167: So cooperative?
Chu Yilan wasn't afraid of Chu Changqi knowing that he had already realized.
Ming Lin was just the beginning. No matter how many spies the old man had planted, he could always follow the trail and root them out one by one.
Shen Lian woke up in the middle of the night, covered in a layer of sweat. He blinked and turned his head to look at the clock on the wall; it was 3:30 AM.
Chu Yilan actually hadn't woken him up to go home.
Shen Lian didn't dwell on it much at first. He went to the bathroom to take a shower. Since his clothes were dirty, he familiarly took some from Chu Yilan's wardrobe. There were a few spare items; although they were a bit large, it didn't matter, as they were comfortable to wear.
After drinking a glass of warm water, Shen Lian finally pushed the door open and went out.
Not only Chu Yilan, but Sun Binghe and Yang Bin were also there.
The office was brightly lit. Yang Bin was staring intently at the computer screen, and Sun Binghe's fingers were flying across the keyboard. Meanwhile, various "didi" sounds from chat software were constant, suggesting that many people were staying up late with them.
Chu Yilan was looking through his phone with sharp eyes. He hadn't had time to mask his expression, so the deep, dark mood mixed with an irrepressible ferocity was laid bare.
Shen Lian was slightly startled.
This was the first time he had seen another kind of "vigorous vitality" in Chu Yilan.
It was different from the deep numbness of their first meeting or the gentle brightness of their later interactions. It was a seed sprouting from years of suppressed hatred, inscribed with "never let go." The scars left by Chu Changqi had never healed; they had merely been forced into a coarse exterior by the passage of time. Yet inside, the blood that had flowed day and night for over a decade was urging Chu Yilan to wipe out his resentment.
This was an emotion that even Shen Lian could not intervene in.
"Awake?" Chu Yilan's expression instantly returned to normal.
He stood up, his features softening. "Took a shower? Do you feel any better?"
"Yeah." Shen Lian rubbed his eyes, acting as if he hadn't noticed the scene just now, his voice soft. "I'm hungry."
Sun Binghe turned around. "I'm hungry too."
Yang Bin picked up his phone. "Should I have someone deliver some food?"
Chu Yilan nodded.
An occasional late-night snack, especially when tired and hungry, could only be described as delicious.
Yang Bin was extremely fond of "crayfish over noodles." The speed at which he devoured duck heads made Shen Lian think there was some special machine in his mouth; the bones were removed so quickly.
Sun Binghe ate whatever was available; the table was covered with seafood and barbecue.
Shen Lian gnawed on a roasted flatbread, finding the strong scent of cumin quite fragrant.
Chu Yilan didn't use his chopsticks much, mostly watching what Shen Lian liked and putting more of it into his bowl.
Sigh, Shen Lian sighed inwardly. What could he say to Chu Yilan? Advise him to let it go? Impossible. If he were in Chu Yilan's shoes, Chu Changqi would still have no escape. But continuing to hate so obsessively was also a form of intense mental exhaustion.
Shen Lian was someone who had seen Chu Yilan's silent plea for help; he was afraid the man had finally climbed out of the abyss only to fall back in.
Shen Lian glanced at the computer next to Sun Binghe. The screen was blue, filled with foreign languages and large blocks of numbers. He guessed it must also be related to Chu Changqi.
Yang Bin opened a second serving of crayfish over noodles. Sun Binghe frowned. "That stuff isn't exactly clean. Eat less of it."
Yang Bin nodded repeatedly. "Last one, last one."
In the entire Company Name building, only this window was lit, showing a touch of human warmth in the silent night.
Once Shen Lian returned to filming, Chu Yilan completely let loose. His ruthlessness left both Sun Binghe and Yang Bin with lingering fears.
Take Ming Lin, for instance—a legitimate member of the Ming Family. Because he shared the same surname as Ming Mei, he had once gained many benefits from Chu Yilan. To be honest, in the business world, who dared to say they were absolutely clean?
Ming Lin's opportunistic and secret dealings were all dirty. On the day he was caught, he couldn't even process it. His subsequent hysterical screaming was useless. Even though Chu Yilan's uncle, Ming Congshan, personally came to inquire and plead for mercy, nothing changed.
Ming Congshan didn't dare say much more.
After all, if Chu Yilan really wanted to settle the score regarding how most of the Ming Family stood by and watched when Old Master Ming and Ming Mei fell into trouble years ago, that would be a different story.
After filming all day, Shen Lian was also tired. He made a video call to Chu Yilan, but the other side, which usually answered instantly, remained silent for a long time. Shen Lian waited until it automatically disconnected. In the quiet room, a low sigh followed.
Shen Lian lay on the bed with his head tilted back, staring at the ceiling for a moment before closing his eyes.
I should find some time to talk to Chu Yilan soon, Shen Lian thought.
On the day filming wrapped for destined splendor, summer in Qudu was coming to an end.
Regarding the missed video call that night, Chu Yilan said nothing. Or rather, his mind was completely occupied by something else. In places Shen Lian couldn't see, Chu Yilan was pulling out "nails" one by one. Starting with Ming Lin, he forced Chu Changqi to flee miserably in the darkness.
But Qudu was only so big; there would always be times when he couldn't hide.
After having his trail caught by Chu Yilan several times, Chu Changqi was certain that his former "cat and mouse" game was being repaid in kind after all these years.
Chu Yilan's movements were so extensive that Sun Binghe and his other confidants were busy working day and night, unable to find any time to visit Shen Lian.
He definitely had to attend the wrap party organized by Director Zhao. Shen Lian estimated it would last all night.
He called Chu Yilan, and it was only on the third attempt that he picked up.
"Miss me?" Chu Yilan's tone was gentle.
To some extent, Shen Lian's indulgence during this period allowed Chu Yilan to have no worries.
Shen Lian knew his gentleness was real, but he could also feel the madness Chu Yilan hid beneath it.
Shen Lian smiled. "How about the day after tomorrow? Shall we go out to play?"
Chu Yilan paused for a moment, then replied, "Okay."
Shen Lian continued, "Let's go to Canglan Mountain. I've always wanted to try the high-altitude plank path there and see the night view from the summit. I heard it's spectacular."
Chu Yilan still agreed, "Okay, whatever you say."
The smile on Shen Lian's lips widened. "So cooperative?"
"Shen Lian, once things are finished here, I'll spend some quality time with you," Chu Yilan said.
"What are you thinking? You're busy and I'm busy too; business comes first." Shen Lian added, "But Yilan, don't sink too deep."
The last four words were so light they seemed like an illusion. Hearing them, Chu Yilan's heart stirred, realizing that although Shen Lian hadn't participated, he had certainly noticed something.
Whether he had sunk deep or not, Chu Yilan could no longer accurately judge. He only knew that the effort he had accumulated until now must not go to waste.
Driving Chu Changqi into a dead end, just as he had shown no mercy to his mother and grandfather back then... People often said, "When will the cycle of revenge end?" or "The end of revenge is emptiness." But Chu Yilan didn't feel that way. Every time Chu Changqi fled in terror, it made his scalp tingle with constant excitement.
Chu Yilan had promised Shen Lian, but this time, his heart seemed unable to weigh things rationally.
Shen Lian went to the studio to change clothes for the wrap party that evening. He heard from Director Zhao that it was a big deal; two major platforms had their eyes on destined splendor, and they were likely coming tonight to fight for the exclusive broadcasting rights.