that handsome officer again.” “Haven’t you had enough yet? Stop trying to trick us. If you’re capable, why don’t you pull one of them in here and show us!” This beautiful woman was teetering on the edge of insanity by these wily women. Not bothering to care about things anymore, she strutted towards Gu Hai. “Gu-zong, is it okay if I go to the banquet hall beside us and invite the officers there to join us for a joint friendship party?” Swingers' parties do not always conform to this designation because at many swingers parties the sexual partners may all know each other or at least have some commonality among economic class, educational attainment or other shared attributes. Some swingers contend that an orgy, as opposed to a sex party, requires some anonymity of sexual partners in complete sexual abandon. Other kinds of "sex party" may fare less well with this labeling. 9 Epaulet (epaulette) - an ornamental shoulder piece worn on uniforms, chiefly by military officers 8
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This time Gu Hai revealed a very generous expression, “I don’t have any objections.” Having just sat down, Bai Luoyin’s buttocks have yet to warm up yet when he heard everyone shouting in alarm and jeering rowdily. When he raised his head, the devilish looking woman he saw earlier at the doorway, unexpectedly walked through the door. “Hey beautiful, did you come to the wrong place?” Someone impatiently struck up a conversation. The beautiful and classy woman strutted elegantly towards Bai Luoyin. “Major, may I invite your soldiers to join us ladies for a friendship party?” Bai Luoyin, “…” As expected, the flock of young, long-term bachelors eagerly picked up their buttocks and pranced to the other room to meet the beautiful yet sexually abstinent women. Since there seemed to be an impetuous sense of having known each other all along welling between them, there was no need to adjust the atmosphere. And, sure enough, it did not take long for them to joyously mingle. One by one and in small groups, the gorgeous women who had prepared the performances fought to get on the stage to showcase their act. Once they were done, they would even go as far as to make sensuous moves towards the soldiers. Although there were many handsome soldiers, there were not many who actually knew how to entertain. Out of nowhere, someone shouted: “Let’s have our Deputy Commander go up. His singing is really pleasant to the ears! We need to give these beautiful women a great impression on their first encounter with us!” With that being said, all the handsome soldiers and beautiful women burst with joy in search of this legendary Major. But, in the end, he was nowhere to be found. Unbeknownst to everyone, Bai Luoyin had been sitting on the toilet for nearly an hour now. He sat there for so long that he was starting to feel a shortness of breath from the tension creeping up his chest. Feeling that quite some time has passed by already, he finally decided to escape and explain to the instructor at a later time. Lowering his head, he walked out of the stall and went to the vanity unit to wash his hands. Unbeknownst to him, there was someone washing his hands beside him, but Bai Luoyin did not care. By the time he raised his head and looked into the mirror, his entire body froze.
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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05 The Fierce Confrontation
Gu Hai peered solemnly at Bai Luoyin, still fully dressed in his military uniform as he stood beside him with an imposing and prepossessing ambiance sewn into every visible line drawn on his face. An intense burst of pain gauchely pierced Gu Hai’s eyes, provoking the eight years of sorrow, emptiness, and desolation that he had onerously suppressed to reemerge once again. This agony all too willingly scattered towards the bottom of his heart, poisoned and engulfed every nerve and organs that kept his breath alive. As Gu Hai’s scorching and blusterous gaze perforated him, Bai Luoyin could vividly sense half of his face going numb, almost as if tiny pins were pricking his every nerve. He wanted more than anything to conjure some lies for himself and weave a string of reasons to tell Gu Hai that this military uniform was not his, but something he borrowed. However, just as he made up his mind, an Airman walked in and his one simple sentence of, “Major, why are you hiding in here?”, shoved Bai Luoyin into a completely dark abyss with no hope of being rescued. Bai Luoyin shifted his machine-like gaze towards the boisterous face that was awaiting his reply and unenthusiastically said, “You all can have fun first, I’ll be there in a moment.” “Then you have to hurry up! We’re all waiting for you,” urged the Airman before he left. Once he saw the shadow disappeared, Bai Luoyin calmed his emotions then turned to look at Gu Hai with an indifferent expression, all the while, acting as if nothing had happened. “What a coincidence. You’re also here?”
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Keeping his eyes still on Bai Luoyin, Gu Hai could not detain from speaking in a ruthless tone that held no mercy or forgiveness. “Why didn’t you tell me you enlisted in the military? Why did you conspire with others to deceive my feelings? First, I was told you had died that day, making me live a life that was worse than death for two years. After all the suffering, I was then told you went abroad. I searched for you across the world and watched helplessly as my hope was trampled and destroyed over and over again…do you think that…torturing me like this is really interesting?” Listening to the words that came out one after the other from Gu Hai’s lips, Bai Luoyin’s cold and stiff demeanor concealed the pain in his heart, “I’ve never conspired with anyone to deceive you. Whatever they decided to say, that’s naturally within their freedom. I’ve never once manipulated or egged anyone behind their backs. I’m just living my own life.” “Living your own life?” Gu Hai laughed coldly, “Then you must have lived quite peacefully. I truly admire how strong your heart is to endure everything. And, I really do admire your ability to devise such a strategy.” “That’s right, my heart is pretty strong.” Bai Luoyin promptly replied as his eyes froze over with a thick layer of ice. “So, you can stop trying to slander me again in such a vicious way. I’ll just end up laughing it off as a joke. The only one feeling hurt and suffering from it all is you.” “Really?” Gu Hai questioned aggressively, “Then tell me, why did you enlist? Why would you choose this path rather than go abroad?” “That’s my freedom. What does me not wanting to go abroad have to do with you?” “Bai-shouzhang10, you dare say that you didn’t enlist because of me?” Gu Hai’s cold and overbearing voice questioned intensely, each word ruthlessly pierced Bai Luoyin’s heart. “Why would I enlist for you? What reasons do you have to support such a ridiculous suspicion?” “Do I really have to point it out for you? Initially, my dad had forced me to enlist in the military, but I adamantly refused. There was only one way for him to give up on this thought and that is if you enlist. Once you’ve enlisted, he definitely wouldn’t force me anymore just for the sake of keeping us separated. Isn’t what I’ve said correct?” Bai Luoyin coolly lit a cigarette then spoke in a rather deep and gloomy tone of voice, “You’re really thinking too much.” In just a split second, Gu Hai reached out, snatched the cigarette from Bai Luoyin and placed in his own mouth. After taking a deep breath of it, the corner of his lips pulled back, “Did I really think too much about it or is it because you’re just too good at pretending?” “Why would I need to pretend? Go ask any random bastard on the street if they were personally selected to join the Air Force, would they actually miss the opportunity to? Or are you saying that just because you’re the General’s son, I would enlist for your sake? Tsk. Besides, knowing how powerful your father is, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to separate us even if we both enlist! Don’t you think all your groundless assumptions are too unbelievable?” “You’re unbelievable!” Gu Hai firmly retorted as his eyes sank into darkness, “Don’t forget, even if not by blood, you’re still officially Gu Weiting’s son. By just enlisting in the military, you’re stabilizing his name and foundation. Since his burden has lightened, it’s only natural that he’ll loosen his reign on me. Bai Luoyin, if I'm wrong and you didn't have this kind of thought in mind back then, I, Gu Hai will write the two characters of my name backward!”11
首长 Shouzhang – Major (I prefer to keep it the Chinese way since it sounds better to me. If Bai Luoyin’s surname is not being addressed, I’ll keep it as “Major”, but if it is, it will be “Bai Shouzhang” – Major Bai.) 11 Bai Luoyin, if I'm wrong and you didn't have this kind of thought in mind back then, I will write my name backward! Gu Hai is dead sure in what he is saying, so if he wasn't right then he's willing to change his name. 10
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“Gu Hai, you can write it whatever way you want. Even if you write it all in circles, no one will give a shit. Stop trying to flatter yourself.” “Even if I flatter myself, it still can’t be compared to your tricks!” Gu Hai took two steps forward to lessen his distance from Bai Luoyin, “Since you so proudly enlisted in the military, why do you need to hide it? Didn’t you have a lot of pride when you said you were a Chief Executive Officer? How come you can’t even address your own title as a Major?” Bai Luoyin clenched both of his fists tightly, hardening his heart as all the distraught and anger became visible in his eyes, “So what if I enlisted in the military for you? If enlisting for your sake means you’ll gain a huge advantage, what of it?! I’m more than fucking willing to!! Since I thoughtlessly made it this far, it’s been worth it to have enlisted for any fucking bastard!!” “You call this an advantage?” Gu Hai’s face suddenly darkened while his eyes were concealed with a thick layer of grief and resentment, “Bai Luoyin, you’re a fucking idiot!! You won’t be able to find another person in this world that’s more of an idiot than you!!” “What do you mean you can’t find another?” Bai Luoyin angrily fired back, “In truth, isn’t there a living example standing in front of me right now?” An insufferable pain crept into Gu Hai’s heart—he could not sound out the words to properly express his feelings. Eight years have passed by and for the first few years, he doesn’t even know how he managed to endure or survive it, much less remember. The pain deadened his heart and nerves so much so that he thought he would never be able to feel anything again. But, in the end, the main culprit returned with a murderous intent, armed to the teeth to attack!! Bai Luoyin was also enraged to the point that he could no longer tolerate it. His eyes ashen with an intense coldness as he narrowed them and watched Gu Hai approached him. Even before his hands could reach out, Bai Luoyin had already taken the initiative to block him midair. “Gu-zong, I’m Bai-shouzhang now. Even if you’re strong, you might not be my opponent so it’s best not to humiliate yourself.” “Really?” Gu Hai’s dark pupils froze with an exceptionally potent coldness matching that of the person peering at him, “I want to see how strong-willed the little slut that cried out beneath me before has become today!!” Gu Hai’s words were like blades provoking and welcoming its adversary to burst. Just as those words dropped, he immediately adjusted his fist and struck Bai Luoyin heads on. This single punch was so sturdy that after contact, a splatter of blood sprang out in full force. Shortly after, loud commotions broke out in the entire bathroom. The sounds of water splashing, doors being struck, limbs striking limbs and bones clashing chaotically resonated. This ear-piercing noise lasted for a while before a large number of pilots and beautiful women from both banquet halls galloped out in search of the commotion. The scene was chaotically played out with the mediators, the exhorters, the bystanders and the terrified all mingled in one, creating a brilliant and picturesque photo of life. The group of beautiful women all had a look of shock and amazement sketched across their faces. For those that have been in the company for more than three or four years, don’t even mention seeing Gu Hai fight, even seeing him yell or shout in a loud demanding voice was an unthinkable occurrence. How did he become so violent all of a sudden? However, even though they were all worried their Gu-zong would be at a disadvantage, they nonetheless secretly exclaimed in admiration at his stouthearted demeanor. Who would have expected that Gu-zong’s fighting skill would be so formidable! There’s going to be one more topic to chat about in the future. The soldiers and officers on the other side also had an inconceivable look of disbelief.
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Major Bai can also burst out with obscene words and fight in a public? How did this bastard achieve this? How did he anger and provoke the murderous pilot that we all revere to be anxious like this? In the end, it was Liu Chong, along with some well-known Airmen and a few of the hotel staffs that forcefully pulled Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai apart. Even after they were separated, their faces were still hung with an array of colors and even after their hands stopped, the fierce and violent light that drained their eyes were still engaged in a bloodthirsty battle. “That’s pretty good Bai-shouzhang. Your skills aren’t bad at all.” Gu Hai said coolly as he wiped the traces of blood from the corner of his mouth, all the while he ridiculed, “It seems you have been masturbating quite a lot for the last few years, huh?”12 The double meaning behind Gu Hai’s ridicule was said to shame Bai Luoyin, especially since there was a huge group of beautiful women standing to the side. Seeing as how such an aweinspiring Air Force Major was being publicly humiliated was a bit awkward for anyone to bear. However, Bai Luoyin was not the least irritated as the corner of his lips pulled back into a smirk. Then he faced the group of beautiful women with an exceptionally noteworthy manner. “Next time you want to entice your Gu-zong and have him favor you, don’t put on makeup, dance provocatively, or be overly flirtatious. Your Gu-zong’s taste is quite unique so your little antics won’t be able to satisfy his unusual stomach. Next time, remember to wear a red cotton-padded jacket and green pants. Most importantly, call him Village Chief Gu. With those, he will be extremely happy.” After saying that, his gaze swept towards Yan Yajing, and under Gu Hai’s cold and watchful eyes, he slowly spoke without any hint of urgency. “Sister-in-law, you probably don’t know this, but my brother loves to eat dick flavored meat. Next time you’re at the supermarket, don’t forget to buy him a few bags of it.” Hearing those obscene words, Yan Yajing became paralyzed right on the spot. Don’t even mention the look on Gu Hai’s face. With that, Bai Luoyin faintly smiled and looked at the soldiers standing behind him who were all wearing a bewildered expression. Then narrowing his eyes with a warlike aura, he waved his hand and shouted in an aggressive and domineering tone, “Let’s go!” A while later, the sonorous footsteps faded into the elevator… Once Gu Hai returned to the company, he allocated the bit of task he had at hand and immediately flew to Hong Kong without stopping to rest anywhere. For the last few years, Gu Yang’s business was producing great fortune.13 Just as he was relishing in his proudest moment, his younger brother who was not much younger than him came to gloomily crash his well-formed lifestyle. In front of all the high-level executives in Gu Yang’s company, Gu Hai forcibly pulled him out of the conference room. “Why is it that the longer you live, the more trouble you cause?” Gu Yang said with an unimpressed expression, “After just a few years of peacefulness and being successful in running a decent business, you’ve forgotten your own surname again?” “Eight years ago, what exactly happened after my car accident? You have to give me a clear explanation today and don’t even think about leaving out any details!! It’s been eight years. Keeping in mind that we’re brothers, I didn’t hurt or get even with you for cutting the brake line since I was 打飞机 (dǎfēijī) – “strike the plane” is a slang for masturbation; instead of having Gu Hai say “It’s seems you’ve struck a lot of planes for the last few years,” it’s better to be direct as it fits Gu Hai’s personality more and everyone knows the correlation that a plane has to a male genital. 13 风生水起 – idiom for 'to get rich,' or booming (for a business) 12
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the one that got injured and not him. But you’re just too inhumane and heartless. The fact that Bai Luoyin enlisted in the military, you actually hid it from me for eight years!!” Hearing those words, a layer of thick ice immediately encased Gu Yang’s face. “I’d even thought, ‘what’s the reason for such an alarming entrance?’ After causing a commotion for half a day, it’s actually over that small incident all over again. Can you not be forgetful and use your brain for once? Can you stop burying yourself in the past without any means of escape? Can you let me, Gu Yang, take you seriously?!” Gu Hai sneered coldly, “I don’t give a shit whether you take me seriously or not because I had never taken you seriously nor seen you as a human being! All the things that you have done are no different from that of a bastard!”
Translate: Sae
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06 What a Truly Magnificent World
“I’m a bastard? Then what are you, a beast?” Gu Yang retorted as his stone-cold gaze swept towards Gu Hai like a violent whirlwind, ready to raze its adversary. His words held a sardonically vicious tone that revealed no mercy of any sort. “I may have done immoral deeds but how many of your actions are considered virtuous? Although I’ve hurt my own brother, you’ve also hurt your own father! When you were injured, who was the one that was worried sick for you all day long? Have you ever thought about being grateful for once?” “Don’t change the subject!” Gu Hai immediately interrupted Gu Yang’s web of sophistry with an imposing demeanor, “I only want to ask you one thing right now, what exactly happened after the car accident?” “That accident didn’t cause you to have amnesia, right? From what I remember, you regained consciousness as soon as you woke up. Didn’t all the things that happened afterward played out right in front of your eyes? What else do you want to know?” “I just want to know what happened before I woke up.” “Before you woke up? Is there even a need to ask this sort of question? Of course, it was to rush you to the hospital, so you could be saved.” “Can you stop beating around the bush?” Gu Hai’s patience slowly collapsed bit by bit the more he listened to Gu Yang, “You know exactly what I’m asking, after the accident and before I regained consciousness, what did you actually say to Bai Luoyin? And what did he say to you? Please tell me everything from beginning to end, word for word.”
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“What difference would it make if I told you?” Gu Yang watched Gu Hai attentively, “It has been eight years already. Even if you know the truth, what can you bring back?” “I don’t want to bring anything back, I just want to know! I just want to understand everything!!” “Fine then. I will tell you, so listen carefully.” Gu Yang returned to the subject without any hesitation, “When the accident happened, there was heavy traffic coming from all directions. Bai Luoyin carried you on his back and ran, step by step until he reached the ambulance. By the time I arrived at the hospital, Bai Luoyin was already waiting outside the operation room. After the doctor announced you were out of danger, he left. But before he left, he urged me to tell you when you wake up that he was dead.” “That’s impossible!” Gu Hai immediately retorted, unable to accept the truth, “You must have said something to force him to leave!” “There’s nothing else I can do if you don’t believe me. But, I admit, the story about him being abroad was indeed something I made up. At that time, when I saw you living as if you were going to die any day, I wanted to give you a little bit of hope. Afterward, I found Bai Luoyin’s family and friends and told them about it, and they all agreed to cooperate. This was the reason why you weren’t able to find any information from anyone.” Hearing those words, Gu Hai had never once thought that he has been living a life constructed by webs of lies for the past eight years. Every agonizing day he endured was no different than living in hell. But in the end, it was simply just someone else’s blind assumption of something they did not fully comprehend. “Did my dad know about this?” “Do you actually think he wouldn’t know?” Gu Yang laughed grimly, “The moment Bai Luoyin decided to enlist, the first person to be informed was your father. How do you think he reacted? With just that alone, he promised that he would no longer interfere with your future development.” Gu Hai finally understood why in the past eight years, Gu Weiting has been excessively tolerant toward him, to the point of turning a blind eye to his preposterous acts of traveling abroad several times in search of Bai Luoyin, all the while he watched uncaringly from the sideline like any other stranger on the street. As it turns out, his own father actually aided in fleshing out this pernicious deed instead. He would rather watch his own son struggle miserably in this lie than to willingly tell him the truth. “Xiao Hai,” Gu Yang’s tone softened, “Some words might sound like a cliché, but it’s there for a reason. Even if no one had interfered back then, given the temperament you both had and how you clashed with each other, your relationship would have not lasted. It’s better to just get the pain over with rather than prolonging the agony. Instead of letting you continue on this crooked path, it was better to break off those thoughts of yours.” “Don’t use those pompous reasons to try and wash your own sins clean. As to how many ‘crooked paths’ I take, that’s my own business. I’ve accepted all the hardship and pain I’ve suffered because that was my choice!” “Has anyone ever interfered with your choices?” Gu Yang stood up and walked towards Gu Hai, all the while his cold gaze watched him closely, “I’m just the messenger in all this. May I ask, have I interfered with anything? Has your dad interfered with anything? The person who started all of this is Bai Luoyin. Frankly speaking, you brought everything upon yourself!! If you truly understood him and if both of your feelings are as deep as you said it was, then why haven’t you found him yet? Why did you believe our words so easily and allow us to control your life?”
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A broken smile emerged on Gu Hai’s face, “When I was lying on the hospital bed, diagnosed with second-grade disability14 within a year, who else could I had trust besides you guys?” “That’s because you are incompetent!” Gu Yang suddenly burst, “Wake up, kid! Why don’t you think about the reason you’ve been isolated without any help at all? How come everyone in the world conspired to deceive you? It’s because, in their eyes, you are not worthy enough of their trust, not worthy for them to depend on, not worthy for them to take the risk and tell you the truth!” “No one is born with all the abilities to support themselves! Maturity in and of itself is a process, not something that can be artificially constructed!” Gu Hai firmly countered with angry eyes as he faced Gu Yang, “You’ve always made yourself sound like a powerful person that can shake up and control the world. But may I ask, why was I the only person you could call when you met with mishaps? Who is it that mapped out your life for you? When you were charged with the embezzlement of public funds, which relative kindly made the accusation?”15 Gu Yang immediately grasped Gu Hai’s collar and ruthlessly warned him, “I don’t show my concern for others’ easily so when it is given, do not trample on it so easily!” Before Gu Hai could launch a counterattack, he was forcefully seized by several bodyguards that had burst into the room. “Don’t attack!” Gu Yang’s reaction was more intense than that of Gu Hai’s. The air in the room froze as silence prevailed. After a long while, Gu Hai calmly spoke, “Gu Yang, I’ve always thought that sincerity is the foundation of being a human being. If you are sincere, then there’s no need to be afraid that someone else will be even more sincere than you. However, if you are treacherous, you will always worry that someone will be even more treacherous than you. All the best to you!” After Gu Hai’s figure faded from the door, Gu Yang’s fist firmly struck the surface of the table, his heart completely trounced with chaos. You have the nerve to speak to me about being sincerity? Who has I, Gu Yang, treated without sincerity? Besides being sincere to Bai Luoyin and yourself, who else have you ever treated with sincerity? When Bai Luoyin returned to the military compound, he was severely criticized by several of his commanding officers. First, his primary instructor schooled him, albeit with good intention. Later, the situation somehow spread to the Division Commander and by nine o’clock the next night, Bai Luoyin was invited to his office where he ended up standing for three hours. After he finally took the initiative to admit his mistakes and apologized, he was then ordered to write a five thousand words self-reflection essay that needed to be handed in the next morning. By the time three o’clock in the early morning sauntered by, Bai Luoyin was still writing and even then, he still has not written more than three thousand words. Every so often, his eyelids would droop heavily while his head dangled low, and before long, it knocked onto the surface of the table with a faint thud. Shaking his drowsiness away, Bai Luoyin stood up and walked outside, hoping that the cold breeze that whistled by would clear his mind. As he looked out, the military courtyard was reigned by silence with only a few solitary lights that flashed from time to time, before finally fusing with the night scene. Second Grade Disability: there are ten different grades of disability in China. The second grade is the second worst, with the worst disability being the first grade. The symptoms/signs of second grade disability are (1) the patient needs someone to accompany them at all times, (2) any kinds of activity are restricted, the patient can only do activities in bed or when sitting on a chair, (3) the patient cannot work, and (4) the patient’s association with the society is extremely limited/hard the patient has extreme difficulties in communicating with the society. 15 “When you were charged with the embezzlement of public funds, which relative kindly made the accusation?” - Gu Hai is implying that although he knew about the embezzlement, he didn't report Gu Yang when he could have easily done so. 14
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Ever since he enlisted in the military, Bai Luoyin had stayed up countless nights. However, this was the first time he had to stay up late for the sake of writing a self-reflection essay. Why did I have the sudden urge to attack? After that exchange, Bai Luoyin felt completely bewildered by his own behaviors. ‘First, I was told you had died that day, making me live a life that was worse than death itself for two years. After all the suffering, I was then told you went abroad. I searched for you across the world and watched helplessly as my hope was trampled and destroyed over and over again…’ Those words played repeatedly in Bai Luoyin’s mind, infiltrating and striking his core. ‘What is it like to live a life that is worse than death?’ ‘Are the days I spent when I first entered the military considered as living a life worse than death?’ ‘Having to train every single day to the point of numbness and being left with no will to fight, with no goals in life, are those considered as living a life that is worse than death?’ ‘Being alone and suffering from sleepless nights, was that considered living a life worse than death?’ ‘Compared to what he has experienced over, has everything that I have endured been meaningless?’ ‘What kind of feeling was it like when he woke up after the accident and I wasn’t the first person he saw once he opened his eyes?’ ‘What kind of feeling was it like when he heard that I’ve died?’ ‘What kind of feeling was it like when he stayed in the hospital for over half a year, then had to deal with being hooked up with medical equipment, with no one to talk to about his broken heart, his pain, suffering, and sorrow?’ ‘What kind of feeling was it like as he crossed the world in search of news about me only to have his spirit destroyed over and over again?’ Bai Luoyin does not dare think of it anymore. For the past eight years, every time he thought of it, all the nerves in his body would come together and twist into knots, provoking severe pain to unfurl and tear at his heart. At times, there are certain things that are too deeply rooted… so, when the desire to forget surfaced, isn’t it easier said than done? Bai Luoyin faintly sighed then leaned over the desk and continued to write painstakingly. At which point did writing become a weakness to the person who was hailed as an expert? Now, he has become a person who is dependent on physical labor instead. And, unexpectedly, the one whom he always called stupid is now managing a high-tech enterprise!! What a truly magnificent world. “Bai Luoyin, 26 years old, one of the nation’s first-tier air force pilot with an estimate of over 1407 hours of safety flight time. He has flown the J-7, J-8 and J-1016 on multiple occasions and has been honored with both the second-class and third-class medal once. During his service in the military, he has participated in the theoretical research for flight technology and independently established the “powerless” flight theory. Furthermore, he has also proposed new theoretical concepts in military affairs. Wu Cong Sheng, 37 years old, one of the nation’s first-tier air force pilot…” After the instructor finished his introduction, he solicited the Major General, who also held the title of Dean of the Research Institute, opinion. “As of now, we’ve only nominated these two soldiers. Please have a look, which of them will be more suitable to take over the wireless navigation project that you’ve drafted?” The Dean’s brows tightened into a frown as he looked at the instructor with a prudent expression, “Which are you leaning towards more?” 歼 7 - Chengdu J-7, codename “Firebed”: An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to attack enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, as they approach.
16
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“These two both have their own strengths. If we take their experiences into consideration, naturally, Wu Cong Sheng is more experienced. But, if we look at it from a pioneering and perspicacity aspect, then Bai Luoyin is more superior. From my personal view, I’m still leaning towards Xiao Bai. Although he is young, he’s earnest in his conducts and is rather quick-witted. Dealing with this kind of multifaceted research will be beneficial for his personal development.” The Head of the Institute nodded, “I’ve also considered him as my first choice.” The instructor grasped the Dean’s hand while his eyes sparkled like glitters. “This is our base’s first-ever priority development target!” The Dean faintly smiled, “Then, it’ll be him!” Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae 师长: Division Commander. There are two levels. 正师级: To have the position as a Principal Division Commander, they must have a rank in the army as a Major General or Brigadier General. 副师级: To have the position as a Deputy Division Commander, the rank must be at least Brigadier General or Colonel. Ranks: 空军上将 Kong Jun Shang Jiang - General 空军中将 Kong Jun Zhong Jiang - Lieutenant General 空军少将 Kong Jun Shao Jiang - Major General 空军大校 Kong Jun Da Xiao - Brigadier General 空军上校 Kong Jun Shang Xiao - Colonel 空军中校 Kong Jun Zhong Xiao - Lieutenant Colonel 空军少校 Kong Jun Shao Xiao - Major (Our Bai Luoyin is here :)) 空军上尉 Kong Jun Shang Wei - Captain 空军中尉 Kong Jun Zhong Wei - First Lieutenant 空军少尉 Kong Jun Shao Wei - Second Lieutenant 空军学员 Kong Jun Xue Yuan - Officer Cadet 歼 7 - Chengdu J-7, codename “Firebed”: An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to attack enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, as they approach. 歼 8 - Shenyang J-8, codename “Finback”: Also an interceptor. 歼 10 - Chengdu J-10, codename “Firebird”: It is a multirole combat aircraft. Roles such as: Aerial reconnaissance (reconnaissance for a military or strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft). This role can fulfil a variety of requirements, including the collection of imagery intelligence, observation of enemy maneuvers and artillery spotting). Forward air control (is the provision of guidance to close air support aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops). Electronic-warfare aircraft (is a military aircraft equipped for electronic warfare (EW), that is, degrading the effectiveness of enemy radar and radio systems by using radar jamming and deception methods.) Attack missions include the subtypes air interdiction, suppression of enemy air defense, and close air support (In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets, that are in close proximity to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces) Multirole has also been applied to one aircraft with both major roles, a primary air-to-air combat role, and a secondary role like air-to-surface attack. However, those designed with an emphasis on aerial combat are usually regarded as air superiority fighters and usually deployed solely in that role, even though they are theoretically capable of ground attack.
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07 Someone Seeks a Collaboration
When Liu Chong carried a stack of documents and entered the research facility, he saw Bai Luoyin and several chief engineers standing in front of a large blueprint, earnestly discussing something. Feeling that it would be an inconvenience to interrupt them, he opted to stand at Bai Luoyin’s seat and waited instead. As he looked ahead, he noticed a barely half-eaten bread and a cup of tea that had long gone cold. The large, loose tea leaves floated inside the nearly dried-up yellow tea, giving off a tasteless yet simple feeling. “What are you thinking about?” Bai Luoyin’s voice abruptly burst forth. Liu Chong shivered for a second as he was jolted from his thoughts and turned to face Bai Luoyin with an embarrassed laugh. “I’ve called you several times, but you didn’t respond at all.” Bai Luoyin stated as he sat down and leafed through the documents that Liu Chong had delivered. Then he asked, “Are these the detailed introduction of all the major military-industrial companies that you gathered?” “It’s not completed. The important thing is, listed are some of the companies that we’ve collaborated with before as well as some that we haven’t worked with, but they’re well equipped to meet our requirements for collaboration.” Bai Luoyin simply nodded his head before speaking with an indifferent tone, “Actually, I prefer private enterprises.”
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“Private enterprises are pretty good. Currently, there are many military units collaborating with privately run military enterprises for scientific researches in all areas, especially when it comes to spare part components and weaponry subsystem. We can completely outsource the development and manufacturing of these products to these enterprises. By doing it this way, not only can we draw in even more talented individuals and capital, save research funds, but also reduce any hazards or risks that might occur. But private enterprises have their own limitations such as an unstable managerial system, lack of financial stability, loose security, along with a deficiency in confidentiality, all of which accounts to being inferior to those government-owned enterprises.” As Bai Luoyin thumbed through the documents in his hands, he carefully listened to Liu Chong’s opinion and occasionally nodded his head in agreement. “Since our project is divided into three very strategic research groups, it’s impossible to have just one unit in this collaboration, that’s why we need to be even more cautious about this. Looking through the data you’ve collected, the companies listed are those that we’ve collaborated with before, so we know for sure that they have ample experience, and the qualities of their productions are guaranteed. However, they’re extremely high in demand right now, which no doubt will lead to higher costs and manufacturing delays.” Liu Chong completely agreed with Bai Luoyin in regard to this reasoning, “I really don’t like dealing with those high-class senior executives. They’re too sly in nature.” As Bai Luoyin continued to flip through the documents once again, he suddenly stopped at the page with the name of a particular company. “Beijing Haiyin High-Tech Co. Ltd.…” Once he heard Bai Luoyin mumbling to himself, Liu Chong hurriedly provided an explanation, “Although this company hasn’t been established for a long time, it has been developing quite fast during the past two years. Even more so, it’s been reported that they have collaborated with a couple of armed force units several times already. If you are interested, I can contact the researchers on that side and have them send over the materials used in their collaboration.” Narrowing his eyes, Bai Luoyin focused a bit longer on this particular company. As he continued to scan over the information, he discovered that when the company first started up, it was only a small entity that dealt mainly with the production of modules for other various formidable enterprises. However, in less than five years, not only did it unexpectedly grow into such a large-scale powerhouse, it had also managed to successfully break into the military industry without a hitch. Honestly, it’s truly remarkable! “Are these the only information we have on this company?” Bai Luoyin inquired. Liu Chong scratched his head, feeling a bit at a loss, “It seems, that’s all there is. This company has always been pretty mysterious. Their operations management system has always incurred much criticism within the industry, but even amidst the backlash, the senior management still persistent in maintaining its own business ethics. From the look of it, the negativity that tried to spoil their image only managed to bring them more benefits instead. Maybe this was just a strategic plan devised by their public relations in order to gain publicity.” Bai Luoyin was filled with curiosity as he probed further, “What kind of operations management system do they implement?” “I heard that aside from their president, the rest of the senior management leaders and employees are all women.” Once Liu Chong finished speaking, beads of sweat started to appear on Bai Luoyin’s forehead. Why is it that the more I listened, the more it sounds like this is Gu Hai’s company?
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Thinking about it, he then flipped two pages back to look at the column where the Company Secretary17 name was boldly listed, it was impressively marked with two large characters, “Gu Hai”. “Reportedly, these women should not be underestimated since each is extremely talented and proficient in a field dominated by men. Otherwise, their business would have not been able to expand into so many areas in such a short amount of time. Actually, I really admire their president. He’s courageous, insightful, bold and is exceptionally driven. Even more praiseworthy is that he has the guts to implement a new and innovative system that diverges from all other competitors. That’s something I definitely can’t do. I can only approach things the traditional way.” Bai Luoyin snorted, “He is just as shameless as before…”18 “Huh?” Liu Chong expressed his confusion. Bai Luoyin faintly cleared his throat, “It’s nothing. You should go and take care of your own business. I will look over these documents again.” “Oh,” Liu Chong added another sentence, “Major, even though you are busy, don’t forget to eat properly.” “I know.” After Liu Chong left, Bai Luoyin’s gaze swept towards the papers once more. “Beijing Haiyin High-Tech Co. Ltd…Haiyin…” The beautiful woman, name Xiao Tao, who had taken the initiative to invite the Air Force pilots for a friendship party during the annual meeting, was quickly promoted from a team leader to a department manager. And the reason that led to her promotion was extremely illogical to numerous people. They were only given a four-word explanation from the president which was, she has a “good sense of judgment”. At that time, Yan Yajing only responded with, “Wouldn’t it be really difficult to convince every other staff with this kind of reason?” Gu Hai glanced at Yan Yajing, “You should think of another reason to convince them.” Yan Yajing took a deep breath to calm herself down as a hint of unhappiness sketched out solemnly on her face. “If you want me to say it, then it’s because her butt is big.” Remaining calm and collected, Gu Hai fiddled with the lighter in his hand as a trace of amusement flitted across his stern face. “Based on what you just said, then your butt must be the biggest in this whole company.” “You!” Feeling ashamed and resentful, Yan Yajing did not know what to say as a comeback. Gu Hai’s voice returned to its cold and distant tone, “Enough, call Xiao Tao to come up.” Complying with Gu Hai’s order, Yan Yajing left with an unsightly expression on her face. This was the first time that Xiao Tao was called by the president into his office. Along the way there, she swayed her butt left and right to the point that it was going to blossom into a fullfledged flower any time now. All the while, the other conscientious and hardworking female staffs all looked closely at her as if they saw an evil spirit. This only boosted Xiao Tao’s pride, allowing her to receive a great sense of satisfaction. Company Secretary - a senior position in a private sector company or public sector organization, normally in the form of a managerial position or above; responsible for the efficient administration of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented lawfully. (The Director can be appointed as a Company Secretary although the Company Secretary is no longer a mandatory appointment.) In this case, Gu Hai holds the title of President (Gu Zong) as well as CS.
17
“He is just as shameless as before…” - 他以前就那个德行… ‘德行’ déxíng here can mean ‘shameless’ or ‘moral behaviors’ so the alternate translation for this sentence is, “His behaviors are just like it was before…”
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“Gu-zong…” Gu Hai looked up and saw a smiling face, beautiful as that of a newly bloomed flower. “Sit down.” With that, Xiao Tao assumed a demure and innocent attitude. “I am assigning you a task.” Gu Hai looked at Xiao Tao. Xiao Tao smiled so wide that her eyes narrowed, “Gu-zong, please elaborate.” Gu Hai remained unmoved by Xiao Tao’s blatant attempt to seduce him. He kept his tone exceptionally serious as he talked to her, “We are planning to collaborate with the Air Force Research Institute for a project very soon. This is the person in charge of the project. In short, your task is to convince the project leader. Convince him so that he’ll agree to collaborate with us.” “Why me?” Xiao Tao asked while feigning modesty, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to reach an agreement with him. You are also aware that I am the worst when it comes to dealing with men.” “You’ve succeeded once, so I believe you can succeed a second time.” Xiao Tao’s face was brimming with astonishment, “Succeeded once?” Gu Hai nodded his head, and then pushed the sheet with Bai Luoyin’s information and photo in front of Xiao Tao, “Do you see who it is now? He is the person in charge.” “Oh, it’s actually that handsome officer!” Xiao Tao’s eyes were filled with hearts symbols♥. Once she became aware of her momentary lack of self-control, Xiao Tao restrained the smile on her face and pulled herself together, “I will try my best.” Gu Hai merely nodded his head. Looking at him, Xiao Tao struggled with herself for a moment, but still asked curiously, “Gu-zong, I have a question I want to ask you.” “Go ahead.” “Do you really like flowery cotton-padded jackets and green pants?” The expression in Gu Hai’s eyes went through a series of complicated transformation before he finally replied, “Do you really want to know?” Hearing that, Xiao Tao could not help but nod her head lightly. “You have to wait until you have accomplished the task I assign to you then I will tell you.” Two days later, Xiao Tao arrived at Gu Hai’s office again with an intense sense of bitterness. “Gu-zong, I have failed to live up to your expectations. I’ve used all kinds of methods to persuade that Major but to no avail, he remained unmoved.” Contrariwise, Gu Hai did not express any sign of disappointment and instead only asked, “How did you say it?” “I’ve meticulously informed him of our company circumstances in full details with a focus and emphasis on the company’s strengths. Then, in order to show our sincerity, I even brought samples of all the products we had previously manufactured and introduced each of them. Even more so… for the interest of the company, I even sacrificed my dignity by slightly putting my beauty and seduction to use just to ensnare him. But that Major is just like a wooden log. I…” Xiao Tao still wanted to say something, but she hesitated and held back her tongue instead, feeling as if she had been wronged and had nowhere to pour her heart out. Gu Hai asked again, “Did he state the reasons why he won’t collaborate with us?” Now that it had come up to this, Xiao Tao found it even more difficult to open her mouth. “He… he said that the terms and conditions our company set out are quite outstanding, but the degree of credibility is low. He mentioned that he feels very uneasy about how Gu-zong treats others, and he also expressed his doubt about your behaviors and way of conduct. He said… he’s unable to collaborate with a company that only recruits female staffs.”
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This was the first time Xiao Tao saw such a vivid expression play out on Gu Hai’s face like this. This sight caused her to be in a state of anxiety, terrified that she had said something wrong and the position as well as the ‘goodwill and luck’ that she possessed would be no more. Gu Hai did not say anything and directly walked out. “Major, someone is looking for you.” When Bai Luoyin came out of the Research Center, he saw Gu Hai’s car parked outside and the person himself was leaning against the car door. He looked straight at Bai Luoyin and beckoned him over with a wave of his hand. It was as if the two were old friends that have known each other for many years already rather than the two that brawled viciously two days ago. Giving him a glance, Bai Luoyin’s footsteps involuntarily brought him closer. “Do you have any spare time for a chat?” Gu Hai asked. Bai Luoyin nodded, “Alright. Let me start the car.” Twenty minutes later, the two arrived at a quiet teahouse for a drink of tea. Silence overtook the space between them for a long while before Gu Hai spoke first, “My subordinate told me that the reason you refused to collaborate was that you doubt my behaviors.” “That’s right.” Bai Luoyin said bluntly without holding back, “Our research project is highly confidential. Aside from demanding the company to have sufficient capabilities, we request that it has an even better reputation. I believe that a president who only recruits beautiful female employees is unreliable. I don’t dare to collaborate with such a company so easily.” An inexplicable smile emerged on Gu Hai’s face, “That’s good. Today, I will prove to you how proper my behaviors are.” In the span of two hours, the two discussed many work affairs intermittently, without going off track or allowing even a single unnecessary word to hinder them. Bai Luoyin was constantly waiting, waiting for Gu Hai’s ‘so-called proof’. However, even after the sun had already set, Gu Hai still did not produce any reasons. “Gu-zong!” Bai Luoyin momentarily interrupted Gu Hai, “I think you need to cut to the chase and get to the main topic. I don’t have a lot of time.” “What do you think the topic is?” Bai Luoyin kindly reminded, “Didn’t you want to prove to me how proper your behaviors are?” “I have already proven it!” Gu Hai exclaimed as he spread his hands out. Looking at him, Bai Luoyin’s eyes gradually sank, “Just how did you prove it?” An unfathomable smile snaked its way onto Gu Hai’s face, “My dear ex-lover, we’ve been alone talking with each other for more than three hours already and I haven’t done anything indecent. Isn’t this enough to prove how proper my behaviors are?”
Translate: Sienna | Edit: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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08 Visiting Someone’s Dormitory
Like two frozen ice blades, Bai Luoyin’s darkened pupils scraped relentlessly at Gu Hai’s heart. “You called me out here and said all these nonsenses just so I can hear that last sentence?” Gu Hai smiled insincerely as he looked straight at Bai Luoyin, “You still know me so well.” “That’s because you are an onion.” Somewhat curious, Gu Hai narrowed his eyes, “What do you mean?” “You wrapped yourself up beneath such a thick layer of deviousness just so that people can’t help but want to dig deep for the secret that lies within your heart. But after they painstakingly hold their tears back and start to peel the layers one by one, ultimately, they discover that this onion simply has no heart.” Rather than being engulfed in rage, Gu Hai laughed instead, “Having no heart is better than having a rotten heart.” Taking a deep breath, Bai Luoyin exclaimed, “Gu-zong, let me treat you to a meal!” “Bai-shouzhang, this is too embarrassing.” Keeping his eyes on him, Bai Luoyin utilized a courteous speech. “The one that should be embarrassed is me. You’ve shown such sincerity in wanting to collaborate with us, yet I’ve berated your reputation. Let this meal be an apology to you. I hope Gu-zong does not take this to heart.” Fine! This sentence completely eradicated Gu Hai’s intention to collaborate!
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Not only did Gu Hai not turn hostile, he even laughed rather optimistically as he naturally placed his hand on Bai Luoyin’s shoulder. “Once a man and a woman become husband and wife even just for one night, the love will linger for a hundred days. I will not take this small matter to my heart.” Bai Luoyin felt the strength in Gu Hai’s hand as heavy as lead as it pressed down heavily on his shoulder. It held him down to the point that he simply could not find his center of gravity. When they arrived at the restaurant and the waiter kindly handed the menu over, Bai Luoyin passed it directly to Gu Hai. “There’s no need to be so polite, order whatever you like.” Hearing that, an especially unctuous tone took refuge in Gu Hai’s tone as he spoke, “Then, we should order some home cooked food!” “Please don’t!” Bai Luoyin said rather magnanimously, “There’s no need to eat home cooked food. Your own cooking skill is not much different from the chef here. It’s better to order the food that you don’t eat regularly.” “Then, I’m sorry ahead of time for inconveniencing you.” Having said those words, Gu Hai ordered more than ten famous dishes in one breath. Moreover, he ordered two portions of each dish. Once the order was placed, he expediently realized something that provoked a pretentiously regretful expression to languidly creep up his face, “Shit! I mistook this as a breakfast stall and thought the two of us still have the same appetite as before. No matter what we eat, it would be doubled. How about I call the waiter over to cancel some of the repeated orders?” Although Bai Luoyin smiled and merely said, ‘There’s no need to do that,’ mentally, he really wanted to scold and curse him out. Gu Hai, you bastard! I know you’re fucking doing this on purpose!! After all the dishes were placed on the table, Gu Hai was about to move his chopsticks when his movements abruptly came to a halt. “Bai-shouzhang, just in case I finish eating, and you suddenly change your mind and want to collaborate with us, wouldn't you have overcompensated?” “That’s absolutely impossible!” Bai Luoyin’s dark gaze aimed at Gu Hai, “You should eat peacefully.” After the meal, Bai Luoyin went to settle the bill. “Sir, altogether it’s 4512 yuan. May I ask, are you going to pay with card or cash?” Standing beside him, Gu Hai insincerely asked, “Do you have enough money? How about we use my card first?” Those words immediately provoked Bai Luoyin to swiftly hand his card over to the cashier. This meal truly struck a painful chord that reached to the depth of his bones. As they made their way out of the restaurant, Bai Luoyin suddenly stopped to look at Gu Hai, “I’m going back to the military base now. You should also make an early return to avoid making my sister-in-law worried.” Gu Hai’s heart tightened, “Aren’t you going to invite me to your place?” As Bai Luoyin turned his head around, the solemn expression in Gu Hai’s eyes could not be seen clearly in the darkness of the night. “It’s just the military dormitory. There’s nothing good to see there.” Gu Hai’s smile became even more unclear and insincere, “Since I’ve been searching for you for so many years, at the very least, let me see your hideout!” Without saying anything else, Bai Luoyin went straight into the car.
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During the drive there, Gu Hai tailed closely behind Bai Luoyin until they reached the military compound. Afterward, he followed him closely again toward his one-person dormitory. It was a very ordinary dorm with only three rooms. For an average man, the room could be considered clean and tidy, but for someone like Gu Hai, who frequently went in and out of the military compound dormitory, this kind of room was a complete eyesore. “At the very least, you are a Deputy Commander. How can your room be so filthy like this, huh? Why don’t you find a few army orderlies and let them clean your room?” Gu Hai scanned the area with a revolting expression. “I don’t like other people entering my room.” Gu Hai opened the refrigerator and looked inside. It was practically empty inside with only a few bottles of beverage and a jar of pickled tofu. Taking out the jar, Gu Hai easily twisted the lid, but as soon as it was opened, a strong foul stench immediately assaulted his nostrils. “When did you start to like this kind of flavor? You even eat rotten tofu!” “That’s not rotten tofu. It’s fermented tofu.” Bai Luoyin bluntly said while snatching the jar back, but the smell alone nearly caused him to turn a somersault. He glanced inside the jar only to see that the content had already gone moldy. “I put it inside the refrigerator and forgot to eat it.” With that, Bai Luoyin threw the jar directly into the trash can and angrily said, “You really shouldn’t have come here.” “Hey, Bai-shouzhang, can you tell me why your underpants are thrown all over the place?” When Bai Luoyin turned to the sound of Gu Hai’s voice, he immediately saw him holding his underpants, swaying it around with a mocking expression. Bai Luoyin drew closer and calmly snatched his underpants back before speaking with a face filled with disgust, “Stop touching my things!” “Why are you making such a big deal? Didn’t I wash all your underpants for you back then?” Once this sentence came out, the room immediately sank into a deathly silence. Their gazes inadvertently collided until both painstakingly shifted away in avoidance. Afterward, neither said anything else about this topic. The next sign of movements came when Bai Luoyin began to collect all the underpants, piles of socks, and dirty clothes; satisfied he had gathered them all, he threw everything into the washing machine. In less than a second, the sound of the washing machine running echoed from the bathroom. Having been left alone, Gu Hai’s eyes ran towards Bai Luoyin’s writing desk before he went over and looked beneath it. There was a box of instant cup noodles, with half of its content having already been eaten. On the desk were two packets of biscuits that had not been opened yet as well as a jar of rice congee containing a variety of ingredients. Seeing all this, Gu Hai truly wanted to scold at him. Bai Luoyin, just what the fuck have you been eating? What is this fucking worn-out blanket that you cover yourself with, huh? Can’t you walk a few steps outside and eat at a restaurant? Can’t you take the blanket and air it out? You fucking wasted eight years of your life, and you still haven’t learned how to take care of yourself. I’ve never seen a more useless person than you!! When Bai Luoyin returned to the bedroom, he discovered Gu Hai fiddling with his pillow. “Put it down!!” This unexpected roar reverberated throughout the entire room. Before Gu Hai had a chance to take the pillowcase off, Bai Luoyin barged in and shove him off the bed.
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“Do you really need to go that far?” Gu Hai snorted coldly, “I saw that the pillowcase looked really dirty and wanted to take it off and hand it over to you, so you can throw it into the washing machine. Aren’t you disgusted resting your head on it every day?” Bai Luoyin only squeezed out three words, “I am happy to!”19 Gu Hai paced around the room and then made a perfunctory expression before he stopped in front of Bai Luoyin. “Seeing you live a life like this has honestly soothed the anger in my heart.” Bai Luoyin merely held a cold expression, “If you’re satisfied then quickly leave here.” “I’m not satisfied yet. I want to be even more satisfied.” Having said that, Gu Hai continued to casually stroll around the room. Giving him a quick look, Bai Luoyin was not in the mood to acknowledge him anymore so instead he went to the bathroom to clean his shoes. Just as Gu Hai reached the door, he suddenly heard a knock on the door. He glanced down at his watch and noticed that it was already 9:50PM. It’s already this late and there’s still someone paying him a visit. Bai Luoyin, your private life is remarkable! “Maj-” The moment Liu Chong caught sight of Gu Hai, he stiffly swallowed the rest of the word. “Aren’t you the person who hit our Major the other day?” said Liu Chong as a ruthless expression emerged on his face. The corner of Gu Hai’s mouth perked up into a smirk. “Indeed, that person is me!”20 “You!…” Liu Chong bellowed in rage, “What did you do to our Major?!” “Listen to what you’re saying. Won’t this make your Major lose his reputation? And what do you mean by ‘what did I do to him’? Why don’t you ask, what has he done to me instead?” The moment Bai Luoyin heard the commotion from the other room, he immediately walked out. And, when he was met with Liu Chong standing at the doorway, his mind went blank for quite a while before he asked, “What are you doing here so late?” Once Liu Chong saw that Bai Luoyin was safe and sound, he felt a sense of relief and walked into the room with a bag in his hand. After placing the bag on top of the table, he cautiously said, “Major, I noticed you haven’t eaten much for the past few days, so I brought some dumplings for you. Since it’s still warm, you should eat some while it’s still hot.” “Didn’t you have a mission to carry out today?” Bai Luoyin asked. Liu Chong awkwardly explained himself, “Yes. I just returned but I was afraid that you haven’t eaten yet, so I…” “He ate already.” Gu Hai suddenly interrupted, “Give it to me!” Naturally, Liu Chong was not going to dumbly hand over his good intentions to the enemy’s hand. As a result, he tightened his hold on the bag, and without paying any attention to Gu Hai, he simply faced Bai Luoyin and continued to say, “Major, you should put your shoes down. I can clean it for you, so you can eat the dumplings first. It won’t be good anymore when it cools down. Eat them quickly. They’re the fennel stuffed ones.” “Your Major doesn’t like eating fennel stuffed dumplings. He likes the zucchini and egg stuffed ones,” Gu Hai said with an overbearing tone that emphasized the meaning lying steep within his words. “Who said I don’t like eating it?” Bai Luoyin wiped his hands clean and walked over, “My preference changed long ago.”
19 20
爷乐意 - “I am (more than) happy/willing too!”- although it’s three characters, it’s not three words in English. 正是在下!- “Indeed, that is me!!” Gu Hai says this line in a very proud tone, that was why LC was pissed.
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After saying that, Bai Luoyin took the bag from Liu Chong, opened the lunch box, and used a pair of chopsticks to pick up a piece of the dumpling before putting it into his mouth. While chewing, he looked at Liu Chong with a smile and said, “It’s very delicious.” Gu Hai had never expected that even after eight years, seeing this kind of scene play out in front of him would still cause him to have a sudden impulse to take the lunch box and smash it on the floor. In truth, after all these years, nothing has changed. It’s just now, they are simply better at pretending and nothing more. “Then, enjoy your meal. I’ll leave first.” Before leaving, Gu Hai looked at Liu Chong with an intense gaze. Not long after Gu Hai left, Liu Chong also took his leave. All of a sudden, Bai Luoyin could no longer swallow the dumpling in his mouth. In reality, his preference had not changed. He does not like eating fennel stuffed dumplings, but instead, he loves to eat the zucchini and egg stuffed ones. The only thing was that no one cooks it for him anymore. As for the pillowcase that Gu Hai had accidentally touched, silently resting inside was Gu Hai’s school uniform from their youthful days. Eight years ago, when Bai Luoyin left their home, he did not bring anything with him aside from that washed out uniform. Every day, whenever that pillow was beneath his head, it felt as if he was resting his head on Gu Hai’s chest. And the faintly discernible sound of that heartbeat would surely lull him into a peaceful sleep.
Translate: Sienna | Edit: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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09 Gu Hai ’s Counterattack
The next day, Liu Chong came to know that the person he had treated with such hostility last night, was the idol he so wholeheartedly praised. “What? He’s Gu Hai? The young entrepreneur that likes to take unusual paths?” Bai Luoyin smiled indifferently, not looking at him. “Yeah, he’s also General Gu’s son.” Liu Chong’s pupils immediately lit up with astonishment, “Gu Weiting? Oh my god! He’s already the Regional Deputy Commander.21 In less than two years, he going to be promoted to Lieutenant General. No wonder he’s able to set foot in the military compound without any problems. He actually has such a powerful patron behind him! Phew…luckily, I didn’t say anything drastic yesterday. He wouldn’t retaliate against me, right?” Bai Luoyin looked at Liu Chong, maintaining a smile that somehow does not seem like a smile, “Not necessarily.” Hearing that, Liu Chong’s eyes widened even more, “No way? He would hold a grudge over such a trivial matter?” “A person like him is extremely petty and short temper. Think about it. When the two of us fought at the hotel the other day, that was only because I opened the door and bumped into him. He immediately turned around and attacked me.” 副大區: The Regional Deputy Commander. There are 5 regions in China. Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central Theater Command Regions. I’m going to assume our Papa Gu is the Northern Deputy Commander.
21
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Those words came out of Bai Luoyin’s mouth as if it was the truth and nothing else, and Liu Chong listened to the point that he too believed it was the actual truth. “Crap. That day, I threw a couple of punches at him when I was trying to stop the fight. I’m sure he remembers me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked me for the dumplings last night. If I had known earlier, I would’ve given it to him!!” Looking at him, Bai Luoyin could only hold his forehead with his hand. Your fucking point of view is truly firm! “Okay, I won’t tease you anymore. He won’t make a fuss over such a trivial matter like this.” Liu Chong heaved a sigh of relief and patted his chest before asking, “Then, why did he come to look for you last night?” “He wants to collaborate with us on this project, and the main reason he came here last night was to talk about it.” “So, that’s what it was about.” Liu Chong scratched his head in confusion for a moment then asked, “Then, did you agree to it?” “No.” Liu Chong looked on, unable to comprehend his words. “Why didn’t you agree? The terms and conditions proposed by their company are superior and look, they have even taken the initiative to come here bearing a sign of peace.22 So why didn’t you agree? Aren’t you afraid of hurting him?” “I’ve already hurt him to the point there’s nothing left…” The sentence that Bai Luoyin threw out left Liu Chong bewildered, failing to completely understand any of the words. Before he could even ask any further, Bai Luoyin had already walked out of the research laboratory. Three days later, Bai Luoyin went to the Dean23 of the Research Institute’s office to report on the progress of the project. “This is a list of the names of all the people that have been selected to be a part of the strategic groups. If you look here, some of them have already signed the contract. And here is a list of the enterprises that have been selected to collaborate on the project. Written inside are ours and their agreement on the terms and conditions that have been set for this collaboration. If you don’t have any objections, I will send people over to sign the contract.” With his brows weaving tightly together, the Dean thumbed through the paperwork and carefully read each statement, line by line. Bai Luoyin was particularly nervous since they were taking chances on some of the enterprises that were selected. Added on that this was his first time being in charge of such a large-scale project, he could not help but feel a bit uncertain. Unexpectedly, after the Dean silently finished reading through everything, he praised Bai Luoyin with much enthusiasm instead. “This is pretty good. The details of the project have been meticulously executed with the terms and conditions clearly outlined. From the look of it, areas that need to be confirmed have all 橄欖枝 Olive branch – Symbol of Peace; England and the United States in the eighteenth century, pigeons with olive branch has become a symbol of peace. In 1771, at the time of two pounds on North Carolina, the white pigeon olive branch was printed with a short title "reply to peace". On the forty dollar bills of Georgia in 1778, there was a white pigeon's olive branch and a short knife, and the short title was "Peace of Peace, all prepared" Printed in the same period. In January 1775, the London magazine's volume was printed with "clouds from the house of business, peace came from the clouds," and show the goddess of peace to the Anglo-American olive branch. In July 1775, in order to avoid a complete war with the British Empire, the United States Congress launched a petition, its name is "olive branch petition. 23 Dean of the Research Institute - He is the Major General from chapter six. We change it to just “Dean” because it is more appropriate to the original title and shorter than saying “MG” all the time. (To be technical, his exact title is ‘Head of…’ but to say, ‘the head’ is weird, that’s why we opted to Dean) 22
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been properly settled, with no room for any loophole.24 Surely, it’s better to have the mindset of a youngster. Nowadays, it’s already impossible for us older generation to keep up with the trends in the new world. At the most, we can probably give some suggestions as an input but when it comes to making actual decisions, we still need to depend on the lot of you for strength and support.” Bai Luoyin smiled in relief, “For now, we’re just blindly moving forward, without your guidance we wouldn’t be able to succeed.”25 Giving him a glance, the Dean then laughed heartily, “Hahaha… ah, that’s right. This should be the first time that the company Haiyin Technology will be collaborating with us, right?” Without looking him in the eyes, Bai Luoyin’s heart suddenly throbbed. “Yes, but they have collaborated with the Army and Rocket Force26 before. In addition, the price that they have proposed is relatively low. So, taking that into consideration, I decided to select this company.” “Not bad, not bad at all,” said the Dean with satisfaction as he patted Bai Luoyin’s shoulder, “At first, I wanted to mention this company to you so that you can take it into consideration, but who’d expect that we would be on the same wavelength.” After that positive meeting, Bai Luoyin walked out of Dean’s office brimming with joy. Without wasting any time, he immediately sent some men to all the major companies that they have selected to discuss the details of the collaboration. In the end, a piece of unfavorable news came through in the afternoon, stating that Haiyin Technology refused to collaborate. Bai Luoyin suffered an instant slap in the face. “Why?” “They said our terms and conditions are too demanding and highly unrealistic, while completely overlooking and or not taking their company's interest into consideration whatsoever.” Those words caused Bai Luoyin’s face to immediately darken with a gloomy atmosphere hovering above him. Were we the ones that proposed the terms and conditions? It was obviously proposed by the person they personally sent here during negotiation. Now, they actually have the nerve to point the fingers back on us?! That’s just too fucking unethical! I’m giving you face by collaborating with you. How dare you try to take advantage of me by going this far!!27 Raging with anger, Bai Luoyin called the Dean, but his attempts merely received a few beeping noises. Unable to reach the Dean, he ended up locating the Department Chief of the Research Institute and explained the situation. Upon hearing Bai Luoyin’s decision, the Department Chief rejected it right on the spot, giving him no room to further continue. “You cannot tell the Dean about this.” A grave expression crept on Bai Luoyin’s face, “Why?” loophole - 突破 - breakthrough; in this case, he's saying that the contract is airtight so if something happened, the enterprises wouldn't be able to find a loophole to get out of it. 25 “For now, we’re just blindly moving forwards, without your guidance we wouldn’t be able to succeed.” 我们现在就 是摸黑前行,没您这盏指路灯是不行的. - direct translation is, “Right now, we’re just groping in the darkness, without the lamp from your light to guide us, we wouldn’t be capable of any of this.” 26 二炮 Rocket Force The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) 中国人民解放军火箭军. Formerly the Second Artillery Corps 第二炮兵部队, is the strategic and tactical missile forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLARF is a component part of the People's Liberation Army and controls the nation's arsenal of land-based ballistic missiles - both nuclear and conventional. The military arm was established on 1 July 1966 and made its first public appearance on 1 October 1984. The headquarters for operations is located at Qinghe, Beijing. The PLARF is under the direct command of the Chinese Central Military Commission. 27 I (me) - 老子 lǎozi is a pronoun used in anger or out of contempt, hence when Bai Luoyin used this term, he is a saying it out of anger. It can also be used ‘arrogantly’. 24
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The Department Chief sighed, somewhat disheartened. “It would’ve been fine if you hadn’t mentioned it in the beginning, but the moment you mentioned it, the Dean took it to heart. If it was any other company, it would’ve also been fine, but unfortunately, this is General Gu’s son’s company. The Dean and General Gu have always had a really great friendship. If by chance, he had mentioned this to General Gu already, then how are you going to take your words back?” Bai Luoyin secretly gritted his teeth beneath his breath. “Why did you suddenly change your mind?” The Department Chief asked once again. “I didn’t change my mind,” Bai Luoyin said with resentment. “They’re the one that didn’t keep their words. Before, when the cost was set at a relatively low price, we had already placed the budget amount to the side, ready to deposit it. But now, they suddenly want to increase the price of the contract. Not only that, they proposed even more severe terms and conditions that were never clearly stated in the beginning. Do you think that we need to collaborate with a company like that?” Looking at him, the Department Chief merely smiled helplessly, “The business and bureaucracy world are indeed one and the same. If you have the power, you can control me, but if I have the power, I can control you instead. Hence, before the contact is properly finalized, everything can still change. The key point depends on whether or not you are able to adapt to the changes when it comes rushing towards you. How about this, send someone there again and try to negotiate once more to see if they are willing to relent.” Listening to him, Bai Luoyin could only press his lips tightly together. The Department Chief patted his shoulder once he noticed the slight annoyance riding his face, “From the way I see it, this problem is neither big nor small, so it is best for you not to let your emotions affect your decisions. If necessary, it’s also fine to seek other avenues. What is more important, you’ll have to weigh it yourself.” After hearing those words, Bai Luoyin finally understood everything with absolute clarity. He had completely fallen into Gu Hai’s trap. At this point, he was fuming with rage between gritted teeth. Gu Hai, you’re fucking ruthless! You really didn’t waste these eight years. You’ve actually gone as far as to scam me! The next day, he reluctantly sent someone over to negotiate again. However, before noon even arrived, the person returned and advised Bai Luoyin that the negotiation was unsuccessful since he was never given a chance to enter the building. He further explained that the person in charge of this project must personally go in order for an entry to be allowed. After carefully considering it for an entire night, Bai Luoyin decided he will endure the humiliation and suffer in silence by personally going headfirst into the battlefield. Just as he stepped into the first-floor lounge of Gu Hai’s company, a rather dense stream of fragrance assailed his nostrils. Bai Luoyin suddenly felt as if he did not walk into a company but rather a brothel instead. Even more so, he did not come here to find the boss of the company, but rather he was here to see the brothel owner. “Sir, how may I assist you?” By now, Bai Luoyin had already become increasingly skeptical about the legitimacy of Gu Hai’s operation. The elevator went up nonstop until it landed on the sixth floor. As he walked past every department along the way, countless of sexually engaged gazes from all the ladies vigorously pursued him. When Bai Luoyin finally arrived at the conference room, he was the first male who has been granted entry inside this company. “Sir, please take a seat.”
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As Bai Luoyin said down, a tall and beautiful woman with a rather coarse voice poured him a cup of tea. Without taking note of his own action, he carelessly shot her a glance and immediately noticed the dense hairs on her legs. Bai Luoyin’s throat tightened uncontrollably before he continued to look up, and this time, he saw that this woman has a very masculine physique. There was even a roll of muscle sculpting her arms, and the more he looked, the more the silhouette of her face resembled that of a man. Could it be the recruitment conditions were too demanding that even a few cross-dressing men were able to mix in here? The beautiful woman was undoubtedly sharp. With just one glance of Bai Luoyin’s eyes, she was immediately able to guess what Bai Luoyin was thinking. “I am a woman,” she said with great emphasis. Bai Luoyin has never ever felt this awkward or embarrassed in his entire life. Gu Hai pushed the door open and entered only to see Bai Luoyin sitting on the chair in the middle. He was dressed in a well-ironed military uniform that wrapped nicely around his tall and formidable figure. His heroic and courageous face carried a hint of murderous chill that seemed to crowd the atmosphere. All the while, his piercing gaze remained on Gu Hai the moment he entered the room until he sat down. He has his lips pressed firmly together, looking as if he was not here to negotiate, but rather to declare war. The beautiful woman bent over and moved in close to Gu Hai before whispering something into his ear. A moment later, Gu Hai merely nodded, and the woman simply left. Now, it was only Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai left in the large conference room. “The person just now isn’t a woman, she’s a transsexual.” Gu Hai stated matter-of-factly. Lifting his eyes, Bai Luoyin shot Gu Hai a respectable glance. “Your taste has become more excessive.” “Before you got here, I was thinking, how should I receive you without it being considered an impolite gesture? At first, I wanted to send out a few beautiful women to greet you, but then I thought that it would be inappropriate to do that. Since you’ve been in the military for so long, you must have restrained yourself from physical desires for quite some time now, so you might not be able to endure it if you suddenly saw a beautiful woman, right? That’s the reason why I served you a light appetizer first so that your stomach can slowly adapt to it." A flickered of light crossed Bai Luoyin’s dark pupil while the corner of his lips stiffly pulled back into a smile. “Thank you!” Seeing that, Gu Hai laughed rather joyfully, “What brings you here to me today?” Bai Luoyin returned to the subject, “I’m here about the project collaboration.” Just as those words escaped Bai Luoyin’s lips, Gu Hai lit up a cigarette and starting to calmly take in a few drags. Due to the sudden change in how things have turned out, their roles were swapped from how it was two days ago. This time around, it was Gu Hai who created all kinds of difficulties for Bai Luoyin, while the lad himself calmly controlled his temper and patiently explained the advantages of entering into a collaboration with them. “This is a grand opportunity. There are many enterprises that are fighting over it now. If you don’t take it while it’s sitting right in front of you, someone else will soon replace you.” Gu Hai formally nodded his head, “This, I completely understand.” Watching him casually nodding, Bai Luoyin secretly cursed to himself. You bastard! If you fucking understand, then why don’t you just quickly accept it?
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Although he thought that, Bai Luoyin still adjusted his own tone of voice before calmly facing Gu Hai again, “Therefore, it’s best if you think it over again.” “You guys should be the ones to think it over,” said Gu Hai as he unfolded his hands and his eyes swept toward Bai Luoyin’s imposing glare, “We never said we were going to halt this collaboration. So as long as you guys agree to increase the price, we will immediately sign the contract without any hesitation.” Standing his ground, Bai Luoyin stubbornly said, “The price will remain at the current rate. If you agree, then sign it. If not, then forget this ever happened.” At those words, Gu Hai glared at Bai Luoyin, without even so much a blink. Is it really that hard for you to admit defeat? Bai Luoyin suddenly stood up when a rush of violent took hold of his heart. I would rather quit than stay here and take your bullshit! 29 The Department Chief’s words suddenly flashed in Bai Luoyin’s mind as a reminder to uphold his patience. 「What is more important, you have to weigh it yourself…」 His footsteps came to a stop before he turned around, and with an impeccable resilient, he walked toward Gu Hai and stood in front of him. “I agree to increase the price, sign the contract!!” Gu Hai smiled, “I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want to collaborate with you anymore.” Bai Luoyin’s face abruptly darkened as he firmly grasped Gu Hai’s necktie with one hand. “Gu Hai, you’re fucking doing this on purpose, aren’t you? “I did it on purpose right from the start,” replied Gu Hai as he hooked his arm around Bai Luoyin’s neck, “As if you couldn’t tell?” Bai Luoyin’s elbow ruthlessly jabbed Gu Hai’s stomach as angrily spoke, “Gu Hai, don’t try to take advantage of me by taking it too far!! You fucking know full well why I’m collaborating with you. Stop giving me all this bullshit! These are my final words for today, the price will remain as it was before and not a cent more. If you sign the contract, we can keep in contact. If you don’t, I’ll take it as I don’t know you!!” A refreshing gust of wind flowed from Bai Luoyin’s lips and blew all the way into the core of Gu Hai’s heart. “If you had been straightforward from the beginning, would we have wasted so much time?” Gu Hai cheerfully patted the back of Bai Luoyin’s head, changing from a malicious businessman to an extremely approachable big brother from next door in just mere seconds. Bai Luoyin gritted his teeth furtively. For the sake of revitalizing this great nation, and for the people to live in peace and work with contentment, I will endure this! Gu Hai inhaled a mouthful of smoke and blew it all on Bai Luoyin’s face.28 Once he spoke again, his voice was drugged with a breath of air that beckoned chills down the spine. “Were the dumplings from the other day delicious?”
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
Gu Hai inhaled a mouthful of smoke and blew it all on Bai Luoyin’s face. = Per our Empress Nancy => “Did you know there is a saying, if you blow smoke on someone's face it means, "I want to fuck you."
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10 Visiting Someone’s Wedding House
Bai Luoyin snorted, “I’ve never eaten dumplings that delicious before.” Unperturbed, Gu Hai’s abstruse eyes fixed closely at the side of this face. The tough and robust lines that smoothed out and flowed along his face was strikingly similar to a painting, and the silhouette of these familiar features was drawn to invoke an even more mature and handsome appearance. The only thing that has not changed was that stubborn and unbending mouth of his. Just like eight years ago, the corners of his lips proudly curved upward. As time went on, the intense colors of youth have faded into a soft mature red with a layer of solemness and magnanimous smeared across his lips. An unraveling feeling gripped at Gu Hai’s chest, charming some thoughts to surface into his mind. He truly wanted to take a bite of those lips just to see how much the sweet and mellow taste from eight years ago has changed. The smoke perversely coiled out and mingled with Gu Hai’s breath, creating a thin layer that fill the room. Suddenly, as the atmosphere seemed to have been set ablaze, Bai Luoyin subconsciously shifted his head to the side, causing Gu Hai to touch the empty space between them instead. “I’m leaving,” Bai Luoyin said as he stood up. Gu Hai immediately took hold of his arm as a smile flowed to the corner of his lips. “Let me invite you to dinner today.”
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“There’s no need for that,” Bai Luoyin said and then calmly pushed away Gu Hai’s warm hand. “We are not doing business here, so it’s not necessary to settle anything.” “Don’t say it like that. Even brothers have to settle their debt with each other clearly. Besides, we aren’t even blood-related.” Bai Luoyin’s neck stiffened, “Today, I…” “You don’t want to take a look at my place?” Gu Hai said, interrupting Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin gave him a glance; his expressions changing several times before he jokingly, but somewhat seriously, faced Gu Hai: “Do you want me to see your place or your wedding house?” “What’s the difference?” Gu Hai faintly replied with a distant look in his eyes. Those words pierced Bai Luoyin’s chest, sinking his heart with its sharpness. “There’s no difference at all. Let’s go.” Gu Hai’s new place was in Xīchéng Qū,29 located in central Beijing, and was a little over 100 square meters. Compared to his other place, it was considered to be relatively small, but it was more than enough for one person to live in. There was only one bedroom and the largest space was used as the gym. Gu Hai intentionally gave Bai Luoyin a tour, and as expected, everything was comparatively cleaner than his own room. Bai Luoyin subconsciously glanced at the bed, noting that there were two sets of blankets and pillows. “When are you getting married?” Bai Luoyin asked. Hearing no response, Bai Luoyin turned around; Gu Hai was no longer behind him. As he walked over to his workstation and looked around, he noticed that Gu Hai’s laptop was on—flashing brightly as the screensaver was a photo of two people at the beach. Bai Luoyin froze in place, unable to tear his eyes away as some unknown force tightly gripped his heart. He swayed the mouse left and right in an attempt to escape that photo but in the end, he merely discovered that the desktop background was the same photo. Unable to shake away this inexplicable feeling, Bai Luoyin absentmindedly sat down in front of the laptop and replaced both the screensaver and desktop background with something else, without any reason at all, At that time, Gu Hai was cooking in the kitchen. Bai Luoyin leaned against the kitchen doorway with a cigarette hanging loosely in his mouth and quietly watched as Gu Hai’s stern silhouette bustled about. He still looks the same with that solemn and cold exterior yet gentle and diligent heart. Sometimes, he’s ferocious—pieced together with vulgarity and deceit, while other times, he straightforward, generous and open-minded. He can be detached and merciless to those he hates yet cherishes and cares for the person he loves…with all his heart. This kind of man, who is awe-inspiring and professionally successful, dotes and cherishes his lover…is the knight in shining armor that dwells in countless women’s dream. He had once completely...and unconditionally belonged only to me. As Gu Hai placed the food into the center of the frying pan, his skillful movements were accompanied by the crispy sound of cooking. Bai Luoyin threw out a sentence: “The finest Mr. Perfect. Tall, rich and handsome.” Hearing the faint noise behind him, Gu Hai twisted his head around, and as he continued to cook, he asked: “What did you say?”
Xīchéng Qū – ‘West City District’: Xicheng is subdivided into 15 subdistricts of the city proper of Beijing. The former Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng on July 2010. The Xidan commercial district, Beijing Financial Street (Jinrongjie), Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, Shichahai and Zhongnanhai are within its jurisdiction. The popular Houhai bar area is also in Xicheng Precinct. Before the communist takeover, most royalties and aristocrats resided in the precinct. The oldest Catholic church in Beijing, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located in Xicheng.
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Bai Luoyin slowly blew out a mouthful of smoke and forced a smile. “The beautiful employee that you sent to negotiate last time talked up a storm and incessantly praised you in front of me. She said, ‘our president is a charming romantic who is elegant, easy-going, talented, goodlooking, honest towards others, and wholeheartedly devoted to only one person. He also has a strong sense of responsibility…and he knows how to earn a fortune as well as do housework.’ She said with those qualities, I should definitely consider collaborating with you.” Gu Hai looked up and deliberately asked: “Then, are you tempted?” Without answering, Bai Luoyin simply turned around and walked away. Soon, several small dishes were placed on the table along with two plates of dumplings that Gu Hai had made with his own hands. When Bai Luoyin looked at the table full of food, an indescribable feeling of sorrow sprang in his heart. Just as he was about to express his feelings, he heard Gu Hai who was obediently sitting across from him say: “Take this meal as my pity towards you, Mr. Bachelor!” The joy that filled Bai Luoyin’s hot-blooded heart was swiftly diluted by those words. Looking at those piping hot dumplings, he could no longer help but to pick up a piece. At first, he thought that it was the zucchini and egg filled dumpling, but after he bit into it, he discovered that it was the fennel and pork filled one instead. With just one taste, Bai Luoyin’s heart was overtaken with disappointment even though he did not reveal it. He simply chewed and chewed and then forcefully swallowed it. Watching him, Gu Hai picked up a dumpling from another plate and gave it to Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin casually bit it open without much expectation but the moment the soft pastry split opened, it was unexpectedly filled with zucchini and egg. A slight hint of happiness appeared in his eyes as he impatiently took another nip. There was a light sweet scent permeating from the dumpling and the inside was also filled with shrimp and an ample savory30 hint of broth that tickled all his five basic tastes. It has been eight years since he had eaten a dumpling with this filling. After he finished eating that piece, Bai Luoyin wanted to grab another one but just as his chopsticks reached the plate, it suddenly paused in midair. How am I supposed to pick which one to eat?! It is unlikely that I’ll lose face even if I pick the fennel filled one, but I just don’t like to eat it! I love to eat the zucchini and egg filled ones, but I can’t pick it! If I do, I’d definitely be exposed!! Fuck! You had to use this meal as a scheme to trap me! In the end, Bai Luoyin came up with a solution. Since he had to eat the zucchini and eggs filled ones and cannot avoid the fennel ones, he will pair the two together. As a result, he grabbed one of each filling from the left and right plates. In this way, neither plate was neglected. Let’s see what you have to say now! In truth, before Bai Luoyin had even eaten both of the dumplings, Gu Hai had already seen through all of his thoughts and actions—he only chose not to reveal it. As he watched Bai Luoyin wolf down the food in front of him without saying even one word to him, he did not feel pleased at all. Instead, only a touch of sorrow beckoned. And when he saw Bai Luoyin stiffly stuffing the dumpling he does not like into his mouth, he felt especially upset. He should have not made those dumplings to mess with Bai Luoyin since he knew which filling, he loved most. Bai Luoyin was about to grab another fennel filled dumpling, but the plate had vanished. Umami - or savory taste, is one of the five basic tastes (together with sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness). It has been described as brothy or meaty. People taste umami through taste receptors specific to glutamate. Glutamate is widely present in savory foods, such as meat broths and fermented products, and commonly added to some foods in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG). Since umami has its own receptors rather than arising out of a combination of the traditionally recognized taste receptors, scientists now consider umami to be a distinct taste.
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“That’s enough. There’s no need to pretend anymore. I know that you’re a fucking lonely person who doesn’t have anyone to care for you!” Gu Hai had already placed the plate of fennel filled dumplings in front of himself and then one by one he ate them until it was all gone in just a short moment. This seemingly simple meal was eaten with much heartache filled emotions and sorrow. It was to the point that although Bai Luoyin nearly ate all the food before him, he, however, could not remember what he had eaten. All he remembered was that the food was exceptionally delicious, just like how it was in the past. After they were done, Gu Hai went to wash the dishes while Bai Luoyin sat waiting in the living room for him. By the time Gu Hai was completely done tidying up, he walked over only to see that Bai Luoyin was leaning into the sofa sound asleep. Gu Hai stood beside Bai Luoyin. His eyes hung low as he carefully looked at him—an illusion suddenly emerged from the depths of his mind. It was as if they were still in their home and each was the same person from back then. The strange outfits were nothing more than decorations, needed for their characters in a play. They were merely role-playing like in the old days. They have always been together. Normally, Bai Luoyin was always on guard when he slept in his own dorm, yet now that he was here, he doesn’t know whether it was because the room was extremely warm or something else, but he slept very soundly. Even when someone touched his body, he was not aware of it at all. Gu Hai crouched down and lightly tugged Bai Luoyin’s hand. From memory, it was no longer the same distinctive joints that he felt before. This fair and relaxed hand now had calluses on every finger and two fingernails had grown in a distorted position as if it has sustained some sort of injury. Gu Hai does not know that this scar was the remnant of when Bai Luoyin pried at the steel plate all those years ago. Naturally, compared to the wounds on Gu Hai’s forehead and back, these could be seen as highly insignificant. Even so, it still easily triggered some kind of emotion from Gu Hai. Suddenly, the cell phone rang with a loud noise—arousing Bai Luoyin from his deep sleep. Bai Luoyin’s eyes shot open only to see Gu Hai’s face extremely close to his. His gaze froze for a moment before he quickly shifted away and sat up to pick up the call. “Got it, I’ll be there immediately.” Gu Hai stood a short distance away and watched as Bai Luoyin rushed around. “Is there an urgent mission?” Bai Luoyin changed into his shoes and hastily said: “Yes. There’s a slightly small matter.” While speaking, he had finished tidying his shoes and was dashing out the door, without saying a mere goodbye. The entire process was done in an extremely agile manner, and in less than thirty seconds of everything, Bai Luoyin’s silhouette disappeared into the night. Gu Hai clearly recalled that whenever he tried to wake Bai Luoyin up in the past, from when he opened his eyes to when he actually sat up, he would first waste ten minutes at the very least. But now, from when he fell asleep to being fully awake, it took a mere ten seconds. What kind of training methods could completely change someone’s living habit like this? In these eight years, who have retaliated against him, on his behalf? By the time Bai Luoyin arrived at the military hospital, Liu Chong was temporarily out of danger. “What happened?” Bai Luoyin asked. The teammate that trained together with Liu Chong spoke with swollen red eyes. “When we were training this afternoon, something strange happened to his airplane, so he had no choice but to
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jump out with his parachute. But since the elevation was not high enough, he fell halfway down a pile of rocks at the side of the mountain. Luckily, the local villagers quickly discovered him and promptly reported it to the police, otherwise, he would have been dead by now.” A grave expression befell Bai Luoyin’s complexion. “What is his condition now?” “He sustained multiple fractures on his body along with a broken jaw. Fortunately, his brain did not suffer any damage. But there’s an excessive loss of blood, leaving his body weak. He’s still unconscious right now. Major, do you want to go in and take a look?” Looking at him, Bai Luoyin faintly replied, “There’s no need to. I’ll come back to see him when he’s a bit better.” With that said, Bai Luoyin turned around and left the sick ward with a heavy heart. He has never told anyone before, but he was extremely fearful of blood. Let alone going into a patient’s room, just standing in the hallway, seeing the emergency light flashed on and off would immediately cause him to break out in cold sweat. Translate: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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11 On the Road to a Blind Date
By now, Jiang Yuan had lived in the military base with Gu Weiting for seven years. During these passing years, the number of times Bai Luoyin had visited them could be counted on one hand. Sometimes, when Jiang Yuan missed her son, she would use her status as the Regional Deputy Commander’s wife to go into the military base to see him. Unfortunately, with this advantage, Bai Luoyin and Jiang Yuan had seen each other more than Bai Hanqi. Since Chinese New Year was closely approaching, with some of the military units going on holiday leave, Jiang Yuan could not sit still any longer. For the past few days, Bai Luoyin had been buried with work to the point he was going crazy. Aside from the daily physical stamina and technical ability training sessions, there were also regular workplace inspections. As for the remaining time, it was all spent in the research laboratory. Not only that, he had to prioritize time to carry special missions first when it arose. This continued lack of personal space was a direct consequence of Bai Luoyin barely attaining a measly five hours of sleep every day, to the extent that, he would doze off even during mealtime. When Jiang Yuan finally found Bai Luoyin, he was being driven mad by a pile of data that sat silently in front of him. “Xiao Bai, your mother is here to see you,” an engineer said as he walked into the room, chuckling as he looked at Bai Luoyin.
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Bai Luoyin’s weary gaze forcefully drew toward the doorway, looking at it for a moment before he lazily faced the assistant beside him and said: “Tell her that I’m very busy right now. If it’s not something urgent, she can go back first.” A moment later, the assistant pushed the door open and entered again, “Reporting! Major, your mother said that it’s a very urgent matter and that you only need to give her ‘ten minutes’. She will immediately leave after she finishes.” Glancing at the pile on his desk, all he could do was to temporarily put aside the work in his hand, get up and walk out. At the moment, Jiang Yuan was sitting in the car. When she saw Bai Luoyin come out, she was about to get out as well, but Bai Luoyin promptly gave her a hand gesture, insinuating for her to stay in the car for their discussion. “Oh no, your complexion doesn’t look well at all! Have you been tired for the last few days?” Bai Luoyin casually lit a cigarette and spoke indifferently. “I have a pile of work at hand. Although my annual leave was approved, I still have to complete all the work before I go on leave so I can have a peaceful holiday. If I had known earlier that it needs to be rushed like this, I would rather celebrate the New Year in the base than spend all day going through this torture.” Hearing his stress, Jiang Yuan looked at him with a heavy heart. “Mom brought over a lot of tonic for you. It’s all in the trunk. When you get out of the car, don’t forget to take it with you.” Bai Luoyin’s cryptic gaze swept toward Jiang Yuan for a quick glance, “You didn’t come here to look for me because of these tonics, did you?” “Of course not,” Jiang Yuan said as she pulled Bai Luoyin’s hand over and placed it in the palm of her own hand. “Two days ago, mom saw an old schoolmate. You should call her Aunt Zhang! Aunt Zhang has a daughter that’s the same age as you this year. She graduated from the University of International Business and Economics with honors, and although she had just graduated for two years, her monthly income is already over five figures…”31 At those words, Bai Luoyin’s face collapsed at once. “What exactly are you trying to say?” “You’re already 26 years old. How is it okay to stay single like this for the rest of your life? It would be a pity for someone like you with such great qualifications and conditions when all the good girls are being snatched away by others! Look, you’ve been in the military for eight years already and everything is stable now, so it’s time to consider marriage.” To that sentence, Bai Luoyin merely patted her hand. “I’m extremely busy!” When she saw that he wanted to get out of the car, Jiang Yuan held onto his hand, refusing to let go at all cost. “Yin Zi, that girl is pretty good. I’ve seen her already and she’s quite beautiful. Your Aunt Zhang is a government official who will probably retire in two years and her husband is a high school principal. What a great family with great conditions!” Bai Luoyin’s face darkened, showing no sign of warmth. “Even if she’s the Prime Minister’s daughter, I still wouldn't be interested!” “Then, how long are you going to wait?” Jiang Yuan was also getting anxious, “You’re already 26, even Xiao Hai has a girlfriend now. What are you waiting, huh?! By then, all your friends would already be married, and you’ll be the only bachelor. Wouldn’t you be embarrassed when you go out to see them?” This was the first time in eight years that Jiang Yuan mentioned Gu Hai. Before, that name was prohibited in front of Bai Luoyin, but today it slipped out due to desperation and anxiety.
Salary over five figures in Chinese currency is quite an achievement for a new graduate. This is in comparison to the Chinese average monthly wage of $2,500 RMB (370 USD).
31
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“Why should I be embarrassed?” Bai Luoyin snorted, revealing a smile that was sealed with a gust of chilliness. “I want to wait until their wives are old and wrinkled. Then I will get some girls around 17 or 18 years old as a mistress and flaunt them in front of my friends all day long.” “You!!…” Jiang Yuan was so furious that she nearly spewed blood. “Your ten minutes is up.” Bai Luoyin coldly said that then nonchalantly got out of the car. Just as he reached the research room, he saw the assistant heading out with a briefcase. “What are you doing going out?” Bai Luoyin promptly asked. The assistant gave him a proper salute first, and then he spoke with a rather stern expression, “Reporting! Major, I’m going to Beijing Haiyin High-Tech Company to attain the signature for our contract.” “Okay, give it to me. I’ll go!” Bai Luoyin extended his hand out. Not daring to look away, the assistant was a bit reluctant, as he spoke “But umm…Major, it’s better if I go. There’s no need to trouble you with such a trivial matter.” With just one glance at the underlying ulterior motive that secretly lay beneath the assistant’s eyes, Bai Luoyin could immediately make out what this bastard was thinking. No wonder, when they were recruiting for engineers, anyone with even a bit of qualification all eagerly applied. After going through all this trouble, it wasn’t even to support this project, but rather to support the merchant that was collaborating on this project. “I’ll go since it’s convenient to see Liu Chong on the way back. You can help me input all the data on the computer again. I’m getting a headache looking at it since it’s a bit confusing.” Hearing that, the assistant did not utter another word. Noting his silence, Bai Luoyin simply let out a light cough before he spoke, his tone drenched with seriousness, “Do you have any objections?” The assistant immediately straightened up his posture, “Reporting. No Major.” “Then go do what you have to!” Bai Luoyin smiled then patted the assistant’s head. Yan Yajing had already taken a leave of absence for one week now since something happened in her family. For the past few days, Gu Hai had been extremely busy with work, but he did not feel anything. However, having worked overtime for several days, Gu Hai started to miss her a bit. After the meeting in the afternoon, Gu Hai finally received a call from Yan Yajing. “Gu-zong, I’m back.” Gu Hai secretly felt a sense of relief hearing those words. You’re finally back. “I have to leave shortly, I’m only here to visit you for a short moment.” Gu Hai’s brows wrung together once he sensed that Yan Yajing’s tone sounded strange. “What’s going on?” Yan Yajing’s voice suddenly choked with sobs. “Gu Hai, can you come down? I don’t want to go into the office like this. I’m at the main entrance right now. I have to return to Qingdao after I say a few words to you.” “Okay. Just wait a minute. I’ll head down right now.” The moment Gu Hai got to the entrance, he immediately saw Yan Yajing quietly standing there with swollen red eyes. After not seeing her for just a few days, she seemed to have withered, making her whole presence extremely thin and pallid. “What happened?” Seeing him, Yan Yajing’s arms stretched out to hug Gu Hai, and her head pressed against his chest, while tears that were being held back, easily flowed.
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“My mom has been diagnosed with lung cancer at the terminal stage. The doctor said that she won’t live past six months…” As Gu Hai listened to her, his expression became grave, “It’s okay. Make sure she receives active treatment. If it doesn’t work, then transfer your mother for treatment abroad. I know a few foreign internal medicine experts. I can definitely help by contacting them for you.” Yan Yajing continued to cry without saying anything else. At that moment, Bai Luoyin’s car drove over and right when he was about to open the door to get out, he saw that not-so-harmonious scene from a short distance away. Bai Luoyin’s heart throbbed of its own accord. That kind of feeling was unbearable. And although he had acknowledged this reality long ago, what the mind had fabricated and what he saw with his own eyes are two quite different things. Gu Hai’s hand was still gently patting Yan Yajing’s shoulder when he heard a kind warning traveling over from behind his back. “What is this with showing intimacy in front of the office building? You’re a President, you need to at least pay attention to your image.” Recognizing that voice, Gu Hai’s arm froze. He turned only to see Bai Luoyin leaning against the car window with his hand supporting his chin as he looked at them, full of interest. “Why are you here?” Gu Hai walked over and asked. Giving him a quick glance, Bai Luoyin passed the contract in his hand over to Gu Hai, “I was looking for you to sign the contract.” “Oh, then you can go to my office. The two of us can take our time and have a good chat.” “It’s not necessary. You can just sign it right here. I don’t have time to chat with you.” With that said, he then passed Gu Hai a pen. If Yan Yajing was not here, Gu Hai would have definitely harassed Bai Luoyin and tricked him into going up. But right now, there is still a tear-stricken employee who had been the advocate to his company’s success standing to the side, so Gu Hai could not force him to stay. After he signed the contract, Gu Hai handed Bai Luoyin the other copy before he rested his hand at the edge of the car window and faintly asked: “Aren’t you jealous seeing us like this?” Bai Luoyin quickly retorted, “Why should I be jealous?” A mischievous smile crept along the corners of Gu Hai’s lips. “How about I introduce you to someone? There are plenty of beautiful women in the company. Since you’re my brother and a bachelor, as your younger brother, I don’t have the heart to tolerate it!” At those sniping words, Bai Luoyin cast Gu Hai a considerably destructive glance. Don’t even think about provoking me. I won’t be fucking fooled! On the way back, Bai Luoyin picked up the contract and carefully looked at it. His and Gu Hai’s name was signed together, using the same exact handwriting. If I had known earlier, I would have signed it myself. There was no need to waste all this time! Feeling annoyed, Bai Luoyin flung the contract in the passenger seat and picked up his phone. “Luo Yin?” Jiang Yuan asked from the other side. Bai Luoyin took a deep breath, “You can give me that girl’s contact details!!” Jiang Yuan’s voice was still subjected to depression but once her words entered her brain, she was immediately struck with excitement. “You’ve really thought it through? Do you want to meet with her? That’s great, that’s great! Mom will send it over to you right away. If you find it embarrassing to contact her first, mom can help you set up a meeting.” After hanging up, Jiang Yuan was beaming with joy as she gave Gu Weiting a call.
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“Lao Gu, when you have time, give Luo Yin’s supervisor a call and let him give Luo Yin a day of leave!” From just those words, Gu Weiting seemed somewhat unhappy, “Do you think a soldier’s leave is permitted just because you say so? It has to go through multiple levels of approval. Don’t interfere with things that you don’t understand.” Even with his tone, Jiang Yuan’s raging enthusiasm did not plunder. “Our Yin Zi understands things properly now, he has opened up and finally willing to go on a blind date!!” Silence reigned on the other side for a quite a while, “…I’ll handle this matter over my side. You don’t need to bother with it.” Once Jiang Yuan placed the phone down, she was unable to keep her lips sealed.
Translate: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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12 The Beautiful and Enthusiastic Girl
Three days later, Bai Luoyin found some time in his busy schedule to go to the blind date. It surely goes to show that Major Bai attached some importance to this meeting. The appointed girl arrived at the coffee shop ahead of time and chose a seat by the window. From time to time, she would gaze at the simple scenery outside to ease the nervous feeling that was welling in her chest. When she glanced again, a military vehicle slowly came into her line of sight, calling her heart to beat wildly. She had already found out early on that Bai Luoyin was a soldier, so the person sitting in there, could it be... The first person to get out was the driver. When the girl shot a glance over only to see an extremely average looking face, she felt a bit disappointed. But then she thought a man who was too handsome was not necessarily good either. Since a person’s charm encompassed many aspects, it was better to get to know him first before making any rash judgments. Soon, the girl quickly shifted her gaze back. Bai Luoyin entered the coffee shop and looking at the seating number that the girl had previously provided, he went directly to find it. “Hello, I’m Bai Luoyin.” Hearing the voice close to her, the girl promptly lifted her head for a look, and in that split second, she froze on the spot in a dumbfounded manner. An extremely handsome, charming and confident looking officer has actually materialized right in front of her with his tall and pugnacious stature, undeniably impeccable appearance,
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overbearingly powerful presence, and with lips softly curved upwards, exposing a rather robust and gently smile. Having previously seen the average face of the other man, and now comparing the two, Bai Luoyin’s exceptionally striking appearance was made even more prominence. The girl’s heart leaped with ecstasy. This kind of feeling was like single-handedly winning the lottery. “Hi, I’m Di Shuang,” the girl said as she stretched her hand out toward him. Bai Luoyin courteously shook her hand, feeling the dampness that took solace on her palm. While the two continued on with a simple chat, Bai Luoyin’s impression of Di Shuang was pretty good. Her actions were natural and unrestrained, more so on the graceful side, and when she spoke everything was clean and orderly. With just one look, it was obvious that she was a wise and farsighted woman. Di Shuang’s impression of Bai Luoyin was even better. Not only was he handsome, but his style of conversation was also remarkable. Although he did not say much when he did, every word and sentence were well articulated. Even more so, his simple gestures seemed to be attached to a powerful magnet that made it impossible to resist its charming temptation. “This is my first blind date,” Di Shuang said laughing lightly. “At first, I thought that something like a blind date is unreliable, but it seems I made the right decision in coming today.” As he listened to Di Shuang bluntly convey her affections, Bai Luoyin also chose not to beat around the bush and sought to clarify his own situation with her. “I probably won’t be leaving the military for the time being, so if you sincerely want to be in a relationship with me, you need to be mentally prepared for solitude.” Maintaining a smile, Di Shuang nodded her head. She had long been captivated by his presence so no matter what he said, she could not hear or retain any of it. Then Bai Luoyin went on to say, “I’m normally extremely busy with work. It can take a few weeks as bare minimum or even up to a few months where you might not be able to see me?” Di Shuang held onto the same smile as before, “It doesn’t matter. I can wait.” Bai Luoyin continued to inundate her, “I often have urgent missions that must be prioritized, and it could possibly be life-threatening.” “I’m not scared. I will silently support you from behind.” Hearing her determination, Bai Luoyin held his head. “I don’t think we are suitable.” This time Di Shuang was not able to keep her smile, “Why?” “Honestly, you’re a bit too good for me. I don’t have the heart to waste your time. Think about it, if one day you become my wife, every day you’re only going to bear this burden and hardship without complaint from me, and I, won’t be able to even give you any warmth.” “I’m not as good as you think I am,” Du Shuang said, interrupting Bai Luoyin. “Before meeting with you, I was still secretly in love with the president of the company I work at.” “Oh?” Bai Luoyin’s brows slightly pulled together. Noticing his expression, Di Shuang quickly explained herself. “No, it’s not like that. I just wanted to say that in reality, my qualities are not as good as you think. I also have many limitations. You may not have personal freedom, but I also don’t have it. While the military doesn’t allow you to go out as you please, my company also doesn’t allow us to date.” “There’s a company like that?” Bai Luoyin asked with a rather bewildered tone, “What kind of work are you engaged in?” “I’m an accountant in the finance department of a science and technology company.” “Why can’t accountants date?” Di Shuang’s beautiful red lips parted, “It’s not that accountants are not allowed to date, all the staffs in the company are not allowed to. If we really want to, we have to get approval from
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higher management. Any potential spouse must have established a connection with the company’s business. If we were to just casually date anyone as we please, we will be fired.” “Isn’t your company’s protocol to demanding?” That was the first time Bai Luoyin had heard of such a system being implemented. Di Shuang nodded her head again, “That is why I’m saying, the two of us are really suitable to be together. We both possess the necessary conditions for a hidden relationship.” Bai Luoyin looked sternly at her, his voice resolute, “Dating needs to be talked in a serious manner. Even if we only know each other for a short while, our relationship must be transparent. I cannot concur if my girlfriend has to forfeit her career for me.” A sense of urgency crept up Di Shuang’s face as her eyes ran towards the scene outside the window. But suddenly, a miraculous halo of light flashed in her mind. “I can apply for approval through the higher management since you fit the qualifications needed. Seeing that we’re a military enterprise and you’re a military officer, it will definitely be helpful towards the development of our company. The president will surely agree to this.” As if realizing something, Bai Luoyin silently narrowed his eyes just the slightest and quietly asked, “What’s the name of your company?” Di Shuang proudly said the whole name out, “Beijing Haiyin High-Tech Co. Ltd.” Bai Luoyin, “…” When Di Shuang saw the sudden change in Bai Luoyin’s complexion, she thought that he had some sort of prejudice against her company, so she hastily followed up with an explanation. “Our company’s operations comply with the government’s standards. And although our president only recruits women, our company has never had any unwritten rules.” It’s better not to explain. Seeing how Bai Luoyin’s expression changed for the worse, Di Shuang’s heart felt colder. “Bai Luoyin, I’m going to say some unpleasant words. Although you have great qualities, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to find a suitable match. Even if everyone in Beijing is laid out for you to freely choose, each and every person that is suitable for you are all in our company. You are not the only one with those qualities. Some even have better qualities and conditions than you, and they all want to find young and beautiful women who are also well-educated and can take on responsibilities as their wife. In the end, they couldn’t find anyone better after walking out our company’s door.” A complicated smile ran up Bai Luoyin’s lips. “Since you put it like that, why does it feel like your company is raising women to be a high official or rich merchant’s mistress?” “You can say it like that!” Di Shuang said, not the least evading the subject, “But, our company is raising them to be a proper wife, an officially wedded wife. Our company absolutely do not raise them to be the mistress!” Bai Luoyin was amused by Di Shuang’s words causing him to laugh lightly. When Di Shuang saw Bai Luoyin laughed, her mood changed for the better, and even her tone softened by a lot. “Actually, I wanted to tell you. Even if you’re not with me, you’ll definitely end up with another woman in our company. Aside from the differences in our appearance, everything else about us is the same. Since we’re all your type, why not choose someone that’s readily available?” Bai Luoyin, “…” The two chatted joyfully for their first meeting, but since Di Shuang had work in the afternoon, she left earlier. Bai Luoyin instructed the chauffeur to take Di Shuang to the company first. When Di Shuang got out of the car, the smile on her face was like that of a blooming flower.
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This scene happened to be witnessed by Xiao Tao. At first, Xiao Tao did not want to be too inquisitive about someone’s business, but the man in question was Bai Luoyin, and she personally had a very deep impression of him. Initially, she was captivated by him back at the banquet hall, and then she had the chance to converse with him for the project collaboration. Xiao Tao’s greatest impression of Bai Luoyin was the intense coldness that surrounded him, a person like him was extremely unapproachable. Hence, when she saw that Bai Luoyin had taken the initiative to bring Di Shuang back to the company, she found it exceptionally alarming. As a result, she quickened her pace and entered the same elevator as Di Shuang. “Who was the man from earlier?” Xiao Tao asked, showing no sign of backing out. With flushing cheeks, Di Shuang readily replied: “My boyfriend.” Hearing those words, Xiao Tao’s heart was immediately dragged into sorrow. Although she had no interest in Bai Luoyin, it was said that women tend to have a very strong inclination towards jealousy—whether true or not. Which part of me is inferior to you? Why would such a handsome officer be attracted to you? Consequently, this grand news spread throughout the company like wildfire. Since it has been busy and adding that Yan Yajing had a family matter to prioritize, Gu Hai was not in the mood to take anything else into consideration nor show any interest. In the end, seeing that Di Shuang was still in good standing, Xiao Tao could no longer refrain herself. Taking advantage of the time that she was reporting her work progress, she mentioned the matter to Gu Hai. “Gu-zong, have you heard that our accountant, Xiao Di, from the finance department is dating?” Gu Hai expressionlessly nodded his head, “I’ve heard of it.” “Then, how come you’re not taking care of this matter, huh? She has disregarded company protocols. If you don’t take any measures to punish that behavior, I’m afraid no one will abide by those rules later on.” Gu Hai shot Xiao Tao a glance, “I will definitely handle it when I have concrete evidence.” “I personally saw it!!” Xiao Tao accidentally blurted out. Seeing her reaction, Gu Hai coldly snorted: “Do your eyes count as evidence?” Xiao Tao turned slightly away with embarrassment and did not utter another word. “The preservation of a company’s good atmosphere does not only depend on what the eyes see but also on what the mouth says.” With only those few words, what little courage Xiao Tao was completely scared off. After Xiao Tao took her leave, Gu Hai leaned back into the office chair with his eyes slightly narrowed while he looked at the fine patterns on the ceiling. For some unknown reason, he thought of the delicate lines that weaved out Bai Luoyin’s lips. Since their quick meeting in front of the company at that time, he has not heard any news from him for several days now. An unsettling feeling rested in his heart again, seemingly beckoning to dig its way out. Gu Hai pressed lightly on his chest as if giving himself a silent reassurance. You must continue to hang in there! Before long, the rumor regarding Di Shuang quietened down. But, on this particular Friday, while taking the opportunity to visit Liu Chong, Bai Luoyin decided to drive to Gu Hai’s company to visit his girlfriend. At that moment, it was also time for everyone to leave work, but Bai Luoyin did not time it like that intentionally—he just happened to finish his own business.
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Seeing him, Di Shuang braced herself into the arms of a man in front of a multitude of public glares. More importantly, said man was someone that everyone had personally seen and greatly admired. With that, a raging uproar broke out in front of the company entrance in just a split second.
Translate: Sae | Edit: Nancy
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13 The Battle Intensifies!
Just as Gu Hai walked out of the office building and headed toward the parking lot, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Bai Luoyin’s car. As expected, he was unable to remain calm... Even though a touch of self-satisfaction welled up in Gu Hai’s heart, the expression on his face did not reveal anything. He maintained a withdrawn facade of a President and walked expressionlessly over to Bai Luoyin. As a result, the next scene caused his face to become completely paralyzed. This was happening in front of his company; a place where rigorous rules and regulation were implemented yet his own staff was not trying to avoid any arousing suspicious at all as she openly flirted with a man. But this was not even the main point—the point was, this man was Bai Luoyin, and this staff was the person rumored to be dating a few days ago. Gu Hai made his way towards them, causing the conversation between the two to end. When Di Shuang turned around to look at Gu Hai, not only was she not panic-stricken, she excitedly faced him and said” “Gu-zong, this is my boyfriend, Bai Luoyin. There’s no need for me to introduce him, right? He is the person in charge of the project that our company is currently collaborating with. It shouldn’t be considered breaking protocol if I date him, right?” During the entire time, Gu Hai’s gaze was glued on Bai Luoyin—the hidden energy that beneath this piercing gaze was more than enough to level the entire office building to the ground. “Is what she said true?”
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“What do you think?” Bai Luoyin’s gloomy eyes shot back at Gu Hai, “Have I, Bai Luoyin, ever said anything irresponsible?” In the blink of an eye, Gu Hai took a step forward and plastered his entire body just centimeters away from Bai Luoyin. That ruthless glare was like a sharp blade carving into Bai Luoyin’s face before Gu Hai rigidly extruded three words from the tight spaces between his teeth. “You – Are – Dead!” Unperturbed, both of Bai Luoyin’s hands shot out and pressed hard onto Gu Hai’s shoulders, controlling the distance between them before he revealed a malicious smile. “Aren’t I just being considerate for your sake? As my little brother, I’m saving you the trouble of worrying about me all day long. It’s all good now. I’m not a bachelor anymore so you don’t need to trouble yourself with helping me learn about your company anymore. I’ve discovered that your company is a truly rich and resourceful place. Aside from President and Vice President, the rest of the staffs are all rather suitable for me.” That being said, he pulled Di Shuang’s hand over and dragged it in front of Gu Hai. “From now on, she is your sister-in-law. I’ll be depending on you to look after her at work.” Di Shuang blushed as she gave Gu Hai a glance, “Gu-zong, I’m a bit embarrassed.” Gu Hai stubbornly forced their interlocked hands apart, but to say it more precisely, he sternly cleaved it apart with much force, causing Di Shuang to grimace with pain and provoked Bai Luoyin’s expression to immediately change. “Gu Hai, you need to take responsibilities for your words and actions!” With darkened face, Gu Hai spoke with a pause between each word, “I don’t know what responsibilities mean, I only know what heartless means!”32 Bai Luoyin smiled bitterly, “Heartless? Is it even appropriate to use this word between the two of us? Gu-zong, did you wander back to the past? Turn around and have a good look at where you’re standing when you are saying that. You’re already a person of status, soon to be someone’s husband and some kid’s father. You’ve lost the right to say these words to me a long time ago!!” Filled with raging anger and resentment, Gu Hai suddenly pressed Bai Luoyin’s head on the roof of the car. “Bai Luoyin, you’re a motherfucking bastard, a heartless inconsiderate bastard!!” All of a sudden, Bai Luoyin exerted his strength and shoved Gu Hai over onto the body of the car. “I am a bastard! You’ve already called me a bastard over the eight years. I don’t give a shit if you call me that for a few more years!!” The result was as expected. The two began to wage a battle in front of the company’s main entranceway. The only thing was that this time an extra woman was participating. On one side was her boyfriend and on the other side was the boss who she had once been secretly in love with. Without any hesitation, Di Shuang chose the former, but the thing was her strength was too weak. So, as soon as she moved in closer, without standing firm enough, she was thrown over three meters away. Once he heard the sound of Di Shuang’s weeping, Bai Luoyin ceased fire and walked over to help her into the car. Then under Gu Hai’s watchful glare, he immediately sped away. Heartache and sorrow followed behind the car while dejection was coiled around the wheel, and forcefully dragged along. The next day, as soon as Di Shuang arrived at the company, she made a beeline toward Gu Hai’s office. Meanwhile, her coworkers waited to see her get humiliated. “Gu-zong.” 32
Heart (負心) means to fail to be loyal to one’s love but ‘heartless’ is shorter to write XD
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Gu Hai picked up his head and cast Di Shuang a glance. Surprisingly, this glance was not different from any other days. “What is it?” With tears welling at the rims of her eyes, Di Shuang handed Gu Hai a resignation letter. “I already know that there is no longer a need for me to stay. Rather than waiting for you to fire me, it’s better for me to leave first. Gu-zong, thank you for your generous support during the last two years. Although I have learned a lot in this company, I am very sorry that I cannot give up my relationship in order to keep my position. I truly hope you can understand.” “Who said I was going to fire you?” Gu Hai said as he picked up his eyes. Hearing that, Di Shuang was immediately dumbfounded. “…What happened yesterday was a complete mess. Don’t tell me you’d still allow me to stay?” “You’re my sister-in-law. Even if I get rid of everyone, I will definitely let you stay!” Gu Hai acted completely out of the norm as he spoke with an amazingly calm tone. “Those are two separate issues, let’s not mix feelings and work together. I had a look at your performance over the past two years and it’s pretty good. Vice-President has some family matter to attend to, so she won’t be returning for a while. You can take over her work for the time being.” Di Shuang was completely blown away with Gu Hai’s manner and heartfelt words. He was truly a godlike man, worthy to have been her secret love! “Okay. You can go pack your belongings and move over here.” Di Shuang looked at Gu Hai, feeling overwhelmed and extremely flattered by this unexpected favour, “Move…move to where?” “Actually, don’t move into Vice President Yan’s office. If in case she returns earlier, you will have to pack again. You might as well move in here instead since my office is large enough. I’ll get someone to order a desk for you. Moving forward, you can sit and work directly opposite to me.” Di Shuang opened her mouth wide in astonishment, “No way?…then, wouldn’t I be—” Wouldn’t I become the number one public enemy in this company? “What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied?” Gu Hai sneered coldly, “If you’re not satisfied, I can clear out the bedroom on the other side and give you half of it.” “No, no, no… I’m already very satisfied.” Di Shuang walked out of Gu Hai’s office, feeling as though she was in paradise, gracefully dancing on the clouds. Did the good fortunes come too quickly? First, she picked up an invincibly handsome officer without any problems, and now for some strange combination of circumstances, she was promoted. By now, even she was a bit jealous of herself. This news spread throughout the entire company very quickly and the person who had the biggest reaction was—of course, Xiao Tao. Just a day ago, she had secretly giggled beneath her blanket. You got busted, didn’t you? Just wait until you get fired! The next day, in front of Xiao Tao’s hopeful eyes, Di Shuang walked dispiritedly into Gu Hai’s office yet when she walked out, she was beaming with smiles instead. Not only was her anticipation for Di Shuang to get fire shattered, her chances of moving into Gu Hai’s office as to enjoy an unprecedented treatment and gain the attention she had previously received was completely snatched away. For the past few days, Gu Hai had given Di Shang a considerable amount of face. First, he made arrangements for her to work in his own office which tantamounted to being on the same footing as the higher management. Then, whenever he headed out for a meeting, he would take her with him as if she was his personal secretary. Finally, he would always be together
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with her for dinner and any free time she had. The two came to work together and finished work together. And Gu Hai’s chauffeur was responsible for picking her up and dropping her off at work. “Hey…can you all tell me what’s so good about Di Shuang? How did she even get selected?” “How would I know? I thought she moved on and fell in love with somebody else, so I ended up asking her about it the other day. She said that she is still dating that Major.” “No way?” The woman said stunned, “She has her hands on two men?” “I hate women like that, so slutty.” “Shhhhhhh…” Under countless jealous and hate-filled glares, Di Shuang simply walked into the office. Nearly two weeks had passed, and for the last two days, Di Shuang’s egotism had been completely satisfied. After that, everything became a very long and torturous process. The pressure that contrived from her colleagues’ opinions were all trivial matters, but the most insufferable pressure came from the excess of workload and a lifestyle that was constantly under surveillance. Since she was given such an important position from Gu Hai, she never dared to slack even the slightest. Every day, in Gu Hai’s presence, she performed her duties with utmost effort and had never taken advantage of working hours to contact Bai Luoyin. Therefore, in the wake of excess workload and responsibilities, her spare time had significantly decreased next to none. By the time she returned home every night, she was completely burnt out. Even the thought of wanting to get in touch with Bai Luoyin for just a while was out of the question since she would fall fast asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. As a result, one day when she was no longer able to bear the heavy burden, Di Shuang finally cracked and messaged Bai Luoyin during a bathroom break, crying out for help. On that same evening, a phone call reached Gu Hai. “Give your sister-in-law a day off!” Bai Luoyin said with a rather demanding tone. Gu Hai responded indifferently, “It’s because she is my sister-in-law that I cannot favor her. What you said that day deeply touched me. I can’t let my emotions get the best of me and act out impulsively. I have to be fair and treat issues separately so that you won’t look down on me!” After throwing down the phone, Bai Luoyin bit his own lips so hard that it almost bled. Gu Hai, on the other hand, happily went to the bathroom for a nice and cold shower. The next morning, Di Shuang came to work with an exceptionally refreshing and glamorous allure rather than her usual impecunious and modest appearance. She walked into the office brimming from ear to ear as if happiness had been written all over her face. When Gu Hai looked up, he was met with a dazzling necklace hanging off of Di Shuang’s neck. With just one look at the style and design, Gu Hai knew straight-away who it was from. After so many years, Bai Luoyin’s taste never changed. When Di Shuang saw Gu Hai staring her necklace, a blush lightly ran up her cheeks before she spoke in a soft voice. “This is from your brother.” Gu Hai sneered with a laugh, “When did you see him?” “I didn’t see him. He heard I wasn’t in a good mood yesterday so that night he sent someone to deliver the necklace to my mailbox. I was shocked when I opened it early this morning. Who would have known even a soldier knows how to be romantic…” Di Shuang blushed again as she spoke, unable to prevent the happiness that played out on her face to flow into her words… Like a sharp arrow, Gu Hai’s glare aimed at Di Shuang’s face. “Year-end is fast approaching and there has been a lot of work for the past few days. I’ve already stayed overnight in the office for
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two days in a row and honestly it been a bit unbearable. How about this, from today on, you can also stay over in the office to help take some responsibilities off my shoulders, what do you think?” The color of Di Shuang’s face changed instantly when she looked nervously at Gu Hai. She had been holding back some words, and she felt it was finally time to lay it out in the open. “Gu-zong, I admit, I had feelings for you in the past, but that was in the past. Now I only love boyfriend with all my heart. Isn’t there a saying that goes like this? ‘You should not covet your brother’s wife.’ Gu-zong, I can see that you are good to me. However, I’m truly sorry but I already have someone in my heart. You should stop before you take it too far…enough is enough…” Gu Hai, “…”
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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14 A Night of Indescribable Sorrow
Across the road from Haiyin Technology Company was a pretty well-known Cha Canting33. Yan Yajing was sitting there now, waiting for Gu Hai. “How is your mother’s condition?” From just one glance, it was all too obvious that Yan Yajing was a lot thinner than before, and the usually brilliant glow that emitted from her eyes has disappeared. “She’s not doing well. The cancer has spread to her entire abdominal cavity. The doctor said there’s no hope that any of the current treatment can cure her. The only thing that can be done is to ease her agony as much as possible by improving her living qualities. With the short amount of time that she has left, everyone in the family have been staying by her side. Every day, we would always act cheerful while maintaining a positive point of view, afraid she would see something is up. But I think she is fully aware of her own condition. The only thing is, she’s very strong-minded so even if she knows, she won’t show any signs of sadness in front of us.” Gu Hai spoke in a sunken tone, “Since it has come to this, there’s no need to be upset. Just spend more time with her so that you won’t have any lingering regrets.” 茶餐廳 Cha Canting – lit: 'tea restaurant or cafe’; a type of restaurant commonly found in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong; known for eclectic and affordable menus, which include dishes from Hong Kong cuisine and Hong Kongstyle western cuisine. We stuck with Cha Canting in the translation because using “Tea restaurant or café” was a bit weird.
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Yan Yajing forcefully squeezed out a smile, “Yesterday, my mom was grumbling about how she doesn’t know if she’s going to be able to meet her son-in-law in this lifetime or not.” “Then you need to stop wasting time and seize the moment.” Gu Hai carelessly responded. Yan Yajing fixed her gaze on Gu Hai. As she stared at the side of this mature and handsome face, she reminisced about the days that they had been through together. She witnessed as his company transformed from a small enterprise to what it is now. And she, a girl who had numerous pursuers, has now turned into what others called a Sheng Nv34. In the blink of an eye, three to four years has quickly passed by without much hindrance. But, once the honour and pride that lived in her parents’ eyes, she has now become a knot that weighed deeply in their hearts just as they were fast approaching death. Yet, he was still completely unaware of what all this represented. Once in a while, a few ambiguous yet somewhat flirtatious words would spring out of his mouth, however, those were nothing more than ridicules. “I heard you promoted Di Shuang and let her move into your office?” Ya Yan Jing asked. Gu Hai shifted his gaze back from the window before he faintly responded, “Yes.” “You…” Yan Yajing halted the words she had desired to say. Once again, Gu Hai’s gaze moved towards the window. Bai Luoyin’s car was parked outside at the other side of the outside the company entrance while he was making a call. At that moment, Gu Hai had hoped that his own phone would ring. Unfortunately, that cellphone lied exceptionally peaceful and soundless in his pocket. Less than a second later, Di Shuang walked out of the company. “How come you have so much free time today? You came out as soon as I called you.” Di Shuang asked; her face was half hidden in her collar to keep away the chilly wind. Although Bai Luoyin smiled to the point the line of his eyes seemed to curve, he responded rather indifferently. “Well, it’s rare for you to have some free time and I just happened to visit my comrade. There are only a few more days left before he’ll be discharged from the hospital.” “Let’s find a place to eat.” Di Shuang said, beaming with happiness. Bai Luoyin seemed a bit reluctant at her suggestion, “I have to head back soon since I still have a lot of work left to do at the military base.” Di Shuang rubbed her hands together, “But it’s too cold here.” Having said that, she turned around and spotted the Cha Canting across the road. Her eyes lit up with excitement, “How about we go in there and sit for a while?" In reality, Di Shuang did this on purpose since she knew from the beginning that Gu Hai had gone to that Cha Canting. Bai Luoyin merely nodded and said ‘okay’. As soon as the two sat down, Bai Luoyin casually shot a glance to the side only to see Gu Hai and Yan Yajing. Their eyes immediately crossed, and after a few seconds of holding their gaze, Bai Luoyin was the first to wave his hand. The corner of Gu Hai’s lips slightly rose in acknowledgment. Then, as if nothing happened, they shifted their gaze away from each other and began a cheerful conversation with the person sitting at the same table as them. 剩女 – Sheng Nu. Literal translation, ‘leftover female’. ‘The leftover’ female became one of the 171 new Chinese words. It refers to women who are considered to be marriageable age, but still not married. Broadly, refers to a single woman over the age of 27. In general, age is an important criterion for females in China. China has a lot of women who are well-educated with great careers. In theory, it should not be a problem for the Chinese women to find the other half, but in reality, there are more and more Chinese women who said it is difficult to find the other half that fit their criteria. In the case of Yan Ya Jing, she is beautiful, smart and successful, it’s very hard for her to find a good match. Unfortunately, the man she is in love with – our Gu Hai – is in love with our Bai Luoyin.
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Yan Yajing was somewhat flabbergasted as she turned toward Gu Hai and asked, “Is Di Shuang dating your brother?” Gu Hai nodded with a cold and withdrawn expression. Di Shuang suddenly pulled out a pair of gloves from her bag and handed it to Bai Luoyin. “I knitted this myself. You already know that I don’t have a lot of spare time so being able to knit this pair of gloves was not easy! You have to try it on. Let me tell you right now, you’re not allowed to dislike it!” When Di Shuang said those words, she intentionally amplified her voice as if she was purposely saying it so that someone could hear it. For some inexplicable reason, Bai Luoyin suddenly spoke, “I have a pair of gloves that I’ve been wearing for nine years now. It’s about time I change it.” “God! Aren’t you too thrifty? You wore the same pair for nine years?” Di Shuang nearly shouted as she made a fuss over nothing. Beside them, a certain someone’s heart skipped a beat. “Try it on quickly. Let’s see if it fits or not.” Di Shuang urged with a slightly blushing face. Under someone’s fierce and attentive gaze, Bai Luoyin picked up one glove and slowly pulled it up his hand. The glove was a bit small and was very thick, making it awkward to wear. When he tried to put on the other one, it was impossible for him to move the hand with the glove on. He continued to try until Di Shuang reached over to help him. “Hahaha…” Di Shuang laughed until her cheeks reddened. “One is big, and the other is small, what should we do now?” Seeing her expression, Bai Luoyin smiled sympathetically, “It’s fine, it will become the same size after a few more wears.” “Then you’re not allowed to take it off!” Di Shuang said extra loud. Bai Luoyin responded with silence. When Di Shuang did not hear Bai Luoyin’s response, her face became white with anxiety. She moved to sit next to him and quietly urged, “Can you just agree to it in front of my president?” “Why do I have to agree in front of him?” Bai Luoyin asked, puzzled by her request. Did I prompt you to do something like this? Di Shuang pressed close to Bai Luoyin’s ear, “I want him to give up.” As Bai Luoyin slightly turned to give Gu Hai a quick glance, his heart suddenly tightened when his eyes coincidentally collided with Gu Hai’s icy cold pupils. Is it possible that Gu Hai might have told Di Shuang something? However, the next thing Di Shuang said was, “Your brother has dirty thoughts of me.”35 Bai Luoyin was truly frightened hearing that. Why would Gu Hai have dirty thoughts of her? Once Bai Luoyin was able to properly collect his emotional turmoil, traces of smiles emerged on his handsome face, “Aren’t you just overthinking? Isn’t he sitting with his girlfriend?” “How am I overthinking?” Di Shuang pouted her lips, “Of course he has that type of motive. You’re making it sound like I’m imagining how he’s showering affection on an uninterested person here. Although the two are always together at work, none of us has ever heard them admit it! Besides, they don’t even look like lovers. Please! No one in the company believes they are lovers.” As if suddenly becoming aware of something, Bai Luoyin turned his head fiercely to the side and stared straight at Gu Hai. At that moment, Yan Yajing had just turned back to Gu Hai with a faint smile. “I’m really envious of Di Shuang.” 心懷不軌 Literal translation: To have evil plans in one’s heart. In this case, it can be used as to have dirty thoughts about someone. Di Shuang believed Gu Hai was interested in her – You surely think too much Xiao Di. >,< - Nancy
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“Why would you be envious of her?” Gu Hai asked with a layer of frost on his face. Yan Yajing glanced at Gu Hai, “I’m envious that she is brave enough to express her love.” Gu Hai smiled coldly, “You don’t need to be envious of her. You are more blessed than her! Isn’t she merely giving someone a present? Today, I’ll give you something.” That being said, Gu Hai carefully took out a ring from his pocket, “I’ve also worn this ring for nine years. Today, I give this to you.” Yan Yajing looked at Gu Hai with astonishment. Gu Hai was not joking around. He reached out to place that ring onto Yan Yajing’s finger. The fighter jet that silently dwelled within Bai Luoyin’s heart was charging gracefully into the sky at a forty-five was now suddenly taking a miserable dive down at a ninety-degree angle before crashing severely onto the ground until there was nothing left. He threw his gaze back on Di Shuang then spoke with a voice that concealed his emotion. “Are you able to have a peace of mind now?” Once he returned to the base, Bai Luoyin was not in the mood to do any more research. Instead, he went to each of the units and inspected their sleeping quarter. Nowadays, many of the new recruits were born in the 90s and are highly educated. Sadly, with the majority of them having been spoiled since childhood coupled with the military prohibiting corporal punishment, it has been more difficult to manage them than ever before. Although there were a few new recruits with great potentials, they have been recruited for a while now and still could not get used to the environment. As a result, Bai Luoyin has always been rather troubled. Not far in the distance, two shadows jetted to the west after hearing the sound of footsteps. Taking large strides over, Bai Luoyin was able to quickly catch up to them. Then, he skillfully seized them with one hand by the elbow and rigorously dragged them to his office. “Which unit, which platoon and which squad?”36 Once the two saw Bai Luoyin’s cold piercing glare, they were so frightened that both their legs trembled immensely as they stammered to report the situation. “What were you doing?” One of them even had the guts to fish a packet of cigarette out from his pocket and shove it into Bai Luoyin’s hand, “Major, please have a smoke.” Bai Luoyin utterly despised people without principles. After making a mistake, the first thing they thought of was not to apologize but instead it was how to avoid punishments. The truth was, Bai Luoyin already knew exactly what they were doing the moment he caught them, so interrogating them was just a form of imposing this authority and reprimanding their attitudes. “You two hid there to have a smoke, right?” Bai Luoyin asked again. This young fellow started to quibble again, “I didn’t. The cigarettes were given to me by somebody else. I didn’t smoke any and keep it in my pockets the entire time.” Without saying a word, Bai Luoyin calmly stood up. Then in front of their fearful gazes, he poured the ashes and butts into a glass of water, stirred it, and passed it over to them. “Drink it.” The other soldier’s eye widened with trepidation, “This is classified as corporal punishment.” “You can file a report against me.” Bai Luoyin said, his voice was deep and perspicacious.
連 - A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–250 soldiers and usually commanded by a major or a captain. Most companies are formed of three to six platoons, although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure. In this case we used “Unit” since the company might sound weird. 排 – Platoon; 班 - Squad
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The soldier who quibbled began to piteously implore, “…we really didn’t smoke. We just thought it was boring in the dormitory, so we went out for a breath of fresh air and chat. Can you please not make us drink this? I feel sick just looking at it.” “It’s either you drink it or be expelled, think about it yourself.” After this encounter, the two had quit smoking completely. Bai Luoyin kept busy until two o’clock in the morning. By the time he picked up his cellphone for a glance, he realized that today was actually Christmas Eve. Since it had been some time that he did not have insomnia, and coupled with the late night, Bai Luoyin tossed and turned in bed relentlessly. Although his body was worn out, his mind, however, was reluctant to relax. His cellphone suddenly rang. Out of habit, Bai Luoyin turned over and got off the bed. He truly thought that it was an urgent mission but, in the end, the caller was unexpectedly Gu Hai. His heart suddenly sank, yet he still answered. “Bai Luoyin, did you not miss me at all during the past eight years?” Bai Luoyin’s deformed fingers twisted into the corner of the blanket as an indescribable 37 sorrow penetrated into the depth of his heart. Perhaps the night was too quiet, so quiet that it makes a person unable to lie. “I did miss you.” Silence prolonged on the other end of the line, and before long, Gu Hai suddenly spoke again, “On this day eight years ago, I really regret fighting with you over a stick of tanghulu. If I knew that it was going to be the last time you got to eat it, I would have never scolded you.”
Translate: Nancy | Edit Sae
心里澀澀: Meaning 心酸, 难受。就是不开心,心里不舒服. Translate to: Bitter, unbearable. Just not happy whatsoever. Heart not at ease. So, I thought it would be appropriate to use the title name as translation. When I read this chapter for xx amount of times, I thought it was only Gu Hai who felt the sorrows based on the title and when he rang BLY. But after researching for the meaning “澀”, I realized, BLY was feeling the sorrows too! - Nancy
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15 What a Great Day!
On the 25th of the Lunar month, Gu Hai’s company has officially closed for the holiday. This flock of confined older yet successful career women was now just like beautiful small birds as they freely flew out of their cage toward the scores of nests inhabited by powerful eagles, just to enjoy being surrounded by admirers for a few days. With this vacation, Di Shuang also gained her freedom but unfortunately, Bai Luoyin remained as busy as ever. As for Gu Hai, he flew out to Qingdao to visit Mrs. Yan. After a short while of conversations, Yan Yajing dragged Gu Hai out from Mrs. Yan’s sick ward and looked over to him with a serious yet stately expression. “Gu Hai, can you help me with something?” Furrowing his brows, Gu Hai replied in a low voice, “Have you forgotten? I’ve said it before. Since the moment you saved me back then, I owe you a favor that I will definitely repay. Tell me, if I can do it, I won’t refuse.” Yan Yajing smiled wistfully, “I know for sure that you’d be able to do it. The problem is whether or not you are willing to.” With a firm tone of voice, Gu Hai said, “If I can do it, I’ll certainly be willing to.” Yan Yajing took a deep breath and let sight travel straight into Gu Hai’s abstruse eyes. “Let’s get engaged.” With just that sentence alone, Gu Hai’s complexion quickly took a turn for the worse.
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“It’s not too late for you to back out of your words now.” Controlled the astonishment that had settled in his gaze, Gu Hai sternly asked, “Tell me first, why you suddenly wanted to get engaged with me?” Yan Yajing turned around and quietly peered out the clear glass window. “I just want my mom to leave with a peace of mind. Don’t worry, it’s only an engagement, not a marriage. Once my mom passes away, we can break it off and continue being friends.” This conversation caused the knots in Yan Yajing’s heart to tighten as a sense of moroseness ate at her. The moment she saw Gu Hai’s first reaction, she had already understood his feelings toward her. But even then, she still couldn’t help but to dearly hold onto this fantasy…the fantasy that Gu Hai would take this turning point between them as an opportunity to say to her, ‘we might as well get together right away…’ Maintaining his silence, Gu Hai quietly lit a stick of cigarette. After a long time of not hearing any response, Yan Yajing suddenly let out a small laugh. “It’s okay if you don’t want to. I can just find another person. It’s just… my mom has always thought that we were together. If you were to play this role, perhaps her heart can be more at ease.” Gu Hai’s pupil sunk into the dark, “Let me think about it.” Even as the cigarette in his hand shortened, Gu Hai’s heart remaining spiraling in an unknown corner seemingly without a path to escape. “Gu Hai, can I ask you a question?” Yan Yajing abruptly spoke. Gu Hai shifted his gaze toward her. “Do you like Di Shuang?” At those ridiculous words, Gu Hai could not help but to involuntarily burst into a peal of laughter. “Why is it that you also have that kind of ideas? I’ve always thought you were smarter than all the other women in the company.” Yan Yajing spread her hand out, revealing the ring that innocently rested on her palm. “Don’t tell me… when you gave me this ring the other day, you were deliberately trying to anger the person sitting at the table next to us, right? I’m not stupid enough to naively believe that this ring was actually meant for me.” You’ve guessed correctly… unfortunately, the person that you have in mind and the person that I have in mind are two completely different people. You will never know, the lover buried deeply in my heart for the past eight years is actually a man. Seeing that Gu Hai did not respond again, Yan Yajing continued to test the waters. “On my way back yesterday, I caught a glimpse of them kissing inside the car.” His own vivid imagination and the statement that flew out of someone else’s mouth wielded two completely different yet destructive powers capable of destroying his sullen heart. At this moment, even if Gu Hai wished to conceal his emotions, it was impossible. This kind of feeling was simply too painful, too unbearable, especially during the second the words charged into his ears. The hope and delusion that lied silently in Yan Yajing’s heart were utterly shattered. She shoved the ring in Gu Hai’s hand while a smile shaded the tears that threatened to rush out, “Why can’t you just admit it now, I won’t make it hard for you. Since you already have someone in your heart, I’ll have to settle for the second best. Just pretend I’ve never said anything.” Just as Yan Yajing turned around and was about to leave, Gu Hai grabbed her arm. Yan Yajing did not have the courage to turn around anymore since her eyes were already red and brimming with unshed tears. She did not want Gu Hai to see her in such a pitiful state. “I’ll help you.” Gu Hai said indifferently. This time, Yan Yajing adamantly refused. “There’s no need to. I don’t want to be a sinner.”
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Gu Hai turned Yan Yajing around to face him which allowed her to look straight into his deep eyes before he spoke with a confident tone. “I’m more than willing to help you. I don’t have a lover right now, so you don’t need to worry about anything.” Yan Yajing stared at him in a daze. Gu Hai waved the ring in his hand as a hint of complication tugged at the smile on his lips. “The design of this ring is already outdated, and it’s also engraved with mine and someone else’s logo so it’s not very suitable for you to wear. I’ll buy a new ring as an engagement gift for you. Even though we can’t be husband and wife, at the very least, you can keep it as a memento.” After a hearty surge of cheers, several key engineers in the research facility leaped in front of the computer and incessantly hugged each other out of excitement. “After finally overcoming the first round of technical difficulties, we can all go home to celebrate New Year’s now.” Bai Luoyin narrowed his eyes and smiled while gesturing everyone to quiet down. “I’ll treat everyone to a lunch today. We should definitely find a nice place to eat.” “Hahaha…then, we’ll definitely take full advantage of you!” “Yeah, that’s right. You had us working overtime until midnight nearly every day.” In the evening, Bai Luoyin cheerfully gave Bai Hanqi a call. “Dad, I can celebrate New Year’s at home this year.” Before Bai Hanqi even had a chance to open his mouth, Bai Luoyin could already hear the undisguised enthusiasm radiating from the other side. “Alright, your mom and I have been preparing several New Year’s goods for the past two days. If you’re coming back, we’ll have to prepare a bit more.” “There’s no need to,” Bai Luoyin said. “I’m only staying at home for a few days.” “Regardless of how many days you’re staying, we still need to let you eat and drink your fill.” Soon after Bai Luoyin hung up, his phone buzzed again with a call from the hospital. “Major, I can leave the hospital now.” Bai Luoyin’s eyes lit up, “That fast? Wait for a minute, I’ll send someone to pick you up.” “Please don’t, Xiao Liang came to pick me up earlier. We’re almost at the entrance.” Bai Luoyin draped a layer of clothes over his shoulder and walked out. Not long after, he saw a car slowly approached. “Why are you standing outside?” Liu Chong asked. Bai Luoyin did not say anything as he and another military officer simply helped Liu Chong out of the car and assisted him until they reached Bai Luoyin’s dorm. “Don’t stay at your dormitory for the time being. They will arrange a single dorm for you so that you can peacefully recuperate without any disturbance. If you want to go home to celebrate the New Year, you can apply for approval from your superior. However, I don’t recommend you go home since the long-distance journey will be really awful. You should try your best to have your parents come here instead. The army will definitely help them settle down properly.” Liu Chong nodded repeatedly. “Luckily, this wound doesn’t affect my position as a pilot, otherwise, my parents would suffer!… oh yeah… Major, does this count as a meritorious service?” The corner of Bai Luoyin’s lip rose into a smirk, “I’ll definitely consider giving you one.” Liu Chong happily clapped his hands. “Then, there is hope that I might get a promotion?” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin firmly flick Liu Chong’s head, “You obsessed political climber!” Liu Chong laughed mischievously.
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Noticing that Liu Chong was having difficulties sitting up and straightening his back and waist, Bai Luoyin faced Liu Chong and said: “Lay down on my bed for a while first. Wait until they’ve finished tidying a room for you then I’ll take you there.” Liu Chong was extremely modest, “That’s not a good idea!” When Bai Luoyin’s stern gaze swept toward him, Liu Chong obediently lied down at once. Then, Bai Luoyin walked over to cover a blanket over him. Since the engineering project has finally made some progress, he could return home and celebrate New Year’s without any worries. Moreover, this kid Liu Chong had also been discharged from the hospital. The fog that had shrouded his heart for the past few days had finally dissipated today. Bai Luoyin was still lost in his own thoughts when he heard a car honked. As he peered outside, an undercurrent of emotions that lied at the depths of his serene gaze began to surge violently. Gu Hai opened his car door and stepped out, and as soon as he reached the gate, he was met face to face with Bai Luoyin. “Making a Shouzhang like you personally come out to welcome a guest like me is slightly unsuitable!” Gu Hai seemed to be in a particularly good mood today. “I’m not here to welcome you, I’m here to stop you.” “Stop me?” Gu Hai’s gaze flickered, “What, you’re hiding a mistress in there?” The corner of Bai Luoyin’s lips slightly rose up, “Don’t mention it, I’m really hiding one.” At those words, Gu Hai’s complexion changed a few shades as he followed Bai Luoyin into the room. Liu Chong was lying on the bed but when he saw a guest walked in, he sat up only to have Bai Luoyin stop him. “Behave and remain there, this is none of your business.” Witnessing this scene, there was naturally no need to explain Gu Hai’s frame of mind. However, he did not think too much of it since Bai Luoyin has a girlfriend. It’s just that an imposing discontentment was striking at his heartstrings… an exceptionally formidable one! How can an amateur soldier lie on Bai Luoyin’s bed, whereas whether he was allowed to enter the room or not depended on someone’s mood?! Bai Luoyin poured a glass of water and passed it to Gu Hai, “Why are you looking for me?” Initially, he thought that Gu Hai would sprout a multitude of excuses for the purpose of this trip but contrariwise, Gu Hai did no such thing this time around. Instead, he calmly fished out an invitation card from his pocket. The moment Bai Luoyin’s eyes made contact with that red envelop, all the muscles on his face became frozen. Gu Hai announced in an even tone: “Your brother, I, will be engaged in three days from now. As my older brother, you should come to support me, right?” Finally, Gu Hai has revealed his last lethal move which proved to be the most effective. The military officer facing him was no longer able to put on an unshakable facade or continue to put forth an indistinguishable air of indifference. He could no longer willfully use his strict and overbearing eyes as a mean to employ his power and authorities. All he could use was a sunless and miserable appearance to vividly portray the pain that relentlessly struck his heart. When Bai Luoyin’s eyes finally moved after a long while, he incredibly forced his mouth into a slight smile. This was the first time his facade did not fully conceal his misery. “Congratulations.” Now that Gu Hai had finally obtained the reaction he had longed for from Bai Luoyin, he suddenly realized there was no sense of accomplishment. However, the instant Bai Luoyin’s trembling hand took hold of the card, an insufferable and unexpected pain pierced his heart instead. At first, he had also prepared a pile of taunts but now, he was unable to utter even a single word.
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Gu Hai turned around and took his leave. Liu Chong excitedly faced Bai Luoyin and asked, “Major, is Gu-zong getting married?” With his back facing him, Bai Luoyin simply nodded. “That means, today can be considered a really great day for you!”
Translate: Sienna | Edit: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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16 During a Moment of Life and Death
After Gu Hai promised to help Yan Yajing, he went over to inform Gu Weiting of the situation the very next day. Upon hearing this news, Gu Weiting beamed with happiness and did not complain about the sudden decision or sought the woman’s side to find out their circumstances. He merely nodded repeatedly and gave a simple ‘okay’. For some reason, he acted as though his son was not a highly sought out bachelor considered to be ‘Mr. Perfect’, but rather a loser that was looking for a wife all day long. Regardless of what kind of person the woman was, as long as she was willing to be with him, Gu Weiting would gladly accept. In fact, Gu Hai has not seen that kind of smile on Gu Weiting’s face for a long time. After learning that Bai Luoyin did not go abroad, but instead enlisted in the military, Gu Hai had wanted to personally question him, however, he later dispelled this idea altogether. His father has truly aged, and this oldness did not display on his external appearance, but rather in his attitude toward his kids. Gu Hai could not remember clearly how long has been since Gu Weiting had shouted or berated him. It seems, when your parents ask for your opinions before making a decision, it is proof that they indeed have aged. On the 26th of the Lunar month, Gu Weiting and Jiang Yuan met Yan Yajing’s parents. In order to give their future-in-laws a good impression, Yan Yajing’s mother took extra effort to dress up before leaving the hospital, nevertheless, it was impossible to conceal the morbid condition that rode across her face. Yan Yajing’s father is a senior official in the government of
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Shandong Province and has met Gu Weiting once. However, since this had occurred a few years ago, neither has any recollection of it. The two influential families soon sat around the table, all wearing a joyous expression. Gu Hai was the first to grab Yan Yajing’s hand before standing up with her. Then he looked at Gu Weiting and Jiang Yuan and said, “This is my girlfriend, Yan Yajing.” Yan Yajing kept her eyes peeled as she called out: “Uncle, auntie, hello.” Jiang Yuan smiled and said, “How unexpected! Yan Yajing is so beautiful.” “Thank you, Auntie,” replied Yan Yajing, feeling slightly embarrassed. Seeing his future daughter-in-law for the first time, Gu Weiting could not help but said a few courteous words, “My son doesn’t have any phenomenal skills or patience and sometimes he can’t control his temper. All of which are taken after me. It is inevitable that you two will bump heads here and there once you start living together. When that time comes, I hope that you can tolerate and forgive him—” Sitting at the side, Mr. Yan interrupted. “Lao Gu, you’re being too modest, being able to marry Xiao Hai is our daughter’s blessing,” he shifted his warm gaze towards Yan Yajing before speaking with a rather loving tone, “We only have this one daughter here who has always been spoiled since she was young. Even at this age, she still doesn’t know how to cook. Frankly, we’ll be content if your family doesn’t kick her out.” Hearing those words, even Mrs. Yan started to laugh and nod in agreement. Yan Yajing introduced Gu Hai to her parents again. Gu Hai stood up and respectfully offered Mr. Yan a glass of wine and cheered with him before saying a few simple words to them. Observing Gu Hai’s behaviors, Mr. Yan was pleased with this future son-in-law. He was truly worthy of being the son of a General. His every movement exposed a domineering appearance that was neither cowardice nor brash, even the way he spoke was with sensibility and his action sagacious. Being able to entrust his daughter to this kind of man would surely let them feel at ease. While they were eating, Jiang Yuan nudged Gu Weiting before she lightly laughed and said: “Lao Gu, look at the two of them. Does it seem like, the more you look the more suited they are for each other?” A simple smile emerged on Gu Weiting’s lips, but he remained silent. Suddenly, Mr. Yan innocently asked Gu Weiting, “Don’t you have another son?” Hearing that, Jiang Yuan scrambled to replied, “Yes! That son of ours is an Air Force Fighter pilot. He’s also 26 years old this year and is already a Major in the military.” Mr. Yan glanced at Gu Weiting and Jiang Yuan with enviousness crowded in his eyes, then asked again, “Then, is that son married yet?” “Not yet.” Jiang Yuan hesitated then smiled, “But, it should be soon…quite soon.” A burst of light flitted across Gu Hai’s eyes. Mrs. Yan’s hoarse voice sounded. “Since it’s going to happen soon, why don’t we let them hold their weddings together? That way you’ll be able to fulfill both your wishes at the same time.” “That son of ours is not in a hurry. It doesn’t help that he currently has many important missions to prioritize first. Also, given that his lifestyle is not quite stable yet, it won’t be too late to think about this later on. It’s important that we take care of Xiao Hai’s engagement first, if they are delayed any longer, then we’ll be the ones that are going to regret the most!” “Yes, yes, yes…you see, my health is not good. I’ve been looking forward to seeing my daughter married off for a while now.” “You must be happy to see that your daughter will be getting married soon. Perhaps, this illness will be cured.”
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This meal was eaten with an incomparable sense of harmony as the two families laughed and talked cheerfully. And, given that Yan Yajing had been picking food and placing it on Gu Hai’s plate, it was impossible to see that this sweet couple was pretending. It has been a long time since Gu Weiting had drank this much. As a result, he swayed a bit when he walked toward the bathroom and Gu Hai had to support him on the way there. While the two were washing their hands, Gu Weiting suddenly called out ‘son’ causing Gu Hai to twist his head toward him. The intense and sharp gaze that was usually drawn in Gu Weiting’s eyes has faded and even his tone was soaked with a hint of intoxication. “Actually, dad knows that you’ve suffered for the past eight years…” At those words, Gu Hai’s hand paused. The water from the faucet that has yet to be turned off flowed against the bowl of the sink, just like the thoughts and sadness that flowed all these years. “Dad, you drank too much. Let’s go out now.” Gu Weiting waved his hand, “I didn’t drink a lot.” With that, Gu Hai simply pulled him out. No matter what I say now, it’s useless. It’s best to let him peacefully pass over this year! In just a glance, the days quickly flew towards the 28th of the Lunar month. On the early morning of this day, Yan Yajing was pulled into the dressing room to begin a day of many and complicated makeup session. When she finally emerged a bit later, her immediate surrounding was infiltrated by loud screams and unsurprisingly, many of those screams came from her colleagues that were invited. Now with the camera that they had prepared earlier, they quickened to face it towards Yan Yajing and fiercely snapped pictures of her. After they were done with that, they remained to exchange some words with each other which caused the entire banquet hall to be filled with excitement and liveliness. Once ten o’clock rolled around, one by one, all the guests started to enter the hall. Gu Hai was standing not too far from the entrance. Every time, he saw elders or friends that he was familiar with, he would politely step forward and greet them with some kind words. He was waiting for someone else the entire time. This kind of anticipation left a sensation that felt like being devoured to the bone by a million fire ants. He does not understand why he was waiting or what he would say once that person appeared. It was a feeling of refusing to be convinced until you are faced with the grim reality. Before long, two very familiar silhouettes collided into Gu Hai’s line of sight. Seeing them, Gu Hai’s eyes immediately stained with heat. Even though he had mentally prepared himself earlier, but the moment he saw Bai Hanqi and Aunt Zou, he still found it a bit difficult to breathe. Ban Han Qi had clearly aged and even hunched a bit when he walked, but his face still bore that same warm smile as it had before. Aunt Zou, on the other hand, still carried the same honest and simple appearance as she closely followed beside Bai Hanqi, revealing a worried expression from time to time. Once he spotted Gu Hai on the other side, Bai Hanqi’s footsteps came to a halt. The stinking brat that called him ‘Uncle’ back then was now impeccably attired in suits and ties as he stood elegantly in front of him. In a flash eight years sauntered by, the son that had once threw himself on the ground and kneeled before his foot had enlisted because of him. And now, the person who stayed in the dark and lonely tunnel starving for the sake of his own son was going to enter a wedding hall. Gu Hai walked toward Bai Hanqi’s side, and his tone was somewhat unsteady as he spoke. “Uncle, auntie, you’re both here.”
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Aunt Zou was startled as she reached out to grab Gu Hai’s arm and exerted some strength as she carefully looked him up and down, then with an amazed expression, she turned towards Bai Hanqi, “This…this can’t be Da Ha, right?” “What nonsense are you saying? Who are we here for today?” Emotionally stirred and feeling rather excited, Aunt Zou incessantly said, “Just look, look, this child has really changed so much!! I could barely recognize you! In my heart, you’re still that high school student who would always be the first to report to my breakfast stall every day. In just an instant, you already have your own company!” Bai Hanqi patted Gu Hai’s shoulder and happily said, “My child, uncle came to congratulate you!” Gu Hai remembered that eight years ago when they confessed their relationship to Bai Hanqi, he had also patted his shoulder like this, but at that time, he did not even say one word. Calmly sorting his feelings, Gu Hai led Bai Hanqi and Aunt Zou to the guest seating area. Along the way, Gu Hai casually asked, “How come Tong Tian didn’t come?” Aunt Zou simply laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed. “There is too much work in high school that he has to keep up with and it’s rather bunched in together. He also has an end of the semester exam coming up. So, I told him he can’t come.” Hearing that, Gu Hai’s eyes became red. In his heart, Meng Tong Tian was still the brat who would always hug his legs all day long and called him ‘Gege’. “Oh, that’s right, how are grandpa and grandma’s health?” asked Gu Hai, remembering their warm presence whenever he visited. Bai Hanqi faintly replied, “One passed away two years ago and the other last year.” Gu Hai’s heart dropped, stopping him from asking again. He always remembered that Grandpa Bai was fond of sitting on a campstool and used a rectangular piece of paper to roll up the broken pieces of tobacco leaf before he smoked it one puff at a time. One time he went to ask Grandpa Bai to roll one for him, and when he took a drag of it, he discovered that it was especially strong. When Grandpa Bai caught sight of his distorted expression, he had even laughed mischievously revealing his badly damaged and incomplete set of old teeth. “Even you cannot rule him?”38 “Comrade Liu Shaoqi39 was the one who led us to plant this plot of crop.” “Mao dūdū40 is the reddest, reddest, red sun.” After Bai Luoyin washed his face and changed into his military uniform, he stood in front of the mirror, emitting a threatening yet heroic aura. The car was already prepared for him and the chauffeur was also waiting outside. Bai Luoyin conveniently picked up the invitation card that was on the table and stared silently at the two characters of Gu Hai’s name. Then he closed the card and let his rigid footsteps move to the door. The weather outside was bitterly cold and perforated deeply into the bones. Even you cannot rule over him? - refers to the strength of the cigarette, although this was also used when someone, I think Bai Hanqi, asked Gu Hai, if even he cannot rule over Bai Luoyin. 39 Comrade Liu Shaoqi - (Liu Shao-ch’i) chairman of the People’s Republic of China (1959–68) and chief theoretician for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), who was considered the heir apparent to Mao Zedong until he was purged in the late 1960s. Liu was active in the Chinese labour movement from its inception, and he was influential in formulating party and, later, governmental strategy. He played an important role in Chinese foreign affairs after the communists had gained control of the country. 40 Mao dūdū - Mao Ze Dong; Grandpa Bai is saying, Chairman Mao is the Red Sun. This is derived from the say, “The East is red and the sun rises; in China there emerges Mao Tse-tung.” 38
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Just as Bai Luoyin was about to get into the car, he suddenly saw two familiar figures flashing by from the side. His grabbed one of them, “Where are you frantically rushing to?” “There’s an urgent mission. You weren’t informed?” Bai Luoyin has yet to respond when the two briskly ran off. “You can wait here for me for a bit,” Bai Luoyin said as he threw his wallet toward the chauffeur and ran after those men. “Now that the enemy aircraft has illegally intruded into our territorial airspace, we must urgently dispatch two fighters to intercept them. Since we are unable to accurately determine the speed and performance of this aircraft, your life may be at risk at any given time. This is the moment that you’ll be put to the test. I won’t say anything else. Write your will!” Hearing these words, the color on their faces suddenly turned a deathly pale. Although they were both firm and unyielding men who had gone through countless real combat practices when it came to a moment of life and death, no one would dare to rashly nod their heads. “Do you want to disobey a direct order?” the Chief of Staff’s expression sank with seriousness. With that, both their hearts immediately fell into a deep ravine. Suddenly, a voice sounded off from behind them. “I’ll go.” The Chief of Staff’s expression loosened once he saw Bai Luoyin not too far away. Bai Luoyin was exceptionally calm, “I’ll go. I don’t need to write a will.”
Translate: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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17 A Fierce Combat!
The fighter aircraft41 that invaded the country’s territorial airspace was of unknown origin. Once Bai Luoyin’s fighter aircraft successfully ascend into the skyline, he swiftly launched into a thorough search of the immediate surrounding for the exact location of the other aircraft. However, since the size of the aircraft was small, its infrared radiation signal was rather low, making it relatively difficult for the radar to detect and track its whereabouts. At this point, Bai Luoyin could only rely on his naked eyes to search. Taking full advantage of his aircraft, that was designed for high -speed performances, he rapidly lessened the gap between him and the enemy target. At last, Bai Luoyin pinpointed the target—utilizing his sharp-witted and fast reflexes, he shot out a missile. To his surprise, the enemy aircraft immediately released an interference missile and Fighter Aircraft; the original word that CJD used here is 侦察机 means, “surveillance aircraft” or “spy plane” but we did some research and found that, “...surveillance aircraft usually carry no armament, or only limited defensive armament. A surveillance aircraft doesn’t necessarily require high-performance capability or stealth characteristics. It may be a modified civilian aircraft.” Therefore, it is not plausible that a ‘surveillance aircraft’ can actually engage in such an intense combat with Bai Luoyin’s fighter aircraft that’s designed for air-to-air combat with other aircraft in an offensive and defensive role. It is light, agile, fast and highly maneuverable, and are capable of carrying missiles, rockets and cannons. Which means, there is a higher chance of it out maneuvering and taking down the surveillance aircraft. With this, Nancy and I concluded that CJD made a mistake by using the words 侦察机 ‘surveillance aircraft’ so we decided to change it to a fighter aircraft as well since CJD mentioned it later on. In this way, the other aircraft can properly party with Bai Luoyin.
41
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astutely avoided Bai Luoyin’s missile attack. Seizing this opportunity, Bai Luoyin continued to pursue and attack the formidable enemy, seemingly pushing it to retreat. His constant acceleration in the air and relentless pursuit and attack led him to traverse all of China’s land until he reached the western regions. At first, the enemy aircraft had employed an evasion tactic since it did not expect that Bai Luoyin would pursue so adamantly and strike fiercely. Eventually, the enemy aircraft could not bear the burden of defeat, consequently causing it to retaliate and utilize an all-out attack tactic instead. As a result, the two fighters launched into fierce combat in the air. The enemy’s fighter aircraft that had been flying at a relatively low speed suddenly accelerated the moment it was in a good firing range, and immediately shot a missile. In a split second, Bai Luoyin evaded the missile as his aircraft agilely performed a Herbst maneuver.42 After twisting and turning the aircraft a few more times, the capacity at which Bai Luoyin’s body could withstand the force of those overturned maneuvers43 quickly approached its limit. As a gush of blood rushed down from his temple, his brain quickly lost its supply of blood which in turn caused his vision to become blurry. However, not a hint of fear lied dormant in his heart. In his eyes, everything was unworthy of his attention. Suddenly, Bai Luoyin received another warning from the traffic collision avoidance system44 informing that the two were about to intersect. Hearing this, Bai Luoyin subconsciously performed another high-speed and rather risky maneuver which threw the enemy’s aircraft directly in front of him, making this an optimum position to launch an attack. With this, the enemy aircraft that had intended to mount a sneak attack from behind did not get a chance to employ its tactic since Bai Luoyin's aircraft ended up behind it instead. Now, it was clear that the enemy aircraft was at a complete disadvantage. Bai Luoyin seized this grand opportunity to attack. Just as the first missile was launched, the left wing of the enemy’s aircraft ignited into an enormous fire. Immediately after, the second missile was launched, causing an earth-shattering, ‘boom’ to resonate as the enemy’s aircraft exploded in the air. In seconds, the fragments exploded in all directions before changing into a thick cloud of smoke in front of Bai Luoyin’s eyes. Just as Bai Luoyin prepared to return, the body of the aircraft suddenly shook irregularly. Bai Luoyin attempted to eliminate this malfunction, but unfortunately, every one of the control panel had gone out of control. As a result, the aircraft began to veer in a downward motion. At that moment, Bai Luoyin’s head was already facing downward which caused his brain to be in a severe hyperemia state.45 Since both of his legs were hanging in the air, it made it difficult for him to reach the control lever. And, even if he wanted to control the aircraft, it was already a challenge in and of itself. Soon, Bai Luoyin could thoroughly sense that the aircraft was descending. He peered out of the corner of his eyes, it was clear that beneath him was a massive swamp. Herbst maneuver (also known as J-turn) - an air combat maneuver that uses post-stall technology such as thrust vectoring and advanced flight controls to achieve high angles of attack. The Herbst maneuver allows an aircraft to quickly reverse direction using a combination of high angle-of-attack and rolling. **Please note - CJD did not use this term to define was maneuver was employed, she defined it as a high angle maneuver. After some research, the Herbst maneuver makes the most sense to have been used in by Bai Luoyin during combat. 43 大過載機動: Aircraft maneuvering overload refers to the aircraft's body structured in high-speed flight, especially in a variety of high-speed, violent maneuver to its maximum acceleration that can bear. 44 Traffic collision avoidance system or traffic alert and collision avoidance system (both abbreviated as TCAS, pronounced tee-kas) is an aircraft collision avoidance system designed to reduce the incidence of mid-air collisions between aircraft. 45 Hyperemia - an excess of blood in the vessels supplying an organ or other part of the body. 42
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The instant he escaped via a parachute, a monstrous ball of fire exploded right in front of Bai Luoyin’s eyes. He suddenly remembered the scene of the car accident eight years ago. …. now, all the fears that lay inert and hidden at the depth of his heart for all these years has finally broken free. So…as it turns out, death is merely this. Wearing a beautiful and elegant outfit, the emcee walked in front of Gu Hai and whispered: “It’s almost time, can we start now?” Gu Hai swiftly glanced at his watch before he swept his gazes across the hall packed with all the guests just to see that only one figure was still missing. “Let’s wait just a bit longer.” During the entire time, Yan Yajing stood next to Mrs. Yan. Mrs. Yan, on the other hand, appeared to be even more anxious than Yan Yajing herself as she incessantly questioned closely, “Why hasn’t the ceremony started? Why hasn’t the ceremony started?” Losing her patience from the repetitive questions, Yan Yajing went to stand beside Gu Hai. “Are we still waiting on someone?” Gu Hai’s serene and deep-seated eye flitted toward Yan Yajing before he calmly said three words, “Bai Luoyin.” “Oh…” Yan Yajing’s complexion immediately changed. “Then, let’s wait a bit more.” By now, all the guests had been seated, and beside the employees and waitresses, the only person still hovering near the entrance was Gu Hai—anxiety was faintly exuding from the depth of his eyes. And for some reason, his chest was being constantly crushed with worry and oppression. Gu Weiting stood up and walked over to Gu Hai. “What are you waiting for?” Gu Wei Ying asked. Gu Hai shot him a glance then faintly replied, “Bai Luoyin isn’t here yet.” As expected, hearing that name coil out of Gu Hai’s mouth, Gu Wei Ying still felt rather uneasy. Consequently, his tone harshened. “You aren’t going to make Xiao Yan’s parents wait with you just because of him, are you?” Gu Hai glanced at Mrs. Yan and saw that her complexion had already worsened. He reckoned the reason was due to her unwell body, plus having stayed in a noisy environment for too long. “Okay…” Just as Gu Hai was about to move his feet, he caught sight of a silhouette at the entrance. Unfortunately, it was not the person he had been waiting for, but rather, it was an unknown officer. The officer walked next to Gu Weiting and moved close to his ear before whispering something that beckoned Gu Weiting’s expression to change abruptly. Gu Weiting’s glanced quickly at Gu Hai but then shifted his gaze away just as quickly. It was precisely this one glance that made Gu Hai’s heart suffered such an intensive strike. With just one huge step, he stood sternly in front of the two conversing men and asked with a gloomy tone: “Did something happen?” “It’s has nothing to do with you,” Gu Weiting said, his expression was even darker. “Just go do what you have to do. Something came up at the base, so I’ll go take a look. The ceremony should be held as planned. I…” “Something happened to Yin Zi, right?” Gu Hai swiftly interrupted Gu Wei Ying’s words. Gu Wei Ying’s expression changed yet again as he angrily said, “This is the military’s internal affairs, it has nothing to do with you.”
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“Is it Yin Zi?!!” Gu Hai roared without any warning Gu Weiting maintained a stiffened face, without uttering a word. The once boisterous hall immediately sank into a deathly stillness. All the guest threw their gazes over at Gu Hai and Gu Weiting, unaware of what had happened. Yan Ya Yin watched Gu Hai from a short distance while her heart tightened with knots. She could faintly sense that a rather unfavorable situation is about to occur. Gu Hai briskly walked past Gu Weiting before continuing to take stride steadily yet swiftly over toward the entrance. “Get back here!!” Gu Weiting roared in anger. Right in front of the two flabbergasted security guards, Gu Hai simply walked out. “Seize him!” Once the command filtered the hall, three to four security guards along with a few staff members all uniformly chased after Gu Hai. Like the meteor rain, Gu Hai’s large strides shot through the many halls. And, in front of everyone’s inquisitive eyes, he directly jumped out of the window from the third floor. Gu Weiting rushed after only to see seven to eight people standing rather upright at the head of a flight of stairs, all wearing terrified expressions. “Where is he?” One of the security guards said: “He jumped…jumped out of the building.” With an ashen face, Gu Weiting hurried toward the window. When he looked down, his son had already driven away without even so much a second thought for those left behind. Yan Yajing also walked out and looked dispiritedly at Gu Weiting like a lost soul. “Uncle, what exactly happened?” Gu Weiting composed himself, then lowered his voice and said: “Something happened at home and Xiao Hai is worried for his Ge’s safety, so he went to the base first. I also have to go there for a look. I’ll have to trouble you to let your parents know that we are very ashamed and sorry for what has happened today. Once the matter is settled, we will definitely pay you a visit to apologize properly.” Yan Yajing was very gracious about this, “Uncle, please don’t say this. Please go ahead. Nothing is more important than a person’s life.” Gu Wei Ying nodded and hastily left with another officer. Yan Yajing sighed. As expected, nothing good ever comes out of lying. By the time Gu Hai arrived at the scene, it was already nightfall. Aside from the few soldiers that were monitoring and investigation the scene, he could only see the remains of the aircraft that spread across the field. As the whistling chilly wind blew, a sense of heaviness weighed down on Gu Hai’s entire frame. When he saw an officer walked toward his direction with a remorseful expression, he instantly had the impulse to rip that face off. “When Bai Luoyin’s fighter aircraft went into combat with the enemy’s, the monitor from our control tower displayed that after our aircraft had successfully shot down the enemy’s aircraft, something unexpected happened…” “I don’t want the details,” Gu Hai said with eyes that held no emotions. “You just need to tell me the result.” The officer swallowed then spoke with a gloomy tone, “The aircraft crashed, and the pilot has gone missing.” Missing? What a nice way to express it…
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Since ancient times, many brave warriors had gone missing from all types of accidents, and even unto this day, there has yet to be news of them whatsoever. The officer carefully added, “The moment before the aircraft exploded, Bai Luoyin chose to use the parachute. From what we’ve seen, it was within a safe height range, therefore the chances of his survival are high.” “Where did he jump off?” Gu Hai asked calmly. The officer lowered his head and quietly said, “It’s unclear at the moment.” “Where did he jump off?!” The chillness in Gu Hai’s gaze was enough to make the howling wind retreat. The officer’s voice was decrepit, “…the swamp.” At that word, Gu Hai’s body trembled of its own accord as a gush of blood flowed directly into his brain while a rather mournfully brittle sound came charging from his tightened fists. “Why was he sent to carry out on such a dangerous mission? What the fuck do you all do? There are so many air force soldiers, why was he the only one sent to die?” At that moment, Gu Hai was like a wild lion who has lost control and was frantically attacking and tearing away anyone he seized. The officer hastily explained, “I don’t know, I’m not in charge of this. I’m only responsible for search and rescue. If there wasn’t an accident, I… I would not be here…” Gu Hai’s blood-thirsty eyes stared ruthlessly at the innocent face in front of him, he really resented shallow people who just simply do not know how to care. “The army has already sent troops here to perform a widespread search and rescue. It’s a guarantee that we’ll find him within two days….” Gu Hai took his leave with the frosty wind. Even if you have sunk into the swamp, I will still pull you out!! A moment before Bai Luoyin landed, he was still thinking about how deep his body would sink. If he sank from his stomach and down, it meant there was still a chance for survival. If he sank to up to his chest but below his neck, then that will have to depend on his luck. And if his whole head was pulled under, then it would just be a matter of waiting to die! In the next second, he felt a burst of pain from blunt friction, causing half his body to go numb. Bai Luoyin took in a mouthful of cold air. It was only after the pain dwindled did he realized that something was not right. What’s going on? Isn’t this a swamp? Bai Luoyin sat up and pressed his hand on the ground, only to discover that it was sturdy.
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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18 At Last His Sweetheart is Found
That’s weird… Bai Luoyin scanned the area and wherever he looked, it was untamed nature. Water moss spread all over the place, resembling a piece of carpet, whereas the surroundings were all low-lying swamp—he had landed on a piece of highland. From the look of it, the judgment he had made while still on the plane was not wrong after all. Furthermore, his luck had allowed him to land on the firm ground in the middle of these deadly swamps. Lowering his head, he could see that not only was his pilot suit still intact, it was also in a pretty good condition. Surprisingly, he did not receive any injuries either. Seems like my life is not meant to end yet. Taking a deep breath, Bai Luoyin stood up and evaluated the landscape. From his experiences in the numerous wilderness survival training, he quickly calculated that aside from this piece of solid land beneath his feet, the surrounding area was besieged by the dangerous swamp that could not be stepped on. To verify his deduction, Bai Luoyin broke several branches from the tree behind him, joined them together and poked at a point not far away from his location. After poking around several times, there was apparently no hard ground that could be felt. Bai Luoyin was dumbstruck, how the fuck am I supposed to get out of here? A moment ago, he was still deeply moved by God’s favoritism toward him, but now, he realized that he was, in fact, God’s puppet—God’s favorite game was to offer him a piece of cake first before giving him a huge slap in the face! Bai Luoyin impetuously walked around the huge tree
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once. The longer he looked at the circle he drew, the more he felt like it resembled the face of a watch, silently counting the time that separated him from death. Trying not to get frustrated, Bai Luoyin sat heavily on the ground. All he could only do was wait to be rescued. Perhaps he was too exhausted so the moment he sat down, he immediately fell asleep. Later, the cold assailing him brought him back to awareness with a jolt. After he woke up, he discovered that the sky was already blanketed by a dark layer of dense fog that rose ominously above the surroundings, making it felt like a warning sign in a horror movie right before a haunting would occur. However, Bai Luoyin was not afraid at all. Instead, he wished for a ghost would emerge and ferry him away from this place. Feeling that his lips were slightly dry, Bai Luoyin looked around. Although there was no shortage of water in the swamps, sadly it poisonous and impossible to consume. As a result, with an unwavering determination, he started to dig holes around the tree roots. After having dug for about three hours, he could sense the soil moistening. With that, Bai Luoyin took off his shirt, wrapped it around the damped soil and wrung it tightly until water came out. In no time, he collected half a helmet of water. After several big gulps of water, Bai Luoyin wiped his mouth clean and continued to lean against the tree trunk to rest. Just as Bai Luoyin narrowed his sleepy eyes into the empty night, he suddenly noticed a ray of red light flashing repeatedly. It was clearly an airplane. Rescue is here!! Bai Luoyin stood up with excitement and incessantly shouted toward the sky. He had even tied the parachute rope to the tree branches, turning into a flag before madly waving it around nonstop. During the entire time, that beam of bright light merely hovered around at a low altitude but never approached his area. Bai Luoyin was also fully aware that the chances of being discovered were tremendously low. Also, since they had already scanned this area, who knows if they would come a second time…but even knowing this, he was unwilling to give up hope. Consequently, he found two pieces of stone and started to stroke them sharply together several times with all his might. Sparks of flame had been ignited, but the plants around him were simply too wet which made it impossible to light a fire. The only dry object in his possession was the flying suit he was currently wearing. But what if after it was burnt and the rescue team did not come, wouldn’t he freeze to death?! By the time Bai Luoyin lifted his head once again, he discovered that the beam of bright light had gone further away. Forget it, Bai Luoyin finally gave up and continued to sit at the same spot again. Fortunately, his pilot suit was thick enough to withstand the frigid cold. Bai Luoyin lied down and prepared to sleep. After folding the parachute in two, he laid one side of the parachute on the ground beneath his body as a mat while the other half covered his body like a blanket. However, as he slept, he started to turn over out of habit and as a result, the makeshift bedding haphazardly rolled over his body. When a sudden gust of wind regrettably blew by, the parachute took solace and ran off with it. At that time, Bai Luoyin sensed something strange and abruptly woke with a startle. He unconsciously pulled only to realize that the parachute had already been overflowed with a burst of wind, that nearly dragged Bai Luoyin off with it. Seeing no other option, Bai Luoyin went against his own will and released all at once. In just the blink of an eye, he watched as both his makeshift bedding and blanket blew away right in front of his own eyes.
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Since the search team that the armed forces sent out was unsuccessful for several nights, Gu Hai personally dispatched his aircraft. But even then, he was unable to track Bai Luoyin’s whereabouts. Seeing that the sky was about to brighten up, the pilot glanced at Gu Hai and hesitantly seek his opinion. “How about we find a place to rest and eat something for a bit first?” Gu Hai merely replied him with one word, “Continue.” While they relentlessly searched until daybreak, the area was suddenly shrouded with thick fogs. Even if they flew at a low altitude, it would still be a difficult feat to clearly see the ground. When midday rolled in, the weather was exceptionally strange, making it extremely challenging for the aircraft to even remain in the air. Consequently, air search was temporarily on standby. Unable to wait any longer, Gu Hai drove the car straight into the depths of the wilderness. Before the off-road vehicle could make it halfway, it sank into a mud pit and worse, the engine decided to stall. Having anticipated that this kind of situation would occur, Gu Hai took out a backpack that he had prepared in advance and strapped it on his back before proceeding to push further into the depths of the swamp. For the entire afternoon, Gu Hai only relied on his eyes to judge his surroundings and a wooden stick to feel out the ground nearby his feet as he arduously progressed forward with much difficulty, one shallow, one deep step at a time. After a while, he had lost count of the number of times he had misjudged and accidentally stepped into the swamp and had to rely solely on his tenacious perseverance and willpower to drag himself out from the bog. When the veil of night descended, tracking became increasingly difficult causing his speed to slow down. There were even some places that he simply could not go through at all, yet Gu Hai still risked his life to cross over. Another sleepless night prevailed, and the bag Gu Hai brought filled with water and food remained intact since he never touched any of it. Besides searching for Bai Luoyin, Gu Hai did not think about anything else. Without having personally faced death, he would never have known what the most important thing to him was. At that moment, Gu Hai had entirely discarded all his hate and resentment. He completely understood what kind of mindset and feelings Bai Luoyin had held at that time. If he could find Bai Luoyin in this second, he would be utterly elated even if he had to let him go and get married in the next second! When there is no one to live for, life is not worth it! When the surroundings were gradually bathed in soft light, Gu Hai’s steps hastened. As he stopped in front of a vast stretch of swamp, he was still pondering deeply on which side he should go when he suddenly noticed a large piece of cloth hanging from a low tree trunk not too far from where he stood. His heart was seized with a constricting tightness as he shifted with utmost care and picked up the cloth for a look. It was a completely intact parachute with a knot on its rope. The knot was obviously not caused by the ropes being tangled in the wind, it was a handmade knot. Gu Hai’s heart began to pound wildly as his eyes radiated with excitement. Bai Luoyin is definitely still alive!! It has already been three days and after Bai Luoyin counted the date with his fingers, he realized that it was already New Year’s Eve. Thinking about the phone call he made to Bai Hanqi a few days ago and recalling how excited his father sounded, he could not help but feel upset. It was not easy for him to go home to celebrate the New Year, but as a result, he had failed to uphold his promise to the old couple.
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Aunt Zou had definitely cooked a table of delicious food, waiting for me to come home. As an image of the table packed with all kinds of mouthwatering dishes came into his mind, Bai Luoyin’s already bitter heart began to agonize. Turning his head around to look at the tree above him, he had almost finished gnawing at all the tree barks. One of Bai Luoyin’s arm encircled the tree trunk while he leaned his head against it and stare blankly into the distance. Dumpling, zucchini, and egg filled dumplings…… Riddled with hunger, Bai Luoyin could sense his mind waning. As he looked on in a daze, Bai Luoyin saw a silhouette swaying back and forth not too far away. At first, he thought his mind had conjured some sort of hallucination, why would someone appear in such a desolate and remote area like this?! As soon as Gu Hai saw Bai Luoyin, his legs immediately froze! “Yin Zi!!” Hearing a faint voice journey toward him, Bai Luoyin’s eyes quickly shot open. To his surprise, someone was really standing a little over ten meters away from him. As he narrowed his eyes for a closer look, it was actually Gu Hai! Although Gu Hai had been coated in layers of mud, Bai Luoyin could still recognize him with just one glance. An immense wave of emotions rolled intensely within his heart. Bai Luoyin suddenly stood up and incessantly waved his hand toward the other side. “Da Hai, Da Hai, I’m over here!!” Gu Hai wiped the sweats that had shyly formed on his forehead before he laughed in relief. “Alright, altogether it’s only a little over ten meters away, why do you have to shout so loudly? I’m not deaf!” The truth is, Bai Luoyin did not want to shout that loud either…but, once his emotions gushed out, it was extremely hard to contain them. In this kind of vast wilderness, even if a mosquito flew by, Bai Luoyin would gladly treat it as a dear family, let alone this person being Gu Hai! “Stand there and don’t move! I’m coming over right now!” Gu Hai shouted. Hearing those words, Bai Luoyin’s expression abruptly changed as he anxiously urged Gu Hai, “Don’t come over!! It’s dangerous!!” “It’s okay!! I can make it!!” But the moment Gu Hai was about to take a step forward, he heard Bai Luoyin howled in madness from the other side. “Believe it or not, if you fucking dare to take even a step, I’ll throw myself into the swamp!” After Gu Hai caught a quick glimpse of Bai-shouzhang’s forthright yet domineering attitude, he had no choice but to awkwardly retracted his foot. Anyways, since he found him already, it did not matter much that he had to wait a bit longer. And it just so happens that he was also rather beaten. Knowing that this swamp was truly enormous and terrifying, he should save some of the strength before venturing out into any more dangerous area. With that in mind, he took his backpack off and placed it on the ground before sitting and breathing rather heavily. Once Bai Luoyin saw Gu Hai sat down, he was able to temporarily breathe a sigh of relief. When he took another glance and saw Gu Hai’s bag, his eyes immediately lighten up before he yelled loudly: “What do you have in there?!” Gu Hai fished out a bottle of water from the bag, twisted the cap open and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls. Not long after, he shouted back, “It’s all food, do you want it?”
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Both of Bai Luoyin’s eyes immediately lit up with a raging fire before he tore at his throat and yelled: “Is there any zucchini and egg stuffed dumpling?” Gu Hai laughed from being annoyed, “It wasn’t easy for me to get here and you still want me to fucking bring you dumplings?!! Was I supposed to bring you two sticks of tanghulu too?!!” “Braised pork legs with sweet soy sauce, steamed fish in chili and vinegar sauce, vegetable spring pancake rolls, steamed cut pork, minced pork pie, and baked wheaten cake stewed in soy sauce…” Bai Luoyin shouted loudly toward the other side like he was ordering food, whilst his drools reached three feet long. With just one glance, he does not even resemble an honorable Major, but rather an evil little brat who has been starved for days! Gu Hai did not know what to say to make it better. He’s still fucking like this…when he acts cute, he is more lovable than anybody else! “Quick, throw it over here. Hurry upppppp!” Bai Luoyin urged him in a loud voice. Gu Hai deliberately made Bai Luoyin anxious, “What if I can’t throw it accurately? Wouldn’t it be a waste if it landed in the swamp?” Wearing a dark face, Bai Luoyin bellowed in anger: “Can’t you just throw it accurately?” Gu Hai raised his head and relying on a bag of food, his arrogant manner reemerged. “I can’t throw it accurately!” Bai Luoyin hastily turned around to search for a rod, but he realized it was not long enough. Instead, he snapped off two tree branches and connected them together. However, before Bai Luoyin managed to finish what he was working on, a piece of bread landed right on his feet. Once Bai Luoyin looked up, he saw a string tied to bread. From the look of it, Gu Hai had prepared beforehand. I’ll fucking get even with you after I finish eating… Bai Luoyin ruthlessly took a huge bite from the bread, this taste delicious! “Yin Zi!!!!!” A completely unexpected roar reverberated, causing Bai Luoyin to suddenly choke on the bread in his mouth. After catching his breath, he hastily shifted his gaze toward the other side. “I finally found you!!” This fierce howl broke through the sky, and even though they were separated by only a little over ten meters, Bai Luoyin’s eardrums stung with a stab of pain. “You didn’t yell a moment ago. Why the hell are you yelling now?!!” Gu Hai’s pitch-black face revealed an alluring smile, “I only realized it now!!” This time, Gu Hai did not exaggerate his words at all. When Bai Luoyin stood on the other side and persistently waved his hands and shouted at him earlier, the only reason he was able to remain so calm was completely due to his slow reaction.
Translate: Sienna | Edit: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
The title, “At Last his Sweetheart is Found”, the word sweetheart in the title has another meaning in Chinese, which is ‘conscience’ or ‘heart’. It’s so touching that the title implies Gu Hai finding Bai Luoyin back not only mean he found his beloved person, but also his heart and conscience.
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“Braised pork legs with sweet soy sauce, steamed fish in chili and vinegar, vegetable spring pancake rolls, white cut pork, minced pork pie, baked wheaten cake stewed in soy sauce…”: Get ready for a spam of delicious food down below~~ (Seriously, searching for the pictures of these food is making me hungry, and it’s midnight now TT__TT) PS: the images don’t belong to us, courtesy to various websites.) Steamed fish in chili and vinegar sauce
Vegetable Spring Roll
Minced Pork Pie
Braised pork legs with sweet soy sauce
Steam Cut Pork
Baked wheaten cake stewed in soy sauce
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19 The Warmth at the Swamp
After Bai Luoyin had finished eating, something crawled to his mind. He faced the other side and shouted at the top of his lungs: “Your wife actually let you come to such a dangerous place?” “My wife?” Gu Hai stared blankly at him, truly baffled since he could not recall who Bai Luoyin was referring to as his wife. “What wife?” He shouted back. Bai Luoyin shouted again, “Aren’t you engaged now?” “How the fuck am I engaged, huh?” Gu Hai finally realized that this bastard actually thought he was engaged, so he bellowed: “If I was really engaged, then why would I be suffering here? I would’ve been living my simple life already, and I wouldn’t even care if you rot in this mud!!” With just those words, Bai Luoyin’s heart quickly leaped with joy. “You’re not engaged? Then, why the hell did you give me that invitation card? Were you trying to fucking scare me?” “That’s right! I intentionally wanted to scare a fool like you!!” Bai Luoyin stood up, faced him and angrily shouted, “You’re so fucking cruel!!” “I’m cruel?” Gu Hai shouted back. “Is that lover of yours not cruel? If she’s not cruel, then why didn’t she come to look for you?” Although the surface of Bai Luoyin’s face was masked with an intense fierceness, in reality, his heart was secretly devoured by happiness. “She’s just an ordinary woman, how can she come to this kind of place?”
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A fiery fire of anger burnt strongly in Gu Hai again. “Are you saying a man like me can be used as a donkey? If I fall into the mud pit and get swallowed up from head to toe, I deserved it? Even if my skin is thick, how many men would dare come here to look for you? What about those battle comrades of yours? And that terrified bastard who gave you dumplings and lie on your bed?” As Bai Luoyin listened to the barrage of outburst coil out one by one from the other side, his voice goes mute. Then unable to bear it anymore, he yelled: “You should take a rest!” Gu Hai kept his mouth shut for the time being. A vast expanding swamp plotted formidably in between them with a layer of blistering bubbles having taken control of the surface, creating a dangerous obstacle. Sitting cross-legged amidst the thick fog that surrounded them, the two resembled Taoist monks practicing asceticism.46 After calming down, the two stared at each other for the longest time while a complex yet mutual feeling slowly emerged. Another moment passed before Bai Luoyin spoke again, “How exactly did you get here?” In such a vast swamp, accompanied by this bitter cold season, even the slightest carelessness can make it impossible to get out alive. Hearing those words, Gu Hai became exhilarated—he faced the other side and bitterly shouted two words: “Qing Gong!”47 Bai Luoyin laughed until the corners of his eyes welled with tears. Was there really a need to ask that question when his heart already knew what happened? Although many years had passed, his appearance had changed, his occupation had changed, his status had changed and even the way he behaved had all changed…the one thing that had not changed was the heart that he had for him. It was just like walking on a layer of scorching hot coal that incessantly burned, all the while supporting and warming him through these eight years of bitter coldness. Sprawling on the ground, Bai Luoyin looked up at the dusky sky that does not reflect the immense clarity taking hold in his heart. Seeing that the other person was lying down rather comfortably, Gu Hai lowered his head and glanced at the piece of land beneath him. It was no bigger than two feet long and if he were to lie down, he would definitely sink into the mud pit. Noting this, he shouted, “I’m going over!” With a quick swoosh, Bai Luoyin immediately sat up before his cold and stern voice flew to the other side, “Don’t move!!” Gu Hai grumbled, “This piece of land is too narrow. I can’t even stretch my legs out. It’s too unbearable if I stay here any longer.” Bai Luoyin waved his hand, “Then move back and see if there’s a bigger piece of land that’s hard…” Move back? Traces of dark lines surfaced on Gu Hai’s face, it was already really difficult for me to get here and you still want me to move back? “It’s fine. I’ve been through many mud pits like this. If I lie down flat, I can get over there.” With that said, he bent down and crawled to the other side, completely ignoring Bai Luoyin’s urgent disapproval. Sadly, the mud here was too soft so just as Gu Hai started to move, half of his body immediately sank. Bai Luoyin’s face went completely purple as he screamed repeatedly. Asceticism – a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their practices or continue to be part of their society, but typically adopt a frugal lifestyle, characterised by the renunciation of material possessions and physical pleasures, and time spent fasting while concentrating on the practice of religion or reflection upon spiritual matters. 47 Qing Gong – aka Qigong - (alternatively spelled chi gung or chi kung) is a form of gentle exercise composed of movements that are repeated a number of times, often stretching the body, increasing fluid movement (blood, synovial and lymph) and building awareness of how the body moves through space. 46
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After a moment, Gu Hai was able to steady himself and move just the slightest. With that method, he moved inch by inch. Not to mention he could lose his life, even smoothly getting to Bai Luoyin would take several hours. With no other option, Gu Hai pulled on the grass and dragged his body back to the same location. Bai Luoyin let out a big sigh of relief. By now, his back was entirely soaked in sweat. “Don’t move. Just behave yourself and stay there!!” As Gu Hai gasped for air a couple of times, he suddenly remembered that there were still some things left in his bags, so he hurriedly fished it out. Feeling stupefied, Bai Luoyin watched as Gu Hai pulled out an inflatable mat, and once it was inflated, it was about the same size as a single bed. With this, the chances of the body not touching the swamp had increased tremendously, and adding a rope, one person can lie on it while the other person pulled from the opposite side. Looking at Gu Hai, Bai Luoyin does not want to take any chances. He simply shouted, “Give me the inflatable mat. I’ll go over!” Gu Hai’s face darkened as he firmly replied, “The space here is only this big. Even with just me alone, it’s barely enough to sit down, don’t you hate being crowded?” With that reason, Bai Luoyin helplessly retorted, “Then throw the rope over here!!” Consequently, one person lied on the inflatable mat while the person on the other side pulled. In less than ten minutes, Gu Hai reached the other shore without a hitch. After eight years, a meaningful hug formed as the two embraced each other tightly. Being so close, neither had the heart to say any of those sarcastic words. Gu Hai’s hand pressed firmly against the back of Bai Luoyin’s head before he spoke with a tone seeping distress. “You must have been freezing for the last couple of days, huh?” “I can endure that, it’s just I’m hungry.” Bai Luoyin said honestly. When Gu Hai saw that the tree bark in front of him was peeled, his stomach churned. “There’s still food in the bag, you should eat a bit more.” Bai Luoyin’s hands hooped firmly on Gu Hai’s shoulder as he spoke in a somewhat depressed and hoarse voice. “Didn’t you look for me for three days? And, within those three days, you refused to eat any of the food in the bag, right? Otherwise, why would there be so much left?” “No, I didn’t do any of that.” Gu Hai continued to console him, “I only searched for you for one day, and the last two days were spent on searching from the aircraft. I didn’t skip out on eating at all. I just brought a lot with me; afraid that when the time comes, and I couldn’t get out, I'll starve to death in here.” In truth, for the past three days, Gu Hai did not even drink a drop of water. “I don’t believe you!” Bai Luoyin roughly pushed Gu Hai away and closely examined him. “Once I touch your stomach, I’ll know right away how many days you haven’t eaten.” “You still haven’t gotten rid of that skill?” Gu Hai said, teasing him. Bai Luoyin seriously stretched his hand into Gu Hai’s shirt. The moment the ice-cold palm came into contact with his skin, Gu Hai’s muscle immediately tightened. Being that it has been a long time since something cold crept on him, he was not quite used to it. “You haven’t eaten anything for three days!” Bai Luoyin said with certainty. After saying that, he pulled his hand back out, but Gu Hai took hold of it instead. “Your hand is too cold, leave it there to warm up.” This time, Bai Luoyin was not courteous anymore. It’s been a long time since he enjoyed this type of benefit, so he must properly warm up.
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The two sat close to the tree with Bai Luoyin sitting behind Gu Hai while his hand rested on Gu Hai’s back. Before long, his hands felt a horrible and gut-wrenching scar that followed all the way down his spine, compared to the previous scar on his waist that was insignificant. “Very scary, right?” Gu Hai asked. At those words, Bai Luoyin’s head pressed heavily on Gu Hai’s back before he quietly whispered, “Do you still hate me?” Gu Hai deliberately assumed an air of bitterness and hostility then let out a severe, ‘yeah’. Hearing that one answer, Bai Luoyin sighed with a heavy heart. “Actually, at that time, I really didn’t want to leave but I had no choice. Someone couldn’t tolerate to have me there and you were lying unconscious on the patient’s bed. I was really afraid that he would use your life to threaten me. Back then, I felt that nothing was more important than your life. I didn’t have the nerve to go in and look at you because I was afraid that the moment I saw you, I wouldn’t be able to leave. Honestly, in all these years, I’ve always felt sorry towards to you…” Toward the end of his words, Bai-shouzhang choked with sobs a bit. There was nothing that could be done now, recalling the scene from that time was akin to digging a hole in his heart. This was the first time Gu Hai heard Bai Luoyin used this kind of tone and words to speak to him. His heart softened and even loosened up more than ever, “It’s okay…you don’t have to suffer with it anymore. Seeing you experience this incident, I’ve completely understood everything.” “Then…you don’t hate me?” Bai Luoyin asked again while sniffling. Gu Hai optimistically waved his hand, “Let’s forget it. From the look of it, all these years haven’t been easy on you either.” Bai Luoyin suddenly pulled his hands out of Gu Hai’s shirt and reached towards his face. Then he forcefully swung Gu Hai’s head around so that he was directly facing him. The severity and enticement that lingered in those piercing eyes made a beeline straight into Gu Hai’s heart. “Then you have to break up with her!!” Gu Hai simply looked at the heroic and threatening face in front of him and, “Breakup?” “Yeah, you don’t even like her so don’t waste her time.” A violent tremble took hold of Gu Hai’s heart provoking it to skip a beat. This kind of excitement was akin to someone injecting a shot of drug into his arteries48. But he can still suppress the formidable waves that ached to take control of his heart as his calm yet cold soak eyes captured Bai Luoyin’s gaze. “Who said I don’t like her?” With Bai Luoyin’s proud personality, being able to openly reveal his true feelings, he must have had complete faith in his words. Consequently, if someone does not acknowledge it now, then they are deliberately looking for trouble. In just a second, Bai Luoyin’s knee struck Gu Hai’s tailbone causing his body to go numb. “This is an order! You have to obey!!” At that command, Gu Hai laughed lightly, “Are you trying to use your authority as a Shouzhang to subdue me? Let me tell you, I’m the kind of person that’s amenable to coaxing but not coercion. If you give me a reasonable statement, perhaps I’ll take it into consideration."
‘Arteries’ – the correct term used here is ‘Meridian system (经脉 jīngmài): is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) about a path through which the life-energy known as "qi" flows. Meridians per se are not real anatomical structures…. the meridian network is typically divided into 2 categories, the jingmai (經脈) or meridian channels and the luomai (絡脈) or associated vessels (sometimes called "collaterals"). In this case, I opted to use the ‘arteries’ associated with luomai instead for that paragraph.
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Naturally, Bai Luoyin knew exactly what it was that Gu Hai wanted to hear, but he adamantly refused to say ‘that’. “Nothing forcibly done will produce the desired result49. Ge is doing this for your own good.” Gu Hai deliberately sought a beating when he spoke again. “Feelings can be nurtured. In the past, people got married before they even met each other. Didn’t they too live a lifetime together?” Bai Luoyin’s big hand gripped Gu Hai’s neck, “You’re fucking exhilarated, aren’t you?!” In turn, Gu Hai’s poked Bai Luoyin’s forehead. “I’m warning you, don’t start a fight with me. I’m a decent man!” “I’ll fucking let you be a decent man! I’ll fucking let you be a decent man!” Bai-shouzhang utilized the power he had over the new military recruits to madly beat that Guzong...
Translate: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
强扭的瓜不甜 – literal translation is, ‘A forcibly picked melon is not sweet’, similar to the saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink’.
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20 The Feeling of Desperation
In the blink of an eye, the sky was blanketed by a veil of darkness once again. Bai Luoyin twisted his head around and gave Gu Hai a glance, “What should we do? Sit here and wait for rescue or take advantage of the daylight and rush back?” “Rush back?” Gu Hai sneered, “With the area being overtaken by all these swamps, how are we going to get out? You had to pull me over, and now that I’m here, who is going to pull us?” Bai Luoyin let out a light cough, “There were many swamps before, and you still managed to get here. What difference does it make if there’s just one more swamp?” “At that time, I was anxious, so I had a lot of motivation to keep me going! But now…I don’t have any motivations. I only want to lay here.” Even though Gu Hai said those words effortlessly as if it was something simple, in truth, his heart was tightening with a painful twinge. He, himself, can take any risks, but he absolutely cannot let Bai Luoyin face any danger. It was already difficult enough to have found Bai Luoyin safe and sound as he had wished for. If at this moment they were impatient and something were to happen on their way back, then that was not worth it! Bai Luoyin let out a sigh as he lied on the ground with both of his arms folded underneath his head—one of his legs was bent while the other stretched out with satisfaction. Even though he met with misfortune and became stranded, the pilot uniform nevertheless wrapped perfectly around his entire body, making him look rather stylish, handsome and even more enticing. “Why are you looking at me?” Bai Luoyin threw Gu Hai an arrogant glance.
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The entire time, Gu Hai’s observant eyes were like x-rays, gazing through Bai Luoyin’s clothes at what lied beneath. But he still acted decently. “Who’s looking at you? You truly believe you’re a piece of jade. Take a look at yourself, how many days haven’t you washed your face?” Bai Luoyin narrowed his eyes and faintly retorted with a question, “You fucking have the balls to ask me how many days haven’t I washed my face? You should actually take a look at how thick the mud covering your entire body is! If I were to stab you with a knife right now, it wouldn’t even reach your flesh!” Seeing that the mud on his body had completely dried up, Gu Hai mischievously patted his clothes vigorously until their immediate surrounding was shrouded in a huge cloud of dry earthy dust. It only took seconds for Bai Luoyin to choke and retreat one meter away. When Bai Luoyin approached the area again, Gu Hai was pouring water on his hands. “Hey, can you not waste water so easily like that? It’s already hard enough to even get a drink and you dare use it to wash your hands!!” To Bai Luoyin’s surprise, Gu Hai stretched his hands over and emphatically wiped his face. Then, he poured more water and repeatedly wiped yet again. The moment Gu Hai’s hand touched his face, Bai Luoyin realized that this fool was not using the water to wash his own hands, but instead to clean his face for him—that made him fly into a fit of rage from the humiliation before he roared on the spot. “Is my face really that dirty?!” “It doesn’t feel as smooth as before.” Gu Hai said recklessly. Bai Luoyin stared blankly for a few seconds first then he dropped his butt down beneath a tree and pulled out a stick of cigarette from his bag before slowly taking a drag of it. “Since you’re used to seeing the women in your company with soft and smooth skin, it’s only natural that my rough skin doesn’t appeal to you anymore.” After hearing those words, Gu Hai also lit a cigarette and rest one of his arms on the tree trunk while narrowing his eyes to look Bai Luoyin up and down. “Yin Zi, you’ve been in the military for so many years now…you must have endured many hardships?” Bai Luoyin’s heart skipped a beat. Bastard! You’re finally showing concerns about how my conditions were for the past few years?! “The first two years was tiring, but it got much better after I stuck it out and gained recognition.” Gu Hai flicked the ashes off the cigarette and asked again. “Then, your body should be really strong and rugged from all that training, right?” “Not too bad,” said Bai Luoyin rather modestly. “Your muscles must be much more flexible compared to back then, right?” Why is it the more I hear it, the stranger it sounds? Bai Luoyin’s brows locked. Moving closer, Gu Hai patted Bai Luoyin’s thighs a couple of times. “Then, your body’s ability to endure should be quite strong, right?” Bai Luoyin’s gloomy eyes swept toward Gu Hai, “What exactly are you trying to say?” With that, Gu Hai pressed his lips against Bai Luoyin’s ears, allowing his hot breath to fan out. “Then, compared to eight years ago, you can endure being fucked even harder?” Once those words unfurled along his ears, Bai Luoyin was not angry or evade him, instead, he blew a mouthful of smoke right on Gu Hai’s face. “That’s right, more than enough to fuck you.” Gu Hai leaned in closer with a shady smile, “More than enough? Come, let me see how much more is more than enough…”
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Meanwhile, his hand had quietly slithered down. Once he was successful in distracting him, he firmly grabbed Bai Luoyin by the balls.50 Bai-shouzhang had been molested. In just seconds, a terrifying slap akin to a violent thunderbolt charged at full speed, causing that duplicitous hand to quake before immediately retreating to the side. However, that did not deter the mood of a certain person even the slightest. Contrariwise, this type of force induced the hidden energy that had been long reserved in Gu Hai’s heart. When night prevailed and shrouded everything in darkness, Gu Hai took out the parachute he had found earlier and spread it evenly on the ground. Then, he pulled out a double size sleeping bag and laid it down before the two simultaneously squeezed into the tight space together. As the cold wind swept over them, Bai Luoyin could not help but pull his neck back into hiding. “Are you okay?” Gu Hai asked. “I’m okay. These clothes can resist the cold,” Bai Luoyin said as he gave Gu Hai a glance, “Actually…the clothes you’re wearing are quite thin.” “The mud on my body can also resist the cold.” Bai Luoyin could not hold himself back and burst into laughter. After so many years, Gu Hai could still see that Bai Luoyin’s smile has yet to change. It was a breathtaking smile that could easily captive one’s heart and steal away one’s soul. This time, Bai Luoyin took the initiative to bind Gu Hai tightly in his arms. Acting as if he was benefiting from this, Gu Hai pretended as if like he was wronged.51 “Don’t always try to get close to me. I’m already a man of status that can’t be dragged down since I have a whole family to feed. If my mother-in-law sees this, how am I going to explain to her?” Bai Luoyin snorted coldly, “Is your mother-in-law looking at the swamp?” Gu Hai held back the smile tugging at the corner of his lip, “My mother-in-law has opened her third eye and can see far beyond.52 Bai Luoyin kept quiet and stared wholeheartedly at Gu Hai—his dark eyes were like a vast and serene lake, deep and profound where the bottom was impossible to see. The moment Gu Hai’s gaze met his, a strong current sharply passed through his organs. Never before had he seen that kind of expression took solace in Bai Luoyin’s gaze. At first, it seemed invasive but upon a closer look, he could sense the simplicity and tenderness lying at the depths, making it impossible for Gu Hai to fight the temptation. When Gu Hai’s Adam’s apple slightly moved, Bai Luoyin closed his eyes. Just as Gu Hai’s lips were about to touch the Bai Luoyin’s, he suddenly stopped just a millimeter from the corner of his lips. He’s obviously trying to seduce me!! Feeling as though his craving was not satisfied, Gu Hai tried to seduce Bai Luoyin. This time, he used all the endurance he could mutter to stop himself from being moved and stayed still. However, not even two minutes had passed when a faint snoring sound filtered the air. Gu Hai’s breath immediately froze as a mouthful of blood galloped toward his throat.
猴子偷桃: A monkey steals a peach. This refers to distracting an opponent with one hand and seizing his testicles with the other. Grabbing someone by the balls. 51 便宜還賣乖: This proverb means gained a favour or benefit and yet call it a disfavor and pretend being mistreated after gaining a favour, or refuses to admit that he has been benefiting and acts as if he got an unfair treatment. 52 開天眼: Translates to open eyes of the sky. Simply refers to an immortal who can see things that a mortal cannot see and usually that eye is a third eye in the middle of the forehead. 50
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Fuck! It’s just my imagination that he’s reciprocating my love when actually I’m the only one showering affection to an uninterested person!! In the depth of the night, Gu Hai had yet to be ridden with sleepiness. He carefully moved Bai Luoyin’s arm down from his shoulder and placed his arms on Bai Luoyin’s back instead, embracing him tightly against his chest. As he looked at his sleeping form, a sense of sympathy took hold of him. He wondered how many times before had Bai Luoyin slept in such a desolated and wild surrounding like this that made him able to sleep so soundly in a damp and cold place now. Before long, Gu Hai finally kissed Bai Luoyin’s cheeks. Yin Zi, after I finish dealing with the mess back at home, I will definitely take good care of you. In truth, Bai Luoyin fell asleep after Gu Hai. Midnight quietly slipped by—today was already the first day of the New Year. As someone who remained in the military base for years on end, he could still clearly remember what today was, but Gu Hai had forgotten. Bai Luoyin also kissed Gu Hai’s mud-stricken face. Da Hai, now I am no longer afraid of anything. I can rely on my own ability to protect you…to protect the love once lost between us. After eight years, Gu Weiting never expected that to encounter another restless year. When he was first informed that Gu Hai went to search for Bai Luoyin, Gu Weiting’s heart carried a strong hatred and unwillingness against it. He could not comprehend how their love could reignite again after being separated for eight long years. However, as the search prolonged for days on, the sullenness that once constricted his him was instead replaced by anxiety. Not only was there no news of Bai Luoyin, but there were no words of Gu Hai’s whereabouts either. Today marked the 6th of the New Year, eight full days since Bai Luoyin had gone missing and six days since Gu Hai disappeared. Generally speaking, once someone has gone missing for over seven days since an accident, the chances of survival is almost zero. The accident from eight years ago was more than enough to make Gu Weiting completely terrified. Back then, when Bai Luoyin had personally informed him that he wanted to enlist in the military, Gu Weiting no longer forced Gu Hai down this path as he was afraid that one day, he would run into danger again. At first, he believed by allowing Gu Hai to go into the business world, it would bring him peace and stability for the rest of his life. In the end, he has once again tangled with death. If it was ten or twenty years ago, Gu Weiting would still have the nerve to boast without shame: Isn’t he just a son? I’ll pretend I never had him! But he had lost the courage and drive to say such words. Gu Hai’s car accident had caused him to abandon the idea of having a second child. Now, he only has this one bloodline. Even though he has an impressive number of men under his command, if this one bloodline was broken, he would lose everything. “General, we have found Gu Hai’s car.” Gu Weiting hastily asked, “Where is he?” “He…wasn’t in the car.” Just as those words dispersed, Gu Weiting’s expression rapidly took a change for the worse until his hand that was holding onto the back of the chair violently ruptured with veins. Even when he sat down, the whole chair swayed. Sun Jingwei walked over to console, “General, first let’s not lose our heads. Xiao Hai is physically fit and has great endurance. Even if he were to stay in the wilderness for a while, nothing
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major will happen to him. Not to mention, Xiao Hai has been more composed in his behaviors over the years. I can say with certainty that he adequately prepared everything before he left the car. Perhaps, he has already found Xiao Bai and the two kids are on their way home!” “Composed my ass! Would he have driven to such a dangerous place if he was composed?” Sun Jingwei made a comeback beneath his breath. Even now, you still don’t understand what’s troubling your son’s heart… Just as the room was shrouded with an intense atmosphere, someone suddenly entered. “General, your family’s Er-shaoye53 is here.” Once those words dropped, Gu Yang marched into the room and took off his sunglasses before looking the two men up and down with a cold and stern gaze. “Did something happen?” Gu Weiting remained calm and did not speak while Sun Jingwei pulled Gu Yang aside to explain the specifics of the situation. Gu Yang’s expression slightly changed as he patted Sun Jingwei’s shoulder. “I’ll go search.” In just moments, Gu Yang’s silhouette faded away into the snow.
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
Er Shaoye - second young master (Gu Hai is already called ‘Shaoye’ - Young Master by soldiers so to show the difference, well just call Gu Yang, Er Shaoye)
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21 Continue to Destroy Me!
The two remained on this piece of solid land for no less than three days. During that time, two rescue helicopters flew by and circled around at a rather low altitude but unexpectedly, neither spot them. Afterward, when all the food in the bag was completely gone, Bai Luoyin made a prompt decision to leave the area. Even if it was risky, it was better than waiting for death to grip them. When they first attempted to leave, they encountered a few accidents. Fortunately, there were two of them so when something happened, they were able to quickly assist each other. After getting through the most dangerous areas, the circumstances they faced later became better. Although they forged ahead at a relatively slow speed, everything went smooth and they did not get caught up in any other perilous situation. In this manner, the two pulled onto each other as they took one heavy step at a time into the mud toward the direction Gu Hai came from. In roughly three days, they arrived at the area where Gu Hai had parked his car. Sadly, the pit where the wheel of the car had been stuck was still there but the car itself had gone missing. Gu Hai gritted his teeth, originally thinking that they had finally endured it all the way to the end, however, from the look of it, they will have to waste another two days. With nothing left to eat, they had relied entirely on water to get through the last two days. If luck was on their side, they were able to catch a wild animal or two. But since there was no dry firewood in sight, they would eat most of it raw, otherwise, they would just eat wild grass or barks. “Wait a minute, I have a stomachache.”
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Bai Luoyin was about to turn away when Gu Hai grabbed hold of him. “Just do it here. We’re completely surrounded by the swamp anyway. What happens if you go too far and meet with some sort of danger? By then, it would be too late for me to save you.” “I rather fall into the swamp than relieve myself in front of you!” Gu Hai laughed until his teeth gritted against each other, “You’re really fucking courageous.” Like a wisp of smoke, Bai Luoyin disappeared leaving Gu Hai to wait for him at the same spot. Five minutes later, he suddenly heard Bai Luoyin cry for help from not too far away. Fuck! Following the sound of the voice came, Gu Hai quickened his pace so that two steps seemed to be three steps. On the way, he nearly got stuck in the mud pits twice since he could not clearly make out the path ahead. While he ran, he shouted loudly towards Bai Luoyin’s direction: “Don’t struggle! Try to lie down and let your body make contact with the surface of the quicksand.” When he arrived at Bai Luoyin’s side, Gu Hai unexpectedly discovered that he was perfectly fine, although he was sitting on the ground with a face full of distress. “What’s wrong?” Gu Hai quickly asked while wiping the sweat off his forehead. Keeping his head low, Bai Luoyin’s face collapsed. “I’m constipated.” Gu Hai was immediately pulled into a spell of laughter. Honestly, he really did not know what to say to make things better since—a mere constipation had actually caused such a bloodcurdling scream. “We’ve only eaten wild grass and tree barks for the last three days, it would be strange if you were actually able to relieve yourself.” He said as he walked toward Bai Luoyin, crouched down beside him and gave out a firm command: “Move your hand away!” Picking his eyes up to look at him, Bai Luoyin lazily asked, “What are you doing?” Without any explanation, Gu Hai moved Bai Luoyin’s hand that was on his stomach away and rested his own hand there instead. Then, he began to energetically rub his stomach, especially around the area where the intestines twisted together. While he continued to rub, he did not forget to say a few sarcastic words, “You are really high maintenance!54 The soldiers under your command should really see what their Shouzhang look like right now!!” Bai Luoyin’s brows pulled in together so close that it tightened even more than before, and then he suddenly pushed Gu Hai to the side. “I can feel it now, it’s coming. Hurry up and leave!!” As a result, the person who was no longer of value was immediately expelled. Gu Hai was standing on a piece of flat land waiting for Bai Luoyin when suddenly he heard a burst of sound over his head. He looked upward, and sure enough, a helicopter appeared before him. Not only that, the pilot of this helicopter actually had his eyes opened and did not doltishly fly by but rather he landed over ten meters away from where Gu Hai was. Gu Yang emerged from the helicopter and took large strides toward Gu Hai. “Why are you here?” Gu Yang spoke calmly, “I came when I heard something happened to you.” Bai Luoyin carried a rather comfortable and cheery expression as he walked out, bypassed two trees and saw two silhouettes standing at a distant not too far off. Happiness was winding up in his heart but before he had time to feel that rejoice in it, he saw a detestable face and the tiny smile that sat at the curve of his lips quickly retreated. The instant Gu Yang caught sight of Bai Luoyin, his gaze froze in place. Bai Luoyin walked over, stood steely before them, and threw out two words: “Let’s go!” With just that, he went directly over to the helicopter by himself. 54
“You’re really high maintenance!” - this can also be translated to, “You’re really demanding!”
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For some reason, when Gu Yang watched Bai Luoyin walked past him unemotionally like that, without exposing even a hint of changes, a sense of loss and disappointment gripped his heart. Once he was on the helicopter, Bai Luoyin saw the pilot. “How long have you been flying?” “Nearly the entire night,” the pilot said with a yawn. Bai Luoyin simply patted his shoulder, “Okay, I’ll take over.” As a result, he quickly took over the pilot seat. By the time Gu Hai and Gu Yang got on the helicopter, Bai Luoyin and the pilot had already swapped their seat while the two brothers properly sat in the back seat. It was silent until Bai Luoyin suddenly spoke. “Do you have any cigarette?” Gu Yang pulled out a cigarette and calmly hand it over to Bai Luoyin, then he took out another one and placed in his own mouth. Click! The sound of the lighter broke the silent a second time. Bai Luoyin turned around, gripped Gu Yang’s wrist and snatched the lighter that Gu Yang had placed close to his lips. “Let me borrow this.” As the cigarette hung in Bai Luoyin’s mouth, a mischievous smile appeared near his lips. This unreasonable smile seemingly provoked Gu Yang’s heart to slightly shake. Before he could digest what happened, Bai Luoyin had already turned back. Soon, the smoke that coiled out of the cigarette lingered around his neck for a second before pervading the entirety of the cockpit. Bai Luoyin did not fly the helicopter back to the military base, but rather, he landed at a large leveled public square. The pilot next to him wore a flabbergasted expression that covered his entire face as he quickly asked, “What’s going on? Is there a problem with the helicopter?” “No,” Bai Luoyin simply yet indifferently replied, “I have to get off! “That…” The pilot of completely puzzled by his sudden statement, “You…you’re not reporting back to base?” Bai Luoyin’s cold and stern gaze swept toward the pilot, “I’m on vacation right now, why should I report back to base?” “But…shouldn’t you at least let your superior know that you’re safe?” The pilot’s voice goes weaker the more he spoke. With a darkened face, Bai Luoyin angrily said in a loudly, “Do you not have a mouth?”55 The pilot was chided to the point that he looked just like a little baby chick who did not even dare to take another loud breath. At that scene, Gu Yang’s eyes moved toward Gu Hai. Gu Hai immediately threw out a sentence, “Don’t look at me, I’m not in the military.” In seconds, Gu Yang’s blackened face followed along as these two men strutted off in front of his eyes. The pilot dragged his gaze toward Gu Yang who in turn did not say anything and directly walk away. Once again, the pilot was completely dumbstruck. What am I going to do now? Wasn’t I ordered to look for them? Where are they? … Looking at the empty aircraft, he immediately beat his chest in agony. I can't even accomplish such an easy order! A moment ago, he was still sitting in the aircraft silently beaming with happiness, thinking that once he returned with those two, he would at least receive a third-class merit!! 55
“Do you not have a mouth?” Bai Luoyin is telling the soldier to go report it himself.
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This is just great! I didn’t bring either of them back or even worse, I’m fucking one person short from when I started off!! The two had walked shoulder to shoulder for nearly half the way when Bai Luoyin suddenly felt something fishy. “Why are you following me?” Gu Hai let out a cold grunt before he spoke, “Who’s following you? We just happen to be going toward the same direction, that’s all.” “Oh,” Bai Luoyin faintly said. Then a few moments later, unable to hold it any longer, he asked again, “Then, where are you going?” “I’m going to your house.” Bai Luoyin, “…” Gu Hai explained, “Not to your family’s new house…to your family’s old place.” The look on Bai Luoyin’s face changed, “There’s no one at the old house. Who are you going to see there, huh?” “I don’t know. I just want to go and take a look.” When they arrived at the area where he was supposed to make a turn, Bai Luoyin hesitated for a moment. “Forget it, I’ll go with you.” “You’re not going to head home first to inform your family that you’re safe?” Bai Luoyin replied indifferently, “There’s no need to. I’m sure my dad doesn’t even know that something happened to me. Every time I go on an important mission, the military would always hide it from my family. If I really went missing, they’ll wait at least half a month before notifying them.” This point was something that Gu Hai knew quite well. He just thought that Ban Han Qi must have certainly guessed that something was awry. The two returned to the old house together. They quickly noticed that the jujube tree had been cut down and the ground was shielded with withering grass. Before, the place was filled with lively characters who assisted in making it never felt outdated. But an ineffable sorrow tugged at their heartstrings upon seeing the windows that were all locked up, the rotten wooden frames, and the roof panels that had fallen apart. Even now, Gu Hai can still clearly remember the very first time he came here, he witnessed a scene of Bai Luoyin quarreling with his father over a pair of underpants. Gu Hai pushed open the door to Bai Luoyin’s room. Everything inside felt so familiar, even the hole in the ground felt dear to him. There was also the remain of that extremely crafty double bed and the old clock hanging silently on the wall that had once fell on his leg… Bai Luoyin pushed open the door to his grandparents’ room. A plate of pickled vegetables sat solemnly on a small square table, a walking cane leaned against the corner of the wall, and the space where that familiar silhouette sat on the bed holding a palm-leaf fan... Gu Hai stood outside the door and watched as Bai Luoyin stood still with a straight back in the now spacious room—appearing exceptionally distant. He will never in this life forget the heartwarming scenes of Bai Luoyin crouching down to wash Grandma Bai’s feet or standing back up to wipe Grandpa Bai’s mouth. He will never forget the young boy who although was poverty-stricken had nonetheless brought such warmth to everyone. “We should go sweep grandpa and grandma’s tombs.” Gu Hai said, shattering the silence that shrouded the room.
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By the time Bai Luoyin turned around, the distress and grief on his face had already faded. “Stop saying ‘we, we’, who’s your family? That’s my grandpa, my grandma. If anyone needs to go sweep their tombstone, it should ‘only’ be me.” At those stubborn words, Gu Hai’s lips immediately curved into a smile. “I was also ‘our’ grandma’s official translate for more than a year!” Bai Luoyin shot Gu Hai a glance, but as he sauntered past him, a smile was smeared at the corner of his lips…perhaps he had unexpectedly recalled some very meaningful things from the past. When the two arrived at the doorway, Bai Luoyin’s footsteps suddenly came to a standstill. Gu Hai’s steps also halted after he noticed that the old apricot tree had not been cut yet. “Why wasn’t this tree cut down?” Gu Hai asked. Bai Luoyin softly said, “So that A-Lang cam have a companion!” Hearing that, Gu Hai could only quietly ask again: “When did he die? How did he die?” “Three years ago… there was no reason at all, it was just from old age. When I returned, he was already buried beneath this tree.” Bai Luoyin said, his tone unearthed the deep sorrow that lied in his heart. Gu Hai stayed close and consoled him. “After all these years, the number of times he kissed you was more than me. He has truly lived a worthy life.” Bai Luoyin walked out of the door wrapped in an air of coldness. When the two arrived at the cemetery, respectively holding a bouquet of flowers, they placed them in front of Grandpa Bai and Grandma Bai’s tombstones. A pensive expression lied across Bai Luoyin’s face as he looked on dourly. Even he, himself, did not know if the words he said next were meant for Gu Hai to hear or simply for himself. “When my grandparents passed away, I didn’t get to see them one last time.” Gu Hai quietly said, “Perhaps it is better that way. Watching your family member take their last breath in front of you is like a shadow that you won’t ever be able to forget in this lifetime.” Every time Bai Luoyin stood in front of Grandpa and Grandma Bai’s grave, he was normally filled with somberness. But for some reason, today, whether it was because of Gu Hai’s presence or not, the knots that tightened tempestuously around his heart did not hurt as much. Standing beside him, Gu Hai spoke in a serious manner. “Grandpa, grandma, I’m really sorry. I’m the one that snatched your grandson away from your side. It’s my fault that you rarely get to see him...” “Can you not talk nonsense in front of my grandparents?” Bai Luoyin said, his words somewhat laden with worry. “Don’t stop me. Let me finish!!” Gu Hai charged his head back toward the tombstones, “If you can’t rest in peace in the underworld56, then let your grandson continue to destroy me. I won't have a single complaint!”
Translate: Sae | Edit: Nancy
九泉之下 - Nine springs below. In the Chinese culture life circle refers to the place where people live after death. It also refers to the “underworld” … a very deep underworld.
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22 The Day Silently Brightens
When Gu Hai returned from the cemetery, he went straight home. At that time, Gu Weiting was sitting on a sofa in the living room and Jiang Yuan was in the kitchen preparing food. But the moment he sauntered in, Gu Weiting’s complexion shifted, and his gaze traveled after Gu Hai who wore an ashen and dejected look—completely covered in earth to the point that this dispirited figure does not resemble a person. When he caught sight of Gu Weiting’s observant eyes on him, Gu Hai remained planted at the doorway for a second before he silently changed his shoes. “You could have said something if you were going to search for someone. At first, we only need to search for one person but because you created such a disturbance, all the soldiers and units had to search for you too.” Gu Weiting’s tone did not seem too promising. Even after hearing those words, Gu Hai was not annoyed or angry. He swerved around and calmly faced Gu Weiting, “If I didn’t go and search, this person wouldn’t have been found. Yin Zi was trapped and surrounded by a massive swamp. Without anyone to help him, it would have not been possible for him to come out alive. Around this time of the year, that place is normally shrouded by a thick layer of fog which made it extremely difficult for the aircraft to properly search. As it seems, no soldiers were willing to take the risk. Besides, when the soldiers found Yin Zi, I was there too. They didn’t have to search any further since I didn’t end up somewhere else alone. How can you say I ‘created so much disturbance’?” Gu Weiting coldly snorted, “You always have reasons.”
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Gu Hai cleared his throat and sternly faced Gu Weiting, “The person I searched for wasn’t someone else. He’s your son.” Just as Jiang Yuan quickly walked out of the kitchen (after she heard the commotion on the other side that is) she heard the words that Gu Hai had said. While those words resonant in her mind, she was stumped for words and stared blankly on the spot. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke, “Let Xiao Hai go take a bath first. Look at the mess he is in.” In her heart, Jiang Yuan felt endlessly grateful toward Gu Hai to the point that no matter what Gu Weiting had said beforehand, she pretended not to know it. Seeing the complicated look that crowded Jiang Yuan’s eyes, Gu Weiting did not say anything else to make things difficult for Gu Hai. He merely raised his chin, indicating for him to go do what he needed to. When the three were eating, Jiang Yuan incessantly picked out food for Gu Hai. “Xiao Hai, eat a bit more. This time, it’s all thanks to you.” Gu Hai calmly ate the food in his bowl without taking the initiative to say anything else. From the look of things, this father and son duo had chosen to mutually remain silent. For once, the meal was eaten until the very end. But, once Gu Weiting placed his chopsticks down, he asked Gu Hai: “How do you plan on explaining this to the in-laws?” “I’ll explain it in whatever way it needs to be explained and that’s, to tell the truth.” Gu Hai said calmly. Gu Weiting was slightly relieved once he heard those words. Jiang Yuan was busy picking up the tableware. “He’s already 26 years old, what should be done and what shouldn’t be done, he has already thought about it all so you can be at ease now. Young people nowadays are more opinionated than us.” Gu Weiting’s eyes swept toward Gu Hai before spoke with a harsh tone. “Let’s hope this is the case.” After the meal, Gu Hai tidied up to return to his own place. But before he could leave, Jiang Yuan pulled him to a stop. “Xiao Hai, they’re also a prominent family. With this kind of situation occurring at the engagement reception, it will put them on the spot. Remember that she is also a refined woman. Take something with you when you head over there and be courteous with your words so that the relationship between our families won’t be awkward.” Gu Hai nodded his head, “I know.” Early morning the next day, Gu Hai went to the hospital. From the look of it, Mrs. Yan’s situation did not look too promising since she was being taken care of 24 hours by a few medical personnel. Gu Hai was only able to say a couple of words before he was discreetly asked to leave by the doctor. Yan Yajing stood outside—her complexion increasingly thin and pallid. “I’m sorry about what happened the other day,” Gu Hai said with sincerity. Looking at him, Yan Yajing could only smile with forgiveness. “It’s alright. As long as you returned, everything is fine. How is your brother? Did you find him?” Gu Hai simply nodded, “Yes, he was found at a swamp. If I was late by just one night, I honestly don’t know what might have happened.” “That’s good,” Yan Yajing said as she let out a long sigh of relief. “You two brothers have a really good relationship with each other. I’m actually quite envious since I’m an only child.”57 “I’m actually quite envious since I’m an only child.” 我就缺个一奶同胞 – Yan Ya Jing is actually saying, “I drank out of my mother’s breast alone.”
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The corner of Gu Hai’s lips curved with an exceptionally meaningful smile that was hard to understand. “The two of us aren’t real brothers.”58 “Oh?” Yan Yajing expression revealed her inability to comprehend what he said. The two of us grew up drinking each other’s ‘milk,’ Gu Hai secretly said to himself. “Okay, let’s not talk about this. How’s your mother’s condition?” Yan Yajing sighed, “Not much different from before. Just from looking at the doctor’s expression, there’s probably only a few days left…” “When I talked to your mother a moment ago, I can sense that her consciousness had already become unclear.” The depth of Yan Yajing’s pupils swept with a tint of misery and pain and as her line of sight flitted toward Gu Hai, there was a sense of desperation. “Gu Hai, my mom doesn’t have many days left. It’s not realistic for her to take part in another engagement reception. I thought about it and there’s no need to set up those formal events. Our families can simply have a meal together tomorrow and take it as a confirmation of our engagement. This way, we can give my mom peace of mind and let her go peacefully.” “Xiao Yan,” Gu Hai changed his tone. “I can’t get engaged with you.” Yan Yajing’s complexion abruptly changed as her gloomy eyes subsequently darted toward Gu Hai’s face again, “Is it not possible even if we just do it for the sake of appearances?” Gu Hai bluntly said to Yan Yajing, “It’s not possible.” “Then…why didn’t you refuse from the beginning? Why did you wait until now to tell me?” “I’m sorry,” Gu Hai rarely opened his mouth to express his regret. “If it was just me, then it would have been fine to go along with you. But right now, I have someone, and I don’t want him59 to feel even an ounce of unhappiness.” Yan Yajing was also forced to her wit’s end. Based on her prior temperament, she would have already turned around and walked away after hearing that, but it was a really crucial phase. All she could do was abandon her dignity and try her utmost to endeavor something for her mother. “I promise I won’t tell a second person and I won’t let it affect your relationship either.” Gu Hai helplessly laughed. However, when he spoke it was powerful and resonating. “I can be insincere in front of anyone, but (s)he’s the only one that I can’t do that to.” Although Yan Yajing could clearly sense the difficulty in breathing, she did not have the right or the strength to complain about anything. “That’s true. I shouldn’t involve or blame you for my family’s hardships.” Gu Hai went silent for a while before he spoke again. “Honestly, your mother already knows everything. The thing is, she’s just playing along in this act with you. Why don’t the two of you use what little time you have left together and be truthful with each other?” Those words caused Yan Yajing’s stunned gaze to closely fix on Gu Hai. Gu Hai did not say another word. He patted Yan Yajing’s shoulder and walked out. While driving on the road heading back, Gu Hai’s crestfallen mind was fully expressed by the somberness on his face.
“The two of us aren’t real brothers.” 我俩不是一奶的。Gu Hai is actually replying with, “We didn’t drink milk from the same breast.” 59 他 (tā) – here Gu Hai is using the character for ‘he/him’. 他 (tā): This is the most frequently used pronoun. Even though it’s used in place of “him,” it is somewhat of a genderneutral pronoun. It can be used when the gender of a certain person is unclear. So, Yan Ya Jing doesn’t know that he is talking about a male. 她 (tā): The female form, equivalent to “she/her.” 它 (tā): Equivalent to "it." This often refers to objects or animals (even if the animal in question has a distinct gender.) 58
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Bai Luoyin, I have become a hateful person once again because of you. If you don’t fucking break up with that evil coquette, I will fuck you until you can’t move!60 In reality, Bai Luoyin’s mouth was even faster than Gu Hai’s. When he returned home that evening and received a call from Di Shuang, he immediately told her the truth. Di Shuang was heart-broken, “Did you hate the fact that Gu-zong and I got too close?” “I do hate it but it’s not because of you.” Confusion crept on Di Shuang’s face, “There’s really nothing between him and I. You also saw it that day, he gave a ring to our vice-president already. Also, you’re his brother. Even if you don’t trust me, you have to trust him!” “I trust him completely,” Bai Luoyin said sternly. Di Shuang became anxious, “Then why do you still want to break up?” Having been in the military for all these years, Bai Luoyin did not perfect any one skill, contrariwise, he perfected how to be shameless. In short, he will speak his mind and would never cover it up as to uphold a conspicuous soldier’s upright and plainspoken manner. “It’s because the one I like is your Gu-zong.” Once the 10th day of the first Lunar month arrive, which was also the third day that the two had returned home, Beijing Haiyin Company’s vacation also silently came to an end. On the first day back at work, Di Shuang made a beeline to Gu Hai’s office to resign. “Why?” Gu Hai asked. Without any qualms, Di Shuang bluntly said: “I can’t condone my president snatching my boyfriend away.” At first, these words were employed to humiliate Gu Hai, but who would have thought that her Gu-zong’s heart would blossom with such joy instead… “I’ll give you six months of extra pay. You can leave!!” Later that night, Gu Hai received a call from Yan Yajing informing that Mrs. Yan has passed away due to the illness. “Don’t be too sad,” Gu Hai urged. Yan Ya Ying choked and said in between sobs. “Thank you... I talked to my mom about everything yesterday. Not only didn’t she blame me, she even praised me for being thoughtful…earlier today, she passed very peacefully.” After putting the phone down, Gu Hai let his heart observe a moment of silence in tribute for three seconds. Afterward, his feelings and moods lightened up a lot. In spite of everything, the day silently brightened up just like that. As expected, this was a firm verification of the saying, ‘one is bound for good fortune after surviving a great disaster.’ When Bai Luoyin was honored for his meritorious service in regard to that perilous mission, his superior gave him 10 additional days of vacation. Hence, the 20 days of vacation became 30 days instead. Having all that time, Bai Luoyin suddenly felt extremely bored and does not seem to know what to do. While Gu Hai was busy in his office intensely preparing for this year’s work scheme, Bai Luoyin was still haphazardly driving around the streets. Perhaps, it was because he has been flying all these years, now that he was actually on the ground, he could no longer distinguish north, south, 老子让你趴着开飞机! – literal translation is, “I will beat you until you have to lay down to fly!” but we choose the latter because there is a sexual implication in the way that Gu Hai says it and plus WE KNOW WHAT HE MEANS! ୧( ಠ Д ಠ )୨
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east, or west anymore. Feeling as if the road has somehow become more complicated than ever, he made turns after turns until his mind was being overtaken with bewilderment. Bai Luoyin parked his car at the side of the road and listened to his GPRS navigation system shout inconsiderately. After being overwhelmed with frustration, he quickly turned it off. How long haven’t I gone out? Why can’t I recognize any of these streets? Suddenly, someone knocked on the window, pulling him out of his thoughts. Bai Luoyin twisted his head around for a look only to see a kind looking older lady. “Young man, do you want to buy this donkey? Just take a look, it can sing and sway its head, and it’s only ¥50.” Seeing that the lips of the older lady had frozen and turned into a purple color, his heart softened as he handed over the money to her. “Okay, I’ll buy one!” After he took it, Bai Luoyin began to fiddle with the donkey before switching it on. Once the music came on, the donkey began to repeatedly swing its head according to the beat. It swayed around so energetically just like a person that has gone crazy. Watching it for a while, Bai Luoyin could not help but burst into a mad spell of laughter. Tickled pink, he did not notice the pedestrians on the street frequently passing by who looked on as a valiant and formidable-looking officer sat in his car laughing hysterically at an electric donkey. It was truly an adorable scene to have witnessed. The sound of laughter that trickled out of Bai Luoyin’s lips was akin to an ebullience of blossoming plants in the glory of life. But in seconds, a hint of ridiculousness filtered the air instead. The more he looked at the donkey, the more it resembled Gu Hai. Letting his thoughts run wild, a wicked idea suddenly sprung in his mind. He must give this donkey to its long-lost father!
Translate: Sae | Edit: Nancy
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23 Isn’t it Joy that Emerged from the Disturbance?
Gu Hai’s brows locked together tightly. Although he appeared to be staring attentively at the documents on his desk, his heart and mind had already flown elsewhere. What exactly is going between Bai Luoyin and me? I’ve made everything clear on my side and he has also broken up. Now that all the knots weighing heavily between us have come undone...frankly speaking, we’re together. All the issues from the past has also been settled but neither of us has clearly stated if we are going to ‘continue’ from then, or ‘reconcile’…this kind of obscure feelings are unbearable. Gu Hai strolled around the office, secretly pondering how he was going to talk to Bai Luoyin. Everything needed to be said in a way that does not make him appear to be lower in status while boldly bringing the subject to light. He must not make the same mistakes again. Gu Hai had always considered that reckless and impetuous confession from all those years ago a flaw staining his past. For two years since then, he had never broken away from that kind of rash and temperamental image. He had always believed the reason his feelings held an inferior status all started and firmly took root from his untimely confession. This time, he must tread with caution. As Gu Hai walked around, he ended up strolling toward the window. Not long after, he saw Bai Luoyin’s car approaching the area. With just one glance, an enormous wave surged within his once tranquil heart, stimulating all the cells in his entire body to come alive all at once. Trying to control all the muscles in his lips from
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spreading out too wide, he quickly shed his usual cold and stern appearance and made his way to the elevator, high in spirit while a brilliant glow of light encased him. One after another, the staffs raised their brows in shock when they caught a glimpse of him from the corner of their eyes. This sudden change in his mannerism caused a terrifying expression to stitch coyly on their pretty faces as a barrage of question conjured. What is going on with Gu-zong? Even during his engagement, he didn’t smile as bright as now!! How can Gu Hai not be elated? Just as he was worried about how to bring up their relationship, his love interest was impatient enough to come looking for him first. History is about to be rewritten! However, Gu Hai seemed to have transformed into a different person the moment he emerged from the elevator. Then, acting as if nothing happened, he walked out of the lounge and pretended not to have seen Bai Luoyin. He made a turn toward his own car while putting on a façade as if he has some urgent matter to attend to. In truth, Bai Luoyin had been wholeheartedly playing with the toy donkey so when Gu Hai walked out, he did not see him. He was even thinking that since there was still some time left before work finish, he will just wait in the car first and give Gu Hai a call later. Gu Hai had even opened the car door but noticing no movements from the other side, he secretly cursed to himself. What the hell, he’s that fucking blind?! How did he even become a pilot? Feeling discouraged already, he mournfully picked up his gaze and walked back over. While he fixed his tie, he made sure to suppress the excitement that was attempting to rip out of his chest. A couple of seconds later, he wore a wooden expression and knocked on Bai Luoyin’s car window. By the time Bai Luoyin pulled his head out of the window, Gu Hai quickly said some words: “What are you doing here, huh?” Bai Luoyin simply pushed the door open and got out, unintentionally displaying his wellironed military uniform that fit perfectly along his body and the shiny leather boots that topped off the look. His valiant, formidable-looking and utterly handsome appearance generated an undercurrent of electricity that nearly shocked and caused all the female ants on the ground to faint in his presence. As for Gu Hai, the endless claws lying wily in his heart had long reached out to pounce Bai Luoyin. “Did you see me from up there? Why did you come down at this time of the day?” Bai Luoyin intentionally asked while keeping his eyes solely on the person in front of him. Gu Hai cleared his throat then calmly said in an unhurried tone, “I was heading back inside after coming back from a meeting, but then I saw you sitting here so I came over to say hello.” Say hello…? Those words were truly worthy of being completely analyzed by Bai Luoyin. Seeing how Bai Luoyin kept his voice to himself, Gu Hai feigned ignorant and asked, “Are you here to look for Di Shuang? Wait here. I’ll go call her for you.” Without warning, Bai Luoyin took hold of Gu Hai’s arm and angrily shouted: “Stop fucking pretending! Didn’t Di Shuang resign two days ago?” “Really?” Gu Hai’s brow locked, “There are normally many resignations around this time of the year. And since they are taken care of by human resource, I’m not too clear about them.” As Bai Luoyin listened to Gu Hai foolishly sprouted that nonsense, he simply smiled with dissatisfaction. “Oh, by the way…what exactly are you doing here?” Gu Hai asked. Bai Luoyin frankly replied, “I’m looking for you.”
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Gu Hai’s heart instantly skipped a beat. Even though he was still ridden with shock, he continued with his act and let his mask of aloofness glue to his face. “Why are you looking for me?” Keeping his eyes on him, Bai Luoyin merely said three words: “To rape you.”61 Gu Hai took one step back, pointed at Bai Luoyin’s forehead and asked: “Where did a gangster like you come from?” Bai Luoyin nearly reached out and broke the finger pointing at his forehead. “You’re still trying to pretend?! That night at the swamp, who was it that sneakily kissed me? Don’t think that I didn’t know!” Still feeling rather calm, Gu Hai’s loose tongue produced a few more sentences. “If you say any more nonsense, I’ll call someone here! Security, take good care of this gangster for me!” Consequently, there was a security guard standing behind Gu Hai. Sadly, this guard was exceptionally honest and could not hear the underlying intention in his words. So, firmly holding onto a baton, he quickly charged from behind of Gu Hai and before Gu Hai had a chance to react, he struck ferociously Bai Luoyin’s right shoulder. Gu Hai’s face suddenly darkened as he stepped up and kick the security guard, causing him to slide down to the ground beside the car. Peering at him, Gu Hai pulled his own leg back and gave him another kick. “Who told you to hit him?” Feeling like he had been wronged, the guard picked himself off of the ground. “Didn’t you tell me to hit him?” Gu Hai’s scarlet eyes glared, “I was just kidding around! Who told you to really hit him?” “I…how was I supposed to figure that out?…” The guard muttered to himself. Before Gu Hai could punch him again, Bai Luoyin quickly held him back, creating an opportunity for the guard to flee. Gu Hai twisted his head around to glimpse at Bai Luoyin, ready to pelt him with a fit of criticism. “And you! Didn’t you see him charging over from behind me? You clearly saw him so why didn’t you fucking block it? You even let him hit you?!!” “I did it on purpose,” Bai Luoyin said monotonously, without any change in his expression. Gu Hai’s anger rose with the steam above his head, “You fucking…” Bai Luoyin moved in closer to stand directly in front of Gu Hai leaving only a few centimeters of space between them. His cold yet charming eyes met overwhelming with his dark pupils before he faintly spoke, “If you have the ability to, don’t be anxious? Don’t get angry? Aren’t you a calm and collected man? Let me see you laugh again!!” Seeing Bai Luoyin hurt, Gu Hai felt extremely regretful. How can I still laugh?!! “Don’t try to fuck with me. I was only afraid that if Bai-shouzhang was actually beaten up badly, my company won’t be able to shoulder the responsibility.” Even though he said those words, his eyes revealed the concerns as he incessantly glanced at Bai Luoyin’s shoulder. Giving him a slight smirk, Bai Luoyin knew all too well how to read this person. He simply gave him a stern look and without beating around the bush, he bluntly said: “I, Shouzhang personally came here to deliver you a son!!” “A son?” Gu Hai asked as a surly expression took hold of his face. When Bai Luoyin reached into the car and took out a toy donkey, Gu Hai’s face turned green. “Look, look. It looks just like you!” 61
“To rape you”- Well… that’s just disturbing to say honestly.
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Bai Luoyin smiled mischievously. He placed the donkey on the roof of the car and turned the power switch on. The little donkey danced along with the sound of the music, swaying its head up and down while moving forward and backward, left and right, to the point that even Bai Luoyin himself laughed and started to sway to and fro with it. Looking at him, Gu Hai also laughed but the difference was that his laughter was not incited by the donkey. But instead, he was purely amused at Bai Luoyin’s reaction. Fucking hell! Just a mere donkey can make you so happy like this?! Back then, even after I diligently played with your body and made you feel good until you moaned and cried out in pleasure countless times, you never even laughed like this in front of me. “Hold it.” Bai Luoyin demanded, shoving the donkey into Gu Hai’s hand. Looking at the donkey, Gu Hai petted its head a few times and happily asked: “How did you know I was born in the year of the donkey?” “Your temperament back then betrayed your character.” After saying that, he patted Gu Hai’s shoulder, “I, Shouzhang am rewarding you with this. Take really good care of it!!” A hidden smile tugged shyly at the corner of Gu Hai’s lips. “This is such a childish thing. I’m too embarrassed to take it back. It would be really humiliating if someone saw me with it.” When Bai Luoyin calmly reached out to snatch it back, Gu Hai gripped it so tightly, his hand might as well have been stitched to it! And although Bai Luoyin nearly ripped its leg off, he still could not snatch it out of Gu Hai’s hand. “Considering that you gave me such a huge gift, I, Gu-zong grant you permission to come have a seat in my office.” Bai Luoyin’s proud and unyielding eyes charged at Gu Hai, “I don’t have time.” Once those words scattered, he directly drove away. Gu Hai secretly regretted his words…should have been a bit politer with my words. I almost had him in my hands and now I’ve lost the perfect opportunity!62 Just as Bai Luoyin drove out of his line of sight, Gu Hai immediately hugged that donkey against his chest as if it was his beloved baby before he walked into the company, radiating with life and an unwavering sense of euphoria. With not even an ounce of shame, he actually wished that everyone in the company knew his handsome wife had given him a little donkey that highly resembled him. Before work was over, the manager of the finance department went to Gu Hai’s office to give him the financial results. The moment she entered the office, the scene of Gu Hai staring lovingly at a stuffed donkey registered in her eyes. Normally, Gu Hai always wore a cold and stern image which made it completely impossible for any of his subordinates to build up any courage to casually joke around with him. However, when this department manager walked in and Gu Hai shifted his gaze from the donkey to her face, that smile on his lips did not have the time to slip away. This, in turn, made the department manager mistakenly believe that he was actually smiling at her. As a result, she took an unprecedented step to banter with him, “Gu-zong, that little donkey is really adorable!” Hearing that, Gu Hai waved his hand. “You’ll get an additional ¥2000 bonus this month!” The department manager was instantly dumbfounded. Oh my god! Usually, our wages never increased even after we’ve worked to death. Yet today, all I did was praised this donkey and it actually got me ¥2000!! After work, Gu Hai placed the donkey beneath his suit jacket and took it home with him. 煮熟的鸭子飞了: a proverb that translates to “cooked duck fly away”; means, sth is already or has a high chance of being able to be seized in hand or the opportunity is there for grabs, but in turn, the opportunity was lost accidentally
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In truth, Bai Luoyin never left. He simply drove around Gu Hai’s company a few times. Once he saw that it was almost time for Gu Hai to get off work, he drove back toward the company and followed behind Gu Hai’s car until they reached his residence. Gu Hai had already known that Bai Luoyin’s car was shadowing him—he merely pretended not to know. When he opened his door and caught sight of someone standing behind him, he faked an unaffected expression and threw a glance at him. “Why did you follow me?” Although he said that, in his mind, he was aching to shove this person into the room, lock the door tightly and... Unexpectedly, Bai Luoyin was extremely frank. “I came to leech a meal from you.” With that said, his gaze shifted down only to stare attentively at the little donkey in Gu Hai’s hand. “Didn’t you say it’s humiliating to be seen holding it? Why did you bring it home?” Gu Hai refused to be defeat. “Since it’s humiliating to leave it at work, I brought it back.” “Then give it back to me. I won’t eat here either!” With a darkened face, Bai Luoyin tried to snatch it again, but Gu Hai pushed and pulled until he drove him into the house. During the jostle, he even used the strength from Bai Luoyin’s own hand to push hard against the door, shutting it tightly. Then he loosened his hands and stared at him. “Bai-shouzhang, this is definitely your fault. I already said I was going to return the donkey to you, but you insisted on forcing your way in here. You see, there’s a defect in this lock. If it’s pushed shut like that, it won’t open again no matter what. Tell me, what are we going to do?” Listening to him, Bai Luoyin merely smiled grimly. He clenched his hands together into a tight fist until his knuckles cracked one at a time. “Come here, Shouzhang will personally tell you!”
Translate: Sae | Edit: Nancy
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24 Xiao Bai’s Method in Chasing his Husband
The scene that played out afterward was as expected, the Major and the President fought in the house without an ounce of care to their image. In the end, it was the Major that won. For the President, this was complete and utter humiliation. Yes, he lost. This was the very first time he lost in physical strength to his wife. His entire body was being pressed down on the sofa, making it impossible for him to budge. At first, there was a chance for him to mount a sneak attack since at that time his hand had already taken hold of Bai-shouzhang’s crotch—if only he had used enough strength, Bai-shouzhang would have naturally collapsed. Unfortunately, when this Gu-zong stretched his hand over, he had yet to utilize his strength, his bones went limp. Welling with a sense of fearlessness and joie de vivre, Bai Luoyin rode on Gu Hai’s body while tightly holding the belt63 that he had pulled off. He snorted a couple of times, “What now? Gu-zong, are you going to admit defeat or not?” Gu Hai merely narrowed his eyes as a wicked smile surfaced, “If you move up some more, I will immediately admit defeat.” Bai Luoyin lowered his head for a look only to see that their crotches were nestling against each other. If he moved up more… …then, wouldn’t his and my rub… 63
小鞭 - this also means penis of an animal that’s served as food
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In just seconds, countless sharp and cold daggers emitted from Bai Luoyin’s dark eyes. Once it connected with the warmth and gentleness that flowed from Gu Hai’s eyes, the cold and hot gazes collided with such force and intensity that they immediately intertwined and then dissolved into a thin mist that permeated the room. Keeping their eyes locked, Bai Luoyin slowly lowered the upper half of his body close to Gu Hai, all the while, a powerful flame of enticement and utter seduction rose between them. Within moments, Gu Hai’s heart melted. His big hand reached up and gently took hold of the back of Bai Luoyin’s head before he roughly pressed his it down, stopping when there were only a few centimeters of space left between their lips. Then a hot breath of air fluttered coyly on Bai Luoyin’s face. “I’ve wanted to fuck you for eight long years.” Bai Luoyin faintly replied, “Me too.” A tremendous rush of electricity flowed between their tightly knitted bodies before converging and traveling all the way down below their bellies. When Gu Hai saw the untamed and brutal intensity crowded Bai Luoyin’s eyes, his breath became laden with intoxication and heaviness. The hand he had slyly placed on Bai Luoyin’s back slowly shifted downward as if waiting for the right moment to catch him off guard as to mount an attack on him by flipping him over so that he would lie shyly beneath him instead. Unfortunately, Bai Luoyin utilized his trained abilities to agilely flipped his body over and off of Gu Hai’s body. He got up, clapped his hands a couple of times and peered back to give Gu Hai a cold yet charming smile. With just that one enticing and challenging look, Gu Hai felt as though his heart was being trodden on by countless of ants. There was never a time like this, where the desire to conquer ascended in the depth of Gu Hai’s heart. He realized, compared to eight years ago, Bai Luoyin was even harder to resist now. If he were to devour this poisonous seed, then he will be destined to eternally doomed yet again. “I’m hungry,” Bai Luoyin said, quickly sealing away his playful heart. Swiftly calming down his breath, Gu Hai answered with a sunken voice, “Behave yourself. Just sit here and wait for me.” The hidden meaning is, don’t even think about playing any devious tricks.64 You are well aware that bit of laozi’s72 patience is limited. Once he was left alone, Bai Luoyin circled around the room twice, but soon he was struck with boredom and walked toward the kitchen doorway. Just as he was about to enter, he was abruptly frightened by the scene inside. Gu Hai was in the middle of chopping a piece of meat in a rather bizarre manner with the knife splaying in all directions. His eyes were narrowed then widened, exposing bold and crafty appearance. This scene conjured a shiver that clutched securely on Bai Luoyin’s heart. He’s not going to treat me like that piece of meat, right? The atmosphere during their dinner was relatively peaceful. Once Bai Luoyin saw the table covered with an array of food, his mood was considerably good as he said with interest, “These are all the food I love to eat…did you know that I was going to come here and intentionally prepared all of these ahead of time?” Gu Hai snorted coldly, “Who said I prepared these for you? Even if you’re not here, I would still eat like this. And now that you’re here, I don’t have any desire to feed you at all.” With that said, he moved a few good dishes toward his side of the table. 幺蛾子 - Lit. Unitary Moth. This is a slang from northern china. It refers to when someone is playing tricks, coming up with evil plans, bad ideas, rotten ideas. Devious type of thinking. Etc.
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Contrary to expectation, Bai Luoyin did not attempt to snatch any of the food. Instead, he just obediently ate the few plates of vegetables in front of him. In the end, Gu Hai’s heart could not endure it any longer when he thought about the hardship that Bai Luoyin had suffered in the military, and how even then he had not been able to have decent meals. It was difficult enough to get him to come here…I wanted to change up his meal but instead, I ended up saying something unpleasant and now he still can’t have a good meal. “Alright, seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll reward you so that later you can’t tell others that, I, Gu-zong, mistreated you.” After saying that, he placed several meat dishes in front of Bai Luoyin. However, Bai Luoyin only reached for the plates of vegetable that was now further away. Seeing that, Gu Hai’s face darkened, and he hit the back of Bai Luoyin’s hand twice. “Are you fucking looking for trouble on purpose, huh?!” Bai Luoyin remained calm and gave Gu Hai’s a glance. Soon a smirk broke through his silence as he reached out to get the food that he liked to eat. A hint of restlessness waltzed into Gu Hai’s heart as he looked on inquisitively. He cleared his throat and employed a serious tone of voice, “Bai Luoyin, you’ve changed into a badass now.” Remaining expressionless, Bai Luoyin snorted instead as he secretly thought to himself. How did I change? If it wasn’t to uncover your shamelessness, would I have used this kind of trick to catch you? I want to see how long you can keep on pretending!! “I really pity your other half,” Gu Hai said with a sigh. “Pity him? Why does he deserve your pity?”65 “Just look at how you are now…so foolish and irresponsible, not dependable like you were before! Whoever becomes your lover won’t be able to have peace of mind at all!!” The unspoken implication behind those words was, ‘you can seduce me, but don’t go flirting anywhere else!’66 Bai Luoyin heedlessly replied, “If he can’t tie me down, that’s his fault for being useless!!” At that moment, a beautiful thought sprung in Gu Hai’s mind. He truly wanted to fuck Bai Luoyin until he cries right now!! After dinner, Bai Luoyin wiped his mouth and stood up, “I’m leaving.” “You’re going to leave just like that?” Gu Hai asked, unable to hold it in any longer. Bai Luoyin’s brow slightly locked, “If not, then what else?” In seconds, Gu Hai’s complexion changed course as he organized his thoughts in silence— thinking about what method he should employ as a ‘perfect and just’ cause to make the exceptionally brilliant man stay. Then rightfully devour him all at once as to make him surrender and bow down to him from then on. In the end, Bai Luoyin did not give Gu Hai a chance to detain him at all. “I can’t stay here. I have to be strict with myself so that my future lover can see just how much of a dependable person I am. Isn’t that right, Gu-zong?” With that, he lit a cigarette and let it hang loosely in his mouth. He threw his military uniform jacket over his shoulder and then strolled out of the door in an extremely confident and easy-going demeanor.
“Pity him? Why does he deserve your pity?” - Bai Luoyin is using a gender neutral pronoun even if it’s general used for ‘he/him.’ 66 Don’t go flirt anywhere else!’ 拈花惹草 - lit. to pick the flowers and trample the grass (idiom) / fig. to womanize / to frequent brothels / to sow one's wild oats 65
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At night, when Gu Hai was taking a shower, he was no longer able to control himself. This need was simply even more difficult to endure than a drug addiction. His mind was completely and utterly overtaken by Bai Luoyin’s face… …those serene yet cold and enticing eyes, the two long and slender legs that ran for miles on end, that faint smirk at the corner of his lips when he mocked him, and that little round ass wrapped tightly and perfectly in his military uniform… In these eight years, Gu Hai has truly saved up an abundance of energy… now, no matter how much he released, there was still no sense of satisfaction whatsoever. It would have been great if he stayed, then even if I exhausted all my energy and die, it would be worth it!! Gu Hai leaned against the bedhead and anxiously smoked a cigarette mentally urging himself to the point of self-hypnotism. You have to stay calm. You must keep cool. If you compromise now, he will believe this method of seducing people is effective… he will thoroughly put your body to use then run off and flaunt it to other people. You must destroy these sinful habits of his and let him completely understand he doesn’t have any charm or…. allure to show off so he shouldn’t go and humiliate himself in front of other people. That night, Gu Hai had no choice but to force himself to sleep with all those ‘thoughts’ clashing against each other. Early morning of the next day, he carried his ‘son’ to the company again. For the next few days, Bai Luoyin would always drive over before work was over then follow Gu Hai back home to leech a meal from him. Gu Hai has acquired a very favorable habit. That is, every day, he would schedule himself around the time Bai Luoyin drove over and keep watch at the side of the window. With great interest, he would completely engross himself in watching as Bai Luoyin’s awe-inspiring silhouette stood in front of the car to wait just for him. At the same time, he also enjoyed the ultimate thrill of being chased! Once Yan Yajing had finished handling all her family’ affairs, she immediately returned to work. The day she arrived, she quickly discovered there was an extra item in Gu Hai’s office. At first, she had even though it was placed there as a practical joke by someone. But after seeing it a few more times, she realized that this donkey was unexpectedly brought in by none other than Gu Hai himself. And, not only that, he adored and doted on it to no end. If anyone said any unpleasant word about the donkey, Gu Hai would assuredly become hostile with her. Today, as she usually does, Yan Yajing went to Gu Hai’s office before work ended only to discover that Gu Hai’s gaze has traveled out the window again. Yan Yajing has already seen this scenario twice now and this has aroused her curiosity to know what he was gazing on, with such an unfamiliar expression. “Gu-zong,” Yan Yajing knocked on the door a couple of times. Hearing the noise, Gu Hai shifted his gaze over and the warmth that rode at the depth of his eyes dropped as he spoke with an unenthusiastic tone instead. “Just leave the documents there!” After Yan Yajing compiled and placed the documents down, she glanced over to Gu Hai again only to see that his eyes have already flown toward the window. “What are you looking at?” Yan Yajing asked, unable to hold back her curiosity. Gu Hai faintly smiled and called Yan Yajing over before pointing outside the window to where Bai Luoyin was standing, “Doesn’t he look particularly foolish standing there?” Even as he said those words, the look in his eyes cannot mask the adoration that seeped out. Yan Yajing stared in utter surprise at Gu Hai, completely unable to comprehend how he could look at his own brother with such interest and excitement like this. What’s more, she could
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not make out what was so foolish about Bai Luoyin, contrariwise, she thought that Gu Hai’s behaviors were foolish instead. “Oh, I’ve seen him standing there for the last two days after I get out of work. But I don’t know who he’s waiting for.” As those words entered his ears, the corner of Gu Hai’s lips rose into an arrogant smirk as if Yan Yajing had said those words intentionally for only him to hear. Yan Yajing continued, “But since he came here, all the employees have been lingering around in the lounge, hesitant to leave after work. When I left the day before yesterday, I happened to see an employee being friendly with him and had even asked for his phone number.” Gu Hai’s eyes welled with nervousness, “Did he give it?” “He did!” Yan Yajing smiled until the corners of her lips rose, “He has a really great affinity with women. You know, it wasn’t just one time that I’ve seen girls walked over to hit on him. To be honest, your brother is truly a god given calamity. He is extremely eye-catching just by standing there, it’s impossible for people to not pay attention to him.” While she sprouted those words, his face had already become somewhat red. Gu Hai peered out once more, and the palatable sweet feelings from before immediately faded. With a gloomy and unsatisfied expression, he got up and walked out.
Translate: Sae | Edit: Nancy
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25 Forcing You to Surrender!
Gu Hai charged out of the elevator cloaked with an air of exasperation while each heavy step resonated toward Bai Luoyin. Suddenly, the bustling entrance way that was crowded with people coming and going became calm and peaceful. In the blink of an eye, all the staff lingering in the lounge finally found their paths home as they scattered in all directions. Bai Luoyin was still leaning against the front of the car—his handsome, elegant and confident figure made it impossible for passersby to not give him a side glance. Once Gu Hai stopped before Bai Luoyin, their faces were nearly plastered together. “What are you doing?” Gu Hai asked. As if second nature, Bai Luoyin’s hand automatically rested on Gu Hai's shoulder. “I'm not doing anything, just looking for a place to rest and have a cigarette, that’s all.” “What a coincidence.” Gu Hai said, feigning a smile as he raised his brow and knowingly scrutinized Bai Luoyin. “I see, you just happen to pick this place for a rest every-single-day.” “There are a lot of girls here,” Bai Luoyin retorted with an arrogant smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he lit a cigarette. Gu Hai immediately snatched the cigarette from Bai Luoyin’s mouth and placed it in his own mouth before moving to lean against the car beside him. All the while, his gloomy eyes stared annoyingly at the front of his office building. “Don’t come here anymore.” Gu Hai warned him, his voice stern and demanding.
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Bai Luoyin listened on with contempt, “This is a public place, why can’t I come here? Besides, it’s not like I’m here to look for you. Since I am single right now, I want to borrow the good energy from your precious company to find my fated other half.” Silent seemed to take control but the sound of cars and footsteps passing by could still be heard—the smoke that blew out of Gu Hai’s mouth carried a gust of chilly air. Looking for your fated other half? I'm right beside you and you dare to still fucking look? “There’s no need to look. None of the women in my company are suitable for you, not to mention, every single one of them is proud and arrogant. Who would fall for such a calamity like you, always parading ostentatiously around town...” After talking for half a day in his own world, Gu Hai finally noticed that Bai Luoyin did not react to any of his words. He turned for a look only to see that this bastard had pulled out a stack of business cards out of nowhere—worst, there were about 50 cards with just one glance. He even flipped the card over one by one to look over the information as if he was selecting a fair maiden among all the beauties laid out for him.67 Let’s not mention the look of satisfaction smugly riding his face. Unable to look on, Gu Hai snatched those business cards over and shoved them all into his pocket without saying anything further. Meanwhile, Bai Luoyin tried with difficulty to not reveal his smile as he stared at Gu Hai, “Gu-zong, you’re being stingy. Look, you already have all these cards in your office, why did you have to snatch mine away like that?” “I’m borrowing them to see how many of our company employees have such poor tastes.” Bai Luoyin did not get angry or caused a scene, he simply pulled out the cigarette from Gu Hai’s mouth while wearing a bewildered expression. “Hey, tell me, why is there a hint of sourness in the cigarette today?”68 A battalion of darkness rushed into Gu Hai’s eyes. They swept toward Bai Luoyin but the expression on his face was bursting with even more brilliance with every passing minute. After a moment of silence, a faint laugh escaped Bai Luoyin’s lips and he struck the car door. “Alright! Gu-zong, it’s late already, it’s time for me to eat.” Gu Hai silently colluded to himself. If you have the balls to come to my house today and I let you leave, then I will relinquish myself as a Gu! In the end, Bai Luoyin unexpectedly did not get back in the car, instead, he turned the other way and started to walk toward the Cha Canting on the other side of the street. Feeling somewhat puzzled, Gu Hai asked from behind, “Where are you going?” “Let’s just eat there together!” Bai Luoyin’s words and footsteps stopped at the front of the door to the Cha Canting. Gu Hai calmly reminded him, “There's nothing in there that you’ll like to eat.” With a hidden smile, Bai Luoyin twisted his head around. “Even though your place has a lot of the food I like, I can’t always go there. Look, I only ate there for a few days and now I have to look at your mood just to park in front of your company. That’s all because I ate your food.”69 Once those words came to an end, he turned back around and walked in. As he watched the door shut, Gu Hai gritted his teeth in anger. 選秀女: Lit: Select graceful lady. From Qing Dynasty (1616 to 1912), every year, the emperor will select graceful ladies in the age of 12-15 to be his concubine or to be arranged to be the concubine of the emperor's sons and grandsons. 68 "...why is there a hint of sourness...?" - 酸味 suānwèi refers to jealousy 69 吃人家嘴短 Lit: Eat other's mouth short. It means, if you keep eating other people's food, in future, you would feel embarrassed if you wanted to criticize them when the time comes. BLY is saying, he can't always go leech food of GH, if he did how can he criticize or scold him if he wanted to later on? 67
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Bai Luoyin, you’re really fucking good at pissing me off!! But even with that thought, he still followed in. As Bai Luoyin was ordering food, he could not help but to say something when he saw Gu Hai walked in, “Gu-zong, why are you in here when your cooking skill is already great, huh?” Without looking at him, Gu Hai only replied with two words: “I’m lazy!” Bai Luoyin shouted loudly: “Waiter, add a pair of chopsticks.” While those words filtered the air between them, Gu Hai unexpectedly did not share a table with Bai Luoyin. He purposely found a seat at the table next to him instead. Controlling his expression, Bai Luoyin mentally cursed him. Gu Hai, you’re good! You can keep on being fucking stubborn with me! Just you wait, I’ll be going back to the base in a few days. By then, you won’t be able to find anyone to shit on even if you want to. The waiter walked toward Bai Luoyin and gave him a glance before giving Gu Hai a glance and then asked in a small hesitating tone, “Do you still need another pair of chopsticks?” With a cold and stern face, Bai Luoyin said a few words, “Yes, just put it across from me.” As a result, the extra pair of utensils sat silently on the other side, creating a false appearance of someone sitting there. In the end, the scene was of two people sitting at two separate tables, disregarding the other person as they ate quietly to themselves with neither speaking a single word to each other. After just a few bites, Gu Hai could no longer stomach the food here, but since he was here already, he must continue this game until the end. Otherwise, it would seem like he had followed someone in there. “Eat it. This dish is pretty good.” Suddenly, Bai Luoyin’s voice floated from the other side, causing the chopsticks in Gu Hai's hand to tremble just the slightest before his eyes made a beeline to the source of the sound. With just the first glance, Gu Hai witnessed a scene that incited his blood vessels to burst. Bai Luoyin was eating alone and although there was absolutely no one sitting across from him, he kept on putting food in the bowl. While he picked the food, he even conversed with the empty bowl and dishes, looking as though he was a mentally challenged person. “I’ve already removed all the fish bones from this piece. Didn’t you always do this for me in the past? Let me do it for you today. Isn't it delicious?… It really is delicious? Look how messy you are, there’s food on your chin. Let’s quickly wipe it off…” Seconds later, a burst of cold air rushed into the surrounding area. Two customers walked out while the remaining people’s gazes all darted over to Bai Luoyin with sympathy. “Ahh, what a pity, how can such a good-looking young man have this kind of illness?” “That’s right... he must have suffered something really traumatic.” “If you ask me, it’s most likely because the other person died.” Hearing those words, all the food in Gu Hai’s mouth were completely jammed in his throat—an overwhelming sensation took control of his heart, tearing away his appetite. However, all types of feelings emerged within his heart. Suddenly, Bai Luoyin let loose a few more unbelievable words. “Gu Hai, are the food I picked for you delicious, hmmm?” Gu Hai's darkened face was about to burst any time now. Bai Luoyin, fuck you! Bastard!! I'm not dead yet!! Even after Gu Hai dragged him to the car, Bai Luoyin still played to his heart’s content. Grabbing him firmly, Gu Hai pushed Bai Luoyin roughly into the back seat of the car and began to work his magical hands on him—tickling his waist without even a hint of relenting. Bai Luoyin twisted side to side while begging for forgiveness. “Stop it, stop it… if you don’t, I’m going to throw up any second now.”
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When Gu Hai released Bai Luoyin, he slowly sat up. Once he was able to catch his breath, he turned to look at Gu Hai only to see him staring at him with a pair of watchful and forbidding eyes. In seconds, Bai Luoyin could not hold it in any longer and burst into laughter again. One of Gu Hai’s big hand darted out to grip Bai Luoyin's cheeks, squeezing it until his mouth was the same shape as a duck’s beak. Yet, even then, Bai Luoyin continued to laugh with his lips pouted and cheeks squeezed to the point that a couple of lines appeared, making it seem especially amusing. The anger Gu Hai felt turned into happiness, from there, his claw-like hands raced toward Bai Luoyin’s crotch, but Bai Luoyin was quick to defend himself and firmly clamped his legs. Sensing Gu Hai’s lips close in on him, Bai Luoyin swung his head away first causing the sneaky kiss to land on his ear. Bai Luoyin’s body trembled a second from the gentle sensation on his skin before he struggled again. Soon, one of Gu Hai's legs pressed firmly on his legs, rendering him completely immobile. Then after a seemingly endless silence, their lips mutually pulled into together, allowing the kiss that had been lying in their heart to speak in a soft, comforting way that words can never be. Their lips mesh against each other and for the first time since forever, their minds were locked in the present. The worries that lingered evaporated like the snow upon the coming of summer as an immense wave engulfed every inch of their bodies, melting them into one. The headlights from the passing cars flickered on and off against the darkness, illuminating their faces as their longingly eyes slightly parted to take in each other’s forms—warmth radiated as their soft tongues traveled willfully along the lines of the others’ lips. In that silence, all of their needs were laid bare, all of their passions and the sparks that sprout from unspoken words existed only between them. At that moment, the feelings they held was strong, unyielding, and inseparable. It was to the point that even after some time had passed, the passion and desires that intoxicated their hearts still coursed throughout their bodies, containing them, leaving them actively addicted to each other for a very long time, unwilling to scatter. Bai Luoyin’s brows slightly locked, “It tastes like sesame paste.” The tip of Gu Hai’s tongue mischievously traced circles along Bai Luoyin's lips again, before he followed suit with, “It tastes like dried shrimps.” Without taking their eyes off each other, the two flavors on their lips mixed again. The soft and gentleness that suffused just now was merely a warm-up. Gu Hai’s feelings quickly rose to its limit and exploded as his tongue boldly charged in with need, nearly pressing into Bai Luoyin’s throat. Unwillingly to be overtaken, Bai Luoyin’s tongue retaliated and stubbornly pushed Gu Hai's tongue back before he started to wreak havoc in his mouth. While their breaths were ravaged with more urgency, hinting at the desire that brazenly burned, Gu Hai’s hands started to wander sensually along Bai Luoyin’s body. Just as Bai Luoyin felt a gust of cool air unfurled beneath his shirt, a warm yet defiant hand suddenly trodden in. With great speed, Bai Luoyin held onto the hand while his eyes exposed a hint of ridicule. “Gu-zong, you can’t reveal your gangster identity right in front of the company.” Gu Hai gritted his teeth, “Gu-zong? I dare you to say Gu-zong again! I'll bite your tongue off!” “Where did this gangster come from?” Bai Luoyin asked, borrowing Gu Hai’s expression to berate him. Gu Hai pouted and mercilessly pinched the smalls of Bai Luoyin’s waist. “You're so fucking bad!”
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The two tussled for a while but thinking that there was inadequate space to move around, Gu Hai stopped and rested his chin on Bai Luoyin's shoulder. He turned his head slightly to the side and let all his hot breath fan Bai Luoyin's burning ear. “Come home with me.” Gu Hai softly implored while his lips brushed his skin. Hearing those words, Bai Luoyin toughened his face and held back his tongue before he replied with an unyielding manner that does not destroy his integrity. “I'm not going!” Gu Hai snuggled close to Bai Luoyin's ear and softly asked. “Why not? Weren't you always running after my ass for two days already? Now that I took the initiative to ask you, you won't give me the honor?” Bai Luoyin stood his ground, “A military officer must maintain his upright nature at all times.” “Then, if I willingly throw myself at you, will you go or not?” Gu Hai continued to poison the other’s mind with his irresistible voice. Giving him a quick glance, Bai Luoyin went silent for a long while but even then, he still replied with the same three words, “I’m not going!” A twinge of pain shot into Gu Hai’s chest as he mentally clenched his teeth and stomp his foot, then he finally let those disadvantaged words70 he had kept locked burst free. “I like you.” Holding onto his serious appearance, Bai-shouzhang simply cleared his throat. “Then, let’s go to your place and have some water!” Gu Hai snickered to himself. It doesn’t matter if I suffer some emotional losses, I will get it all back in bed!
Translate: Sae | Edit: Nancy
Disadvantage words - from previous chapter, Gu Hai said he didn't want to be in a lower status by admitting how he feels for BLY. Since BLY is so good with arousing GH, GH had no choice but to admit, even if it means he had to lower his status again. lol
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26 Entangled
The door was kicked open with a loud thud. Gu Hai swung around and ardently shove Bai Luoyin against the wall, flooding countless kisses of unspoken passion on him. Taking in the sensation of the rough yet gentle lips branding him, scorching hot flames quickly barged wildly in Bai Luoyin’s chest even though his back was pasted to the ice-cold surface of the wall. Gu Hai’s hands eagerly roamed beneath Bai Luoyin’s shirt, caressing and loving every inch of his skin, without an inkling of a thought to tear away from this wondrous feeling or where he should stop. Suddenly, a slight frisson of fear trickled down Bai Luoyin’s spine rendering him rigid when a burst of joyful sound infiltrated the space between them out of nowhere. His eyes swiftly shifted only to see Gu Hai conveniently pressing the power switch off, stopping the music all at once. Curious as he was, Bai Luoyin turned toward the source of the sound and was immediately taken aback. To his surprise, the donkey he had gifted Gu Hai was nestling cozily against his chest. “Why did you bring it home with you again? Didn’t you say that it was humiliating to leave it in your office last time?” Bai Luoyin smirked, deliberately mocking Gu Hai. Without shame, Gu Hai raised one of his brows and replied, “I can’t live without it now.” Hearing those simple yet heartwarming words, Bai Luoyin held back the smile at the corners of his lips, “Do you really like it that much?” Gu Hai stroked the donkey’s head as he muttered to himself, “He’s very useful.” “Useful?” Bai Luoyin’s face trickled with perplexity.
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Gu Hai happily sat down on the sofa and casually placed the small donkey upside-down between his legs. Then, he switched the power button on causing the donkey’s head to sway and move up and down, left and right. It rubbed against the area until Gu Hai moaned out in pleasure! Seeing that wretched appearance, Bai Luoyin was completely subdued by Gu Hai’s ribald manner. He immediately shouted in anger, “You actually use it for this?!” Holding Bai Luoyin’s angered gaze, Gu Hai feigned stupidity, “Didn’t you give it to me as a sex toy?” “…you!!” Quick to notice that Bai-shouzhang wanted to utilize violence, Gu-zong hastily stopped him by speaking with politesse instead, “No, no, no, I didn’t. Don’t be mad, I’m just teasing you. I would hate to let it do such a lowly thing. Honestly, I’ve been treating it like my own son, hugging it to sleep every night.” Bai Luoyin snatched the donkey from Gu Hai’s hand then lowered his head to look at it only to discover that all the hair on top of the donkey’s head was nearly worn out. “Aaahhh!!! …” Bai Luoyin beat Gu Hai and had even taken the chance to settle any other debt. This time, Gu Hai did not retaliate and endured the punches instead since everyone that landed on him was all for fun. He knew with certainty that Bai Luoyin does not and will not have the heart to strike him with much force. After this supposed punishment came to an end, Gu Hai hugged Bai Luoyin tightly and leaned his head to the crook of his neck. He whispered into his ear and enticed him with words contrived by wickedness and passion. “Let’s go take a shower together.” Although specks of lights flashed coyly against Bai Luoyin’s black pupils, he nevertheless nodded his head in agreement. The bathroom had two shower heads, allowing each person to stand at either side. As Gu Hai began to undress, the need to speak broke free from his lips. “When we showered together back then, I’ve always thought this body of yours is quite suitable for wearing a military uniform. If one day I could fuck you while you’re wearing your uniform, it would feel so good…” Gu Hai’s outspoken words tantamounted to seeking a play with fire while knowing full well the desired effect that would transfigure out if it. Yet even then, Bai Luoyin bore no harsh thoughts and instead coldly snorted before launching some words back without a hint of hesitation. “Wait until I wear my uniform, the one being fucked will be you!” Without saying a word, a carefree smile eased its way into the perfectly constructed lines on Gu Hai’s lips. It was not that he looked down on Bai Luoyin’s physical strength, he just simply knew Bai Luoyin’s bed skills like the back of his hand. Eight years ago, when they fondled and held each other intensely during intercourse nearly every day, he had never sensed a touch of improvement in his skills. After being a bachelor for eight years, if he can actually take him down, Gu Hai would wholeheartedly commend him. Bai Luoyin’s hand stopped on the button of his shirt. He subconsciously shot Gu Hai a glance from the corner of his eyes only to see that the scoundrel was already stark naked in all his glory and was presently staring at him with ferocious eyes like that of a wolf’s. Bai Luoyin did not know whether the shadows of the past were too deeply rooted, but even as he undressed in front of Gu Hai now, there was still a hint of uneasiness welling within him—even though he had always convinced himself that the person beside him was also an ordinary man. When all of Bai Luoyin’s clothes were scattered to the side, a fireball suddenly ignited inside Gu Hai’s chest. It was just as he had expected and had even exceeded beyond his expectation. Bai Luoyin’s body was utter perfection.
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The contours of his muscles were smooth and lean without a trace of excess fat anywhere. And, compared to all those years ago, his body was sculpted with even more curves. Especially those two perfectly chiseled ass cheeks, luscious and impeccably round as they were, seemed to be amplified with an even more succulent taste after being cleansed with warm water… Just by looking alone, Xiao Hai Zi had long jumped proudly into action, full of vigor and illintent. All the while a vivid and colorful image of springtime and erotic activities played repeatedly in his mind. Trying to control his mental state, Gu Hai took another quick glance then shifted his gaze elsewhere. He quickly adjusted the water temperature to a cooler setting as to prevent himself from getting too overly excited and possibly pre-ejaculated before he even started to fondle and taste Bai Luoyin… Unable to contain his own urges, Bai Luoyin also sneaked in a few glances, and upon seeing that huge and lively thing that he had not seen for a long time, he was immediately rendered speechless and took to secretly colluding with himself instead. What the hell, in these eight years nothing else grew aside from his cock? Even though he held these thoughts, he was still secretly envious of him. Gu Hai’s frame was naturally bigger than his and regardless of how much or how long he trained, it was nevertheless impossible for him to achieve a body as robust and powerful as Gu Hai’s. Once they finished showering, Gu Hai made Bai Luoyin sit on the sofa in the bedroom and allowed him to watch the television while he stood behind him, blow drying his hair. The warm air and Gu Hai’s hand gently brushed against Bai Luoyin’s cheeks, and although his eyes were fixed on the television screen, he actually doesn’t know what program was being shown at all. “Do you usually blow dry your hair after showering?” Gu Hai asked while he caressed the strands clumped together. “Not at all.” Bai Luoyin answered honestly, “I only wipe it before sleeping and it would be dry the next morning anyway.” At those casual words, Gu Hai’s voice was tinted with woe and anger, “I just fucking knew that you’d keep this kind of behavior. If you don’t blow dry your hair before going to bed like this, don’t you get headaches?” “I don’t feel it. When it’s windy, I’ll just run a lap and it’ll dry. In the winter, I even forget to wear a hat when I go out and by the time I get back, my head would be filled with icicles. It’s so stupid. Hehe…” “You can still laugh?!!” Gu Hai retorted as he reached out to pinch Bai Luoyin’s cheek, “I don’t care how you were before. But now, you have to listen to me. You must dry your hair after washing it. If I’m with you, I’ll dry it for you and if I’m not, you must dry it yourself.” Bai Luoyin’s brows locked before he impatiently countered, “I don’t have a hair dryer!” “I’ll buy one and have it sent to you.” Gu Hai’s tone was tough and unyielding, “Also, throw away all those junk foods in your room! From now on, if I’m free, I’ll bring your meal. If I’m busy, I will get someone else to bring it to you!” Bai Luoyin sighed. “After all these years, why are you still nagging like a woman?” “Only towards you!!” Gu Hai firmly replied before calmly answering with another question, “Have you ever seen me like this with anyone else?” Bai Luoyin did not utter another word. Gu Hai’s hand strongly gripped the back of Bai Luoyin’s neck as he spoke with a sunken voice, “I’m not playing around with you. I don’t care how many people are under your command, but when it comes to me, you must listen. From now on, I will frequently inspect your dorm
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without any prior warning. If I ever find any forbidden items in there, you better take off your pants and wait for a beating!!” Having been separated for eight years, Bai Luoyin had become even more indecorous and defiant. Whatever Gu Hai said, it all went in the left ear and directly exited the right ear. He simply did not take it seriously at all. After drying Bai Luoyin’s hair, Gu Hai peeled a grape and brought it to the corner of his lips. Bai Luoyin hesitated for a moment but nevertheless, he opened his mouth and ate it. However, just as he bit into it, the sourness nearly caused him to faint. This was made worse since he had just brushed his teeth, leaving him quite sensitive towards the acrid taste. In seconds, the space between Bai Luoyin’s brows locked into the character for the number ten. Meanwhile, Gu Hai obnoxiously sat to the side, enjoying Bai Luoyin’s twisted expression. But once Bai Luoyin realized Gu Hai deliberately wronged him, he instantly threw himself on Gu Hai and sealed their lips tightly together and counterattacked by transferring all the sour taste in his mouth into Gu Hai’s mouth. As the sourness gradually faded, it was replaced by a sweet, tantalizing taste that ravaged their senses, sending a strong feeling of warmth through their system. Epiphany and elation percolated into their veins as they pressed more impenetrably and roughly onto each other lips. As their persistent mouths parted to accept air and latched tightly once more, wild tremors scaled their nerves, inflicting sensations of euphoria that only they knew. Their kisses were akin to a formidable guerrilla war, full of formidable sabotages and irregular ambushes laden with the actions of, ‘You chase, I seized’. Amidst the rough and endless desire to quench their thirst, the battlefield unknowingly shifted onto the bed… Bai Luoyin leaned against the headboard. One of Gu Hai’s leg pressed down on his body, trapping this willing foe while his tongue started to roam to every nook and cranny of Bai Luoyin’s neck. The moment this aching body, that had long been neglected, suddenly suffered such an unknown attack, an innate conditioned instantly manifested in the form of delicate goosebumps that raced to cover every inch of Bai Luoyin’s robust skin. And, as Gu Hai’s hot tongue rolled with skills, the bumps became more distinctive, shoving Bai Luoyin’s mind to the edge of insanity from the sweetness that lingered with every nib and lick. “Ahh…” When Gu Hai’s tongue invaded Bai Luoyin’s ear and his fingers pinched the small nubs on his scorching chest, Bai Luoyin let out an unbearable gasp. His slightly narrowed eyes were unable to conceal the sea of lust that took solace within. Gu Hai’s entire body hovered desperately over Bai Luoyin before he reached out to grip his long legs and spread them apart to either side of his waist. Like a swooping eagle targeting its prey, he lowered his head and sucked Bai Luoyin’s left nipple, lightly biting and kneading it with his tongue repeatedly. This sensation shot through every drugged-up nerve in Bai Luoyin’s body, bewitching his straightened back to instantly arched upwards, making way for their rock hard and twitching cocks to rub against each other intimately. And all the while, the entire room was being flooded with chaotic breaths. Gu Hai painstakingly endured the intimacy that brought his mind into heaven. Even though the desire to roughly engage his loaded gun beckoned his control to crumble, he remembered this was the body he yearned and dreamt to hold for eight long and painful years. He needed to treat it as a long-lost treasure that has been recovered and gently…carefully taste it a bit at a time as to savor the beauty that he had missed all those years.
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As the desires prolonged, Gu Hai looked up only to catch Bai Luoyin’s blazing passionate gaze with a hint of fear, staring straight back into his soul. Without blinking, his mischievous lips could not help but jokingly sprout some words. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Truth to be told, he completely understood everything. The territory soon to be invaded was something that he himself had personally trained to perfection. When they quarreled before, this was flawlessly revealed as a killer move, exclusive only to his erogenous zone. Once touched, this person would instantly melt and surrender. Gu Hai held his smiles at bay, and under Bai Luoyin’s nervous expression, his tongue slid down his stomach—sending waves of tiny lightning bolts wherever it grazed. The tip of his tongue was like a delicate paintbrush, made from the most precious jewel, sketching and admiring the contour of his muscles before urgently tracing toward the smalls of his waist. Unable to control his salacious and disobedient body, Bai Luoyin’s waist trembled irrepressibly before his powerful legs clamped firmly onto Gu Hai’s stern shoulders. Under the attack and teasing intention of this unruly tongue, a distorted yet pleasurable expression that he could no longer restrain emerged on his flushed face. And, as if a powerful spell had been cast on him, a string of deep and gratifying moan slipped from the corners of his mouth. As the sweet sound coiled into Gu Hai’s ear, he lifted his head and gave Bai Luoyin a wicked smile filled as if mocking him for being useless under his skillful tongue. Not one to miss this kind of challenging look, Bai Luoyin ruthlessly bit Gu Hai’s mouth, nearly drawing blood, then swiftly turned over and pushed Gu Hai down before eagerly and wildly assaulting his body. Gu Hai was right. After all these years, Bai Luoyin did not improve on anything. The only thing that changed was the strength of his hands, which has become stronger so as he roughly caressed Gu Hai, it was even more painful than before. If he wasn’t completely and hopelessly captivated, moonstruck, and enamored with him, with his lousy bedroom skills, would he truly be able to make someone aroused? However, the moment Bai Luoyin grasped Xiao Hai Zi, Gu Hai realized that he was totally wrong. Having endured eight years of self-discipline, Bai Luoyin has become an expert in masturbation. The skillful movements of his hands toyed Xiao Hai Zi until it was completely hardened. Not to mention those hands was littered with callouses, with just the right amount of strength, Gu Hai was ridden with a carnal pleasure that he could not withstand. “Does it feel good?” Bai Luoyin asked as the corner of his lips rose up into a naughty smirk. Gu Hai’s hand wormed its way into Bai Luoyin’s hair as he gasped heavily and questioned him, “You must have sneakily masturbated under your blanket during all these years, right?” “Yeah…” Bai Luoyin bluntly admitted, “I’ve also helped other people do it.” Hearing those words, one among Gu Hai’s two hands that were busily groping and kneading Bai Luoyin’s ass suddenly rose to midair. Then catching Bai Luoyin completely unguarded, he firmly slapped one of his ass cheeks causing a clear and melodious sound to reverberate across the room. In just seconds, that particular ass cheek tingled with pins and needles before going numb. He immediately roared in anger, “You fucking bastard! It hurts…” Gu Hai happily massaged it, “When the security guard ruthlessly hit you with the baton a few days ago, you didn’t even shout out in pain. I only slap you lightly for a second and you immediately complained that it hurts. Are you really hurt or are you just acting spoiled with me?” A dark tone still lingered on Bai Luoyin’s face, “How can it be the same?”
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Gu Hai stared attentively at Bai Luoyin for a moment and unable to restrain himself, he asked, “Yin Zi, tell me the truth, have you ever been with anyone else during the past eight years?” “I have.” Gu Hai’s gaze intensified, “Who?” “You.”
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27 Sweetly Entwined to the Core
Gu Hai dragged the upper half of Bai Luoyin’s body on top of his own into an embrace before wildly sealing his lips with kisses. These fierce yet saccharine kisses were akin to an impending storm, clustered with violent wind and rain as it motioned toward Bai Luoyin, seeking to wholeheartedly crush him. With his cheeks blushing hotly and the heat between their bodies seemingly traveling through his veins, warming him, Bai Luoyin was unable to control his breathing. He felt a rush of euphoric bliss envelop him, making his heart sing with pure joy. All he could do was hold his breath and enjoy the deep feeling of love and affection that flowed from Gu Hai to him with every silent yet intensive touch. Words cannot define or explain the feelings and longing that burned passionately in Gu Hai, nearly stifling his heart. Now, he only wanted to love him dearly, without any reservations, without any limitations, without invisible strings tied to their hands in a bitter attempt to control them. He yearned to hold and take possession of him once again and to make him understand he is no longer alone. In all the years, they have anxiously pined for each other, their minds constantly reveling with thoughts of each other…finally, not only had their bodies and minds become one, their hearts and souls had come together. Once their lips hesitantly parted, Bai Luoyin roughly rested his body on top of Gu Hai, vehemently pressing his lips firmly on the other’s body before biting and nibbling every part inch by inch. All the while Gu Hai’s mischievous hands ravaged Bai Luoyin’s ass, and the sensation that drugged him into ecstasy was beyond description. The titillating feeling skated up his spine,
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inveigling shivers out of Gu Hai to the point he even wanted to move close and take a big bite, just to taste if it was as luscious as he had imagined. While those thoughts steeped his mind, Bai Luoyin brazenly sucked Gu Hai’s left nipple, wickedly yet sensually flicking the tip of his tongue back and forth until the little nub peaked and hardened. Warm lips then pressed against the other nub, lightly gnawing and kissing it as he rolled his tongue over to heal it. In seconds, Gu Hai’s breath became coarse, the intoxicating feeling of diving headfirst into an erupting volcano and most of all, the way Bai Luoyin’s tongue seemed to sink into his skin, turned the galaxies in circles. The teasing play was long, and his mouth was hot, causing Gu Hai’s two hands—that were gently kneading Bai Luoyin’s ass cheeks—to suddenly intensify. Feeling the slight pain blade through his nerves, Bai Luoyin roaming carefree kisses halted before his teeth fiercely sunk into Gu Hai’s sensitive waist. Having been attacked, Gu Hai abruptly burst into laughter. One of his temerarious hand reached into Bai Luoyin’s boxer shorts and gripped the little beast that had been riding rock hard against his belly the entire time. Gu Hai began to stroke it from the root to the tip in a very slow and tantalizing manner that tests one’s patience. Evident from the way he trembled and the minute movements he made to keep the contact between their bodies at bosom, Bai Luoyin was utterly aroused. His skin was draped with urgency and sheer excitement that sparked even the particles in the air to cling closely to him, soothing him. His back straightened as he shifted up a bit, trying to press his own hardened cock even closer to Gu Hai’s stroking hand. His waist was arrantly charmed with its own will as he increased the movement, a most sultry indication for Gu Hai to speed up. However, Gu Hai did not have even an ounce of desire to satisfy him that easily. He pressed his thumb on the tip of the seemingly twitching cock and impishly scratched it a couple of times, immediately inciting Bai Luoyin’s leg muscles to tighten. Impatient drifted on his face, seductively declaring he could no longer wait. He could no longer ache without medication. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gu Hai smeared some lubricant on his fingers and let it sidle into Bai Luoyin’s tight passage, stoking him to instantly break into a spell of shudders. Bai Luoyin turned his hand over and quickly captured the wrist on his back and glared domineeringly at Gu Hai. “This time, it’s my turn.” Gu Hai had anticipated that Bai Luoyin would have this in mind. Fortunately, he prepared early on. He abandoned this prolonging method and without any warning, he fastened the rhythm of his hands and mischievously wriggled upward to about two inches before curling his finger in a come-hither gesture, massaging that certain spot back and forth and stimulating every nerve into excitation. Gu Hai’s skill was of high quality, magnificent even. There was no possible way Bai Luoyin could resist. After Gu Hai successfully diverted his attention, he launched a series of intensive massages inside of the passage, all the while slyly sweet-talking him, “Next time. You can have your turn next time. Let us reminisce the beautiful days of the past first…” Once Bai Luoyin’s tight passage was unwittingly stretched without any hindrance, Gu Hai lifted his waist, and relying on Bai Luoyin’s current position of lying on top of his own body, he slowly entered from the bottom and pushed upward. The tip was electric, it must be, as it inched inside this secretive spot unbeknownst to all but one. Wherever it touched, Bai Luoyin’s skin seemed to tingle, his body going into a transitory paralysis, unable to process the pleasure so fast. All the while Bai Luoyin stuck his heated chest closely against Gu Hai’s, feeling the beating of their heart thrum uncontrollably against each other as they moved in an intoxicated dance of limbs. They were the only healthy drug there is for each other, the one that placed their minds into a frenzy of sparks. The simple movement of Gu Hai’s cock as it slid in just a mere centimeter led
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Bai Luoyin into moving in ways he never learned but know so well. The delightful feeling rocked Bai Luoyin’s head backward as Gu Hai kissed his neck and pushed his body just a tiny bit further. The sensation engulfed his consciousness and pilfered all worries. At that moment, they are only alive in the present and all thoughts of the past and future faded away. The medicine they brought, healed each other broken years and the longing that suffocated their minds. It was strong and spoke of a silent promise, and although Bai Luoyin was addicted, all he felt was safe because he knew that Gu Hai was equally addicted to him. The pace at which Gu Hai moved in seemed to change as he ventured a good distance further, adding just a hint of force. “Ahhhh… mmmmmm…” The room once colored with barely inaudible sounds was soon evaded by a loud outburst of irrepressible roars and dragged-out moans. Bai Luoyin simply could not withstand such a large intruder paving into him, and Gu Hai’s roar was purely out of sensual pleasure. Feeling Bai Luoyin’s warm passage contract to firmly imprison his cock and adding that he had not tasted this type of ecstasy in such a long time caused all of Gu Hai’s senses to reach a state of insanity. Even if he felt like this, Gu Hai still put forth a great deal of patience to show consideration for Bai Luoyin’s feelings. He gently kissed, and carefully and winsomely asked him: “Does it hurt?” “Just a little,” Bai Luoyin said while his hand strongly gripped Gu Hai’s arm. Sensing the state of Bai Luoyin’s body through the strength of this grip on his arm, Gu Hai slowly pushed in only to a certain depth. Then he stopped all his movements, for the time being, giving Bai Luoyin the power to drive so he can slowly get used to it by himself first. Bai Luoyin tried to move a bit by bit, but every time he was about to get used to it, Xiao Hai Zi would undoubtedly enlarge even more. Fortunately, he trained often which made his muscle contraction quite strong, otherwise, he could be easily injured. For Gu Hai, Bai Luoyin’s slow movement was also a test of his patience since lying at the bottom, he was going to soon suffer internal bleeding from having to endure it all. The excruciating ache to move was setting his nerves on ends as it beckoning to run toward its only target at full speed. But the only thing he could do was incessantly caress Bai Luoyin’s face to relieve the torment of his own lower body. At the soft touches, Bai Luoyin peered down at him, his hands alighted on his face, moving down past his neck and collarbone, setting Gu Hai’s brain on fire with his fingertips of flame. In these moments, he loved Gu Hai with his eyes as much as his body, their souls sweetly entwined between the action and stillness. Finally, Bai Luoyin’s hip quickened a bit and the way he moved was much smoother. As the veins on his cock repeatedly rubbed within Bai Luoyin, taking him in deeper and deeper, Gu Hai gently kissed his face, cheeks and neck then pulled back to watch as Bai Luoyin seductively rode him with unspoken skills. Unable to no longer wait, Gu Hai suddenly lifted Bai Luoyin’s waist up before uncontrollably thrusting in at a high velocity from beneath. His own ass pulled off the bed as he plunged further in, concealing every inch of Xiao Hai Zi from view. Bai Luoyin’s uncontainable moans flowed out pleasurably and endlessly along with the rhythm of Gu Hai’s perpetual thrusts. “Ahhhh… ahhhh… ah…ah…” Hearing the moan sung beautifully around him, Gu Hai suddenly got up and pinned Bai Luoyin down on the bed beneath him. He spread his legs wide apart and pressed them firmly into a straight line. Compared to before, Bai Luoyin’s body was much more flexible now, and this is no doubt was a huge present for Gu Hai.
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Face to face, he once again charged in from the front. This time, without any consideration, he roughly thrust in and out of the narrow passage repeatedly, from slow to fast, shallow to deep, each and every collision was incredibly laden with power and passion. Pa, Pa, Pa! The sound of skin meeting flooded their ears, creating an erotic and indulging music within the once peaceful room. A certain spot that has been lying dormant within Bai Luoyin’s body had only been awoken a while ago was now suffering an intense and aggressive attack. For a moment, it was a bit difficult to endure. He incessantly pushed Gu Hai’s lower abdominal in an attempt to slow him down. Unexpectedly, Gu Hai took hold of his hands and interlocked their fingers tightly together, while the frequency increased without letting up. Bai Luoyin suddenly sensed waves of explosive electric currents coiled throughout his entire body, even his toes trembled uncontrollably to the thrill that overtook him. A succession of moans, both riddled with pain and endless pleasure tore out of Bai Luoyin’s mouth. Following the rhythm of his movements, Gu Hai released an uncontrollable roar. The exciting and euphoric sensation that Bai Luoyin alone has created for him was already beyond his imagination. The way his inner muscle contradicted, firmly gripping him and the flexibility that his body did not possess before was the main reason that caused Gu Hai to lose control of his emotions, shoving him into the depth of insanity. Bai Luoyin’s face swelled in redness as delicate beads of sweat emerged on his forehead. His slightly narrowed eyes radiated with a poisonous charm like that of the legendary venomous parasite71, effortlessly elevating Gu Hai straight up to heaven, then mercilessly wrenched him down. He was completely and utterly infatuated and head over heels in love to the point that his soul was being torn and flipped upside down with just one glance. Gu Hai impatiently lowered his upper body and slammed his lips on Bai Luoyin’s, nearly knocking all the wind from both their lungs. He hardly had a moment to press closer when Bai Luoyin’s tongue lined the seam of his lips and, once Gu Hai lips parted, granting access, Bai Luoyin delved inside his mouth. It was a messy kiss with a strong sense of need being exchanged in the blending of their billowing breaths. Gu Hai ruthlessly sucked on it, pushing their tongues roughly against each other and even after those rosy lips swell with allure, he did not let go. In between their kisses, one of Bai Luoyin’s arm reached up and tangled around Gu Hai’s neck before he nuzzled into it with delicate kisses. He has no wish to end this. With his ass being stimulated and his mind drunk on endorphin, his only desire was to touch Gu Hai and press against his warm chest, chiseled to perfection. In moments, his lips returned to Gu Hai’s, savoring it while the quickening of his breath matched that of his. “Baobei… baobei… it feels so good fucking you…”72 Gu Hai expressed lasciviously beside Bai Luoyin’s ear in coarse vulgar breaths. The second Bai Luoyin felt Gu Hai’s breath danced along the edge of his ear, his already erect cock incessantly twitched and rubbed naughtily against Gu Hai’s belly. When Gu Hai reached his hand down to touch it, Bai Luoyin instantly cried out, “Don’t touch it…” Without even a hint of courtesy, Gu Hai wrapped his hand around Bai Luoyin’s shaft and fervidly stroked it. However, after just a few seconds of being toyed with, crumbled and dragged-out low roars penetrated the air were immediately followed by sharp contractions in the tight passage.
蠱毒 ‘legendary venomous parasite’: In the ancient times, witches uses this type of parasite to control one’s action and core. Making a person do anything they want them to do, and it can also make a person lose their mind. For Gu Hai, BLY is like the venomous parasite. As soon as he encounters him, he will lose control, lose his mind 72 “Baobei…. Baobei…...it feels so good fucking you..…”, is actually, “.....hubby feels so….” I think it’s awkward with the word hubby in there so it removed 71
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Unable to endure the intensity caused Xiao Yin Zi to stifle to its breaking point, Bai Luoyin finally burst into a spell of convulsion. And Gu Hai’s hand was covered in a vast of creamy warm liquid. Gu Hai stopped momentarily. With his fingers covered in the creamy liquid, he looked execrably at Bai Luoyin and attempted to smear it across his lips. Bai Luoyin quickly twisted his head to the side, refusing to accept it. Pondering subtly, Gu Hai teased with a laugh. “You even dislike your own taste?” Scrunching his nose, Bai Luoyin stubbornly retorted: “I don’t like the taste of it.” Gu Hai smirked and provocatively flicked his tongue over the finger before sucking it into his mouth, relishing the taste of his beloved. Looking at Gu Hai's erotic expression as the lapped over the substance with delight, Bai Luoyin became flustered and hotly bothered, and even though he wanted to avert his eyes elsewhere, he did not have the will to shy away from Gu Hai's captivating gaze. As his hand, softly caressed Gu Hai's arm, Gu Hai feeling provoked secured his lips on Bai Luoyin’s, stubbornly forcing him to taste it with him. After the first round ended and Bai Luoyin’s cock did not soften at all, Gu Hai played with it for a good while. Then he effortlessly pulled Bai Luoyin’s body to the side and without wasting any of the flexibility that his body has built up, he firmly pressed one of his leg on the bed and carefully propped the other leg on his shoulder, raising it high, next to his left ear before penetrating the tight passage yet again. This angle was a prime position for direct stimulation of that certain spot causing Bai Luoyin to moan again and again until the sound that break free was drugged with only an alluring eroticism. Taking Bai Luoyin’s sex-laden expression, Gu Hai licked lips, aching to roughly deepen their contact until they were entirely glued together. As his own breath became heavy, he gently twisted Bai Luoyin’s head over to face him and locked their lips, swallowing all the beautiful and delicate sounds that he produced with his own mouth. The aroused moans that extruded through their breaths became an inimitable and wild love spell just for them. After a burst of ceaseless moans, Gu Hai’s sinew waist began to move vigorously, toiling every bit of strength he held. The instant their lips parted, several low and out of control roars broke through their throats, and the ten and thousands of nerves that networked as their lower halves remained connected started to blossom with currents that enthralled their senses. The intensity that lavished their climax with pleasure was soon overtaken by trembles of joy only calmed after a long moment. By now, the two were dripping in sweats, yet their mental state was still high with intoxication, letting the gaiety they received from each other imprint on their skins. Gu Hai kissed Bai Luoyin, smiled and asked, “Did it feel good?” Bai Luoyin’s smile was exceptionally beautiful—filled with such effervescence. It was the kind of smile that made Gu Hai happy to be alive… so beautiful that as soon as Gu Hai remembered he needed to return to the military base, all his internal organs tightened with excruciating pain. “Why don’t you change occupation?” Gu Hai asked, looking at Bai Luoyin with a heartache. Bai Luoyin didn’t buy into it as he solemnly answered, “It wasn't easy for me to get the rank I have now, and I haven't reached the rank I have expected yet. How can I simply give up because you said so?” “I’m just saying, that’s all.” In fact, Gu Hai truly respected Bai Luoyin, “It’s just… I care and worry about you. You have to know your limitations and don't overdo it. In the future, don't take dangerous missions like you did last time.” “I don’t have the final say on whether I take the mission or not. As long as they need me, I won't avoid it,” Bai Luoyin said with resolution. “You already know, eliminating dangers is our
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primary mission as a soldier. If we choose to avoid everything that comes our way, then what points are there for our country to support us?” Those words were spoken to raise the spirit of anyone that heard it. And although in his heart, Gu Hai was truly proud of Bai Luoyin, it was still hard to not care! As soon as he thought of his beloved living on the edge of life and death swarmed, how can anyone endure that kind of feeling? Besides, this sweetheart is someone Gu Hai had just found. Simply speaking, he is his source of life! Seeing Gu Hai’s disheartened expression, Bai Luoyin could not help but to console him. “You should put your worries aside and be at ease! There are many pilots that have flown longer than me. Aren’t they alive and living well?” This kind of problem was not something Gu Hai should linger on endlessly. If he thought too much of it, he would definitely suffer from anxiety and create an intangible pressure for Bai Luoyin. For now, he rather talks about something else. “You have to go back to the base in a couple of days?” Bai Luoyin nodded his head, “There are still three days left.” Hearing that, Gu Hai could only sigh, “Day after day, we're both busy with things. How long do we have to endure until we can see each other again…” This time, Bai Luoyin’s heart tightened instead as he twisted his head to the side to remind Gu Hai: “Aren’t you able to enter the base freely? After you finish work, I’ll probably finish mine too, unless an urgent mission arises…” Seeing the worried lines crept up on his face, Gu Hai continued to intentionally provoke Bai Luoyin’s anger. “I have to work overtime from time to time, not to mention, it takes at least an hour to drive to you. Just going back and forth will take up to hours which means the time I get to rest will also be shortened. Then, I still have to get up early the next day. Besides, I can’t always run over to your dorm. It wouldn’t be a good impression if your subordinates saw…” Bai Luoyin’s expression instantly sunk as he spoke with a hardened tone of voice, “Then, I don’t have any other way.” Being able to see Bai Luoyin's little tantrums was one of Gu Hai’s greatest pleasure therefore without any good intention, this bastard moved in closer and as if second nature, he attempted to place his hand on Bai Luoyin's shoulder. But as expected, his hand was swiftly thrown off without hesitation. Then acting as if he was successful in taking advantage of Bai Luoyin, Gu Hai laughed with self-satisfaction. “I’m only teasing you. As if I’ll willingly part with you and not go to see you?” Not one to be easily coaxed, Bai Luoyin immediately fired back, “Fuck you! I don’t give a shit if you go or not!” Gu Hai’s burst into laughter, “Then if I go, will you let me stay in your dorm?” “No, I won’t let you.” “You really won’t let me?” Gu Hai’s black pupils flickered, “Then, today I’ll just have my fun with you until I’m thoroughly satisfied.” As soon as those words left his lips, he quickly turned over, dug into the blanket, and seized the two ass cheeks that he had longed drooled over. Then he simply took a big bite of it. Bai Luoyin was like a mudfish flopping around without any means of escape as Gu Hai persistently held down the sides of his sensitive waist, directly biting into every inch of the skin on his ass cheeks at least once before lapping over it. The bites held a very artistic method to it which allowed the teeth imprints on his ass to resemble a delicately handled painting.
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At first, Bai Lou Yin cursed and struggled but soon after not a word peeped out. And as expected, once Gu Hai’s tongue shifted its position to boldly greet that seemingly twitching and suffering passage, Bai Luoyin’s tone immediately rose. “I’ll let you stay… Gu Hai… I’ll let you stay…” Gu Hai lifted Bai Luoyin’s waist up and began another round of attacks. After the two battled for the nth number of times, Gu Hai finally decided to cease fire. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he was shaken up by an enormous force that nearly caused him to fall to the floor. He opened his eyes to look only to see Bai Luoyin sitting next to him brimming with enthusiasm and energy. “It should be my turn now, right?” Bai Luoyin said as he firmly pressed down on Gu Hai. Gu Hai could only gaze at Bai Luoyin in astonishment, “You... still, have energy?” If that had happened before, Bai Lou Yin would have already smothered his head under the blanket and fallen into a deep sleep. “Bullshit, I still have plenty of energy!” Bai Luoyin rode Gu Hai’s body and exerted all his strength to rub against it. “Hurry and get up, let me fuck you!” Gu Hai opened one of his eyes slowly and purposely acted weak as if he has lost all his strength. “I can’t do it anymore. Your old husband isn’t as brave or vigorous like in the old days. You should let me rest.” “Stop fucking pretending. Get up! Get up!!!” Bai Luoyin wailed loudly and firmly slapped Gu Hai’s ass until crisp and clear sounds reverberated within the room. Gu Hai, “…” It was only until the break of dawn did the blistering room finally calmed down. When Gu Hai returned from the bathroom, he made sure not to make any noise and the moment he lied back down on the bed, Bai Luoyin subconsciously moved in closer to him. Even though his hands and feet were already nice and warm, he was still unable to change his habit of nuzzling into Gu Hai’s body. Feeling utterly blessed, Gu Hai’s warm and loving eyes remained on Bai Luoyin’s flushing cheeks. He discovered that regardless of whether he was twenty-six years old or eighteen years old, as soon as he squeezed into bed, he will forever be his child. In this lifetime, being able to indulge in such an incurable habit made Gu Hai utterly content.
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28 The Food was Eaten by a Dog!
Gu Hai went to work early in the morning. When he came back for lunch, Bai Luoyin was still fast asleep. The breakfast he had prepared for him before he left earlier had not been touched. As a result, Gu Hai had no other choice but to throw it out and make some fresh lunch. Afterward, he went into the bedroom wanting to wake Bai Luoyin up but seeing that he was sound asleep, he laid on his stomach beside him and watched him sleep for an entire ten minutes. During the whole time, Gu Hai did not have the heart to release any sound. With no other alternative, Gu Hai left Bai Luoyin a note then he locked up the house and returned to work. Coincidentally, Gu Yang showed up just as Gu Hai left. His return flight to Hong Kong was that night and he wanted to visit Gu Hai but un the end, the two of them ended up missing each other by just a fraction. What had happened was, when Gu Hai was at home, Gu Yang had gone to look for him at work. Then when Gu Yang arrived at Gu Hai's house, he had already left. Gu Yang had no intention to call Gu Hai to inquire of his whereabouts. In his mind, he felt that if he could see him, then he would see him. If he couldn’t see him, then that was fine too. Upon seeing that Gu Hai's front door was locked, Gu Yang did not move and stood at the doorway for a while, thinking whether or not there was still a need to go inside. He himself had the keys to the house since Gu Hai had given it to him a long time ago. But by the look of things, it was obvious that no one was at home. With this in mind, Gu Yang didn't know what he could do even if he went inside.
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Just as he was about to turn around to leave, Gu Yang suddenly stopped in his tracks. He indistinctly sensed that the house wasn't empty. Drifting out from inside was a whiff of smell representing a living creature. As a result, Gu Yang opened the door and walked in. The room was glutted with dense flavors of delicious food. Gu Yang picked up the note on the coffee table and read what was written on it, “The food is kept warm in the cabinet, it can be eaten right away when you take it out. I will come straight home after I finish work but if you can’t wait, you can come to look for me at work.” By now, any idiot could tell that there was another person in the house. It seemed that his younger brother has welcomed a second relationship into his life. Noting that the bedroom door was closely shut, Gu Yang turned the doorknob and slowly walked in. There was a person sleeping on the bed, and this someone was wrapped in the blanket like a silkworm in its cocoon, revealing only half a head. There was a musky scent lightly wafted across the bedroom. From this smell alone, any male would know exactly what had happened in here last night. When Gu Yang realized the person in bed was Bai Luoyin, an unpleasant and peculiar feeling suddenly emerged within his heart. This kind of unpleasantness was distinctly different compared to how he felt eight years ago when he saw them together. Back then, he utterly repelled them from the bottom of his heart. But now, it was simply just awkward. The moment Gu Yang stood outside of the house, he predicted there was something inside of the house that he would not want to see, but he just couldn't control the desire of wanting to go inside. Bai Luoyin slept to a point where he was completely dazed. He thought Gu Hai hadn't left yet, the truth was, he was well aware when Gu Hai lay beside him and stared at him. It was just that he was so sleepy that he didn't bother to open his eyes. Gu Yang sat dawn on the bed with his back toward Bai Luoyin. He calmly lit up a cigarette and took a drag of it while an indescribable feeling of fret crawled inside of his heart. Bai Luoyin stretched one of his feet out of the blanket and let it crawl on top of Gu Yang's hand that was on the bed. Taking advantage of Gu Yang while he was still in a daze, Bai Luoyin used his toes to fiercely wedge the skin of the back of his hand before twisting the skin and turning it half a circle. Gu Yang’s mouth, from which the cigarette hung loosely, tightly pressed together. He attempted to seize Bai Luoyin's ankle, but unexpectedly, his foot quickly withdrew back into the blanket. Gu Yang’s usual temper was such that no one would dare to mount a sneak attack on him. Anyone who would dare to touch his hand with their foot should expect to lose the said foot. However, today’s scene was unprecedented. Not only did Gu Yang not get angry, he even looked at the bruise on the back of his hand with the sides of his lips perked up in a smile. That intimidating glare from Bai Luoyin when he borrowed a light on the aircraft that day emerged in his mind. Just as Gu Yang had predicted eight years ago, if this person did not end up dead, he would definitely rise to be someone radiant. Gu Yang walked into the kitchen and without hesitation, he ate all of the lunch that Gu Hai had wholeheartedly prepared for his baby. After wiping his mouth clean, acting as if nothing had happened, he left Gu Hai's house. It wasn't until Bai Luoyin heard the sound of the door closing, that he opened his eyes. Did he leave? He didn't even say 'bye' to me?
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He sat up and looked at the watch, it was already past 2pm—about time to get up. He had to return to the base in two days’ time, so he needed to pack up and go home for a visit. I must spend more time with the old man. Otherwise, he will nag me the next time I come home. After Bai Luoyin washed himself up, he went into the kitchen, no longer able to wait. He had already smelled the food at the time when Gu Yang was eating, but he had thought that was Gu Hai eating alone. To his surprise, after opening the food cabinet, he found it empty. Even the two bowls that sat on the dining table on the side of the kitchen were empty. Not even one drop of soup was left. Bai Luoyin could not help but swallow his own spit. Gu Hai, you are fucking heartless! Didn't I only wedge the back of your hand? Is it necessary for you to not leave me one bit of food?! On his way home in the afternoon, Bai Luoyin was forced to take a detour since it was peak hour. As a result, he ended up bumping into Yang Meng on patrol in his police car. Without much thought, he honked his horn at him. Yang Meng was just about to show off his authority, thinking: what fucking bastard dares to honk their horn at my police car? But when he saw the car plate brightly flash the word ‘Army’, he immediately took in a gasp of cold air. He took another look at the person’s heroic face behind the windshield. Yang Meng’s facial muscles relaxed in mere seconds. Bai Luoyin got out of his car, bent over and leaned against Yang Meng’s car window, “You’re out on patrol this early?” Yang Meng faced sideways to look toward Bai Luoyin, “I'm searching for a cell phone!” “Aren't you a rather competent police officer? You even manage lost cell phones?” Bai Luoyin laughed. “How could that be?! It’s my own cell phone that was lost!!” Yang Meng said bitterly. Bai Luoyin awkwardly cleared his throat, “How did you lose your cell phone?” Yang Meng rested his upper body on the steering wheel and lazily said: “Don't even mention it. I was in a pursuit to catch a cell phone thief, but in the end, I fell into a trap. Not only did I not catch the thief, I even lost my own cell phone along the way. Right now, I’m starting to suspect that the thief and the victim were in it together, it’s probable to say that my lost cell phone has now conveniently landed in the hands of the ‘victim’.” Bai Luoyin, “…” “That’s right, what are you doing here?” Yang Meng asked. “Oh, I was on my way home but there’s a traffic jam, so I took a detour and drove here.” Yang Meng suddenly smacked the steering wheel as if he realized something, “I have to quickly leave now. Yin Zi, I’ll chat with you when I have time. You know, even we are not allowed to randomly park our cars here since we also get fined if we get busted. I have to go over to the intersection to take a look. Since the traffic jam is over there, there is a chance the 'victim' might still be stuck there!” Bai Luoyin smiled, “Okay, hurry up and go.” “Look for me when you are free, so we can hang out!” Bai Luoyin drove his car straight to a cellphone store in the city's shopping center. He purchased a new model phone that had just been released and took it to Yang Meng's station. The sky had already fallen into darkness by the time Bai Luoyin had gone back and forth between his place and Gu Hai’s. Meanwhile, Gu Hai had made dinner and had placed it in the cabinet before heading downstairs to wait for Bai Luoyin at the entrance of the residential block. A while later, Bai Luoyin arrived. He got out of the car and desperately asked, “Is dinner ready?" “It was ready ages ago, it's in the food cabinet!”
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Bai Luoyin snorted coldly, “So now you know to leave me some food?” “What do you mean by ‘leave you some food’? I haven’t eaten either, I’ve been waiting for you the entire time!” Bai Luoyin retained a veritably suspicious expression. What a pity, Gu Hai had no idea what he was suspected of. As soon as Gu Hai had placed the dishes on the table, Bai Luoyin immediately devoured the food ravenously like a hungry wolf that had not eaten for days. Originally, Aunt Zou wanted Bai Luoyin to stay for dinner, but he purposely said that he had dinner plans. In truth, he had become rather picky with his food after having been fed the meals cooked by Gu Hai. Therefore, regardless of who prepared the food, it could never satisfy his picky appetite, even less so today since he did not get to eat any lunch. Given the fact that he had held his anger about this in all day, almost suffocated—tonight, there was nothing he wanted to do more than to fill his stomach to the bursting point. While Gu Hai watched with surprise as Bai Luoyin demolished the food, he could not help but ask: “What did you do in the afternoon? How did you manage to completely digest all the food from lunchtime?” “What was I meant to digest? I haven’t eaten all day!!” Gu Hai sneered with a smile, “Then did a dog eat all the food I left in the cabinet?” Hearing these words Bai Luoyin fumed even more. “Yes. It was eaten by a dog!” Consequently, the chopsticks in their hands uniformly stopped their movements. Bai Luoyin suddenly realized something, he grabbed Gu Hai's hand and took a look at the back of it. Not seeing any marks, he grabbed his other hand, yet he still didn't find any marks. Theoretically, the strength of his foot was definitely not weak! Gu Hai was completely puzzled with doubts as he looked at Bai Luoyin. “You didn’t see the note on the coffee table?” Bai Luoyin got up and walked into the living room, it was not until then that he noticed the note on the coffee table. His expression immediately changed after picking it up and reading it. At this point, Gu Hai had already walked out to the balcony to call Gu Yang. “Did you come over here at lunchtime?” “Uh huh.” Gu Yang replied indifferently, “I ate the food you left in the cabinet.” Gu Hai responded with a gloomy face. “Then, did you go into the bedroom?” “I have to board the plane, bye!” Gu Hai fiercely clenched the cell phone and walked back into the room from the balcony. Five minutes later, the truth was revealed. In mere seconds, the little dining room that just a moment ago was filled with warmth was shrouded by a layer of dark clouds. “Tell me, how many times have you mistaken us two?” Gu Hai angrily rebuked with a dark face, “It would've been fine if we were twins, but we don’t even have the same mother. In your heart, is your ability to distinguish and recognize us that bad?” Bai Luoyin calmly and collectedly continued to eat the food in his bowl and coldly responded: “When I was asleep, I was in a dazed state. How am I supposed to know someone else would turn up in the house? Besides, he didn’t even let out a single sound, he merely sat on the edge of the bed. And as it happens, you had just gotten off the bed. The entire time, I didn’t bother to open my eyes to see who it was.” “How is this a good enough reason? Even if you dressed up as a girl and mixed in a crowd, I would still be able to recognize you with one glance!” Bai Luoyin suddenly choked on the food in his mouth, he stared firmly at Gu Hai for two seconds before he fiercely threw down the chopsticks.
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“This is the only place where I can sleep peacefully, yet you want me to be on guard!” When Bai Luoyin got up to leave, Gu Hai dragged him back to sit next to him. “You can go after you finish eating!” Bai Luoyin stubbornly retorted, “I don’t need you to feed me!” Gu Hai picked up a bun and shoved it into Bai Luoyin’s mouth. At first, Bai Luoyin wanted to spit it out, but the bun was too delicious that he could not stop eating it. After he had finished eating the first bun, he wanted to continue with a second one, so he reached his hand out like a loser and grabbed it while not forgetting to mention: “Let me tell you, I don’t take it out on the food, I only take it out on the person.” Gu Hai firmly wiped off the remaining sauce at the corner of Bai Luoyin's mouth and then spoke in a much gentler tone. “I didn’t think anything of it. Aren’t I just afraid he could hurt you?” “Then why did you give him the keys to the house?” Staring blankly for a moment, Gu Hai only said: “I don’t know, I didn’t even give my dad the keys, yet I gave them to him.” Bai Luoyin’s expression changed slightly before he let out a very faint ‘oh’.
Translate: Nancy | Edit: BambiKill5 | Proofread: Sae
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29 The Commoner Becomes an Emperor
When Bai Luoyin went back to his dorm a day before he was scheduled to return to his unit, Gu Hai naturally accompanied him. Somehow, this visit was significantly different from the previous two. Without seeking Bai Luoyin’s permission, Gu Hai entered the room and adopted the attitude of a young master. All the while, he took it upon himself to shoo the rightful owner out. Honestly, Gu Hai was not making himself out to be someone of great importance, he simply believed that Bai Luoyin’s room was not a place that one could live in. Like a military orderly, Gu Hai turned the room inside out and cleaned everything at least once. When Bai Luoyin attempted to get involved, he was scolded instead. “You can stay over there! There’s nothing for you to do over here.” With that, Bai Luoyin could only stand outside and foolishly watch as Gu Hai threw away all the things that he considered to be treasures. “Hey! Let me tell you, Xiao Wu Xin gave me that humidifier just before the end of the year.” It would have been better if those words have not been said since Gu Hai, at most, would only have thrown it out. But after he said it, the item was immediately smashed on the ground. “Even the ashtray?” Bai Luoyin questioned as he walked over and regrettably picked it up from the ground. Gu Hai leaned against the doorframe and looked at Bai Luoyin with an overcast expression. “Throw that away, now!”
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years?!
Still fucking holding on to it as if it’s a treasure. Seriously, what kind of life did he live for the past eight
While Bai Luoyin stood outside the door, some soldiers and officers would pass by the corridor from time to time, and some would even greet him, making him feel as though he had lost face. Whether good or bad, he was still a battalion commander in charge of several hundreds of people. But now, because of his sanitary problems, he was being scolded by a civilian and had no strength at all to counter him. By the time Gu Hai was nearly done tidying everything up, Bai Luoyin entered the room only to see Gu Hai rolling up his blanket. “You’re throwing away the blanket as well?” Bai Luoyin said, stopping him. “What’s the point of waiting when we can just throw it out?” Gu Hai kept a calm demeanor. “Touch it yourself, can’t you feel how damp it is? Aren’t you afraid of lice covering your body if you sleep with this on you?” When Bai Luoyin touched it, it was indeed rather damp. Why didn’t I feel it before? “It’s not necessary to throw away the woven mat,73 right?” Bai Luoyin asked once he noticed that Gu Hai had removed the mat from the bed planks. Gu Hai stopped and shot Bai Luoyin a glance. “Don’t even mention the mat, I have to change this bed too!” “This is army property. It can’t be thrown away just because you say so!” In the end, even Bai Luoyin—a soldier with the rank of Major—lost all prestige in front of his man. As those words trickled into Gu Hai’s ears, his expression did not change in the slightest, instead, he used his fist to jab Bai Luoyin’s forehead. “You should be ecstatic that I got someone to take these things away. If I had my way, the wooden bed would have been dragged to the training ground so that everyone can see what a pitiful lifestyle their commander has. The bed has been slept on until it’s moldy, yet he still has the nerve to not change it!” “Became moldy? Where?” Bai Luoyin moved in for a closer look. By now, Gu Hai was no longer willing to respond to Bai Luoyin's objections. He simply picked up the pillow and faced the pile of ‘trash’ behind him. Seeing that, Bai Luoyin scrambled to snatch it away. “Don’t you fucking dare throw this pillow away!” Those words caused Gu Hai to halt his actions for a moment before he stretched his hand toward Bai Luoyin and said: “Give it back to me!” Bai Luoyin shoved the pillow beneath his armpit with a particularly stern manner. “This pillow has been with me for many years now. I have a real sentimental attachment to it.” When Gu Hai looked at that pitch-black pillowcase, he truly felt sorry for making it difficult on Bai Luoyin. Since you have a sentimental attachment to it, at the very least wash it, okay? That damaged pillowcase would not even qualify to be used as a cleaning rag at the communal lavatory. “Give it here!” Gu Hai’s attitude was also quite unyielding. Bai Luoyin’s brows tightened as he glared at him. “Gu Hai, don’t fucking start shit!” “I’ll start all the shit I want!” 我就不信這個邪了: Direct translation: “I don’t believe in this evil.” Gu Hai was implying, he cannot understand why it is such a sin to take off a pillow case …. So, he said he doesn’t believe this is evil. In other words, in pure English, I believe this is BS, what are you hiding ???????????????
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As those words percolated the room, Gu Hai rushed to snatch the pillow from Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin dodged left and right, leading him to fight with Gu Hai over a simple pillow. At first, Gu Hai was already exasperated over Bai Luoyin’s poor living environment so out of kindness, he wanted to help him tidy things up. But in turn, this guy didn’t even know how to repent and hugged this filthy pillow as if it was a treasure. Ultimately, when Gu Hai saw that Bai Luoyin was exceptionally tenacious in protecting that pillow, he took a step back. “Okay, let’s do this. You can keep the pillow, just take the pillowcase off so I can wash it!” “No, you can’t fucking take the pillowcase off either!” “Don’t fucking give me this bullshit!” Gu Hai blared with a gloomy face as he attempted to snatch it while closely asking, “Are there some sort of adulterous things hidden in there? I must figure out what’s in there—today.” “What the fuck! What kind of adulterous things would be inside a pillow?” Bai Luoyin, too, became anxious. This was the kind of person Gu Hai was. The more secretive you were, the more he would want to know what was being kept from him. If you had just taken off the pillowcase and thrown it on the floor, perhaps he would not have been that interested. Bai Luoyin also belonged to the type that was willful and stubborn. The more you want to look at it, the more I won’t let you. As a result, the two clashed until the pillowcase ultimately tore apart causing the school uniform inside to fall out. After picking up the uniform, Gu Hai did not utter another word. Seeing this, Bai Luoyin quickly conjured up an explanation as to uphold some face, “Since this pillow wasn’t high enough, I stuffed the uniform in there.” With said pieces of clothing tightly clasped in his hand, Gu Hai walked toward Bai Luoyin with a hint of complication dwelling in his eyes. Once Gu Hai stood in front of him, Bai Luoyin cast a glance outside. Then with a guilty conscience, he turned to face Gu Hai again. “Let me tell you, don’t you start being pretentious with me! There are always people walking around outside. It wouldn’t be good if someone sees us like this.” Unexpectedly, Gu Hai’s fist simply ran into the pit of Bai Luoyin’s stomach while his voice revealed the anger he could not conceal. “As if I can be pretentious with you? You are lucky I didn't give you two big slaps on your face! You would rather sleep with my uniform beneath your head than take the initiative to contact me? If only you’d realized sooner, would we have suffered so many years of pain?” Bai Luoyin firmly gripped Gu Hai’s fist before speaking in a sunken voice, “How was I supposed to know you were still thinking of me?” Gu Hai gritted his teeth and nodded, “That's right! I am just a fucking cold-blooded animal in your heart! You were the only one who loved deeply, you were the only one who endured the love silently. You’re such an affectionate person—an affectionately deranged lord! Are you satisfied now?” “Gu Hai, don’t fucking speak to me with such sarcasm!” Thus, the two launched into a campaign battle right beside the pile of trash. That was until the door was pushed open with a squeaking sound. Liu Chong stood in the doorway with his crutches and watched as his idol was pushing his Major down on the bed. Without knowing the exact detail of the situation, a rather stunned
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expression slowly took hold of his face as his eyes were aimed straight toward the two people on the wooden planks of the bed. With a glance at the person who had appeared before them, Bai Luoyin simply pushed Gu Hai to the side. All the while, his face resumed the dignified appearance of a formidable leader. “Why did you come in without knocking?” Hearing those few simple yet compelling words, a sense of nervousness strained Liu Chong’s eyes, “I… I knocked on the door, but you didn’t seem to hear it.” Bai Luoyin maintained a cold and stern countenance. “Next time if I don’t hear, you should leave immediately!” Somehow not quite deterred, Liu Chong merely scratched his head in an awkward manner and continued to say, “Last time, you said that if I knock and no one answers, I can just enter. I… which of your instructions should I listen to, exactly?” Bai Luoyin could sense the ominous air percolating in the room so in trying to uphold his authority, he narrowed his eyes and asked: “Did I actually say something like that to you before?” At first, Liu Chong was struck with confusion, then he expended a great deal of effort to strike up a perfect military salute. “Reporting to Major, you have never said that!” With that, Bai Luoyin patted the dust off his sleeves. “Okay, come in and sit down!” Liu Chong surveyed his surroundings…there’s not even a single chair in here, where am I supposed to sit? At first, Gu Hai thought that Liu Chong would be somewhat good at discerning the situation. That is, that he, upon seeing there was nowhere to sit, naturally would take his leave. But no, this bastard remained at the doorway, dawdling around for a good while before he very carefully moved across the room and sat down on the bedside between him and Bai Luoyin. Not only did he do that, he even had the balls to raise his hand and greet him. “Hi!” Hi, my fucking ass! Gu Hai roared mentally, you truly are a great soldier trained by Bai Luoyin! Bai Luoyin poured a cup of water, intending to show his appreciation to Gu Hai for his free labor. But just as he passed over the cup of water, Liu Chong’s hand reached out to grab it. “Thank you, Major.” In that split second, Bai Luoyin’s expression was showered with confusion. “Do you come here often?” Gu Hai asked in an amicable manner and looked at Liu Chong. First, Liu Chong turned to smile at Bai Luoyin and then cautiously replied to Gu Hai’s question. “Yes, lately I’ve been coming here regularly. Our Major is very kind and approachable. We can come and go as we please in his room and eat his food as well. Since I wasn’t able to go home this year, the Major was kind enough to bring me a lot of delicious food from his house and even brought them to my dorm. He also came to see me practically every day. I’m very moved.” Gu Hai snorted and laughed, “I’m also rather moved!” Frightened that Gu Hai did not believe him, Liu Chong emphasized, “Our Major’s personality and moral standing is excellent, and he is a business partner that is absolutely worthy of being trusted! He has always kept his word. You definitely won't regret choosing to collaborate with us!" Your Major was sleeping under my quilt last night. Does it look like I need you to tell me what kind of person he is? Gu Hai silently thought to himself as he clenched his teeth. Bai Luoyin thought that these two could not talk anymore; if they did, some mishaps were bound to happen. He had to think of every possible means to get rid of this chatterbox.
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“Liu Chong, what exactly did you come here for?” Bai Luoyin asked. Liu Chong pursed his lips to drink a mouthful of hot water before he happily replied, “Nothing much, just here for a visit and to stay for a while.” Stay for a while, stay for a while… “Can’t you see that I’m tidying my room?” Quickly standing up, Liu Chong said, “Major, I’ll also help you tidy up.” Bai Luoyin sympathetically looked at Liu Chong with his crutches at his side. “I don’t want to bother you. It’s better if you head back and have a good rest!” A bright and cheerful smile rushed up Liu Chong’s face. “Then, I’ll leave first. Major, when my injury is all better, the two of us can fly a plane74 together!” Bai Luoyin nearly choked to death when he heard that sentence. As for Gu Hai—the expression he wore could have easily been featured on a billboard for a horror movie. “What he meant is: the two of us can join the air combat maneuver and fly an aircraft together.” Just as Bai Luoyin finished his explanation, he heard the sound of something falling by the doorway, immediately followed by a loud ‘ouch!’ Taking Liu Chong’s injury into consideration, Bai Luoyin quickly rushed out for a look. All Bai Luoyin saw was Liu Chong getting up from the floor before embarrassedly looking at him. “My crutches… are broken.” Gu Hai busied himself in Bai Luoyin’s dorm for the entire day and by the time the sky was overtaken by a blanket of darkness, the room had changed beyond recognition. Without exception, all the large items were replaced with new ones. The fluffy and soft down feather comforter was as different as night and day from that damp and heavy comforter it had replaced. The desk had also been exchanged for a new one, with a hand warmer sitting on top and a foot warming pad beneath, while a hairdryer rested inside one of the drawers. To the side was a small tea table with brightly cleaned fruits along with peeled chestnut kernels… In just an instant, Bai Luoyin had changed from a commoner to an Emperor. Before leaving, Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin and repeatedly warned, “Remember what I said, don’t let anyone come into your room as they please, don’t buy any more junk food, and after washing your hair you must dry it. I will come here regularly to inspect, and if I find that you that violated any of these rules, I will punish you each time…” “Okay, okay, I know.” Bai Luoyin impatiently agreed while pushing Gu Hai out the door.
Translate: Sae | Edits: BambiKill5 & Nancy
“...fly a plane together!!” (打飛機 - dǎfēijī) is a slang for “masturbate”. Liu Chong is literally saying the sentence innocently but consequently, he’s saying, “the two of us can masturbate together!”]
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30 Despicable Little Leader
For the entire afternoon, Bai Luoyin was in the workshop making adjustments to the new fighter. Midway through his work, he had yet to give himself a chance to quench his thirst. When he arrived, the sun was hanging high in the sky, formidably claiming its place. But by the time he walked out, the sky was already sheathed by darkness. After what felt like an endless day, his body seemed to have contorted into a broken plane. Even so, he had to drag his tired feet back to the research room to check on the progress of the project. During the whole time, Bai Luoyin’s cell phone had been lying around in his dorm. When he returned and picked it up for a quick glance, he noticed that he had seven to eight missed calls. Shit! It’s already past eight o’clock, dinner should have been delivered! Bai Luoyin quickly rushed to the entrance and saw a familiar silhouette standing there, patiently waiting. The person turned his head around when Bai Luoyin patted his shoulder, revealing his two very red ears that had withstood the cold weather. “Have you waited long?” Bai Luoyin asked with an extremely courteous tone. The person that Gu Hai had temporarily hired to deliver these meals, was Huang Shun. When Gu Hai did not have any free time to come over, Huang Shun would take his place. “No, I have only been here for half an hour. Gu-zong has to work overtime today, so the meal was prepared later than usual.” With that said, he opened the car door and took out the warm lunchboxes before handing them over to Bai Luoyin.
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A warm appeared on Bai Luoyin’s face, “Thanks, and sorry for troubling you.” Huang Shun happily replied, “It’s no trouble at all, this is my job.” “How about you come to my room and have a seat? We can have a chat.” “There’s no need to,” Huang Shun said, waving his hand to kindly decline. “I also have to go back home for dinner.” Bai Luoyin fished out two red bills and attempted to shove them into Huang Shun’s pocket. “Sorry for holding you up today.” Huang Shun hastily pushed them away, “Don’t, don’t, don’t… this is very inappropriate! Gu-zong has already given me money…” “You can hold on to it!” Bai Luoyin stubbornly shoved the bills back, then turned and left. Huang Shun wanted to chase after him but it was useless. He helplessly forced the money into his pocket and drove off into the distance. Bai Luoyin happily carried the warm food to the research room. Just as he pushed the door open, some engineers that were standing around chatting, quickly dispersed and went back to their respective seats. Without much thought, Bai Luoyin calmly walked back to his own seat and started to eat his meal while auditing the project’s information. This moment was Bai Luoyin’s most relaxing time of the day. Every day, before he opened the lunchbox, he was brimming with expectation. This was due to the fact that for the past two weeks, the food that Gu Hai had prepared for him, was always unique. Every day, he was able to eat something different, most of which he had never eaten nor even thought of before. He had quickly surmised that these were all new dishes that Gu Hai had mastered. As far as Bai Luoyin was concerned, being able to eat and work like this, was equivalent to pure entertainment. The engineer that sat closest to Bai Luoyin was Gan Wei Qiang. For the past few days, this guy had been observing him closely and had noticed that Bai Luoyin always ate from a lunchbox. Moreover, the aroma from that lunch box floated around the room, tugging at his nostrils and causing great envy. Simply speaking: that aroma was enough to make a person die from craving. Cough “Hey, Xiao Bai-tongzhi!”75 Gan Wei Qiang shouted, unable to close his mouth. Bai Luoyin shot him a glance from the corner of his eye. “What?” “From where did you order that take-out, huh? How come it looks so delicious?” Gan Wei Qiang craned his neck to take a closer look. The corner of Bai Luoyin’s lips rose into a smirk before proudly said, “This meal of mine is one of a kind in all of China. It’s impossible for you to buy it anywhere.” This was the first time Gan Wei Qing has seen such a lively expression on Bai Luoyin’s face. He had indeed discovered that this guy was a complete foodie through and through. When it came to other matters, he showed a rather indifferent attitude, but once that lunchbox was in his grasp, his mood would immediately change. Therefore, at this moment, if someone were to chat or ask him something, they would definitely not suffer a rejection. “Let me try some!” Bai Luoyin turned and let his back faced Gan Wei Qiang. It was obvious what he meant. Gan Wei Qiang clicked his tongue, “Bai-shouzhang, you’re being very stingy. It’s not like I intend to eat a lot, I just want to try it.” “No, you can’t have any!” Bai Luoyin was not joking around at all. Hearing that stern reply, Gan Wei Qiang helplessly let out a laugh. “How about we do it like this… Xiao Bai, I’ll give you some money. Tomorrow, you can just order a set for me too. What do you think?” 75
tongzhi – comrade, so: Comrade Xiao Bai. The word “tongzhi” is also a slang for “homosexual.”
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“I just told you, it’s one of a kind—in all of China. It’s sold exclusively to me!” Gan Wei Qiang refused to give up, “Xiao Bai, was this meal made by your wife?” Hearing that, everyone in the research room seemed to have woken up with excitement, each person wearing a rather ‘gossipy’ expression as they turned toward Bai Luoyin. They were extremely curious as to exactly what kind of fairy was able to capture a creature like Bai Luoyin. However, seeing the way he was protecting his food as if his life depended on it, confirmed one thing: in order to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach. Recently, it had been reported that a famous commander was transferred over to the unit, so the military disciplinary division had been especially strict. When Bai Luoyin left the research room, it was already past ten o’clock, yet he still had to go for a stroll around the barracks. Upon seeing how some of the soldiers slept, he grabbed a few and punished them, as an example to the others. Truth be spoken, Bai Luoyin’s intimidating demeanor was only ineffective with Gu Hai, while for all soldiers, it was a look of authority that demanded respect. When these soldiers would chat at night before going to sleep, just the mention of Bai Luoyin’s name would leave a lingering fear not only in their minds but also their expressions. Practically all the new soldiers have at one point been reprimanded by him. Accompanied by just a flashlight, Bai Luoyin paced around to every nook of the barracks. “…yeah… don’t… it’s too deep…” “Where… I haven’t even pushed it all the way in yet…” “Ahhh… it’s so big… ah… I beg you…” “Beg me? … Are you begging me to stop or to continue…?” Bai Luoyin’s steady pace suddenly came to a standstill and he turned off the flashlight in his hand. Surrounded by only the silence of darkness, the voices of those two people became increasingly clear, making it very obvious to him that they belonged to two men. Their fast panting seemed to be right at his ears, causing them to burn. Aren’t they being too bold? In accordance with the military disciplinary regulations, just being found out in the dorm, not to mention being discovered outside, would entail severe punishment. Bai Luoyin suddenly switched on the flashlight and swayed it for a second, causing all movements to immediately stop. Taking a few steps forward, Bai Luoyin sensed movement from his right side and swiftly swung the flashlight toward it, only to see two men wearing military uniforms staring back at him in complete shock. “Major… I… we…” Wearing an extremely cold expression, Bai Luoyin walked past them, but what made him flabbergasted was that both men’s clothes were in proper order. Moreover, they were merely crouching on the ground with no hint of vulgar actions at all. Could it be I was mistaken? Bai Luoyin shined the flashlight around the surrounding area. It’s just the two of them and no one else! “What’s going on?” Bai Luoyin’s cold and serious eyes moved toward the two men. The two exchanged a glance and mutually decided it was best to speak the truth since lying in front of Bai Luoyin would only bring about their own destruction. “There were two crickets mating earlier so we were… uh, dub…dubbing them…” Bai Luoyin felt as if a bolt of thunder had struck his head and traveled all the down to his toes, seemingly splitting his body in half.
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The two stood upright before Bai Luoyin with eyes boring into the ground, not daring to make another sound. Not knowing whether to stay frozen or be scared shitless, one of the two’s pairs of legs began to tremble. Bai Luoyin stared at them for a good ten minutes when suddenly, he had a strange thought. If the two crickets had appeared in their home eight years ago, would he and Gu Hai also have done something senseless like this? With that, Bai Luoyin suddenly thought that these two youngsters were quite adorable. “Okay, go back to sleep!” The two actually thought that Bai Luoyin would fly into a fit of rage and mercilessly give them a hard time. But in the end, after trembling in fear for a long while and waiting to be punished, they only heard superficial words instead of reprimands. Truthfully, they did not even have the guts to believe what they had just heard since Bai Luoyin was infamous for being strict. How could he be so forgiving today? “Why are you two still standing here? You really don’t want to leave? Are you waiting for the head of the disciplinary division to come and seize you?” Hearing those words, the two quickly rushed away. With that over and done with, Bai Luoyin dragged his exhausted body back to the dorm and took a hot shower. Feeling physically worn out, he got into bed with his hair still dripping wet. The hair dryer was in the drawer. At first, Bai Luoyin wanted to blow-dry his hair before laying his head back down on the pillow but seeing that the power outlet was far from the bed made him reluctant to get back up again. As a result, he decided to ignore it this one time. He picked up his phone and gave Gu Hai a call. At that precise moment, Gu Hai had also just got into bed and was going to call Bai Luoyin, but instead, the other party gave him a call first. “Hey…” Bai Luoyin said lazily. Hearing Bai Luoyin’s voice, Gu Hai’s whole heart immediately warmed up. “Why didn’t you come today?” Bai Luoyin asked. Gu Hai softly said, “I worked overtime until late, and had to pack the moment I got home since I have to go on a business trip for a little over a week.” “How long? Where are you going?” “Shenzhen,” Gu Hai faintly replied. Although Bai Luoyin was lying comfortably in the big soft bed, his heart, however, was not particularly at ease. “Then, are you still coming tomorrow?” “Yeah,” Gu Hai said. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring you the last meal of the week before I leave.” A hint of gloominess eased into Bai Luoyin’s vision. “You don’t have to make lunch for me. Just come earlier so we can spend more time together.” “Hehe… are you that unwilling to part with me?” Bai Luoyin coldly snorted, “Then, you don’t need to come tomorrow.” Gu Hai lovingly replied, “I’m afraid that if I don’t go, you’ll hug my clothes and cry. What am I going to do then?” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin shouted, ‘fuck you’ six times in a row with pausing! Thinking of Bai Luoyin’s face, Gu Hai’s heart started to ache. “Yin Zi, we should turn on the video call. I want to see you.” Just as Bai Luoyin was about to say ‘okay’, he quickly swept strands of wet hair to the side. “That…I already turned the light off.” “Just turn it back on again!”
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Bai Luoyin coughed. “I already took my clothes off. I’m too lazy to get out of the bed.” “Did you forget? The bed that I changed for you has a lamp to the side. It’ll be fine if you just reach over and turn it on.” Gu Hai’s voice can be gentle and pleasing to hear, but somehow, Bai Luoyin felt that the air around the cell phone was cold and threatening. When did I become this terrified?! I’m a dignified military officer, why do I have to listen to him? Bai Luoyin truly wanted to bellow in rage over the predicament he had placed himself in. So, what if I didn’t blow-dry my hair, what are you going to do about it? But thinking that Gu Hai was leaving him tomorrow, the rage that beckoned to tear out of his throat disappeared. Overcome with frustration from not receiving a reply, Gu Hai’s devilish heart turned dirty. “What are you scared of? I only wanted to see your face. It’s not like I asked to see your friend down there.” Bai Luoyin gritted his teeth in order to hold his tongue. Suddenly, he remembered something and cleverly changed the topic. “Oh, that’s right…I encountered something really interesting today when I was doing my nightly inspection routine…” Then he went on to describe the two soldiers dubbing the crickets’ sexual escapade in full detail, without leaving anything untold. As expected, Gu Hai was extremely interested as he listened and happily asked, “How did they dub it? Imitate it for me.” “Use your own imagination!” “If you imitate it for me, then I won’t force you to turn on the video call,” said Gu Hai, his voice soft and tempting. Ultimately, Bai Luoyin was unable to withstand a certain person’s seductive encouragement and got under the comforter to reveal a leader’s despicable behavior vividly and thoroughly… On the other side, Gu Hai vigorously rubbed himself in excitement along with the lewd sounds. But suddenly, a loud warning alarm blared. “Crap! I have to assemble for training!” Bai Luoyin quickly jumped off the bed and strenuously put on his pants. He pressed his— still, fully erect manhood down in an attempt to calm it, then urgently ran out.
Translate: Sae | Edit: BambiKill5
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31 Xiao Bai’s Misfortune
Bai Luoyin walked past the squadron main dormitory hall, stood at the entrance and shouted with a stern and overbearing voice, “Hurry up!” Under Bai Luoyin's sharp eyes, the soldiers rushed out of their dorm one after the other. In just a few minutes, Bai Luoyin followed behind the last few soldiers, their heavy and uniformed footsteps echoed as they ran toward the training ground. On the platform was the newly transferred Wing Commander, Zhou Lingyun, who had been standing there in high spirits since early in the morning. As Bai Luoyin ran there, he kept his eyes particularly on him. Zhou Lingyun is also a legendary person in the Air Force. At 35 years old, he has assumed his post as a Wing Commander of the Guangdong Military Region for three years now. Having been highly celebrated for his honorable achievements by all has also allowed the Air Force to cement him as one of their best which in turn filled in the gaps left in their history of not having a well distinguishable leader. However, it was well-known that his training methods are extremely severe and abnormal. His most favorite thing to do is to challenge each and every soldier's physical and psychological limitation. With great determination, all the soldiers that he had trained now possessed a very strong psychological endurance and tenacious vitality. In less than five minutes, several thousands of soldiers assembled at the training ground in an orderly military formation. Bai Luoyin ran forward, “Report to Wing Commander, the First Battalion with 52 people has all assembled. Report complete!”
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Quickly after, several officers also ran forward. “Report to Wing Commander, the Second Battalion with 498 people has all assembled. Report complete!” “Report to Wing Commander, the Third Battalion has all assembled. Report complete!” Zhou Lingyun’s deep and resounding voice resonated over the entire training ground. “Stand at ease!” As the sound of footsteps uniformly eased, Zhou Lingyun quietly yet attentively gazed at the soldiers in front of him before speaking with a deep tone. “Today, I made everyone urgently assemble here for no other reason than to get you accustomed to holding your bladder at night.” At those words, a loud uproar spread across the training ground. “All of you, quiet down!” the Chief of Staff shouted from the side. Zhou Lingyun’s stern expression did not change as he calmly and composedly continued to say: “Now, listen to my commands. When I shout ‘one’, you all have to quickly remove your pants. When I shout ‘two’, begin to pee, and when I shout ‘three’, pull up your pants at once. After you've peed, I will inspect you all one by one. If there is no trace of water in front of the ground where you are standing, you must run three full circles around the airfield, fully equipped with your gears!" Bai Luoyin's expression immediately changed. This Wing Commander’s taste is quite serious. None of the soldiers had a chance to react when Zhou Lingyun shouted ‘one’, causing the training ground to be filled with noises of belt buckles being removed without ends. Bai Luoyin stood straight and looked at all the soldiers in his battalions, hinting for them to move a bit faster. “First Battalion’s Deputy Commander, comrade Bai Luoyin!” Hearing Zhou Ling Yin called his name, Bai Luoyin’s body jolted unconsciously. He quickly turned to stand at attention before looking at the Wing Commander, waiting for his order. To his and everyone’s surprise, Zhou Lingyun merely asked with an indifferent tone. “Why didn’t you take your pants off?” At this moment, Bai Luoyin was a bit slow to react. He stealthily shot a quick glance toward the few officers beside him, only to discover they had all taken their pants off already. Shit! Bai Luoyin could faintly sense that his friend down there was not completely soft yet. In fact, while standing on the training ground, he was still pondering on Gu Hai's seductive words. “Or are you waiting for me to take it off for you?” Zhou Lingyun suddenly spoke. After those words shot through the training ground, several officers and thousands of soldiers subdued their laughter until their internals suffered severe pain. This time, Bai Luoyin had no choice but to adhere to his superior’s order. With great agility, he removed his belt and tore off his pants, causing his penis (still lively and full of enthusiasm) to happily emerge with all its glory! Fortunately, it was a late and rather dark night, making it impossible to see anything. Finally, when Bai Luoyin stood there exposed while waiting for the ‘second’ command, Zhou Lingyun unexpectedly came down the platform and walked directly toward his side. Bai Luoyin was currently standing at the forefront of all the troops. Zhou Lingyun began to inspect the officers standing at one end of the side first, and when he arrived at where Bai Luoyin stood, his eyes freeze over before a wicked smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. A sense of uneasiness faintly crawled into Bai Luoyin’s mind. Zhou Lingyun’s hand suddenly reached toward his crotch and gripped his lively friend. Bai Luoyin’s eyes suddenly shot open as a blunt pain struck his brain, utterly destroying all the dirty thoughts that had piled up in his mind. Just like that, his little monster quickly withered. Without another word, Zhou Lingyun walked elsewhere only to stop before two other soldiers. “I haven't even shouted ‘two’ yet and you’ve already peed. Step forward!”
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Once this command was released, a few nervous soldiers at the back unconsciously ‘leaked’. As a result, this group of soldiers was forced to step out of line and suffered a punishment. After the ‘third’ command, another group of soldiers forcefully stepped forward, the reason being they did not have any liquid stored in their bladder, making it impossible for them to release. After was seemed like an eternity, the remaining soldiers and officers were allowed to run back to their dorms. When Bai Luoyin ran past Zhou Lingyun, he patted his shoulder and smiled, “Comrade Xiao Bai, your psychological state is pretty good. You are the first officer to stand in front of me with an absent-mind.” Bai Luoyin ran back to his dorm with a crown of embarrassment over his head. The second he drilled into the quilt, he immediately gave Gu Hai a call to complain about his agony. But, not even halfway through, the alarm fired up again. The quilt had just warmed Bai Luoyin up, yet now, he had no choice but to crawl out and rush to the training ground again as if his feet had grown wings. Once again, Zhou Lingyun said another sentence that provoked everyone's anger. “It has been more than an hour since the first time you have urinated. Now, I am inviting you all for the second round!” Luckily, Bai Luoyin had drunk a glass of water before going to bed, otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to take a leak this time around. After this round ended, more soldiers were punished. However, before the punishments for those that had to step out of line came to an end, the number of soldiers allowed to return to their dorms had decreased significantly. Did you think the nightmare ended? No, it had just started. Soon, the third emergency alarm to assemble blared ominously across the military base. This time, the interval between the second and third round was only a difference of half an hour. Unsurprisingly, some soldiers who had taken off their clothes had no choice but to drag it back up their restless bodies, and once they arrived at the training ground, they had to urinate yet again. The few hundreds of soldiers that survived all learned their lesson so when they returned to the dorms, they drank bottles after bottles of water as if their life was on the line. However, after waiting for half the night, the emergency alarm never blared anymore. This group of soldiers ended up running back and forth between the toilet and their dorms, without getting an ounce of sleep that night. Early morning of the next day, like a lingering and foul aftertaste, Zhou Lingyun appeared at the training ground again. After enduring a night of torture, anyone who saw him looked petrified. “There will not be any training this morning. Your mission is to clean the airfield and surrounding areas. After dispersing, everyone must go get their tools. The battalion commanders are in charge of dividing the work area for each soldier in their division. I will personally come and inspect everything in three hours!” Two and a half hours later, the area Bai Luoyin's battalion was in charge of cleaning was practically done. When he found a few soldiers being lazy and goofing around, he lined them up in an area where everyone could see and firmly kicked his asses. Bai Luoyin simply vented out all the anger that he had accumulated from the previous day on these soldiers. This kick was not easy to endure. Cementing their feet onto the ground, these soldiers could not shout or move, and if they break either rule, they would get a second kick. Basically, when Bai Luoyin set his foot down, these lazy soldiers would bare their fangs and grimace in pain. However, just as their pain gradually subsided, Bai Luoyin would suddenly kick them again. After three hours, the airfield was cleaned but the Wing Commander still did not appear.
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By now, it was already time to eat. Bai Luoyin could not help but think that Gu Hai was waiting for him in his dorm. After being tortured all night and having not eaten anything this morning, he was so hungry that he could grab the soldier next to him and eat his tender flesh. When another half an hour flew by, Bai Luoyin constantly peered at his watch only to look up and discover that Zhou Lingyun had yet to come. If the Wing Commander did not come to dismiss them, they must all continue to wait. In truth, Bai Luoyin was burning with impatient. However, he was still able to maintain a calm and composed façade as he marched toward the soldiers who repeatedly shouted that they were hungry and relentlessly scolded them. As another torturous hour swept by, Bai Luoyin’s heart became cold as if heavy rain was pouring down on him. Gu Hai is probably gone now? I didn't even make it in time to see him off… While he was deep in thought, a ray of hope suddenly appeared in front of him. Finally, Zhou Lingyun was here! His eyes carelessly swept around the airfield in one full circle before he nodded with satisfaction at the quality that his command has produced. “Okay, everyone has been working hard for half a day already. You can go to eat now!” Once those glorious words dropped, several thousands of soldiers majestically rushed toward the dining hall. Bai Luoyin was about to turn and leave when Zhou Lingyun stopped him. “Bai Luoyin, come take a stroll with me through the soldier’s dormitory. I need to inspect the base internal affairs.” With just that sentence, Bai Luoyin instantly felt the heavens collapsed heavily on him. Military orders must be obeyed, and since his ranking was still low, he could only be controlled. By the time Bai Luoyin was dismissed, it was already a little after two o'clock in the afternoon. With only one thing in mind, he quickly sped back to his dorm. Just as he had expected, Gu Hai had left, leaving behind only a brief note informing that he had left the lunchbox in the research room since he knew Bai Luoyin liked to eat and read through his data at the same time. Unfortunately, when Bai Luoyin finally made it to the research room, his lunchbox was already empty. But there was still an especially strong smell of food floating around. He knew, without a doubt, that it was his food… and it has been stolen!! Ahhh! Shit… why did you put the lunchbox in the research room? Don't you know, this group of people has eyeing my lovely little lunchbox every single day like a tiger watching its prey? To simply put it, Bai Luoyin wanted to take a machine gun and fire it at those despicable thieves who stole his food. This was his last meal of the week. This was the only Gu Hai left for him in his absence after he left…and it was also what he was longing for to comfort him after being tortured for one night and half a day. Giving the door a hard kick, Bai Luoyin walked out with an empty heart. At first, he was extremely hungry, but now, his appetite has faded entirely. Nevertheless, regardless of how he felt, Bai Luoyin knew that he had to eat something. God knows what abnormal scheme that Wing Commander has in plan for this afternoon. If he doesn't have any strength when the time comes, how was he going to handle it?! Since there was already no food left in the dining hall and the restaurants were all too far, Bai Luoyin hesitated for a moment before entering the supermarket. Since Gu Hai is not here… I'll just improvise and eat something else! In the end, he bought three instant noodle cups, two bags of ham sausages, and carried it back to the dorm. Translate: Sae
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32 Truly Heartbroken
Bai Luoyin was halfway into his instant noodles when he suddenly heard the sound of a car door closing outside. He craned his neck to look out the window and to his surprise, it was Gu Hai’s face that he saw. He hasn’t left yet? Happiness flashed through Bai Luoyin’s heart. But his first instinct was to shove the halfeaten instant noodle cup into a drawer and cover the other two unopened ones with the blanket. Then he wiped his mouth while the corners of his eyes flickered and radiated with surprise. “You haven’t left yet?” Gu Hai perked his lips up into a smile, “The flight has been delayed for two hours, so I decided to drop by to see you since the base is close to the airport. You already know, my heart won’t feel at ease without seeing you before I go.” With those words, all the fatigue and grievance Bai Luoyin had felt disappeared instantly. Gu Hai walked over and pulled Bai Luoyin into a tight embrace. In all honesty, he could not bear to be apart from him. Even though they did not meet often, they were connected by these daily lunch deliveries which, at the very least, could be considered to be a type of company and care. However, this coming week, they would be completely separated and would only be able to use some ice-cold devices to communicate their feelings.
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“I have a friend who owns a hotel. I’ve eaten there a few times; the food is quite delicious. I’ve asked Huang Shun to contact the manager and arrange for meals to be delivered to you as usual. It’s only for one week. If you just stick it out, the days will pass quickly.” Bai Luoyin smacked Gu Hai’s back with as much strength as he could muster. “There is no need to bother anyone else, it’s not like I don’t have legs. There are a few restaurants in the courtyard, I’ll just go there and eat, okay? Besides, the food at the dining hall is pretty good too.” “The food at the dining hall may be pretty good, but aren’t I just afraid that a certain someone is going to be too lazy? It’s better if I get someone to deliver the meals to you—that way, you’ll be saved from eating junk food.” As he spoke, he released his tight hold on Bai Luoyin, and out of habit, he sat on the bed only to be forcefully yanked back up. “That… how about I take the plane and fly you to Shenzhen?” Bai Luoyin was eager to leave this place since danger was silently lurking in every corner. “Fly me there? Just look at your tired little face, it’s all pale,” Gu Hai said with an aching heart as he pinched Bai Luoyin’s cheeks. “Let’s just stay in the dorm for a while. I have to leave after chatting with you for a bit.” “Then, make sure you don’t miss the plane!” Bai Luoyin’s eyes lit up. “How about I drive you to the airport? That way, you won’t waste any time and I can be with you for a while longer.” Gu Hai attentively stared at Bai Luoyin’s glowing and energetic facial expression. When a person has a guilty conscience, they often act in a way which is completely contradictory to their usual behavior and mental state. Gu Hai, of course, was not stupid enough to believe that Bai Luoyin was excited because of him. It was obvious that there was some hidden agenda in his actions. “Stop fooling around, can’t you just let me give you a decent cuddle?” Gu Hai forcefully pulled Bai Luoyin over to sit on the bed. Just one centimeter off, one centimeter… shit. Gu Hai almost sat on top of the instant noodle cups! When that crucial moment passed without incident, Bai Luoyin let out a big sigh of relief. The degree of nervousness he was feeling right then was no less than he felt when he busted the two soldiers who were dubbing crickets mating. If they could see the situation Bai Luoyin had gotten himself into, they would undoubtedly look up and thank the heavens. Bai-shouzhang, it fucking serves you right! “We won’t be able to see each other for a week. Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?” Gu Hai’s lips rubbed against Bai Luoyin’s ear. Bai Luoyin quietly responded in his thoughts, I just want you to leave quickly. Gu Hai’s lips continued to softly rub their way down Bai Luoyin’s cheek, and when they reached his mouth, his tongue naturally slipped in. However, Gu Hai let go of him before Bai Luoyin was even able to get into the mood. “Why does your mouth taste like instant noodles?” “It does?” Bai Luoyin acted dumb. “Maybe your taste buds have a problem? I haven’t even eaten any, why would there be a taste of instant noodles?” Bai Luoyin's chest tightened when he saw Gu Hai look at him with a suspicious expression. But he responded calmly. “Perhaps it’s the taste from the food you delivered to me.” “Were the ribs I brought during lunch tasty?” ‘They tasted good’ was about to burst out of Bai Luoyin’s mouth when he, with a swift reaction, swallowed the words back down. If Gu Hai hadn’t cooked ribs and he purposely asked this question in order to test Bai Luoyin, he would be exposed as soon as he answered. Therefore, he ingeniously changed the topic.
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“It really hurts here.” Bai Luoyin said with an intricate expression on his face while pulling Gu Hai’s hand onto his crotch. As soon as Gu Hai heard those words and saw the painful look on Bai Luoyin’s face, his heart nearly melted. This was the first time Bai Luoyin had ever acted like a spoiled kid toward him! There had never been a time when he had experienced this type of benefit! Bai Luoyin’s prediction was correct. The food that was delivered at lunch had definitely not been ribs and Gu Hai had asked that question to test him. As for Gu Hai, he was thunderstruck by the depressed little gazes from Bai Luoyin. Right now, he felt that there was nothing he would rather do than to comfort him. “Why does it hurt here? Did you not wash your hands when you masturbated last night?” Gu Hai asked with a gentle voice. Feeling rather uneasy, Bai Luoyin thought: I could have chosen any topic, why the hell did I pick such a subject to try to sidetrack him? When Bai Luoyin did not speak, Gu Hai thought it was because he was embarrassed. Hence, he moved in closer to his ear and softly whispered, “Did you masturbate too often?” Bai Luoyin cursed. Often? Fuck your ancestor!76 I haven’t even lain in the bed all night! “Come, take off your pants and let me have a look.” Gu Hai moved to pull his pants. Bai Luoyin hastily dodged, afraid that the large handprint caused by the commander from last night was still visible on his crotch area. There was no way he could allow Gu Hai to see the evidence of that criminal act since it would only add fuel to his anger over the heinous ‘crime’ Bai Luoyin himself had committed! “There is no need, I was only joking with you!” Gu Hai pulled Bai Luoyin back again, determined to take his pants off. “Why are you scared? It’s not like I haven’t seen it. Come, be a good boy. Let me take a look to see if it’s swollen.” Bai Luoyin resisted as if his life depended on it, while Gu Hai did not budge whatsoever. As a result, both of them tipped on the bed. Suddenly, the sound of something being crushed beneath their bodies flowed to their ears— causing Bai Luoyin to instantly tense up. Shit… The instant noodle cups have been crushed. Gu Hai’s expression changed slightly, and he immediately yanked Bai Luoyin off the bed before pulling back the blanket. What a pity… both the instant noodle cups were flattened, and the complimentary free plastic forks were crushed and bent. Seeing this, Bai Luoyin completely froze in place. After a long while, Gu Hai finally questioned: “What is this?” “I bought it for someone else, I didn’t eat it.” Bai Luoyin responded stubbornly, reluctant to admit his ‘mistake’. “And… what happens if I find out that it’s not?” Gu Hai said with a gloomy expression. “What are you going to find?” Bai Luoyin asked while pushing and shoving Gu Hai, “Stop wasting time, hurry up and go to the airport!” Gu Hai’s deadly glare attentively remained on Bai Luoyin, then word by word he said, “Confess now and I will be lenient with you!”
大爺 Dà yé – means your father’s elder brother, as known to us as big uncle. By adding 你 (You or Your) 你大爺 (Your big Uncle), it becomes a very common swear word in Beijing. The eldest of the family symbolises the head of the family and power. By saying ‘Your big uncle’ is indirectly swearing or cursing at their ancestor. Therefore, I used ‘ancestor’ as opposed to ‘big uncle’.
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“Look at you, you’re acting as if you are serious.” Bai Luoyin laughed as if taking Gu Hai’s words with a grain of salt. Gu Hai pushed Bai Luoyin away, then rifled through every cupboard and wardrobe in search of more contraband. When Bai Luoyin realized that his employment of a gentle strategy had failed, he immediately resorted to an aggressive tactic by launching his fist to meet Gu Hai’s face. While holding the pose, he spoke with a stone-cold tone, “Gu Hai, if you stop right now, I will pretend nothing happened. If you continue to act like this only to end up not finding anything, don’t expect to enter this room again!” Gu Hai turned his glare toward Bai Luoyin before slowly opening the drawer that hid the half-eaten lunch. A whiff of delicious braised beef flavor drifted out. Bai Luoyin had never before shown Gu Hai such a petrified and guilty look. His fist was still firmly pressed against Gu Hai’s face but unfortunately, it was powerless. Consequently, this created an opportunity for Gu Hai to conveniently grab Bai Luoyin’s wrist— fiercely jerking him onto the bed and rigidly pressing his upper body down before giving him a hard kick in the ass. Just this one kick made Bai Luoyin bellow in rage. “What’s it to you that I ate instant noodles? What reason do you have to hit me? What right do you have to lecture me? Even if I, Bai Luoyin, ate shit, it wouldn’t get into your stomach!” Initially, Gu Hai had only intended to give him a kick just for the sake of it. But not only did Bai Luoyin remain stubborn and unrepentant, he even had the fucking nerve to say hurtful words. Therefore, Gu Hai supplemented the same spot, which still had an indistinct ache, with another kick. This kick was indeed powerful. At first, it was only Bai Luoyin’s crotch that was hurting, now both his front and back were aching. Four hours ago, he had been on the airfield training ground, upholding the most prestigious position while mercilessly kicking the soldiers’ asses with a fierce and bluster attitude. At that point in time, it felt invigorating! Weren’t all of you slacking off to the point of not wanting to stretch? Today, I helped you all to completely change this bad habit! A person, indeed, cannot do wicked deeds and go unpunished! In truth, Bai Luoyin did not despise them for being lazy. He despised them for holding up his time, which he could have spent with Gu Hai. He just wanted to take it out on someone! It had been exhilarating at the time, but now he reaped what he sowed… Gu Hai turned Bai Luoyin’s face, that was buried in the blanket, toward him and questioned him in rage. “Tell me, are you in need of a spanking? Why am I not allowed to lecture you? If you had a job where you did nothing but sit in the office drinking tea and reading the newspaper all day long, I wouldn’t give a shit about what you eat. Look at yourself, have you seen how drained you are? Yet you only feed yourself this kind of rubbish? You might not care about it, but I do!” “If you care, then why did you kick me? Twice!” Bai Luoyin spat those words resentfully. “Twice? I think two times is not even enough!” Gu Hai raised his arm again as soon as those words were said. “My fucking food was all eaten by others!” Bai Luoyin shouted. At those words, Gu Hai’s arm stiffened in mid-air while the tense muscles on his face suddenly relaxed slightly.
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Bai Luoyin continued to speak out his grievances, “Why did you leave the meal in the lab? Do you have any idea how long those people have been trying to get their hands on my food? They have all tried to steal it even when I ate in front of them, not to mention when I am not there!” Suddenly Gu Hai didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry. What kind of people are they?! “I’m fucking dead tired! Not only haven’t I slept all night, but I also had to attend physical labour work today and when I returned to the dorm, you had already left. Then when I went to the research lab and saw that all my food had already been eaten by those scheming bastards, I really couldn’t be bothered nor had the strength to take another step…” Gu Hai’s tone immediately softened, “Then why didn’t you just call me? If I’ve known that you haven’t eaten, I would have ordered some takeout and brought it over to you.” Bai Luoyin weakly sneered, “I thought you had already left.” When he saw the two shoe marks that he had planted on Bai Luoyin’s uniform pants, Gu Hai felt a pinch of heartache. Bai Luoyin covertly cast a glance at Gu Hai and silently chanted under his breath: Wait until your heart’s last line of defense has completely collapsed, then watch me take my vengeance on you! In the end, he had underestimated his own ability to speak out against him. For a few seconds, Gu Hai really did feel sorry for Bai Luoyin. However, the feeling did not last long since he discovered that the pillow on Bai Luoyin’s bed was damp. When connecting the dots between this fact and Bai Luoyin being so hell-bent on not speaking by video call the other night—things (finally) became clear to him. Bai Luoyin was still waiting for Gu Hai to don an apologetic expression and help him up. Unexpectedly, although Gu Hai did help him, he also shoved the pillow under Bai Luoyin’s lower abdomen and then pressed him back down onto his stomach. His two-round chiseled ass cheeks were already pert enough to begin with but with the pillow underneath, his ass was raised up to look even perkier. The sudden sound of a slap was loud and clear! Bai Luoyin had never encountered such a huge humiliation. And it happened to be at a time when his body was completely worn out. Even though he wanted to retaliate, he did not have the energy. At first, Bai Luoyin was spouting abusive words, but soon stopped and went silent. Bai Luoyin thought to himself: I give up, completely give up. I fucking suffered all day, hoping to get a bit of comfort but in the end, he punished me the most! After seeing that Bai Luoyin had fallen completely silent, Gu Hai lowered his hand as well. As a matter of fact, during the entire time, he had not exerted his strength, simply because he didn’t have the heart to. Bai Luoyin firmly retained an expressionless zombie face, completely ignoring Gu Hai regardless of what he was saying or doing. In order to make amends, Gu Hai drove out and bought lots and lots of delicious food for Bai Luoyin before placing the hot and steaming meals on the table. With the meal in front of him, Bai Luoyin ate like he always does—like a glutton. The only thing was, he refused to communicate with Gu Hai, never bothering to give him even a glance. When he was just halfway through his lunch, the warning alarm went off. Bai Luoyin immediately put down the chopsticks, changed his shoes and clothes and tied his belt—all moves smoothly completed in one breath. When he was about to leave, Bai Luoyin’s footsteps suddenly halted for a moment as he was passing by Gu Hai’s silhouette on his way out. Seizing this opportunity, Gu Hai hugged him and then adjusted his hair for him. “I have to leave too… don’t be angry with me!”
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Bai Luoyin remained silent while struggling in a fruitless attempt to push Gu Hai away. Gu Hai gave Bai Luoyin a kiss on the cheek before he shamelessly begged, “Kiss me first before you leave.” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin fiercely took a nip at Gu Hai’s neck. Thereafter, he swiftly knocked open the door and took his leave. Looking at the table full of food, Gu Hai, this time, was truly heartbroken.
Translate: Nancy | Edit: BambiKill5 | Proofread: Sae
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33 The Terrifying Training Camp
Once all the soldiers lined up with their battalion, Zhou Lingyun’s frightening and sinister face appeared before them yet again. He stood in front of the troops with both his hands clasped behind his back while his harsh glare raked the nervous faces. “I’ve already let you all rest for an entire day, now we have to warm up.” Once they heard that sentence, all the soldiers glared at him in utter shock. When the hell did we get a day off? The majority of them had not even gotten an hour of rest, let alone a whole day. Yesterday they were tormented for the entire night, then this afternoon they had to sweep the airfield again, and before the food in their stomachs even had a chance to be digested, they were forced to another emergency assembly. Now, why don’t you tell us: when did this entire day of rest occur? Upon noticing the change in their expressions, Zhou Lingyun calmly gave the crowd an explanation to resolve their misgivings. “Yesterday, I arrived here precisely at this time. Up until now, it has been one full day. Haven’t you all gotten enough rest? Don’t tell me that in your eyes, urinating is considered training? Cleaning the airfield can also be considered to be training? I’ve served in the army for so many years, but this is my first time hearing such simple tasks to be considered arduous.”
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Not only the lower ranking soldiers but even the officers on site were wearing expressions filled with confusion when they heard those irritating words. Zhou Lingyun ignored the general discontent and resentment as he calmly continued, “Besides testing your basic skills, I’m also using this opportunity to get to know you properly.” Afterward, several thousands of drowsy soldiers and dozens of exhausted officers began the intense and cruel training. While the pilots flew their high in the sky and repeatedly practiced the trained maneuvers, the officers and commanders congregated in the supervisory control room to watch their every move. If even the slightest mistake was made, they had to start all over again. Leaning against a sofa behind the group of officers, Zhou Lingyun slept soundly. His thunderous snores reverberated so loud that even heaven seem to tremble. Several officers covertly exchanged whispers with each other, revealing their displeasure with this newly appointed Wing commander. While those officers were busy whispering, Bai Luoyin had been staring expressionlessly at the screen, lost in his own thoughts. He couldn’t help but faintly sense that this Wing Commander, like he, possessed an extrasensory perception. Right now, there was a pair of gloomy eyes behind him that appeared to be closed, but in reality, were attentively watching their each and every move. Half an hour later, the officers could barely keep their sleep-laden eyes open as the supervisory control room became littered with one yawn after another. Zhou Lingyun suddenly cleared his throat, causing the group of officers to immediately straighten their backs. Not wanting to get blacklisted, they all tried their best to continue working with what little bit of strength they have. But Zhou Lingyun rolled over, turned his back toward the officers and continued his sleep. Among all the officers in the room, Bai Luoyin was the most beaten and tired one since he was the only one who had not slept even one wink for the entire night. In addition, they only had backaches and nothing more while for Bai Luoyin, not only did his front part hurt, his back was also sore! It was truly hard to bear! In this kind of dire situation, Bai Luoyin didn't even dare to think about Gu Hai. If he did, his focus would instantly fade, and his mind would become trapped in a relaxed state. By then, all he would want to do would be to bury himself somewhere and sleep the day away. Unfortunately, just as things seemed to be going well, an inattentive officer carelessly slipped from his chair and onto the floor, causing a loud thud to echo across the room. Zhou Lingyun's eyes immediately flew open. As soon as the unlucky officer managed to properly return to his seat, a bucketful of water was suddenly gushed down over his head. Drenched and cold, he yelled in distress. Not long after that, the machine in front of him shut down due to the water leaking through it. Witnessing this scene, all the soldiers who were about to yawn, quickly closed their mouths. This officer was also a well-known figure in the Army, who at barely 22 years of age, had been enjoying special treatments reserved only for top-notch soldiers. Back when he was still a new recruit, he was rarely punished—even less so after he was promoted to officer rank. “You are a disgrace!” Zhou Lingyun spat out these four stabbing words. While this officer’s body shivered uncontrollably from the freezing water, the officer beside him wanted to pass him a cotton-padded coat. However, once he caught sight of Zhou Lingyun's lethal glare, he retreated instead. “Fix this machine within one hour. For each hour that it stays unfixed, I will splash you with water until it is. Anyone who interferes will get to enjoy the same treatment as him.”
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At that harsh command, the entire room fell into complete and utter silence. The kind of silence that brought on an unearthly coldness that sent chills up their spines. Zhou Lingyun walked up to another officer and with a grave voice ordered, “Replay the video record of the flights from a moment ago for me.” The officer obediently retrieved the videos showing some of the most notable pilots' training results and replayed it for Zhou Lingyun. To their surprise, Zhou Lingyun merely watched them for a short while before he impatiently commented, “Show me something more decent.” In the end, the more videos were played, the poorer the performances became. The mediocre achievements drove Zhou Lingyun to a complete rage. “What a bunch of useless people! Not one of them can perform a proper touchdown!” The surrounding officers did not dare to utter a sound. In their opinion, the level of flying was already of a textbook standard. “Do you all still have the nerve to sit here idly? All of you go down there and train with the rest. If just one person, only one, cannot reach the requirements—all of you can stay in the aircraft. Don't even think about coming back down!” Just as Bai Luoyin was about to get up, Zhou Lingyun pressed him down by the shoulder. “You stay here!” Initially, Bai Luoyin had thought that the reason Zhou Lingyun let him off the hook was due to him being the only one actively working when he was sleeping. But then, he thought that Zhou Lingyun was not that kind of person, and he dispelled those kinds of optimistic thoughts. “Show me the records for all of your day-to-day flight practices.” Bai Luoyin promptly turned on the computer and presented the detailed records to Zhou Lingyun one by one. As expected, Zhou Lingyun was not an easy person to deal with. These records that had repeatedly garnered praise from the leaders, were all thrash in Zhou Lingyun’s eyes. “I am surprised to see there was a flight that was canceled due to bad weather…” Zhou Lingyun snorted coldly. Bai Luoyin started to firmly stand his ground, "Safety measures must be implemented before training can commence. If adequate assurances for a person’s safety cannot be confirmed, how can one talk about military power if human lives aren’t even considered?" The cunning smile on Zhou Lingyun's face became even deeper. It was such a pity that the implication infiltrating his smile was one of utter chilliness. “Training is originally the process of the survival of the fittest. If one loses his life in the midst of training, then it shows that he is weak and should be eliminated.” Zhou Lingyun advanced one step forward and continued with a menacing gaze, “If enemy troops launched a surprise attack toward our base in the blackest and stormiest of nights—would you still consider weather factors before launching a counterattack?” “Even if something of that nature occurs, the ground defense systems are there for that purpose. It is unnecessary to take the risk and assume a fight in the air.” Bai Luoyin directly and efficiently rebutted without fooling around. Zhou Lingyun shot another disdainful look. “What if the enemy is strong and I am weak?” This time, Bai Luoyin kept his mouth shut, choosing not to utter another word. Zhou Lingyun smiled while patting Bai Luoyin's shoulder. “The backbone of the Air Force? In my eyes, you are not doing anything to earn your keep!” Having said that, Zhou Lingyun angrily walked away.
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All of Bai Luoyin’s weariness was driven away by the resentment and indignation blazing inside his heart. Even though he had been in the army for so many years, this was the first time Bai Luoyin was put to shame, feeling like he had nowhere to hide. Meanwhile, the drenched officer next to him was still shivering while trying his hardest to repair the broken machinery. He had received a much heavier blow compared to Bai Luoyin. Fatigue, sluggishness, anxiety, and grievance permeated his whole being. With his body already suffering such unbearable conditions, and his spirit utterly torn, there was no way he could build up the strength to fix the damaged machine. Seeing that his time was quickly running out, this prideful officer was driven to such anxiety that his tears violently gushed out. This officer was one nurtured under Bai Luoyin’s skillful guidance. Regardless of Bai Luoyin’s strictness when leading his troops, he was always ready to defend the shortcomings of his subordinates. He really could not stand his own troops to suffer from any grievances. “Step aside. I'll do it!” Bai Luoyin crouched down. The officer shoved Bai Luoyin away with his freezing hands. “There’s no need. This is my fault, so I will bear the consequences.” “Even if he splashed you with water until you died, you still wouldn’t be able to fix this.” Bai Luoyin immediately picked the officer up and threw him to the side while he himself burrowed his way into the interior of the machine and started to repair it. In less than ten minutes, the piece of machinery was fixed, and Zhou Lingyun had yet to appear. The officer looked at Bai Luoyin, his face filled with admiration and gratitude. Bai Luoyin spoke indifferently, “You can go!” “But I need to report the whole incident to the Wing Commander before I can leave.” “I will report to him!” Bai Luoyin said. Nervousness colored the soldier’s whole visage, “Is this… acceptable? What if the Wing Commander blames me and says I am not earnest, then what should I do?” Bai Luoyin’s face hardened into a block of ice. “Since I allowed you to leave, I will definitely help you to settle the problem. If you disobey my order there will be punishment, per usual. Hurry up and go change your clothes. Be careful not to catch a cold!” The officer looked warmly at Bai Luoyin with tears of thankfulness in his eyes. Then he gave Bai Luoyin a respectful salute before he turned around and left. Sure enough, Zhou Lingyun returned ten minutes later. Only Bai Luoyin remained inside the supervisory control room. When Zhou Lingyun noticed the absence of that particular officer, he interrogated Bai Luoyin in a low voice, “Where’s the other person?” Bai Luoyin calmly replied, “He has fixed the machine. So, I allowed him to leave.” “Have I ever said that you can issue orders in my place?” Zhou Lingyun’s expression became even more somber. Bai Luoyin still maintained his calm and collected composure as he spoke, “I am not issuing orders in your place. I am issuing my own order.” Zhou Lingyun approached the machinery step by step. Scrutinizing it thoroughly, he found all the malfunctions to have been eliminated. “Was he really the one that fixed it?” Zhou Lingyun asked. Bai Luoyin did not utter a single word. “Even if he did freeze into an ice sculpture from the water I poured on him, it would still be impossible for him to have properly fixed this machine in such a short time.” Zhou Lingyun’s tone was very certain as if he understood the capabilities of this soldier better than Bai Luoyin.
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Bai Luoyin parted his lips slightly, “Why?” “You still dare to ask while knowing the answer!” Zhou Lingyun sneered coldly, “If it was during a normal day, he would definitely have the capability to fix this machine. But under the current circumstances, don’t even think about it. It’s impossible for him to do it. He is one of the soldiers you trained— they only look good when they stand around. Not one of them is capable.” “Since you knew he couldn’t fix it, why must you impose such a harsh requirement?” Zhou Lingyun walked up in front of Bai Luoyin and stared straight into his eyes with a cold and sharp gaze. “I just wanted to mess with you.” At this moment Bai Luoyin finally realized the reason Zhou Lingyun had ordered the remaining officers away and only kept him behind. “Then go ahead and drench me with water.” Bai Luoyin indifferently accepted his fate. Zhou Lingyun merely snorted aloofly, “How could I punish a Major the same way I punish a platoon commander?” Both of Bai Luoyin’s fists were tightly clenched as he faced Zhou Lingyun with a dauntless expression streaking his face. But to his surprise, Zhou Lingyun merely sent him a faint smile before adeptly fishing out the cell phone from Bai Luoyin’s pocket. He closed his hand into a fist, raised his other hand slightly, and fiercely struck the cell phone. Bai Luoyin witnessed the terrifying scene of his phone screen being smashed into pieces. “If your heart is not calm, you will never succeed in becoming a great man!”77 With that, Zhou Lingyun shoved the broken phone back into Bai Luoyin’s hand and walked out of the room. Bai Luoyin grasped the sweltering remains of his cell phone. Nevertheless, his heart was overflowing with frosty ice.
Translate: Sienna | Edits: BambiKill5 & Nancy & Sae
心不静,难成大器 - “If your heart is not calm, you will never succeed in becoming a great man!” Optional translation: “You will never become a great man with that kind of unstable heart!”
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34 When Da Hai talks about Yin Zi
Gu Hai only took Yan Yajing with him on this business trip. By the time they got off the plane, the night had already fallen into darkness. When arriving at the hotel after being dropped off by the pick-up personnel, they discovered that they had been arranged to stay in a couples’ luxury suite. One could hardly blame other people for misinterpreting things since no matter where they went, they would always look like an attractive couple. After years of working closely together, this type of misunderstanding had happened countless times. The unspoken rule in upper-class society was that the best marries the best. Even though the engagement banquet had been ruined, in the eyes of outsiders, the possibility of the two getting married was an undebatable truth. The best way to break a rumor was to turn the rumor into reality. Unfortunately, this equation would never add up for Yan Yajing. This simply because Gu Hai’s heart was already completely filled by Bai Luoyin. There was only the tiniest space left to spare, and that he had given to the donkey sitting in his bag. Yes, he had brought his ‘son’ to Shenzhen. Yan Yajing felt somewhat speechless every time she saw that donkey. It was already quite late when they had checked in and unpacked their belongings, so they settled for having their dinner at the hotel. Sitting across from Gu Hai, Yan Yajing had a good view over him and immediately spotted the red mark on his neck. This was the mark left by Bai Luoyin before Gu Hai left for the trip.
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“Your girlfriend is quite possessive, right?” Yan Yajing suddenly asked. For a moment, Gu Hai looked blankly at her. “Girlfriend?” Yan Yajing pointed at Gu Hai’s neck, “Don’t tell me the mark on your neck was made by an insect?” A hint of smile immediately emerged on his face as soon as this topic was mentioned. Yan Yajing snorted, “It seems that she78 really bothered by the fact that you went on this business trip with me!” Gu Hai responded indifferently, “I never told him78 whom I was going with.” “Then she is definitely using this tactic to prevent other women from hitting on you.” Yan Yajing said with great certainty. Gu Hai retained a clueless expression. Seeing the look on Gu Hai’s face, Yan Yajing helplessly reminded him, “The mark she left on your neck, isn’t it to warn the woman who accompanied you on this trip that you are taken?! And that she shouldn’t even think about trying anything?” A light finally dawned on Gu Hai and his heart secretly rejoiced. So, it turns out, even Bai Luoyin has these kinds of little thoughts. Yan Yajing was speechless and felt deeply emotional. She could not understand how Gu Hai could be so sharp in the business field while being so slow-witted about relationship issues. Back in the days, it was his intelligence that she had admired dearly. She had thought that she didn’t need to spell her feelings out to him and that he would be able to understand how she felt. In the end, it turned out that she had been completely wrong. If she had comprehended this earlier and made a move sooner, then perhaps he would not have been snatched away by someone else? Gu Hai tried to call Bai Luoyin, but there was no answer. “Are you calling her?” Yan Yajing asked. Gu Hai nodded and said, “I couldn’t get through. I reckon he is still mad at me.” “Mad at you?” Yan Yajing’s beautiful eyes twinkled as she continued, “Why?” “I slapped him twice this afternoon.” Gu Hai’s gazes suddenly became very gentle. Yan Yajing expressed in astonishment, “You even hit her?” Gu Hai smiled indulgently, “He didn’t listen, so I had to hit him.” Of course, Yan Ya Ying knew Gu Hai had not actually struck ‘her’. She could not even imagine that someone with a personality such as Gu Hai’s, could ever treat his girlfriend in that kind of way. In her mind, if Gu Hai would be in a relationship, he would have the kind of love that placed reason above feelings. He would certainly not dote on his lover. But now that she had seen the look in his eyes, she began to doubt her own judgment. What kind of a woman is she? What type of magical power does she possess to have Gu Hai hiding her away safely? Whenever she is mentioned, she always seems to easily trigger and stir Gu Hai’s emotions. On one hand, Yan Yajing was jealous of her. On the other hand, she was strongly curious. “Is she the kind that is timid and lovable like a little bird in the care of her man?”79 Just by hearing these words, Gu Hai almost spat out the soup he just tried to drink. “Little bird? His bird is not small at all.” “… then, is she very innocent and simple-minded?” Yan Yajing continued to probe. 她 she/her- 他 he/him; both words have the same pronunciation in Chinese. “Ta”. So, it’s impossible to know what gender a person is referring to just by hearing it. Yan Ya Jing thinks, Gu Hai was talking about a “girl” since he never mentioned BLY’s name. 79 小鳥依人 – Idiom: A little bird relying on people. Describes a girl who is cute, innocent, timid, and lovable who rely on and listen to her man. “鳥” – Bird, is also a slang for penis in Chinese. 78
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“Innocent and simple-minded?” another inexplicable laughter escaped Gu Hai’s mouth. “His mind is more wicked than anyone’s.” Yan Yajing supported her chin with one hand and looked at Gu Hai with narrowed eyes. “Then is she really gentle?” “Gentle?” Gu Hai rejected it again, “This word doesn’t describe him at all.” “Is she hardworking?” “He is lazier than anyone!” From the initial state of curiosity, Yan Yajing’s expression had gradually darkened and by now, she was at a lack for words. “But you must be attracted to her in some way or another? How can it be that she doesn’t have any good qualities? “Who said he doesn’t have any good qualities?” Gu Hai didn’t like what he had just heard. Yan Yajing choked. “Then tell me, what are the good qualities?” “Everything I mentioned above, aren’t they all good qualities?” Gu Hai responded in a very serious manner. Yan Yajing “…” It was past 11 o’clock and Bai Luoyin’s cell phone was still unreachable. By then, Gu Hai had realized that something was wrong. Therefore, he called a few officers in the military and asked for their assistance to find out Bai Luoyin’s circumstances. “Their division is currently engaged in training.” “It’s already this late and they are still training?” Gu Hai’s brows knitted tightly. The officer on the other side of the line laughed helplessly. “Wasn’t Zhou Lingyun transferred to their division? He’s been busy reorganizing the division these last couple of days! You would probably have heard about this tough character? He has brought countless men down. It seems he didn’t waste any time… the night he arrived at the base, he assembled thousands of men and hounded them all night. He even called Bai Luoyin out and criticized him.” Gu Hai’s face immediately changed color. “Why did he criticize Bai Luoyin?” “It was said that Lao Zhou got all the soldiers and even the officers to urinate collectively on the training ground. It was only Bai Luoyin who didn’t pull his pants down. As a result, Lao Zhou commanded him to take them off in front of thousands of men.” “Did he do it?” Gu Hai asked with a darkened face. “Of course, he took them off!” The officer responded. Not realizing danger was in the air, he continued to cheerfully ridicule, “Would he have dared not to? If he hadn’t pulled them down, Lao Zhou would have directly gone and ripped them off! Hahaha…” In the past, the sound of sirens had merely represented different types of commands to the air force soldiers. But now, it had truly become the sound of terror. Although it was clear that some of the soldiers were sleep deprived to the point that their heads hung in dejection, they would still toss and turn in their beds, unable to completely fall asleep. The slightest sound or movement would instantly make their whole bodies break out in cold sweats. Not that Zhou Lingyun would have allowed them to have a decent sleep anyway. After hearing countless sirens blaring in their hallucinations, the real siren finally went off. Countless of the men had not even had the chance to shut their eyes during the past 24 hours but were still able to assemble in the training ground within the given time. “I just went around the dorms and I realized a lot of men seemed to have insomnia. Since you all appear to have trouble falling asleep, then let’s not waste time in bed. We have already
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warmed up and right now I am burning with eagerness to train. Perhaps you would want to conduct a battle with real ammunition?” When Zhou Lingyun uttered those words, silence prevailed over the training ground. “Are you all excited to the point of speechlessness?” Zhou Lingyun smiled in satisfaction. “Let us officially begin then!” With just one command, a magnificent army of thousands rushed northwest, toward the great Gobi Desert.80 The air force soldiers, that had not gotten any rest whatsoever during the past day and night, now had to reach their assigned destination overnight. Meanwhile, they had to ensure that all obstructions, pursuit, and interception were eliminated and broken through. Zhou Lingyun had set up his ambush long ago. He wanted to see how capable these arrogant soldiers were since they dared to display unwillingness on their faces upon his command. At first, the officers and soldiers were all fatigued and drowsy, but facing this lethal combat, they had no choice but to gather up their spirit. The obstacles became harder and harder to break through, the opponents became more and more powerful. The slightest lapse of concentration could make them end up crashing their fighter jets into the desolated and uninhabited desert. No one dared to play with their lives as if it was a joke. No one dared to disregard the glory of their squadron. The morale of the soldiers soared when the enemies consecutively went into retreat. Right at this moment, apart from obeying to commands, they wanted to show Zhou Lingyun: We are far from the cowards you regard us to be. Every fighter jet has a double cockpit with two pilots teaming up— one person is responsible for navigation while the other is responsible for instructions and command. Bai Luoyin’s fighter jet was no exception. Unfortunately, his teammate was Zhou Lingyun. This meant he was alone in combat since Zhou Lingyun, who was beside him, snored contently from the moment he got into the aircraft. Bai Luoyin truly wanted to kick him out of the window. Zhou Lingyun let out a laugh in his sleep as if he had guessed Bai Luoyin’s thoughts. About seven to eight hours later, just as the fierce air combat entered into the hinterland of the Gobi Desert, they suddenly encountered a powerful electromagnetic interference. That, combined with a lack of concentration caused by extreme fatigue, considerably lessened the accuracy of their counterattacks. Numerous top performing soldiers, who under normal circumstances were able to hit the target on every shot—all repeatedly failed at this crucial moment. Just a while ago, the formation of Warhawk81 had been united and the morale of the pilots exalted. But in mere minutes, they all were completely defeated in a hideous mess. With no other choice, all the fighter jets had to prepare for forced landing. Failure, unwillingness, fatigue, grievances… every possible negative emotion invaded their hearts. When the instructors got out of the fighter jets, many of their faces were covered in tears. A huge force of cold air swallowed Bai Luoyin as he got out of the fighter jet, he even had difficulties to breathe. The location was at over four thousand meters above sea level and the Gobi Desert - is a vast, arid region in northern China and southern Mongolia. It's known for its dunes, mountains and rare animals such as snow leopards and Bactrian camels. The Gobi Desert is the 5th largest desert in the world by area. 81 戰鷹編隊: Warhawk planes in formation; see image below 80
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temperature crept below minus 30 degree Celsius. And he was only wearing a single layer, a woolen sweater, underneath his pilot uniform.
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35 Breaking the Body’s Limits
It seems all of us will have to pitch camp here… Bai Luoyin secretly thought. Since Zhou Lingyun had taken the troops out, it was certain that he had fully grasped the urgency of their failure. That being the case, it was also a certainty that he would not arrange for them to train in the service facilities on base. His only intention was to exhaust their so-called ‘evil tendencies’ to the maximum in order to make them completely obedient to his commands. When Bai Luoyin was controlling his aircraft just a moment ago, his hands had suffered some small injuries. While he was still in the cockpit, the wounds were bleeding profusely, but by the time he stepped out after completing all his tasks, the blood had already congealed. He carefully checked on the soldiers, fortunately, none were critically injured. However, several were severely damaged, and repairing them could turn out a bit troublesome. Just as he was checking the inventory and count the number of soldiers’ present, a figure that caused his chest to tighten emerged into his line of sight. What’s going on? Why is Liu Chong here? When the list of names for this training session was reported, his name was purposely excluded! Bai Luoyin hastily rushed toward him. “Liu Chong!” Hearing Bai Luoyin’s voice, Liu Chong immediately swung his body around as a hint of surprise and joy unfurled across his youthful face. “Major, I have been looking for you this whole
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time! When I saw your fighter aircraft being fiercely attacked by the enemy, I was really worried that something might happen to you!” You’re still worrying about me? Bai Luoyin did not know whether he should be moved or curse in anger. “Why are you also here? Who approved of you being here?” “Wing Commander Zhou. He was the one who ordered me to come here,” Liu Chong explained proudly. “He believed that I could overcome my physical difficulties and complete this training mission.” He saw through your eagerness and deliberately set you up! Looking at him, Bai Luoyin did not have the heart to destroy Liu Chong’s enthusiasm and instead opted to not say anything. He simply touched Liu Chong’s head and calmly spoke in a low tone. “By all means: take notice of your health. This place is not like the base and the temperature is very low. If possible, stay in the tent and avoid going out.” Just as he finished, the whistle sounded to notify the battalion commanders for a meeting. Needless to say, the meeting was set up to summarize the failure of their recent training. Zhou Lingyun looked calm, yet his keen eyes scrutinized all the officers and commanders before him. However, as his gaze swept by Bai Luoyin, there was a trace of complacency riding his expression. “Commander, could it be that the inadequate performance of our weapons was due to the electromagnetic interference being too massive?” Three battalion commanders asked hesitantly. Zhou Lingyun angrily shouted, “Don’t blame it on dysfunctional weapons, you guys are just incompetent!” As those words spread throughout the room, no one dared to express any more opinions. Zhou Lingyun’s gaze shifted back toward Bai Luoyin. “What do you think? Don’t you like to challenge my authority? I want to see what kind of excuses you can make up this time!” To everyone’s surprise, Bai Luoyin just calmly said, “I have no comment. I am completely in favor of your evaluations, we are indeed lacking in our skills.” Zhou Lingyun could see the immense energy and talent hidden in Bai Luoyin’s eyes. It had the kind of intrinsic quality that he had not seen in a long time. For someone like Zhou Lingyun, who loves and appreciates talent as he does life, Bai Luoyin’s appearance undoubtedly had provoked a formidable struggle in him. By this time, the hidden desire in his heart was roaring. “I will repeat it once more. Discard all the records of your previous achievements. I would rather see you accomplish a 10% success rate under these kinds of circumstances than never being able to reach a 100% score in optimal conditions!” Shortly after, the meeting concluded and aside from Bai Luoyin, the rest of the battalion commanders took their leave. “Why did you allow Liu Chong to come to this kind of place?” Bai Luoyin asked. “I did not allow him to come here.” Zhou Lingyun said rather indifferently. “You guys were the ones that forbade him from coming. Also, I did not invite him here. Do you understand? I only gave him an opportunity to decide for himself.” “If you did not provoke him, would he have made this kind of rash decision?” Bai Luoyin’s voice revealed a deep sense of dissatisfaction. “Impudent fool!”82 Zhou Lingyun roared. “Is provocation a word you can use with me? What qualifications do you have to challenge me? There are only orders here, not friendship! Discard this obnoxious behavior of yours, otherwise—don’t expect to keep your mouth!” Standing not too far away, the soldiers on the scene witnessed with concern the unjust admonition Bai Luoyin suffered under the hand of their overbearing superior. 82
Impudent Fool! (胡闹 húnào) – to act willfully and make a scene/cause trouble
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Bai Luoyin remained persistent in his views, “I did not say those words for the sake of friendship. It is in the interest of the Army! Liu Chong is a rare talent. You set him up in this cold place while knowing full well that he is still in recovery. You know, it is highly possible that he will suffer lifelong disability. Is this your way of training your troops? Or could it be that your motive for training everyone is not to make them strong but rather to destroy them completely?” Zhou Lingyun’s heavy hand firmly struck Bai Luoyin’s head before he said, word by word: “Our troops will not train useless people!” Bai Luoyin stiffened as his lips tightly pursed. Then Zhou Lingyun’s hand shifted slowly from the top of Bai Luoyin head to the side of his lips before he ruthlessly twisted his mouth, and derisively yelled, “Control your mouth!” Not having drunk any water for an entire day, Bai Luoyin could feel that his lips were already dry. Adding to that the frigid environment and Zhou Lingyun’s harsh action, countless wisps of blood started to seep from his lips. Soon after, Zhou Lingyun announced in front of the officers and soldiers, “Deputy Battalion Commander Bai Luoyin has openly disobeyed his superior’s direct command. He is to have no food for a day and must climb 100 trees as punishment. I hope that the lot of you will see this as a warning!” All the officers and soldiers on the scene were secretly frightened for Bai Luoyin. In their memory, ever since Bai Luoyin arrived in the Army, he had never received any disciplinary actions. Aside from his outstanding performances, he also had backing from Gu Weiting. Therefore, in regard to problems concerning Bai Luoyin, many superiors would take this into consideration. Zhou Lingyun spat out a few more words, “Every one of you must remember, I will not give anyone special privileges! Even if you were the son of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, you will still be punished according to the same disciplinary rules!” Bai Luoyin’s body stiffened while he remained silent and kept an air of indifference. Then, under everyone’s attentive gazes, he started to walk toward the forest packed with poplar trees. For all one hundred trees, he must climb to the very top, climb back down—then move on to the next tree without resting. Bai Luoyin’s exposed skin was ruthlessly assaulted by the bone-chilling wind and the sand that blew in from the vast desert that stretched as far as the eye could see. The rough surface of the tree abraded his hands and created blisters of blood that, when they ruptured, smeared the bark with blood as it pressed into his wounds. After climbing thirty trees, Bai Luoyin’s physical strength was already nearing complete exhaustion. However, never one to back down, he firmly gritted his teeth and kept on going, not even once letting his pace slacken. He was adamant to fight on and complete the mission in the shortest amount of time possible, then return to their tent and embrace Liu Chong as to help him safely pass through the remaining three hours of this night. Meanwhile, Zhou Lingyun was sitting inside his tent, appearing as though he was leisurely smoking a cigarette. But in reality, he was secretly counting the time and determining Bai Luoyin’s level of tolerance. Once he finally climbed down the one-hundredth tree, both of Bai Luoyin’s legs had already gone weak from exertion. His body had braved the scathing heat that came from constantly moving. Large beads of sweat had already formed and collected at the cuff of his shirt. His sense of balance had also been diminished, causing him to stagger as he walked toward Zhou Lingyun’s quarters. When Zhou Lingyun saw Bai Luoyin approaching, he deliberately closed his eyes and pretended to be fast asleep.
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Bai Luoyin took position outside of the tent. Then, with much difficulty, he took two deep breaths and loudly shouted: “Wing Commander, I have finished climbing a hundred trees.” Hearing no response whatsoever, Bai Luoyin repeated his report several more times, knowing full well that Zhou Lingyun was definitely not asleep. After a very long while, Zhou Lingyun’s voice finally sounded from the inside. “If I did not see it, it does not count. Go back and climb all over again.” Bai Luoyin clenched his fists tightly until his knuckles cracked. Zhou Lingyun yawned and emerged from the tent with a rather lazy look in his eyes before he scrutinized Bai Luoyin. “Is there a problem?” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin simply looked Zhou Lingyun with a blank expression. Then he shook his head left and right as if it was screwed on with rusty nails. Zhou Lingyun’s judgment was very accurate. Bai Luoyin’s tolerance for pain far surpassed that needed to climb one hundred trees. Even while he climbed for the second time, he was still able to maintain a relatively quick and nimble tempo. His hidden potential was tremendous; it was just that no one had ever dared to push him to his limits. After having climbed more than ninety trees, Bai Luoyin was no longer able to leap up smoothly, nor grasp the tree trunks firmly. Unable to control his weakened hands, he would slip back down several times, the trunk grazing his chin until it was bleeding. Once he reached the top, he would climb back down, however, the key to spare himself some effort was to directly fall down. Every time Bai Luoyin dropped down from the top was the only time he could take a breather. After having climbed a hundred more trees, Bai Luoyin only had one feeling. If he were to climb another tree, he would definitely die. However, just as fast as that thought surfaced, it faded the moment Zhou Lingyun pointed to a thick and solid poplar tree and said, “If you can climb up and come down in ten seconds, I will let you go. If not, you can climb another hundred.” “That’s impossible!” Bai Luoyin said as his throat choked up in blood. Even after seeing that, Zhou Lingyun’s expression did not change in the slightest as he stretched his finger out and started to count down with a menacing tone. “One, two, three…” Bai Luoyin frantically jumped on the tree. His mind was completely blank, except for that one goal: the tree top. There was only one sound in his ear: five… six… seven… eight… nine… Just as Bai Luoyin reached the top, a loud and thunderous bang went off inside his head. His hands released their grip, and as a strong gust of wind flew by his ears, he fell into a pair of warm arms. The corners of Zhou Lingyun’s lips perked up as he unhurriedly shouted, “Ten…” When he lowered his head to look, the person he held in his arms had already fallen asleep. As three dreadful three days passed by, not a single soldier suffered from insomnia anymore. Now, at nearly any given place and at any given time, they were able to fall asleep. But once the alarm sounded, they were all well-trained to rush toward the “battlefield”. The result of this rigorous and torturous training caused the look in everyone’s eyes to become less expressive, and more unafraid in the eye of their adversary. When they climbed into their fighter, they were passionate and worked up for combat. The environment in the Gobi plateau was plagued by danger that far exceeded what the soldiers could have ever imagined. In the three days that they were there, everyone changed from their usual dignified, confident and easygoing selves, into a completely battered and exhausted state.
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Not only were their hands and feet covered with frostbite and blisters, but the skin on their faces was dry and covered with cuts and bruises. Simply put, they had all been driven to the point of looking like a group of refugees from a famine-stricken region. Except for regular training time, Bai Luoyin accompanied Liu Chong at all other times. What Zhou Lingyun required from Liu Chong was the same as for the other soldiers, so even if he had to jump on one leg, he still had to keep up with the troops. If it had not been for Bai Luoyin, he would have lost his life already. Every night, Bai Luoyin slept in the same tent as Liu Chong and hugged him to sleep. This was done to keep Liu Chong’s body temperature at a constant degree as to avoid his injury having any repercussions. Since the day he came back from climbing the trees, Bai Luoyin’s once persistently cold hands and feet had been cured. Liu Chong felt like he was sleeping next to a heated stove. Bai Luoyin’s body would emit a strange heat that sometimes would wake him up, thinking that it was Gu Hai who was hugging him. As a result, every time he slept, he would mumble to himself in a daze and deliriously rave, “Don’t hug me so tight… don’t hug me so tightly…” During those moments, Bai Luoyin hugged Liu Chong too snugly which caused him to sweat profusely. Every time he wanted to move a bit, he found it impossible and, in the end, he still had to endure Bai Luoyin’s complaints.
Translate: Sae | Edit: BambiKill5
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36 I Might be Dying!
As the somber clouds cloaked the great Gobi Desert, lifelessness reigned the entire place. The vast red earth stretched for thousands of kilometers and the atmosphere was densely shrouded by a horrific dark haze. After endless days and nights of dead silence, the sound of explosions disseminated from the sky. The muffled thunders and plumes of vermillion smoke breaking through the clouds was the prelude to ‘War’. It was a fierce combat that would rewrite history. The Air Force and the Marine aviation embattled the empyreal; the tanks from the Ground Forces ran unhindered across the mighty desert; the Artillery unit’s guided missile launchers were aimed high into the blue skies… From all over the nation, elites from different armed forces congregated in the desert and staged a magnificent theatrical drama of the modern era: ‘War’. Bai Luoyin was unsure of where all those soldiers had encamped in the past few days, but what he was quite sure of, was the price he had had to pay in order to make it to where he was. He was fortunate. At least, he had made it to the battlefield, unlike the thousands of men left behind. Standing in the snow, they were holding back their tears as they raised their blistered and wounded hands in salute to see off the comrades that had been chosen. After only ten short days of training, all of them appeared to have been remolded and become new men. When Bai Luoyin spoke of his subordinates, he no longer displayed the exasperated expression that was usually evoked by them failing to meet his expectations. He had already made
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up his mind that when they would return to the base, he would solemnly declare this to each and every one of them: “You are all outstanding!” Before Bai Luoyin climbed into his fighter jet, he secretly said to Gu Hai: “You have to bless and protect me. Bless me so that I can win this battle! I want to show my strength to that psychotic Lao Zhou and also make Gu-laoye83 see me in a whole new light!” All division commanders from the participating armed forces had gathered in the supervisory control room. The top Shouzhang, who was throned in the center of the room, was Gu Weiting, who had taken time out of his busy schedule to witness the battle. At that place, thousands of kilometers outside central China, the air combat commenced as two fighter jets staged an intense and ferocious battle in the sky and carried out a series of attacks. The deluge of smoke from the ammunition had yet to disperse when bombers84 took off to join the battle. As they traversed the war zone, their whistling sounds resonated throughout the atmosphere. Meanwhile, in the depth of the great Gobi Desert, the opponents were in a position to sabotage. The Electronic Warfare Division85 had discharged its full electromagnetic spectrum for an interception. Radar Units had uncoiled a net of infrared interference in the sky. Ground-to-air Force had aimed their missiles and were ready to launch. Zhou Lingyun sat in the control room, anxiously staring at the large screen—his stone-cold expression long since removed. Before his eyes, the stream of data transmitted from the flight recorder86 turned into a series of dazzling characters that poured over the screen like a waterfall, forming tables and charts. Bai Luoyin’s fighter jet was like a fire-breathing dragon piercing straight through the vault of heaven, hauling a silvery white plume of smoke. In the blink of an eye, the ‘fiery dragon’ turned into a blazing shooting star as it soared scorching across the skies, viciously roaring as it charged toward the enemies that had been surreptitiously veiled by the gloomy clouds. As he aimed and vigorously shot at his opponents, one by one, they plummeted to their destruction… Witnessing this epic fight, a burst of cheer reverberated through the control room. “Who is this guy?” A Chief of Staff blurted out. Complacency emerged in Zhou Lingyun’s eyes. “My subordinate, Bai Luoyin!” “How old is he this year?” The Chief asked again. Zhou Lingyun made gestures with his fingers, stating twenty-six. The Chief exclaimed in astonishment, “His future has no limits!” Gu Weiting’s gaze turned to the large screen as the corners of his lips perked up. 老爺: lǎoyé – A title to address an elderly person or the man of the house. 轟炸機: Bomber; is a combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping bombs ... aircraft categories: light bombers, medium bombers, dive bombers, interdictors, fighter-bombers, attack aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, and others. Since the novel didn’t specify which sort it is, I’ve just included a couple of the pictures as examples. 85 電子對抗部隊 - Electronic warfare division: is responsible for electronic counter reconnaissance and electronic interference tasks, revolving mainly around the electromagnetic spectrum. Through search and interception of the enemy's electronic equipment signal, the relevant technical parameters are identified. This enables deployment of interference with the normal functions of the enemy’s equipment, so that its command system fails, weapons go out of control, and so on. 86 Groups of data/records: CJD is talking about the “black box” from planes. However, the term "black box" is almost never used within the flight safety industry or aviation. The preferred term is "flight recorder". The recorders are not permitted to be black in color, and must be bright orange, as they are intended to be spotted and recovered after incidents. The flight recorder is made up of two separate pieces of equipment: the flight data recorder (FDR) and a cockpit voice recorder (CVR). 83 84
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All the enemy fighter jets were defeated by the skilled pilots keeping a precise flight formation under Bai Luoyin’s leadership and command. They achieved an overwhelming victory in the first round of battle. Tens of thousands of meters high up in the sky, Bai Luoyin suddenly had the urge to wave his arms and scream out. “Dad, are you seeing this? Our family's fortune is changing for the better!” Right at that moment, disaster struck. Bai Luoyin’s cockpit canopy suddenly exploded, and a strong gust of turbulence rigidly crushed him down on the ejection seat. Without the protection of the glass shield, he was instantly engulfed by the violent air flows of the high altitude. In the midst of a bone-piercing turmoil and being exposed to a temperature that crept below minus 40 degrees Celsius, his hands froze in mere seconds. Zhou Lingyun’s face changed color while he watched the large screen with bloodshot eyes. Kid! Nothing must happen to you! An instructor got into contact with Bai Luoyin via the radio frequency channel, then repeatedly commanded him to evacuate by parachute dive. The chilly wind had stiffened every inch of Bai Luoyin’s body and even though it was hard to withstand, he persistently continued to navigate the aircraft. He had poured his heart and soul into modifying the new model fighter as if it was his child. Therefore, no matter what, it was vital that he brought it back to the ground safely. With this in mind, Bai Luoyin pulled back on the throttle and adjusted the ejection seat lower to reduce the turbulence invasion. Then he took off his pilot goggles and changed the radio frequency channel in an orderly manner… Right then, Bai Luoyin suddenly felt inexplicable gratitude toward Zhou Lingyun. If it had not been for his harsh training, he wouldn’t stand a chance, even if the temperature had been 20 below zero, rather than 40. Officers and instructors in the supervisory control room all broke into a cold sweat over Bai Luoyin’s predicament. At that stage, Gu Wei Jing was already standing up, his eyes revealing ceaseless anxiety and worry. 10.000 meters… 5.000 meters… 2.000 meters… By then, Bai Luoyin was able to clearly see the ground. In the control room, Zhou Lingyun held his breath while watching the events unfold on the screen. But in the end, Bai Luoyin managed to steadily land his fighter jet on the ground. As soon as Bai Luoyin walked out of the cockpit, he was surrounded by a bunch of soldiers. Zhou Lingyun was walking toward him with a huge smile on his face, beaming with joy. It was an expression that Bai Luoyin had never seen before. During the few seconds when he was still dumbfounded, his feet were suddenly swept off the ground and his body thrown up into the air before falling back down into a certain someone’s embrace. “Hahaha…” Zhou Lingyun allowed a peal of loud laughter to freely escape his vocal cords, his eyes were overflowing with endless pride. It was only when the short celebration had ended, that Bai Luoyin realized he had no strength left in his leg. When he looked down, he found that his pants were covered in blood, and when he tried to take a step, a gust of sharp pain invaded him. “What’s wrong?” Zhou Lingyun asked as he tensed up. Bai Luoyin waved his hand, “It’s nothing. I seem to have gotten some minor injuries.” Zhou Lingyun lowered his head for a look, but his thick brows instantly knitted instead. “You call these minor injuries? Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
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Even in his current condition, Bai Luoyin didn’t forget to mock Zhou Lingyun. “Is it necessary to go to the hospital for such minor injuries?” “That mouth of yours, does it not hurt anymore?” After threatening him, Zhou Lingyun immediately threw him over his shoulder and carried him toward a helicopter. Since Bai Luoyin got injured during an act of valor, he had the pleasure of experiencing a special treatment. He was able to return to Beijing ahead of schedule and had been arranged to stay at the Air Force General Hospital to receive treatment. It was indeed a blessing in disguise for Bai Luoyin. What made him happy was not his meritorious achievement, nor the glory he received. But rather, it was because Zhou Lingyun had informed him that he would be away for the next six days, attending several meetings. It was mainly to discuss all the issues found during this battle campaign. That meant that Bai Luoyin would have six days of freedom. He could finally do as he pleased and contact Gu Hai. With this in mind, his heart blossomed with beautiful emotions. Bai Luoyin decided that once all the visitors had taken their leave, he would give Gu Hai a call. To his surprise, there was an endless sea of people coming and going to his room from the moment he was admitted into the hospital in the afternoon, until nightfall. Gu Weiting was the first to visit him. Oddly enough, he even said some very rare words of concern. To make things slightly more awkward, he also lightly touched Bai Luoyin’s ankle. “Does it hurt?” Bai Luoyin shook his head and smiled, “These are only minor injuries, it’s not a big deal.” Gu Weiting smiled as well. “You’re all grown up now!” Once he saw Gu Weiting’s figure disappear out the door, Bai Luoyin was about to pick up the phone, but then a few Regimental Commanders and Battalion Commanders arrived. “How are you? What did the doctor say? There aren’t any major injuries to your leg, right? Will it hinder your flying later?” The Commanders enquired, scrambling over each other when rushing to the fore. Bai Luoyin had never received such extreme attention before. Seeing each and every one of them panicking like this, he hastily went on to appease their hearts. “My ankle only suffered a minor bone fracture and some scratches. It may look nasty, but it’s really nothing!” After the Commanders had left, Bai Luoyin didn’t have the chance to pick up the phone before there was a knocking sound yet again. With his eyes red, Liu Chong hobbled into the room and looked attentively at Bai Luoyin for a good while. Although his lips were moving, the words he wanted to say remained stuck in his throat. No longer able to hold back the sobs that were threatening to burst out, he rested his head on the side of Bai Luoyin’s bed and wailed. Shit! This kid is even harder to get rid of. Bai Luoyin patted Liu Chong’s back. “Are you a man or not? If you’re a man, then get up, wipe your tears and speak properly!” Hearing that, Liu Chong forcefully held back his tears, then stood up straight as a statue. Bai Luoyin felt a bit bad seeing him like that, so he slightly softened the tone of his voice. “Just a moment ago, Wing commander Zhou said that you have great potential and told me to train you well.” “Really?” Liu Chong’s eyes shone with excitement.
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Bai Luoyin nodded. Liu Chong’s expression, that had only just gotten lighter, suddenly became intricate again. “If it weren’t for you, I probably would have been abandoned.” Bai Luoyin’s brows knitted together as he spoke, “It’s okay, stop being so sentimental. Even if your leader had been someone else—he, too, would show solicitude for his soldiers!” “I know…” Warm tears welled up in Liu Chong’s eyes. “Major, you took care of me the entire time I was injured. Now that you are injured, I cannot abandon you. I am going to look after you 24 hours a day, too!” Bai Luoyin, “…” I don’t know what to say anymore, how come this kid is so… lacking in judgment? “Here, look at it!” Bai Luoyin stretched out his injured leg and swayed it from side to side in front of Liu Chong. His movement was very natural and unrestrained. “See? The severity of my injury is much lighter compared to yours. I don’t need anyone to look after me.” “But…” “But what?” Bai Luoyin interrupted Liu Chong and questioned him overbearingly, “Are you looking down on your Major?” Liu Chong hastily shook his head. “Then, hurry up and leave, I’m going to sleep!” Bai Luoyin immediately reached for the phone as soon as Liu Chong left. “Hello?” Gu Hai’s voice sailed through the phone. Bai Luoyin remained silent for a while before he started speaking. His voice, that just a moment ago had been bold and loud, suddenly turned hoarse. “Da Hai, I might be dying.” “What?” Gu Hai was clearly taken aback. “Yin Zi, is that you? What happened to you?” Bai Luoyin deliberately weakened his grip and allowed the phone to fall onto the floor. The only sound remaining was of Gu Hai anxiously calling out to him.
Translate: Nancy | Edits: BambiKill5 & Sae
Talking about ‘flight recorder’ the literal translation below: 九天: Lit Trans Nine Skies/Days: it's a Chinese myth and legend concept of heaven, there are nine levels of heaven with nine been the highest level. On the highest level, you will find The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. (Taishang Laojun 太上老君) Speaking of other things, nine skies is 九霄 in Chinese. If one traces the character 霄 ( xiao) to its origin, one finds the meaning of clouds. The top part of the character is the character for rain 雨, and is used in almost all words related to the weather like snow 雪, hail 雹, fog 雾 and frost 霜. Therefore one can translate it as nine kinds of weather or nine kinds of clouds. The inner meaning relates to nine different kinds of moods or passions that veil the original spirit, like the clouds blocking out sunshine. Nine is also the largest figure in the singular number, so it means "limitless". So, this refers to Nine skies, as they are limitlessly and extremely high.
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Nancy: I really wanted to use “Nine Realms” instead of Nine Skies, but it refers to Norse mythology (not quite Chinese lol). Bambi: I’m the Nordic one, I’ll keep the Norse stuff, you can use the Chinese ;D (Nancy has watched “Thor” too much!) Nancy: I love Thor! ^^ Sae: I need to sleep.
Bomber:
Ground to Air Missile
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37 More Capable than Ever
Late at night, Gu Hai knocked on Yan Yajing’s door. Yan Yajing had just finished taking a shower and as she was blow-drying her hair, she heard a knock on the door, which caused her to jolt in surprise. What does he want at this time of night? Although Yan Yajing was flabbergasted, she could not help but hold on to that tiny bit of hope. Even if he only came and stayed for a while, it would still be good. When the door was opened, Yan Yajing’s fair and beautiful complexion was matched with a light purple nightgown that was casually tied around her tiny waist, revealing her slim and elegant figure. A faint fragrance exuded from her body and pervaded the hazy lit room, emitting a fatally enticing aura. Normally, when a man is faced with such a scene, anything of importance would surely be tossed to the back of his mind. Unfortunately for Yan Yajing, Gu Hai’s pair of eyes had been trained to pay no heed to such things. Aside from Bai Luoyin, anyone that would pass him by was just a person with a nose and two eyes and nothing else. “I have to go back first, something urgent came up!” Yan Yajing’s eyes widened slightly as she stared at him in disbelief. “You’re leaving right now? We have an important meeting tomorrow!” “I don't have time for that. I am sure you can deal with it if something comes up!” After he finished speaking, he quickly turned and went toward the elevator.
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As Yan Yajing watched Gu Hai’s back disappear from her sight, she was at a loss for words. How can this person change so much in such a short span of time? Two days ago, he spoke with great confidence and was adamant that he would win this business venture at any cost since it concerned the company’s future development. He said that all other matters would need to be put aside, and even went as far as to say that if he wasn’t able to snatch this project, the latter half of his life would be wasted. But in the end, it seems that something else was able to vanquish his grand intentions in the blink of an eye. As expected, a man in love cannot be depended on… With those thoughts swirling in her head, Yan Yajing bitterly closed the door. Bai Luoyin had the blanket wrapped around his body while he comfortably lay on the bed. The exhaustion that had accumulated during all those harsh days of training made him feel as if all the bones in his body were falling apart. From being a tough and unyielding soldier on the battlefield, he had turned into a wounded person hanging on to a cliff for dear life. He began to imagine the intense and worried expression that would afflict Gu Hai as he pushed fiercely through the door. The more he thought about it, the more his heart and mind felt at ease, and the bitter hardships that he had suffered for the past few days were instantly cured. Eight years ago, he had never felt dependency on this person. But after experiencing eight extremely difficult years of endless challenges and restlessness, he had fully grasped the cruelty of human nature. Now, he had come to realize how rare and precious it was to be able to have someone at his side who was wholeheartedly devoted to treating him well. Hearing the door creak slightly, Bai Luoyin’s nerves jolted as he slowly turned his eyes toward the door only to see a figure cloaked in white move into his line of sight. “It’s time to change your bandages,” the nurse said gently. Bai Luoyin raised the bed and leaned against the headboard before conscientiously stretching his foot out. When he noticed the large roll of gauze on the nurse’s tray, he could not help but stare at it until his eyes looked as though they were a pair of shiny orbs. “I’ll do it myself!” Bai Luoyin exclaimed before reaching out for the roll. The nurse looked up at him in surprise, “Yourself? How can you do it yourself?” “Why wouldn't I be able to?” Bai Luoyin put on a heroic face: “Being in the military, we often sustain injuries during training, and we have to know how to bandage up and take care of ourselves. These are fundamental skills that we must master.” “That doesn't mean anything here,” the nurse replied with a stubborn expression. “Since you are here, you are a patient. As a patient, you must let us take care of you.” Giving her a glance, Bai Luoyin toughened up his expression. “I have mysophobia, so I don’t like other people touching me.” “I am wearing sterilized gloves!” The nurse waved her hands. Now aware that she was not going to back down, Bai Luoyin looked squarely at her and extended his hand. “Let me see.” When the nurse held out her hands, Bai Luoyin immediately removed the gloves and confiscated them for himself. “What do you think you are doing?” The nurse asked, startled by his sudden action. Without answering her, Bai Luoyin wore the gloves and skillfully undid the gauze. First, he used some disinfectant, then applied the liquid medicine evenly on the wound. Just as he was almost done applying the medicine, he saw the cautious look on the nurse’s face, “Are you relieved now? It’s fine, you can leave! I will praise you when I see your director later.” Hearing those words, an elegant smile blossomed on the nurse’s face before she turned around and left the room.
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After Bai Luoyin finished bandaging his foot, he used the remaining gauze to wrap every part of his body that could be wrapped. In just a few minutes, the entire roll was gone, without a bit of it wasted. Then he covered himself with the blanket and quietly waited for Gu Hai to arrive. As soon as Gu Hai set foot in the hospital, he asked the doctor on duty which room Bai Luoyin was in before rushing toward it at the speed of light. Bai Luoyin squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on the sound of his own pounding heart, while he listened to the sound of heavy footsteps getting closer and closer to his room. Gu Hai pushed the door open but froze up before he could even step inside the room. There was not a chance Gu Hai would have recognized him if it wasn't for the name tag hanging at the foot of the bed. In just the short span of ten days, the dashing and confident military officer had completely changed into resembling a corpse. Even his perfectly sculptured small face, once full of life, had all at once aged. Without even having seen the gauze on Bai Luoyin’s body yet, his facial injuries alone made Gu Hai feel as though his heart was being carved into pieces. He quietly walked toward the side of the bed and lightly caressed Bai Luoyin’s face, softly calling out, “… Yin Zi?” When Bai Luoyin opened his eyes and saw Gu Hai’s handsome face in such close proximity to his, he froze. For the past few days, his vision had been painted with nothing but the hungerstricken faces of his comrades. Now that he was able to look at that striking face that belonged only to him, he suddenly felt that Gu Hai’s handsomeness was of the kind that made it impossible for anyone to dare look at it directly. The moment Gu Hai saw Bai Luoyin’s lifeless eyes, he thought that he had suffered a great grievance, and he became speechless. “Yin Zi, it’s all right. I’m here now. No matter how serious your injuries are, everything will definitely get better.” Bai Luoyin moved his chapped lips, yet nothing came out of his mouth. “You don’t have to say anything, I understand,” Gu Hai said with sorrow in his voice. Hearing those comforting words, Bai Luoyin reached his hand out to hold Gu Hai’s. Gu Hai’s eyes widened slightly as he lowered them. It felt like the tattered pieces of his already torn up heart were being smashed with a heavy object once he saw the condition Bai Luoyin’s hands were in. He wished he hadn’t looked. Before, Bai Luoyin’s hands had just been a little rough and the nails a bit warped, but now they were completely riddled with gaping wounds. “Wait for me. I have to go out for a second.” In the dimly lit room, Gu Hai’s face could not be seen clearly. Bai Luoyin’s chest tightened. Thinking that Gu Hai was going to go ask the doctor about his condition, he quickly pulled Gu Hai’s hand to stop him. “Don’t go, stay with me.” Even though Gu Hai could feel the strength in Bai Luoyin’s hands, he did not doubt the severity of his injuries. Instead, he simply thought that BLY wanted him to stay by his side. “It’s okay, I’m just going to the bathroom.” “There’s a bathroom in this room, right there.” Bai Luoyin said as he pointed his finger. Once he to reassure Bai Luoyin, Gu Hai went to the bathroom to wash his face. He would never have expected that even after eight years, at the age of 26— the pain of seeing Bai Luoyin in this kind of beaten shape would still be so tremendous that it made tears cascade uncontrollably down his face. However, aside from silently cursing out ‘motherfucker’ on Bai Luoyin’s behalf, there was nothing else he could do. Gu Hai could not control his emotions one single bit. From the second he heard Bai Luoyin’s withering voice, to the moment he stepped into the room and saw the state he was in—his heart had been relentlessly battered, tortured and torn to pieces.
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After quite some time had passed and Gu Hai still hadn’t come out from the bathroom, Bai Luoyin knew something was up and couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt. If only he had realized earlier that Gu Hai would react like this, he would have not pretended that his injuries were so severe. In reality, he merely had a fractured ankle. However, in Gu Hai’s eyes, that alone was more than enough for him to feel exceptionally hurt and distress. By scaring him like that, Bai Luoyin felt he had indeed committed a serious and sinful crime. Nonetheless, since the situation had already reached that point, Bai Luoyin did not dare to speak the truth. All he could do was to slowly repent. “Gu Hai, actually…my injuries aren’t that severe. I just wanted you to come back soon, so I lied to you when I told you that I was dying.” “It’s okay, you don’t have to say anymore.” Gu Hai replied with a gloomy tone of voice, “It was a good thing that you said it to me like that, otherwise I wouldn’t have rushed back to see you when you needed me. If it hurts that much and you find it difficult to bear, just cry in front of me. I will definitely not laugh at you.” Gu Hai’s voice was full of gentleness and warmth, so gentle that Bai Luoyin really wanted to fucking cry. A while later, Gu Hai took a quick shower before lying down on the bed to sleep. Then he carefully hugged Bai Luoyin while trying his best not to touch his wounds as he wrapped his arms around him. With Gu Hai by his side, Bai Luoyin slept very peacefully that night. However, Gu Hai did not close his eyes. He immediately sensed the change in Bai Luoyin’s body temperature—it felt abnormally high. His first thought was that his wounds had become infected. With that in mind, he panicked and ran toward the office of the doctor on duty. When the doctor rushed over and saw Bai Luoyin, he couldn’t help but stare in shock. “This… this is Bai Luoyin?” Gu Hai also stared in shock, “If it’s not Bai Luoyin, who else would it be?” The doctor’s eyes remained on Bai Luoyin while his face was riddled with confusion. Clearly, I was the one that performed the surgery on him… it was only an injury on his Achilles tendon. How did his body suddenly get all wrapped up in so much gauze? Maybe the blanket in the hospital isn’t warm enough so this pitiful Major had no choice but to wrap himself this thickly? “What’s wrong?” Gu Hai asked with a worried expression. The doctor shook his head. “Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s measure his temperature!” Five minutes later, the doctor looked at the thermometer and calmly said, “His temperature is normal.” Gu Hai’s eyebrow twisted together in surprise, “Normal?” Hearing the doubt in Gu Hai’s voice, the doctor held the thermometer in front of him. “Look, isn’t this normal?” Gu Hai gave Bai Luoyin a glance, looked at the doctor and whispered, “Let’s talk outside!” Once they were outside, the doctor informed Gu Hai of Bai Luoyin’s condition in detail, leaving nothing untold. Even then Gu Hai did not believe the doctor’s words, so as proof, he took out Bai Luoyin’s medical record and showed it to him. Gu Hai turned to look at Bai Luoyin’s room only to discover that it was actually a recuperation room, not an intensive care room. Earlier, he had been too worried to take notice. It was not until that moment, that he reacted. If he was seriously injured, how could his room be so quiet? It’s already been several hours since any nurses or doctors came in to examine his condition… The doctor said very calmly, “He only suffered a fractured ankle and some skin laceration.” Gu Hai gritted his teeth.
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Bai Luoyin, you’ve become even more fucking capable than ever.
Translate: Sae | Edits: BambiKill5 & Nancy
Important Translator/Editor’s Note! (¯`♥´¯) `•.¸.•´ …(.¸•´¯`•. ::: (\_(\....) *: (=’ :’) ∩ *♫♪♥♥ •.. (,(”)(”)¤°.¸¸.•´¯`⊰♥⊱ ⊰♥⊱ Sae: *whispers* Join the “NOW” Bambi!! Bambi: What? Talk english :D Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Now I (k)now No(w) I hate now Sae: You like using ‘now’ now... new K(now)ledge Bambi: PUNS FTW S(now)
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38 The Couple’s Public Display of Affection
When Gu Hai returned to the room, Bai Luoyin was still sleeping soundly. His first instinct was to call out to the person lying comfortably on the bed as to interrogate him, but in the end, he held his tongue and swallowed his words. Even if he’s not seriously injured, even if he only did it to scare me, it surely isn’t faked that his entire body is in such a sorry state? Gu Hai lay down next to Bai Luoyin again. As he turned over, the movement created a loud creaking noise, but Bai Luoyin remained still in his slumber. Carefully putting his hand on Bai Luoyin’s chest, Gu Hai wanted to remove the gauze for a look. But just as he was about to, Bai Luoyin suddenly wrapped his arms around him, securing him tightly in place. That weather-beaten, yet tender looking face was being displayed in front of Gu Hai and warm breaths kissed along his neck. This kind of unconscious act was like a deterrence that slyly implored him: Just look at the state I’m in… do you still have the heart to blame me? Gu Hai’s mind was being riled up by contradictory emotions. Bai Luoyin’s lie had nearly given Gu Hai a heart attack, so how could he not be angry? The desire to choke Bai Luoyin to death had actually crossed his mind, but thinking back; why did he deceive you? Wasn’t it just to make you come to see him? Before, you were always worried about him keeping all hardship and pain in his heart, and hoped that he would act spoiled towards you… And now that he has completely let himself go and plays around with you—even taking the initiative to demand your love and care, shouldn’t you be happy?
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Gu Hai looked straight at Bai Luoyin’s face, with eyes that held both love and hate. Even though it pained him, he still took pleasure in this game of deceit, as if he was a complete and utter pervert. The more mischievously Bai Luoyin acted, the more infatuated Gu Hai became with his antics. In a way, he wished that he could be deceived once a day. Even if it riddled him with deep anxiety, being needed also gave him a sense of happiness. Gu Hai sighed heavily, not being able to decide whether he felt sorrow or deeply moved. I admit defeat. It seems my life will forever be in the palm of your hand. Bai Luoyin slept soundly until nine o’clock the next morning. A nurse had come into the room earlier, saying that she needed to give Bai Luoyin his medication, but Gu Hai simply told her to put it down and leave. When Bai Luoyin woke up, he was met by Gu Hai’s warm and gentle eyes gazing attentively at him. Being able to enjoy such a pleasant treat first thing in the morning, Bai Luoyin cheerfully patted Gu Hai’s soft face. He effortlessly turned his body over, but suddenly seemed to realize something and quickly knitted his brows, revealing a painful expression. Quick to notice it, Gu Hai accompanied him in the play by anxiously asking, “What’s wrong? Did you bump your wounds?” A decrepit smile appeared on Bai Luoyin’s face. “It’s nothing.” Gu Hai deliberately moved closer to Bai Luoyin. “Let me see the wounds on your body!” Bai Luoyin was quick to display a cautious expression even though his mouth was spouting seemingly considerate words. “There’s no need to see it. You’ll just feel miserable afterward.” “Then I have to see it. If I don’t, I won’t have peace of mind.” When Gu Hai touched him, Bai Luoyin’s face immediately twisted in pain as if he had been struck by an electric current. Then as the pain was painted across his eyes, he feigned misery and took a deep breath. Not one to be deterred, Gu Hai anxiously asked, “Is it very painful?” “It’s okay,” Bai Luoyin said rather arrogantly. At seeing Bai Luoyin’s brilliant performance, Gu Hai’s mind inevitably filled with fright. How many times has this guy lied to me in order to be this good an actor? “Where does it hurt? Tell me,” Gu Hai continued to ask in detail. Bai Luoyin dejectedly replied, “I can’t tell which part hurts. It just feels uncomfortable.” “Does your butt hurt?” Bai Luoyin quickly gave Gu Hai a puzzled glance, “My butt? I don’t feel any pain there.” “It doesn’t hurt?” Gu Hai asked before the look in his eyes gradually changed from being gentle into becoming ferocious. A split second later, he shouted, “Since it doesn’t, then allow me to make it hurt a bit so that your acting skill can be even more realistic!” Once he saw that his supposedly flawless scheme had been exposed, Bai Luoyin quickly scrambled to escape. Unfortunately, Gu Hai swiftly held him back. After that, the entire room was flooded with the sound of slaps. Pa! Pa! Pa! Someone was cursing in rage while the other person relentlessly interrogated him. When the punishment had come to an end, Bai Luoyin lay on his stomach and complained of blood and tears. “My foot really is injured!” A mischievous smile crept up the corner of Gu Hai’s mouth, “I didn’t hit your foot, did I?”
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“You can’t hit me anywhere!” Bai Luoyin gave Gu Hai an angry glance, then quickly turned his head away. Smiling to himself, Gu Hai began to massage Bai Luoyin’s buttocks while speaking to him in a rather cheerful voice, “Who told you to make me angry? Ask yourself; how could you be so cruel as to do something like this? If I would give you a call to tell you that I had gotten into a car accident, and you would rush over in a panic only to find out that nothing had happened to me, wouldn’t you harbor some anger?” At those words, Bai Luoyin elbowed Gu Hai before bitterly cursing at him, “Fuck off!” Gu Hai ruefully replied, “You’re so adorable when you’re lying!” “You’re even more fucking adorable when you’re being lied to!” “How about we keep on pretending?” Gu Hai smiled, the kind that held a deeper meaning. Now in a foul mood, Bai Luoyin snapped back at him, “Pretend my ass, you bastard!” Indeed, they truly had their own way of getting along. After breakfast, Gu Hai brought over a basin of hot water, threw a towel in and quickly wrung it. While it was still hot, he used it to wipe Bai Luoyin’s face. However, even as Bai Luoyin cried out in pain from the heat rubbing on his skin, Gu Hai did not lessen the force he applied. He intended to do his utmost and spare no strength in removing the layer of rough and old skin. When he was done torturing his face, Gu Hai grabbed Bai Luoyin’s hands and shoved them into the basin. The bursting pain provoked another cry to break out in the room. “Hot, hot…” Gu Hai was not in the least sympathetic. “Aren’t my hands also in there to hold yours?” Bai Luoyin silently snorted to himself. Motherfucker, from the second you heard that my injuries were only minor, you immediately treated me differently! After he was done washing Bai Luoyin’s hands, Gu Hai squeezed a thick layer of ointment on them before repeatedly warning him not to touch it. Only when the ointment had completely penetrated the skin was he allowed to move as he pleased. “But I need to use the toilet,” Bai Luoyin said. Being a person with a big heart, Gu Hai helped support Bai Luoyin’s arms. “Go, I’ll take you there!” Once they were in the bathroom, they encountered a problem. Gu Hai assisted Bai Luoyin with taking his pants off and had even lifted the toilet seat for him, but little Yin Zi was still hanging softly between his legs. Gu Hai had long foreseen a situation like this would come up. He moved in closer, carefully held little Yin Zi, aimed it straight toward the eye of the toilet and said, “Pee!” Bai Luoyin’s face was still burning from the hot water, what kind of mental strength did Gu Hai think he possessed, expecting him to be able to urinate in his current state?! “You can’t pee?” When Gu Hai finished asking, he started to whistle right away.87 Bai Luoyin, “…!” You only gave me porridge to eat this morning and before it was fully digested, you waved another basin of water in front of me only to apply another round of ointment… Gu Hai, you’re fucking doing these things on purpose! In the evening, the two hugged each other while watching television. Without thinking it through, Bai Luoyin casually asked, “Did you finish handling the matter in Shenzhen?” “No, but there shouldn’t be any problems. Yan Yajing is there to help me deal with it.” Hearing her name, Bai Luoyin’s expression immediately changed. “She went with you?” 87
“....started to whistle.” Apparently in some Asian countries, whistling is employed to potty train babies at an early age.
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Gu Hai gave him a quick glance from the corner of his eye and then smiled. “Don’t worry. She already saw the bite mark you left on my neck.” For some reason, Bai Luoyin pretended not to understand what Gu Hai had said. Donning an indifferent expression, he turned his eyes back towards the television. Trying not to chuckle, Gu Hai grabbed an orange from the fruit tray, swayed it back and forth in front of Bai Luoyin and asked, “Do you want one?” “In a bit.” Gu Hai proceeded to eat it himself, but he only got to finish half of it before Bai Luoyin without hesitation snatched the remaining half from him. After that, Gu Hai peeled a few more. Every now and then, Bai Luoyin’s hand would reach out to grab some, while at other times, he would glance at Gu Hai first and then quickly turned his head away. It was only when Gu Hai had eaten until his mouth was packed with the sour taste of orange juice, that he finally realized something. Bai Luoyin, the scoundrel, was observing his expressions before deciding whether or not he wanted to eat it. What a fucking conniving jerk! Consequently, when Gu Hai picked up the next one and discovered that it was sour, he deliberately put on an air of enjoyment. Seeing this, Bai Luoyin immediately reached for the fruit. Gu Hai generously placed the orange in Bai Luoyin’s hand. However, when Bai Luoyin broke off a wedge and was about to put it in his mouth, Gu Hai snatched it back. “Nevermind. I’ll peel another one for you instead.” Bai Luoyin watched as Gu Hai peeled another, tried a piece then brought it to his mouth. “Open your mouth!” Thinking that Gu Hai had seen through his little scheme, Bai Luoyin narrowed his eyes slightly, showing a guarded expression. “Is it really sour or not?” Having been asked such a question, Gu Hai angrily said, “Just look how bad the side of your mouth has become? Do you think I have the heart to stuff it with a sour orange?” Bai Luoyin cautiously opened his mouth and took a bite. It turned out it was sweet. When Gu Hai noticed that Bai Luoyin was carefully chewing the fruit, afraid of tearing the wounds at the corners of his mouth, he felt miserable. He carefully turned Bai Luoyin’s head toward him and caressed his lips before asking him with a frown, “How did you get this injury?” Not in the least concerned, Bai Luoyin casually said, “The Wing Commander pinched it.” Gu Hai’s brows remained twisted. “Pinched?” “Yeah,” Bai Luoyin said while nodding his head, “I had an argument with him. He got mad and pinched it.” Gu Hai’s complexion became dark and gloomy, and a cold and frightful aura appeared in the light reflected by it. “He has a lot of ways to torment us. Honestly, this is considered a light punishment. Some soldiers were tortured by him until they cried out for their father and shouted for their mother…” Bai Luoyin considered it a joke as he said it. He did not know that the way he downplayed the incident really upset Gu Hai. After some time, Bai Luoyin yawned, buried his face in the crook of Gu Hai’s shoulder and then lazily said, “I’m a bit sleepy.” Gu Hai got up and went to fill up the basin of water again so that Bai Luoyin could wash his face. The entire time, he didn’t say a single word.
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Bai Luoyin, who had gone to bed first, watched Gu Hai through narrowed eyes, letting his gaze wander over him, from head to feet and back again. He couldn’t sense anything peculiar. After turning off the lights, Gu Hai also made his way to the bed. He took Bai Luoyin in his arms, which allowed their bodies to press closely against each other. In seconds, Gu Hai’s hand snaked directly down between Bai Luoyin’s legs and gripped that restless little monster before he faintly asked, “Yin Zi, tell me honestly… the day I left, why did it hurt here?”
Translate: Sae | Edit: BambiKill5
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39 One Wave after Another
Hearing those words said directly in his ear, Bai Luoyin’s chest tightened as he let his eyes focused only on Gu Hai. “Do you really want to know?” Taken by surprise, Gu Hai suddenly threw out some words, “Nonsense! Of course, I do!” “Then, you have to promise me first that you won’t get angry after I tell you.” In truth, when Bai Luoyin said that sentence, a raging flame had already started to slowly brew in Gu Hai’s heart. But, for the sake of letting that flame diminish, he restrained his temper. Once Bai Luoyin saw Gu Hai nod in agreement, he slowly began to talk, “The Wing Commander pinched it.” In just a second, a mad and wild lion began to roar. “Why did your Wing Commander choose to pinch you? Why didn’t he pinch the others?” Bai Luoyin’s family jewel was severely gripped again. The sharp pain skated up his spine and struck every nerve, provoking a sudden tremble. It was so intense, his face instantly darkened as he bellowed in anger, “Didn’t you just said you wouldn’t get angry? Why are you screaming at me for no reason? How is this my fault? How do you know he didn’t pinch the others? Even if he did, would he tell you?”
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“I don’t care about other people! Even if he fucked them, I still wouldn’t give a shit!” Gu Hai stared furiously at Bai Luoyin, “I just want to ask you, how can you be so infectious?88 Can’t you just be a bit more careful? You sway in front of me all day long with a green hat89 over your head. Sooner or later, it will cover my whole head!” Bai Luoyin bitterly gritted his teeth, “Sooner or later? I’ll fucking cover it over your head right now! Is one green hat enough? I’ll fucking give you a pile that’s ten-story high! Then, I’ll give you a green suit, green socks, green underpants…I’ll even fucking dye your hair green!” The moment that little donkey’s father’s true character was exposed, he was naturally the best fashion spokesperson for Louis Vuitton. Not at all intimidated, Gu Hai immediately bit Bai Luoyin’s impish lips, making the corner of his mouth that was already injured, worse. Then, as the smell of blood assailed their nostrils, Gu Hai roughly sucked on his lips and swallowed. Since the beginning, until now and into the future, Bai Luoyin, and everything that makes him belonged solely to him. No one in this world can get a share of you. If any part of you were stained with someone else's scent, then I will destroy it completely and wait for it to slowly regenerate. The excruciating pain brought on by this rough ‘kiss’ caused Bai Luoyin’s shoulder to tremble. The words he adamantly cursed out mingled with the blood and flowed rather willingly into Gu Hai’s mouth. When there was nothing else to sucked out, Gu Hai finally released Bai Luoyin’s now swollen lips while his eyes ran amok with deadly flames. “Bai Luoyin, let me tell you. In this life, I’ll only let you and you alone mess with me, lie to me, hit me, curse me… likewise, no one can even think about touching you no matter what the reasons are! Not even one finger! Don’t use the military system or any of its rules and regulations to deceive me. My heart is like a mirror, I can see through it all! If you get beaten, punished or suffer any grievances, you’re naturally the first to be blamed! This body is not just yours alone. It is also mine! Why don’t you ever take it seriously?” Bai Luoyin looked directly at Gu Hai as his eyes gradually turned cold. A couple seconds later, he reached toward the small table to the side and pick up the fruit knife before suddenly swinging it toward the lower half of his body. Gu Hai quickly grabbed his arm, causing the sharp edge of the knife to hover dangerously above the fabric of the hospital gown. Two hands bursting with blue veins pumped with blood then deadlocked midair for a while before the knife fell to the ground with a crisp sound. “What are you doing?!” Gu Hai’s hands shot out and firmly held Bai Luoyin’s head. Without evading Gu Hai, a vicious aura launched into Bai Luoyin’s eyes, “Didn’t you want me to keep myself pure for you? Aren’t you always feeling restless about me? I’ll get rid of the root of the problem for you. That way, you can fucking give up completely!!” “You bastard! You’re asking to be fucked!” Pushed toward the edge of anger, Gu Hai used his teeth to rip off Bai Luoyin’s hospital gown and then he started to feast crazily on his body. The areas that his teeth swept over quickly became bruise with a hint of red. Bai Luoyin struggled with all his might while cursing in rage. He wished his fingers could dig into Gu Hai’s shoulder until blood gushed out but unfortunately, his foot was injured and being short one out of four limbs, he was definitely not Gu Hai’s opponent.
Infectious – 招人 (zhāorén) irresistible/the ability to attract people to you Green hat – 戴绿帽子 lǜmàozi ‘wearing a green hat’ is a metaphor used in Chinese culture meaning the one wearing it has been cheated on. Sure enough, the word for ‘cuckold’ is 绿帽子 (only one character needed to make up this metaphor)
88 89
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The more Bai Luoyin struggled, the stronger the indestructible flames in Gu Hai’s heart flourished, even the strength in his hands became more reckless. Just as Bai Luoyin attempted to turn over, Gu Hai instantly forced him down again. Bai Luoyin’s injured foot heavily struck the edge of the bed, provoking an intense stab of pain to attack his nerves and causing him to cry out. Hearing that painful voice, Gu Hai came out of his stupor. He quickly reached toward Bai Luoyin’s foot and anxiously asked, “Is it hurting?” Without answering, Bai Luoyin curled up on the bed with a painful expression on his face. Soon, the doctor rushed over to examine Bai Luoyin’s wound. Luckily, the bone did not receive another strike and the doctor only had to add two more stitches to the suture area that had torn slightly. Once the doctor left, the room fell into utter silence. Gu Hai did not get on the bed again, instead, he quietly sat in front of it and stared at Bai Luoyin without moving a single muscle. After another moment passed by, he finally asked in a low voice: “Does it hurt?” Bai Luoyin closed his eyes, not saying any other word. As Gu Hai watched Bai Luoyin lie obediently on the bed, with his frostbitten ears sticking out, completely bloodless lips and his battered hands tightly holding the blanket, he suddenly felt that the person in front of him looked utterly pitiful. When he thought of Bai Luoyin charging through enemy lines in the frigid Gobi Desert, without enough to eat, without sleeping warmly, then only to be suppressed, bullied and humiliated from time to time…his heart felt exceptionally painful. For the past few days, every time he laid in bed and thought of all the grievances Bai Luoyin had to endure, slumber never came to comfort him. He had never taken the initiative to demand Bai Luoyin change his career. That was because Gu Hai knew that Bai Luoyin is a man with his own dreams and aspirations. But seeing him suffer such bitterness and hardships while he stood to the side, unable to do anything to help, his heart was immediately consumed with anxiety! His dumbass temper will surely escalate once he became anxious. Gu Hai’s hand reached toward Bai Luoyin’s face, softly caressing it as he spoke with a gentle tone. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, I’m just afraid you will suffer!” Even though he heard that, Bai Luoyin kept his eyes closed with great effort. All the while, his eyeballs beneath anxiously jumped. Having not received a response, Gu Hai pressed his face against Bai Luoyin’s then slid his hand to the other side of his cheek, gently caressing it with a sorrowful expression. Bai Luoyin coldly shouted, “Don’t touch me!” Since those words were said in such manner, Gu Hai actually became full of zeal. At first, his hand was on Bai Luoyin’s face but a few seconds later, it slid past his chest and down toward the edge of his pants before slowly inching in. But before that sneaky hand could tread in and work its wicked ways, Bai Luoyin gripped Gu Hai’s wrist. “Someone had already touched this; don’t you dislike that it has been dirtied?” Gu Hai had just forgotten this, but since Bai Luoyin reminded like, he stopped. Bai Luoyin’s heart sank. Sure enough… However, a moment later, Gu Hai unexpectedly moved his head down, opened his mouth wide and sucked the little monster. He doted on it intensely with no hint of turning away to ignore it. Originally, it belonged to him. Now that it had suffered such a grievance and needed his comfort, how can he abandon it? Xiao Yin Zi baobei, just wait. Daddy will definitely take vengeance for you!
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During the next few days, Bai Luoyin passed the days rather comfortably. Aside from having to deal with some officers that came to visits him, the remaining time was spent being lovey-dovey with Gu Hai. In between, Gu Hai would take a short trip back to the company in order to handle some business affairs before quickly rushing back to the hospital to accompany him. On this day, Bai Luoyin leaned back against the headboard like an arrogant idler and was soaking up the sunlight when he suddenly heard a knock at the door. His languid eyes shifted toward the door before he faintly spoke, “Come in!” With his left hand holding a fruit basket, right hand holding tonics, and a backpack strapped on his back, Liu Chong strode into the room. The moment his eyes set on Liu Chong, an inexplicable feeling caused by an unknown reason provoked a tremble in Bai Luoyin’s chest. When Liu Chong saw Bai Luoyin, his eyes could not help but freeze in place while his heart secretly jumped in astonishment. I haven’t seen him for only a few days, but his skin recovered so well! He had also returned from the mission with Bai Luoyin and was given plenty of time to rest but why was it that his skin was still so wrinkled and rough? How come Bai Luoyin’s face was so full of life like this? While Liu Chong was still deep in thoughts, a voice came traveling from the other room. “Here, drink this while it’s hot!” Carefully carrying a bowl of soup, Gu Hai walked into the room, but his expression was instantly ravaged by a cold and unpleasant aura the moment he saw Liu Chong. “Hey! Gu-zong, you’re also here to see our Major?” The corner of Gu Hai’s mouth pulled back, “I’ve been here the entire time.” “Huh?” Liu Chong questioned, surprise but that reply. “Aren’t you normally very busy?” Gu Hai ignored him and went straight to Bai Luoyin before sitting down on the chair beside him. Then, he scooped a spoonful of hot soup, blew it and placed it at Bai Luoyin’s mouth. Having never shown any subordinate, much less a lower rank subordinate, this kind of image, Bai Luoyin immediately felt uneasy so as a result, his gentle expression from just a moment ago was instantly saturated with seriousness and caution. Even his voice deepened. “I’ll do it myself!” If this was any other soldier, Gu Hai would not have taken it this seriously. But this bastard Liu Chong appeared too often. So often that the very moment Gu Hai caught sight of his face, he was itching to throw the hot bowl of soup at him! Undeterred, Gu Hai stubbornly placed the spoon in front of Bai Luoyin’s mouth again before speaking in a tough and insistent tone. “Drink!” Bai Luoyin’s lips tightened as he repeatedly used his eyes to wage a war with Gu Hai. Are you fucking trying to humiliate me on purpose? Liu Chong stood upright to the side and stared at their exchange. Sensing the tense atmosphere, he quickly rushed to resolve the dispute. “Here, here, here, Gu-zong, give it to me. How can we let you do something like this?” Gu Hai had yet to react when Liu Chong snatched the bowl from him and sat at the other side of the bed. Then he scooped a spoonful of soup and placed it next to Bai Luoyin’s mouth. “Major, there is no need for politeness between us.” Seeing that Bai Luoyin was not drinking, Liu Chong intentionally tasted it first before cheerfully advising, “Major, hurry and drink it. It’s not hot at all!” No fucking shit! Gu Hai wanted to explode in curses. I just blew it to cool it down yet you’re fucking trying to take the credit!!
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“Put it down!” Gu Hai’s face darkened as he commanded him. Liu Chong was at a loss of since he does not know what he had done to provoke Gu Hai. Gu Hai cold voice asked, “Who allowed you to take it from me?” “No one allowed me to!” Liu Chong said with seriousness, “I did it of my own free will!” Hearing those absurd words, Gu Hai’s tone worsened. “What qualification do you have to talk about ‘free will’ here?” Liu Chong suddenly stood straight and looked at Bai Luoyin with a deep and sincere expression. “I am the person most qualified to take care of our Major…if the Major was not there when I was in danger, I…”
Translate: Sae
The story about the green hat: The source is a story from the Ming Dynasty where Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang enacted a law, which required men who worked in the prostitution trade to wear green hats. Later, it became common to say about a man whose wife had an affair, that she made her husband wear a green hat. It’s best to stay away from those green hats! If you are traveling in China, you might notice a curious thing – you will never find a Chinese man wearing a green hat. Let it be a warning to you: no matter how curious you are, you’d better not ask them why they don’t wear a green hat!
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40 The Pitiful Xiao Liu gets Roasted
“Why are you here again?” Bai Luoyin quickly interrupted Liu Chong as to stop him from saying anything else. He was well aware that if Liu Chong continued, he would make the situation worst. “Because I still feel very sorry, I… I can’t stop worrying about you.” Without the slightest sense of gratitude, Bai Luoyin lifted his head, revealing a stern and overbearing expression as he looked at Liu Chong. “What does it have to do with you if I’m injured? What are you doing, running here instead of training at the base? Hurry up and go back!” “What do you mean it doesn’t have anything to do with me?” Liu Chong’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Major, every time something happens to me, you are always the first to rush in front of me… but, every time you run into something, you always push me away!” Bai Luoyin twisted his eyebrows tightly, refusing to admit anything. “When did I rush in front of you? Stop trying to play such a senseless trick! If it was just the two of us, I wouldn’t care how much you flatter me, but Gu-zong is here. Don’t make him laugh!” “Major, don’t say those kinds of words!” Liu Chong anxiously stood up and stomped his foot, "I have come to realize that I cannot blindly obey your orders anymore. If I turn around and leave again this time, then I am not human!” Bai Luoyin nearly lost his breath. Fuck, you’re stubborn! The army sure educated you well in maintaining your grounds. Now you're trying to use it against me! Gu Hai remained silent for a long time but once he took notice of Bai Luoyin and Liu Chong tearing at each other in this unclear situation, he felt he needed to step in.
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“Xiao Liu, can I call you this?” Still stuck in a vehement mood that had yet to subside, Liu Chong twisted his head toward Gu Hai when he heard his name being called and continued to loudly expression himself. “Gu-zong, reason this out for me. Tell me, since things have come this far, how can I leave?” Having listened for quite a long while, Gu Hai still he could not understand what he meant, “Since things have come this far?” “That is… the Major has shown great kindness towards me. It is a debt that I won't ever be able to repay. Now that something has happened to Major, how can I turn around and walk away?” Gu Hai silently sneered to himself. Now, you're biting the hand that fed you… “How about you tell me about the kindness that he has done for you and I will help you determine just how great of a deed it is?” Gu Hai said, glancing at Liu Chong. Bai Luoyin’s figure turned cold as he unconsciously trembled. Just as Liu Chong was about to speak, Bai Luoyin roared—a roar that could shake the heaven. “Get the fuck out!” The words that beckoned to creep out of Liu Chong’s mouth suddenly froze and rolled back down his throat as he looked shockingly at Bai Luoyin for a few seconds. Then, he glanced at Gu Hai, cleared his throat and turned back toward Bai Luoyin with a rather good temperament. “Major, there’s no other meaning behind Gu-zong asking this. You don’t have to kick him out.” “I am fucking telling you to leave!” Bai Luoyin shouted, his eyes now a hue of purple. “Oh…” This time, Liu Chong was truly stunned. At last, Gu Hai understood what was happening. Liu Chong has something to say but was unable to since Bai Luoyin kept preventing him to by every means possible. Something must be going on between these two. Bai Luoyin's harsh instruction for Liu Chong to leave caused him to be completely torn and listless. He turned and punched his backpack a few times then hung his head low without uttering another word. After restraining himself and calming down, Bai Luoyin said: “It’s okay now, just go back to the base. I will be discharged in two days.” Without speaking, Liu Chong quietly took out his clothes and daily necessities from his backpack. Then he took a large stride to the side and showed Bai Luoyin his intentions. “Major, you don't need to say anything else. I have already requested time off, and since I am here, I have no intention of leaving either.” Shit! You devil!! Bai Luoyin's head immediately plunged under the blanket without saying another word. Thinking that Bai Luoyin was still wavering, he took the opportunity to add a few words of politeness. “Major, no matter how good a person Gu-zong is, he is still a guest! I, on the other hand, am not an outsider. No matter how you order me around, isn't it more suitable? Right?” Right, my ass! You bastard! Bai Luoyin has already begun to think of his own tragic ending. With that, Liu Chong walked toward Gu Hai and gratefully grasped his hand, “The past few days must have been hard on you.” Gu Hai patted Liu Chong's shoulder and praised him, "You are really talented!" “You flatter me,” Liu Chong let out an embarrassed smile before his hand reach toward the doorknob. “Gu-zong, I'll walk you out.” Gu Hai actually walked out with Liu Chong. Meanwhile, Bai Luoyin thought that the end of the world has arrived. “Let me ask you something,” Gu Hai’s footstep came to a halt.
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Out of habit, Liu Chong stood in attention. “Please ask.” “How well does your Major treat you normally for you to insist on staying here to take care of him without any complaints or hesitations?” Now that their conversation has reached this point, Liu Chong started to tear up again. “A few days ago, we pitched camp in the desert for training. But because of my injuries, Major had an argument with the Wing Commander. The argument escalated. In the end, the Wing Commander punished him to climb two hundred trees. After he climbed all those trees, he nearly collapsed from the heat and exhaustion, yet even then, he came to my tent and hugged me to sleep to keep me warm. He said that my leg was injured so it was best not to catch a cold. Every night, he would hold me to sleep. If it was not for Major, I would have become disabled already.” A strong and deep sense of danger appeared in Gu Hai's eyes but unfortunately, Liu Chong was absolutely unaware of it. “It seems you should really stay here.” Gu Hai said, patting Liu Chong's shoulder. Liu Chong cheerfully said, “Then I will only walk you to here. I have to hurry back to check on Major.” “Go!” Gu Hai lifted his hand and waved him off. While Liu Chong joyfully ran back in, Gu Hai walked out of the hospital with a gloomy expression smeared across his face. Bai Luoyin waited desperately for Gu Hai to come back but in the end, when he lifted his head, he saw Liu Chong charge into the room in high spirits. “Where is Gu Hai?” Bai Luoyin asked puzzled. Liu Chong started to tidy his things, “He left. I will take care of you for the next two days.” After saying that, he hummed a tune and went to the bathroom to take a shower. However, when Liu Chong had finished showering, changed into his clothes, and walk out feeling refreshed, the door slammed open with a loud bang. A face clouded with a raging temper appeared at the door. Liu Chong did not have time to react when Gu Hai bound his upper body and tied his arms behind his back with a rope. With that done, he then suspended him horizontally from the roof of the room and placed a fire pit beneath him. As the flames whooshed and the heat incessantly rose, Liu Chong dripped with sweat in less than ten minutes. Sadly, even after things had come this far, Liu Chong still does not understand why he was being roasted and kept howling in grief. “Major, save me! I’m going to be cooked soon.” Bai Luoyin could not take it anymore. Taking advantage of the time Gu Hai went to the bathroom, he walked toward Liu Chong and started to untie him. However, just as he was doing so, Gu Hai leisurely came back and stopped in front of him. He said politely, “If you wanted to adjust the temperature for him, why didn't you just say so? What are you doing getting out of bed like that all by yourself?” After saying that, he bent his foot a bit and kicked the temperature of the fire pit up a level, causing the flames to leap up even higher. Liu Chong let out a blood-curdling screech while trying his utmost to straighten out his body as much as possible to prevent the fire from reaching his body. Gu Hai patted Liu Chong’s face, “It seems your Major still knows how to care for you! I don’t think the strength of this ‘fire therapy’ is enough. Since he especially got out of bed to increase the temperature for you so that your bones can recover faster, you have to thank him properly.” Hearing those words, Liu Chong's face soon wrinkled into a fully bloomed chrysanthemum. Gu Hai firmly hooped his arm around Bai Luoyin's shoulder and looked at him with a smug and insincere smile.
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“Are you still not going back to bed?? Bai Luoyin stiffened and refused to move. “Do you want me to put a cotton-padded jacket on him?” In seconds, Bai Luoyin was simply dragged back to bed by Gu Hai. Before going to sleep that night, Liu Chong has been suspended for almost twelve hours. Gu Hai stripped out of his clothes, leaving only his underpants on before squeezing onto the bed right in front of Liu Chong, who looked at him in shock. Then he deliberately reached his arm out of the blanket and pulled Bai Luoyin toward him in a tight hug, all the while, revealing a comfortable and enjoyable expression, finished off with a declarative smile; the kind of smile that spoke volume without voicing any statement. This person is mine! With just one look at the scene, Liu Chong's heart suddenly ached with resentment. Quick to notice the troubled and unbearable expression on Liu Chong's face, Gu Hai suddenly asked, “Xiao Liu ah! Since you're more than warm enough now, there's no need for someone to hug you to sleep, right? Otherwise, how about I adjust the temperature for you again?" Liu Chong hastily shook his head as he silently endured this predicament. Bai Luoyin gritted his teeth in anger, “That’s enough!! His injuries haven’t healed yet. If you tie him up like that, his blood won’t circulate properly. What happens if he becomes disabled?” Gu Hai laughed cruelly, “You climbed 200 trees until your hands are covered in cuts for him. I’m only letting him roast for twenty-something hours for you, that’s not too excessive, is it?" Giving him an intense glare, Bai Luoyin spoke, pausing between each word. “Gu Hai, youare-really-ruthless!” “Not as ruthless as you!” Gu Hai glared back angrily. When Bai Luoyin turned over to get off the bed, Gu Hai quickly grabbed hold of him. He pulled him close and let his sinister voice attacked Bai Luoyin’s ear. “If that foot of yours dare to touch the ground, I will make love to you in front of him. If you don't believe me, just try it!” When it came to matters involving the bed, Gu Hai has always been the king in control. Bai Luoyin’s body dropped heavily on the bed. Even after a little over two o’clock at night rolled by, Bai Luoyin's eyes were still opened and aimed at Liu Chong whose head had long drooped down as he slept. His hair fluttered above the flame while droplets of sweat dripped on the ground, creating a small pool of water. Bai Luoyin’s chest tightened the entire time as he looked on. Gu Hai narrowed his eyes and looked at the grievance expressed in Bai Luoyin’s eyes. “You feel that sorry for him?” “If it was you and I was being fucked by someone, I would still rush over to untie the ropes.” Gu Hai’s heart shook—his determination loosened but his mouth was not as forgiving. “Don’t compare us. There's nothing to compare from the start. It is not wrong or uncalled for if you treat me with importance, but you treating him with importance is definitely not okay!” Bai Luoyin’s clenched fist loosened, but his tone revealed a strong sense of unwillingness. “Let him go, I absolutely won't do anything like that again in the future.” Gu Hai has been waiting for this promise. The trembling that had overtaken his heart for an entire day has finally calmed down and beat regularly again. Exposing a small smile filled with satisfaction, Gu Hai got out of the bed and went to loosen up the rope on Liu Chong. Liu Chong was not able to stand steadily, so he ended up lying down on the ground, grimacing in pain instead. Gu Hai crouched down, his cold sharp eyes swept straight toward him. “You remember this clearly. If your Major treats you well, I won’t interfere. But if he has to
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sacrifice himself in any manner just to treat you well then I will get everything that he had sacrifice back from you little by little!” Liu Chong, “…”
Translate: Sae
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41 Lao Zhou Suffers a Surprise Attack
During the time that Zhou Lingyun was away for the meetings, all his training duties were temporarily administered by other well-qualified Commanders. The main goal of these meetings was to accentuate the need to improve weapon performances as to avoid failures during real-time combat. With this goal in mind, Zhou Lingyun shifted his focus toward the research aspect of the project when he returned. Taking into consideration that Bai Luoyin was recuperating, Zhou Ling Yin had taken his place to go inspect on the progress of the projects with the companies they were collaborating with. Today, Zhou Lingyun arrived at HaiYin High-Tech Ltd. Gu Hai personally came out to give his guest a warm greeting while exchanging some polite remarks. “Wing Commander Zhou, why didn’t you inform us in advance that you were coming? I would have sent a car to pick you up.” Hearing the courteous tone in Gu Hai’s voice, Zhou Lingyun could not help but laugh heartily. “Where would I find the nerve to let General Gu’s eldest son send a car for me?!” The two chatted and laughed as they walked inside—it was as if they have been good friends for many years. Gu Hai kept the bitter coldness and raging anger in his eyes deeply hidden. Instead, he showed a great level of respect in his manner to Zhou Lingyun, just like a smooth and sly yet friendly businessman. When the two sat down in the VIP lounge for some tea and more exchange of words, Zhou Lingyun would look Gu Hai up and down from time to time. Each time he glanced over, his eyes
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would twinkle incessantly as though he has discovered a priceless treasure. Suddenly, while Gu Hai was in the middle of discussing their collaboration on this project, Zhou Lingyun grabbed his hand. He gripped it in place for a moment until he was able to determine the strength in Gu Hai’s palm. Feeling extremely content, Zhou Lingyun burst into a peal of unrestrained laughter. “You are a rare specimen. It's a pity that you're not a soldier.” Gu Hai smiled indifferently, “I am not interested in any aspects of the military.” “Since you were born into a powerful military family and have been influenced from a young age, you should have grown deeply attached to the military, no?” Zhou Lingyun said, taking a sip of the tea. “I don’t like being restricted and the way the military management system works is not something I can adapt to.” Zhou Lingyun continued to tease him, “You can join my team. I have my own unique style of management!” “Don’t say that,” Gu Hai politely answered. “I really don't have the qualities for it!” “I, Lao Zhou, have always been very accurate at spotting those with great potentials. If I say you have the natural talent to be a General or Admiral, then I am certainly not wrong! How about that? Just think about it!” Zhou Lingyun was still extremely eager to obtain this talent. Gu Hai tactfully declined. “Wing Commander Zhou, we should go check the workshop.” Hearing the last word, Zhou Lingyun quickly stood up with delight, “Okay, I also want to see what kind of workshop these beautiful women operate.” Once they reached the spacious workshop, Zhou Lingyun observed the area and nodded repeatedly. “Not bad, not bad. It has truly exceeded my expectations. I didn't expect it to be such a large-scale workshop, but you've surely proven me wrong.” “We have been in preparation to expand the workshop area recently. The submittals for the land at the southern side have already been approved for construction so we are able to commence.” While Gu Hai patiently presented the expansion project in detail, two female employees who were standing to the side, whispered: “Look at our Gu-zong, he is dressed like a real gentleman today. I almost didn't recognize him since he's sporting a pair of sunglasses.” “I know, right? The officer must be a valuable client for Gu-zong to dress like that. He probably wants to leave a good an impression of himself to create more opportunities for collaboration in the future!” “Yeah, yeah, that’s true.” Once the two men finally walked a full circle around the entire workshop, Zhou Lingyun asked, “Does your company have any finished products that I can look at?” “Of course,” Gu Hai politely answered and brought Zhou Lingyun to the display room. As he looked around in amazement, Zhou Lingyun became highly interested in a small aircraft to the side. He immediately asked Gu Hai, "When was this aircraft produced?" “This aircraft has been the crown jewel among our products for the last six months. It has already received numerous science and technology awards as well,” Gu Hai said, without hesitating at all to recommend this secret weapon. Zhou Lingyun crouched down to examine the aircraft. Remarkable… truly remarkable. It may be small, but it is highly detailed! The design leaves it at only two meters high but the engine itself can reach up to 500 horsepower and the takeoff speed can reach 300km p/hour. “I heard your company mainly produces electronic equipment, so I never expect it to also be involved in the aviation field. Have this aircraft been entirely worked on by your female employees only, from design specifications to its final production?” “You are the first man to touch this aircraft besides me.”
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Zhou Lingyun could not help but exclaim in admiration. “This lone soldier is a beauty that truly is marvelous!” Gu Hai was exceptionally modest in his words. “This is our first attempt. We are still very inexperienced in this field and ended up manufacturing such an abnormal product, please don't laugh at us.” Zhou Lingyun patted Gu Hai's shoulder, “Please do not say that. I honestly cannot emphasize how much I like it!” “You can jump in and give it a try. If you like it, you can have it as a present. That way, it will be even more convenient for you when you drive this to go grocery shopping,” Gu Hai said magnanimously. “Ha, ha, ha…” Zhou Lingyun laughed heartily. “I really do want to give it a try. For half my lifetime, I’ve flown all kind of aircraft but never one produced by a team of beautiful women.” With that said, he cheerfully opened the cockpit door and went inside. Since the aircraft was small, the cockpit was naturally not spacious either. Thus, when Zhou Lingyun put his foot in, it got stuck at the space between the seat and where his foot should go. He glanced down for a look only to be taken aback. Why is the design of the seat so strange? It's not leveled and there was a small grove in the front. He wiggled his foot and slightly moved forward until he was finally able to sit down. Surprisingly, there was just enough room for both his legs to fit right in the middle and it felt rather sturdy and comfortable. It’s actually a really user-friendly design. A woman’s mind is truly exquisite! Zhou Lingyun started the aircraft with much ease. However, just as he placed his hand on the thrust lever, his whole hand went numb as if he had just touched electricity. He quickly withdrew his hand and examined the aircraft’s dashboard, only to see that everything was normal. It was most likely a random, isolated incident. With that in mind, the bold and punctilious Zhou Lingyun put on a pair of gloves and reached for the thrust lever again. As a result, when Zhou Lingyun's hand gripped the thrust lever, a strong electric current vigorously attacked him. By the time he tried to remove his hand, it was already too late. That arm has completely lost all strength and his hand was firmly stuck on the thrust lever. He gritted his teeth as a stabbing pain akin to a strong tidal wave unfurled throughout his body while large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. When Zhou Lingyun managed to pull his hand away from the thrust lever, the skin on the palm of his hand was seared black and the back of his hand was badly mangled. As it turned out, this hand happened to be the one that had once gripped Xiao Yin Zi. Zhou Lingyun had indeed proven himself to be a worthy man. Even after facing such a predicament, he was still able to calmly switch off the engine before trying to open the cockpit door. Unfortunately, no matter what method he used, the door would not open. Then, having no other option, he clenched his fist and ruthlessly pound the inner wall of the cockpit. He couldn't identify what he had struck in his vexation when the seat suddenly shook. Then, a familiar sense of intense pain and numbness spread out at the lower half of his body. It was the same feeling that had assailed him a moment ago when he had gripped the thrust lever. The intense vibration came from the groove at the front part of the seat. Zhou Lingyun’s chest tightened when he looked at his scorched hand and then at his crotch where his family jewel was; it felt as though it was sapped lifeless. It did not matter much that both his hands were electrocuted since they were already old, coarse and unpleasant to look at. But his family jewel must not suffer any catastrophe by all means. He was still counting on this ‘toy’ to carry on his bloodline!
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But the problem was, Zhou Lingyun could not move at all. His butt has somehow been screwed onto the mystical seat while his crotch was being punctured by a powerful burst of electric current, each burst fiercer than the next. Even the strongest man cannot endure that kind of stimulation! In seconds, Zhou Lingyun's face twisted in pain as if water had been strenuously wrung from it, one drop at a time. Gu Hai anxiously knocked on the outer wall of the cockpit on purpose. “Wing Commander Zhou, did something happen?” Zhou Lingyun roared, “Open the door for me!” "What? I can’t hear you!” Gu Hai faced him and shouted loudly. Once Zhou Lingyun noticed that his flight pants were being scorched, his voice was irascible and littered with eagerness. “Hurry up and open this door!” "Huh?" Gu Hai still wore the same confused and clueless expression, "What did you say?" Zhou Lingyun's brows twisted with irritation before he looked at Gu Hai’s face again only to detect a small trace of a smirk smeared at the corner of his mouth. Suddenly, something came to his mind. When he touched his own flight suit, a strange metallic texture rubbed against his hand. It was obvious to him now that this was the cause of the influx of electric current since metal was a conductor of heat and electricity. Naturally, this knowledge made him fly into a violent rage! This kid actually set up a trap and waited for me to jump in! By now, the seat had nearly reached a high temperature of 300 degrees. Zhou Lingyun looked as though he was being tortured by a hot pillar90 as he bellowed uncontrollably and attempted to use brute force to pull the cockpit door open. But he quickly realized that it was better if he did not pull it since every time he did so, the frequency of the vibration from the seat would increase immensely. It seemed as though it would explode at any given moment. However, Zhou Lingyun was not called a seasoned war veteran for no reason! Even though he was being tortured by the scorching seat, he still did not lose his head. He simply adjusted his position and just as the temperature increased, he gave an explosive push against the door and bolted out of the cockpit. Although the person did not die, the incident was more than enough to make him suffer! Even if he was able to escape the explosion and his family jewel and balls were not blown to pieces, that does not mean they did not suffer any injuries. His flight pants were scorched until only half remained intact and blood trickled from the crotch area. One can only imagine the level of pain that ravaged him. But! More importantly, he had lost all his dignity! He was in high spirits when he first arrived, but in less than half an hour, his entire body was injured beyond recognition… especially the spot down there. In a company comprised of only women that even the security guard along with the emergency staff were also women, where can Zhou Lingyun hide his face?! “Don't come near me!” Zhou Lingyun bellowed at a female security. “Find my guards!” Looking at him, Gu Hai put on an act and roared at the female security. “Why aren’t you hurrying up to find him?” “I found him already, but he has diarrhea. I can’t go into the men’s bathroom!” the female guard said with an embarrassed expression. Gu Hai grabbed a cloth from the female security’s hands, crouched down near Zhou Lingyun. He politely said, “Wing Commander Zhou, an ambulance will arrive shortly but for the time being, it’s important to stop the bleeding. Since I'm the only man here, there no need for you to be modest with me.” 90
hot pillar (炮烙之刑) an ancient Chinese torture device
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A second later, the cloth was wrapped around Zhou Lingyun's crotch, firmly and tightly. Zhou Lingyun nearly fainted from the pain. The only thing that remained in his eyes was a glint that emitting from a pair of sunglasses. Upon seeing Zhou Lingyun's painful reaction, Gu Hai swung his head around to look at the security behind him and asked, "Was this cloth clean?” “No, I had just used salt water to disinfect it!" A short while later, the ambulance finally arrived. The moment he was lifted on to the stretcher, Zhou Lingyun firmly grasped Gu Hai's hand with all his might. The couple of words he spoke out next could shatter the ground to pieces. “I will remember you!!” Hidden behind the sunglasses, Gu Hai’s eyes were also fierce and frightening. “Bai Luoyin is my beloved. You can train your soldiers, but you can’t touch my beloved. Since you hurt me and my beloved, I'll make your saggy dick and balls hurt!”
Translate: Sae
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42 An Unnecessary Move
In the evening, Gu Hai was humming a tune as he prepared a small romantic midnight snack for his beloved wife. Suddenly, he heard the door creak open. Slightly flabbergasted, he stuck his head out of the kitchen only to be greeted with Bai Luoyin’s dashing and confident back. “How did you run out of there?” There was a cigarette butt hanging loosely in Gu Hai’s mouth as he skillfully handled the knife. In all honesty, it was a rather cool appearance. Bai Luoyin leaned against the door, seemingly angry yet not as he stared at Gu Hai. “You’re the one that caused Lao Zhou to be hospitalized, right?” Gu Hai shot Bai Luoyin a glance before the corner of his mouth rose into a smirk. “Oh? Did you personally come here to praise me?” Bai Luoyin’s outstanding brows immediately contorted. “It really was you!!” Hearing Bai Luoyin’s tone, the smile on Gu Hai’s face faded. He quickly turned the fire off and placed the food on the plate while the sizzling sound cook meat still lingered around their ears. “Aren't you being a bit too outrageous?” Bai Luoyin said, moving closer to Gu Hai. The entire time, Gu Hai was washing his hands with his back toward Bai Luoyin. Suddenly, he turned around and smeared the water in his hand all over Bai Luoyin’s cheeks. “It’s smoother than before.” Gu Hai said, still not acting properly. Bai Luoyin bitterly flung his hands away, causing a jealous Gu Hai to immediately ask, “You still feel sorry for him?”
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Bai Luoyin angrily retorted, “It's not that I feel sorry… I just don’t think it was the right thing to do, okay? Even though he was a bit harsh to me, that’s just his style of training. It has nothing to do with personal feelings. The more severe his demands are of me, the more it proves the importance he places on me. Frankly speaking, he did those things for my own good.” “For your own good?” Gu Hai coldly grunted, “That's just him treating you like a tool! A tool, do you understand?! It’s just like how you treat a fighter aircraft. He's using every means possible to improve your performance in order for you to become even more useful to him! It simply has nothing to do with personal feelings at all!” Bai Luoyin's tone became sluggish, “But, isn't he indirectly helping me to succeed?” “Groping your dick can help you succeed?” Gu Hai let out a burst of ironic laughter, “That’s good then. I also fried his dick so maybe after he's discharged from the hospital, he'll be promoted from a Wing Commander to a General!” An air of shock settled in Bai Luoyin's eyes, “What? You…!!” “Look at you, getting all anxious!” Gu Hai exclaimed as his jealousy came crawling back, “What benefits did he create for you to make you care so much about him?!” The rage circling Bai Luoyin’s mind caused his fist to ruthlessly strike Gu Hai’s stomach. “Fuck you! You're being too cruel! That's Zhou Lingyun, not a lamplight you can simply put out! If you really made him disabled, he definitely won't let you live comfortably!” At those words, Gu Hai simply patted Bai Luoyin's shoulder. “Then just let your Wing Commander give me all he got!” When Gu Hai brought the food to the dining room, Bai Luoyin was still at the same stop. A few minutes later, Bai Luoyin also followed in. But just as he was about to sit down to eat, the person on the other side of the table bizarrely said, “Ungrateful people are not welcomed here. Please go away and eat somewhere else!” Bai Luoyin's anger rose until traces of fire could be seen swirling in his eyes. Even if you don't want me to fucking eat, I'll still eat! It was hard enough to wait for a day that Lao Zhou wouldn't be at the base… and now that I'm finally able to sneak out for a breath of fresh air, you won't even fucking let me have a bite of freshly home-cooked meal!! “Hey, hey, hey! Be a bit more self-conscious! Don’t talk about helping others instead of the person that’s closer to you when you're speaking.91 And don't put on such a shameless face when you’re eating! Put the chopsticks down. Who allowed you to pick up the food?” Sadly, while Gu Hai was rambling on endlessly, Bai Luoyin had already taken the chance to eat all the good food. When Gu Hai was busy washing dishes in the kitchen, Bai Luoyin found it boring to sit in the living room alone, so he grabbed the donkey and started to fiddle with it. The moment Gu Hai heard his son crying out, he stretched his head out for a glance only to see Bai Luoyin smiling cheerfully. That kind of childish appearance was especially moving, causing Gu Hai's heart to soften into a ball of cotton. Just as Bai Luoyin turned toward him for a look, Gu Hai withdrew that warm gaze and coldly demanded, “Put my son down!” However, instead of putting the donkey down, Bai Luoyin placed its head between his own legs and let it willfully shake. The look of ecstasy that blanketed his eyes instantly punctured Gu Hai's frail little heart. You motherfucker! Gu Hai cursed to himself. You only know how to use this trick to control me! 胳膊肘往外拐 – literal translation is "turn your elbow outward", but metaphorically it means, "To help someone else rather than the person closer to you (which in turn harm that person)". Normally, your elbow faces outward so when you turn it any other way, you're trying to break that normality.
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After Gu Hai finished cleaning up, he went back to the living room and saw Bai Luoyin lying comfortably on the sofa. “Go sleep at your dorm! Ungrateful fools aren't allowed to stay here.” Just as the last word dispersed, Bai Luoyin got up. Gu Hai’s chest tightened. Fuck, is he really going to leave? While he was busy worrying, Bai Luoyin's foot took a sudden turn toward the bathroom before he went inside. Soon after, the sound of splashing water tumbled into Gu Hai's perky ears, causing a bristle grass92 to somehow magically appear at the center of his heart… tickling it until this heart of his ached! In less than five minutes, Gu Hai casually walked into the bathroom like a wild cat. Once the two settled comfortably in the bathtub, Bai Luoyin cleaned and massage Gu Hai's back. Then after, Gu Hai turned to face him and rubbed Xiao Yin Zi. Bai Luoyin could not help but ask, “How exactly did you hurt Lao Zhou?” Since that matter was brought up again, Gu Hai felt rather proud of himself. He immediately told Bai Luoyin the entire process from beginning to end, including the initial preparation, the various obstacles, and the emergency contingency plans. In short, it was a very meticulous and thought-out design. As he listened to everything, Bai Luoyin stared at Gu Hai in disbelief. “Wow, I didn't expect this! You really know your stuff!” “Of course,” Gu Hai coolly snorted, “All my honesty and foolishness are only reserve for you. No one else is lucky enough to experience it.” Bai Luoyin’s mood instantly became relaxed. “Don’t move!” Gu Hai abruptly turned Bai Luoyin’s head toward him before his eyes moved closer. “There’s a pimple on your face!” “Give me a break!” Bai Luoyin attempted to push him away. But Gu Hai hugged him while his hot breath floated into Bai Luoyin’s ear. “How did you know I wanted to kiss you?” Without saying anything, Bai Luoyin went ahead and bit Gu Hai's cheek first. Gu Hai smiled rather gently instead, “You’re so bad!” After the bath, the two were being affectionate on the bed when Bai Luoyin asked, “Da Hai, have you been back to our apartment at the International Trade building after I left?”93 Gu Hai’s hands, that was passionately roaming around Bai Luoyin’s bareback, suddenly stopped. He softly replied, “I went once. What happened?” “Then was the food still on the table when you stopped by?” “What food?” Gu Hai asked, his face muddled with confusion. Bai Luoyin’s expression changed. After thinking it through, he should have expected that. Someone must have gone to their little nest before Gu Hai had the chance to go back. He reckoned the dishes that he had personally made have long been fed on by the houseflies. “What’s going on?" Gu Hai asked again, pressing his forehead against Bai Luoyin’s. “It’s nothing.” Bai Luoyin pinched Gu Hai's nape with all his might. “One of these days, I'll cook a meal for you!” “You?” Gu Hai laughed until his chin nearly fell off, “Will it be edible?” Bai Luoyin coldly snorted, “Even if it's not edible, you still have to eat it!” “Why are you so evil?” Gu Hai asked as he intimately licked the tip of Bai Luoyin’s nose. bristle grass ( 狗尾巴草) if you break the characters down, it means 'a dog wagging its tail (grass)'. It looks like a dog's tail XD 93 Refer to Book One - Chapter 208 when Bai Luoyin cooked for Gu Hai before leaving. 92
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Bai Luoyin let out a faint, ‘of course’, followed by a light moan before then he turned over and pressed Gu Hai beneath him. On the weekend, carrying a bag of small tonics, Bai Luoyin went to the hospital with an incomparably heavy heart. Before he entered Zhou Lingyun's room, Bai Luoyin was already mentally prepared to be bombarded. He even went so far as to draw out Zhou Lingyun's raging face in his mind, and even without entering, he could imagine what his reaction would be upon seeing him. However, everything was beyond what he had anticipated. Zhou Lingyun’s psychological state was very good… at least from the surface, no sense of oppression can be seen, that is. On the contrary, his aura appeared rather refreshed. But even though he had on a patient's gown, his oppressive military demeanor could not be concealed. Seeing such a face, Bai Luoyin instead felt a bit uneasy. “Why aren't you coming in?” Zhou Lingyun faintly asked. Bai Luoyin awkwardly smiled, “I was afraid you wouldn't let me in.” Zhou Lingyun smiled until his domineering expression was exposed. Honestly, it was as though he was not the person Gu Hai had tormented and humiliated. “What? Why wouldn’t I let you in? I’ve actually been waiting for you for several days now. Everyone else has come to see me already but you are the only one that's slow to show up. I don’t normally treat you that bad, right? You have always cheerfully talked back to me with defiant, yet why is it that when I am injured, you don’t give a damn?” The more Bai Luoyin listened, the more uneasy he felt. What the hell is he trying to say? Seeing the apprehensive expression on Bai Luoyin’s face, Zhou Lingyun immediately consoled him. “Don’t take what happened to heart. I am clearly aware of the fact that you and your brother are two different people. Even if Gu Hai intentionally messed with me for your sake, I know that you did not provoke him to do it.” Hearing those words, Bai Luoyin felt rather at odds. As he stood in front of Zhou Lingyun with this kind of mentally, he could not help but feel especially insignificant all of a sudden. “Show your military spirit! Where have all your energy and rebellious nature gone? Are you only here to let me see the back of your neck?” Zhou Lingyun abruptly Bai Luoyin immediately straightened his back. Zhou Lingyun revealed another inexplicable smile, “I want to ask you something.” “Please go ahead,” Bai Luoyin looked earnestly at Zhou Lingyun. Suddenly a look of wickedness settled in Zhou Lingyun's eyes as he glared at Bai Luoyin; this glare was the kind that made Bai Luoyin’s heart sank. “Do you and Gu Hai often contact each other in private?” Bai Luoyin’s chest tightened as he looked at Zhou Lingyun, unsure of what he wanted him to say. “If you are in contact with him often, can I trouble you to relay a message to him? I am very interested in him, invited him out for a few drinks with me someday.” All the built-up pressure in Bai Luoyin's stomach nearly burst at those words dispersed. “Wing Commander, if you are angry, take it out on me! Everything happened because of me! I am willing to bear all the responsibilities.” “You are mistaken. I really do like him,” Zhou Lingyun’s sternly said with sparkling eyes. Bai Luoyin nearly spewed out blood.
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Remaining calm and collected, Zhou Ling Yin fiddled with the cigarette lighter in his hand then slightly smiled at Bai Luoyin. “To tell you the truth, he has the same mischievous demeanor as I did when I was younger!” All the blood in Bai Luoyin’s body clotted. He could not help but faintly feel that Zhou Lingyun was not joking around. Translate: Sae
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43 A Gift for You
“At this time, we want to express our gratitude to all the professors and specialists who have participated in the implementation of this Wireless Navigation Exchange Project. Our company is truly honored to have the privilege of representing all the enterprises in hosting this meeting…” Gu Hai’s sharp and deep voice slowly sounded through the conference room. There was a total of thirty engineers participating in this meeting and the layout turned out to be rather fantastic. To Gu Hai’s left, all the participants were men and to his right, the participants were all women. With the men and women seated directly across each other, it did not look like a project meeting at all, but rather, more like a blind date convention. However, the atmosphere was still very serious. At the very least, no hint of any frivolous demeanor could be seen on Gu Hai’s face. Bai Luoyin sat on the left side, directly facing Yan Yajing. Every time he casually glanced at her, he discovered her gazing attentively at Gu Hai. Although everyone was also looking at Gu Hai, the expression in her eyes was entirely different. “Now, let us invite the project leader, Mr. Bai Luoyin for a few words!” It was not until the applause sounded did Bai Luoyin finally sobered up from his absentmindedness. His lips slightly parted as he began to steadily elaborate on the military’s preliminary proposals and implementations pertaining to the project. All the participants earnestly listened to Bai Luoyin’s speech, even Gu Hai was no exception. However, his eyes focused on Bai Luoyin’s lips the entire time as it opened and closed, exposing
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two rows of white teeth. As he spoke, his cheek muscles incessantly tightened and relaxed…making it hard for him to not think of a particular movement… “Alright, that concludes my speech.” After the applause ended, Gu Hai made a brief summary of Bai Luoyin’s speech. “I’ve carefully listened to Mr. Bai Luoyin’s speech just now. Let me sum up his ideas into five main points…” Bai Luoyin looked at Gu Hai with a faint smile, and although there was a proud expression riding his face, he was secretly thinking: If you were actually fucking listening carefully, my surname isn’t Bai! After the meeting ended, the military participants and the company’s female employees shook hands one after another. Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai also put on an act and firmly shook hands while looking at each other in a polite manner. Gu Hai respectfully added, “It has been a pleasurable collaboration. If there are any problems in the future, please contact me anytime.” Yan Yajing stood waiting for Gu Hai near the door. However, Gu Hai was still holding Bai Luoyin’s hand, refusing to let go. “Gu-zong, are you going back to the office now?” Yan Yajing’s clear voice softly sounded. Without turning his head, Gu Hai answered: “I’m not going back yet. Bai-shouzhang and I still have some unfinished business to discuss. You can head back first!” Bai Luoyin gave Yan Yajing a courteous smile. Once the door closed, a certain President immediately discarded his serious demeanor. His big hands fervently caressed Bai Luoyin’s face as if he hasn’t seen him for several days while his eyes seemed to have nearly penetrated his skin. Bai Luoyin looked impatiently at Gu Hai with a darkened expression. That, however, made Gu Hai even more excited. He instantly rushed to close the inch of distance between them and sealed Bai Luoyin’s lips with his. When they finally separated, Gu Hai gasped for breath and said, “Just looking at you speak made my heart ached!” “You can really act!” Honestly, Bai Luoyin wanted to grab Gu Hai by the neck and hang him on the display screen in his company’s lounge. That way, all the employees can enjoy the face that he had on. Taking advantage of Bai Luoyin’s wandering mind, Gu Hai’s mischievously hands snuck toward his military pants before boldly making its way straight into his underpants. Then he wickedly grabbed and kneaded Bai Luoyin’s two very supple butt cheeks, all the while, inhaling in and out in a seemingly seductive manner. Bai Luoyin truly admired Gu Hai, “How can you be aroused everywhere you go?” “Me being aroused has nothing to do with the location. Wherever you are, is where I’ll be aroused.” Hearing that absurd statement, Bai Luoyin coldly snorted, “Slut!” “Even if I am, but not as slutty as you!” Gu Hai giddily bit Bai Luoyin’s ear and softly whispered, “Last night, which little officer was it who cried out, ‘no more, I can’t’, after I’ve only licked him a few times, hmmm? Which little officer incessantly begged me to go in just a little deeper? Which little officer…” “That’s enough!” Bai Luoyin interrupted, feeling embarrassed and resentful. “Can’t you say something a bit more serious?” “I can’t.” Gu Hai’s hands slithered toward Bai Luoyin’s waist. Bai Luoyin immediately felt a touch of electric currents crept up his skin and forcefully stopped Gu Hai’s obscene behaviors before quickly adjusting his uniform. Then he looked sternly at
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Gu Hai and reminded him, “I’m warning you, don’t do anything like that when I’m wearing my uniform. It’s a disgrace to my reputation and integrity!” Gu Hai secretly replied, one of these days, I’ll make you wear this uniform while I fuck you! Having said what he needed to first, Bai Luoyin then steadied his breathe and stared earnestly at Gu Hai. “There’s one more thing I have to tell you. From now on, only I can come to look for you at your company. You can’t go look for me at the military base!” “Why?” Gu Hai’s brows wrung together. Bai Luoyin’s expression instantly changed and even the tone of his voice was harsh. “There’s no reason why. If I tell you not to come, just don’t come. Get someone else to deliver the meals for you. In short, don’t show your face so often at the base anymore.” Since Bai Luoyin was trying to put forth such a severe condition, more so, without any reasons at all, it was only natural that Gu Hai will not readily accept it. “You have to give me a reason!” Summoning up a bit of courage, Bai Luoyin forced himself to say, “Zhou Lingyun has been discharged from the hospital.” “Why can’t I go to the base just because he’s been discharged?” Gu Hai coldly groaned, “Are you afraid he’ll retaliate against me or are you afraid it will affect your relationship with him if I show up?” Even though this predicament had been the source of Bai Luoyin’s annoyance for the past few days, Gu Hai’s pettiness cannot be blamed. Sadly, since he was unable to make peace with the uneasiness that twisted his heartstrings or can speak of it with Gu Hai, he can only dish out such a severe command. In the end, not only did Gu Hai refused to obey him, he persistently twisted the facts instead. How can Bai Luoyin be at ease?! “You don’t need to know why. I’m telling you not to go so just don’t bother going!” Bai Luoyin’s expression became increasingly revolting. Gu Hai is a person with a great imagination. Even for something that does not have any definite sides, he can still come up with a pattern for it. Not to mention when the words spoken to him were so ambiguous like this. “Bai Luoyin, tell me the truth. What exactly is going on between you and that Wing Commander? Since the day I did that to him, whether intentional or not, you’ve been criticizing me. I can see how exhausted you usually are from work, so I didn’t have the heart to say anything. But you still fucking bring it up again and again. Is it really worth it to be angry with me because of a Wing Commander that you’ve known for less than two months?” “You’re actually asking what’s going on between me and him?” Bai Luoyin’s anger rose until he nearly spewed blood. “I should be the one to fucking ask you! On the day that you decided to get even with him, aside from deceiving him into the malfunctioned aircraft, you didn’t do anything else?” The unspoken implication of his words was: Did you really not do anything else to him? If you really didn’t, why the fuck would he fall for you after you tortured him like that? This time, Gu Hai’s expression really darkened without a hint of mischief. He clutched Bai Luoyin’s collar and promptly asked, “What do you mean? Did you think I beat him a few more times without telling you? Or are you suspecting I secretly did something shady behind your back, huh? Bai Luoyin, in your heart, he is more honest and sincerer while I’m viler and more repulsive?!” Bai Luoyin inhaled a few frantic breaths, then turned to leave. Gu Hai immediately pulled Bai Luoyin back and stared at him intently. “Clarify what you said before you leave!” “I can’t clarify it.” Bai Luoyin said then suddenly shook off Gu Hai’s grip.
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Unwilling to let him go, Gu Hai stepped forward to pester him again. The two that had stuck close before had begun to tear at each other in less than ten minutes. A couple of minutes later, the department manager knocked on the door while Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin were still fighting inside. But when she pushed the door open, the two had already leaned over the conference table, looking at a blueprint as they ‘seriously’ discussed something. “Gu-zong, please sign here first. This document needs to be submitted to the higher-ups.” Just as Gu Hai turned around to get a pen, Bai Luoyin walked out. Once Bai Luoyin arrived at the military base, he immediately switched off his cell phone. His gloomy and intimidating face was more than enough to scare anyone witless. Every time Bai Luoyin thought of Zhou Lingyun’s bright and exhilarating expressions when he mentioned Gu Hai, he could not help but feel that Zhou Lingyun must had taken advantage of Gu Hai in some manner. The more he thought of it, the more infuriated he became. It’s obvious he is the one being careless and seductive with others, yet he has the nerves to accuse me all the time!! Bai Luoyin was in his room venting his anger when he suddenly heard someone calling for him from the outside. “Major, someone is here looking for you!” Not in the mood for anything, Bai Luoyin simply shouted: “I don’t want to see anyone!” In the end, his sentence of ‘I don’t want to see anyone’, was not effective as the door pushed open. Bai Luoyin was about to ask, ‘why are you here?’ when he noticed the person wasn’t Gu Hai. But rather, it was another familiar face. Gu Yang removed his sunglasses, revealing his grave and stern face with a smile drawn across it. “Why don’t you want to see me?” Bai Luoyin’s expression changed but his tone remained harsh. “Why are you here?” “I’m on a business trip,” Gu Yang said indifferently, “…and I decided to pass by to show my concern on how you’ve been living.” Bai Luoyin coldly snorted, “How come you decided to show concern about me now?” “I’ve always been concern about you,” Gu Yang said with a vague smile. Not speaking, Bai Luoyin stood up to make Gu Yang a cup of tea then passed it to him. “It’s not bad, drink it!” Gu Yang clasped the teacup in his hands and smelt the sweat fragrance flowed into his nostrils, brushing away all the exhaustion he felt. In actuality, he had come specifically to see Bai Luoyin; it was unrelated to business. As for the reason why traveled from so far to come to the base, even he himself does not know. Bai Luoyin opposite of Gu Yang and indifferently asked, “Did you went to see Gu Hai?” “No.” Still wearing an uninterested expression, Bai Luoyin lit a cigarette and bluntly asked, “You’re the one that ate the food in the kitchen last time, right?” “Which time are you referring to?” Bai Luoyin blew out a puff of smoke and coldly asked again, “How many times in total could there have been?” Looking straight at Bai Luoyin through the smoke, there was a strange sense of enticement about him that charmed Gu Yang. “Altogether, two times.” Gu Yang readily responded. Bai Luoyin’s expression became sluggish, “Two times? When was the other time?”
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“Eight years ago,” Gu Yang replied, “I ate the very first meal that you personally made!” One can imagine the bitterness and hatred crowding Bai Luoyin’s heart. Back then, Gu Yang was the one who sent Gu Hai to the gates of hell with his own hands and Bai Luoyin had made that very meal in a mournful state of mind. But unexpectedly, it was fed to this evil person! “It was really unappetizing!” Gu Yang added. Fuck! Bai Luoyin mentally cursed in rage, letting you fucking eat it was already your luck, yet you still complained it taste bad? Gu Yang was especially interested in seeing the changes in Bai Luoyin’s expression. “Those dishes were intended for a grave visit. But in the end, it wasn’t taken and left behind at home instead.” Bai Luoyin said, intentionally making it hard for Gu Yang. Instead of getting mad, Gu Yang smiled, “Whose grave did you intend to bring it to?” “Yours.” Bai Luoyin twisted the cigarette butt on the ashtray. Gu Yang remained calm and collected as he fiddled with a pair of sunglasses before he faintly said, “Actually…when I ate that meal, I regretted it. You might not believe it but during these past eight years, I’ve always worried about you because of that one decision.” Even though he was listening to his words, Bai Luoyin’s eyes were solely focused on the sunglasses in Gu Yang’s hands instead. It was the sunglasses that Gu Hai wore as a mean to enhance his own image when he messed with people. Gu Yang had seen it on the table and out of the habit of having something in his hand, he played with it. But Bai Luoyin suddenly felt that the sunglasses suited Gu Yang really well. “Can you give me a chance?” Gu Yang’s hand reached toward Bai Luoyin’s face. However, Bai Luoyin’s movements were quicker than his as he grabbed the sunglasses and placed it on Gu Yang’s face. He put the pair of glasses on Gu Yang’s face. Then the corner of his mouth rose before he faintly said, “As expected, it does suit you.” “I’m not used to wearing flat lens sunglasses.” Gu Yang said, wanting to remove it. But Bai Luoyin gripped his hand and smiled secretively. “It’s my gift to you.”
Translate: Sae
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44 A Battlefield at Every Corner
When Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin was caught in the middle of a cold war, they did not contact each other for three days. The cold war was essentially a battle between Bai Luoyin’s stomach and Xiao Hai Zi. The result of the battle was mainly to see whose patience lasted longer. That afternoon, as Bai Luoyin sat in the research room, his stomach began to rumble with such hunger that pain crept to his sides while his heart and stomach were waging a mighty battle with each other. That strong-minded heart was constantly reminding Bai Luoyin he must persevere until the very end. However, his wicked stomach kept on urging him to turn his phone on. Just as the two sides were battling it out to the death, a sudden turn of event appeared. “Xiao Bai, your take-out is here!” Bai Luoyin’s heart had never throbbed as fast as it did now—not even when he tested his many fighter aircraft. Since it was only a few steps between the research rooms to the main door, Bai Luoyin urged himself to calm down repeatedly. He must pretend to refuse the lunchbox first then wait until the other person pesters again, only to finally shove it in his hand before he reluctantly accepts it. But, upon seeing that the delivery person was Huang Shun and using the excuse that he did not want to make it difficult for such a strenuous worker, Bai Luoyin quickly accepted the lunch box. With the lunchbox tightly in his hands, he made a beeline to his dorm to avoid those scheming engineers from seeing it and robbing him again. Don’t mention eating it, just the smell alone was enough to make Bai Luoyin panic with delight. He must slowly enjoy it alone in his dorm!
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Before opening the lunchbox, Bai Luoyin did his utmost to calm down his emotions. What's inside? Steamed meat buns would be the best! The last time Gu Hai made it, the steam smelled extremely fragrance, the skin was soft and savory, and the stuffing inside oozed flavorful oil with just one bite. In the end, Bai Luoyin was utterly shocked when he opened the lunchbox. There were indeed steamed meat buns inside, but the thing was…it was all flat and not three-dimensional buns. The so-called ‘flatness’ used to depict this arose from the fact that it was actually a piece of paper with images of steamed meat buns on it. The wicked part was all the buns were bitten, exposing the delicious stuffing that was not so coyly calling out Bai Luoyin’s name. Beneath the buns were images of every kind of food, all of which Gu Hai had personally made before he shot pictures of them with a high-definition camera. Fuck! It's even more seductive than seeing it all in person! Bai Luoyin clenched his fists. One can truly imagine the grief and indignation he felt. So, what? It’s just a pile of food pictures! Those could be found anywhere online, why put it in the lunchbox just to make it unbearable for him?! Even if he was beaten to death, Bai Luoyin refused to admit that he, after going through challenging experiences and overcoming unimaginable difficulties the ordinary person could not endure in the military, would ultimately give in to a lunchbox. No, I must not surrender! Meanwhile, sitting in front of a huge table full of delicious food, Gu Hai had been eating from seven to ten o’clock. That was all done so when a certain someone knocked on the door and came in to see the food, he would immediately decide not to leave. As a result, the someone he longed for turned out to be the mail courier. “Mr. Gu Hai? This express delivery is for you, please sign here.” When Gu Hai took the package inside and opened, he immediately smelled Bai Luoyin’s distinctive scent. He lowered his head for a look. Oh shit! There was a lot of stuff. Bai Luoyin’s underwear, socks, shirt, kneepads… and at the very bottom, Gu Hai also saw a few strands of hair stuck on the clothes. Perhaps, Bai Luoyin had for some reasons placed it there on purpose, and although no one knew where it came from, Gu Hai alone would know for sure. That night, after tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep, Gu Hai got up to smoke at a little over one o’clock. Sadly, the smoke formed into an erotic figure of Bai Luoyin. Shit, he got me good! That bastard is so bad! It really does take vigilance to keep evil away!94 Gu Hai wished he could reincarnate as Tu Hang Sun,95 flee thousands of miles into the ground, just to dig a hole beneath Bai Luoyin's dorm, pull him out and madly rough him up! But since it was a battle of willpower, Gu Hai does not want to easily admit defeat! Bai Luoyin had also been waiting for most of the night. At first, he thought that Gu Hai would certainly storm into his dorm but in the end, he did not hear any movements. No longer able to endure the call of slumber, he soon fell asleep. 道高一尺魔高一丈: idiom that mean, 'as virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten.' Or, 'the more illuminated, the more temptation'. In short, when there is good, there is evil that is ten times worse. Gu Hai was implying that he is the good person and the evil Bai Luoyin is trying to take him down with his immoral behaviors so he has to be more attentive. 95 Tu Hang Su (土行孙) – an immortal in the Chinese novel 封神演義 ('The Investiture of the Gods' or 'The Creation of the Gods') which is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods-anddemons (shenmo) genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Consisting of 100 chapters, it was first published in book form around the 1550s. The work combines elements of history, folklore, mythology, legends and fantasy. 94
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In the afternoon of the next day, he received another pile of pictures that were even more intimidating. After a quick browse, all the blood in Bai Luoyin’s body began to flow backward. The images were ambiguous group photos of Gu Hai with his female employees. There were some with two people, three people, in the company, in entertainment places, and even in the hotel… when he finally got to the last picture, Bai Luoyin saw a shot of Gu Hai and Yan Yajing kissing affectionately. In reality, Gu Hai had someone Photoshop these pictures. Nevertheless, Bai Luoyin was struck with anger looking at them. Even if it was to make him mad, but to deliberately create such abominations is utterly unforgivable! Boiling with rage, the Major wanted to immediately take his car and rush to Gu Hai's company to cut a person!96 Bai Luoyin changed his clothes, locked the door and got halfway, but turned back instead. That is definitely a trap… Bai Luoyin said to himself. There must be something wrong with those pictures. Who would actually have nothing better to do than to take those pictures? If it was deliberately taken to make me angry, then isn't it impossible to move around to so many venues in one day? Just as he was contemplating, a soldier walked past him in a rush. “Stop!” Bai Luoyin shouted a command, causing the soldier to look nervously at him. “What’s in your hand?” There was a small box held firmly in the soldier’s hands, and upon Bai Luoyin close inquiry, he had no choice but to comply and response. “A few pairs of socks I bought online.” Bai Luoyin lifted his chin, “Open it. I want to take a look.” The soldier started to open the box in an exasperatingly slow manner, and just as he said, there were really several pairs of socks inside, but when Bai Luoyin removed the middle of the cardboard box, he discovered a few small boxes of condoms hidden beneath. With a beating red face, the soldier quickly explained: “That… that might be gifts from the shop owner.” Bai Luoyin coldly snorted, “Tell me, was it purchase condoms and get socks as gifts or purchase socks and get condoms as gifts, hmm?” “Purchase… purchase socks and get condoms as gifts.” Hearing that answer, Bai Luoyin couldn't help but to internally sneered to himself. What condom brands haven’t I used before? These socks look like they only cost ten yuan for three pairs and these boxes of condom are completely full. Even if you added all these socks together, it's not even worth one box of condoms. Who are you trying to joke with? “Since it’s a gift, then give it to me!” Bai Luoyin reached his hands out. The soldier stood frozen in shock. Bai Luoyin faintly asked, “Do you need it?” The soldier automatically shook his head. Bai Luoyin shoved the socks into the soldier’s hand, took the box of condoms and left. Back in his dorm, Bai Luoyin began to conjure a scheme. This will most definitely be more ruthless than Gu Hai’s pictures. He will fill the condom with his cum and send it to Gu Hai! I don’t believe that I can’t punish you! With that in mind, Bai Luoyin immediately went into the bathroom to commence his grand operation. Sadly, although in his heart he hated that guy, he still had to depend on him during such a crucial moment like now. While he put on the condom on, Bai Luoyin started to fantasize about the numerous intimate scenes between him and Gu Hai. Eventually, his breaths became heavier as he 96
cut a person – also can be translated to 'get rid of someone!'
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became more aroused. Finally, he painfully released a moan as a gush of thick cloudy liquid sprayed in his palm. Just as Bai Luoyin had carefully put the liquid into the condom and turned around to leave the bathroom, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, making his heart jump. The corner of Gu Yang’s lip slightly rose. The condom in Bai Luoyin’s hand dropped to the ground. “When did you get here?” Gu Yang laughed devilishly, looking at him. “Since you went into the bathroom.” Bai Luoyin’s head exploded. He could not imagine that while he was alone in the bathroom masturbating, there was someone behind him enjoying the whole thing. It would have been fine if the person was Gu Hai but instead, it had to be the person he wanted to see the least. Just thinking about it, Bai Luoyin truly wanted to die. In reality, Gu Yang only saw the end of it since Bai Luoyin’s back was toward the door the entire time, so he could only make out what he was doing. But as to how he did it, Gu Yang did not see it at all. That, however, did not stop him from enjoying Bai Luoyin’s gasp. Perhaps, even Bai Luoyin was unaware of how charming and tempting his own moment of release was. Bai Luoyin washed his hands and calmly walked out of the bathroom. “What are you doing here again?” A small smile appeared in Gu Yang’s eyes. “Seeing how depressing it is that you are in the military base all day, I wanted to take you out to relax.” At first, Bai Luoyin wanted to say that he was not interested. But after thinking it through… he realized that he has to go to Zhou Lingyun's office if he wanted to request time off… so as a result, he immediately agreed. On the way there, Bai Luoyin deliberately Gu Yang asked, “How come you’re not wearing the sunglasses I gave you?” “I left it in the car,” Gu Yang said. Bai Luoyin's sharp and enthralling gaze swept toward Gu Yang as his lips slightly parted. “Put it on!” In Gu Yang’s eyes, that order held a bit of suspicion! But, seeing as a certain person was in a particularly good mood, he got the sunglasses and wore it. Once they arrived at Zhou Lingyun/s office, Bai Luoyin made Gu Yang wait outside on purpose as he headed inside to request the time off. “Wing Commander, I have to go out to handle some business, please grant me leave!" Without looking up, Zhou Lingyun indifferently responded, “You don't have any more leave for the month.” “The President of Haiyin High-Tech Co. invited me out to discuss the collaboration of this project. Since he took time off his busy schedule to come here, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to ignore him?” As expected, Zhou Lingyun's eyes brightened up in delight. “Gu Hai?” Bai Luoyin nodded his head. Zhou Lingyun stood up and looked out, and sure enough, he saw a familiar figure— especially since that pair of shining sunglasses had been thoroughly embedded in his mind. Moreover, every time he thought of it and the person it belonged to, he would be fired up. “Hurry, go! But come back early!”
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Zhou Lingyun patted Bai Luoyin’s shoulder, giving him a meaningful expression. It was obviously implying: After the two of you have finished discussing business matters, it's best to come back together. Your leader's life and happiness depend on you!
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45 On the Verge of War
When Gu Hai was waiting in his office and did not receive any response, he could not help but be concerned and start to mumble to himself. He didn’t really get mad, did he? He took out the pictures and skimmed through it once more, and unsurprisingly, the more he looked at it, the more he felt he went overboard. Wouldn’t it be impossible to reconcile if Bai Luoyin actually believed all that? After thinking it through several more times, Gu Hai felt it was better to personally go to the base for a look, just to be on the safe side. Once work was over, Gu Hai drove to the base only to discover that Bai Luoyin’s dorm was locked. He went to the research lab where he was informed that Bai Luoyin had not shown up all day. Looking at his watch, it was nearly time for dinner. Perhaps, he went out to eat, Gu Hai thought. With that in mind, he returned to Bai Luoyin’s dorm and waited inside. Glancing around, Gu Hai spotted the pile of pictures he had sent earlier on the table. He picked them up for another look and found that Bai Luoyin had already crumbled up the picture of him and Yan Yajing together. It was clearer than the day that Bai Luoyin was livid at that time. Forget it… Gu Hai could not help but think, since the goal has been achieved, let’s call it quits! With that thought, Gu Hai began to put Bai Luoyin’s room back in order. Having not visited for a few days, it was not hard to imagine how unbearable it was for Gu Hai to see the mess. Just as Gu Hai was tidying Bai Luoyin’s dirty clothes, he suddenly found a few boxes of condoms beneath the pillow. However, he did not remember whether he had ever left these kinds of things here or
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not. Since he was not the one who bought them, then where did they come from? The most important question was, why would Bai Luoyin need these things when he lived in the dorm alone? An ominous premonition leaped into his mind, provoking Gu Hai to shudder. But he quickly dispelled that suspicion. Bai Luoyin is not a promiscuous person… plus, it’s only been three days since we’ve been in contact. There’s no way he would insult himself over such a trivial matter. Gu Hai thought as he placed the condoms back and took the dirty clothes to the bathroom. But just as he opened the bathroom door, he smelled a peculiar scent. It was a scent that he was extremely familiar with. His eyes subconsciously wandered in all direction until it suddenly fixed on a particular corner. Locking on the target, he picked up the condom. It was two completely different matter if Bai Luoyin were to take the initiative and send something like that versus Gu Hai personally picking it up. He simply could not imagine Bai Luoyin would do such things himself. Who would go through the trouble of wearing a condom while masturbating? As he kept thinking about it, he still felt it was impossible. Where did the condom and cum inside come from then? Just as doubts and uncertainties gripped Gu Hai’s mind, two voices sounded at the door. “What the hell? I remember locking the door when we went out!” Bai Luoyin was puzzled. “I remember you had locked it too.” Gu Yang added from the side. Gu Hai went into a severe shock; his whole body to freeze at the doorway of the bathroom. Bai Luoyin’s brain immediately exploded when he quickly discovered Gu Hai and saw the thing that he was holding in his hand. Shit! The joke has gone overboard this time! If Gu Hai really misunderstands then it’s not going to be easy to clarify or resolve it! Gu Yang calmly shot Gu Hai a glance, “You’re here too?” Gu Hai looked at Gu Yang with a bone-chilling gaze. If it was any other person walking into the dorm with Bai Luoyin, he would have not thought it was strange but not Gu Yang! Every time he returned to Beijing, he always informed Gu Hai beforehand. But, this time, he had hidden it and came to see Bai Luoyin first. Perhaps, it was not just this time but many other times before. It was just, he never knew about it. By now, Gu Yang has also detected the abnormality in the atmosphere. When he saw the thing in Gu Hai’s hand, he immediately understood the reason why he was looking at him like that. Bai Luoyin hesitantly called out to Gu Hai. As if not hearing a single word, Gu Hai leaped toward Gu Yang like a vicious tiger that was determined to return to the mountain. Fortunately, Gu Yang was somewhat prepared, otherwise with such a fierce and straight on punch, he would have been knocked unconscious on the spot. From Bai Luoyin’s perspective, Gu Hai and Gu Yang had always appeared as if they do not get along, but in reality, their relationship was fairly good. Otherwise, Gu Hai would not have chosen to forgive him after experiencing a life and death situation. Moreover, he even gave Gu Yang a set of keys to his house. But now, Bai Luoyin could not make out an ounce of tolerance or misgiving on Gu Hai’s face. There were only four very distinctive words written in his scarlet eyes, ‘You are not family’.97 As the two wrestled, it was obvious Gu Hai had the upper hand in physical strength and added on his riotous mental state, he can simply beat Gu Yang to death. A burst of flesh and bones being struck sounded along with a certain someone’s raging curses resonated in the entire room. 97
六親不認 – disown/not recognize one’s relatives and friends; it was difficult to translate it to only four words to
Chinese text so I changed it a bit.
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For Bai Luoyin, a person who was extremely familiar with wrestling and combat, how could he look on without doing anything? Having sensed that another person has gotten involved, Gu Hai’s mood became even more irritable. The sharp and icy glare that swept toward Bai Luoyin sank into despair, causing him to practically lose his mind before he roared, “You’re actually helping him to hit me?!!” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin’s hands were aching to give him two big slaps on the face! Take a good hard look, who the fuck am I helping? With two genuinely robust men striking at him together, how could Gu Yang’s ending be good? He could see that Bai Luoyin was not even trying to mediate this quarrel but instead, he was simply taking the opportunity to seek revenge. A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are obviously against him. If it continued on, he would surely lose his life. As a result, Gu Yang secretly endured the humiliation welling up in his heart and forcefully shove them off before rushing out of the door. Gu Yang’s departure did not end the battle. Seeing that the fight was still in progress, Bai Luoyin angrily shouted, “He is gone already!” “I know he is gone!” Gu Hai’s pitch-black face was penetrating, “I am fucking hitting you!” “What are you hitting me for?” Bai Luoyin coldly confronted him. Gu Hai’s heart was already drenched with blood while his voice trembled uncontrollably, “Why am I hitting you? Judging by the ‘good deeds’ you’ve done, even if I killed you, it wouldn’t be enough!!” Bai Luoyin knew whatever he wanted to say now was pointless. In order to quickly remedy the situation, he must obtain adequate evidence. While he was still thinking, Gu Hai turned his entire body over to the floor. Luck was on his side. When he landed on the floor, he spotted the main culprit (the condom) not even ten centimeters away. A bright idea suddenly lit up in Bai Luoyin’s mind as he rapidly reached for the condom. Then he held it up in front of Gu Hai’s eyes. “Take a good look!” It would have been better if Gu Hai did not see that accusing item because, with just one glance, he became even more infuriated. It was to the point that Bai Luoyin’s neck was nearly twisted off. Bai Luoyin was also enraged as he snarled savagely and forcefully shoved the condom inside Gu Hai’s mouth. “Take a good taste of it yourself. Who the fuck does it belong to?” The two were highly knowledgeable, experts even, in distinguishing each other’s body odor and the scent of either bodily fluid. With just one sniff, Gu Hai was able to clearly distinguish that the content belonged to Bai Luoyin. Once he sensed Gu Hai’s body tensed up, Bai Luoyin harshly questioned him again. “Use your dick to think about it, would a person like your brother let me fuck him?” The blood in Gu Hai’s body slowly became warm, and although his expression did not immediately recover, his gazes were already more relaxed. “What the hell? You had nothing better to do than to masturbate and shove your cum in there?” Since things have come to this point, Bai Luoyin no longer intended to save his own face. If I lose face, then so be it. It’s much better than having to lose out to that person. “You have the nerve to ask me why? You sent me so many pictures, wouldn’t it be inappropriate if I didn’t give something back to you?” Gu Hai suddenly came to a realization. Bai Luoyin got up and sat on the chair before calmly fixed tidying his clothes.
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Gu Hai also stood up and walked to Bai Luoyin’s side before he quietly asked, “Then tell me, why were you angry with me that day? Why won’t you let me come to the base?” With an expressionless face, Bai Luoyin spilled out the reason. Hearing that, Gu Hai burst into laughter while Bai Luoyin felt ashamed and resentful. “Get the fuck out of here if you’re going to continue laughing!” Gu Hai pinched Bai Luoyin flaming cheeks, not knowing whether or not he should laugh or cry at this point. “What do you want me to say? Is it necessary for you to go so far just to protect me from that kind of old bastard?” “Who is protecting you?” Bai Luoyin angrily retorted, “I’m guarding against him!” “You could have just left him for me to guard against,” Gu Hai said faintly. Bai Luoyin snorted, “There’s no need for that, I found a substitute for you.” As Gu Hai’s face was smeared with confusion, Bai Luoyin generously detailed his entire plan. Just hearing it caused Gu Hai to tremble. “What? You dragged my brother into the mess?” “Now you see him as your brother?” Bai Luoyin shot Gu Hai a glance, “How come I didn’t hear you calling him brother when you were hitting him a moment ago?” “Wasn’t it because I was enraged and lost my mind then?” The more Gu Hai thought about it, the more he found that it was not quite right. “When did he get back to Beijing? How come I didn’t know? What did you do when you went out with him?” Bai Luoyin repeated everything that Gu Yang had said to him to Gu Hai. Gu Hai instantly said, “You should have given that dickhead to the old bastard ages ago!” Gu Yang sat in the car with a swollen face and bloody nose and blood that dripped from the corner of his mouth. He had suffered a fracture on his arm which made it difficult to control the steering wheel. Without no other option, he reduced the speed and drove slowly across the training grounds. When a silhouette suddenly flashed in front of his car, Gu Yang stepped on the brake. Once the car stopped, the silhouette had wandered to his window. Gu Yang glanced at the epaulet on his shoulder—determining that the person was quite powerful, he rolled down the window and endured the pain before coming face to face with the person outside. “What’s the matter?” Zhou Lingyun’s overbearing gazes scrutinized Gu Yang’s face for a while before he faintly questioned, “Even you can get beaten that badly?” Hearing Zhou Lingyun’s tone of voice, it sounded as though he knew him well. But even after Gu Yang thought to himself for a long while, he couldn’t remember where they have met. “Who are you?” Gu Yang coldly asked. Zhou Lingyun placed his hand at the edge of the window while wearing a fake smile as he looked at Gu Yang. “You don’t recognize me anymore?” Gu Yang coldly replied back with a few words, “I don’t recognize you.” Zhou Lingyun’s gaze became ruthless. “You don’t recognize me, but I recognize you!!” Gu Yang’s face was unwell by now, does this person have poor eyesight or mental issues? “Which Senior Colonel’s uniform did you steal and put on yourself?” Gu Yang rebuke. Reaching into the car, Zhou Lingyun grabbed the sunglasses that Gu Yang had left next to the windscreen and stuck it in his pocket. Then he said in a deep voice, “This, I’ll be taking it.” Gu Yang’s gaze shot cold arrows at him, “Give it back!” “If you have the skills, come get it from my office!” With that said, Zhou Lingyun swung around and took his leave. Since Gu Yang was injured and had difficulties moving about, Gu Yang could only turn the car around and ferociously charged toward Zhou Lingyun and bump into him!
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In the end, when he saw Zhou Lingyun’s leg flew to the front of his windshield, he urgently slammed his foot on the brakes. Then he looked at his rear-view mirror, and to his surprise, he saw Zhou Lingyun walking back toward the car unscathed. Soon after, his car was surrounded by a group of fully armed soldiers. Zhou Lingyun calmly ordered, “Escort this terrorist to the interrogation room!” Gu Yang, “…”
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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46 Late Night Raid
“Cheers!” As the cold wind whistled outside, two people had taken shelter inside Bai Luoyin’s dorm, happily drinking rice wine. With the door and window locked, the curtains completely closed, and a hot pot braving the scathing heat, the entire room was permeated by smoke and full of warmth. Gu Hai was looking at Bai Luoyin’s face that had become bright red from the heat as he ate with an insatiable appetite. “Eat slowly,” Gu Hai said before he picked up some meat and placed it in Bai Luoyin’s bowl. Then he softly asked, “Did you not eat your fill for the last few days?” “Eat my fill?” Bai Luoyin bitterly retorted, “I didn’t eat at all!” Hearing that, Gu Hai’s eyebrows and he looked at Bai Luoyin while feigning anger. “It’s not like there’s no kitchen here. Just do what we’re doing now. Buying some ingredient, sesame sauce, and lamb meat to make hot pot to eat can’t be that troublesome, can it? You’re an adult now, how can you let yourself starve?” “I don’t know how to make it,” Bai Luoyin said between mouthfuls of food. Gu Hai began to feel helpless, “This doesn’t any skills! Just put the ingredients into the pot and pour some water in. Once the water boils, just put in the meat. You can’t do any of that?” Bai Luoyin deliberately opposed him and continued to stubbornly say, ‘I can’t.’
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“What can you do then?” Gu Hai reached out to grab Bai Luoyin’s head toward him and then in a loving and spoiling manner, his breath caressed the side of the other person’s ear. “You only know how to be mad at me?” Bai Luoyin cheerfully turned his head away, “Yes!” After a bit more wine, Gu Hai somehow saw a bit of silliness in Bai Luoyin’s eyes. Bai Luoyin’s side profile was in front of him; a perfect silhouette with heroic features and even the way he swallowed appeared charming. Once he felt a moisten peck on his cheek, the chopstick in Bai Luoyin’s hand halted. He tapped Gu Hai’s bowl and kind-heartedly reminded him, “Hey! Tell me, where are all the meat in the pot? Did you eat it all?” With a mischievous smile, Gu Hai pulled open Bai Luoyin’s collar. “I don’t want to eat meat, I want to suck for milk.” Bai Luoyin shuddered and ruthlessly kicked Gu Hai away before he angrily shouted, “If you say another despicable word, believe it or not, I’m going to shove your head into the pot?” Gu Hai smiled while grabbing some food then as he ate with joy, he said, “Yin Zi, watching you eat is a type of happiness for me.” Bai Luoyin’s heart skipped a beat, moved by the simple words of the person before him. Was it not the same for him? Before…when Gu Hai was not with him, it did not matter what he ate since it was nothing more than filling his stomach. But now that the person is beside him, all the bad habits have also intruded one by one. First would be to decide on what to eat, then where to eat and who to eat with, as if eating a meal was a grand matter. The reason why he has not eaten anything for the past few days was not that he was being picky, but because there was one less person, he suddenly does not have any appetite anymore. As expected, people cannot live a good life. When one has suffered through too many hardships, the senses will also have become benumbed. But once one has experienced the good days, one never would want to suffer even the slightest hardship ever again. Gu Hai deliberately reminded him, “The tofu can be eaten now.” Bai Luoyin used his chopstick to pick up two pieces of tofu then placed it in his bowl. He put some sauce on it, stuffed it in his mouth and chewed delightfully. During the entire process, Gu Hai did not move his chopstick, instead, he watched him eat. Bai Luoyin stuffed another piece into his mouth. Gu Hai cleared his throat and reminded him again, “The tofu can be eaten now.” “I know it can be eaten!” Bai Luoyin replied loudly, “I’ve already eaten two pieces!” Hearing that, Gu Hai could only wait anxiously while looking at the other person. Ten seconds later, Bai Luoyin finally understood what was happening. He pulled a long face and turned his head to glance at Gu Hai only to see his brows rising with expectations. Bai Luoyin then reluctantly placed his chopsticks into the pot and fished out a piece of tofu before dipping it into the sauce and put into Gu Hai’s mouth. That savory piece of tofu simmered all the way down to the very bottom of Gu Hai’s heart. After the meal and a nice shower, Bai Luoyin sat on the bed with droopy eyelids and a hazy head. “What are you doing?” Gu Hai laughed and pinched Bai Luoyin’s cheeks. Bai Luoyin’s face collapsed, “I’m holding the food in.” “Come here, I’ll help you massage it.” Gu Hai reached over to rub Bai Luoyin’s stomach. Before that frivolous hand could continue, Bai Luoyin pulled it up a bit and reminded the owner, “My stomach is over here!” “You drank too much.” Gu Hai said as his hand shifted downward yet again.
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This time Bai Luoyin firmly moved Gu Hai’s wicked hands away from him. “You’re the one that drank too much!” In reality, both of them had drunk too much. The only difference was since their age has increased, their tolerance had also improved from practice. Bai Luoyin could no longer be tricked into wearing a red cotton-padded jacket from just one glass of wine. But after drinking, he was still dizzy and that alone, made his heart more vulnerable than usual and his emotions much more real. Bai Luoyin patted the empty spot on the bed and gave Gu Hai an order. “Sit here.” Gu Hai readily compiled and sat there. Surprisingly, Bai Luoyin tilted his head to the side and rested it on Gu Hai’s shoulder. Just as he felt the heat on his shoulder, a warm tingling sensation crept into Gu Hai’s heart, causing it to slightly tremble. He then turned his head over only to see a circular hair whorl. Suddenly, thinking that it was especially adorable, he ruffled Bai Luoyin’s hair a few times. But when Bai Luoyin thought that it was annoying, he shook his head left and right. That, however, made Gu Hai abruptly wrap his hands around his head before he carefully said, “Don’t move, I saw a strand of white hair!” Bai Luoyin obediently waited for Gu Hai to pull it out for him. After giving that strand a quickly yet firm pull, Gu Hai placed it under the light for a look. “Aaahhh…pulled the wrong one, it’s black.” With that, he spread Bai Luoyin’s hair and searched for the white strand. Thinking that he found it, he gave it a yank and placed it under the light again. “Aaahhh… it’s another black hair…” By then, Bai Luoyin became angry, “Can’t you look more carefully before you pull?” “Forget it. I’m not looking anymore, maybe I saw wrong.” With that, Gu Hai tilted Bai Luoyin’s head back against his shoulder before he casually yet gently grabbed one of Bai Luoyin’s hands, intertwined their fingers together and placed it beside their legs. Just like that, they calmly sat there together and chatted. “Gu Hai, the situation between you and Yan Yajing is over just like that?” Gu Hai opened one of his eyes to look at Bai Luoyin, “What do you want to do then?” Bai Luoyin lazily said, “Your dad didn’t ask you about it anymore?” “He asked, but I just responded casually.” Bai Luoyin sighed, “I actually think that she’s pretty good. She’s an ideal marriage partner.” Gu Hai remained silent before he said, “The pictures I sent you were all Photoshopped.” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin also went silent for a good while but then he suddenly revealed a malicious smile. “How did you know that I’ve been waiting for those words?” “You still think that I don’t understand you?” Gu Hai said with an adoring yet hateful tone, “You always beat around the bush before you say something. Fortunately, I reacted quickly, otherwise, you would go into hiding again.” Bai Luoyin immediately laughed but didn’t say anything. Gu Hai suddenly thought of something and deliberately poked Bai Luoyin’s waist. “Then you should also tell me, where did those strands of hair come from?” “Legs,” Bai Luoyin replied without hesitation. Gu Hai faintly glanced over, “Really?” Bai Luoyin said with great confidence, “Why would I lie to you?” “Come here. Let me check which areas are missing some hairs.” With that said, Gu Hai immediately turned to the side and stuck close to Bai Luoyin only to be quickly shoved away by said person who was wearing a rather difficult expression. “Stop messing around! I’m still holding it in. If you play like that, I’m really going to throw up.”
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Without allowing another explanation, Gu Hai began to take off Bai Luoyin’s clothes. “It’s fine. I’ll help you!” The two were happily messing around when a burst of vigorous knocks sounded at the door. Zhou Lingyun’s deep and resounding voice flowed into the room from the outside. “Bai Luoyin, are you asleep?” The two froze in place with Bai Luoyin wearing a surprised expression. Why is Zhou Lingyun here? As he was thinking, another knock on the door sounded. Bai Luoyin became anxious and hastily pushed Gu Hai to the side. “Quick, go hide in the bathroom!” Gu Hai frowned, “Why do I need to hide from him?” Why would I be afraid of him coming to seek revenge when I wasn’t even afraid of torturing him?! Bai Luoyin quickly said, “If you suddenly appear here like this, wouldn’t my plan fail? By then, both of us will each have an additional love rival. Would you be happy about that?” Since Bai Luoyin put it that way, Gu Hai reluctantly went into the bathroom. With that done, Bai Luoyin immediately changed his expression and pretended to look tired as he made his way toward the door. “Wing Commander, why are you here?” Zhou Lingyun glanced at Bai Luoyin then faintly asked, “You are going to sleep already?” Bai Luoyin discreetly expressed the inconvenience of the disturbance, “I’m getting ready to sleep.” At first, Bai Luoyin thought that after he said those words, Zhou Lingyun would hastily finish what he needed to say and leave. Who would have guessed that he would instead say, “Since you are getting ready to sleep then I can only go into your dorm.” Zhou Lingyun’s way of thinking completely caught Bai Luoyin off guard. Feeling confused, he couldn’t help but ask, “What if I say I wasn’t going to sleep yet?” “We can just talk outside then.” Bai Luoyin, “…” Zhou Lingyun strode inside with his hands clasped behind his back and walked around the dorm a few times. All the while, Bai Luoyin stood upright, motionless. Every time he saw Zhou Lingyun’s footstep stop in front of the bathroom’s door, his heartbeat would speed up. In the end, Zhou Lingyun stopped in front of his bed before reaching down to pick up a box of condoms from the headboard. “Even you have something like this?” Bai Luoyin explained with a stern and straight face, “I confiscated it from a soldier.” Zhou Lingyun simply nodded and asked, “Do you have a use for it?” Bai Luoyin, “...” Before Bai Luoyin’s eyes, Zhou Lingyun slid the boxes of condoms into his own pocket. “The next time you confiscate any prohibited items, remember to hand it in.” Bai Luoyin replied with a clear tone, “Yes, Wing Commander.”
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47 A Low-Quality Product
“Alright, sit down.” Zhou Lingyun lifted his chin, “Don’t just stand there. I’m only here to chat.” Bai Luoyin grabbed a chair and sat in front of the bathroom door. This was to prevent a certain animal who loved to wallow in jealousy and explode in rage from busting out if he heard any irritating words. “Why are you sitting so far?” Zhou Lingyun was puzzled. Not knowing exactly how to respond, Bai Luoyin weaved a preposterous excuse. “I like the smell of the bathroom.” Zhou Lingyun was slightly taken aback, “…how about we go chat in there?” “There’s no need to!” Bai Luoyin swiftly reached out to decline, “Just let me enjoy it alone!” Zhou Lingyun sat as steady as Mount Tai in front of Bai Luoyin and looked at him with an expression in his eyes that he could not decipher. After a long moment of silence, the corner of Zhou Lingyun’s mouth rose before he calmly said, “I’ve already captured Gu Hai.” “What?” Bai Luoyin’s train of thought went haywire with shock. How was he discovered so easily when he had been hidden so well? When Gu Hai, who was listening from the other side of the door, heard those words, he immediately wanted to open the door. But just as he was about to turn the doorknob, he heard, “He’s in my office!”
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As a result, Bai Luoyin firmly closed the door that was slightly cracked open and mentally heave a sigh of relief. Geez, got me all nervous when he was actually talking about Gu Yang. “What’s wrong with you?” Zhou Lingyun said, glancing at the door behind Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin replied with a sarcastic tone, “It’s the wind.” Zhou Lingyun simply nodded and did not question any further. Straightening himself, Bai Luoyin could not help but ask, “How did you capture him?” “When he came out of your dorm earlier today, I captured him by force as he was leaving.” As Bai Luoyin listened, his expression became that of astonishment. Damn, it’s really not Gu Yang’s day! First, he was beaten by Gu Hai, then he was actually captured by Zhou Lingyun on his way out…thinking that, made him feel somewhat sorry for him. The moment Zhou Lingyun caught sight of Bai Luoyin’s expression, he threw in some words to appease him. “Don’t worry. Since he’s your little brother, I’ll definitely treat him well.” Zhou Lingyun especially emphasized the words, ‘treat him well’. Bai Luoyin adapted a sympathetic attitude of siding with the evildoer. “Wing Commander, you don’t have to take me into consideration. Since it’s a matter between the two of you, as an outsider, it’s not good for me to get involved.” “But I heard that you two have an exceptionally good relationship!” Zhou Lingyun said, trying to probe for more answers. Not one to back down on his words, Bai Luoyin immediately denied that statement. “My relationship with him is normal. Think about it, we are not blood-related, and we only met at the age of seventeen. Not long after, I enlisted so there wasn’t really any time to deepen our feelings.” “Since you put it like that, I can be at ease!” Zhou Lingyun carried a generous expression, “You already know that the more ruthless I treat someone, the more it proves how much I am fond of that person. I was merely afraid that when the time comes, and you see the large-scale of ruthlessness, it might make you hate me.” “Absolutely not!” Bai Luoyin exclaimed, exceptionally generous as well. “Do as you wish. I understand everything that you’re doing.” Zhou Lingyun smiled with satisfaction, “It seems, I did not dote on you in vain.” Being someone who had a rather selective hearing, Gu Hai’s raging jealousy hastily erupted at the word, ‘dote’. He tried to pull the door open, but as someone that knew Gu Hai’s personality exceptionally well, Bai Luoyin forcefully closed it again. “What’s the matter now?” Zhou Ling Yin’s eyes aimed toward the door once more. Bai Luoyin smiled awkwardly, “It’s the wind.” Zhou Lingyun smiled along—a smile that caused Bai Luoyin’s hairs to stand tall. “There’s a lot of wind in your dorm.” Hot sweat formed on Bai Luoyin’s back, “Yeah. Strangely, bursts of demonic winds always seem to blow out of nowhere.” “You must have done a lot of immoral deeds, haven’t you?” Zhou Ling said while looking insincerely at Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin quickly interrupted him and changed the topic. “Wing Commander, why don’t you return to your office and chat with Gu…Gu Hai? What’s so interesting in chatting with me? The person has been sent to your door, shouldn’t you quickly go connect your feelings with him?!” “I don’t have the heart to yet, I’m saving it for later!” Bai Luoyin was secretly speechless, “That thing can be saved for later?” Zhou Lingyun calmly gave Bai Luoyin a glance. “Since he nearly made me a handicap, how can I just finish him off so fast? I have to come up with a good method to totally subdue him.” Bai Luoyin nodded to express his agreement.
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Giving him a look that spoke of his resolution, Zhou Lingyun then further inquired, “Is Gu Hai a person who can act extremely well? It’s so obvious that he’s more devious than anyone, yet he acts as if he is a decent person!” In just seconds, Bai Luoyin felt an enormous pressure from behind again before he subconsciously gripped on the doorknob to stop the door from opening any further. “He fairly okay…just a bit sinister.” Bai Luoyin made it sound feasible as much as possible. As Zhou Lingyun spoke of Gu Hai, not only were his eyes bright and full of expression but even his voice was clear and tinted with cheerfulness. “A bit? It can’t be just ‘a bit’, right? The way I see it, he’s a radish with a rotten core that’s completely bad from the root! If he was allowed to grow freely, he will definitely rot in the ground. But if he was in my hands, I can guarantee that he will become a whole ginseng!” While Zhou Lingyun was smiling with self-satisfaction, Bai Luoyin, on the other hand, was soon going to pull the doorknob off! “Alright, it’s late. You should rest, I’ll go now!” Zhou Lingyun stood up. Bai Luo took a deep breath, feeling relieved. “Take care, Wing Commander!” Just as Zhou Lingyun walked by Bai Luoyin’s side, he abruptly halted. “I need to use your toilet since it’s going to take me more than twenty minutes to walk back.” Bai Luoyin's face immediately grew green with anxiety. “What’s wrong? You have an obsession with cleanliness?” Zhou Lingyun asked. As to not be thrown off, Bai Luoyin automatically shook his head. “Exactly, which young men from the military haven’t lived in a collective dorm and use the public bathroom before? Didn’t you say a moment ago that you enjoy the scent of the bathroom? Perfect, then I’ll add a bit more scent for you so that you have more than enough to sniff!” Bai Luoyin, “…” When Zhou Lingyun pushed him to the side and walked into the bathroom, Bai Luoyin had already prepared himself for the worse. If Zhou Lingyun really wanted to start a fight in the bathroom then he will join Gu Hai and deal with Lao Zhou together. I have to protect Gu Hai first, then deal with the rest later! But in the end, he only heard the sound of water flowing harmoniously. Feeling alarmed, Bai Luoyin turned around for a look inside the bathroom only to nearly burst out laughing. Zhou Lingyun had not turned the lights on—instead—he went straight to use the toilet. After he peed and flushed, he pulled his pants up in front of Gu Hai’s eyes before peacefully sauntering out the door. Gu Hai was standing in a dark corner behind the door the whole time. But surprisingly, Zhou Lingyun did not see him at all. “Done, I’m leaving now.” Upon hearing the loud bang of the door closing, Gu Hai emerged from the dark bathroom with a sinister face. At that moment, Bai Luoyin was standing right by the door as well. “Sorry, you had to smell all of that!” Afterward, Bai Luoyin couldn’t hold it any longer and burst into laughter. Gu Hai gritted his teeth bitterly, “I have never felt so useless…” Not fearing for his life, Bai Luoyin continued to mess with Gu Hai. “Hey~ Big Ginseng Gu, let me see how rotten your core is.” “There’s no need to look at my heart, just look at my radish to see how devilish it is!” With that, Gu Hai magnificently tore open his own robe, exposing his big penis. He then struck a pose as to emphasize his well-sculptured body before pushing Bai Luoyin’s head down.
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“Stop messing around!” Bai Luoyin retorted but even as he struggled to stand up, he giddily said, “I’ve realized that my bathroom is an ominous place. It’s best not to sneakily do anything careless here otherwise we’ll definitely be caught by someone.” “You’ve been caught before?” Gu Hai asked, without letting go. Bai Luoyin did not want to confirm that but, he unexpectedly nodded. “Yes! In order to send that condom to you, I masturbated in the bathroom and your brother caught me red-handed.” As expected, people should not drink. Once that devilish liquid entered the system, what should or should not be said, will all be bluntly exposed. Gu Hai laughed grimly, “So that’s why you flung it to the ground and I never received it?” Bai Luoyin readily nodded but then he became aware that perhaps he was too honest. Sure enough, that Lively Donkey Gu exploded and carried Little Wolf Bai back to the bed. He grabbed the bag he had brought with him and began to take the clothes out, one by one. Looking at him with confusion, Bai Luoyin asked, “What are these?” “The clothes that you sent to me, I washed it all and brought it back for you.” Still feeling confused, Bai Luoyin thought about it for a while, but he still couldn’t understand his odd behavior. What does Gu Hai being angry has to do with these clothes? Once he reached the bottom of the bag, Gu Hai finally found the box that he was looking for. He took it out and placed it on Bai Luoyin’s hands and calmly said, “Open it and take a look.” Bai Luoyin complied and opened it only to see a grotesquely shaped item that had a strange texture to it when he touched it. “What is that?” A mischievous smile appeared on Gu Hai’s lips, “A toy for you to play with.” Just as those words struck his eardrums, Bai Luoyin immediately threw the ‘toy’ at Gu Hai as if he was holding a scalding hot sweet potato. “Play with it by yourself!” “I already have one. This one was designed specifically for you. It’s to prevent us from being lonely in our respective rooms if we happen to argue again. Do you see this switch? An opening will appear if you push it upward and you can put your baby inside. There are two functions embedded inside, if you push the switch downward, depending on the chosen function, a tongue or finger98 will protrude from the base.” “Wait a second!” Bai Luoyin interrupted. “Why is there no chrysanthemum function?” “You don’t need that!” Gu Hai calmly and confidently countered. Bai Luoyin’s brows twisted, “Does yours have that then?” “Of course, mine has that!” Bai Luoyin exploded, “How come yours have it and mine doesn’t? You’re even discriminating when it comes to making sex toys?!” “No, it’s not that at all. Listen to me,” Gu Hai patiently attempted to persuade Bai Luoyin. “Since this item is a token of our love, the designs are based on each of our specific characteristics. Take the tongue function, for example, the frequency and method of stimulation that it could give you is built solely on the design of my mouth. It will allow you to enjoy the pleasure of my love without having to leave your dorm.” Listening to that explanation, Bai Luoyin could only give Gu Hai a cold and wicked look. “Did your company also produce this?”
The original text mentioned “hand”. But it was hard to imagine to have a “hand” protruding out while it pleasures BLY’s passage. So, it made more sense to change it to “fingers”. Now it’s up to you as a reader to imagine how many “fingers”. *wink* - Nancy
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“Yes, the main designer was the transsexual you saw last time. She is actually very talented in this aspect.” Gu Hai continued, “Now when you push it down this way, you can insert the fingers inside of your passage. The frequency and intensity can be adjusted and since the highest setting was made based on my own performance standard, it can’t be made any higher or it will crash.” The muscle on Bai Luoyin’s face twitched for a while. “Take it away, I don’t want it.” Gu Hai looked confidently at Bai Luoyin, “You’re saying you don’t need it now but I’m afraid once you play with it, you won’t want me anymore.” Bai Luoyin dug his head into the blanket and completely ignored the lecherous lunatic. Not willing to back down, Gu Hai lifted the blanket and commanded, “Get up and try out the quality for me!” “If you need someone to try it, do it yourself.” “I only want you to try it! I want you to play with it in front of me! You even masturbated in front of my brother, why can’t you play with this in front of me?” All the trouble was actually because of that! “How can that be the same thing? That wasn’t intentional, he saw me by accident.” Gu Hai was hesitant to forgive, “Then you can just pretend I accidentally saw you this time.” Bai Luoyin was speechless. Gu Hai, how cruel is your jealousy? Seeing that Bai Luoyin was still motionless, Gu Hai’s face completely collapsed. “If I personally serve you with this, I can assure that you will not come to a good end.” After being persuaded in every possible way, Bai Luoyin finally agreed to try it out. In front of someone’s attentively burning hot gaze, he took off his clothes and underwear. Then, before he even had a chance to switch the toy on, Xiao Yin Zi was grabbed by a pair of large hands. “Hey!” Bai Luoyin shook the toy, “I have this now, you can kindly remove your hands.” Gu Hai angrily retracted his hands. He has been extremely famished lately so upon seeing something that delicious, he just couldn’t control himself. Bai Luoyin glanced at Gu Hai first. Under his encouraging gaze, he pushed the switch up to which the toy’s opening parted up, allowing him to comfortably squeeze Xiao Yin Zi in. Then as he adjusted the setting to normal, a moist liquid secreted inside before it tightened just the slightest and started to vibrate. Bai Luoyin bit his teeth and endure it for a moment, but soon he started to breathe and moan passionately and enticingly. “How is it? Pretty good, right?” Bai Luoyin unconsciously groaned, “Yeahhhh.…it feels good…” “How about giving the back side a try?” Gu Hai wickedly encouraged from the side. Fine beads of sweat formed on Bai Luoyin’s forehead and when he shook his head, his cheeks revealed an unruly charm. Gu Hai completely ignored Bai Luoyin’s protests and reached for the toy in an attempt to remove it. But in seconds, he discovered that there was a password requirement feature on it. After contemplating for a moment, Gu Hai tried to enter the password. As a result, not only could he not remove the toy, the vibration unexpectedly intensified. “Ah…” Bai Luoyin groaned involuntarily, “I can’t…my legs are going numb.” Don’t mention your legs going numb, my hands are numbed already. Gu Hai quickly entered another password, but it was still wrong. The frequency of the vibration increased another notch while the middle of the opening became even narrower, fiercely and tightly squeezing onto Xiao Yin Zi. After the pinnacle of pleasure was an unnecessary world of suffering for Bai Luoyin as he painfully shouted, “Hurry and take it off. It’s gripping me to death.”
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Try as he might, Gu Hai still could not input the correct password. The opening of the toy incessantly shrunk more…and more, to the point that it could not be removed, and the setting might as well be useless. In the end, Bai Luoyin nearly cried from the excruciating pain as he ruthlessly gripped the back of Gu Hai’s neck while having the thought of choking him to death. “You bastard! Gu Hai…your company produced a completely low-quality product… oooww…it hurts…”
Translate: Sae | Proofread: Nancy
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48 Who is the Leader of Instilling Pain?
Gu Yang was locked in the interrogation room for an entire day. During that time, two doctors had come by to check on his injuries, but they left without saying anything. His three meals were brought to him in a timely manner however, he did not touch it any of it and instead sat on a stool with a cold and overbearing expression while his brain was working at an outrageously high rate. Unfortunately, even as he thought until his head felt like it was cracking, he could not understand why that military commander had him locked up. Is it because I hit him with my car? But that is just ridiculous! How could there be such a brainless officer who clashed with someone and detained him without even bothering to ask for his opponent’s identity? If it was as he had mentioned, and the two of them have met before, then with Gu Yang’s position and family background, how could a mere military commander dare to provoke him? The bastard doesn’t want to live anymore? As Gu Yang was contemplating, the door to the interrogation room opened, and a tall and study figure vaulted into his line of sight. Zhou Lingyun valiantly walked in, his brows revealing a faint air of aggression. “Sorry for making you wait so long,” Zhou Lingyun said. Gu Yang’s face darkened, “What exactly do you want?” Without beating around the bush, Zhou Lingyun bluntly said, “I’ve fallen for you!”
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Upon hearing those bold and intrusive words, Gu Yang nearly dropped to the ground. People should not be played with like that!! Was he not just rejected by Bai Luoyin? Even then, it does not mean he should be compensated with such an old bastard! “Please watch what you are saying,” Gu Yang warned with a cold tone. Zhou Lingyun stepped forward and placed his hands on Gu Yang’s shoulders. But using his uninjured hand, Gu Yang firmly gripped Zhou Lingyun’s wrist and attempted to tear his hand away. Unfortunately, Zhou Lingyun’s hand was like a one-ton boulder, impossible to shake off. Gu Yang has seen many skilled individuals in his life, but it is rare to see someone with Zhou Lingyun’s age and status capable of remaining in such a good physical condition. If he was a bit more rational, perhaps Gu Yang would be more appreciative of him. The hand on Gu Yang’s shoulder started to pinch his muscle. Zhou Lingyun exposed a smile and calmly said, “I might have to strip you naked.” To suddenly say such words without any warning, completely shocked Gu Yang to the point that his eyes widened, and expression became twisted. “You dare?!!” Gu Yang’s darkened eyes glared at Zhou Lingyun. “If you dare to take off my clothes, I will destroy your family and leave you in utter poverty! If you don’t believe me, try it!” With calmness, Zhou Lingyun said, “General Gu certainly approve of my method!” The moment he heard, ‘General Gu’, Gu Yang’s pupil shook with shock. He actually knows my identity! “Come and hold him down!” Zhou Lingyun ordered the two soldiers guarding the door. The two physically robust soldiers advanced forward. Upon making contact with Gu Yang’s icy-cold eyes glowering them, they could not help but be overwhelmed with shock. Not only did they remain frozen in place, but they also looked reluctant to continue forward. “What are you standing there for?!” Zhou Lingyun shouted in rage. Once Zhou Lingyun issued an order, who honestly dared to defy him? The two soldiers boldly advanced, and under Gu Yang’s sinister aura, they forcefully pressed him on a cold wooden bench. After that, Zhou Lingyun took one step forward and started to slowly remove Gu Yang’s clothes off, one article at a time until only his underwear remained. With that done, he ordered the two soldiers to pull Gu Yang up to a standing position. After that, a big hand dragged the underwear down to the soles of his feet. Since he was young, no one has ever dared to humiliate Gu Yang, much less in such a vulgar manner; Zhou Lingyun was the first to do so. Gu Yang’s lips stretched like a sharp blade, ready to lay out a vicious attack as he drew up a revenge plot in his mind. If Zhou Lingyun were to insult or dishonor him any further, then that person will be severely tormented and humiliate until nothing of him remains! “Nice physique!” Zhou Lingyun’s eyes examined Gu Yang’s body up and down. “If you were two centimeters taller, you would be even more perfect.” In reality, Gu Hai was actually two centimeters taller than Gu Yang. Sadly, Gu Yang did not put much thought into that statement but stood still like a statue instead as he waited for Zhou Lingyun’s next move. However, Zhou Lingyun merely looked at him without doing anything indecent. Finally, Zhou Lingyun reached for Gu Yang’s injured arm. Gu Yang subconsciously dodged, but after failing to avoid Zhou Lingyun’s claw-like grips, his arm was quickly twisted to the side, ‘crack, crack’. The move created a burst of excruciatingly sharp pain that ran up Gu Yang’s arm as he firmly gritted his teeth and endure the moment. “Alright, your arm is all better now.” Zhou Lingyun calmly smiled. Hearing that, Gu Yang tried to move his arm only to realize that it was indeed better.
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“Put your clothes back on. I will arrange for you to be placed in another room. Just wait patiently!” Gu Yang’s brows twisted, revealing a sluggish expression and eyes full of hate. “You stripped off my clothes just for the purpose of fixing my arm?” What’s the difference between doing that and not doing anything? Isn’t that just plain stupid and unnecessary? Zhou Lingyun moved closer to stand in front of Gu Yang while his glittering eyes began to scrutinize him. “What did you want me to do? Tie an explosive to your penis? Or better, pin two hand grenades on your balls, huh?” The nerves in Gu Yang’s head suddenly throbbed as he squeezed out a few words. “Did your brain grow into your bladder?” What the hell…he’s doing things that are completely illogical and the majority of what he said doesn’t make sense! Honestly now, that cannot be entirely blamed on Zhou Lingyun. How was he to know that you did not understand anything he had said?! Not in the least angry, Zhou Lingyun had even pinched Gu Yang’s chin and praised, “The expression in your eyes are even more rotten and mischievous than I had imagined. I like it.” With that said, he then turned around and walked out. He really left just like that? When Gu Yang looked at the pile of clothes on the floor, a nameless fire suddenly rose in his heart but with nowhere to vent, he nearly burned himself to death! There are lunatics everywhere but the worse of all is rarely fucking seen! Since Wing Commander Zhou was in such a good mood, he started to press the alarm without end as to gather the soldiers for a late-night training session. At first, Bai Luoyin thought that since Gu Yang was capture, the comfortable days would come. Who would have guessed that Zhou Lingyun’s way of think goes against the norm in every possible aspect? When someone is happy, they are normally more tolerable and forgiving of others, but when he’s happy, he loves to fucking torture people instead! “Bai Luoyin, step out!” Bai Luoyin took one large stride forward. Zhou Lingyun coldly ordered, “Quickly lie down!” The little monster between Bai Luoyin’s legs that had been injured by the low-quality sex toy, had not fully recovered yet so for it to hit the ground in such a swift movement was simply an act of taking his life! The acute pain from his lower abdomen charged upward and attacked his brain. If it were not for his pride, he would have lied on the ground loudly bawling in pain already. “Stand up!” Zhou Lingyun ordered again. Enduring the gut-wrenching pain, Bai Luoyin stood up. Fortunately, the night was hazy, making it impossible for anyone to clearly see the pain on his face. “Do you know why I ordered you to do that?” Zhou Lingyun asked, waiting for an answer. Bai Luoyin secretly thought, because you’re cruel! Although he thought that, he instead, loudly and clearly replied, “So that I could quickly wake up!” Nodding his head in satisfaction, Zhou Lingyun then faced tall he soldiers at the training ground and gave them a firm order. “All of you, listen to my command: quickly lie down!” Bai Luoyin actually thought of wanting to die. “You are not in sync, do it again. Quickly lie down!”
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Bai Luoyin, “…” “You are still not in sync, do it again. Quickly lie down!” Bai Luoyin’s heart incessantly cried out, who are the useless pieces of shit that can’t keep up, huh? Wait until we disband, I’ll especially send each one of you a cheap fucking ass sex toy! You fuckers!! Finally, after the ‘quickly, lie down’ drill came to an end, all the soldiers had to board their respective aircraft for a routine practice! Bai Luoyin’s forehead started to sweat as he gripped the control lever in the aircraft, his hand trembling uncontrollably. Now he understood the reason why that spot there was known as the ‘family jewel’. “Bai Luoyin, safely land!” Hearing the command, Bai Luoyin safely landed the aircraft at the designated area before he emerged from the cockpit and went to stand in front of Zhou Lingyun. “Your body temperature has not reached the norm yet.” Zhou Lingyun said with a grave and resounding attitude. Bai Luoyin explained, “My hands are shivering not because I’m cold, it’s…” “It doesn’t matter what the reason is, your body temperature right now is still low.” Zhou Lingyun examined the temperature of Bai Luoyin’s forehead. “You haven’t been exercising in accordance with regulation as of late, have you?” Bai Luoyin could not deny it since most of his exercises had been on the bed with Gu Hai as a hot stove—keeping him roasted all day. That made his body temperature decrease involuntarily. “Go and climb the pole as practice immediately. Going up and down a hundred times is considered one set. You need to complete five sets in two hours!” Bai Luoyin’s face turned green with anxiety. Climbing the pole…shit…what a terrible way to torture the crotch! Is this karma? Why must my son suffer the karma of my own immoral deeds?99 “Can we change it to swimming?” Bai Luoyin suggested, “Swimming can also rapidly increase body temperature.” Zhou Lingyun immediately refused, “Swimming has no use to you!” After saying that, he then took out a wristwatch. “The time will start now!” Bai Luoyin wanted to cry but no tears came out as he walked over to the training ground. After the task was completed, Bai Luoyin walked lifelessly down the path toward his dorm. All the while, his mind was like a blank sheet of paper that moved his two legs which had already lost all sensation. He pushed the door open and made his wait to the bedside before struggling to pull himself onto the bed. Then he gloomily burrowed beneath the blanket and groaned painfully to himself. The excruciating pain that spread throughout his body made him wanted to immediately cry out for his father and yell for his mother! Knowing that culprit (the sex toy) was still pressed underneath his pillow, Bai Luoyin fished it out and ruthlessly smashed it on the ground. A while later, a phone call came through. “Hey…” he replied, sounding like a dead person. Gu Hai seemed to be in a rather good spirit. “You’re playing with that little toy, aren’t you?” “Play my ass, you bastard!” Bai Luoyin retorted but there wasn’t any strength in his curse. “Stop denying it. There’s a sensor set up in this toy of mine. If you play with yours, mine will immediately vibrate.” Gu Hai stated with a rather proud appearance. Bai Luoyin looked at the toy on the ground, suddenly understanding why the moment he smashed it, a phone call came through right after. ‘Why must my sons suffer the karma of my own immoral deeds?’ – Bai Luoyin is referring to his sperms (future sons) since his penis is going to rub against the pole, it will inadvertently affect his already injured buddy
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“I didn’t play with it.” Bai Luoyin repeated himself once more. Gu Hai continued to tease him, “If you didn’t, then why do you sound so weak?” “Gu Hai, fuck your ancestors!” After saying that, he bitterly hung up the phone.
Translate: Sae
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49 Hiding the Package at Home
The more Gu Hai thought about it, the more he felt that things over on Bai Luoyin’s side did not seem right. Unable to sleep and ravaged with deep concerns for his beloved wife, he climbed out of bed in the middle of the night and drove straight to Bai Luoyin’s dorm. Once there, he carefully pushed the door open and switched the lights on only to be met with Bai Luoyin lying on his side in the blanket with his back toward him. When Gu Hai glanced down and saw the token of their love on the floor, he picked it up for a closer look before he steadily walked toward Bai Luoyin’s bed with a smile smearing the corner of his lips. Although Bai Luoyin heard footsteps approaching him from behind, he did not open his eyes since, in actuality, he did not have the slightest bit of strength to turn over. “You smashed it right after playing with it…that’s not a good habit!” Gu Hai said calmly but with a giddy tone. Bai Luoyin kept silent. Gu Hai continued to fiddle with that thing, “It’s totally useless now that it’s really broken.” Bai Luoyin quietly mumbled to himself, ‘it’s a good thing that it’s broken, it’s a good thing that it’s broken…now there’s a perfectly justifiable reason to throw it away’. “Luckily, I brought a new one.” Hearing those few words, Bai Luoyin’s body immediately froze. He twisted his head over to look at Gu Hai only to see that there was indeed another, virtually the same, toy in his hand. “Fuck off! Get the fuck out of here!”
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Bai Luoyin barely had the strength to curse. He could only give a couple of dry roars before furrowing his head back into the blanket. Meanwhile, Gu Hai attempted to market his company’s product. “The material of this new product is more suitable for the skin compared to the previous one. It is softer with better flexibility and more functions in its design. More importantly, it doesn’t require a password to access but instead uses fingerprint recognition, so the same situation as last time will not occur. Finally, without your fingerprint to activate it, this thing is just another ornament that no one can tell what it is used for.” Bitterness settled in Bai Luoyin’s heart. He had thought Gu Hai ran over in the middle of the night to give comfort him, but instead, he unexpectedly brought over another disastrous toy. Gu Hai placed the new product down and took off his overcoat before conveniently squeezing into the blanket and pressing one of his legs on Bai Luoyin’s lower abdomen. Bai Luoyin let out a blood-curdling screech as beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. “What’s wrong?” Gu Hai asked, startled. Gritting his teeth, Bai Luoyin pushed Gu Hai’s leg off and scowled miserably. “It hurts…” Gu Hai’s expression immediately changed as he quickly lifted the blanket and carefully removed Bai Luoyin’s pants. Seeing the scene before, he could not help but feel a burst of throbbing pain riling his spine. Not only had Xiao Yin Zi suffered, but the surrounding area was also red and swollen, and the skin on his thighs were badly chafed and bruised. Just looking at it was a ghastly sight to take in. “What did you do for it to become like that?” He criticized even though there was a strong sense of distress in his voice. Bai Luoyin spitefully pulled the blanket back down, “What do you think? It hasn’t properly healed since the day it was miserably injured. Then to top it off, there was a strenuous training session today that mostly consisted of using the hip area. How can I be so unlucky?…” As Bai Luoyin spoke, he covered his face with a pillow, unable to face that person. Gu Hai frowned and asked, “What were the tasks?” “Quickly lying on the ground, then climb the pole. Going up and down is considered a set, and I had to do five sets!” When Gu Hai heard such a cruel method of training, he knew exactly who had issued the order. Immediately infuriated, he got up with the intention of looking for Zhou Lingyun. Bai Luoyin quickly grabbed hold of him, “Don’t cause me any more trouble! He doesn’t know that I’m injured there. It’s because he noticed that my body temperature had not reached the norm did he intentionally ordered me to train harder!” Hearing those words, Gu Hai’s blood boiled with anger even more. “I put in a lot of thoughts and effort to try and get your body temperature to decrease yet he’s fucking actually making it increase! Isn’t it obvious that he’s going against me?!” Bai Luoyin became green in the face, “What? You made my body temperature decrease?” “Yes!” Gu Hai readily responded as if it was something to be expected. “If your body temperature doesn’t decrease, you wouldn’t want to hug me to sleep at night.” Bai Luoyin roared, quickly punching Gu Hai a couple of times. “You have the fucking nerve to get even with someone else? You caused all these fucking problems. You’re to fucking blame for it!!” Since his movements were too excessive, Bai Luoyin ended up pulling a sensitive nerve somewhere that caused him to grimace in pain and lie back down. With his hand, still firmly gripping Gu Hai’s arm, he incessantly warned, “You must not go look for him, absolutely not. If you do, I will ignore you. Completely,” he emphasized.
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The words, ‘ignore you’, were more potent than any ruthless and overbearing military words. Gu Hai had no other choice but to swallow his anger for the time being. “Alright, I won’t go. Just lie there and rest, I’ll get some water to wash you up and apply a bit of medication.” Once he brought a small basin of water over, Gu Hai dipped the towel in to wet it before carefully wiping the sore areas. The veins on Bai Luoyin’s forehead exploded in pain as he tenaciously held Gu Hai’s arm. “Don’t touch it, don’t touch it…” From his expression alone, Gu Hai seemed to be in even more pain than him. But no matter how painful it was, he had to endure it. He pulled Bai Luoyin into his embrace and softly coaxed him. “Even if it hurts, doesn’t it still need to be wiped? Otherwise, it’s going to get infected and become even more painful than it is now. Just bear with it for a while, just for a while…” When Bai Luoyin felt the pain allayed, he took in a slow breath. “You can continue.” Just as Gu Hai reached over to wipe, a howl immediately tore the room apart. Something that normally took less than a minute to do unexpectedly took Gu Hai five minutes. The more Gu Hai could not bear to continue, the more Bai Luoyin had to endure the pain. In the end, Gu Hai could only toughen his heart and completed the wiping mission under Bai Luoyin’s gut-wrenching roars and raging curses. After the medication was applied, Bai Luoyin’s exhaustion made his eyes became lifeless. With eyes like that of the dead, he glared at Gu Hai. “I hate you!” Gu Hai calmly said with a sorrowful face, “I hate myself more than you hate me!” After that, he hugged Bai Luoyin against his chest so that their hearts seemed to connect. Just when Bai Luoyin was about to fall asleep, the training alarm sounded again. Bai Luoyin suddenly woke with a start and grabbed Gu Hai’s hand while looking at him with a defeated expression. “I have to go climb the pole again.” “Don’t even think about it!” Gu Hai bellowed. When Bai Luoyin was about to get off the bed to put on his shoes, Gu Hai took hold of him. “You can’t go!!” Bai Luoyin shot Gu Hai an overbearing glance, “Military orders cannot be defied. If by chance an urgent mission arises, there will be severe consequences.” Having said that, he then adopted a posture of wanting to push Gu Hai away. However, this time around, Gu Hai was utterly determined. It does not matter to him whether it was an order or not; to have Bai Luoyin suffer hardships in front of his eyes would simply be harder than reaching for the sky! Hence, without demur, he immediately wrapped a blanket around Bai Luoyin’s body, threw him over his shoulder (carefully, of course!) and put him into his car. Then he rapidly started the car and drove off without a second thought. Forty minutes later, the car arrived in front of Gu Hai’s place. All the while, Bai Luoyin was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Since Gu Hai could not bear to wake Bai Luoyin up, he planned to carry him out of the car. Before he could do so, Bai Luoyin woke up and subconsciously pushed Gu Hai away. “I don’t need your help. I can get out myself.” Gu Hai gently smiled, “I forgot your shoes.” Bai Luoyin let out a simple, ‘oh yeah’ and then slumped back into the seat but still feeling disoriented, he fell back asleep again. With that, Gu Hai carefully tugged his hands under Bai Luoyin’s body and carried him bridal style out of the car. Bai Luoyin has a stature that was over more than 180cm, with sturdy muscles
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that made him weight more than someone with the same build. To be able to carry him effortlessly like that and still be able to look down to enjoy his dashing face was something that only Gu Hai could do. When Bai Luoyin sensed movements that went on for a spell of time, he squinted his eyes and looked up at the handsome face before him. “Why didn’t you carry me on your back?” Gu Hai had already found a good excuse for himself early on, “If I carried you on my back, wouldn’t it rub against your little friend down there?” Bai Luoyin thought about it for a moment, we’re going to be on the elevator soon anyways and no one is going to coming out at this time of the night either, with that in mind, he fell back asleep yet again…what he did not anticipate was, for the sake of holding him a bit longer, Gu Hai never went into the elevator. He instead walked up the stairs one step at a time. Ordinarily, Bai Luoyin would never allow Gu Hai to carry him in such a manner. But since the opportunity has been granted to him, Gu Hai readily seized it, reluctant to let go no matter what was said. Who could have imaged, even Gu Yang himself could have not imagined… that is, the moment he woke up, he was in outer space. Of course, that wasn’t genuinely outer space. It was the cabin of a plane in a micro-g environment100 with low pressure that was designed specifically for training astronauts. For a person like Gu Yang, who never had any specialized training in such a field, to be kept in a place like that was simply putting him through sheer hell. Using Zhou Lingyun’s words, all that was intended to create an empty environment as to sever his contact with the outside world, which would allow him to be thoroughly brainwashed. This place had no center of gravity, and all four directions (whether up or down, left or right) none can be distinguished as one’s body cannot be freely controlled at will. It was the same as a spirit floating around without a sense of anything. It is a completely silent world, so quiet that only the sound of one’s heartbeat could be heard. What a pity that Gu Yang was not in the mood to enjoy such ease and comfort. Being forcefully placed in there by someone, any sense of surprise would be the same as the air in there— as soon as it appeared, it will be drowned out and all that remained was anger and resentment. If you think that you can enjoy freedom by staying in such a place, then you are completely wrong. There is no freedom in here, but instead, there is a sense of restraint more than there would ordinarily be. Gu Yang has truly suffered this time. He could barely stretch his legs before his entire body collided against the inner wall of the low-pressure cabin. The moment he made any large movement, his body would crash toward the other side of the wall; the worse was when he struggled to steady his posture, the more he moved the more he knocked against the walls. He was like an elastic ball knocking back and forth inside the cabin. In Gu Yang’s memory, he had only suffered two major hardships in the past thirty years of his life. The first time was eight years ago when he laid in the dark and cold tunnel, and the second time was now as he floated in here. In reality, those two hardships were essentially the same, that is, both were for the sake of relieving Gu Hai in his time of crisis as to assist him in escaping, which thereby forced him to be a substitute. micro-g environment – (also µg, often referred to by the term microgravity) is more or less a synonym for weightlessness and zero-g, but indicates that g-forces are not quite zero, just very small.
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CJD did not use this term, what she said was ‘an imitation of a surrounding with low pressure’ but that’s just doesn’t seem right what with Gu Yang floating around so I changed it to what I know. Any part where low pressure is used, I changed it to micro-g. If that is wrong, please help me correct it.
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The only difference between both was that he was aware of the situation the first time. However, this time, he was kept completely in the dark. It was unknown how long Gu Yang was in there since he had completely lost a sense of time. He only felt hungry and wanted something to eat. There was actually real space food in the micro-g cabin, all of which were compressed. Gu Yang casually picked up a compressed biscuit but due to a moment of carelessness, it floated away from his hand and took a while to grab. In this kind of environment, any strong man would become a useless person. For instance, Gu Yang. It took him more than ten minutes just to open the compressed biscuit packet then another ten to put the biscuit in his mouth. It was with much difficulty for him to get that far…but after not even chewing the biscuit a second time, he unconsciously opened his mouth, and the biscuit flew out. Yes, it flew out of his mouth… even the crumbs floated all around the entire cabin! For a person who was extremely fastidious about cleanliness like Gu Yang, it was a tremendously vicious visual attack to have already chewed biscuits crumbs surrounding him! Since Gu Yang was not successful in eating, he thought: I might as well sleep. But floating around endlessly like that, he certainly would not be able sleep. Before he gave up, Gu Yang saw a sleeping bag hanging on the wall and strenuously floated his way over. He attempted to get in, fortunately, the bag was secured in place. Gu Yang did not know how long he had slept. When he opened his eyes, two hands came flying toward him, startling him for a split second! Even in death, Gu Yang will never admit that he was frightened by own hands.
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50 A Schizophrenic Play
Zhou Lingyun’s demonic eyes swept across the field of soldiers before automatically fixing on that illustrious position, but to his surprise, it was vacant. He stood silently on the platform for about a minute and waited for Bai Luoyin to report in late. But his ears remained peaceful the entire time. “Where is the Battalion Commander, Bai Luoyin?” Zhou Lingyun’s savvy voice sounded. No one below uttered a word as a strong sense of oppression spread through the field. Zhou Lingyun asked again, “Does anyone know his situation? Who did he ask for a leave of absence?” Still, no one answered. Seeing that, Zhou Lingyun’s brows drew into a frown before he waved for the Chief of Staff to approach him. Then in a low voice, he said, “I am leaving these soldiers for you to train. I have to go check on Xiao Bai.” The Chief of Staff also looked anxious. “Hurry and go check, hopefully, nothing happened.” In the minds of all those officers, Bai Luoyin has never once been late for any reason; don’t even mention brazenly evading training sessions. Zhou Lingyun quickly walked to Bai Luoyin’s dorm, and once he arrived, he saw that the lights inside were still on. As he pushed the door open, he was greeted with a deep sense of warmth circulating in the room. It did not seem the least like no one was there. However, when Zhou Lingyun went to Bai Luoyin’s bedside and lifted the blanket for a look, it was empty, and there was no one in the other rooms either.
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Still feeling a bit confused, he made his way out of the room only to see a clear row of tire tracks leading away as far as his eyes can distinguish. He didn’t request a leave of absence? Or write a report? And secretly left?… While Zhou Lingyun was busy contemplating, his cell phone suddenly went off. “Wing Commander, please come quick. There has been an accident,” an anxious and frantic voice came from the other side. Zhou Lingyun’s voice sank, “What happened?” “The person you… you brought for us to keep an eye on, he… he committed suicide…” “What?!” Zhou Lingyun was utterly shocked, “What is the situation now?” “We are not sure since we are not able to open the cabin door. But what we can only make out is a mist of blood pervading the inside, making it impossible to see the person’s shadow.” Zhou Lingyun hung up and rushed away from Bai Luoyin’s dorm, taking rather large strides as he ran toward the experimental base. Gu Yang had to use a blunt instrument he found in the micro-g environment to make a cut on his skin. However, with the absence of gravity (little to none), the blood quickly pervaded the entire cabin. He had taken such a drastic step just for the purpose of catching the attention of the guarding soldiers. But since he took off his aviation outfit in the process which inadvertently exposed his body to a vacuumed environment it did not take long for his blood to boil, causing him to instantly lose consciousness and putting his life in imminent peril. The situation was extremely dangerous. If rescue did not come on time, it is possible that his internal organs would be forced out of his body. Once Zhou Lingyun arrived at the experimental base, he immediately opened the micro-g cabin. As air poured inside, Gu Yang’s body quickly dropped to the floor with a thud. “Hurry and contact emergency personnel!” Soon, more than a dozen military doctors rushed to rescue Gu Yang, using an hour before they were able to put the situation under control. Then, the medical staff transferred Gu Yang to the Air Force General Hospital intensive care unit with Zhou Lingyun accompanying him. At a little over seven o’clock in the morning, Bai Luoyin’s cellphone sounded. Gu Hai was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast when he heard the cellphone. He quickly rushed into the bedroom to grab the noisy cellphone before carefully closing the door, afraid that the noise would disturb Bai Luoyin’s much-needed rest. Just one glance at the number, he immediately knew that it was Zhou Lingyun. Then without thinking, he connected the call. “An unexpected situation happened to your little brother yesterday. He’s at the Air Force General Hospital right now.” Peep, beep, beep… Gu Hai’s complexion changed. There was no need to mention that Zhou Lingyun’s socalled, ‘your little brother’, was definitely referring to Gu Yang. Even if Gu Yang was deceitfully sent to Zhou Lingyun as per the two’s mischievous scheme, he was still Gu Hai’s brother! Hence, the moment Gu Hai heard that something bad happened to Gu Yang, his heart stopped for a second. That old scoundrel! He has the balls to fucking treat us Gu family members as newbies! Once Gu Hai took the breakfast out of the pan, he placed it into the oven to keep it warm. Then he quickly tidied up some things and prepared to leave to the hospital. Seeing that Bai Luoyin was sleeping soundly, Gu Hai did not plan on telling him the truth, afraid that it would upset him. He simply leaned over the bed and told him he was heading out to work before walking out of the door as if nothing happened.
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In actuality, he rushed to the hospital and inquired about Gu Yang’s sickroom. Then after acting as Gu Yang’s guardian, he was permitted to enter the room only to see that the person on the bed was still unconscious. When Gu Hai sat on the chair beside the bed and looked at Gu Yang’s colorless face, he could not help but feel troubled. Although Gu Yang had caused the huge accident eight years ago, for the half a year that he was hospitalized, it was also he that had constantly stayed by his side the entire time, watching over him. That was also the reason why Gu Hai, after such a traumatic occurrence, never investigated the reasons that led to the accident. Before long, a doctor accompanied by a nurse, entered the room to examine Gu Yang’s situation. However, upon seeing Gu Hai’s face, they could not help but be taken aback. “You two really look alike. Are you twins?” Gu Hai’s cold eyes swept toward them. “We don’t have the same mother.” Hearing that, the doctor could only smile with embarrassment. “I really thought you two were actually brothers.” The doctor walked out, and Gu Hai followed after to further ask about Gu Yang’s situation. At that moment, Zhou Lingyun’s domineering figure suddenly emerged out of the elevator. While he talked to the doctor, Gu Hai casually turned his head to the side only to inadvertently spot, ‘the scoundrel’. He was about to leap forward and violently beat the living hell out of him but suddenly a divine light flashed before him and Zhou Lingyun disappeared. When Zhou Lingyun calmly walked into the sickroom, he was met with a still unconscious Gu Yang and a nurse who was checking some data on a medical instrument beside him. “How is his situation?” he couldn’t help but ask. “Quite stable.” “How long until he wakes up?” That was what Zhou Lingyun was most concerned of. “It all depends.” The nurse smiled softly, “It might be in a bit or in a day or two.” Zhou Lingyun sternly nodded. After the nurse walked out and Zhou Lingyun let his eyes focus on Gu Yang’s face, he noticed there was a slight difference in the face before him now and the one he saw the first time. But as for specifically where the difference lied, Zhou Lingyun could not describe it. That was because it has been more than two weeks since Gu Hai fooled him and when Gu Yang having been badly battered. By the time he properly heals, it was inevitable Zhou Lingyun would implant the facial structure of the person before him now in his brain. As for how Gu Hai looked before, Zhou Lingyun could no longer recall it. What he only remembered was that familiar smile that floated in his mind from time to time. Gu Hai sneaked into the medical staff’s supply room and borrowed a set of patient’s clothes, went to change in the bathroom then plainly looked into the mirror to fix his hair. When he thought of Gu Yang hooked up to all those medical instruments and wrapped in white gauze, he grabbed went back to the supply room again for some gauze and placed it on a few rather obvious parts of his body. That way, he looked even more like a patient walking in and out of the sickroom. Once done, he quietly hid behind the bathroom door and waited. Twenty minutes later, Zhou Lingyun walked out from Gu Yang’s room to the bathroom. When Zhou Lingyun was done using the toilet, he pushed the door to the stall open only to be shocked by the person standing outside before him. “You…how did you wake up so fast?”
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Without wasting any time, Gu Hai quickly drew out his tightened fist and punched Zhou Lingyun twice in the eyes while he was still in his stupor. Then he pushed him back into the stall, pressed him against the toilet bowl and violently beat him. It wasn’t that Zhou Lingyun was not a match for Gu Hai, but thinking that the person was severely injured, he did not dare to rashly fight back. “You were pretending to be unconscious?” Zhou Lingyun couldn’t help but ask when they were stuck in a deadlock. He simply couldn’t believe Gu Hai could regain that kind of strength in such a short amount of time after just having woken up. Not one to be deterred, Gu Hai maintained his façade, “Who’s pretending to be unconscious? I’ve recovered to enact my revenge before death!” After enduring a few more punches, Zhou Lingyun could no longer remain unresponsive in the face of such adversary. He once again saw the familiar, unyielding and threatening demeanor, in Gu Hai that provoked his excitement. At that moment, he decided to properly test him. Let’s see how much talent this little baby eagle actually has, Zhou Lingyun thought to himself seeing that Gu Hai had been able to repeatedly rouse him. In the instant awareness struck Zhou Ling Yin, Gu Hai was not playing with him anymore. Gu Hai found an opportunity to grab hold of the top edge of the door, quickly turned to the side, and leap out of the stall—landing with a thud on the other side. At first, Zhou Lingyun wanted to chase after, but he quickly realized that his pants were somehow pulled down during the fight. By the time he buckled his belt, Gu Hai was already nowhere to be seen. After walking a full circle around the corridors and stairway, and not finding even a hint of Gu Hai’s shadow, Zhou Lingyun returned to the room. Upon opening the door, he was stupefied to see that Gu Yang was somehow still lying quietly on the bed. With a raised brow, he stared frozen at the door. How good is he at pretending? With that in mind, he walked in and stopped in front of Gu Yang’s bed before clutching his collar with the intention of pulling him up. The nurse was immediately taken aback at the suddenness, “Mister! What are you doing? He is still unconscious!!” “Unconscious my ass. He was having fun just a moment ago!” In the end, that military commander simply shook Gu Yang until he regained consciousness. His brain had yet to concentration or recover its thinking process when he saw a sinister face. Zhou Lingyun held back a smile at the corner of his mouth and scrutinized Gu Yang before he faintly said, “How entertaining! It seems you’re rather skilled in feigning madness! Don’t tell me that fit of insanity earlier was nothing more than just a simple case of sleepwalking…” Gu Yang glanced at Zhou Lingyun with suspicion, “Where is this place?” “Yes, pretend…keep on pretending. You are truly an exotic flower.”101 Zhou Lingyun said, wearing down his teeth. Collectively, Gu Yang and Zhou Lingyun had only met each other twice. Now that Zhou Lingyun had once more suffered a beat down by Gu Hai until one of his eyes had gone greenish blue, Gu Yang could not react for the time being. He simply looked at him with a cold-piercing gaze and spat a few words, “Who are you, huh?” Since Gu Yang asked such a question, Zhou Lingyun was even more convinced Gu Yang was pretending. 奇葩 (qípā) – exotic flower/ (figuratively) marvel/prodigy but is (slang) for weirdo and or outlandish. Let’s face it, to Zhou Ling Yun, Gu Hai is definitely an exotic flower…
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“Ah… do you always have to ask that same question every single time you have done something deceitful and immoral?” At that moment, Gu Yang finally became aware of who Zhou Lingyun was and immediately retorted back. “Leave this room right now and I’ll let your family live but if you keep on beleaguering and provoking me without end, I will bury all your families beside your dead corpse!” Outside the room, Gu Hai was listening the entire time. When he saw that the situation was getting somewhat out of hand, he quickly removed the patient clothing and rush to the doctor’s office. “Doctor, the patient in room no. four at the intensive unit is in danger!” With that said, he speedily lied in wait at the head of a flight of stairs. Soon after, under the doctor and nurse all-out effort to persuade him, Zhou Lingyun restrained his temperament and quietly waited outside of the room for the time being. It did not take long for Gu Hai to once again spot the familiar figure as it flashed by him. He made haste and followed after. Zhou Lingyun stopped in front of a window and took a drag of his cigarette while wearing a rather curious expression, still puzzled even after pondering over everything a hundred times. Quietly walking up from behind Zhou Lingyun, Gu Hai was able to successfully launch another surprise attack. However, Zhou Lingyun reacted on time and quickly turned around only to see that same face again. As expected, he was shocked yet again. “What you said was correct. I do have a bad habit of sleepwalking!” Gu Hai said, letting out a sinister laugh. Zhou Lingyun took a steadily step forward with every intention to engage in a hand-to-hand combat with Gu Hai. But having already been fully prepared, Gu Hai quickly tossed something at Zhou Lingyun’s face. The substance left his eyes dry, itchy and in pain. Even worse, his senses also plummeted, causing him to once again suffered an unpropitious situation. By the time Zhou Lingyun recovered, Gu Hai had already made his escape. This time, Zhou Lingyun did not chase after him. Instead, he wanted to see how Gu Hai could mysteriously retreat back to his sick room in such a short span of time? In the end, when he pushed the door to room number four open and saw the expressionless face of the person sitting on the bed, Zhou Lingyun was completely floored. “Why did you come back?” Gu Yang said with an intense coldness in his eyes. Zhou Lingyun simply closed the door and went straight to the doctor’s office. “I believe the patient in room no. four at the intensive care unit requires a specialist in schizophrenia.”
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51 Wash away the Sinful Soul
For the past few days, Bai Luoyin had been staying at Gu Hai’s place. He demanded to return to the military base repeatedly, but Gu Hai forcefully stopped him every time. The excuse Gu Hai gave forth was: ‘If I don't see Xiao Yin Zi make a full recovery, I won’t let you go’. Of course, ensuring that Xiao Yin Zi was properly taken care of was not enough, he must also make it up to Xiao Hai Zi for all the days that it was owed. During the daytime, Gu Hai would drag Bai Luoyin into the car to accompany him to work. At noon, they had lunch together and once the night sky rolled in, Bai Luoyin would be brought back home without a single scratch. Unsurprisingly, Gu Hai would even follow Bai Luoyin to the bathroom, afraid that little master would run away if he was careless. In the past, since Gu Hai had always come and go at the company independently the female employees were already accustomed to seeing his charming yet unruly silhouette. Until now… he brought someone with him every day. He would have his hand wrapped around that person’s back when coming into the company, then again when leaving. What’s more, they were inseparable for 24 hours a day. Anyone with eyes should be able to come up with some sort of idea. Bai Luoyin conveniently utilized that time to inspect the progress of the project. Therefore, he followed Gu Hai to the workshop every day, and would occasionally make some suggestions. During the initial negotiation of the collaboration, Haiyin High-Tech Co. Ltd. was actually not the primary collaborator of the project. However, under the conspiracy of those two—husband and husband—practically all of the core components are now manufactured at Haiyin High-Tech Co.
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In Gu Hai’s word: All the money I earn now will eventually be yours. We must not let any opportunities go over to others.102 That afternoon, Gu Hai was once again busy working frantically in front of the computer while Bai Luoyin sat idly to the side like an arrogant boss. “Gu-zong, this is the latest draft of the design proposal for your perusal please.” Gu Hai received the document and examined it carefully a few times then calmly said, “Come here for a look, these areas need to be adjusted.” The female employee immediately bent down which allowed half her body to be plaster on the desk, exposing her collar wide open. Gu Hai only needed to lift his eyelids and he would be able to see that sexy cleavage and a pair of shining white steam buns. Bai Luoyin narrowed his eyes and cast a glance in their direction, then simply closed his eyes again with an unconcern expression. Soon, the female employee nodded, expressing she understood what needed to be done while smiling like a blossoming flower before she walked out swinging her hips suggestively. As soon as the door closed, Bai Luoyin immediately let out a light cough. Hearing it, Gu Hai turned to the side and asked, “What’s wrong?” Bai Luoyin hooked his finger, “Come here, I have something to say to you.” Gu Hai had yet to sense the danger closing in as he sat down next to Bai Luoyin and placed his hand over his shoulder. With a hint of joy, he said: “What did you want to say to me?” Without any warning, Bai Luoyin’s hand slithered straight inside Gu Hai’s shirt. Gu Hai purposely responded in a reluctant yet welcoming manner, “Don’t mess around, we’re at work.” Although he said that, in reality, he hoped that Bai Luoyin would not take his hand out. Bai Luoyin’s hand quickly made contact with Gu Hai’s nipple. When he pursed his lips deviously and fiercely twisted that little nub with his strong fingers twice, he instantly saw the muscles on Gu Hai’s face tensed. “Ahhh…” Gu Hai firmly gripped Bai Luoyin’s wrist as his brows tightened, “Don’t be so hardcore.” “You must be full seeing those ‘views’ every day, right?” Bai Luoyin asked without loosening his hand. “Stop twisting…it’s going to fall off if you keep doing that.” Gu Hai continued with a bitter expression, “If it really gets twisted off, what will you eat later on?” “There are so many beautiful and capable ladies in your company, can’t you just let them produce another one and put it back on?” He continued his tyranny on the other nipple. Gu Hai cupped Bai Luoyin’s cheeks and spoke in an exasperated yet playful tone. “I’m telling you, let go now, you hear? I’m very sensitive there. If you insist on continuing and I can’t control myself anymore, I might fuck you right here, right now.” After if in the midst of a challenge, Bai Luoyin still did not loosen his fingers. The second Gu Hai felt the pain, he instantly pressed Bai Luoyin down on the sofa. As for Bai Luoyin, he had been holding back both his anger and breath after seeing the employees hover103 over Gu Hai all day. He was about to turn the situation around to his advantage when the door suddenly opened, and a pair of beautiful legs emerged in his line of sight. Looking up, he was met with a familiar face. Seeing such a scene, Yan Yajing awkwardly smiled. “What are the two of you doing?” We must not let any opportunities go over to others (肥水不流外人田) – alternatively: lit. don't let one's own fertile water flow into others' field / fig. keep the goodies within the family (proverb) 103 hover over Gu Hai all day long – this part was not worded this way in the novel, but the next sentence part indirectly implied it so we added it there for clarification. 102
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Gu Hai stood up and Bai Luoyin took his hands out of his shirt. The two then pretended as if nothing happened and returned to their respective positions. Once he sat down, Gu Hai began to tap on the desk. He had not fully recovered from being aroused by Bai Luoyin, so his gazes still carried a hint of frivolousness as he looked at Yan Yajing. “Have you finished your work?” The expression in Gu Hai’s eyes pushed Yan Yajing’s mind to the edge of a cliff, provoking her to stand still in astonishment, she couldn’t help but look down to examine her own outfit. What the… I don’t see any problem! “Why are you looking at me with that kind of expression?” Gu Hai became confused, “What expression?” Yan Yajing watched attentively as the heat in Gu Hai’s eyes decreased bit by bit. “Nothing, I wanted to discuss the terms and conditions of our collaboration with TianRui Corporation. I just had a conversation with their executive a moment ago...” Yan Yajing sat beside Gu Hai and earnestly briefed him on business matters in details. Having been in the office for the last three to four days, Bai Luoyin noticed Yan Yajing was the only one that did not intentionally or otherwise attempt to seduce Gu Hai. On the surface, their relationship appeared the most ordinary, but in actuality, that was precisely the reason why it was not in the least ordinary. When any other female employee came in, Gu Hai would always be the one to bring up an issue. However, whenever Yan Yajing came, she talked for the majority of the time while Gu Hai listened. It was to the extent that he would not question a lot of the matters and completely trusted her to make the decisions and do what was needed. Their mutual understandings of each other were truly envied by onlookers. “That’s right, last time you asked me what type of medicine was effective for reducing the appearance of scars…” Yan Yajing took out a small bottle from her pocket as she spoke, “Here, my older brother had found an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor to prescribe this. Apply the ointment three times a day and if it’s effective, we can ask the doctor for more.” The corner of Gu Hai’s lips rose slightly, “Thanks, how much is it?” “You don’t have to. Is there still a need to mention ‘money’ between the two of us?” Yan Yajing smiled helplessly. Gu Hai waved the bottle in his hand, “Then, thank your brother for me.” “Hey, why don’t you try a bit to see how effective it is?” Gu Hai twisted the cap open, poured a bit of the powdery ointment on his finger then applied some on the scar on his forehead. “That’s not how you apply it.” Yan Yajing could not help but smile. “Look, the powder fell on your brows. You have to wet your forehead first.” She used a wet paper towel to wipe Gu Hai’s forehead, then using her finger, she gently applied the ointment until it was completely even. Silently looking at them from the side, Bai Luoyin saw the scar that he had seen countless times but never once thought of treating was currently being delicately taken care of by Yan Yajing’s gentle hand. The scar was from the car accident back then that was in all reality caused by him but now someone else’s hand was assisting in getting rid of it. If Yan Yajing took the initiative to get the medication of her own free will, it wouldn’t matter at all. However, the truth was still the truth and that was, it was Gu Hai who had asked her to buy it. Why has he never asked me to do anything for him? Even after Yan Yajing took her leave, Bai Luoyin was still lost in his own thoughts. When they returned home that night, Bai Luoyin demanded to cook for the first time ever. Gu Hai was extremely touched by that! The wish he had for all these years was finally going to be fulfilled today. Thus, he took out a video recorder to track every move of the entire journey.
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From shopping for food, washing, chopping the vegetables to cooking it. He even filmed it from different angles and in high-resolution as to not miss out anything. There were many times when the flames from the stove spurted on the lens, but he still stood persistently at the same position. “Get out of here! You are in the way,” Bai Luoyin said, giving Gu Hai a firm kick. However, Gu Hai did not budge, “I’m scared you might burn yourself.” “Go stand somewhere then! I’ll call you if there’s a fire to put out!” As soon as Gu Hai walked out, Bai Luoyin immediately took revenge by throwing half a bottle of soy sauce and a big cup of hot pepper flakes into the frying pan. He himself became so choked by the heat and ingredients that he ended up seeking refuge on the balcony for a while. After all the dishes were cooked, Bai Luoyin’s face had turned into the color of the soy sauce. “It’s time to eat!” Bai Luoyin called out. Gu Hai lowered his head for a look only to see that all the food looked the same—black to the extent that it would cause anyone’s hair to stand on ends. Fortunately, there were lightings in the kitchen, otherwise, if there was a power failure, it would be difficult to locate the food. Bai Luoyin’s smile could make a person terribly nervous. “Hurry up and eat!” In a tentative manner, Gu Hai used the chopsticks to pick up a piece of Chinese cabbage and placed it in his mouth. With just the first bite, he immediately felt a stream of air rush fiercely from his nostril to his brain, numbing his tongue of all taste in mere seconds. “How is it?” Bai Luoyin asked. With difficulty, Gu Hai forced out a smile. “Not bad, is there rice?” “Nope. There are so many dishes yet it’s still not enough for you? How about I’ll go back and make some soup?” Gu Hai, “…” “You have to eat it all! I need to record it!” While saying those words, Bai Luoyin grabbed the video recorder and aimed the lens at Gu Hai ready to record the look on his face while he ate. The pitiful Gu Hai choked to the point his tears nearly burst out, but he still stuffed his face until his cheeks looked chubby as he incessantly showed off his happiness in front of the recorder lens. Slightly confused, Bai Luoyin wondered just how bad the food was. He was going to take a seat sit and have a taste, but Gu Hai sternly stopped him. “Don’t touch it. It’s all mine!” Right after, the bowl and chopsticks were confiscated. Watching Gu Hai force himself to swallow the unpalatable food, Bai Luoyin’s heart suddenly trembled. After dinner, Gu Hai pulled Bai Luoyin to sit down on the sofa. As soon as he opened his mouth, his tone had a mixture of both Shan Tian Fang104 and Ma San Li.105 “How exactly did you get these scars on your hands?” Turning his hands repeatedly, Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin’s hands that were covered with large and small scars. Every time the old scars had yet to fully heal, new scars would appear. The most frightening was Bai Luoyin’s fingernails. There will always be two layers of nails that twisted and buckled on the fingers. Gu Hai would feel extreme heartache each time he saw it. “Since I often modify machines, it’s hard to avoid getting cuts from the steel plates.”106 han Tian Fang (单田芳)- born in 1935, was a famous 评书 (Pingshu) or 说书 (story teller). In Chinese culture, Pingshu was one of the forms of entertainment in mass culture in China 105 Ma San Li (馬三立 ) - born in 1914, famous Chinese comedian in the traditional “crosstalk” style (duo dialogue between two performers) 106 Bai Luoyin’s hands were damaged at the end of Book One when he removed the steel plate that struck Gu Hai. That is the main reason, but what he said in regard to damages from working on planes is also true. 104
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Once he finished those words, Bai Luoyin watched as Gu Hai pick up the small bottle Yan Yajing had given him earlier. Then after he moistened Bai Luoyin’s hands with a wet towel, he carefully applied the powdery medication on all the scars on the back and palm of his hands. Seeing that, Bai Luoyin’s heart instantly tightened with pain. There was no longer any hint of relaxation in his eyes. “You asked Yan Yajing to help you get this prescription just to cure my hands?” Gu Hai gulped down two large mouthfuls of water and then asked, “What did you think?” Hearing that, Bai Luoyin did not utter another word. Around two in the morning, Gu Hai had only slept for a short while when he sensed the person in his arms suddenly got up. Thinking that Bai Luoyin had gone to the bathroom, he did not think much of it. However, after waiting for half an hour and having no one returned, his chest began to tighten. He secretly thought to himself, did Bai Luoyin sneakily run away? As a result, he quickly got out of bed to search for him. In the end, he found Bai Luoyin on the balcony. That guy only had on his underpants as he sat cross-legged on the floor with narrowed eyes that made him look like a handsome Buddha. “Yin Zi, what are you doing here?” Gu Hai asked with a fright. Without lifting his head, Bai Luoyin simply said one word: “Reflecting!” Gu Hai crouched down and looked at Bai Luoyin with an incomprehensible expression. “What did you run here to reflect on instead of sleeping at this time of the night?” “To wash away my sinful soul!” “…”
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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52 An Additional Love Rival
“What are you doing outside in such cold weather?” Gu Hai asked, looking as though he wanted to help Bai Luoyin up. “Be good and come back into the room with me. Don’t freeze out there.” Bai Luoyin shook Gu Hai’s hand away. “Just let me atone for my sins here. I don’t want to suffer any retribution in the future.” When Gu Hai crouched down and looked at Bai Luoyin with worry only to notice that he did not seem to be joking, he started to reason with him. “How about this, you can confess your sins to me, and I’ll help you weigh the severity of it. If I feel that you are guilty of those terrible ‘crimes’, then you can continue to freeze by yourself here. But if I feel that you can be forgiven, then we’ll go back to sleep, alright?” Bai Luoyin remained silent for a long while before he finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and spoke. “The truth is, I botched that meal on purpose.” Hearing that, Gu Hai’s expression suddenly changed—he had to drink two barrels of water to wash out the taste of that meal. Nonetheless, he was still content knowing that it was the first time Bai Luoyin cooked for him. Never had he imagined Bai Luoyin tormented him on purpose. Even though things turned out that way, Gu Hai still gallantly pulled Bai Luoyin’s hand and smiled optimistically. “Isn’t that just a trivial matter? I’ve forgiven you. As long as you made it, I don’t care what your intentions were. I’ll always be happy.”
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In the end, Bai Luoyin still did not stand up. Instead, he continued to confess everything that was on his mind. “The truth is, when I saw that Yan Yajing had bought the scar reducing medicine for you, I decided to cook for you as an act of revenge.” Gu Hai was riddled with confusion. “What does her buying medicine for me have anything to do with you cooking?” “I thought you asked her to buy that medicine for you.” Alright… Gu Hai could also accept that reasoning, albeit with great difficulty. Although Bai Luoyin harbored suspicions of him, his initial motive was because he cared for him. Hence, Gu Hai understood and accepted the preposterous things he did out of jealousy. “Also, when you were eating… I recorded you because I wanted to save it. If you happen to piss me off later, I will bring it out to threaten you.” The beautiful moments that Gu Hai regarded as a sacred and glorious time instantly fizzled into empty illusions when Bai Luoyin accounted for his countless wicked intentions. Nevertheless, Gu Hai was simply a genuine man— after hearing all of that, he could still maintain a calm expression and took to comforting Bai Luoyin instead. The unbelievable level of his acceptance and tolerance could strike anyone speechless. “Those aren’t a serious matter. As long as you confess to me, I will forgive all your mistakes unconditionally. Alright, let’s go back and sleep. Don’t freeze out here.” Bai Luoyin was about to get up when he suddenly remembered something. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. That actually…… wasn’t the first meal I have cooked.” In just a second, Gu Hai halted his movement of pulling Bai Luoyin up. “The first meal that I cooked was eaten by your brother.” Gu Hai, “…” “And… it also tasted better than this meal.” Gu Hai, “…” Once Bai Luoyin said everything he wanted to, he felt happier than before and prepared to stand upright. “Come on, let’s go back to sleep.” PA! Gu Hai immediately pressed Bai Luoyin back down. “Sit down! If you dare to get up, try me!” Gu Hai’s attitude took a sharp turn. All the patience and leniency he had held on to just a moment ago were completely gone. What remained was a pair of scarlet eyes, filled with flames of tyranny and aggression. Bai Luoyin did not expect that he would actually suffer a setback at the last sentence. The preceding matters that he had first confessed were considered, to even himself, to be the most heinous crimes yet they turned out to be nothing. But what he considered to be the most trivial matter that was not even worth mentioning, unexpectedly provoke Gu Hai’s’ face to darken. “Didn’t you just say that none of it were serious?” Bai Luoyin took out Gu Hai’s previous grand speech and threw them back at him. “How is that not serious?” Gu Hai said; his being shrouded by ominous clouds. “If that is not serious, then what else would be?!” “It’s not like I willingly cooked it for him to eat. I cooked it for you, but he ate it!” At that point, Gu Hai’s clenched fists were cracking with ire. “I don’t care who you cooked it for. In the end, didn’t it all go into his stomach? As long as he ate it, it is not okay!!” A moment ago, Gu Hai was still honest and kind to the point that it caused Bai Luoyin’s hair to stand on ends. But now, there was no way to change his stubborn mindset. Gu Hai used all his might to push down on Bai Luoyin’s head before he ruthlessly told him, “You better sit here and carefully reflect!”
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With that said, Gu Hai returned to the bedroom. When Bai Luoyin turned his head around for a glance at his retreating back, Gu Hai loudly reprimanded him. “Obediently stay there! You’re not allowed to return to the room without my permission! I’m going to let you freeze all night long!” However, after the unreasonable guy lied in bed for less than ten minutes, his mind was already filled with Bai Luoyin’s naked and captivating silhouette sitting on the ground with his legs. That flawless figure, the smooth contour of his muscles, those beautiful straight pair of long legs that casually overlapped each other, not to mention, the bulge that was perfectly wrapped with a thin layer of cloth…was absolutely enthralling. For the past few days since Gu Hai has been applying medication on Bai Luoyin’s wounds, he himself almost suffered internal bleeding. Although it with great difficulty that he was able to keep Bai Luoyin at home, the worse was that he could only look and not touch. For someone as extremely roguish as Gu Hai, that was simply a reckless waste. Hence, Young Master Gu seemed as if he was in the midst of performing biàn liǎn107. Fifteen minutes ago, he went to the room with a dark face, but fifteen minutes later, he went back out with a red face and using both gentle and forceful tactics, he tricked Bai Luoyin back to bed. In a few minutes, both of their bodies tangled together. Since Bai Luoyin demanded Gu Hai’s body heat, he willingly allowed him to rub against him as he pleased. Afterward, he headed straight to the main course—effortlessly slipping into Bai Luoyin’s underpants. The moment Bai Luoyin felt the intrusion, his body stiffened. “Didn’t you say that you won’t touch me until I’ve recovered?” Gu Hai made a solemn vow, “Even if I don’t touch you there, I can still make you feel intense pleasure.” That implied Bai Luoyin would be topped all night without a chance to take the lead. Seeing Bai Luoyin’s hesitation, Gu Hai pressed Xiao Hai Zi (that was burning like a soldering iron) into the crack of Bai Luoyin’s ass—occasionally bumping against it as a tease. “How long has it been? Since the day we fought until now, I haven’t even touched your hand.” Bai Luoyin thought about it carefully, that’s true… more than ten days have gone by. Since his ‘son’ was not in such a good condition, he has not been in the mood to think about those matters. But now that Gu Hai had fondled him like that, Bai Luoyin actually wanted it since his desire was finally aroused. The healthy master behind him must have endured a lot of suffering, right? Subsequently, Bai Luoyin turned his head to receive the deep kiss that Gu Hai initiated. Gu Hai’s tongue snaked from Bai Luoyin’s lips down to the space between his legs before he conveniently parted them. His tongue mischievously teased his inner thighs, yet he refused to lick or touch the voracious member in the middle. Bai Luoyin has been provoked until his steady breathing gradually turned into heavy pants as he gasped for air. The tip of Gu Hai’s tongue slithered around the seams of his underpants, causing the muscles in Bai Luoyin legs to tremble irregularly. In the end, he couldn’t hold it in anymore and pressed Gu Hai’s head on top of Xiao Yin Zi. “Suck me off…” Gu Hai’s lips nestled against Xiao Yin Zi as a bewitching smile ran across his face. When his hands that were separated by the fine layer of underwear rubbed and kneaded Xiao Yin Zi, Bai
“Hence, Young Master Gu was suddenly like a man who was playing Biàn Liǎn.”: Biàn Liǎn (literally ‘Face-Changing’) is an ancient Chinese opera which is a subgenre of Sichuan opera. The opera performers normally wear bright colored costumes and masks. They move according to fast, dramatic music and change from one mask to another almost immediately with the swipe of a fan, movement of the head or wave of the hand.
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Luoyin immediately reacted immediately as his waist rose into an arch. Gu Hai patted his ass, “Let’s wait until you get better before I play with it. Be good and listen to me. Just endure it first…” Bai Luoyin’s face immediately darkened. Gu Hai could not bear to see Bai Luoyin unhappy, so he coaxed him with a soft voice. “Okay, okay, okay, I’ll give it a few licks on top of your underpants. You can’t take it off!” After Gu Hai teased him a bit, Bai Luoyin could not endure it even more. It was like scratching an itchy foot from outside of a boot—simply unsatisfying and the itch worsened. Bai Luoyin finally slipped his own hands into his underpants, but Gu Hai quickly stopped him and pulled it back. Gu Hai then lifted Bai Luoyin’s waist up and maneuvered him into a kneeling position with his face pasted on the bed. Bai Luoyin’s underpants were pulled down, while all his shameful parts were completely exposed in Gu Hai’s line of sight. Gu Hai admired the magnificent sight like it was a treasure. He didn’t even conceal his licentious gaze as his eyes playfully roamed Bai Luoyin’s exposed bottom. The immense sense of humiliation called out to Bai Luoyin. He wanted to evade it, but he was afraid that Gu Hai would do something that would make him feel more shameful. It was a pity that the perverted Young Master Gu would never give up an opportunity to molest Bai Luoyin. For him, humiliating the taciturn officer and triggering him to show lewd expressions in front of him gave him a great sense of accomplishment. With that in mind, Gu Hai placed Bai Luoyin’s hands on his own butt cheeks before he mightily ordered: “Spread them with your own hands. Show me how much you want it.” Bai Luoyin’s expression changed in a flash while his enduring eyes hatefully glared at Gu Hai. It was obvious that he couldn’t accept such a large scale, obscene performance. Gu Hai didn’t feel dampened by Bai Luoyin’s defiance at all. He got off of the bed, straightened his proud Xiao Hai Zi and walked to the cupboard to take out the newly developed ‘weapon’. His lips curved up into a naughty smile as he thought to himself: Today, I must punish you until you become obedient. The moment Bai Luoyin saw that thing, he immediately clenched his teeth in resentment, “You just won’t fucking give up on promoting that thing, huh?” “I promise you’ll like it.” Gu Hai boasted once more. In fact, Gu Hai had put in much effort in order to improve the quality of their sex life. Not only had the toy gone through repeated testing and modification, but it was also guaranteed to be perfectly safe, and the striking effect of the toy is beyond what the human mind can comprehend. Gu Hai switched on the power and adjusted it to the normal speed. When he pointed the toy toward his baby’s erogenous zone, Bai Luoyin immediately shuddered as if he was being electrocuted. He tried to flee to all kinds of direction, while Gu Hai pursued him like that of a champion who was hunting a retreating enemy until he was forced to the corner of the bed. He picked up that buzzing toy and placed it on Bai Luoyin’s protruding nipples. It did not take long for pleasurable low moans to escape from that stubborn mouth. “Take it away… Ngh…” Gu Hai smiled evilly, “If I really take it away, wouldn’t you cry?” Having said that, Gu Hai slid the toy down to Bai Luoyin’s waist. Bai Luoyin couldn’t restrain himself anymore as his waist jerked uncontrollably in pleasure. The muscles on his lower abdomen also quivered as he continued to struggle and evade the toy. Watching Bai Luoyin react in such a lewd manner like that toward a toy caused Gu Hai to feel rather jealous. It looked as though he had never seen Bai Luoyin being that excited before, even when he tried to pleasure him personally.
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Gu Hai shifted that toy again and placed it in between Bai Luoyin’s ass cheeks. Just as Bai Luoyin let out an uncontrollable moan, Gu Hai quickly pushed the toy in. “Ah… Ah… Nghh…” After thrusting the toy in and out of Bai Luoyin’s lascivious hole several times, Gu Hai’s insatiable heart still felt unsatisfied. He grabbed Bai Luoyin’s hand and placed it on the other end of the toy, ordering him in a low voice, “If you want it that badly, then do it yourself.” As a matter of fact, that toy was indeed more fascinating than Gu Hai. When Gu Hai ordered him to spread his ass before, he was extremely unwilling. But now… he was already unwilling to take it out of himself when it had only been inside for a few minutes. He didn’t even hesitate to do the most embarrassing thing in front of Gu Hai. Bai Luoyin began to masturbate with the toy while nibbling on Gu Hai’s swollen nipple. “Baobei, suck it harder.” He instructed in a hoarse tone as his hand encircled his head. Complying, Bai Luoyin did just that and Gu Hai released stifled yet satisfied moans. When he took another quick glimpse at Bai Luoyin, he could see him kneeling beside him with his hand moving vigorously at his backside while his tongue twirled on his hardened nipple. Gu Hai could imagine exactly how the whirring toy was being swallowed and spat out by that seductive entrance. Gu Hai’s breathing was getting more and more unstable as it overflowed with the smell of blood. His eyes were kindled with lust that would ignite at any given moment. Originally, he had planned to humiliate Bai Luoyin, but as a result, he ended up tormenting himself to the point where he couldn’t bear it anymore. One part of him wanted to see the arousing image of Bai Luoyin toying with himself until he was weeping with pleasure, but the other part of him also wanted to take his gun out as soon as possible and join the fray. When Bai Luoyin’s hands finally touched the member between Gu Hai’s legs, he noticed that the precum from Xiao Hai Zi had already stretched one meter long. Bai Luoyin used his fingers to swab the cum from the tip of the head and naughtily wiped it on the side of Gu Hai’s lips. Losing control, Gu Hai shouted and pulled the toy out of Bai Luoyin’s passage while simultaneously releasing the savage Xiao Hai Zi. In order to declare his sovereignty rights, Gu Hai rubbed his member against Bai Luoyin’s entrance and asked with a raspy breath: “What do you want? Hmm?” Bai Luoyin’s bright flushed face emitted an enticing charm. Although it was difficult to say it, he still told him the truth. “I still want that toy…” What that, Bai Luoyin reached out to grab the toy that Gu Hai had thrown to the side. “…??!!” Gu Hai’s expression changed abruptly as his every breath carried a gust of jealousy. He couldn’t hold himself back as he impatiently inserted Xiao Hai Zi inside, plowing roughly for the sake of seizing an immediate control. In the end, Bai Luoyin finally lost himself in the midst of repeated penetrations. When he was on the verge of coming, Gu Hai ruthlessly gripped his waistline, and with every deep thrust, he would ask, “Do you still want that thing? … Hm?…” The hair that had been drenched by sweat fluttered against Bai Luoyin’s forehead to the rhythm of the rocking movements. He was completely ensnared in the maelstrom of pleasure. His sexy thin lips opened and closed erratically as he gasped for breath. “No… I only want you…” Gu Hai clenched his teeth in satisfaction and after ramming his cock passionately in the tight passageway, both men finally reached the pinnacle of orgasms together. Just like Gu Hai said, he
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really didn’t use his hands to pleasure Bai Luoyin’s manhood, he only relied on his own formidable strength and conquered Xiao Yin Zi. For Gu Hai, the most beautiful sound in the world was when Bai Luoyin reached his climax while passionately calling out, “Da Hai”. While Gu Hai was still reminiscing the aftertaste of the sweet moment, Bai Luoyin was already talking to himself, “This thing is surely good to use.” Hearing that, Gu Hai twisted his head only to see that Bai Luoyin has picked up the ‘love rival’ once again and was fiddling it. Young Master Gu frozen for a few seconds before he roared: “Put—it—down!”
Translate: Sienna | Edit: Nancy & Sae
Sienna: Hullo! Long time no see~ Well, this is actually the first sex scene that I translated. Errr, it was super intense omg. My brain is fried because of the naughtiness of these two man =^= Honestly, I didn’t expect this to be a sex chapter when I first chose it hahahaha I tried my best, hope you guys enjoyed~ (I was actually having backaches while translating TAT) Thank you Sae and Nancy for the wonderful edits~ Nancy: I can just imagine BLY calling out Da Hai as he climaxed… huhuhu what a vivid scene! Sae: Thank goodness, I escaped having to translate this chapter *phew*
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53 The Truth is Finally Out
Seizing the time that Bai Luoyin was asleep, Gu Hai gave Jiang Yuan a call. “Hello, Xiao Hai. Is that you?” Jiang Yuan said, her voice sounded rather surprised. Gu Hai cleared his throat, “Yin Zi had been injured, so he’s been staying at my place.” “What? He was injured?” Jiang Yuan became anxious. “Where? Was it serious?” “He recovered already.” Gu Hai lowered his voice to explain, “Since his training missions have been too excessive recently, his body wasn’t able to tolerate it all. He came to my place to rest for a few days, but he wasn’t able to notify his commander beforehand or request a leave of absence. That might cause some troubles when he returns to the base.” Hearing that, Jiang Yuan immediately understood the implication. “Don’t worry, I’ll speak to his commander and explain that I miss my son and force him to stay home for a few days. Even if he doesn’t respect me, he has to respect your dad.” Feeling satisfied, Gu Hai simply said, ‘okay’ and added, “Don’t tell Yin Zi about this.” “I know.” After hanging up, Jiang Yuan felt rather content that Gu Hai had willingly asked her for assistance. That alone indicated to her that he had acknowledged her as a mother. While she was still in her thoughts, the door suddenly opened, and Gu Weiting walked in. “Hey, weren’t you supposed to attend a meeting?” Jiang Yuan looked at him with surprise. Gu Wei Ying nodded and unenthusiastically replied, “It was canceled in the last minute.” “Oh.” Jiang Yuan turned around and continued to look at herself in the mirror.
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“I received a call from the Air Force just a moment ago, informing that Bai Luoyin has been absent for a week without any reason.” Upon hearing that, Jiang Yuan halted and twirled around to look at Gu Weiting. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot to tell you that I brought Yin Zi home.” There were hints of suspicion in his gaze, “Are you really the one who brought him home? How come I haven’t seen him?” “You’ve been working elsewhere for the entire week, how would you have seen him? He left a while ago since I let him go visit his dad. I'll take him back to the base later.” Jiang Yuan said as if it was the truth. Gu Weiting sneered coldly, “I thought he was involved with Xiao Hai again.” Jiang Yuan pretended to be annoyed, “Can you think about something else other than that? Even if the two of them lived together, so what? They are brothers. Plus, they are also collaborating on a business transaction. That is certainly a great ordeal! Why do things always become so foul whenever it comes out of your mouth?” “Are you blaming me?” Gu Weiting’s expression appeared somewhat displeased. “Who told you to bring him back without permission? Don’t you know that the military has its own rules? If you keep violating the system like this, how do you expect everyone to look at me?” “You’re only concern about yourself! When are you going to stop thinking only about how to rise through the ranks?” Jiang Yuan continued with resentment, “Can’t I miss my son? When you miss your son, all you have to do is drive to his company? But when I want to see my son for just a second, I have to be cautious as to not hurt your reputation every time. How is that easy on me?” Not wanting to hear her nag, Gu Weiting walked into the kitchen, grabbed a cucumber, and started to eat it. “Who allowed you to eat my cucumber?” Jiang Yuan said, deliberately picking a fight. Gu Weiting lowered his head to look at the cucumber in his hand, then at the basket of vegetable to the side. Then he absent-mindedly replied, “Aren’t there more right here?” “That is the only thick and straight one, the rest are useless.” Gu Weiting suddenly froze on the spot. Is it necessary to be so bold? Even if I haven't come home for a week, is there a need to ridicule me? While he was still in the midst of contemplating whether to take another bite or not, Jiang Yuan suddenly walked into the kitchen. She grabbed a cucumber then gave Gu Weiting a fierce glare before returning to sit in front of the dressing table. Gu Weiting watched helplessly as Jiang Yuan chopped the cucumber into thin slices and stuck it on her face one at a time while grumbling to herself. “Look, this cucumber is thin and crooked, the slices are so uneven….” “…” Gu Weiting. Later at noon, Gu Hai received a call from Gu Yang. “Where are you?” Gu Hai got up and walked toward the bathroom, “At a restaurant, what’s wrong?” “Come over immediately. I'm in danger.” Gu Hai wanted to ask more but Gu Yang had already hung up. Gu Yang had always had that awful habit, every time he, Gu Hai, received a call from him, so as long as he had said what he wanted to, he would not care to hear what the other had to say. When he returned to the seat, Bai Luoyin was still eating his meal. “Come home with me in the afternoon. It must have been ages since you’ve seen my dad and Aunt Zou, right?”
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Gu Hai stared blankly for a bit then his head nodded in agreement. “Okay! My father-in-law won’t kick me out, right?” Bai Luoyin suddenly stomped on Gu Hai’s foot then looked at him with a nonchalant expression as if nothing had happened. “Don't you already know your father and mother in-law’s characteristics by now?” Gu Hai lightly coughed and continued to immerse in eating his food. When they were almost done, Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin and said, “Yin Zi, I have to go out first for a bit. It’ll be really quick. Wait for me at work and don’t run all over the place!” “How come you’re not taking me this time?” Bai Luoyin wondered, “If you’re that afraid I’d run off, then take me with you!!” “Since it will only be for a short while, I don’t want to trouble you.” Bai Luoyin looked at him attentively before he finally spoke, “Okay, you can go!” As a result of said permission, Gu Hai raced toward the hospital and brought along the scar reducing medicine that Yan Yajing had given him. It had certainly been confirmed that the medication was pretty good. Bai Luoyin had only used it for a few days and the scars on his hands had lightened up significantly. Fully knowing that Gu Yang was such a vain person, he would definitely hold a grudge against Zhou Lingyun for the rest of his life for any scars on his body. “I see that you are perfectly well. It doesn't look like you’re in any danger!” Gu Hai said. Gu Yang glanced outside, eyes completely filled with irritation. “There’s nothing wrong with my body but the crucial point is, I can't get out of here. There are loads of organizational matters that I need me to attend to in Hong Kong. I'm being restricted even when I’m just making a simple phone call.” Gu Hai pretended not to know anything, “Why can't you get out of here?” “Didn’t you see the soldiers guarding the door?” “Why are there soldiers guarding your doorway?” Gu Hai continued to pretend. Gu Yang’s gloomy face emerged with a slightly scowling expression. “I've somehow angered a Wing Commander.” Gu Hai let out a light cough, “Why did you call me over then? They’re all armed while I’m completely defenseless. Are you asking me to confront all those tough soldiers with violence?” “Who wants you to confront them with violence?” Gu Yang said, hooking his finger. Seeing that gesture, Gu Hai moved his ear closer. “I want you to be my substitute!” Gu Hai looked at Gu Yang with uncertainty, “Substitute?” “That’s right, a substitute…” Gu Yang continued in a cautious yet serious manner, “Just like the time I saved you from that tunnel. Only now, it's vice versa. You just have to wear the patient gown and sit here while I wear your clothes to walk out of here. Don’t worry, those soldiers won't be able to tell.” Gu Hai secretly sneered coldly, I’ve only just deceived you to replace me as a substitute, yet you want me to become your substitute? What kind of bullshit is that! “Don’t worry, once he realizes that you’re not really me, he won’t make it difficult for you.” Gu Yang adding, not forgetting to mention that as well. Gu Hai really wanted to look up at the sky and howl, since he still hasn't realized that you’re the fake one yet, how can I rely on him to find out that I am the fake one then? “How about this!” Gu Hai was still kind, “I'll go to Hong Kong and handle all the matters for you. You can relax and stay here to deal with that Wing Commander. I believe in your ability!” An icy expression filled Gu Yang’s eyes, “You are going to see me die without helping?”
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“My ability is really limited!” Gu Hai patted his shoulder and then took out a small medicine bottle. “Here, this is for reducing the appearance of scars. You have to use it three times a day and right after the stitches are removed, you can use it immediately. Those are the only thing that I can do for you.” Gu Yang took the medicine bottle, feeling rather moved by that kind act. Just looking at it caused him to completely dismiss the idea of letting Gu Hai taking the risk. “Okay, you can leave!” Gu Hai’s expression changed as soon as he turned around. Asshole! Do you actually want to frame me? Have a good look and see who framed you! Just as Zhou Lingyun walked out of the elevator, he saw a familiar silhouette. Although he only caught the side of his face, Gu Hai’s body structure extremely prominent, making it impossible to replicate. For that reason alone, Zhou Lingyun was naturally able to recognize him with just a single glance. Thinking he might have escaped, Zhou Lingyun twisted his head to the side only to see all the soldiers still guarding the door; there were no commotions or anything out of the ordinary. This time around, Zhou Lingyun was adamant that Gu Hai did walk out of his room, especially when he does not possess the ability or was there a possibility of him suddenly escaping under such tight surveillance. However, when he pushed the door open, Gu Yang was still sitting obediently on the bed in his patient’s gown. What in the world is going on? Is the place haunted? Zhou Lingyun steadily moved his footsteps toward Gu Yang’s bed and once he opened his mouth, the most astonishing words flew out. “I just saw you walking down the stairs a moment ago but now you’re sitting on the bed. That ‘you’ was dressed in casual clothes but this ‘you’ is still wearing a patient gown….” Gu Yang took a deep breath, completely defeated by Zhou Lingyun's stupidity. “That was my little brother! We are two different people!” Zhou Lingyun’s body trembled immensely, “Your little brother? Are you twins?” Gu Yang snorted coldly, “We are not twins, but we can pass as twins.” Zhou Lingyun suddenly remembered the scene in the bathroom and the constant nonsense that Gu Yang had been spouting for the last few days. From that, he suddenly realized something and grabbed Gu Yang's arm. “You are not the boss of Beijing Haiyin High-Tech Co. Ltd.?” Gu Yang threw his hand off, “You caught the wrong person.” Zhou Lingyun’s complexion changed from green to pale white, “You’re not Gu Hai?” Hearing that, Gu Yang’s expression also changed. “Don't tell me… the person you wanted to catch was Gu Hai?” Zhou Lingyun’s face was now completely flaming with anger. Seeing that expression, Gu Yang instantly understood everything. “You’re Zhou Lingyun? I’ll remember you! Please remember me, my name is Gu Yang!” For some reason, Zhou Lingyun still refused to give up. “But Bai Luoyin said you are Gu Hai. What’s more is that I clearly remember the day you maliciously tricked me at your company while wearing that same exact pair of sunglasses.” With that said, he took out the sunglasses from his pocket and placed it on Gu Yang’s hand. Gu Yang gritted his teeth with eyes bursting with eyes extreme chilliness. Bai Luoyin, I’ve truly underestimated you! Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae
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Awwwww I feel loved. My partner helped me with this chapter to proofread. Thank you, Eugene, for taking part of this, it means a lot to me! ❤ Also, thanks for Sienna and Sae for the edits as always. ❤ Eugene: So... did you tell Sae I helped? Me: Yes, babe. Eugene: *wags tail* Me: Such a good boy, here is a treat. Hahahahahahahahhhhhhh Sae: THANKS EUGENE!!
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54 The Couple returns to the in-law’s Home
Midway on the road, Gu Hai turned to look at Bai Luoyin. “What do you think I should buy?” “What is there to buy?” Bai Luoyin said casually, “We’re not short of anything at home.” “I can’t be like before and go empty-handed, okay? I was a student then so freeloading here and there was reasonable. But now that I'm older, it’s utterly shameful to visit empty-handed!” The corner of Bai Luoyin’s lips slightly rose into a smirk. “That thick skin of yours has already been deeply ingrained in my dad’s heart a long time ago.” “I'm not joking with you.” Gu Hai urged his voice reflecting his mindset. “Hurry up and think for a second. There won’t be any more shopping center around if I don’t get it now.” Bai Luoyin’s brows twisted tightly as he pondered, but in the end, a helpless expression remained on his face. “I can't think of anything.” “There’s nothing at all that your dad likes?” “There is,” Bai Luoyin said. Gu Hai asked, “What is it?” “A big grandson!”108 Hearing that particular word, Gu Hai’s expression immediately froze before he suddenly stepped on the brake and park the car along the side of the road. 大孫子 Lit Trans: Big grandson. Calling someone grandson is actually cursing them in Beijing. Meaning, they are low, despicable, not genuine. BLY was actually cursing GH in this context.
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“How about we have a baby now?” A mischievous smile appeared on Gu Hai’s lips as he leaned in closer to Bai Luoyin. Unperturbed, Bai Luoyin shot him a glance, “Are you giving birth then?” “That’s right, hold my clothes for me! I'll give birth right away.” Gu Hai said sincerity. Looking at him, Bai Luoyin could not help but glare. “Let me see you lay an egg first!” Gu Hai gritted his teeth, “Did Jiang Yuan hatch you from an egg?” “You fucking…!!” Bai Luoyin immediately threw his fist at him, causing the two to tussle in the car. Then when the car started to shake violently, attracting the attention of the pedestrians who passed by and gave a strange side glance, Gu Hai gripped Bai Luoyin’s wrist to stop him. “Stop fooling around. stop fooling around… our hairdos will be messy if we continue.” “Get out of the car!” Bai Luoyin order as he adamantly pushed Gu Hai. Build like the stern rock that he was, Gu Hai did not budge and simply looked in the rearview mirror to fix his hair. “Why do I need to get out of the car?” He asked absent-mindedly. “To go shopping! Isn’t there a shopping center over there? Let’s take a walk and see if we can buy my dad some clothes. I always see him wearing my hand-me-down clothes.” Gu Hai couldn’t help to tease him, “You and your dad still wear each other’s clothes?” “Since we were born in a low-class society, we haven’t been able to get rid of that kind of mentality. Even if we had money, we still wouldn’t have the heart to spend it. We can’t compare to your family.” Bai Luoyin insinuated with a mockery. Gu Hai fiercely patted the back of Bai Luoyin’s head, “As if you’re low-class? Have you ever seen any low-class people letting a capitalist pull their pants off?” Bai Luoyin, “…” The two entered the shopping center and headed straight to the men's section. Gu Hai founded one to his taste and pointed it for Bai Luoyin to see. “What do you think of that coat?”109 “It doesn’t suit my dad, but it does suit your dad.” “Oh, let's go then.” Bai Luoyin pulled Gu Hai back, “Don't go yet! Let's buy it!” “Why are we buying it if it doesn’t suit him?” Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin. “Isn’t your dad also a dad?” Bai Luoyin said, giving him a death stare. Just as Gu Hai realized what he meant, Bai Luoyin had already walked off to pay for the item. Seeing garment, Gu Hai laughed: “How did you know what size my dad wears?” “I don’t know. I’m just blindly guessing.” In truth, Bai Luoyin actually knew what the exact size was. Once, he has to go on a mission in another province and just by chance, Gu Weiting also had a meeting there, and as a result, they ended up returning to the base together. When Gu Weiting needed to use the restroom, he had asked Bai Luoyin to hold his jacket for him, to which he unintentionally glanced at the tag. From then time on, the size remained in his mind. In regard to everything about Gu Hai… he never had to purposely put much effort into remembering since the second he learned of anything, it etched in his memory as if second nature. “What do you think of this one?” Bai Luoyin asked, seeking Gu Hai’s opinion. Gu Hai’s brows knitted, “Doesn’t it look too old-fashion?” “He’s already fifty. Even if you bought him something fashionable, he wouldn’t have the guts to wear it out!” Thinking that it was true, Gu Hai nodded. “It will do then!” 109
褂子 Guàzi : Northern china uses this word, it literally means “outerwear”. It can be a top, winter coats or jackets.
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“Don’t be so anxious to buy it. My dad has put on a bit of weight, so it might not fit him… you should try it on first.” “Why not try it?” Gu Hai ridiculed, “Don’t you and your dad wear each other’s clothes?” “Since he gained weight, it’s only natural for his shoulders to become wider than before. What’s more, my frame isn’t as big as yours. So even if it fits me right now, it might be too tight on him.” Bai Luoyin said, passing the garment to Gu Hai. When Gu Hai walked into the fitting room, Bai Luoyin looked around in boredom and suddenly his gaze froze on a silhouette, causing his eyes to light up. “You Qi!” Not too far off in the distance, an extremely handsome guy, adorning a pair of sunglasses subconsciously looked over. His expression froze for a second as he watched Bai Luoyin waving energetically at him before he quickly walked toward him in large strides. The two gave each other a long-awaited hug after not met in such a long time. It wasn’t hard to guess that they were exceptionally excited at the others’ unexpected appearance. You Qi took off his sunglasses and the most handsome face, that could wreck the country and bring misfortune to its people, was revealed. “Yin Zi, what are you doing here?” Bai Luoyin pointed at the store behind him, “I'm buying clothes for my dad.” Just as he finished saying that, Gu Hai walked out of the fitting room and was looking at the mirror with his back facing Bai Luoyin, who then dragged You Qi into the store. Before he even opened his mouth to call for Gu Hai, You Qi had spoken first. “Uncle, it has been a long time since we’ve last seen each other.” Gu Hai, on the other hand, had already caught sight of You Qi in the mirror. He turned around to face him with an insincere smile, “Aren’t you being too polite?” You Qi was completely stunned, “Oh, it’s just you!” Keeping an indifference attitude, Gu Hai took off the jacket and looked at Bai Luoyin. “This fit quite well so I'm going to pay for it now.” He said, walking toward the checkout counter. Giving Gu Hai a glance, You Qi lowered his voice and asked, “You’re still with him?” “Yeah, but we’ve only been in contact with each other not long ago.” Bai Luoyin deliberately glossed over the details a bit. It was then that You Qi noticed the military uniform Bai Luoyin was wearing and stared at him with open eyes in utter disbelief. “Did you….” Bai Luoyin generously admitted, “I had enlisted in the military and I’m a pilot now.” “That’s amazing!” You Qi looked at Bai Luoyin in astonishment. “What's your rank?” “I'm just a Major.” “You’ve already managed to work your way up to a Major at such a young age?” You Qi asked, still rather startled. All the while, a man standing beside You Qi looked at Bai Luoyin with great admiration. “Oh, that's right. I forgot to introduce you guys. This is my manager, Mr. Ma.” You Qi said, pointing at the middle-aged man to his side. Bai Luoyin politely shook his hand. Afterward, he continued to tease You Qi. “Honestly, I haven't kept up with the entertainment news for ages. I nearly forgot that you are a celebrity now. Whenever you hold a concert or something, don't forget to give me a ticket.”
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“Listen to yourself. At most, I'm just an actor with small roles. Ah, since you mentioned that, this is the movie I took part in. It will premier in a couple of days! Here’s the admission ticket, you have to come if you have time!” “Since you acted in it, of course, I will come and support you!” Just as Bai Luoyin’s voice sounded, Gu Hai’s voice sailed through from behind. “Isn’t it inappropriate to only give one ticket?” You Qi poked his forehead with his finger. “Geez, I’m losing my memory already. Wait for a second, let me get another one for you.” Just as You Qi handed the ticket over, Mr. Ma spoke. “You must be Mr. Gu Hai, correct?” Although he did not recognize the other person, Gu Hai still politely shook his hand. “Do you know each other?” You Qi looked at his manager with confusion. Mr. Ma smiled, “I’ve heard a lot about him and have been looking forward to meeting him.” The four chatted for a while until You Qi gave Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai a business card and cheerfully said goodbye. “I have to go since I still have some things to do. We’ll chat another day!” “Go do what you have to!” Looking at You Qi’s fading back, Bai Luoyin could not help but sigh. “He has become more handsome than ever!” “Okay, yeah…” Gu Hai sneered, “… so handsome that he doesn't even look human.” Bai Luoyin shot him a glance, “Let's go quickly. Your brother is waiting for you at home!” “My brother?” Gu Hai asked with a frozen expression. Bai Luo faintly smiled, “Since You Qi called you ‘uncle’, you must be from that generation! Doesn’t that make my dad your brother?” “Are you asking to be fucked?” “Hehe…” The two bought a set of outfits for Aunt Zou but being unsure of what to get for Meng Tongtian, they ended up getting him a tablet. When they arrived at the house, the sky had already fallen into darkness. Upon hearing the doorbell, Bai Hanqi hastily went to open the door. “You two are here?” The emotions Gu Hai felt when he saw Bai Hanqi now compared to when he saw him at the engagement was completely different. “Uncle.” He called out in an extremely sincere and warm tone. Bai Hanqi’s heart could not help but tremble unintendedly—it was as if he had not heard that tone in ages. “Quickly come in!” As the four sat on the sofa and chatted, Gu Hai didn't know what to say since it has been so long. He was not the silly boy from the past and there were things he no longer dared to speak so freely of anymore. Aunt Zou did not take her eyes off Gu Hai as she spoke cheerfully. “Oh my, you have grown so much! Even now, I still remember when you used to come here all the time to eat. You were able to eat six bowls of zhajiangmian110 all by yourself, and after walking around the backyard for a bit, you’d get hungry again.”
炸醬面 Zhajiangmian - literally: ("fried sauce noodles"), or "noodles with soybean paste", is a Chinese dish consisting of thick wheat noodles topped with zhajiang sauce. Zhajiang sauce is normally made by simmering stir-fried ground pork or beef with salty fermented soybean paste.
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Gu Hai laughed, “If you make it for me now, I can still eat six bowls.” Aunt Zou immediately stood up in excitement, “Then I will go and knead the dough. We will eat zhajiangmian tonight.” Bai Hanqi looked at Gu Hai, then at Bai Luoyin— a gratified smile appeared on his face. “Every time I see you, the chances I get to see you again lessens.” Bai Luoyin’s face darkened, “Dad, what are you saying?” “Did I say something wrong?” Bai Hanqi’s gaze turned toward Bai Luoyin, “How many times do you come home in a year? How many more years do I have left to live? If I calculate it that way, there’s not a lot of time for me to see you, right?” Bai Luoyin could not help but be upset hearing Bai Hanqi speak like that. Sitting to the side with an aching heart, Gu Hai put in a few good words for Bai Luoyin. “Uncle, you’re not familiar with the rule placed on each soldier in the military. For the first few years since the day that he enlisted, it is mandatory for him to live on the base. But in a couple more years, when his rank is higher than it is now, he can definitely move out.” Bai Hanqi’s eyes lit up, “Really?” “Haven’t I said the same thing to you before?” Bai Luo interrupted from the side. “Your words are not reliable. I can see clearly that Da Hai has changed a lot after all these years. At least, he looks a lot more composed than you!” Bai Luoyin silently rebuked, that’s because you haven’t seen the way he acts in bed… Soon Bai Hanqi turned his gaze to look at Gu Hai with a guilt-ridden expression. “Da Hai, Uncle didn’t mean to deceive you on purpose. During the first two years that Yin Zi was enlisted, Uncle has already felt very bad. That day you came to look for me at home, and I told you that Yin Zi died, once you left, I cried for the whole night!” Gu Hai’s heart skipped when he heard those words; he quickly held Bai Hanqi’s hands. “Uncle, I don’t blame you. I know you have your own difficulties.” Bai Luoyin kept his head hung low without uttering a word. Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit depressing, Gu Hai quick-wittedly joked with Bai Hanqi instead. “Do you still have the black and white photo of Yin Zi that you had made for the memorial tablet?” Bai Luoyin firmly lifted his head, “What? Did you make a memorial tablet with a black and white picture of me? How come I don’t know about this?” Bai Hanqi smiled and spoke honestly, “I secretly put it away every time you came home!” “Did you put it out here every day?!” Bai Luoyin was in a state of utter confusion. Bai Hanqi responded with a lack of confidence, “Not every day… I only put it out on Saturdays and Sundays so that it can soak up some sunlight. I was afraid it would become moldy if it was kept inside the cupboard every day, you know…” At that point, Bai Luoyin was fuming with anger, “What are you keeping it for, huh?” “What? I think it’s a waste to just throw it away! That photo frame is very sturdy, and I didn’t have the heart to throw away that photo of you either, so I left it there as an artistic photo! Aren’t youngster nowadays fond of getting their photos taken in black and white on purpose?!” “But their black and white photos don’t have any snacks or food placed in front of it!” “Pfffttt…” Gu Hai nearly spat out the water in his mouth as he tried to contain his laughter.
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae & Sienna
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55 At the Cost of Blood
It was approaching dinnertime when the door to their house opened with a creak causing Gu Hai’s gaze to shift toward it. A handsome boy with delicate features was standing in front of him, wearing an expression of surprise on his face. “Come here, Tong Tian…” Bai Hanqi waved his hand toward Meng Tong Tian, beckoning him to come over. “Look at this person. Do you still recognize him?” Gu Hai looked at Meng Tong Tian and smiled. He was a bit reluctant to admit that Meng Tong Tian, the brat from his memories who had always run around in the backyard, had grown into a young adult in the twinkling of an eye. “How can I not recognize him?” Meng Tong Tian laughed heartily, “Isn’t that Gu Hai gege?” The corner of Bai Luoyin’s lip pulled up into a smirk, “Both of you are already older now, are you embarrassed calling him that? Isn’t it fine to just directly call him ge?” The two did not pay attention to Bai Luoyin as they continued to greet each other as if no one else was there. It seemed the eight years of separation did not create any unfamiliarity or distance between them. “Hai ge, I still have all the toys that you gave me back then.” “You are much more compassionate than your brother.” Gu Hai praised. “Oh, that’s right, Hai ge… do you have a Weibo account?” “I do, but I don’t login in often.”
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While they chatted, Meng Tong firmly held Gu Hai’s hand which caught Bai Luoyin’s attention. He had been staring at him for some time, yet the young man did not show any sign of letting go. “Alright, that’s enough.” Bai Luoyin’s remind them from the side with a cold aura. “So, you have one?! Hehe… then, let’s follow each other on Weibo!!” Meng Tong Tian exclaimed, moving even closer to Gu Hai. At that moment, Bai Luoyin’s face immediately darkened, and he angrily shouted, “Go back to your room and do your homework!” Meng Tong Tian shot a resentful glance at Bai Luoyin then shifted his gaze back to Gu Hai and urged him repeatedly in whispers, “Don’t forget. Don’t forget, okay…” While they were eating, Bai Hanqi persistently said, “Eat more food, eat more food.” “Uncle, you should eat yours. You don’t need to mind me. I’ll definitely stuff myself in your house.” Gu Hai took Bai Luoyin’s bowl out of habit and scooped the noodles for him. Bai Hanqi’s gaze froze. Bai Luoyin, who felt that the atmosphere was slightly weird, hastily snatched the bowl back and coughed lightly. “That’s enough. I can do it by myself.” Meanwhile, Bai Hanqi engrossed himself in eating his bowl of noodle. After swallowing it, his mood became slightly better and he continued to talk about their daily lives with Gu Hai, “Da Hai ah, when do you plan to get married?” “Get married?” Gu Hai slurped the noodles then raised his head, “With whom?” “With the young lady from last time! Haven’t the two of you held an engagement dinner?” On that topic, Aunt Zou also put her chopsticks down and looked at Gu Hai with concern. “Oh, her…” Gu Hai casually replied back, “It didn’t work out.” “It didn’t work out?” Bai Hanqi looked him with pity, “Why did it suddenly not work out when everything was going well?” “Our characters are incompatible.” Gu Hai explained half-heartedly. The noodles in Bai Luoyin’s mouth also seemed hard to swallow. “Ah…” Bai Hanqi let out a heavy sigh, “Young people nowadays are really unreliable when it comes to these kinds of matters. Yin Zi is also the same. He has been set up for more than ten times blind dates, but none of them worked out.” Bai Hanqi’s words had successfully caused Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin to choke in unison. “More than ten…” Gu Hai’s face flashed between seven colors, “You’re really something.” “What?” Bai Luoyin protested against the injustice, “Where did those ‘more than ten times’ come from? How come I didn’t know anything about any of it?!” Aunt Zou glared at Bai Hanqi, “You’re also…really something else. Our Yin Zi hasn’t even agreed to any of the meetings yet you still have the guts to say, ‘it didn’t work out’?” Bai Luoyin, “…” Bai Hanqi argued reasonably, “If I didn’t say, ‘it didn’t work out’, then should I say that it was ‘successful’?” Gu Hai, “…” On their way home, Gu Hai suddenly said, “I have a feeling that our dad doesn’t like me.” “Our dad?” An unconscious smile slowly made its way onto Bai Luoyin’s lips, “You’re pretty quick in correcting the way you call my dad.” “I’m not joking with you. I think that our dad’s attitude towards me is different from back then. It feels like there is a distance between us now,” grief could be heard in Gu Hai’s voice. Hearing that, Bai Luoyin tensed up at once. When he turned around to face Gu Hai, he realized that this guy had unexpectedly taken that matter to heart. “It’s not that he doesn’t like you. He just doesn’t know how to accept you again.”
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Gu Hai rolled the car windows down and lit a cigarette, smoking it slowly. His expression was somewhat complicated as he continued, “I always feel ashamed to face him. If it wasn’t because of me, you and your dad wouldn’t have been apart for so many years.” Bai Luoyin snorted, “If you’re going to think like that, then we should just break up.” To his surprise, once that lethal sentence came out, Bai Luoyin’s left cheek was twisted by Gu Hai until it looked like a fried dough twist. “Believe it or not, but the next time you say that, I’m going to beat you up.” Bai Luoyin was consumed with pain as he looked at Gu Hai with annoyance. Before he could retaliate, Gu Hai wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Don’t use those kinds of words to tease me. I couldn’t help but be scared.” Without speaking, he burned the soft hairs on Gu Hai’s nape with the butt of the cigarette. Not the least bit bothered, Gu Hai instead caressed Bai Luoyin’s hair while speaking in a gentle voice, “Yin Zi, I have to go to Hong Kong.” Once Bai Luoyin heard, ‘Hong Kong’, he knew immediately that it was related to Gu Yang. “What happened to him?” “What do you think?” Gu Hai snickered, “He’s being detained by that Wing Commander of yours! Besides, he has a lot of mess in Hong Kong. Who else can help him handle it besides me?” A shade of doubt fell on Bai Luoyin’s face, “Since he was able to talk to you, he should also be able to contact someone else. With his connections and abilities, it shouldn’t be hard for him to escape from Wing Commander Zhou’s hand, right? Why does he insist on having you go to Hong Kong? He’s not deliberately tricking you, is he?” “He didn’t tell me to go. I’m willing to go there myself.” Gu Hai’s gaze radiated honesty as he spoke, “Anyways, isn’t it better than having me substitute for him to handle that old bastard?” Bai Luoyin’s eyes lit up with realization, “Your brother is truly a treacherous man.” “Don’t worry. My trip to Hong Kong isn’t only to deal with his mess. I also have other business to attend there.” “Then, you should be more careful.” Bai Luoyin said, pulling Gu Hai’s collar before gently adding, “Come back soon!” Gu Hai held Bai Luoyin’s face in his hands and kissed him. After, they went to the airport. Bai Luoyin drove the car straight to the military base. He heard that Zhou Lingyun would return tomorrow, so he needed to report the reason for his absence to his superiors tonight. If the matter fell into Zhou Lingyun’s hands, the punishment would definitely be more severe. “Madam has already informed us of the circumstances for your situation. Remember to give a call in advance next time. If we were to lose such a talented man like you, it would be a tremendous loss to the aviation world!” Although Bai Luoyin was riddled with confusion, he did ask further; afraid that if he did, only more unnecessary trouble would come instead. After he left his superior’s office, Bai Luoyin immediately made a call to Jiang Yuan. “How did you know I was absent from work?” “There was a call for Lao Gu here, how would I not know? Yin Zi, please tell me ahead of time before you go out next time. Don’t be so quiet like that. If you were penalized and affect your record, it will look very bad on you!” Knowing full well that Jiang Yuan was going to go nagging spree again, Bai Luoyin quickly added some ending remarks. “Alright, I know.” “Hey, don’t hang up yet!” Jiang Yuan rushed to say a few more words, “How are things with you and Shuang Shuang?”
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“Shuang Shuang?” Bai Luoyin asked in confusion. “It’s that Di Shuang!” Bai Luoyin didn’t want to admit that he had nearly forgotten what Di Shuang looked like. “It failed.” Having uttered those two words, Bai Luoyin hung up the call and let out a sigh of relief. He really did not expect the issue of his absence to be resolved in that manner. Perhaps, Zhou Lingyun will not look further into either? Or perhaps, his life is too colorful now that he already has no time to care about me? Thinking of how Gu Yang was suffering all kinds of torment from Zhou Lingyun, an indescribable sense of happiness crowded Bai Luoyin’s heart. Walking cheerfully back to his dorm, Bai Luoyin pushed the door open. When he turned around to switch the lights on, he suddenly felt a murderous aura behind him. Fortunately, he was able to react quickly and successfully evaded the surprise attack. As the two men engaged in a close fight in the midst of darkness, Bai Luoyin could smell the familiar scent emitting from the other person. Once Bai Luoyin managed to switch the lights on, Gu Yang’s face appeared. “Why are you here?” Bai Luoyin asked, sensing the person was here with ill-intent. Gu Yang revealed a horrifying smile, “Guess.” “How can I possibly guess it?” Gu Yang snorted and leaned against the cabinet, and as he smoked, the dim lighting made his side profile appear graver. “Why do I feel that you have a clearer idea of what it is than I do?” Bai Luoyin quickly adjusted his mood to counter to meet the enemy head-on. “I don’t know.” Bai Luoyin sat cross-legged on the sofa, adamant to not admit anything. Gu Yang shot a vague look at Bai Luoyin, “Your legs are beautiful.” “Is that so?” Bai Luoyin swayed his legs, “The person with the most beautiful legs in the army is not me, it’s our Wing Commander Zhou. You’ve never met him, right? I’ll introduce you to him next time. Those legs of his are perfectly straight like a gun and as firm as a pillar!” Gu Yang silently walked toward Bai Luoyin then all of a sudden, he grasped one of Bai Luoyin’s ankles and firmly pushed him onto the bed. At first, he wanted to spread them apart and break those two restless legs until it ached with pain. But Bai Luoyin unexpectedly, hooked one of his legs around Gu Yang’s neck without difficulty while the other was held down by said person’s elbow. Truth be told, the flexibility of his body far surpassed Gu Yang’s imagination. Seeing that, Gu Yang’s expression changed from gloominess to frivolousness. “This body of yours would certainly make any man happy!” Not only did Bai Luoyin not fly into a fit of rage, he even stood up and raised his leg up in a preposterous manner until it reached the top of Gu Yang’s head. Both his legs parted to form one straight line—the perfectly smooth contour was like a cord, pulling at Gu Yang’s heartstrings. The moment Gu Yang’s gaze shifted, Bai Luoyin point the tip of his toes at his forehead. “Hey, are you happy?” Suddenly, Gu Yang’s hand gripped Bai Luoyin’s ankle again. But this time, Bai Luoyin leaped into the air, turned and confidently sent a firm flying kick straight to Gu Yang’s chest. Just as Gu Yang retreated a few steps, Bai Luoyin realized the error in his move. He should not have shown off his legs’ skills in such a critical moment; he should have ensured his safety first. As expected, in the next second, he was firmly pressed beneath a certain Gu’s body— not to mention, with his legs wide apart. “I’m very happy.” Gu Yang said, holding onto the sole of Bai Luoyin's feet. Bai Luoyin looked at him with a venomous glare.
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“There have been several seniors who have warned you at the cost of their blood. It’s best for you to keep more than a meter away from me.”
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56 You simply don’t understand Me
Gu Yang stared attentively at Bai Luoyin before he suddenly took out a pair of sunglasses from his jacket and held it in front of him—swinging it from side to side. “Bai Luoyin, you’ve hurt me deeply.” Bai Luoyin sneered coldly, “Do you even have a heart?” “How do I not have a heart?” Gu Yang dug his nails into Bai Luoyin’s cheeks, leaving a deep impression of his fingernails on his skin. “If I didn't have a heart, I wouldn't have abandoned all my work and came here to see you. Do you honestly think I’m here on a business trip? Have you seen me met up with any clients or contact any enterprises during all those days?” Not wanting to hear anything, Bai Luoyin’s ears automatically closed off. “Did you know how I was captured by Zhou Lingyun? It was because he snatched my sunglasses and I purposely drove into him just to get it back. Since I was injured from having been beaten by you and Gu Hai, I couldn’t even control the steering wheel properly… it was only until today did I realize that the huge danger I took to get the glasses back was actually a trap that you have set up for me.” Bai Luoyin responded indifferently, “It was just a joke.” “A joke?” Gu Yang laughed with a tone that made it impossible to understand his frame of mind. “You placed the evil deeds Gu Hai committed on me with the intention of making me pay for it, then simply call it a joke? Then what isn’t considered jokes in your eyes?” Bai Luoyin’s cold pupils flashed, “As long as it happens to you, it’s all considered jokes.”
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“So, you’ve taken the fact that ‘I like you’ and treat it as a joke as well, huh?” Gu Yang’s glare carried a sharp hook that carved into Bai Luoyin’s face as he spoke. Unfortunately, Bai Luoyin responded, “It’s really pointless to talk about it repeatedly.” Hearing those words, Gu Yang’s face was instantly covered with a layer of frost. “Eight years ago, I was just a naïve and narcissistic adolescence. When you had expressed your good feelings toward me back then, I actually felt guilty for being incapable of responding kindly. But, if someone tampered with my car brakes and I had to live in the army for eight strenuous years, and I still believe in that person then it would have been better if I died back then.” Gu Yang sat up with his brows drawn tightly together. “You still hate me, right?” “There is no need to use such a strong word between us.” Without any reason at all, Gu Yang smiled. “During the past eight years, I have always dreamt of you for some strange reason. In the dream, I was giving you a haircut while you heartlessly leaned back on the chair and slept. Mentioning it now is utterly strange. I, Gu Yang, have done countless immoral things but why is it that when it came to you, I unexpectedly become conscious of it?” “That’s because I’m a very dangerous person.” Bai Luoyin said, repeating Gu Yang’s words from all those years ago. “Consequently, I chose not to harm you and completely nip any feelings that you have for me at the bud instead.” “You’ve already harmed me.” Gu Yang said with a harsh tone. Bai Luoyin did not yield, “Honestly, you don’t actually ‘like’ me at all. You only like to challenge yourself.” “I really do enjoy the process of that challenge.” “Then go entertain yourself!” Bai Luoyin sneered, “Just as long as you don’t disturb my life.” “What if I insist?” With that said, Gu Yang began to tear at Bai Luoyin’s collar. Bai Luoyin firmly gripped Gu Yang’s arm, “Let me tell you, even Gu Hai isn’t necessarily a match for me now, let alone you! If you’re smart, get the fuck out of here right now to save me the time of having to get someone to see you out!” Gu Yang froze, not making any other movement. Bai Luoyin exerted some force into his waist and bounced back up. Then, he suddenly turned around and push half of Gu Yang’s body down with his elbow pressed roughly on to his neck. His tightened fist was raised high to send a set of hard strikes, yet Gu Yang’s gaze did not flinch the slightest as it swept toward him. In the end, Bai Luoyin, however, could not bear to drop the punch. He gritted his teeth with resentment, “Why do you have to look like Gu Hai so much?” Every time Bai Luoyin swayed in his resolution, he always made an error. Even if it wasn’t Gu Yang and the person was a complete stranger, so as long as they had a slight resemblance to Gu Hai, Bai Luoyin would, without a doubt, be somewhat tolerance of him. “Since you used me as a substitute for such a deceptive deed, then I don't mind if you use me as a substitute to keep you company for the night. Don't worry, my lips are tightly sealed. If you stick to your statement and claim that I’m Gu Hai, I won't seek to clarify that identity.” This time, Bai Luoyin did not show any mercy. “Gu Yang, let me tell you something very important. Even if I, Bai Luoyin, need to vent or want to cheat, I wouldn’t look for a man. Gu Hai is a unique specimen made solely for me to love! There will never be anyone else like him since they’ve long become extinct already!”
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“Unique specimen?” Gu Yang laughed sarcastically, “What kind of unique specimen? Does he have two dicks?” “You’re right!” Bai Luoyin responded with even more sarcasm, “That dick of yours has also grown on his body.” Hearing such words, Gu Yang’s hands suddenly pressed against Bai Luoyin’s waist. Initially, that spot was Gu Hai’s weakness but after some strenuous training sessions, it also became Bai Luoyin’s. Since the muscles there were the weakest and most sensitive, it could not withstand even a hint of torment. Having that spot attacked, Bai Luoyin’s gaze exposed a vicious and bloodthirsty aura. “At first, I wanted to save you a little bit of face, but since you don’t want to cherish it, then I’ll make sure to tear your face apart well today.” The murderous atmosphere had finally been brewed to a perfect scenario. Just as the battle was set to commence, Gu Yang suddenly pulled out a piece of paper and held it in front of Bai Luoyin’s face. Bai Luoyin’s expression immediately changed with just one glance. “You…how did you get this?” It was one of the blueprints that he and more than ten other researchers have strenuously worked on for several months to complete. If that kind of military secret fell into the hands of outsiders, the consequences are inconceivable. Not to mention, Bai Luoyin, himself would need to bear the consequences, every level of leadership involved with the project will be implicated and must assume responsibility; that included Zhou Lingyun. Taking his time, Gu Yang said, “Let’s just say, when I first went to your research laboratory, the guard wouldn’t let me in. But someone said that I was an acquaintance who delivered food for you every day, so they simply allowed me in.” “They didn’t say anything when you turned on my computer?” Bai Luoyin asked, his face turning green from anger. Gu Yang shook the paper in his hand, causing it to produce a crisp sound. “They didn’t say anything,” he said, scoffing. In truth, Bai Luoyin had already anticipated something of that nature. Gu Hai was a collaborator in the project and was his younger brother who, in his colleagues’ eyes, has a great relationship with him, hence it was only normal for his appearance and or visitation. But he never thought Gu Yang would use the same method as a counterstrike to escalate the situation from a joke into a vicious battle. Bai Luoyin subconsciously snatched that paper, but Gu Yang kindly threw it at him instead. “You can keep that, it doesn’t matter anyway. I have already scanned and saved it to my computer so that I can look at it anytime I want. I’m certain I can make a substantial amount of profit from it if I hand it over to an overseas company. There’s no need for you to be so anxious…with your intelligence, designing another blueprint wouldn’t be impossible.” The few months of arduous workload was despicably trampled on by Gu Yang. Bai Luoyin could wait. But his team cannot afford to and neither could Gu Hai. With several hundred million yuan having been invested in the project, incalculable losses would incur with the slightest delay, let alone suddenly calling a stop. If the blueprint fell into another’s hand and the nation’s secrets were leaked, then everyone would be in a great deal of trouble. After silence ran the room dry, Bai Luoyin’s gaze finally shifted toward Gu Yang. “You’re trying to kill three birds with one stone!”111 “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to you or Gu Hai. At most, you’ll both only lose some money. There will be two scapegoats who are willing to step forward to take the blame.” 111
“You’re trying to kill three birds with one stone!” – the birds being, Bai Luoyin, Gu Hai and Zhou Lingyun
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this?”
“Tell me your conditions!” Bai Luoyin said, eyes covered with coldness and resentment. Gu Yang asked mockingly, “Have you never thought that I wouldn’t have the heart to do
“I have great confidence in your twisted personality.” The light in Gu Yang’s eyes flashed by as he temporarily put the blueprint down and sat down to directly face Bai Luoyin. “Where is Gu Hai?” At that moment, Bai Luoyin did not want to open his mouth, thinking that anything he said would only dirty his own tongue. “He went to Hong Kong to help you clean up your mess.” “Oh, how selfless!” Gu Yang smiled insidiously, “He can't even manage his own issues 112 here yet he is still thought of me?” Bai Luoyin aggressively took off his shirt and threw it straight toward Gu Yang’s face. Then, he lied on the bed with his limbs stretched out like a dead fish. “Do it!” Bai Luoyin said with a solemn yet tragic expression. Gu Yang clenched Bai Luoyin's chin with his hand, “You’ve really changed! Back then, you would rather watch Gu Hai freeze to death in the tunnel then willingly sleep with me.” “Stop your bullshit. If you want to do it then hurry up!” Gu Yang’s burning gaze remained on Bai Luoyin’s collar bones, while his voice was neither hostile nor friendly. “If Gu Hai found out your way of handling things, wouldn’t he be extremely disappointed?” Bai Luoyin viciously yank Gu Yang’s collar with hatred seething from his eyes, “Are you incapable? Or how about I do it?” Hearing that, Gu Yang instantly gripped Bai Luoyin’s neck and pushed it down into the bed while his hand moved toward the hem of his pants. He was meticulously testing Bai Luoyin, waiting for the moment that his tolerance would break before suddenly revealing a pitiful expression as if he was begging for mercy. Even if it was merely the final struggle, at the very least, it gave Gu Yang an illusion that Bai Luoyin still possessed a trace of kindness for him Unfortunately, Bai Luoyin remained frozen like a stone the entire time. Gu Yang ruthlessly smacked the piece of paper in his hand on Bai Luoyin's face; his gaze suddenly switched from one of inquisitiveness to shear coldness. “You don’t understand me one bit!” After those words had yet to fade, he kicked the door and stormed out. Bai Luoyin sat up from the bed and caught the blueprint that slid down his face. He silently responded to himself, if I really didn't understand you, then I wouldn’t have dared to do something like this.
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掰不開鑷子(Bāi bù kāi niè zi): Lit Trans: Can’t open up the tweezers. This is a Beijing slang, meaning someone having issues from every direction and they can hardly manage it.
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57 One more Ruthless than the other
Bai Luoyin thought that after Gu Yang left in a fit of rage, that matter would immediately come to an end. How could he have known that it was only the beginning? The next day, Gu Yang went straight to HaiYin High-Tech Co. without a moment of hesitation, and under the disguise of Gu Hai’s impeccable reputation, he caused all kinds of damage. He even dared to flirt with the division manager in front of all employees, completely shattering Gu Hai’s image. Nevertheless, those things were not considered as serious matters. The most repulsive of all was, every day when Bai Luoyin dragged his exhausted body back to his dorm, he would open the door thinking that Gu Hai had returned only to see that it was not him. That kind of defeated and overthrown feeling was absolutely indescribable. Relying solely on that blueprint, Gu Yang had taken advantage of Bai Luoyin numerous times. He has also come to completely understand that, rather than sleeping with Bai Luoyin and causing the blueprint to lose its effectiveness, he might as well hold on to it longer and lengthen its usage toward a more stable and effective outcome. In that way, he could take revenge, while slowly cultivating his relationship with Bai Luoyin at the same time. Meanwhile, the old demon Zhou Lingyun finally emerged on the training field. Bai Luoyin has truly experienced what it was like to be surrounded by enemies and isolated without any help from all four corners. “Major Bai, what are you thinking about?”
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Zhou Lingyun’s voice resounded in the middle of the empty training field. That’s true, you didn’t hear wrong. It was really empty. Only Bai Luoyin alone was standing in the middle of the deserted training field. He was currently enjoying the training sessions Commander Zhou had especially prepared for him, enjoying the rare honor of training alone with thousands of eyes watching him. Zhou Lingyun stepped down from the platform and walked to Bai Luoyin’s side, and when his lids rose, that scalding and provocative gaze burned the person he glared at. “I realized that it was a huge mistake on my part to make such a rash decision in going out of my way to find a good successor elsewhere when a genuinely talented expert is in front of me. From now on, I will be faithful to you until I die. I will no longer waste my time or thoughts on any good-for-nothing loser.” Yes, that’s right. It was only until today did Bai Luoyin came to realize that Zhou Lingyun’s so-called “fascination” toward Gu Hai was, in truth only due to his plasticity—that was, the quality to be easily shaped and molded as he deemed fit. He praised the perfection of Gu Hai’s body because he believed that he had the potential to become an extraordinary pilot. He admired Gu Hai’s mischievous nature because he truly believed he has the psychological mindset to brave any combat thrown his way. Unfortunately, Bai Luoyin was too late in realizing those points. Once the conspiracy was exposed, Zhou Lingyun finally knew that Bai Luoyin was the real mastermind behind the scenes. What a pleasant surprise! In the past, he had thought that Bai Luoyin was perfect in everything except for one flaw, and that was, the kid’s conscience was too upright which would make it hard for him to become a capable person. Now that all is well and the empty gap of cruelty has been fulfilled, Bai Luoyin became the apple of his eye. “Commander, I believe I have many flaws. I’m not qualified to receive such favor from you.” Zhou Lingyun magnanimously patted Bai Luoyin’s shoulder, “Who doesn’t have a little flaw? Honestly, it’s a good thing to have some since it proves that you still have room to improve.” Bai Luoyin’s lips pulled into a grim smile, “My flaws are physical injuries. It’s impossible to improve such thing.” “Oh?” Zhou Lingyun simply uttered then looked at Bai Luoyin with great interest. “I actually want to hear how serious your injuries are. If it’s beyond what I can fix, then I can reconsider my decision.” “My skeletal framework is small, making it hard for me to gain.” Zhou Lingyun appeared to be unconcerned as he replied, “What else? Only that?” Bai Luoyin thought of more reasons, “I have congenital tracheostenosis113 which makes it impossible for me to adapt to an oxygen-deficient environment for a long time.” “Is there anything else?” “Eh…” Bai Luoyin racked his brains to compile another reason, “Severe intermittent night blindness… it’s difficult for me to see in relatively low light. Once the sky becomes dark and I become nervous, I won’t be able to see anything. I’ve gone to many hospitals, but all have stated that there is no way to cure it.” “If you have night blindness then how did you manage to get selected as a pilot?” Bai Luoyin calmly explained, “As per the doctor’s diagnosis, my condition doesn’t genuinely fall into the category of intense night blindness since it only occurs when I am in a high anxiety situation. In normal times, there are no problems during regular checkups. It mainly happens during 113
“I have congenital tracheostenosis.”: abnormal constriction or narrowing of the trachea
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night training, but as you know, the doctor can’t come into the aircraft with me, so they can’t properly prescribe any medication for me.” Even if he could not prevent Zhou Lingyun’s relentless pursuit and fierce attack, but at the very least, he could reduce the standard that he had for him to participate in night combats. Perhaps, he could even reduce the frequency of night training, all for the sake of creating the perfect opportunity to easily sneak out of the dormitory in the future. Unexpectedly, Zhou Lingyun merely revealed an indulgent smile after hearing everything. “Those flaws are not serious to me. Don’t worry, in less than six months, I will transform your so-called ‘flaws’ into your advantages. Child, trust me. I will forge you into a legend of the aviation world.” Although that was the first time Bai Luoyin saw such a benevolent smile etched on Zhou Lingyun’s face, he instead only felt a bitter coldness slither from the top of his head, down to the tips of his toes. He silently muttered, have I said too much? That noon, Zhou Lingyun dragged Bai Luoyin into a private dining room and presented him with a special treat. “Eat!” Bai Luoyin lowered his head to take a peek at the table only to be confronted with two large pot full of only fatty meat! Not a single vein could be seen as everything was shining white fat granules. “These… how am I supposed to eat it?” With just one look, Bai Luoyin wanted to throw up then and there. “Do I have to teach you?” Zhou Lingyun picked a piece of fat and lifted it in front of Bai Luoyin. “Look properly. First, you use the chopsticks to pick it up, then place it in your mouth and chew it into pieces. Look at my mouth carefully, you must chew it thoroughly before swallowing. Do you understand?” Bai Luoyin could not help but swallow a mouth of saliva beforehand, “I understand.” Zhou Lingyun smiled tenderly at him, “Then, start eating.” A surge of emotions churned inside Bai Luoyin’s stomach. He picked up a piece of fat, put it into his mouth and immediately swallowed it after only chewing twice. Upon seeing that, Zhou Lingyun gripped his cheeks and solemnly ordered, “Don’t swallow too quickly. You must chew it thoroughly or else your stomach will not be able to digest it properly.” Just like that, Bai Luoyin summoned all of his courage to swallow everything down his stomach. He incessantly thought to himself, don’t treat this as a meal, but regard it as part of training…train your teeth, tongue, and throat…what you’re eating is not fat, but a substance without any taste or smell that’s only meant to alleviate your hunger. “Does the fat taste that good? You look like you’re really enjoying it.” Suddenly, a retching sound echoed across the room and Bai Luoyin threw up all the fat into the pot. Not even a moment later, another pot was placed on the table. Zhou Lingyun didn’t forget to say a few comforting words to Bai Luoyin. “Don’t blame me for being heartless. I am doing this for your sake. Since your skeletal framework is small, you can only depend on muscles as compensation. Relying solely on training won’t do, you also need to eat nourishing food to invigorate your body and fat is the most optimal source of food for that. From now on, that will be your staple.” At night, Zhou Lingyun dragged Bai Luoyin to a small sealed up dark room with ten blackclothed people inside, but he did not see them when he had initially entered. A moment later, Zhou
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Lingyun snapped his fingers and Bai Luoyin suddenly saw ten sets of white teeth float in his surroundings. Honestly, he could not help but be a bit shock. Soon, those black-clothed people wore black braces over their teeth as concealment and put on black gloves while holding black darts in their hands. Under Zhou Lingyun’s command, each person started to throw the darts towards Bai Luoyin without mercy. Bai Luoyin could only depend on the sound and flash of light that emitted from the darts when it was thrown in order to judge the specific location of where it was coming before quickly avoiding it. At first, the speed of the darts was very slow, but as time passed, it accelerated even more. If Bai Luoyin did not want to get hit, a high level of attention was mandatory, and his reaction must also be equally swift. Suddenly, a dart struck his waist. Although he did not sustain an injury, it was still painful to the point that Bai Luoyin did not dare to be careless anymore. When Bai Luoyin came out of the dark room, his physical strength was severely drained, and his neck could not turn or bend. However, the result was clear as day. Bai Luoyin has already perfected the ability to maintain a sharp eye. If there was even a slight rustle of leaves in the wind, his eyes would immediately skate over. Zhou Lingyun patted Bai Luoyin’s head in satisfaction. “I believe that in less than half a month, your intermittent night blindness will be cured.” Bai Luoyin, “…” As he dragged his exhausted body back to the dorm, Bai Luoyin only wished to plunge into the bed and sleep the night away. But someone had unexpectedly occupied his bed already. Gu Yang was sitting on his bed, watching a movie with a look that screamed ‘relaxed’ in his eyes, and an expression that belted ‘satisfied’ on his face. “Xiao Yin Zi, help me peel an apple.” Master Gu commanded. If that person was Gu Hai, he would have definitely leaped down from the bed, carried him to the bathtub and gave him a massage the moment he saw Bai Luoyin’s appearance. But that person was Gu Yang, not only did the bastard not see the sweat dripping from Bai Luoyin’s forehead, he even has the audacity to force him to serve him. They both have the same surname Gu, but how is the difference in their attitude so huge? Gu Yang shook the blueprint in his hands, “Hurry up!” Fine, I’ll bear with it! After peeling the apple, Bai Luoyin handed it over to Gu Yang only have it rejected with a face of utter disgust. “The way you peel it is too ugly. I don’t have any appetite at all just from looking at it.” Bai Luoyin retorted resentfully, “Why is it so troublesome just to eat a fucking apple?!!” Gu Yang shook the blueprint in his hands for the second time, “Peel it again.” Bai Luoyin continued to endure the humiliation in silence. This time, he peeled the apple into a rather round shape and made sure to cut all the edges and corners before respectfully delivering it Gu Yang, “Master Gu”, he said mocking, “Please eat.” Gu Yang took the proffered apple and scrutinized it, “You’ve misunderstood my what I mean. I want you to cut it into the shape of a five-corner star.” The muscles on Bai Luoyin’s face started to twitch in annoyance. But that bastard, Gu Yang, happily waved the blueprint in his hand for the third time. Bai Luoyin merely nodded his head and continued to peel the apple. While peeling away, he kindly reminded in a low voice, “Shouldn’t you return to Hong Kong for a look at your own damn business already? Wasting all your time here isn’t helping anyone! Which one is more important,
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your business or your amusement? Don’t let your business go bankrupt just for the sake of this temporary moment of happiness.” “Don’t worry,” Gu Yang sneered, “There’s a generous person taking good care of my business for free in my place. What’s there for me to worry about? If you want to worry about something, then worry about Gu Hai’s company Bai Luoyin gritted his teeth in anger, “It’s such a pity for your kindhearted little brother!” “You can call and tell him everything.” Gu Yang spoke while shaking the blueprint in his hand, “However, take responsibility for the consequences of your actions.” After he finished peeling the apple, Bai Luoyin cautiously placed it in Gu Yang’s hands. Unexpectedly, Gu Yang’s hand slipped, and the apple fell on his leg. When he picked it up, it had lost one of its edges. “Oh no. There are only four corners left, what should we do?” Gu Yang asked in a light monotonously manner. Bai Luoyin didn’t wait for Gu Yang to pick up the blueprint. He consciously picked up another apple and started to peel it. Seeing that, Gu Yang happily enjoyed the richly colorful expression on Bai Luoyin’s face. That night, taking advantage of the time Gu Yang went out to make a call, Bai Luoyin swiftly opened the chat window and started a video call with Gu Hai. “I’ve been here for a whole week, but the employees here haven’t even recognized me yet. Look at me, do I look like my brother?” Gu Hai adopted Gu Yang’s typical expression. Bai Luoyin’s lips rose into a soft smile, “You look so similar to him that I want to punch you!” “How is it going on your side?” Gu Hai asked. The corner of Bai Luoyin’s mouth crooked into a smirk, “Everything is still the same. I reckon he won’t be able to go back any time soon.” “Today, I transferred some funds from his company over to my account. If my company runs into any financial problems, we can use it to completely resolve it. I think it’s more than enough. I’ve already stolen all the things I could from here. What do you think, are there any reasons left for me to remain here?” “There are!!” Bai Luoyin’s eyes radiated with mischief, “Steal even the things that you can’t steal for me!!!” Gu Hai carefully stared at Bai Luoyin for a moment then asked him in a cautious tone, “You didn’t let the cat out of the bag, right?” “Don’t worry. I played my role to perfection that it’s almost terrifying.” Gu Hai’s expression tensed, “They didn’t make things difficult for you, did they?” “No.” Bai Luoyin said resolutely, “You can just focus on wreaking havoc over there!” “Baobeir~ do you miss me?” Gu Hai suddenly exposed a gentle smile. Bai Luoyin’s tears almost leap out. I reckon by the time you return, I’ve already trained until I became Sylvester Stallone. Although he thought that, Bai Luoyin still rationally collected his state of mine. He lightly replied with a simple, ‘miss’. It was obvious that Gu Hai was dissatisfied with Bai Luoyin’s answer. “Are you even being sincere? How come I could see a hint of deceit in your eyes?” Let me throw three thousand darts at your body as a test! Then you take a look at whether or not your eyes are full of deceit or not? “Yin Zi, when you encounter any situations, whether difficult or not, you must be agile and adjust yourself accordingly. You must not let yourself be at a disadvantage or allow your opponent
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to gain even the slightest advantage. If you hesitate when dealing with other people out of consideration, I will be the first to not forgive you, do you hear me?” Bai Luoyin did not hear those words, but what he heard was the sound of the footsteps that concealed it instead. “I’m hanging up first. He’s coming.”
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58 Temporarily Shifting the Conflict
When Gu Yang walked back to Bai Luoyin’s dorm, he saw him leaning against the sofa with half of his face hidden from the lights—his fatigued appearance exposed hints of mysteriousness. Without any particular expression, Gu Yang went to sit next to him. But when he noticed the floor covered with cigarette ashes, he asked faintly, “Have you been smoking here since I left?” Bai Luoyin remained silent. Seeing that he didn't respond, Gu Yang moved his face closer, but Bai Luoyin quickly stretched his hand out to block his approaching lips from touching his cheeks. “My face is covered in sweat, don't dirty your mouth.” A flicker of light sped by Gu Yang’s eyes, “Can’t we change the way we talk to each other?” “We can,” Bai Luoyin turned to look at him. “If you can carve the image ‘Along the River during the Qingming Festival’114 on an apple for me, then I will talk to you in a friendlier tone.” 清明上河图—Along the River during the Qingming Festival (Up the River During Qingming, Qingming River View, 清明上河圖, pinyin: Qīngmíng Shànghé Tú) is a panoramic painting generally attributed to the Song dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan (張擇端, 1085–1145). It captures the daily life of people from the Song period at the capital, Bianjing, today’s Kaifeng in Henan. The theme celebrates the festive spirit and prosperous street scene at the Qingming Festival, rather than the holiday’s ceremonial aspects, such as tomb sweeping and prayers.
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The entire piece was painted in the handscroll format and the content reveals the lifestyle of all levels of society from rich to poor as well as different economic activities in rural areas and the city. It offers glimpses of period clothing and
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Hearing that, Gu Yang’s expression changed before he took a deep breath. “Then why don't you go make some midnight snacks for me. I’m hungry!” Bai Luoyin walked into the kitchen with a rather tragic appearance. Just as he was about to start washing the vegetables, that spiteful and vindictive face appeared at the doorway of the kitchen again. “I like food with strong flavors.” Bai Luoyin’s facetious gaze swept toward him for a second. “Strong flavors? How about I stir-fry a dish of white arsenic for you?” “I don’t mind since we’ll be eating it together.” “I can’t eat with you,” Bai Luoyin diligently stood his ground. “As per my Wing Commander’s stern order, I am only allowed to consume pure fat and nothing else.” “Zhou Lingyun?” When Gu Yang read those three words out loud, his tone clearly carried a gust of aversion and animosity. Bai Luoyin disgustedly nodded his head. “Yes. In order to make my muscles firmer and fully developed, he has personally taken to strictly supervising my diet. If my stomach takes in anything other than fat, he will punish me.” “How will he punish you?” Gu Yang asked. Bai Luoyin faintly smiled to himself, “Eat raw fat.” Unsurprisingly, Gu Yang still took Bai Luoyin’s words as a joke, but just as he turned around to walk out, a vomiting sound transmitted from behind. Hearing that, Gu Yang turned his head back around only to see that Bai Luoyin was actually vomiting, and the substances that came out was white oily foam. “Help me take that thing out of here!” Bai Luoyin pointed at a piece of fatty meat on the cutting board. Gu Yang picked up that piece of meat and stared at it for a few seconds before he swayed it in front of Bai Luoyin. As expected, he vomited again. “You’re actually not lying?” Gu Yang said to himself. “Bullshit.” Bai Luoyin said with an agonizing expression, “Hurry up and throw it out.” Surprisingly, Gu Yang complied and threw that piece of fatty meat in the trash bin outside. Then he turned to look at Bai Luoyin again and asked, “How much fat did you eat today?” Bai Luoyin gagged and threw up again. Gu Yang’s expression did not expose a single hint of joy toward Bai Luoyin’s misfortune, contrariwise, it became increasingly ugly. Waving his hand, Bai Luoyin quickly said, “Don’t talk about it that. Just hearing that word makes me want to vomit.” With that, Gu Yang simply walked out of the kitchen only to reemerge a moment later. “Eat this now.” Bai Luoyin’s gaze froze on the two pills in Gu Yang’s hand. “Hurry up and take it so that you can continue cooking!” You are indeed ruthless, Bai Luoyin thought and gritted his teeth behind Gu Yang’s back. When he smelled something burnt, Gu Yang walked into the kitchen only to find Bai Luoyin—leaning forward on the kitchen counter next to the stove—fast asleep. Gu Yang rarely had any kind of virtuous intentions. What he had given Bai Luoyin a moment ago was not antacid tablets to alleviate his stomachache but rather, sleeping pills that would allow him to rest a bit earlier.
architecture. As an artistic creation, the piece has been revered and court artists of subsequent dynasties have made many re-interpretive replicas.
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However, just as Gu Yang was about to carry Bai Luoyin into the room, the training alarm suddenly sounded. Bai Luoyin woke up and ran out with eyes that had yet to be fully open. As it turned out, earlier during the afternoon training session, Zhou Lingyun had intentionally ordered someone to install a special siren in Bai Luoyin’s dorm. If Zhou Lingyun wanted to train him alone, all he had to do was press that special siren. That way, only Bai Luoyin’s room will go off. As a result, when Bai Luoyin arrived at the training ground, he was the only person again. Lucky there’s a fighter jet, Bai Luoyin thought as he let out a sigh of relieve. It looks like tonight’s mission will mainly be in the fighter jet. That’s great…that meant there was no need for him to overly exert his strength. Wait a second, why is there a long rope secured to the bottom of the fighter jet? “Since you told me last time that your waist was also one of your flaws, we will properly cure it. Tie that rope around your waist and pull the jet with what strength you have there. I won’t ask too much from you. It's really up to you now. You only have to pull it fifty meters, and once you’ve completely finished this mission tonight, you can go back to sleep.” Bai Luoyin, “…” After nearly two hours of hard work, Bai Luoyin only managed to pull the jet less than two meters. But even then, a red, aching burn mark from the rope had already appeared on his waist. Zhou Lingyun, who rarely showed any kindness to anyone, much less ‘the apple of his eyes’, said a few merciful words. “Let’s end it here. For now, you can go back, and rest first then continue with the remaining 48 meters tomorrow.” However, Bai Luoyin remained stubborn. “No, I must finish dragging it all 50 meters before I go back to sleep.” Raising one of his brows, Zhou Lingyun suddenly yawned. “Then I'm going to bed, you can stay here and drag it alone.” Once he saw Zhou Lingyun’s silhouette retreated far into the distance, Bai Luoyin sneakily crept back to his dorm. The only difference was that, he did not return to sleep but rather, he had another motive. Meanwhile, Gu Yang was leaning against the headboard having a smoke when he heard the door crack open. He looked up and squinted his eyes at Bai Luoyin’s approaching figure. “Did you finish your mission?” “Not yet.” Bai Luoyin quickly gulped down a few mouthfuls of water before he spoke, but his voice could not at all conceal his exhaustion. “The Wing Commander allowed me to rest for ten minutes then I have to go back and continue.” Seeing Bai Luoyin drenched with sweat as if he had been splashed with water, Gu Yang could not help but make an inquiry. “What kind of mission is that difficult to complete?” “Pulling a fighter jet with just my waist for 50 meters…” Bai Luoyin casually said while using his sleeve to wipe the sweat. “I've pulled nearly two meters just now.” Gu Yang sneered coldly, “Was that also Zhou Lingyun's stupid idea?” Bai Luoyin vaguely let out a ‘yeah’. But soon, unable to resist the exhaustion that flayed his body, he fell asleep while speaking. However, less than ten minutes later, he automatically got up and walked out again, staggering with his steps while wearing an exceptionally pained expression. Once again, Gu Yang's expression was somewhat unsightly. In truth, Bai Luoyin did not make a beeline to go complete his mission. But rather, he went to ferret a few soldiers that were still up chatting and dragged them all with him to the training ground. As a punishment, he ordered them to drag the fighter jet for ten meters before making
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them stand in a line to watch him sleep in the jet. While doing so, they also had to keep an eye out for any disturbance and remind him of time. “Major, the time is up.” Bai Luoyin lazily stretched then got out of the cockpit, full of spirit and boundless energy as he walked toward the direction of his dorm. Once he arrived in front of his dorm, he naturally put on a wretched and painful expression, while grimacing in pain as he messaged his waist. Then, he gulped down some water, leaned back into the sofa and pretended to sleep. Ten minutes later, he abruptly got up again and walked out. The moment he arrived at the training ground, Bai Luoyin once again ordered those soldiers to drag the fighter jet for another ten meters, while he slept inside. Once the time was up, he went back to the dorm to take a nap again. After seeing that torment occur three to four more times and noticing that the sun was about to rise, Gu Yang had yet to close his eyes to sleep. When Bai Luoyin returned to the dorm for the last time, Gu Yang looked at him and waved the blueprint in his hand. “Don’t go anymore. Get on the bed right now and go to sleep.” As those words came to an end, Bai Luoyin bit down on his own tongue until there was a small cut. Then, exerting all his strength, coughed hard enough that the saliva that came out had wisps of blood in it. “There’s still one-meter left,” Bai Luoyin said with great difficulties. Gu Yang waved the blueprint side to side again, “I'm not joking with you. If you dare to take even one step out of the dorm, this blueprint will fall into someone else's hand tomorrow.” “It’s better to provoke you than him.” Bai Luoyin threw out those words as he walked out of the dorm. After he arrived at the training ground, he looked sternly at those soldiers and said: “You can all head back now. Remember, having a bed to sleep on is a blessing. If you don't cherish it and use the time to sleep to hang around instead, then I will call all of you out here to drag more planes.” Every soldier’s expressions were covered with nervousness that clearly indicated they will never make the same mistake again. Looking as though he had just poured his heart and soul into teaching them a life-long lesson, Bai Luoyin earnestly watched their figures fade while feeling a great pride of himself. Immediately after, he fastened the rope around his waist and started to arduously fight to complete the last meter. Not long after the soldiers had left, Gu Yang arrived at the training ground. Even though the sky was still laced with darkness, the silhouette that was fighting strenuously not too far in the distant was extremely clear. He had never before seen Bai Luoyin in such a predicament. In his eyes, Bai Luoyin had always been engulfed with a fearless and heroic sense of beauty that was mingled with arrogance and power. Most importantly, his head was forever held high, never once to easily revealed any of his weaknesses. But at that moment, Gu Yang saw the weakness in Bai Luoyin's heart. For the last eight years, how many inhuman training missions did Bai Luoyin have to endure to make him completely despised himself like that? Once he caught a glimpse of Gu Yang, Bai Luoyin's spirit soared even more. Furthermore, since he had replenished his energy from having slept earlier, the remaining meter was easily completed. However, not one to come out of his role, he nevertheless feigned to have no energy and collapsed on the ground as soon as he completed the mission.
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At sunrise, Bai Luoyin upheld high morale and poured all his energy into training without a hint of complaint. However, Gu Yang, on the other hand, did not go to Gu Hai’s company, but rather, he went to another place. In the afternoon, two plates comprised of only fatty meat was placed in front of Bai Luoyin again. Zhou Lingyun sat across from him and sternly watched as he completed today’s mission. Suddenly, the door was kicked open and Gu Yang's face appeared in front of them. Zhou Lingyun's strict gaze swept toward Gu Yang for a glance before he casually spoke without any care. “I am not interested in you anymore. What are you doing here?” Gu Yang had never met anyone as savage and inhumane as Zhou Lingyun before. He had kidnapped him for no reason at all, then tortured him for quite a few days… worse, after learning that it was a mistake, not only did he not apologize, he merely put on a nonchalant expression that said ‘oh, it oughta be that way' and called it a day. Now, he even had the guts to say, ‘not interested’. Am I, Gu Yang, a person you can simply torment just because you were 'interested' and now that you are ‘not interested’, you think you're the master that can merely kick me to the side? It appeared, he made the right move in coming here today. Even though, seeking revenge for Bai Luoyin violated his principles but compared to Bai Luoyin's coldness and indifference toward him, Zhou Lingyun's arrogance seemed much more detestable! “It can't be helped. I am interested in you now.” Gu Yang said indifferently. Just as those words dropped, the sound of sirens sailed in from outside before more than ten armed police and soldiers walked into the room. The leader of the squad stopped in front of Zhou Lingyun and earnestly showed him some documents in his hand. “Wing Commander Zhou, I’m sorry to say this but you have been suspected of selling national secrets. This is a signed order for your arrest.” As expected of someone who was well-acquainted with the ways of the world and worthy of his title Zhou Lingyun was able to maintain an expression that did not reveal any emotions after he heard those words. “Alright then, I will go with you guys right now.” He calmly held out his arms to allow the officer to cuff him before steadily walking out toward the police car parked outside. When he walked past Gu Yang, he gave him a quick yet meaningful glance; if the look that appeared on his face were seen by the average person, they wouldn't even be able to sleep with a peace of mind for the rest of their lives. But since the look was caught by Gu Yang, it at most, only made him felt awkward for a moment and nothing else. Bai Luoyin pretended to be enraged as he gripped Gu Yang’s collar. “You actually played for real?!” “I've already warned you, but you didn’t cooperate.” Bai Luoyin’s expression held a bit of hesitation, without even a hint of spirit in his eyes. Remaining unperturbed, Gu Yang kindheartedly reminded him: “Don’t worry, he won’t die. At most, he will only be tormented for a few days.” No fucking shit! Of course, I know he won't die… Bai Luoyin secretly responded to himself. I also know that when he gets out, the two of you will engage in a fierce combat. At that time, I will call your kindhearted brother over to stand to the side and cheer for the two of you!
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Along the River during the Qingming Festival
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59 Is it still love at first sight?
Having stayed at Gu Yang’s company for almost ten days, Gu Hai practically knew all the ins and outs of its procedures to the tee. Every item in the company, from the largest machine and equipment to the smallest office stationery and handicraft, as long as Gu Hai fancied it, he would order someone to ship it to Beijing without exception. In addition, employing a ‘cost-cutting’ method as a firm and indisputable reason, he easily reduced the company’s original funding by twothirds. As for where that elusive one-third of the funds had gone, no one knew except for Gu Hai. Aside from that, Gu Hai had been attempting to hack into the confidential files on Gu Yang’s computer with much zeal, but each time, he was met with failure as the screen always displayed an [incorrect password!] window. Much to his dismay (not much), even the small veins at the side of his forehead twitched just the slightest from annoyance. Not to mention, the main security features were facial and or fingerprint recognition, that alone, made the computer completely unlike the group of idiots outside who has yet to detect that someone important has been changed for another. While racking his brain for all the possibilities, a bright idea suddenly came to him; he wanted to give Bai Luoyin’s date of birth a try. However, just as he placed his finger on the keyboard, his emotion abruptly sank. He would rather not figure out the password than know that it had something to do with Bai Luoyin. Gu Hai controlled the anxiousness in his heart and entered Bai Luoyin’s date of birth. A system error message promptly popped up the screen.
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Gu Hai silently sighed in relief as he looked at the error. Lucky that wasn't it. Just as he was about to attempt another password, the doorbell to the office went off. “Come in.” Two young faces that he knew all too well, impeccably attired in western-style suits, walked in with confidence and charisma. During the time that he has been here, those two were responsible for transporting all the goods under Gu Hai’s command. “Gu-zong, the samples you wanted us to ship out has all been returned.” “Returned?” Gu Hai’s brows knitted together slightly as he asked, “Why?” Before the two could answer, an unfamiliar voice sailed in. “I had it all returned.” A silhouette suddenly flashed by, causing Gu Hai’s expression to freeze. With a desirably tall and slender figure, handsome appearance, and a gaze that held an intense electrical spark, it seemed no matter which direction the person went, that brightness would radiate magnificently. Of course, the reason Gu Hai paid attention to him was not because of his appearance. But rather, he felt that the person looked seemingly familiar. “Both of you can leave first!” Gu Hai looked indifferently at them and said. Once it was only him and the other person in the office, Gu Hai didn’t waste any time to ask, “Why did you ship it back?” With a cold expression, the man across from him said, “Those things belong to the company, why does it need to be shipped out?” “Haven’t I explained already? Those are not sellable and are merely semi-finished products that need to be launched into the market as trials……” Gu Hai said with confident while discreetly sliding the mouse in search of the employees’ record. Finally, he found the page about that person: Tong Zhe, 28 years old, Vice General Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO. “There’s no need to keep searching. I came here to personally introduce myself.” Gu Hai’s expression changed. He has been here for nearly ten days and practically no one recognized him. But Tong Zhe unexpectedly knew he was not Gu Yang the moment he walked through the door. It was clear that Tong Zhe and Gu Yang’s relationship should be fairly close. “How can you tell that I wasn’t Gu Yang?” “I had a feeling.” Tong Zhe responded rather casually. Gu Hai’s brows slightly rose as he looked at Tong Zhe full of interest, “Why haven't I seen you for the past few days?” “I just got back from overseas.” Tong Zhe sat on the sofa, placed his long slim legs directly on the corner of the coffee table and glanced at Gu Hai. “How long have you been here?” “Almost ten days.” Gu Hai frankly admitted. Tong Zhe smiled, “Ten days… then you must have stolen everything in the company.” “What do you mean ‘stolen’?” Gu Hai calmly lit a cigarette. “In the grand scheme of things, there’s obviously a massive loophole in the way the company operates. I’m here to repair it. If the company was to continue on with the same method, bankruptcy won’t be too far off.” “Repair?” Tong Zhe coldly laughed, “The products manufactured by our company are of high-end quality. And… then there’s the simple methodology that you employ to streamline and aggregate production just for sheer profits… are you saying we should conform and follow the examples of those corrupt merchants in mainland China?” “Don’t tell me you actually believe that this company is bulletproof from corruption? Tsk, don’t act dumb. With several thousands of people engaging in various roles, departments, and so on, it’s normal for the funds to have passed through several hands if you know what I mean. By the
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time the remaining funds get allocated to the production department, it’s comparatively less than what I’ve initially invested.” Tong Zhe squinted his eyes. “So, you took it upon yourself to transfer the funds into your own company’s account. Is this that so-called, ‘keep the goods within the family’ as not to let the chance slip into another’s hand? Is this your method of helping the Gu family accumulate wealth?” “I don't mind if you want to lay everything out on the table.” Tong Zhe’s gaze suddenly hardened with ruthlessness. “Transfer all the funds back and return every single product you took, then I won't hold you accountable or investigate this matter any further. To simply put it, I have all the evidence which proves the multiple laws you have violated. If you don't want an even greater loss, it's best to do as I say.” Gu Hai got up, sat next to Tong Zhe and let his blazing glare swept to his face. “I suddenly remembered that there’s one more thing I haven’t taken yet.” Tong Zhe’s pair of terrifying eyes, that could silence any other person, coldly met with Gu Hai’s. Without warning, Gu Hai gripped Tong Zhe’s neck and pulled his face close to his own, leaving a distance of less than two centimeters between them. “How about you leave with me too?!!” Tong Zhe firmly grasped Gu Hai’s wrist, causing the veins on the back of his hand to emerge from the pressure and completely twist together. “Doesn’t your company not hire male employees?” Gu Hai’s eyes shimmered, “I can make an exception for you!” Outside of interrogation room, Gu Yang was drinking tea with the officer that arrested Zhou Lingyun. “How’s the situation now? Has he confessed?” “We are only responsible for detaining him, not interrogating him. Even if he does confess, it is not up to us to hear the case. In a couple of days, he will be escorted to the base and since the case is about such a serious criminal offense, it will be extremely difficult once the hearing starts.” Gu Yang’s brows firmly twisted together while wearing a grave expression. “In other words, he’s been living quite comfortably for the past few days?” The second the office comprehended the implications behind Gu Yang’s words, his face exposed an expression of difficulties. “Where would we find the nerve to strike a government official, much less, a high-ranking military commander like him without proper permission and documentation? Let’s not mention whether he could walk out of here or not…even if he can’t get out of here, is his relative’s son someone we dare provoke?!” Gu Yang nodded as his gloomy gaze shifted toward the officer. “I can do it on your behalf.” The officer’s expression instantly froze to that of shock and amazement. “Don’t say that…. if something actually occurs, wouldn’t you be implicated too? Even if there are some animosities, you can use someone else’s hand to enact your revenge. Striking him yourself, isn’t that just too…” “Don't worry.” Gu Yang interrupted the officer’s words, “If something were to happen, you’ll be the first to be implicated.” With that said, he walked toward the interrogation room with a cold aura. After successfully shifting the main conflict, Bai Luoyin had a couple of rare days to rest. That night, as he lied down beneath the quilt, his entire body did not feel the slightest hint of comfort. Since there was an injury on his waist, he could only lie down on one side as to reduce the contact between his injured waist and the surface of the bed. Not to mention his stomach; he hasn’t
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properly eaten anything for two days. Anything that he ate would immediately come back up and everything he saw only made him felt nauseous. He placed the laptop to his side and turned on the video camera to go chat with Gu Hai. The moment Gu Hai’s face appeared on the screen, Bai Luoyin’s pain was immediately alleviated by more than half. “You truly know how to live it up!!” Seeing Bai Luoyin tucked under the quilt, Gu Hai could not help but feel emotional. “You’re already in bed, but I’m still busy in the office!” Bai Luoyin’s devastated gaze swept toward Gu Hai for a glance. “What are you busy with?” “My identity has been exposed. The Vice General Manager came to the company today, and the thing is, he is also my brother’s assistant. With just one quick glance at me, he knew right away that I wasn’t Gu Yang. Look at him then look at yourself…you’ve slept with me for ages, yet somehow still mistaken me.” At first, Gu Hai wanted to berate Bai Luoyin while getting him a bit jealous get a bit jealous. But he didn’t expect that the person would instead completely ignore the last few words. “Your identity was exposed?” Bai Luoyin’s expression hardened. “Then, wouldn’t he tell your brother everything that’s been happening? Your brother is still at your company wreaking havoc! If he found out what you've done, wouldn’t he raid your company?” “You think too highly of him. I have several of the country’s key projects in my hands. Do you think he actually has the guts to confront the military division heads on without considering the consequences? Besides, that assistant won't tell my brother about anything that’s going on here. All of your worries are unnecessary.” “How do you know he won't tell?” Bai Luoyin asked. The corner of Gu Hai’s lips slightly curved up, “I have a feeling.” Bai Luoyin’s darkened eyes narrowed toward Gu Hai for another glance. “You only know each other for a day, yet your hearts and souls are already connected?” “Yeah, love at first sight.” Gu Hai said rather seriously. Bai Luoyin sneered, “Then help me thank him, thank him for saving me.” Gu Hai’s expression changed from a playful tease to an angry and fierce one. With such a drastic difference, it wiped away each and every one of Bai Luoyin’s pain and discomfort. “Are you asking for a beating?” Bai Luoyin removed the quilt and turned the uninjured side of his waist slightly toward the screen be he placed a pillow beneath his body to lift his butt up and stared provocatively at Gu Hai. “You can beat me! Beat me hard! Why aren't you beating me? Stretch your arm in here if you have the ability to!” Gu Hai’s eyes reddened, and the blazing flames inside nearly burn through the screen. “What’s wrong? Do you want to beat me up with my pants off?” Bai Luoyin actually pulled his pants halfway down then looked deviously at Gu Hai, “Is that better? Hurry up and beat me!” Gu Hai’s face nearly pierced through the screen upon seeing Bai Luoyin’s perfectly round and luscious butt cheeks generously sticking out while his body contently stretched out on the bed. His gesture was like a wild leopard, seductively bewitching one to the very depth of desire. “Move the laptop toward your body a bit more, I can’t see clearly.” Gu Hai’s voice already sounded hoarse. Bai Luoyin shook his head and deliberately ignored Gu Hai while feeling completely pleased with himself for successfully tormenting him. “Baobei… wifey… Xiao Yin Zi… little donkey…” Young Master Gu started to act cute. Bai Luoyin softly asked, “Is it still love at first sight?” “Love at first sight? Is that an idiom? How come I've never heard of it?”
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Bai Luoyin, “…”
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60 Two Beasts at War
Having had enough of their banter, Gu Hai suddenly said: “Yin Zi, you’ve gotten thinner.” “Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?” Bai Luoyin touched his own face, “Recently, all I’ve been eating is high-fat meat. How is it possible that I’ve become thinner?” “You’ve lost one pound,” Gu Hai muttered with confidence. Bai Luoyin was doubtful, “You can even tell that it’s one pound? You’re really too amazing.” “Let alone that, I can tell even if it’s half a gram. If you don’t believe me, go weigh yourself.” As expected, Bai Luoyin approached a nearby weighing scale and stood on it. When he lowered his head for a glimpse at the number, a disdained look immediately appeared on his face. That incompetent fool really knows how to be deceptive. I’ve obviously gained two pounds. “That’s because the clothes you’re wearing are too heavy. Last time you weighed yourself, you didn’t wear anything. Take your clothes off, I guarantee that you will lose three pounds. Give it another go if you don’t believe me.” Just as Bai Luoyin was about to take his clothes off, he suddenly realized something that caused him to swiftly turn his head around; a certain wolf had his cunning eyes staring at him as if ready to leap through the screen to attack him. Fuck you! You dared to trick me… Bai Luoyin could not help but bare his teeth. Luckily, my reaction was quick… otherwise, I would’ve stupidly stripped in front of him.
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Bai Luoyin drilled his body back underneath the quilt while Gu Hai continuously complained. “We’ve been husbands for such a long time, is there still a need to be that shy?” Bai Luoyin looked up at the ceiling light and swore to the heavens that he really wasn’t shy at all. But there was a huge red, bloody bruise on his waist—if he let Gu Hai see it, he would definitely be worried and actually make his way out of the screen. “I’m super tired… I don’t want to mess around with you.” Bai Luoyin argued and wrapped the even quilt tightly around himself. Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin with distress, “Then, take Xiao Yin Zi out. I will play with him and you can sleep by yourself.” “Fuck! Is there any difference?” Bai Luoyin retorted in anger. Just as Gu Hai was about to open his mouth, a burst of music suddenly went off; it sounded like a doorbell. Seeing that someone had come, Gu Hai soon got up and left the laptop. Bai Luoyin quickly ended the video call. Taking advantage of that short time frame, he got up to weigh himself. It was like having someone say to you, ‘if you eat the eyes of a crow, you’ll be able to see a ghost’. Although you don’t necessarily believe it, in order to prove whether that sentence was true or not, you still want to test it out. That was precisely Bai Luoyin’s state of mind. Without hesitation, Bai Luoyin stripped himself bare and stood on the scale. As a result, he discovered that he had actually lost three pounds, and not even one ounce short. The second time he weighed himself, the same outcome blinked before him. He put his pajamas and slippers back on and set his foot on the scale again only to see that he had indeed gained three pounds. Hence, Gu Hai was correct when he said Bai Luoyin had lost one pound. Was his observation of me really meticulous and down to the smallest details like that? Or was it purely blind luck? While he was still deep in thoughts, the computer beeped— bringing him out of his stupor. When Bai Luoyin looked, it was an invitation for a video call from Gu Hai. “Why did you hang up?” Gu Hai asked. Bai Luoyin procured an extremely realistic reason, “There was someone coming into your room. I was afraid they would become suspicious if they caught sight of me, so I hung up on the call first to ensure our safety.” Gu Hai lightly laughed, “There’s no need. The person that came in just now was Tong Zhe, the assistant I mentioned to you earlier.” “You’ve only known each other for a day yet you’re already getting along with him without taking any precautions?” A clear tinge of jealousy slipped into Bai Luoyin’s tone. Gu Hai wanted nothing more than to bite Bai Luoyin’s stubborn lips. If it was not because he had noticed Bai Luoyin’s exhausted expression, he would have definitely seized the chance to tease him some more. In the end, he did not have the heart to continue on with provoking him. And just like that, Bai Luoyin fell asleep with the video chat still on right in front of Gu Hai without any precautions. The transmittance of his peaceful and drawn-out breaths sounded utterly intoxicating to Gu Hai’s ears. Seeing that, Gu Hai lied on his bed and placed the laptop on the pillow beside him and looked at Bai Luoyin sleep. In the middle of the night, Gu Hai was repeatedly awoken. Each time Bai Luoyin kicked off his quilt, sat up and talked in his sleep… Gu Hai knew it all. The last time Gu Hai woke up and saw that Bai Luoyin’s arms and legs were exposed to the chilly air, he could not help but utter a sentence. “Yin Zi, cover yourself properly.” Unexpectedly, Bai Luoyin actually heard his words and pulled his arms and legs back into the warm quilt. Not only that, but he also embraced the laptop in his arms.
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Just as Gu Hai was about to praise his obedience, he discovered that the screen has already become pitch-black… When Gu Yang entered the interrogation room, his eyes darkened because of the scene before him. Zhou Lingyun was leaning against the wall with one leg bent while the other was stretched out arrogantly. His eyes slightly narrowed as a firm and dignified smile played out on his lips. Surprisingly, there was a stick of cigarette between his fingers. From the look of it, having been held in confinement for the past few days did not influence his emotion at all. He still wore a carefree yet willful expression as he calmly sat there. Seeing Zhou Lingyun like that, the anger in Gu Yang’s heart sky-rocketed. He must torment Zhou Lingyun to his heart’s content for the next two days. Once he returns to the military base, the truth will quickly be revealed. By then, even if he wanted to shift the blame to someone else (mainly Zhou Lingyun—himself), he wouldn’t have the chance to. “Commander Zhou, how does it feel to stay here?” Gu Yang stared at Zhou Lingyun. Zhou Lingyun leisurely exhaled a ring of smoke before lightly replying, “It’s quiet.” Gu Yang revealed a faint smile, “Quiet? Is it quieter than the low-pressure cabin?” The implication behind his words was: I, Gu Yang, have come to take revenge today, so you better accept it obediently! Soon, more than ten strapping men busted into the room, carrying a tank of water. Three to five people charged forward, captured Zhou Lingyun’s head and shoved it into the tank. Gu Yang raised his foot and pressed down on the back of Zhou Lingyun’s head with the sole of his shoe. His drab voice traveled through the icy water and entered Zhou Lingyun’s ears. “Since you love environments with no air that much, then I’ll let you enjoy it properly.” That kind of act was a violation of the body and mind. No one had ever had the nerves to step on Zhou Lingyun’s head before— Gu Yang was the first. As time slowly trickled by, Gu Yang calmly waited for Zhou Lingyun to struggle and convulse. But even after several of the strapping men’s arms began to ache and Gu Yang’s foot went numb, that guy remained indifference in the water. “It’s already been ten minutes…” A strapping guy to the side couldn’t help but remind. Gu Yang’s pupils contracted as he thought to himself, it’s been ten minutes? There’s no sound or movements, don’t tell me he’s already dead? He ordered one of the men to pull Zhou Lingyun’s head from the water only to see a drenched face with a pair of eyes that were still shimmering with determination. Gu Yang was taken aback. Fuck! He’s actually fine! “Keep pushing him down!” I don’t believe in such evil, Gu Yang’s sinister eyes remained focus on Zhou Lingyun’s face. This time, it took about twelve minutes before they pulled Zhou Lingyun’s head out, but the sheer arrogant and lively expression still remained. Gu Yang once again ordered that his head be shoved in again, and every time, he would prolong the time by two minutes. When he saw that Zhou Lingyun was fine, they continued to press his head some more, tormenting him repeatedly. At the sixteen minutes mark, the men that held him down were already sweating bullets. Is he even human? Fuck…if we really irritate this person, would we end up dead with no remaining? Gu Yang finally touched down on his lethal point. What kind of person is Zhou Lingyun? Someone that loves to push his body to the very extreme. When he had free time, he likes to go into the micro-g environment with low-pressure room to train his internal strength. He was and is an impeccable air force pilot who has completed the most dangerous mission while also holding the record for the longest safe flight time. Even to this day, his military achievements remain unrivaled.
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Gu Yang thought to himself: As expected, his reputation as the ace of the Air Force is no joke. No wonder, he could still remain here safe and sound even after such a huge matter. That kind of outrageously pristine person was truly hard to encounter, even in a hundred years. It seems, he was indeed born to be in the aviation world. This time, the duration was pushed to twenty minutes. When Zhou Lingyun was pulled out, he had ‘happily’ passed out. During the entire ordeal, he never struggled or moved at all. “You are truly a real man.” Gu Yang ordered his men to resuscitate Zhou Lingyun. Once Zhou Lingyun quickly gained his consciousness, there was no sign of fatigue. And worse, the moment his eyes crack open, an intense coldness and unyielding spirit seemed to radiate from it—the kind that would make someone not dare to look straight at him. When Gu Yang caught a glimpse of the food on the table to the side, he suddenly remembered how Zhou Lingyun forced Bai Luoyin to consume only pure meat fat. His expression instantly chilled with anger and austerity as he abruptly grabbed the steamed bun from the bowl and fiddled while scrutinizing Zhou Lingyun. After the atmosphere was sufficiently built up, Gu Yang unexpectedly swung around and flung the steamed bun to the ground. By the time the bun had the chance to roll over a couple of times and came to a full stop, it was wrapped with a layer of dirt. Did you think that was the ultimate ending of Gu Yang’s tyranny? Obviously, that alone was not enough. He kicked that bun with his shoe again and spoke in a light tone. “Hmmm… since it’s so dirty, I’m afraid you won’t’ be able to eat it. It’s better if I clean it for you.” All of a sudden, Gu Yang nonchalantly took his pants off. After watching with satisfaction as his urine thoroughly soaked the bun, Gu Yang shifted his gaze to the two strapping men beside Zhou Lingyun, hinting at them to feed him the bun. Zhou Lingyun was held down by seven to eight men as the whole stinky bun was shoved into his mouth. Then, those men respectfully stood to either side as Gu Yang approached him. He crouched down; his face plastered with pride and mockery. “Commander Zhou, how does it taste?” Zhou Lingyun refused to answer. Gu Yang gripped Zhou Lingyun’s collar tightly and stared at him with his cold sharp gazes (that honestly could kill anyone on the spot). “Even if I can’t leave any permanent injuries on your body, I can still make you feel that death is better than living.” At that moment, Zhou Lingyun’s eyes were serene and held some sort of deep message that concealed his true emotion. “Commander Zhou, you still haven’t told me. How does that steam bun taste?” Zhou Lingyun finally rested his gaze on Gu Yang’s face, “Do you really want to know?” Before Gu Yang had a chance to reply, Zhou Lingyun suddenly turned over and pressed him to the ground. Without wasting even a millisecond, his head dropped down—and…an intense French kiss ensued. Gu Yang’s eyes socket widened, nearly ripping as he stared grimly at those strapping men behind Zhou Lingyun. However, by the time they managed to forcefully haul Zhou Lingyun off, he had already kissed Gu Yang to breakeven what was done to him. Having not expected that Zhou Lingyun would use that kind of trick to retaliate, Gu Yang instantly flew into a fit of rage. But, even if he was utterly furious, he had to unwillingly suspend the torture and in turn the war. He needed to go brush his teeth as soon as possible. Normally, Gu Yang wouldn’t be able to bear it if he smelled any unpleasant scent, let alone that kind of revolting smell and taste combined. It was simply repulsive to the point that he felt as if his liver and gall bladder were about to tear open. Translate: Sienna | Edit: Sae
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61 His Whereabouts, Completely Exposed
Pah, pah, pah, pah, pah…the sound of someone spitting, continuously mingled with water flowing out of the faucet. Since he left the interrogation room, Gu Yang had been frantically brushing his teeth to the point that a layer of his teeth enamel might have been taken off. But even then, he still did not feel clean and that atrocious taste refused to fade. The more he thought about it, the more fucking disgusting and nauseating it was. The anger that winged nearly caused the toothbrush in his hand to snap in half. As he walked out of the bathroom, Gu Yang suddenly heard his cellphone rang and went to pick it up only to see several missed calls showing up on the screen. ‘Gu-zong, it seems our product warehouse has been infiltrated by a thief and a large number of luxury goods have gone missing. All the boxes were perfectly sealed and in great condition but when we opened them for inspection earlier today, there were only piles of bricks stacked inside!’ ‘Gu-zong, a large sum of money has disappeared from the company’s main bank account for some unknown reasons.’ ‘Gu-zong, the company’s network system has been hacked, resulting in a great number of financial data being leaked.’ ‘Xiao Gu! Why are there so many problems with your company lately? Another executive shot and injured someone at a nightclub today. Luckily, he was arrested before he could hurt anyone
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else. Listen to me, you have to come back as quickly as possible. Don’t let the problems spiral out of control!’ Hearing all those anxious calls, Gu Yang’s facial expression gradually became more and more unsightly. By the time he received the last phone call, he could not help but bellow in rage. “What the hell were you busy doing? Why are you only informing me now?!!” The person on the other side hesitated for a moment before he cautiously said, “Hmmm, haven’t you been in the company the entire time? Since you didn’t come in today, I decided to give you a call.” After he hung up the call, Gu Yang suddenly became aware of something and picked up the phone again to check all the unread messages. It would have been better if he had not checked, since the moment he did, his face transformed into a grimly shade of green. Each of the unread messages was sent from only one number: his anti-theft system. In other words, someone had been frequently attempting to hack into the confidential files on his personal computer back in his office. Gu Yang’s heart thumped as he immediately dialed Gu Hai’s number. No one answered… As he moved the phone away from his ear, Gu Yang’s face abruptly careened into darkness. Before long, all types of suspicions took aim and shot straight into his brain cells, quickly expanding until ultimately reaching its breaking point— and exploded abruptly! “No matter what happens, you must stop Gu Hai from leaving Hong Kong for me!” Gu Yang said furiously. “Gu Hai?” His personal bodyguard sounded surprised, “He came to Hong Kong?” Gu Yang froze, “What? You actually don’t know that?” “I’m with you all day long with barely any contact with anyone else, how would I know if you don’t tell me?” With me all day long? … A cold ray of light flitted pass Gu Yang’s eyes. Fucking shit! Why didn’t I think of that? If I can pretend to be him and wreak havoc in his company, why wouldn’t he take my identity and pretend to be me in order to swindle my company as he pleases? Gu Yang inhaled a few frantic breaths before continuing with the call. “Okay then, let me ask you, where am I now?” “You don’t know where you are?” The bodyguard was flabbergasted, “I didn’t follow you today and you’re already lost?” “There’s no need to worry about whether I’m lost or not. I’m asking you, where did I go?” “Huh?” The bodyguard became even more baffled, “You are asking me where you went?” Fuck! Gu Yang was being driven into insanity…now was certainly not the time to save face as he bluntly revealed the truth in an exasperated voice. “The person that you have been protecting for the past few days isn’t me, it’s Gu Hai!!” Hearing that, the bodyguard was completely dumbfounded, and the look on his face was akin to that of a deer struck by headlights. After his breathing calmed down a bit, Gu Yang coldly ordered: “Gu Hai must be caught and detained immediately! You must not let him return to Beijing at all cost!” “Uhhhh…” the bodyguard wanted to say something but hesitated instead. Gu Yang’s blood began to boil, “What the hell are you ‘uhhh’ing’ for? Why haven’t you left to go find him?!” “…it seems, he might have already flown back. I saw the secretary place a ticket on your office desk earlier this morning.” With a dingy look, Gu Yang promptly gave the secretary a call. “What time did you book my flight for?”
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The secretary’s disquieting voice transmitted over, “Gu-zong, the plane will be departing in half an hour. You’re still not at the airport?” Without responding, Gu Yang immediately hung up and called the bodyguard once more. “He hasn't boarded the plane yet. Go and grab him right now!” At that very moment, Gu Hai and Tong Zhe had just entered the airport lobby. For some inexplicable reason, there was no sense of ease for Tong Zhe while he walked through the lobby since he could not help but to constantly observe their surroundings. As matter of fact, it wasn’t once or twice that he had jumped to another job, so there was no reason for him to be nervous. But when they walked toward the security gate, Tong Zhe’s heart was beating uncontrollably. Gu Hai was walking with an expressionless face when the person beside him stopped. “What’s wrong?” Gu Hai turned to ask Tong Zhe. Tong Zhe’s face was quickly riddled with anxiety, “I suddenly remembered something.” “What is it?” “Didn’t you attempt to figure out Gu Yang’s password in order to get into his confidential files but were unsuccessful?” Gu Hai carelessly nodded his head, “Why? Do you know the password?” “No!” Tong Zhe’s brows scrunched into a frown. “He enabled a security monitoring service on his personal cellphone. If someone attempts to break the password into his files, the system will automatically send a message to alert him.” Hearing the last few words, Gu Hai’s complexion changed before he quickly asked, “So?” Tong Zhe fixed his gaze on Gu Hai, “Therefore, I think Gu Yang probably knows about all the things that you’ve done. If he sent someone to keep a look out at the security gate, then you will be captured the moment you get there. Even if you were to somehow get past the gate, there’s a high possibility that he has someone hiding on the plane. And let’s say, the plane you miraculously got in took off without hindrance, he might have already contacted the pilot to get you or have a group of people waiting for you at the airport in Beijing…” Gu Hai paused, “And then?” “And then…” While Tong Zhe was pondering, two familiar figures suddenly emerged in his line of sight from not too far off; his breaths suddenly sank while his expression instantly froze. “Why would there be an ‘and then’, hurry up and run!” With that said, the two immediately separated—Tong Zhe threw all of the luggage to Gu Hai and then turned around before calmly making his way toward those two bodyguards. When one of the bodyguards saw Tong Zhe, he instantly revealed an astonished expression. “Vice President, you’re also here to catch him?” Once the bodyguard said that, Tong Zhe comprehended everything. “I came earlier but I haven’t seen his shadow. How about you? Have you found the target?” “Not yet.” The bodyguard said, looking around. “We just got here not too long ago.” “How about you two look around in the waiting lounge?!” Tong Zhe suggested, “Who knows. Perhaps, he went in there already.” The bodyguard nodded and called out to his companion, “Let’s go. We will take a look in there.” “Wait a minute!” Tong Zhe stopped the bodyguards again, “Besides the two of you, did Guzong send any other manpower? I’m afraid that it’s just me searching here and if he shows up, what’s going to happen if I can’t stop him?”
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“Don’t worry,” the bodyguard said, smiling at Tong Zhe. “We came to check out the situation first. There’s a large group of people behind us so he definitely won’t be able to escape!” A large group of people…Tong Zhe’s scalp was going numb. “When will they get here? Which side will they come from?” “They should arrive any time now! The leader called and said that they will come from that entrance over there.” The bodyguard pointed to show Tong Zhe, “If you see a group of men dressed in black suits and striped neckties coming in together then they’re the ones. It’s best if you greet the leader first. Since he’s someone that Gu-zong recruited from outside of the company, he might not know who you are.” Tong Zhe nodded prudently, “I know. You two should hurry up and go search in there. Any later, the plane is going to take off!” As the two bodyguards quickly ran inside, one of them asked, “Hey, which entrance did you tell the Vice President?” “The east entrance!” “But which way did you point at?” The bodyguard pointed again, “That one!” “Bastard!! Are you stupid, that’s the west entrance!” “Huh?” the bodyguard’s eyes widened, “Crap, I lost my sense of direction again!” “You good-for-nothing! Hurry up and call the Vice President to tell him that you were wrong, so he can go to the east entrance for support.” “There’s no need to!” The bodyguard was unconcerned, “The east and west entrances are not that far apart. Even if the Vice President went to the west entrance, he should still be able to see those people come in from the east entrance, right?” “What if he ran into Gu Hai and wasn’t able to stop him? And those people didn’t get there on time to assist him? If that happens, we will be responsible for it! Do you still not understand what kind of person the Vice President is? Normally, he would argue over the smallest detail. If we really lie to him, he’s definitely going to skin us alive! Is that what you fucking want?!” “Then what should we do?” The bodyguard’s once calm face immediately faltered. “I didn’t bring my phone, do you have yours?” That bodyguard touched his pocket, “Shit, shit, I forgot it since we left in a hurry. Fuck it, let’s go find him!” After Tong Zhe left the two bodyguards, he immediately gave Gu Hai a call. “Leave through the west entrance.” Gu Hai’s sunken voice transmitted over, “Where are you now?” “Don’t worry about me. Just leave from the west and I’ll meet up with you as soon as I can.” Quickly pushing a cart of luggage to the west, Gu Hai did not get far when he saw a group of men all dressed in black poured into that entrance. He froze in place, knowing full well that they did not come with good intentions. Sure enough, the man at the head of the group sharp eyes swept over and locked in on Gu Hai as the target. Just as Tong Zhe arrived at the scene, he was immediately frightened by the imminent battle that was to follow. Before him and Gu Hai stood no less than thirty to forty men, all donning black suits and striped neckties—swaying their head left to right to crack their necks in preparations. “Run for it!!” Tong Zhe shouted loudly. The second Gu Hai turned his head, the group of people charged over. However, his first reaction was not to run but to drop the luggage and tear it open to take his son out. Due to that move, he completely lost his chance to escape and inadvertently gave those men the opportunity to
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close in and surround him at all sides. At this point, aside from risking it all, there were no other means of escaping. Soon, Tong Zhe also joined the battle. Gu Hai glanced at the side just in time to see a chain of Tong Zhe’s utterly beautiful and confident high kicks that downed those men one by one. When they finally met back-to-back, Gu Hai could not help but praise him. “Your skills are pretty good.” “You still have the time to admire that?” Tong Zhe let slip as his face turned green. “We won’t be able to hold them back much longer!” Just as his voice faded, a rough fist violently smashed into Tong Zhe’s stomach—causing his body to instantly collapse on Gu Hai.
Translate: Sae | Edit: Julieta | Proofread: Nancy
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62 A Spine-Tingling Escape
Just as the two bodyguards arrived, they saw a scene that made them want to spew blood. As expected, those thirty plus people accomplished their mission, with the numbers at their advantage that is. However, the problem now was—not only did they captured Gu Hai but Tong Zhe had also been implicated. The second they saw the rough fist connected with Tong Zhe’s stomach, the two bodyguards’ face was redesigned to a pale palette. Fuck, they actually made a big mistake! They quickly rushed over while shouting at the top of their lungs: “Don’t hit him, don’t hit him. He’s one of us!!” Just as Tong Zhe collapsed on Gu Hai, and had yet to stand firmly, he saw the two bodyguards bolting over. “Vice President, I’m sorry. I gave you the wrong direction earlier.” It didn’t take long for Tong Zhe’s face to change from pure green to deathly white once he processed those words. Such an unnecessary mistake had inadvertently caused that wretched pain to twist his muscles, and it was only the adrenaline that coursed through his veins which made it possible for him to plant his foot on the ground. The other bodyguard faced those people and cursed in rage. “What were you guys looking at? This is our Vice President. You guys just started fighting without asking clearly?!” Once he finished, he turned to look at Tong Zhe and instantly softened his voice. “Vice President, you must be startled.” Tong Zhe hesitantly replied, “…it’s alright.”
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The bodyguard turned to face those people again, “What are you guys standing there for? Quickly arrest the target! Are you all fucking happy? You struck the person you shouldn’t have while the person you should’ve is still standing there unscathed. What kind of bullshit is this?!” As those angry words filtered the air, the group of people encircled them again. But Gu Hai suddenly pulled out a gun from his jacket and pointed the muzzle directly at Tong Zhe’s temple. “Don’t come any closer!” He really knows how to take advantage of the situation…Tong Zhe could not help but admire Gu Hai. “Retreat, retreat…” the bodyguard said as he stared at Gu Hai’s finger and ordered the people surrounding them. “Human life is beyond value. There’s no need for anyone to act recklessly!” Gu Hai was apoplectic with rage as he screamed, “Draw back 30 meters, hurry up!!” As those people drew back, Gu Hai also pulled Tong Zhe slowly toward the back while carefully keeping an eye out at his surrounding as to avoid a surprise attack. When they reached the stairs, the people’s footsteps abruptly came to a stop. But the second Gu Hai turned, they quickly charged toward them. Seeing that, Gu Hai suddenly opened fire, causing the entire airport lobby to sink into chaos. Once the masses started to frantically flee in all directions, that decidedly created the perfect opportunity for Gu Hai and Tong Zhe to make their getaway. “Over here, over here!” Tong Zhe shouted out to Gu Hai. Bypassing one lobby after another while keeping their eyes out for an exit, they suddenly saw a group of suspicious people appear ahead of them. Gu Hai came to a sudden halt, look around and saw a changing room at the side. Without saying anything, he tilted his head to the side and signaled to Tong Zhe that he should enter. To their misfortune, all the stalls were occupied. However, they quickly noticed that the top of the stalls was not covered. With great agility, Gu Hai and Tong Zhe leaped up to grab the edge of the stall and climbed inside. But the second they dropped in, loud shrieks blared from both stalls. Holy shit! Tong Zhe felt stupid the moment his foot touched the ground. Gu Hai, what the hell is wrong with your eyes? You actually led me into the women’s changing room! As expected, the horrified woman screamed bloody murder at Tong Zhe, afraid he would take advantage of her. Tong Zhe quickly covered her mouth with his hand and gave her a cold and stern look. “Give me the clothes that you had changed out of! If not, I’ll strangle you to death!” Trying to control her trembling hands, the mortified woman reached down to grab the skirt and high heels that she had taken off and passed them to Tong Zhe. After Tong Zhe took the clothes, he was completely mortified. In the other stall, Gu Hai was in no better condition than Tong Zhe. That build of his was truly too formidable—one look was more than enough to tell how defined and sturdy his muscles were. Try as he might, he wouldn’t be able to put the skirt on. And even if he could, it would be worn as a shirt at most. Just as he became frantic, a bright idea suddenly waltzed into his brain. He draped the skirt over his shoulder, wrapped two rolls worth of toilet paper around his waist, fastened two pairs of pantyhose around his ears and leaped into the adjoining stall. It goes without saying, Tong Zhe was completely taken aback by Gu Hai’s sudden entrance. “You…what the heck are you doing?” “Shhh…I thought of a trick.” Gu Hai moved in close to Tong Zhe and told him of his scheme. Hearing it, Tong Zhe revealed a despicable expression. “Does it have to be that stupid?”
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“Can you think of a better way than that?” Gu Hai asked. The corner of Tong Zhe’s lips pulled back, “My IQ isn’t as high as yours." Gu Hai scrutinized Tong Zhe for a moment, feeling as if something was missing. Soon, he figured it out—his chest was flat. As a result, he removed the pantyhose from his ears and passed them to Tong Zhe. “Stuff them against your chest!” The level of annoyance that rose in Tong Zhe nearly caused him to see stars, “How come you’re not stuffing it?” “I’m not the one pretending to be a woman.” Gu Hai said, unintentionally adopting the air of an ‘armchair expert’.115 Although Tong Zhe’s expression went frozen for a moment, he still took the two pantyhose. After knotting them a few times, he unwillingly shoved them into his shirt until they formed a fake set of breasts. To make matters worse—when Gu Hai reached over to adjust the position of his fake breast, Tong Zhe had a moment of wanting to die. Once their preparation was complete, Gu Hai and Tong Zhe walked calmly out of the room. The entire airport lobby was masked by a frightening atmosphere when two silhouettes turned up in front of a security’s line of sight. Tong Zhe had on women’s clothes and held a purse in his hand as he walked ahead. Suddenly, a psychotic madman charged toward him from behind and yanked his skirt. Tong Zhe let out the two best sharp shrieks he could conjure while Gu Hai continuously yanked. He yanked and yanked until Tong Zhe had no other choice but to scream for help. Two security guards ran over and asked, “What’s going on?” Tong Zhe lowered his head and tearfully complained, “This hoodlum keeps on pulling me!” The two security guards glanced at Gu Hai only to see him still holding on to Tong Zhe, rubbing up against his legs without stopping, and no matter how much he was being cursed at, he refused to let go. Once they took notice of Gu Hai’s attire, they instantly comprehended what was wrong with him without being told explicitly. One of the guards whispered in the other’s ear, “How did this kind of person get in here?” “Who knows! Just hurry up and kick him out!” After the two talked it over, they hauled Gu Hai toward the exit. But just as they arrived at the door, they were blocked by two black-suited men who were guarding the area. “Who is that?” “Just a troublemaker with a bit of a problem.” The guard explained, pointing to his head. Just as the two men were about to crouch down to look at his face, Gu Hai suddenly took out his son, pressed the power switch on and started to hum along with the rhythm. “Ge wasn’t causing trouble…Ge only came here to find a young lady…” Hearing that, the security guard kicked Gu Hai out. “Fuck your sister!” As a result, Gu Hai ended up dropping one of his shoes. But, without bothering to pick it up, Gu Hai hared off with great speed. An airport janitor was on the verge of tossing the shoe in the trash bin when another man in a suit walked over, looked at her and reached for it. “I’m sorry, that’s mine. I dropped it earlier.” The moment the man got the shoe and took one glance at it, his complexion instantly rebelled. “Fucking piece of shit! We actually let him get away!” Unable to grasp what he meant, the man next to him asked, “Let who get away?” BAM! That unfortunate shoe was then smashed to the ground. “Take a fucking good look at it yourself! What idiot would wear shoes that cost more than 10,000 yuan?”116 armchair expert – a person who knows a lot about a subject, but has little to no experience or understanding of it. ¥10,000 - $1,570 : conversion is from the most current May 2018 rate **I don’t even make that much a month or can afford a new pair of glasses =.=;;
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“Ah? … quickly, go after him!!!” Gu Hai was about to take off his ‘costume’ when he heard Tong Zhe loud shout from not too far away. “Gu Hai, hurry up and get in the car!” Upon hearing countless footsteps coming from behind him, Gu Hai’s nerves couldn’t help but tense up of its own accord. Knowing of his dire situation—his long, spirited legs dashed toward the side of Tong Zhe’s car before he then practically leaped into the passenger seat. The car door had yet to be closed when Tong Zhe revved up the engine and drove off. “Chase after them! Don’t let them get away!!” In just seconds, a grandiose fleet of cars followed closely behind them. On the road, Tong Zhe drove adeptly while simultaneously tearing away his ‘feminine’ clothes. With only one hand controlling the steering wheel, he was able to quickly lose the line of cars chasing them—unwittingly displaying his exquisite driving skills. “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.” Tong Zhe said, throwing the clothes he had taken off out of the window. Gu Hai narrowed his eyes, leaned back into the seat and wore an indiscernible smile. “I wasn’t any better than you, having to rub against your legs so many times……” “What do you mean?” Tong Zhe was incensed by those words, “I haven’t even said anything about you randomly rubbing my legs, yet you’re already acting as if you’ve been taken advantage of?” Without speaking, Gu Hai simply laughed and hugged the little donkey in his hand. He silently thought: Yin Zi, don’t be angry! I had no other choice. I’ll properly compensate you when I get back… Tong Zhe glanced at him from the corner of his eyes then shifted his gaze toward the donkey. Due to the exigent situation earlier, he did not have a chance to ask about it. But now that the situation had been placated for the time being, he could not help but speak up. “What significance does that donkey have for you to be holding on to it 24 hours a day?” He had actually thought Gu Hai would say, ‘it’s a gift from deceased mother’ or ‘my first girlfriend gave it to me’ or something else of that nature. But what he didn’t anticipate was that Gu Hai would instead say, “This is my son.” “You can be really funny.” Tong Zhe looked at Gu Hai’s severely cold face then glimpsed back at the funny little donkey at his chest. It was hard for him to imagine what kind of ‘mother’ would pair her son with a donkey. Not long after Gu Yang received the news of Gu Hai’s escape, he bustled toward Bai Luoyin’s dorm—invoking innumerable gusts of gelid wind along the way. When he arrived and noticed that the door was locked, Gu Yang didn’t put much thought to it and grabbed an army orderly who was passing by. “Where’s Bai Luoyin?” The orderly blinked a couple of times, “Major Bai should be at the training ground, right? His battalion has been out doing battle drills for the past few days.” Knowing that, Gu Yang’s face darkened again as he made his way to the training ground. While walking there, he gave a military officer that he knew a call, asking him to quickly dispatch a few people. He must capture Bai Luoyin. Today. Bai Luoyin had just emerged from his fighter jet and was about to say something to his soldiers when his phone suddenly sounded. “Yin Zi, I ran into a bit of a problem here.” Gu Hai’s distinctive voice flowed over.
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The muscles in Bai Luoyin’s hand tensed up, “What happened? Where are you now? I’ll fly the fighter jet over to get you!” “I’m not exactly sure for the time being…” While Gu Hai was still talking on the other side, Bai Luoyin casually glanced at the side and saw a familiar figure tromping in his direction. Just one look at Gu Yang’s complexion, Bai Luoyin could immediately sense that something had gone awry. He hurriedly turned to get on the steps into his fighter jet, but before he could, several of the soldiers beside Gu Yang abruptly sprint forward and forcefully dragged him. Sadly, Bai Luoyin wasn’t able to evade them on time, one of his legs slipped not once but twice… Fortunately, his soldiers at the scene sped over to support him, otherwise, he would have fallen and face-planted on the ground. “What are you guys doing?” Bai Luoyin faced those soldiers and demanded an answer. After all is said and done, he was still a Battalion Commander; those soldiers should not dare to annoyingly drag him repeatedly. If even something small were to happen to him, they certainly would not be able to bear the burden. “Have you guys not eaten?” Gu Yang asked with a gloomy face, “Do you need the Regiment Commander Zhang to personally feed you a few bites?”117 The second they heard those two foreboding words, ‘Regiment Commander’, those soldiers filled with anxiety frantically went to grab Bai Luoyin. But Bai Luoyin’s own soldiers were not willing to stand aside and quickly went to protect their Major as if their lives depended on it. Unfortunately, they were facing the impossible. That is, being heavily outnumbered. Although, the soldiers that Bai Luoyin had called out to train today were some of the best and most competent, albeit with less than ten of them, they were not enough to contend against the platoon that Gu Yang had gathered.
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Gu Yang named those soldiers’ leader to make it sound as if he is ordering them on his behalf
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63 His Pitiful Son, the Donkey
Soon, the soldiers on Bai Luoyin’s side could no longer withstand their opponents. Meanwhile, Bai Luoyin himself had nearly reached the door of the fighter jet when two soldiers grabbed hold of his foot. He aggressively swept his foot to the side and struck a few of the pea-brained soldiers in the head causing them to tumble down before he quickly rushed to open the cockpit door. What…thirty people can’t actually catch one person?… Gu Yang’s face completely darkened before he swiftly charged toward the fighter jet and practically leaped onto the step that led to the cockpit door. Since you are all useless, then I will do the fucking job myself! Bai Luoyin was able to get half of his body into the cockpit when he was suddenly pulled ruthlessly by an immense force. As he lowered his head for a look, he was met with Gu Yang’s sinister face, holding his leg down in a bent position. Since it came to that, Bai Luoyin did not hold back and fiercely kicked him. However, when Gu Yang released Bai Luoyin's leg, not only did his hand that was gripping Bai Luoyin's pants tightened but it actually dragged them down more than a dozen centimeters. Both of Bai Luoyin’s hands, that was firmly grasping the bottom notch of the cockpit door, were almost bleeding from the edge of where his nails met the skin. Gu Yang was utterly heartless this time around, not caring in the least when his eyes swept passed his hands. You deceived, used, and played with my feelings…Bai Luoyin, when you fall into my hands today, don’t expect me to relent or be merciful towards you again!
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“Aaahhh!…” Bai Luoyin howled resulted in Gu Yang’s hand pausing due to a conditioned reflex. Taking that to his advantage, Bai Luoyin quickly leaped into the cockpit and Gu Yang’s hands strongly pulled back. In seconds, the sound of fabric ripping could be heard. A certain Major’s pants have been ripped. For a more accurate description, it ripped from below the buttocks—with just one glance up, Gu Yang could clearly see Bai Luoyin’s black underpants. Due to that momentary stare, Bai Luoyin swiftly got into the fighter jet which caused Gu Yang’s hands to not have time to reach forward as the cockpit door closed right in front of him. Hearing the roar of the engines, the soldiers at the foot of the steps were also startled. “It’s dangerous! Quickly pull him down!” Someone yelled, and all the soldiers raced forward to grab Gu Yang from the steps. Gu Yang’s face remained as dark and sinister as before as he looked down and spoke to them with a murderous tone. “Aren’t you all Air Force soldiers? That’s good then, send two fighter jets out to intercept him at once!” The soldiers all looked at each other awkwardly, finding that things have gotten out of hand. Noticing their slow movements, Gu Yang quickly assured them. “You don’t dare to do that without explicit approval? Fine, I’ll give Regiment Commander Zhang a call and have him immediately issue the mission to you!” “No, it’s not because of that.” A bold man said, “It’s not that we don’t want to help you…it’s just that we are honestly unable to. When it comes to in-flight combat, Major Bai is the most outstanding and is second to none. He is practically unbeatable. Even if we were to pursue him, we would certainly come back down before Major Bai.” Gu Yang’s face became increasingly ugly, “Wouldn’t it work out if you were provided with the best performance fighter jet?” “Uh…the best performance jet is the one Major Bai just took off with.” Gu Yang, “…” After a while, a soldier cautiously walked toward Gu Yang. “But there’s someone whose skill exceeds that of Bai Luoyin. The only thing is, I don’t know if he would be willing to help you…” “Who?” Gu Yang narrowed his eyes and asked. “Wing Commander Zhou.” Honestly, one can imagine Gu Yang’s conflicting emotions at that moment. After Bai Luoyin piloted the fighter jet to a high altitude—reaching the maximum velocity, in less than an hour, he flew directly into Hong Kong’s airspace and rapidly pierced through the clouds before slowly descending. At that moment, Tong Zhe said to Gu Hai that: “The car is going to run out of gas soon.” Gu Hai turned around for a glimpse, the cars behind them were no longer in sight but that did not mean they had thrown them off. As long as they followed their trail, it was inevitable that they would locate their exact position. Just as he was thinking, his phone sounded. Bai Luoyin’s distinctive voice transmitted over from the other side, “Where are you now? I arrived in Hong Kong already.” “I…” Gu Hai looked around, where is this? He glanced at Tong Zhe, who was also confused. “We should be in the suburbs.” Gu Hai said with difficulty. Bai Luoyin, “Then you can just stay there and don’t move. I’ll use satellite positioning.”
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Before Gu Hai could say ‘okay’, he saw a familiar car emerge in the rearview mirror. He looked at Tong Zhe who tapped on the steering wheel and said, “There’s no gas!” As a result, the two leaped out of the car and fled toward a village not too far away. Quickening their movements, the group of people behind them also flew out of their cars and chased them. They poured into the village from every direction and intentionally blocked every road entering and exiting. Gu Hai and Tong Zhe climbed over a random wall and jumped down into a widow’s small yard, unbeknownst to them that is. But just as they were about to let out a sigh of relieve, the sudden sound of a dog barking scared them half to death. Not wanting to be discovered, Gu Hai pulled the dog into his arms and forcefully covered its mouth. In doing that, the dog ended up clawing him all over his body. To the side, Tong Zhe suddenly heard a burst of thundering sounds come from the sky. He looked up and saw a fighter jet flying toward their direction. He quickly pushed Gu Hai who peered upward as well. His feelings then... indescribable grief his hands unsteadily gripped his phone. “Yin Zi, I see you.” “That’s good, you can direct me, and I’ll fly over to you.” No doubt, Bai Luoyin’s fighter jet provided those ‘soldiers pursuing’ them a powerful clue of their location. As the fighter jet descended, those men started to rush over in all direction and converged in the small yard—encircling the entire area in a grand gesture. Those useless bastards have the guts to play with me? Bai Luoyin casually shot two small harmless grenades, frightening those men over ten meters back. He wanted to find a proper area to land but discovered instead that there was no suitable spot. While he was studying the surrounding, Gu Hai and Tong Zhe also ran out. Bai Luoyin quickly took aim and shot an endless amount of dense fog bombs to clear the way for them. When those men realized that the grenades did not have any destructive power and was merely used to scare them, they advanced forward and drew closer to Gu Hai and Tong Zhe. That meant, in order to ensure Gu Hai’s safety, Bai Luoyin could not rashly release the grenades again. Shit, there’s no time left. Bai Luoyin took a huge risk and lowered the aircraft close enough to the ground. He quickly opened the cockpit door, allowing Gu Hai to practically fly in. Once he was safe, he immediately hugged Bai Luoyin tightly. Da Hai… Bai Luoyin wanted more than anything to hug him back, but his hands were occupied at the moment. Nonetheless, he was able to maintain a rational mindset— although he was emotionally moved and excited, he still remembered to close the cockpit door first. “Don’t close it yet!” Gu Hai suddenly shouted before he turned and pulled Tong Zhe up. Since Tong Zhe was a step behind Gu Hai, a few of those people grabbed hold of him, making it impossible for him to smoothly climb up. He could only depend on Gu Hai to help him. Bai Luoyin took a glance down and his expression quickly changed. “Yin Zi, quick, help me out!” Gu Hai said as the veins on his hands rose. Bai Luoyin hesitated for a moment, but he still went over to help. Once Tong Zhe’s foot slid in, Bai Luoyin went to close the door. “Don’t close it yet!” Gu Hai shouted again, even more worried, “My son is still down there!” When Gu Hai pulled Tong Zhe up a moment ago, he wasn’t careful, and it accidentally fell down. Now it was beneath those people’s feet, Gu Hai became anxious and a twinge of pain ran up his heart. “Wait a moment. I’ll go down and get it!” “There’s no need to.” Bai Luoyin faintly replied, “It’s enough that you got in.”
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As the cockpit door was closed, Gu Hai looked on helplessly as the donkey got trampled on beneath those people’s feet. The only thing in his mind was the way the donkey shook its head. “Why didn’t you let me go down to get it?” Gu Hai calmly turned to ask Bai Luoyin. Truthfully, Bai Luoyin wanted to confute him, how did it fell down? Wasn’t it obvious you abandon it first…however, he actually said: “That’s nothing more than a stuffed animal. Just get another one when we get back!” Gu Hai could not say anything else. Once again, Gu Yang entered the interrogation room only to see Zhou Lingyun shadowboxing in front of a wall. It did not take Gu Yang long to notice the small cracks that appeared one by one on the wall, each was the size of a man’s fist. Even after he saw Gu Yang walk in, Zhou Lingyun’s expression did not change at all. However, just one glimpse of that hateful man, Gu Yang wished he could leave. But compared to how Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai joined forces to hurt him, being a bit humiliated by Zhou Lingyun did not surmount to anything. “I have a mission. As long as you can complete it, I can get you out of here right now.” Zhou Lingyun stopped his movements for a moment and turned to look at Gu Yang. “What mission?” Gu Yang paused in between each word, “To Intercept a fighter jet.” “Intercept a fighter jet?” Zhou Lingyun faintly smiled, “When did you start handling affairs in the Air Force?” Resisting the need to explode with what little trace of patience he had left, Gu Yang tried to explain everything. “Do you want to know how you ended up in here? Let me tell you, it was Bai Luoyin who used my hands to trap you. Since he is lazy in nature and can’t stand your imperious policy, he thought of a method to shift the conflict over to the two of us instead.” Zhou Lingyun punched the wall again, but this time, the area surrounding the countless cracks spread out. “Let’s just say, you and I are, at the least, considered allies and our common enemy is Bai Luoyin. He has fled in a fighter jet and the only person in this unit that can intercept and bring him down is you.” “Allies...” Zhou Lingyun mulled over that word, “Would an ally force me to eat a bun that he had pissed on?” Gu Yang’s expression changed as he uncomfortably said, “I will give you a valid explanation regarding that later!” “Let me think it through.” Zhou Lingyun sternly said while continuing to punch the wall. The color on Gu Yang’s face sank, “From Beijing to Hong Kong takes about three hours back and forth. By the time you’re done thinking, the fighter jet would have landed already!” “Back and forth?” Zhou Lingyun’s thick eyebrows twisted, “Since he’s coming back anyway, why do you need to send another jet to intercept him? Do you see us pilots with a lot of free time with nothing better to do?” Trying not to lash out, Gu Yang forced himself to ask, “Will you do it or not?” Zhou Lingyun firmly declared his position, “The nation’s machineries are not yours to casually use for the sake of resolving your personal conflicts.” After saying a few ruthless words, Gu Yang turned and took his leave. “Regiment Commander Zhang, I need two extremely competent pilots who can contend with Bai Luoyin right now.”
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“You’ve actually called at the perfect time. It just so happens I have one readily available! He’s an elite soldier that I brought over from another military district. He’s in Beijing for a meeting at the time, but I can help you get in contact with him.” Putting down his phone, Gu Yang let out a bitter comment. God has finally opened his eyes. If I had known that earlier, I wouldn’t have bothered to come here… Gu Yang glanced at the door to the interrogation room with eyes completely full of hate, Zhou Lingyun, just wait and see!
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64 Looking for Some Excitement
The moment Gu Yang left, Zhou Lingyun trailed behind him. However, before he could set foot outside the room, two armed officers acting as guards immediately blocked his path. “Where do you think you’re going?” Zhou Lingyun’s eyes faintly swept over them, “To help Gu-zong intercept a fighter jet.” “Didn’t you just said a second ago you’re not helping?” The armed officer’s suspicious gaze remained on him. “‘The nation’s machineries are not yours to casually use for the sake of resolving your personal conflicts.’ Weren’t those your exact words?” “But this is not a personal conflict. One of the nation’s first-class pilots has been abducted in a hijacked jet. I’m going to ensure his safety and since it’s an internal affair, it’s essential to safeguard and uphold the strength of the Air Force.” Zhou Lingyun calmly elaborated on his many excuses. The two armed police officers looked at each other, then gave their commanding officer a call to obtain an authorization for release. Once they were able to get the approval, one of the officers grabbed Zhou Lingyun’s arm and said with a determination, “I’ll go with you!” Bai Luoyin piloted the jet until it pierced through the clouds and reached a safe and steady altitude. From the look of it, they would be able to reach their destination without any mishap. After the long silence, Tong Zhe spoke. “Can you smoke in the cockpit?”
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Bai Luoyin, “Whatever.” Gu Hai, “No.” Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai replied at the same time, but with two entirely different opinions that made the cigarette in Tong Zhe’s hand come to a complete standstill. Bai Luoyin maintained an indifferent attitude while Gu Hai refused. If it was just an ordinary helicopter, it wouldn’t have mattered much but smoking in this kind of fighter jet would interfere with the pilot’s judgment. Tong Zhe shot Bai Luoyin a glance only to notice that he was a cool looking pilot with a laid-back type of nature and physique that implied he did not care much for such trivial things. “Nevermind.” Tong Zhe placed the cigarette back into his pocket. But Bai Luoyin simply turned to face Tong Zhe and reached his hand out, “Give me one.” Seeing that, Gu Hai put his hand on Bai Luoyin’s hand with a slightly tight grip and softly spoke. “You can smoke when we get back. It’ll take less than fifteen minutes until we’re home.” Bai Luoyin shook Gu Hai’s hand off and continued to use his eyes to hint at Tong Zhe. Gu Hai could faintly sense that Bai Luoyin’s mood wasn’t very good. But for the sake of their safety, Gu Hai no longer went against Bai Luoyin and let him do as he pleased. Soon, a cloud of smoke spread throughout the cockpit. Since he was pulled up into the cockpit, Tong Zhe had noticed that Gu Hai’s eyes were fastened to Bai Luoyin. Aside from certain times, he was practically unable to take his eyes off of him. Bai Luoyin held onto a nonchalant attitude, who knew if it was because piloting required him to completely focus or that he had something against Gu Hai. In short, Tong Zhe felt that there was a deep entanglement between them. Suddenly, an abnormal signal appeared on Bai Luoyin’s LCD screen appeared, causing him to immediately tense up. He quickly shoved the cigarette into Gu Hai’s hands and took hold of the control lever while keeping his eyes close to the control panel. Soon, the fighter jet Gu Yang was in appeared in his field of vision—the pilot and Bai Luoyin had met face to face before but have never competed. During the last air practice in the desert, they were placed in two different teams which would allow them to have a showdown but due to Bai Luoyin’s foot injury, that opportunity, unfortunately, was missed. That fighter jet was flying to Bai Luoyin’s right. When Tong Zhe leaned to the side for a look, he could only see that fighter jet firing waves of missiles in their direction. Their intention to engage in battle was crystal clear as they put forth a very fierce stance. Without delay, Bai Luoyin quickly reacted and let the jet dive down to avoid them but missiles, weighing several hundreds of kilograms, simultaneously sailed toward them with incredible speed to oppress the body and internal parts of his jet, creating a spectacular mess. Bai Luoyin clearly understood the opponent’s purpose. It was nothing more than an attempt to intercept and force his fighter jet down so that he couldn’t smoothly return to the military base. And who that person was, he knew clearly in his heart. Adopting a defensive method, Bai Luoyin dodged left and right. If he was able to avoid it, he would since he did not want to damage the jet or worse, provoke any more trouble. Suddenly, the jet behind them ascended with awe and appeared in front of Bai Luoyin’s aircraft. The body of the jet suddenly shook as the wings banished two fiery trails of fire that resembled fire breathing dragons before a group of missiles shot out from the sky… Such a sudden attack did not give Bai Luoyin enough time to avoid it as the body of his jet took a hit and shook violently. Gu Hai could barely endure it while Tong Zhe felt as though his own heart was going to burst any second. That kind of live ammunition combat was common during training. Gu Hai could imagine the danger and difficulty but actually being in that kind of circumstances himself was another feeling in and of itself.
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Fuck! … Bai Luoyin secretly cursed, since you refuse to do this the easy way, then we’ll just have to do it the hard way. It did not take long for his fighting spirit to be set aflame. His eyes became exceptionally sharp, his thoughts clearer, and the movements of his hands quicker and more decisive. He regarded this fierce confrontation as a combat exercise. Soon, both sides officially engaged in the fire. Back in the monitor room, the Chief of Staff and Regiment Commander were discussing the soldiers’ initiative during training when suddenly the screen flashed only to display two fighter jets that were engaging in combat before their very eyes. For a split second, they could not help but expose a satisfying expression. “If every soldier has that kind of lively and adventurous spirit, we will have several more talents like Xiao Bai in the military.” The two fighter jets battled intensely with each taking damages but neither refusing to concede. The fierce air battle persisted for more than half an hour with the potential to become even more critical and intense. Not only did Bai Luoyin wanted to be victorious, but he also wanted to shift the battle to the north as much as possible. Only that method would guarantee they would get to the military base before the fuel was completely depleted. Gu Yang could see through Bai Luoyin’s attempt. He calmly faced the pilot and reminded him, “We must prevent them from heading north.” Surprisingly enough, the pilot was also a battle lunatic who adored live ammunition combat—the missiles ejections, raging fire, and thrill completely energized him. The stronger his opponent was, the more excited he was. He incessantly bombarded the opposing side and relentlessly pursued, closing in step by step. Just as both sides were battling it out, another jet emerged in Bai Luoyin’s line of sight. What the fuck, how come there’s another one?… Since he never made any contact with the base for assistance, Bai Luoyin knew perfectly well that the fighter jet was not here to help them. Seeing the appearance of the new jet, Gu Yang’s complexion changed before he turned to ask the pilot, “Did you request for a rescue aircraft?” The pilot was dumbfounded, “Definitely no!” While Gu Yang was having doubts, that aircraft started to open fire at Bai Luoyin’s aircraft. Gu Yang immediately grabbed the pilot’s arm to hold his fire. “Hold back and don’t do anything yet. Let’s watch for a while first!” Once that aircraft undertook its attacks, it revealed a grand demeanor. The pilot and aircraft had reached the peak of unity as man and machine seemed to have become one. Whether it flipped, rose or turned in circles, that displayed the operator’s enthusiastic and phenomenal flight skills. The unpredictable positions were overwhelming for Bai Luoyin’s eyes while the rhythm of the attacks was flashy and disruptive—every shot seemed to be an empty flicker but each time it struck, it was solid and bore fruit. Bai Luoyin had already guessed who the pilot in the opposing fighter jet was, but he did not understand why Zhou Lingyun would side with Gu Yang. “How marvelous!” The pilot in Gu Yang’s jet exclaimed in admiration, “He is truly worthy of being the trump card of the Air Force.” Gu Yang was also puzzled, didn’t Zhou Lingyun say he wouldn’t help? How come he’s here? “How about we cooperate with that jet to completely destroy this jet?” The pilot eagerly said, wearing an extremely excited expression.
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“Fuck that shit!” Gu Yang could not help but to explode in curses, “Are you fucking blind? Don’t you see that jet is about to fall apart? Quickly provide support to it now!” “Provide sup…support?” The pilot was stupefied. Just now, you wanted me to completely destroy it. Why is there a need to suddenly provide support? Gu Yang shouted in rage “Both my brothers are in there!” Hearing that, beads of sweat abruptly exploded on the pilot’s forehead. “What the hell. Why did you tell me to open fire on your own family, huh?” “Can you handle it? Hurry up and go support them. If anything bad happens, it’ll all be on your head!” The pilot felt apprehensive and couldn’t help but mutter to himself. Who was I tricked by and who did I provoked? In the end, they were still a step too late. By the time, the jet that Gu Yang was in made it over, Bai Luoyin’s fighter jet was already spiraling downward. It fiercely lanced through the multiple layers of cloud and began to dive down fast toward the ground. Bai Luoyin expended a great deal of effort to control the jet while telling the two at his side, “Hurry and parachute out!” “I want to jump out tied to you,” Gu Hai said. Even after hearing that, Bai Luoyin’s complexion was as dark and gloomy as ever. “Jump by yourself, I won’t be tied to you.” Gu Hai insisted, “I will be tied—together—with—you.” When Bai Luoyin could vaguely see the outline of the earth, he instantly became anxious. “What are you wasting time for? I’m telling you to jump so just jump!” “If you don’t jump with me, I won’t jump.” “It is dangerous to jump tied together.” “I don’t care.” Tong Zhe cleared his throat, “You two can talk it over, I’m going to jump first.” With that, a shadow leaped into the blue sky while the remaining two people continued to argue endlessly. With not much time left, Bai Luoyin had no choice but to comply with Gu Hai’s wish. He quickly and efficiently tied them tightly together and jumped out from the cockpit door. “There’s no need to assist them now, right?” The pilot cautiously asked. Gu Yang’s face instantly became gray without a trace of blood. Just as the pilot intended to return to the point of departure, he suddenly suffered a surprise attack by the fighter jet ahead of them (the one that had just attacked Bai Luoyin’s jet). The wings caught on fire and the body started to shake violently. With great difficulty, the pilot managed to control the jet but before he could maneuver away, it was struck by another missile, causing the entire body to tilt substantially. “What’s going on?” The pilot was dumbstruck. “Isn’t he on our side? Why did he open fire on us?” Gu Yang firmly gritted his teeth. How would I know? Soon, the fighter jet Gu Yang was in could no longer withstand the swift and heavy attacks from Zhou Lingyun’s jet— it broke through the clouds and rapidly dove toward the vast earth. The armed officer sitting beside Zhou Lingyun broke out into sweats from head to toe. On the one hand, his body’s endurance was insufficient, and on the other hand, the scene was too nerve-wracking and exciting. It wasn’t until the aircraft came to a steady pace that the armed officer let out a sigh of relief. “What exactly did we come here for?”
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Striking out one fighter jet after another, the armed officer could not understand Zhou Lingyun’s mentality. To his surprise, Zhou Lingyun simply played-down the situation and said four words. “Looking for some excitement.”
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65 The Despotic Bai Luoyin
As they continued to fall, Bai Luoyin incessantly cursed at Gu Yang. Wasn’t it enough to block me, what did you rip my pants for? Even my ass is going numb from the whirring cold wind in my pants! The parachute successfully opened and the two landed together on a mass pile of weeds. Gu Hai’s body struck the ground first as he selflessly acted as Bai Luoyin’s cushion, allowing him to fall directly on top of him. One of Gu Hai’s hand accidentally touched Bai Luoyin’s butt— the bitter coldness immediately provoked shivers to race up his spine. When he looked down for a glance, there was an astonishingly large hole on Bai Luoyin’s pants, and he was now relying only on a flimsy underwear to cover him from the cold wind. “Your pants were ripped by the wind?” Gu Hai asked with a troubled expression. Bai Luoyin wanted to curse in rage. What kind of demonic wind can rip the pants? Isn’t it all due to your lunatic brother pulling at them?!! “Let me see how bad it is.” Gu Hai attempted to turn him over so that he would lie on his legs, Bai Luoyin cholerically pushed him away. Then he found a spot further away from Gu Hai and sat down while his eyes scanned the surrounding area to deduce their current location. Not to be deterred, Gu Hai moved closer, but just as he got halfway, Bai Luoyin used a murderous gaze to warn him. “Stay away from me.”
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“Are you going to act like that?!!” Gu Hai retorted with a darkened face. “Since we saw each other, you’ve been putting on that face, talking like you’ve swallowed gunpower118. Are you itching for a fight because we haven’t seen each other for more than ten days?” Bai Luoyin gritted his teeth and nodded, “Yes, I’m going to be like this. Who told you to insist on jumping out with me? If you had jumped with him first, you wouldn’t have to look at me now, right?” “Bai Luoyin, are you trying to make me mad on purpose? Fuck! To think I missed you all those days!!” “Who told you to miss me?” Bai Luoyin’s cold eyes swept toward Gu Hai for a glance. “Besides, I couldn’t make out that you missed me at all. Just look at that glowing face of yours, you must have lived comfortably in Hong Kong, huh?” Gu Hai was so furious, it felt unbearable. “Isn’t it glowing only because I saw you?” Averting his gaze, Bai Luoyin pretended to have not heard that and instead continued on with more sarcastic comments. “Rather than suffering here with me, why don’t you go look for that compatriot you’ve been facing all these difficulties with? If by chance his parachute didn’t open, he can count on you to collect his corpse!” Hearing those words, Gu Hai actually stood up. As a flash of light swept by Bai Luoyin’s eyes revealing a strict look, but suddenly Gu Hai’s body obstructed his view. Gu Hai wrapped his arms securely around Bai Luoyin’s shoulders and pushed him to the ground. Afterward, he stretched his hand to Bai Luoyin’s waist—Bai Luoyin spared no effort to stop him while kicking and struggling. “Oooowww!” A painful cry suddenly sounded, cutting Gu Hai’s movements short. An agonizing expression took hold of Bai Luoyin’s face. Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin with a suspicious gaze before he poked his forehead. “I’m telling you, don’t even think about blackmailing me! I absolutely did not use a lot of strength just now. Who are you pretending to freaking cry bloody murder for?” “Who’s fucking pretending, you asshole?!” Bai Luoyin resentfully pushed Gu Hai away. He turned himself over only to see that his underwear has been pricked by many broken thorns. With one glance, Gu Hai started to laugh right on the spot. “Don’t get mad at me but I’m going to say something. Since you weren’t obedient, this must have been your punishment, huh?” He said those mocking words then reached out to pick out the thorns for Bai Luoyin. However, Bai Luoyin pushed him away again before he could. “Fucking move to the side. I don’t need you.” “You won’t be able to get them all.” “Even if I don’t get them all, I still don’t need your help.” Gu Hai moved directly forward and embraced Bai Luoyin then very mischievously patted his butt, unintentionally instigating Bai Luoyin to widen his eyes as it glared at him. Gu Hai asked again, “You still don’t need me?” The situation came to a conclusion with Bai Luoyin lying on Gu Hai’s legs who picked the small thorns that made Bai Luoyin feel pain with extreme patience and care. While he picked at them, he started to chat with Bai Luoyin. “What exactly did I do to make you angry?” Half of Bai Luoyin’s face was covered by wheat straws. “There’s no reason.” “Are you confused?” Gu Hai asked. 118
吃枪药[chīqiāng yào] lit. swallowed gunpower – fig. to be ablaze with anger
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Bai Luoyin snorted coldly, “That’s you. I wouldn’t dare infringe on it.” Gu Hai pinched Bai Luoyin’s waist who in turn endured the pain instead of speaking. From seconds to minutes, time slowly slipped by. Bai Luoyin eventually couldn’t help but to turn his head over to look at Gu Hai. He caught sight of his gentle eyes, patience movements and a strong appearance that silently told others not to worry for him. As the haziness in Bai Luoyin’s heart cleared up, he started to despise his own pettiness. He actually could not make sense of why he was angry at Gu Hai because of a person he did not know. “You’re really not going to look for that person, are you?” Bai Luoyin asked. Gu Hai absent-mindedly replied, “Which person?” “That person you brought back with you.” Gu Hai paused. “Oh, it’s fine. He looks sturdy enough to me, so nothing is going to happen to him. Once we return safely to Beijing, it still wouldn’t be too late to come back and get him.” Bai Luoyin went silent for a long while before he asked again, “When I said to mess things up in Hong Kong, how bad has it become?” “It’s more than enough to keep him busy for a long while.” Bai Luoyin tensed up, “Why didn’t you beat him to death with a stick?” “Nonsense, that’s my brother!” Bai Luoyin tightened his lips, “Let me tell you, all the shit that your brother did to your company is more ruthless than what you did. If he has your company’s confidential documents in his hands and uses it to threaten you, it’ll be a huge loss for us.” “It’ll be alright, I still have a trump card with me!” Gu Hai said confidently, “Having Tong Zhe is the same as having his entire company’s secrets. If he has the guts to threaten me, I can threaten him as well. Besides, in my brother’s eyes, Tong Zhe is more valuable than anything else. His departure will definitely destroy him completely.” “According to what you said, it would make more sense for his relationship with your brother to be unshakeable. How did you get him to switch sides?” Bai Luoyin was puzzled. Gu Hai leisurely smiled, “That’s a secret.” Having said that, he pulled Bai Luoyin up and patted the soil off of him. “Feel around, are there any more thorns?” Bai Luoyin stood frozen on the same spot as he stared directly at Gu Hai. “What secret?” He grabbed Bai Luoyin’s hand. “Come, sit on my legs to avoid pressing down on your ass.” “I want to know what that secret is.” Gu Hai half-heartedly replied, “We can talk about that again when we get back. Let’s think about how to get out of here first.” Giving him a nod, Bai Luoyin decided to leave that topic for the time being and shifted his focus to the more urgent issue at hand. “If we can safely return to Beijing then everything will be easier to deal with. I’m just afraid that after your brother returns to the base, he will get a request for more patrol to come and capture us back. If that happens, all our efforts would go to waste.” “If he really has the ability, we wouldn’t have been stranded at the swamp for so many days.” “What if?” “There’s no what if.” Gu Hai vowed, “This area is already within the borders of Hebei. I guarantee, before getting to Beijing tomorrow, he definitely won’t be able to find the two of us.” Just as he said that, not far from where they stood came a loud rumbling sound that caused the entire ground beneath their feet to shake.
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What’s going on? Bai Luoyin’s complexion changed when he looked up to see a huge mass of thick smoke rising. From his years of experience in the Air Force, the thing that fell could be the wreckage of an aircraft. “What’s going on?” Gu Hai stood up and look into the distant. “The scraps from the aircraft we were on shouldn’t have crashed to the ground just now, right?” The pit of Bai Luoyin’s stomach shook as he immediately retorted. “How’s that possible?” Just as his voice dropped, a green military parachute of some sort floated down from not far. Bai Luoyin was lost in confusion. “Could it be that Tong Zhe is just landing now?” “Is he a kite? Floating around in the air for so long …” The two slowly walked in that direction but when they were halfway there, Bai Luoyin’s footstep completely stopped. What you are afraid of really does come to you. Gu Hai was merely flabbergasted. “Why did my brother also jump?” Bai Luoyin pointed at the wreckage. “Must’ve also been shot down by someone!” Gu Yang stood up from the ground and shook the soil off of his clothes before narrowing his eyes to inspect his surroundings. Soon, his eyes locked on his targets not too far off. A pool of blood gathered in his chest, nearly spurting out from his throat. Fuck! I finally caught you two bastards! Watching as Gu Yang approached them with a murderous spirit, Gu Hai’s first reaction was not how to meet his enemy head-on. But rather, it was to grip Bai Luoyin’s torn pants as to prevent Gu Yang from catching sight of his baobei’s little underwear. Gu Yang came up and conveniently grabbed Gu Hai’s collar before he angrily shouted: “You are indeed my good brother!” Contrariwise, Gu Hai appeared calm and collected. “Thank you for the compliment.” “You want to know the password to my documents?” Gu Yang abruptly changed his tone. Hearing ‘password’, Gu Hai coldly watched him attentively. Gu Yang moved his mouth close to the side of Gu Hai’s ears then intentionally pausing between each word, he said, “I – love -Bai- Luo -Yin.” Gu Hai’s body shook from shock. Having heard everything clearly as he stood to the side, Bai Luoyin rushed to grab Gu Hai and pressed up firmly against his body—incessantly attempting to pacify his emotions. “Don’t believe his words. He’s just trying to provoke you. I’m going to clear it out with him!” An air of bitter coldness swept over Gu Hai’s face. “You can say it here.” “These words can’t be said in front of you.” Bai Luoyin responded with resolution. Gu Hai immediately flipped out, “What words can’t be said in front me?” “If I tell you I can’t say them in front of you, then I can’t! Trust me! Even if you are jealous, you have to endure it for me!!” Bai Luoyin suddenly exploded in a despotic and overwhelming manner that has never happened before. He yanked Gu Yang forcefully by the arm, turned around and walked away. The two walked about fifty meters away before Bai Luoyin let go. Gu Yang’s gloomy eyes looked at him. “What are you trying to trick me into doing again?” Bai Luoyin calmed down his breathing. “I’m not going to play any tricks today. I’ll speak with honesty instead.” The look in Gu Yang’s eyes was of mockery as it pierced Bai Luoyin’s heart, making it somewhat difficult for him to bear. “Gu Yang, everything that had happened was all instigated by me. The root of all the mischiefs may have been Gu Hai but I am serious. In the past eight years, I have never stopped
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thinking about how to get my revenge against you. I hate you to the bone. Every time I thought of how Gu Hai lied in my arms, completely covered in blood, I wished I could hack you into pieces!” “You never knew what I hate you for. You always thought it was due to the eight years of pain and suffering in the military that made me unable to forgive you. In fact, none of that means anything to me. The reason why I hate you is entirely because of Gu Hai. Did you know? Gu Hai has two scars on his body, both of which were painfully left by you. Every time he mentions you, he always uses ‘brother’ to address you. But every time you mention him, it’s never connected to the word ‘brother’.” “Perhaps, you love too deep, so deep that I can’t see it. Perhaps, as you have said—at the time, you conceived that car accident for the sake of protecting your brother. Then I want to thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without you, I would not be the Bai Luoyin that I am today. All my scheming and cleverness were entirely created by you, Gu Yang!” “But you must also accept the truth. Your brother no longer needs your protection. I have enough strength and abilities to protect him, please feel relieved to let him go and back off! From now on, all of Gu Hai’s happiness and pain will come from me alone. I won’t allow anyone to hurt Gu Hai in any shape or form! That includes you, Gu Weiting, and anyone else above him. No one!!”
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66 Not a Native
Having said those words, Bai Luoyin felt rather content. He was finally able to get it all off his chest today after holding back for eight long years. Gu Yang went silent for a long time as he watched Bai Luoyin’s expression of utter disdain gradually fade—now, his face instead had an accumulation of emotions that were tinted with regret to sorrow. Although the words he said made Gu Yang think about things more deeply, he could no longer sense any hostility. “Are you done talking?” Gu Yang asked. Bai Luoyin proudly answered, “I’m done.” “Do you feel satisfied that I was fooled by the two of you? Does it feel good to blow off some steam?” Raising his brows, Bai Luoyin simply said, “Pretty damn good.” Hearing that, Gu Yang snorted, appearing as though he did not care at all. Bai Luoyin quickly bumped his knee against Gu Yang’s leg as his dreadfully earnest eyes swept over him. “I’m serious about what I said to you! Don’t think I’m playing around with you!” “I know.” Gu Yang’s complexion suddenly changed. When he turned toward Bai Luoyin again, the expression in his eyes was already dark. “In regard to your accusations and retaliation against me, I accept it all. But you have to also understand, if I want to completely destroy Gu Hai right now, I have plenty of methods to do so. You have two options to choose from: either you continue to treat me with the same attitude as before and we become enemies, or you could treat me
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like any ordinary person and let the previous grudges and resentments be written off. In the future, we will no longer interfere with each other’s lives.” Bai Luoyin’s bright and expressive eyes looked over Gu Yang with great tolerance. “I never thought about being your enemy to begin with. You are Gu Hai’s blood brother and could also be considered as my friend. I have no reason to make life difficult for you. But when a person does something unethical, they must pay the price. The way I’ve been treating you is already considered quite merciful so take it just as that. But since you said it, then we can reach an agreement now. All the confidential documents that we took from each other’s company have to all be destroyed. We will each go back to fix our own messes and from now on, we will no longer use any personal reasons to harm the other’s company.” Gu Yang remained indifferent as he replied, “That doesn’t matter to me. Consider those funds as my gift to help you guys.” “Stop trying to make yourself look better. That’s what you owe us. It’s only natural for you to return it to us!” For the sake of not hearing any more of those sarcastic words, Gu Yang kept his mouth closed and endured it. He has never lacked money in his life or thought that it was a good thing. “Do you have anything else to add?” Bai Luoyin thought about it for a moment, “I can’t think of anything else for the time being.” “Can I say a few words?” Gu Yang asked with a courteous manner that he rarely used. Raising his chin, Bai Luoyin had an expression of a Major who had to listen to his subordinate elaborate on their suggestions. “That agreement of yours is only between Gu Hai and I. Since you haven’t mentioned anything regarding the two of us then I will put forth some additional conditions for you. From now on, you are strictly forbidden to bring up the accident eight years ago. I will treat you guys with a normal attitude, and you have to also do the same. As to what a ‘normal attitude’ is, I don’t think I need to say it for you to understand, right?” Bai Luoyin modestly replied, “I don’t really understand. Excuse me, please explain that a bit more clearly.” Gu Yang held his frown back before he used a calm tone to elaborate. “That is, if I express my good feelings towards you again, you can’t use a doubtful mindset to receive me. From the bottom of your heart, please treat me equally as any other living thing that has a ‘life’, acknowledge my efforts, relax when interacting with me and get rid of all your prejudices against me.” Bai Luoyin took a deep breath. “About those matters, they can’t be controlled by human nature. You know that the human heart is the freest of all. Often, it is reckless and has a mind of its own irrespectively. Therefore, if it is unguarded just by a bit, it will run to the other side. So how my heart responds will all depend on your ability. If it is good enough and you are able to make me treat you differently than those requests of yours will naturally be satisfied…” To speak the truth, in Gu Yang’s eyes, Bai Luoyin now appeared to be a tiny bit lacking yet also a tiny bit adorable. In short, it made people love and hate him at the same time while rendering them immobile from saying anything ruthless to him. In the end, Gu Yang only threw an indifferent expression at Bai Luoyin, “Up to you.” As a result, Bai Luoyin felt as though the tons of rock pressing down on him for all these years have been removed, albeit, not completely. The somber clouds that rendered his emotions dark and morose instantly cleared up and the sun now shone so gloriously that even his eyes started to light up as he walked back to Gu Hai bursting with glowing lights. Meanwhile, Gu Hai was still battling against himself but seeing Bai Luoyin and Gu Yang walking back wearing their completely refreshed and lively expression, his heart became even more
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uneasy. An enormous gust of fire was set aflame as it scattered throughout his body and flared out to seize the approaching Bai Luoyin. “What exactly did you talk to him about?” Bai Luoyin shot a glance at Gu Hai, emulating the same mysterious expression that he had used earlier. “That is a secret.” Upon hearing the last word, Gu Hai exploded, “Secret? There are still secrets between the two of you? Bai Luoyin, let me ask you, during the ten or more days that I was gone, and you adamantly refused to let me return, was really for the sake of letting me wreck his company or was it that you wanted to sneakily pass your days with him?” The small explosive in Bai Luoyin went off as he immediately retaliated, “Wasn’t it enough that I gave you an opportunity to have an affair? I pushed you all the way to Hong Kong just to let you meet a handsome guy, didn’t I?” Gu Hai took a few deep breaths before his hands landed firmly on Bai Luoyin’s shoulders. “I’m asking you, are those confidential documents in my brother’s computer actually related to the company or is it something else?” Standing to the side, Gu Yang conveniently added a sentence as an ‘assistance’, “Those are naked photographs of Bai Luoyin that were taken on my bed eight years ago.” Bai Luoyin immediately shot a demonic glare at him, “Gu Yang, you bastard! Do you want to fucking get me killed? You know that he’s a stubborn ass119, yet you still insist on provoking and confusing him??!!” “You’re right, I really am an ass.” Gu Hai flipped out, “All day long, I painstakingly plow and sow your body and satisfy your desires. But in the end, I still have to get belted by you every now and then, right?” Feeling ashamed and resentful, Bai Luoyin angrily squeezed Gu Hai’s mouth shut, “Can you not fucking say those kinds of word in front of other people?” “So, what if I say it in front of him? Even if I fuck you in front of him right now, it still wouldn’t be too much!!” Gu Hai’s face darkened as he dragged Bai Luoyin more than ten meters away and firmly held on to his waist and asked, “Those naked pictures that he mentioned just now, what exactly was that about? How did you get on his bed eight years ago? When I was in the tunnel for all those days, what did you do for him in order to get me out of there?” Bai Luoyin was completely convinced—convinced that Gu Hai was truly a marvelous writer. Even two completely unrelated circumstances would somehow be linked together.120 Not only that, it was linked as such that a bursting point was created, ready to explode at any second. It was truly a waste of talent if he didn’t become a journalist or reporter for a gossip column! Seeing that Bai Luoyin did not speak, Gu Hai surmised that he admitted to it by default. Consequently, the hand that he had on Bai Luoyin’s waist tighten even more ruthlessly. Earlier, Bai Luoyin could endure the pain but the sudden pressure on that spot now was so unbearable that he nearly jumped, however, he cursed out loud instead. Not too far off, Gu Yang was unclear about what they were talking about, but he could see what Gu Hai was doing. Hence, he kindly shouted a reminder: “Take it easy, his waist was injured.” Hearing that, Gu Hai immediately lifted the hem of Bai Luoyin’s shirt only to see a huge red bruise around that immediately shocked him to stand still.
驴[lǘ] – donkey = ass 八竿子(也)打不着[Bāgānzi (yě) dǎbùzháo] - originally means ‘far in distance’; metaphorically means, the relation between two persons or things is not close or they are unrelated at all.
119 120
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Bai Luoyin was still breathing heavily as the pain race around his waist. Fuck those tiger claws! A real dick must really not be messed with! “How does he know that your waist was injured?” Gu Hai asked with a grim expression. As that sentence ended, Bai Luoyin’s heart became cold. I was afraid you’d be worried, so I silently hid it from you the entire time. Yet you’re fine! Seeing that I’m injured, you didn’t even say a word of comfort and instead threw that kind of question at me? You’re truly wonderful!! “Because he bit me there!! If you have the ability, cut out the entire flesh around there from me and knock out all his fucking teeth, then I will tell you how those naked pictures came about!!” Once he finished saying that, Bai Luoyin strode back with an appalling expression. After a long while, Gu Hai also walked back, but he did not go to Bai Luoyin. But rather, he returned to their original position that was less than one meter away from Gu Yang. If he wanted to eliminate this adulterer, he only needed to reach his hands out to accomplish it. Although Gu Yang was calm, the air that Gu Hai exhaled was cold and gloomy. After a good while, Gu Hai suddenly turned his head toward Gu Yang. “Are you trying to drive a wedge between the two of us?” Gu Yang really wanted to retaliate. You’re only fucking reacting now? Stealing my company’s things is actually quite an incredible accomplishment, but how come, when it comes to Bai Luoyin, your brain is immediately kicked by your own hooves? Gu Hai stood up and gave Gu Yang a deadly glare. “I’ll deal with you in a bit!” After saying that, he walked over to Bai Luoyin. Gu Yang could only conjure a couple of words, “Serves you right!” Just as he said that, a familiar figure appeared in Gu Yang’s sight, catching him off guard. In this world, besides him and Gu Hai, was there two other people who could look so alike? The person who Gu Yang saw also could not help but stare blankly. When Tong Zhe and Gu Hai set off on this venture, he was originally wearing clothes that were suitable for him. But after changing to women’s clothes, there was no time to change back again even if he wanted to. Moreover, adding to the fear of being recognized by their pursuer, they had intentionally worn these shabby clothes. Now that he was walking around the country small road, he really does look a bit like the natives. Is that Gu Yang or Gu Hai? Tong Zhe was also confused, mixing up the two. If he went according to his intuition, that should be Gu Yang but how could he be here? The person that had jumped down with him was clearly Gu Hai!! For the sake of seeing his appearance clearly, Gu Yang deliberately asked, “Dude, how far is it from here to Shijiazhuang?”121 Tong Zhe stuck both his hands into his sleeves and spoke with a Shan Dong accent. “Heyhi, I’m not a native. I’m from Shan Dong. You can go and ask over there!” Gu Yang, “…”
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Shijiazhuang – capital of Hebei Province
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67 You are the most deceitful!
When Gu Hai found Bai Luoyin, he was sitting on a small slope not too far in the distant. One of his legs was bent and the other was stretched out satisfyingly. His chest was pressed over the bent legs while his chin rested on that knee. He had an expression of ‘don’t fucking provoke me’ written across his face. With a dejected and downcast eye, Gu Hai walked over. “Get up. Don’t sit here or you’ll catch a cold.” Gu Hai said, attempting to pull Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin nearly broke Gu Hai’s wrist when he harshly swung his hand back. In response to such atrocity, Gu Hai conveniently fell down right on top of Bai Luoyin, refusing to get off. What Bai Luoyin lacked in strength now, he made up for in dogged spirit as he rigidly clutched the front of Gu Hai’s jacket and bellowed out to the absolutely desolate grassland. “Who let their livestock out in the open? Hurry up and take it away!” Gu Hai flatly bit onto Bai Luoyin’s shoulder. Feeling the throbbing pain collecting at that spot, Bai Luoyin ruthlessly smacked Gu Hai’s back for a while. “Fuck off, don’t bother me!” “Then, get up first!” Gu Hai tried to pull him up again. But Bai Luoyin adamantly refused as his angry eyes struck him. “Why do you care whether I get up or not?” Gu Hai’s brows rose, “Did someone made you do the laundry or something?” “Yes.”
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Bai Luoyin used his ominous brows to complete his respond to Gu Hai. Then he exerted all his strength to rub against the dirt with the intention of getting dirtier. But as a result, the spot where the seam of his pants was torn got caught on a dry tree bark causing a ripping sound to be heard. The rip reached all the way down to where his leg was bent. Seeing that, Gu Hai immediately lightened up. He crouched, looked at Bai Luoyin and then caressed his face before speaking with a tender tone. “I was wrong earlier. I should have not said those harsh words. You also know that when it comes to anything involving you, I can’t control my anger.” Bai Luoyin stayed calm without uttering a word. Gu Hai brazenly moved closer. When his lips met the area above Bai Luoyin’s ear, he rubbed it; each time, adding more strength than the previous. He rubbed until the sensation caused Bai Luoyin himself to feel his own scalp becoming numb. “That’s enough…it’s pointless to make such a thing into a big deal, right? Don’t be so shameless.” Fuck! Who was being shameless first? Bai Luoyin mentally commented. He truly admired Gu Hai’s ability to ask for forgiveness while simultaneously shifting the blame to someone else. When he turned his head to the side, Bai Luoyin discovered a pit of grass—a pit of grass riddled with sharp thorns that were facing toward the sky, that is! More importantly, those bastards were the very same thorns that had pricked his underpants until it looked exactly like a strainer. “Fine, I know already. Get up!” Bai Luoyin said in a bad mood. Just as Gu Hai let his hand go, Bai Luoyin abruptly pushed him down into that pit of grass. Immediately after, he seized the chance to press down on Gu Hai and dragged him around a bit. Gu Hai’s entire body rolled inside that disastrous pit in one full roll. By the time Gu Hai managed to get up, he was covered in thorns from head to toe, estimating it visually, there should be several thousand stuck to him. Knowing full well of what was to come, Bai Luoyin quickly turned around and made a run for it. He ran and laughed at the same time while Gu Hai chased wildly behind him the entire time. Up and down a hill he went, hiding left and dodging right. When he turned again only to see Gu Hai closing in on him, Bai Luoyin suddenly leaped up a tree at full force. Gu Hai furiously yelled at him, “Get the fuck down here!” Ignoring the person below, Bai Luoyin climbed even higher. In truth, Gu Hai was actually feeling bad for Bai Luoyin, “The tree bark is really rough. Don’t rub your hands on it anymore, it’ll only hurt. Hurry up and come down.” Bai Luoyin glanced down at Gu Hai. “Come on, jump down. I’ll catch you.” Gu Hai said, stretching his arms out. “That’s enough, stop shitting me!” Bai Luoyin argued noisily, “You think I’m stupid?! Your body is covered in thorns!” Gu Hai put his arms down, “Then slowly climb down. I won’t mess with you.” “Take a few steps back…a few more…” When he was able to determine that it was safe enough, Bai Luoyin took one leap to the other side of the tree which allowed his back to face Gu Hai. When he landed on the ground, a certain “wolf” already peeped through the beautiful view from inside of the pants. The promise that Gu Hai had initially made to not mess around anymore had all been thrown behind his head, simply because of Bai Luoyin’s seductive sharp movement as he stood up. “Bai-shouzhang.” Hearing that lewd voice from behind him, Bai Luoyin’s body shook involuntarily, and before he even had a chance to react, he was embraced by a body fastened with thorns. Gu Hai’s
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hedgehog-like body draped firmly around him. That did not matter to Bai Luoyin. The most despicable thing was that the person used his thorny sleeves to prick Bai Luoyin’s underwear—the sensation was painful and itchy. Bai Luoyin was like a mudfish, rubbing, pricking and slipping around as he bore into Gu Hai. “You fucker! As expected, all businessmen are liars…not a word can be trusted…waaaa…” In the end, Gu Hai was the one that could not endure it any longer. He quickly restrained Bai Luoyin before he hinted with a hoarse voice. “Stop rubbing…” Bai Luoyin turned his head for a look then quickly took the chance to push him off. Afterward, when the two sat beneath a tree, Gu Hai picked out the thorns from his pants and talked to Bai Luoyin. “These clothes cost several thousand, you know. How could it be ruined like this, huh?! This won’t do, you need to pay me back!” Wearing a roguish expression, Bai Luoyin simply said, “I can’t afford to pay you back.” “If you can’t, then sell your body. Let me calculate everything for a second…” Gu Hai started to make some marks on the ground with his finger, “My entire suit cost ¥47,889.122 Each time you sleep with me will give you ¥30. That means you have to sleep with me 1500 times, leaving a remainder of ¥2888. With that, we can play SM—¥200 each time, so 10 times is ¥2000. There’s still ¥888 left, let’s see, roleplaying can be ¥80 each time which would make it ¥800. That leaves us with ¥88, you can use your mouth, ¥8 each time which makes it ¥80. Finally, with the last ¥8, you can just use your hands, ¥1 each time. That way, everything is properly calculated. What do you think?” Bai Luoyin put on a fake smile and looked at Gu Hai, “There’s no need to go through all that trouble. I’ll just help you masturbate 47,888 times!” Gu Hai reached toward Bai Luoyin with his embittered hands. The two messed around for a bit before Gu Hai finally held Bai Luoyin down. “Come on, let’s switch pants.” “Huh?” Bai Luoyin did not understand, “Switch for what?” “Don’t worry about that, just switch with me.” Gu Hai pestered him again and again to switch their pants. After much resistant, Bai Luoyin was still unable to change Gu Hai’s mind. He had no other choice but to go along with him. He took his torn pants off and passed it over to Gu Hai. Just as Gu Hai received it, his eyes shot toward Bai Luoyin’s stark-naked legs and Xiao Yin Zi that hung between. His perfidious-like hand crawled up Bai Luoyin’s inner thighs, sliding up and down for a good while. Bai Luoyin quivered, his elbow suddenly jabbed Gu Hai before he gave him a warning with a fiendish look. Unfortunately, Gu Hai had already isolated Bai Luoyin and had only eyes for Xiao Yin Zi. “Fucking let go, now. Your brother is right there.” “So, what if he’s there?” Gu Hai rubbed Bai Luoyin’s weak spot despotically. “I want to let him see.” As he said that, Gu Hai grabbed Bai Luoyin’s hand, placed it on his own underwear and teased him. “First, start rubbing him for ¥ or else, how are you going to finish paying me off?” This jerk, Bai Luoyin could not help but grit his teeth… Feeling aroused, the two ended up playing around with each other. Suddenly, a voice came pouring in, extinguishing their enthusiasm. “Why are you two here?” Tong Zhe’s deeply astute voice sounded. Bai Luoyin swung Gu Hai’s hands away, picked up the pants and dragged it up his legs. Tong Zhe’s eyes hovered over Gu Hai’s body in astonishment. 122
¥47,889 = about $7,306.34USD [based on the most current rate]
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“What are you doing?” “Nothing.” Gu Hai replied rather calmly. “We’re just switching our pants.” Bai Luoyin stood up, took off his shirt and tossed it over to Gu Hai. “If we’re switching, let’s switch our entire outfit. If it’s matched up like this, it’s too fucking dumb looking.” As a result, Gu Hai put on Bai Luoyin’s camouflaged aviation outfit while Bai Luoyin wore Gu Hai’s suit. With that switch, their temperaments seemed to have instantly changed. To the side, Tong Zhe quietly said, “I noticed that you two actually look quite stylish wearing each other clothes. Perhaps, you should really swap places and live the others’ lifestyle.” When Bai Luoyin walked by Tong Zhe, his eyes lifted for a brief moment before he spoke with a tepid tone. “You have pretty good eyes.”123 Tong Zhe smiled yet there didn’t seem to be any traces of it. After Bai Luoyin walked ahead into the distant, Tong Zhe looked at Gu Hai and asked, “How come Gu Yang is here?” Gu Hai lightly sighed, “That fighter jet he was in also got shot down!” Tong Zhe, “…” By the time the three, Gu Hai, Bai Luoyin, and Tong Zhe appeared in front of him, Gu Yang finally realized that it was not a coincidence at all, but that guy had actually betrayed him. “I see…” Gu Yang let his eyes impale Tong Zhe, “I’ve just known now that your hometown is in Shandong.” Tong Zhe took a deep breath and said indifferently, “I’m sorry, Gu-zong. I’ve decided to leave your company.” Although Gu Yang’s expression did not change much, that in itself was certainly a perilous signal, the violent surging up in his ‘seemingly calm’ eyes could be clearly sensed by anyone. Stealing my company’s goods and transferring the funds out… those I can ignore, but to also snatch away the only person I trusted in Hong Kong… Gu Hai, all these years of you calling me brother were certainly not in vain!! Seeing Gu Yang’s exceptionally calm demeanor, Bai Luoyin couldn’t help but to remind him: “Don’t forget the agreement between us.” “Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that Tong Zhe also came along?” Gu Yang’s demonic eyes aimed straight at Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin innocently answered, “I just met him. Plus, since he leaped out with the parachute before us, I didn’t know if he was dead or alive so why would I mention him to you?” Gu Yang’s face froze as he went silent. Bai Luoyin coughed lightly, “Gu-xiaoge,124 you won’t go back on your words, right?” With a twitch, Gu Yang’s eyes flew toward Gu Hai and Tong Zhe, looking between the two for a few seconds. Suddenly, the expression in his eyes vaguely shifted. As if he realized something, a hint of derision bore grimly at the corner of his lips. “No, why would I go back on my words? We’re all a family. There’s no difference whose company he’s in, right?” Then, he tossed Bai Luoyin an especially meaningful glance. “I wish you good luck.” On the way back, Bai Luoyin faced Gu Hai and asked, “How exactly did you convince Tong Zhe to come to your side?”
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眼光[yǎnguāng] n. insight, vision, gaze, to have a good judgement/good taste Gu Xiao Ge – 小 哥‘little older brother Gu’ – Yin Zi is using this term with a sense of sarcasm
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“I thought that Tong Zhe really resembled you, so I told him the reason my brother thought highly of him was that he was using him as a substitute.” Bai Luoyin revealed an embarrassed yet distressed look, “What’s the truth?” “The truth…even I don’t know that.” Gu Hai spread out his hands and shrugged his shoulders. The flat space between Bai Luoyin’s brows pleated, the more he pondered, the odder everything seemed. “…I’ve discovered that in all of this, you came out with the most advantages. You’re actually the biggest winner!” Gu Hai resisted a smile with great difficulty, “What advantages did I obtain?” “Just think about it, how many people were implicated in this matter? Four, right? Within those four, who wasn’t tormented? Who didn’t suffer any losses? If we were to calculate everything, you’re the only fucking one!!!” “A fool’s luck,” Gu Hai’s smile was simple and honest. “A fool, my ass!!! You are the most deceitful!!”
Translate: Sae | Proofread: Julieta
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68 What I can do for you
When they arrived at Bai Luoyin’s dorm, Gu Hai smelled a gust of strange odor permeating the room the moment he entered. “How long has it been since the room was ventilated?” Pointing at the window, Bai Luoyin spoke as if he was telling the truth. “Hmm, I ventilate it every day around the same time.” Gu Hai raised a brow—being used to Bai Luoyin’s unkempt habits, he went to open the window only to have a thick layer of dust fall onto his hands. He sighed. Since they had not seen each other for more than ten days, he did not have the heart to scold Bai Luoyin right now. But he could not help but feel sad and commented to himself: My wifeeee! Can’t you make this a bit easier for me?! If you’re always like this, I won’t dare to go travel out for business trips later on. Bai Luoyin grabbed a large pile of dirty clothes he found beneath the blanket, pillows, and bed and shoved them into Gu Hai’s hands. “Here, I saved them all for you.” Looking down at the clothes, Gu Hai then glanced back up at Bai Luoyin. It was not hard to see that as his eyes swept over that handsome face, there was both love and hate dwelling in them. Then without saying anything, Gu Hai turned around and walked into the bathroom. The washing machine was one of the many new things that Gu Hai had purchased. Before he left, he had made sure to set everything up; the laundry detergent and fabric softener had also been poured in. All that was needed to be done was to put the clothes in, turn on the water faucet,
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start the machine and wait for a while; then there would be clean clothes. Such a simple process, yet Bai Luoyin was still too incredibly lazy to do it himself. However, that was something Gu Hai could understand. In truth, it did not matter how many clothes were left unwashed since those kinds of things were just a type of entertainment in his perspective. When a person stared at a pile of documents or a computer all day long, that kind of physical labor would become a type of relaxation or enjoyment. Contrariwise, for someone like Bai Luoyin who only trained every day, he would not let an opportunity to be lazy simply fly by. Luckily, the two were not in the same type of profession, which made it easier for them to tolerate and empathize with each other. Gu Hai placed all the clothes in the washing machine and hand-washed all the underwear and socks. But before he washed them, he counted them only to discover that the number was off. He shouted out, “There’s a sock missing.” “There shouldn’t be. I already gave you everything.” Gu Hai counted them again, but it was still wrong. “Look for it again.” Searching thoroughly in every spot, Bai Luoyin finally found the missing sock in a small crack between the mattress and headboard. He walked over to where Gu Hai was and threw the sock in the hamper, but when he glanced down, all he saw was a pile of white socks! “They’re all white socks! How did you know that one was missing?” “Nonsense! Before I left, I bought you twenty pairs of socks and placed them in the cabinet by your bed because I was afraid you wouldn’t wash them. That way, you could wear a new pair every day. Do you think I don’t know you? As long as there are clean socks to wear, you definitely won’t wash any of the dirty ones. I left for twelve days, and there are only twenty-three socks here, doesn’t that mean there’s one sock missing?” Bai Luoyin laughed mischievously. “You still have the guts to laugh at me?” Gu Hai smeared a handful of bubbles on Bai Luoyin’s face. Unable to avoid that, Bai Luoyin wiped the bubbles off and lowered his head to look at Gu Hai washing the underwear and socks. Truthfully speaking, he especially loved to see Gu Hai doing manual labor since every time he saw that, he could not help but feel a sense of displacement. Meaning, he always thought that Gu Hai was not doing housework, but rather, he was displaying his métier, his specialty. Whenever anyone saw Gu Hai for the first time, they would always think he was enveloped by a ring of light, surrounded by a group of beautiful women, and that he lived a luxurious and mind-blowing life—a person who was adored by many people. Therefore, being able to see that kind of person cooking and doing laundry was like enjoying a performance, a performance that was disconnected from reality. Since Bai Luoyin was the only one that could watch such a performance, no matter how disconnected it was from reality, it was still only a part of his dream while others didn’t even have the right to even fantasize about it. “You also changed your underwear every day, right?” Gu Hai asked. Hearing his voice, Bai Luoyin’s spirit seemed to return to his body. “Yeah, I changed it every day.” Gu Hai nodded approvingly, “That’s good, don’t think of it as an inconvenience. Your underwear must be changed regularly.” There was a pile of documents that needed to be dealt with back at the company, but Gu Hai tuned out all the public pressures and stubbornly came to regulate Bai Luoyin’s dorm for the entire afternoon. Afterward, instead of returning to the company, he drove directly to the supermarket. Thinking about how Bai Luoyin had not eaten well for so many days, he made several non-vegetarian dishes and brought it to him.
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But sadly, Bai Luoyin immediately exposed a disgusted expression when the smell of cooked meat wafted into his nostrils. “I don’t want to eat meat. You can eat it!” Bai Luoyin quickly pushed the meat dishes that were in front of him over to Gu Hai. Gu Hai put down his chopsticks and looked at Bai Luoyin with astonishment. “What’s wrong? Don’t you love eating meat?” As the smell of the meat floated around him, Bai Luoyin started choking but forced himself to swallow whatever wanted to come up. His expression was baked with disgust and confusion as he spoke, “My stomach has been feeling a bit uncomfortable lately.” “What’s going on?” Gu Hai became concerned, “Did you mess up your stomach from eating something unclean again?” Just as Gu Hai was speaking, Bai Luoyin suddenly felt nauseated out of nowhere and ran to the bathroom to vomit. When Gu Hai stepped in, Bai Luoyin had already started to spit out acid liquid while tears were gushing out from his eyes. Once he was done rinsing his mouth, Bai Luoyin went back to sit in the front of the table and looked at Gu Hai with an apologetic expression. Although Gu Hai felt bothered, he did not say anything. He simply grabbed a piece of beef and placed it near his mouth to somehow tempt Bai Luoyin. “Look how delicious it is.” The second Bai Luoyin saw Gu Hai doing that, he could not help but think of Zhou Lingyun, and that nearly caused him to vomit again. “Gu Hai, don’t worry about me. You can just eat it yourself.” How could Gu Hai give up so easily?! That stomach was one of Gu Hai’s magical weapons to fasten Bai Luoyin to him. If that trump card was actually destroyed, then it definitely won’t be effective in the future in case they argued. As a result, Gu Hai patiently sat next to Bai Luoyin and covered his eyes. He picked up a piece of fish, took out the bones and put it near Bai Luoyin’s mouth then gently said: “Taste it…” Seeing Bai Luoyin struggled in every possible way, Gu Hai resorted to shoving the fish in his mouth. Since there was a huge disparity between the taste and texture of fish and fatty meat, Bai Luoyin was able to accept it. Soon, Gu Hai slowly fed him some chicken, which was then followed by lamb meat. But when Gu Hai finally passed the pork meat to his mouth, Bai Luoyin still shook his head. “Come, look at my mouth. Don’t look at the meat and just look at my mouth.” Since Gu Hai said it like that, Bai Luoyin shifted all his attention to Gu Hai’s mouth. Gu Hai bit into a piece of lean meat and immediately brought it close to Bai Luoyin’s lips, but Bai Luoyin evaded without hesitation. To solve that, Gu Hai first firmly sealed Bai Luoyin’s lips with his, then used his tongue to slowly push the meat into Bai Luoyin’s mouth before incessantly giving him some encouragement. “Just chew it for a while. It’s very savory.” Not daring to chew it, Bai Luoyin swallowed it all in one go. Gu Hai picked up another piece of meat. Seeing that, Bai Luoyin swiftly gripped Gu Hai’s wrist while wearing an embarrassed expression, akin to that of not wanting to make it difficult for someone. “Gu Hai, don’t spoil me anymore. When I didn’t have you before, I could eat anything. When we were stationed in the desert and had to train there day in and day out, even steamed buns that were as hard as ice-shards tasted extremely good. But since you started bringing food over to me, my stomach acts up every now and then. If I eat something that’s slightly different, I immediately feel uncomfortable.” “That’s precisely the result I wanted,” Gu Hai said with much pride and arrogance, “That way, you won’t dare to eat indiscriminately.”
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“The crucial point is, there is simply no way we can live together and—you can’t always bring me food! Our squadrons are also out frequently… sometimes, we are stationed outside of the city for training that could last for a month or longer. I didn’t feel anything about it before, but now, just thinking about it is especially frightening.” Hearing all those words, Gu Hai felt particularly sorrowful, however, he did not show. Instead, he tried to comfort Bai Luoyin to the best of his ability. “It’s alright… what you imagine now may be very painful, but when you are compelled to face it, you will definitely be able to manage it. Since there aren’t that many good days, you have to enjoy it all without delay. Or else, when a day comes where you are actually suffering, you’re definitely going to regret not having eaten a few more bites. Come on, open your mouth.” When the two were taking a bath and rubbing each other’s backs, Gu Hai looked at the wound on Bai Luoyin’s waist and couldn’t help but ask, “How exactly did you get injured here?” “It happened when I was training.” Gu Hai was bewildered, “What kind of training would cause such an injury?” “…hula hooping.” “The military actually has that kind of training?” Gu Hai firmly grabbed Xiao Yin Zi. Bai Luoyin retaliated by gripping Xiao Hai Zi back. “Not only that, but we’ve also had a competition!” Gu Hai looked carefully at the purlin-shape-like bruise on Bai Luoyin’s waist and sighed again. “Were there fragments of glass glued to the hula hoops that you guys use or something?” At a loss for words, Bai Luoyin started to mumble a series of vague answers in an attempt to dodge the topic. “Tell me the truth, what exactly happened to your waist?” Gu Hai’s expression was completely imbued with seriousness. Knowing that he could no longer conceal it, Bai Luoyin told Gu Hai the truth. “Apparently, my training wasn’t up to standard, so I was punished.” Gu Hai’s complexion changed immediately, “What kind of punishment?” Bai Luoyin went silent for a long time before he finally spoke. “…using my waist to drag a jet for fifty meters.” At those words, Gu Hai took a deep breath; all the blood in his body flowed backward. “It’s that Zhou Lingyun again, right?” “Don’t go looking for him!” Bai Luoyin firmly said with emphasis. “I’ve already decided that I will surrender to him. Later on, I’ll train properly and won’t act smart or resort to petty tricks. When we battled in the sky that day, it was the first time he and I actually went against each other. I realized then that there’s a huge gap between him and me. I must strive to surpass him!” By now, Gu Hai honestly felt exhausted for Bai Luoyin. “What do you want to achieve such a high level of achievement for?” “Only if I’m outstanding will your father possibly accept me. Apart from that, I can’t think of anything else I can do for you.” Gu Hai no longer said anything else, as an indescribable feeling settled heavily in his heart.
Translate: Sae | Proofread: Anasofi
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69 Xiao Bai, publicly embarrassed
On a rare weekend when he was free, Gu Hai decided to make dumplings for them to eat. Sitting at the side, Bai Luoyin helped by rolling out the dumpling wrapper and passing it over to Gu Hai. But the thing was, the way he rolled out the dough was barely passable. Not only that, he was so slow that he could not match up to Gu Hai’s speed of putting the filling in and wrapping it up. As a result, Gu Hai pushed Bai Luoyin to the side to watch the excitement instead while he busily rolled the dough and wrapped the fillings all by himself. The dumplings that Gu Hai made had thin wrappers and an ample amount of filling, each boiled one was round in shape and would make anyone who looked at it full of joy. Wanting to give it a try, Bai Luoyin grabbed a wrapper, scooped a spoonful of filling and pinched the side, just like how Gu Hai had done. Afterward, he fixed some parts of the wrapper that was open and held it up in front of Gu Hai to see. “How is it? Not bad, right?” Raising his eyes slightly to give Bai Luoyin a glance, Gu Hai’s robust lips perked up at the corners. “Not bad, it’s quite good, but… go play with it over there. Listen to me and behave!” Bai Luoyin, “…” Whenever the two ate dumplings, they could eat a whole family’s worth, so that was the amount Gu Hai ended up wrapping until his hands became sore. By then, Bai Luoyin was bored out of his mind. With nothing else to do, he started to think about the difficulties he had encountered in the past and the happiness he now felt in the present.
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“When I was younger, my family only ate dumplings during New Year and a couple of other festivities. Back then, my paternal grandparents were still quite healthy. Normally, my grandmother would roll the dough and my grandfather would wrap it up while I watched them from the side and my father waited at the table to eat.” Gu Hai paused the movements of his hands and let out a sorrowful sigh. “From what I remember, my grandfather passed away before I was born and my grandmother never. Back then, the military gave us two cooks, a nanny, and a diligent house worker. When I was younger, all the food I ate was strictly controlled so I couldn’t eat whatever I wanted to.” A flabbergasted expression crept up Bai Luoyin’s face. “Wait…I remember that when we first met, you told me your grandfather was paralyzed and had urination and defecation incontinence. How come now you’re saying that he passed away before you were born? How many grandfathers do you have exactly, huh?” “Just one!” Gu Hai feigned ignorance, “Did I say my grandfather was paralyzed before? Aren’t you remembering incorrectly?” Bai Luoyin was confident with his memory. “I didn’t remember it ‘incorrectly’. That’s what you said to me. At that time, you came to eat at my house and my grandfather spat out some food all over the table. Later on, when you were heading home, I apologized to you and you told me that your grandfather was also like that.” Hearing that, Gu Hai’s heart dropped as the memory came swimming back to him. He had indeed said such words. Fuck, why the hell would he remember such a small detail? Seeing the change in Gu Hai’s expression, Bai Luoyin saw through his inner thoughts. He narrowed his eyes and looked at him with annoyance, “You must have fucking lied to me a lot, right?” “Uhhh…” Gu Hai replied mockingly, “Wasn’t that for the sake of getting close to you?” Bai Luoyin coldly grunted, twisted his head away and gripped the dough in his hands. Suddenly, Gu Hai recalled the Bai Luoyin of that time—carrying a torn backpack, wearing a windbreaker-type of school uniform with a head of hair that looked like a bird’s nest after he had slept all day, and occasionally wearing slippers to class…the more he thought of it, the more amused he was, and he could not help but reach his hand out to grip the little monster lying at Bai Luoyin’s crotch. “‘The monkey steals a peach’ technique!”125 Gu Hai shouted, followed by a burst of laughter; a nefarious laughter of a mischievous man! Taken aback by that abrupt and obscene action, Bai Luoyin became apoplectic with rage as he turned around and punched Gu Hai’s ass a few times. Then he fished out something small from his pocket and passed it over to Gu Hai. “Put this inside the dumpling.” Gu Hai took a close look at it and asked, “What is this?” “A new army recruit gave me this small jade pendant and said that it was blessed in his hometown… so if you wear it, it can keep you safe and sound throughout your life.” Narrowing his eyes into a thin line, Gu Hai said, “Why did he give you this thing?” “Isn’t it normal for a lower ranking person to give their superior a gift?” Bai Luoyin urged, “Hurry up and put it in the dumpling. When I was younger, my grandmother always put a steel one in and said that whoever ate it would be blessed. Let’s try it and see who will be more blessed.” Unable to persuade Bai Luoyin to change his mind, Gu Hai had no other option but to wash the jade and put it into one of the dumplings. 猴子偷桃 hóuzitōutáo – the monkey steals a peach (martial arts technique); distracting an opponent with one hand and seizing his testicles with the other; (coll.) grabbing sb. by the balls
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While they ate, Gu Hai looked over at Bai Luoyin. “I wanted to tell you that there’s a surplus of funds in my company, so I purchased a mansion over at the Olympic Village—it’s for you.” The chopsticks in Bai Luoyin’s hand came to a halt as he looked at Gu Hai. His eyes were overflowing with a dark fire that beckoned to blossom into a raging firework. “Are you crazy?! I have my own place, my parents have their own place, and you have your own place! What did you buy a house for?” Gu Hai looked at Bai Luoyin with a faint smile, “If we break up one day, for good or bad, you will have something to fall back onto…” Bai Luoyin picked up a dumpling and threw it at Gu Hai, who surprisingly reacted quickly enough to catch it with his chopsticks. Holding a smile, Gu Hai shoved that dumpling in his own mouth and returned to the topic. “We can use it for our retirement.” “Why would we need such a large house for our retirement? We have no children…” At those words, Gu Hai put his chopsticks down as his bright eyes exposed his vision of their future. “I’ve thought about it already. That house has three floors altogether and each floor has more than ten rooms. We can live in one room and use all the other rooms to raise dogs—all kinds of dogs. And then there’s the piece of land outside, we can design something for it; maybe build a few sheds and use it to raise donkeys. What do you think?” To speak the truth, Gu Hai’s unreasonable vision of their future was something that Bai Luoyin sincerely thought was… very good. When the two of us retire, we can go for a walk every day. Then, the moment we return home, a group of dogs will run toward us just as we enter the house. Just thinking about it made him think that it was exceptionally beautiful! “Change the title to your name,” Bai Luoyin said, “What am I going to do if one day the military investigates my personal assets, discovers that I have a mansion, and suspects that I’m corrupted and was accepting bribery?” “Who would dare to investigate you?” Gu Hai revealed a fierce and tough look, “Would he dare to investigate an upright military officer? Would he dare to investigate an Army Commissioned Officer?126 Would he also dare to investigate the Lt. General of the Air Force?”127 A brilliant ray of light covered Bai Luoyin’s eyes as he pounded the table and laugh heartily. “I love hearing those words!” “For our beautiful future, cheers!” After a glass of wine flowed into his stomach, Bai Luoyin looked at Gu Hai. “I might have to leave in a few days.” Gu Hai nearly choked on the dumpling in his mouth. “Leave? Where are you going?” His heart suddenly tightened. Bai Luoyin’s expression gradually darkened, “The Central Military Committee128 will be inspecting the Air Force next month, so for the sake of achieving the best training results, we might Army Commissioned Officer - Commissioned officers generally enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater or receive officer training followed by tours of enlisted service. Officers are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require professional degrees (e.g., doctors, lawyers and chaplains). Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) are high-ranking enlisted service members who have been given officer-like authority by their superiors. 127 Gu Hai praising Bai Luoyin for what ranking he will receive later on lol, that’s what I got from that statement since Bai Luoyin is only a major right now. 128 The Central Military Committee (CMC) - refers to the parallel national defense organizations of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China: the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, a Party organ under the CPC Central Committee, and the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, a central state organ under the National People's Congress, being the military branch of the national government. 126
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have to move the training site to a completely secluded location. The superiors have attached great importance to the troop’s inspection this time around. Not only do I have to lead the troops during training, but I also have to conduct the flight performances. This task is very serious, so…” Listening to the end, Gu Hai swallowed the dumpling in his mouth with much difficulty. “Okay, go and perform well. If anything, I’ll see if I can apply for permission to go see you perform that day.” “How come you’re being so straightforward this time?” Bai Luoyin asked, bewildered. Straightforward? I’m about to choke to death!! But in order for Bai Luoyin to be more at ease, Gu Hai made himself say those words in spite of the painful sensation circulating his chest. “What? I’m just supporting your work.” Bai Luoyin’s complexion changed, but he did not say anything else. Once the two were done eating the dumplings until there were none left, they went to wash the dishes in the kitchen. As they were washing, Bai Luoyin suddenly remembered something and swung his head to look at Gu Hai. “Where did that dumpling of mine go?” “What dumpling?” Gu Hai asked. A shocked expression spread across Bai Luoyin’s face, “The one with the jade pendant in it. Did you forget about it? Which one of us ate it?” Gu Hai had a listless look on as he spoke, “I didn’t eat it.” “I didn’t eat it either.” But… there are no dumplings left!! Bai Luoyin, Gu Hai, “…” Around a little after two o’clock that night, Gu Hai suddenly sat up when he felt his stomach doing somersaults. Bai Luoyin rubbed his eyes and looked at him, “What’s wrong?” Gu Hai glanced over at him with a confused look. “Buddha is displaying his power.” Bai Luoyin, “…” The next morning, Bai Luoyin put on his well-ironed military uniform and boots and made his way to the training ground with a threatening yet heroic aura—each step he took created a loud and crisp sound that echoed ahead to warn the soldiers that were awaiting his presence. Maintaining his usual serious persona, he moved back and forth in front of the troops while his cold and sharp eyes traveled from one soldier to another. “Major!!” The soldiers before him shouted; their salute was loud and clear. Bai Luoyin faced every one of them with no expression of any kind whatsoever. “Since I haven’t seen you train for a few days, have you all been lazy and just goofed around?” He asked in an awe-inspiring tone. Sparse and fragmented answers sounded off across the field. “No.” Bai Luoyin’s face immediately darkened, “Have you not eaten yet?! Shout again!” “We were not lazy!!” This time, the loud and even noise woke up the will of the soldiers. Hearing that, Bai Luoyin nodded with satisfaction and then went to the middle of the troop to inspect everyone’s spirit and appearance. Suddenly, a soldier reported: “Major, I have a stomachache.” The command and control of the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police and the Militia is exercised in name by the State CMC, supervised by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The State CMC is nominally considered the supreme military policy-making body and its chairman, elected by the National People's Congress, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. In reality, command and control of the PLA, however, still resides with the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee—the Party CMC.
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Bai Luoyin nodded and suddenly recalled what happened to Gu Hai last night and couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness overtook his heart, however, he could not display his happiness in front of his soldiers. He had to preserve a serious façade—as a result, he endured the need to laugh as if his life depended on it. As he endured himself, he noticed a few soldiers, who were standing not too far away, wearing an expression as if they were unable to refrain their laughter. Is it possible that they were able to see through my thoughts? Or did my facial expression betray my heart? Bai Luoyin could feel his nerves throbbing, but he quickly eliminated those train of thoughts. How could anyone detect anything when he had concealed it to himself so well? In the end, he continued to stride forward with his head held high while maintaining a steady pace and walking through each row of soldiers. However, as he walked, he found more and more soldiers secretly laughing, not only that, their eyes were all aimed at him. Bai Luoyin became enraged and ruthlessly grabbed a soldier by the collar and questioned him in a stern voice. “Training is a serious matter, is it proper for you to laugh out loud like this?” Unexpectedly, not only was that soldier not frightened or dumbstruck like normal, but he also did not hold back and started to make pfff-ing sounds before eventually laughing. Once he laughed, the entire field of soldiers behind him all laughed as well. The color on Bai Luoyin’s face suddenly changed, but before he had a chance to flare up, an officer walked over and pulled him to the side. “I must say, our sister-in-law is very bold and unconstrained!” Bai Luoyin did not understand that and only looked at him with suspicion. The officer coughed lightly and hinted at Bai Luoyin to look down. It would have been alright if Bai Luoyin didn’t look, but after he did, his face became purple. There, at the crotch area of his pants was the clear mark of five fingerprints. It was completely white and covered the entire area where his family jewel slept. “‘The monkey steals a peach’ technique!” As an image of Gu Hai saying those words when he mounted the sneak attack on him emerged in Bai Luoyin’s mind, his heart nearly exploded from anger. Normally, those kinds of jokes wouldn't matter, but yesterday, Gu Hai’s hand was very respectful! Very respectful!!129
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Very respectful! – Bai Luoyin is being sarcastic; we all know Gu Hai is shameless hahahaha
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70 Newly appointed Vice President Tong
“Have you heard? Our company hired a new executive and apparently… the person is a man” “It can’t be? Wasn’t our Gu-zong adamant about not hiring men into the company?” “Perhaps, the person is extremely talented and cured our Gu-zong from being sexist.” “I see. No matter what, I’m looking forward to it.” At that moment, Yan Yajing happened to walk past those people and overheard the topic of their discussion. She stopped, softly coughed and sternly said, “That’s impossible. Gu-zong has always been scrupulous in upholding his own principles. If he specifically regulated that the company will not hire men, he would absolutely not break it. Even if he actually alters his decisions, I would be the first one to be notified.” Upon those words, several of the women lowered their heads and rolled their eyes at the documents in their hands. Having said that, Yan Yajing made her way to Gu Hai’s office with a wooden expression. Just as she was about to knock on the door, Gu Hai suddenly pushed it open and walked out— causing them to nearly bump into each other. Yan Yajing was less than two centimeters away from Gu Hai’s face. The gleaming reflection of sunlight in her big beautiful eyes gradually vanished as it met with Gu Hai’s dark gelid pupils. “That’s right, notify each departments’ manager that there will be a meeting at two o'clock in the afternoon. I have an important announcement to make,” Gu Hai urged seriously. Yan Yajing nodded, “Okay.”
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Gu Hai turned to walk away, but Yan Yajing suddenly stopped him. “Gu Hai.” Turning back to give her a glance, Gu Hai faintly asked, “What's wrong?” “The chairman of Bo Ke Corporation has called me several times for the past few days, saying that he’s highly interested in collaborating with our company. But each time I asked him exactly what area he intended to collaborate in, he never clearly told me anything. He always used that reason to ask me out for meetings, and if I didn't reply to his request, he would wait for me at the entrance of our building…” “That’s…” Gu Hai pondered for a short while, “Explain the situation in detail to me again when I get back.” Yan Yajing pouted slightly as a dejected expression played out on her face. At 1:45pm in the afternoon, Gu Hai parked his car in front of the company. Coincidentally, Yan Yajing was taking a stroll when she saw Gu Hai walking in, and she walked over to him. “Earlier at noon, he…” “Have all the departments been notified?” Gu Hai asked, interrupting her words. Yan Yajing took a deep breath, “I notified everyone long ago.” “That's good then.” Gu Hai continued to speak quickly, “I'm going back to the office first. You can immediately go and prepare the conference room. I'll need you to speak later on.” With that, he walked toward the elevator. Yan Yajing briskly chased after him from behind. “But you haven’t told me the contents of the meeting yet. What am I supposed to talk about then?” “Improvise on the spot!” After those four words, Gu Hai’s silhouette disappeared into the elevator. Letting out a resentful sigh, Yan Yajing commented to herself: This is just like a death warrant! What kind of meeting is worth being that urgent? “I'll give everyone a simple introduction…” Gu Hai’s deep and astute voice sounded in the conference room, “This is our company’s newly appointed Vice President, Tong Zhe. From today on, this person will be a member of our company, let's welcome him.” At those words, there was an uproar. Naturally, the most intense reaction came from none other than Yan Yajing since she had earlier declared that it was impossible for the company to hire a man. However, Gu Hai completely shattered that grandiloquent speech in less than half a day. Didn’t that tantamount to giving her a big slap in the face right in front of everyone?! “Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?” Yan Yajing suddenly questioned Gu Hai. Gu Hai’s expression changed, obviously unimpressed with Yan Yajing for undermining him in front of everyone. Nevertheless, he controlled his temper and patiently replied, “I wanted to give you a surprise.” Yan Yajing did not buy into that reason at all. “Didn't you say back then that the company will never hire men? How come you are violating your own principle now?” With that, Gu Hai threw his cold and sharp eyes at Yan Yajing before his tone grew harsh. “I did say that the company will not hire men, but I never said that the rules cannot be changed. I’ve adamantly followed that principle before because not a single man was able to make me break that rule. Now that such a man has appeared, don’t tell me you still want me to strictly adhere to that rule?” Although Gu Hai had always been cold and detached toward the employees in the company, he was always amicable and cordial with Yan Yajing. Thus, being embarrassed in front of everyone
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like today was a first. Not only that, it was all because of a new male employee. One can only imagine Yan Yajing’s emotions at that moment. “Vice President Yan…” When Tong Zhe suddenly spoke, all the gazes in the entire conference room shifted to focus on him—the aura he exuded was certainly that of a man. “May I have ten seconds to briefly introduce myself?” Before Yan Yajing had a chance to say anything, a few beautiful women beside her began to chirp like a flock of little birds.130 Some were complaining about Yan Yajing’s bad attitude, some were urging Tong Zhe to quickly introduce himself and some were expressing their inner excitement… since they have not been that lively in such a long time, it honestly goes to show how much they welcomed the new Vice President. In order to uphold her own image and to also let the meeting continue smoothly, Yan Yajing had no other choice but to silently swallow the anger and humiliation. Once the meeting came to an end, Yan Yajing immediately followed Gu Hai to his office— by chance, Tong Zhe was also walking beside her. Initially, Yan Yajing didn’t feel any hostility toward Tong Zhe. But because he appeared in such an inappropriate way, and his appearance brought her all kinds of unhappiness, it led her to have an exceptionally bad first impression of him. When they arrived at Gu Hai’s office, Yan Yajing spoke first. “Gu Hai, about the chairman of Bo Ke that I told you this morning…” “I have some things to discuss with Vice President Tong…” Gu Hai interrupted her again, “Wait outside for the time being.” The words that almost burst out of Yan Yajing’s mouth were blocked yet again. “Also… no matter who comes, have them wait outside. Do not let anyone come in to disturb us.” Gu Hai told the employee at the doorway while simultaneously telling Yan Yajing. Hearing that, Yan Yajing froze and remained silent until the door shut in front of her face. That afternoon, Bai Luoyin walked out of the research laboratory by using a ‘project collaboration meeting’ as an excuse to leave the base and stealthily crept over to Gu Hai’s company yet again. When he entered the lobby, he greeted the receptionist at the front desk as usual. But when the receptionist made a call to Gu Hai, it was diverted to Yan Yajing’s office. “Vice President Yan, Major Bai is here. May I ask if Gu-zong has time to see him now?” Since Yan Yajing was still angry, her tone was not loud but certainly vitriolic and cutting. “He is busy right now and doesn’t want to see anyone.” The receptionist appeared apologetic as she looked up at Bai Luoyin, “Gu-zong is busy at the moment.” Although Bai Luoyin’s expression changed, he still spoke politely. “That’s fine, I’ll wait outside.” The wait lasted for two hours. By the time Gu Hai and Tong Zhe came out of the office, Yan Yajing had already packed up her things and was ready to go home. “That’s right, you said you had something to discuss with me. What was it about exactly?” Gu Hai finally asked. With a displeased expression, Yan Yajing bitterly answered with one word. “Nothing.” Gu Hai nodded, “Then you can go home. Be careful on the road.” Yan Yajing stared at Gu Hai for a while. But seeing that he had no intention in asking any further, her heart became dead cold before she turned around and walked away. 130
小鸟 xiǎoniǎo - little birds; but it also means penis in kiddie term
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“Yan Yajing!” Gu Hai suddenly called out. That alone provoked Yan Yajing’s heart to race with anxiety, however, she intentionally kept a calm demeanor as she turned back around. “What?” Gu Hai coldly asked, “Did anyone looked for me today?” In that instant, Yan Yajing’s heart was pierced until it was drenched with blood. “There was… your brother.” Hearing that last word, Gu Hai’s brows pulled tight and he quickly asked, “Which brother?” “How many brothers do you have? It was that Bai Luoyin!” At that moment, Yan Yajing did not even feel like answering him. All of a sudden, Gu Hai’s face turned white with anger and without any warning, he roared. “Why didn’t you tell me?!!” That loud and overbearing roar stole all the color off of Yan Yajing’s face, causing it to ashen from shock. Feeling wronged and glutted with rage, she explained: “Didn’t you say that nobody was allowed to disturb you?” Gu Hai’s face blackened completely. The few remaining employees in the company could clearly hear it as Gu Hai started to pelt Yan Yajing with criticisms. That was the first time anyone had ever seen Gu Hai that infuriated—even worse, that anger was aimed at Yan Yajing. “Is he a nobody? Is he someone that you could just casually drive away? Do you know how hard it is for him to drop by here? You better remember this: from now on, as long as he comes, no matter where I am or what I am doing, notify me immediately! That goes for everybody. Seeing him is the same as seeing me. Nobody is allowed to order him around!!” After declaring that, Gu Hai walked away. Yan Yajing remained motionless by herself at the elevators without wearing any expression. When Gu Hai got into the elevator, he immediately gave Bai Luoyin a call only to not get through. Feeling extremely anxious, he fastened his pace and hastily walked out of the building. Once outside, he saw Bai Luoyin’s car parked across the road, in front of the Cha Canting35 that they had previously gone to. Gu Hai calmed down and walked over to find that Bai Luoyin had already fallen asleep, with his upper body resting on the steering wheel. Since the music in the car was still playing, Bai Luoyin did not hear the phone ringing earlier. Trying to open the car door, Gu Hai found that it was locked. Thus, with no better option, he hesitantly knocked on the window. Bai Luoyin finally woke up. He blinked a few times and drowsily gaze at Gu Hai. “Are you done with work?” The moment Gu Hai saw two deep red marks131 imprinted on Bai Luoyin’s face, he could not help but feel upset. Out of concern and feeling sorry, he started to grumble. “How come you didn't give me a call?” “I was afraid you might be doing something important, so I didn’t dare to call you.” “Then, did you wait here the entire time?” Bai Luoyin lazily stretched out his body and casually said, “I didn’t wait that long. Get in the car, let’s go to my dorm today…”
Translate: Nancy | Edit: Sae | Proofread: Anasofi & Julieta 131
red marks - r