160: Targeting

"Drinking alone?" Shen Lian's smile was somewhat eerie as he picked up Chu Yilan's glass and sniffed it. "Hmm, the alcohol content isn't low. Come on, tell me what's wrong; I'll join you."

Chu Yilan shook his head. "I'm not drinking anymore."

Shen Lian: "I want to drink."

"You can't." Even if Chu Yilan was drunk as a skunk, he still remembered that Shen Lian's physical condition wasn't suitable for drinking. He stood up, showing a hint of docility for a moment. "Let's go home."

"Go home for what?"

"At home, I'll tell you everything."

Shen Lian was now certain that something was indeed wrong, and the last bit of anger in his heart vanished.

Quite a few people looked over, but neither of them cared. Shen Lian took off his overcoat and draped it over Chu Yilan's shoulders, turned to say a few words to Sun Binghe and the others, then supported Chu Yilan and left through the back.

Nie Sheng and several Bodyguards followed behind at a moderate distance.

Chu Yilan's steps were unsteady. He didn't want to lean his weight on Shen Lian, but he couldn't control himself at all.

Chu Yilan couldn't care less about Chu Changqi right now; his eyes couldn't hide their lack of focus, and he cautiously observed Shen Lian's expression.

Shen Lian didn't even give him a glance but asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Judging whether you're angry."

Shen Lian pressed his lips together, his heart screaming 'cute,' but his voice was calm as he said, "Shouldn't I be angry? It's one thing that you didn't take your health seriously before, but now that I'm here, you still dare. When their message came, I hadn't even finished filming my scene; I had to run and ask Director Zhao for leave. Master Chu, in my career, this has only happened on very rare occasions."

Chu Yilan: "Who are 'they'?"

"Mind your own business. Are you planning to retaliate?"

Chu Yilan nodded seriously. "Yes."

Whoever snitched to Shen Lian, he would make life difficult for them.

Damn, he's so freaking cute! Shen Lian's inner self was running wild, but his face remained calm and composed as he pulled the car door open with one hand and ushered Chu Yilan inside.

However, just as he was about to pull away, he was caught by Chu Yilan. The man's voice was deep. "Won't you stay by my side?"

"I need to drive."

Chu Yilan: "Switch people."

There was no choice; Nie Sheng had to do it.

In the car, Chu Yilan leaned on Shen Lian's shoulder, not sleeping. His eyes were dark and heavy, filled with a hazy mist. His fingers were interlocked with Shen Lian's, and he occasionally rubbed the back of the other's hand with his thumb. Shen Lian felt a tickle and looked down at him; Chu Yilan let out a soft "mm" in response.

Shen Lian wished he could record it with his phone.

And that short syllable startled Nie Sheng so much he didn't dare to speak.

Although he had heard Assistant Sun and the others mention it, to see Master Chu like this was truly a first for him.

By the time they reached home, it was already nine in the evening.

Chu Zhumi was fast asleep somewhere; anyway, there was no sign of it. Aunt Fen came out with a coat over her shoulders, and seeing Chu Yilan so drunk, she hurried to the kitchen to cook some hangover soup.

With Shen Lian's support, Chu Yilan stumbled back to the bedroom. As soon as he lay down, his vision spun even more.

Shen Lian took off his shoes and stripped off his clothes, not in a hurry to ask a single word. He first went to the bathroom to wring out a hot towel. When he returned, the man's breathing was already heavy. Chu Yilan slept fitfully, curled up on his side in a posture that suggested a lack of security. Shen Lian silently took this in and wiped away all the cold sweat on his neck.

Aunt Fen brought the hangover soup. Shen Lian took it, told her not to worry, and to go back to her room to rest.

"Shen Lian?"

Shen Lian had just closed the door when he heard the person on the bed call out. By the time he returned, Chu Yilan had already sat up.

The panic in his eyes hadn't faded yet, as if afraid that Shen Lian had left.

"Just in time," Shen Lian said. "Drink this."

Chu Yilan was very obedient. At first, he sipped a few spoonfuls, but later, finding this too inefficient, he took the bowl and downed it in one go. Then he placed the empty bowl on the nightstand, his gaze continuing to stay fixed on Shen Lian.

Actually, Chu Yilan's condition at this moment was clearly not right.

The paranoia and extremism in his bones leaked from his expression. Shen Lian didn't doubt for a second that if he said "I'm leaving" now, Chu Yilan would go crazy instantly. Any ordinary person would have been somewhat scared.

But Shen Lian only asked softly, "What do you need me to do?"

Chu Yilan's brows furrowed slightly as he thought seriously for a moment. "Hold me."

"Simple!" Shen Lian climbed onto the bed and got beside Chu Yilan, then reached out to hold him. "What else?"

"Hold me tighter."

Shen Lian continued to comply.

This feeling of being protected was something only Shen Lian could give.

A moment later, Chu Yilan spoke, "The number of Bodyguards around you will increase lately. Binghe is here; if there are any emergencies, discuss them together. But one thing: you must notify me immediately."

"Sure," Shen Lian followed up. "But you have to tell me why, right?"

Chu Yilan paused for a long time this time, then said without emotion, "I suspect Chu Changqi isn't dead."

Chu Changqi—a name Shen Lian had only heard a few times, but one that made his teeth itch with hatred.

"Not dead?" Shen Lian suppressed his shock. "How did you find out?"

"Ming Lin imitates me because he wants to replace me; he's deliberately performing to satisfy someone." Chu Yilan spoke slowly. "A long time ago, Chu Changqi liked to adopt children around the same age as me to be their 'father' and then torture them the same way he tortured me."

Shen Lian's breath hitched. "Why?"

"Because by then, I had stopped responding to Chu Changqi. No matter what he did, I just wouldn't give any emotional feedback." Chu Yilan continued, "He liked to see me panicked, crying and weeping, and he acted very urgently. Once I didn't cooperate, he would have to think of other ways."

Shen Lian suppressed the rage surging toward his heart and lungs and hesitantly asked, "Torturing you wasn't enough, so he had to torture your substitutes?"

"Pretty much," Chu Yilan said. "He has a strange obsession with this; it's like repeated revenge against my mother and grandfather."

"Revenge his ass!" Shen Lian couldn't help himself. "He hid his nature to trick her into marriage and seize power first; what right does he have to seek revenge?"

Chu Yilan: "That's Chu Changqi."

"Piece of shit," Shen Lian commented.

Chu Yilan stared at the silhouette cast on the wall, his voice very soft. "Before, time was tight and the plan was rushed. I didn't even enjoy myself fully."

Shen Lian let Chu Yilan do whatever he wanted and asked, "Are you worried he'll make a move on me?"

"He's already made a move," Chu Yilan said. "Ming Lin is his man, using Chen Yan to approach you repeatedly. In this world, Chu Changqi is the one who least wants me to be happy. Just like how he killed many of the living things I raised when I was a child, he knows that by targeting you, he can make me suffer."

"I see." Shen Lian nodded and lightly patted Chu Yilan's shoulder. "Alright, go to sleep."

Chu Yilan turned his head and sniffed himself. "I want to shower; I smell entirely of alcohol."

"No shower, I don't mind," Shen Lian disagreed.

Chu Yilan still wanted to struggle a bit, but then Shen Lian planted a goodnight kiss on his brow. His reason immediately went on strike, and in a daze, he fell asleep.

If he targets me, then let him target me, Shen Lian thought to himself. He wanted to see how tough Chu Changqi's head really was.