Go To Your Death Chapter 2
byDeath Anniversary
Today was the Start of Winter, marking the first anniversary of Zhou Xubai’s death.
Lin Jinyao stood before the grave. No tears fell from his face; his eyes held only an unfathomable calm.
Rhythmic footsteps approached from behind. Before Lin Jinyao could turn, a heavy slap landed on his back, nearly sending him stumbling forward.
“Long time no see, A-Yao.”
Lin Jinyao turned to see the man’s face, which wore a bitter smile.
He slowly straightened his back and said softly, “Long time no see.”
Zhou Xuan had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. A bitter smile hung at the corners of his lips, and his eyes were bloodshot. He looked haggard, as if something were gnawing at his soul.
“Where have you been?” Lin Jinyao didn’t answer directly, his gaze falling on the red veins in Zhou Xuan’s eyes.
“Investigating the truth behind Xiao Bai’s death.” Zhou Xuan lit the cigarette and took a deep drag. “I don’t believe a word of the nonsense those forensic doctors said.”
Lin Jinyao sighed softly. He reached out, took the cigarette from Zhou Xuan’s mouth, placed it in his own, and began to smoke slowly.
The practiced movement left Zhou Xuan stunned. “Don’t you never smoke?”
The bitterness of nicotine spread across his tongue. He slowly exhaled a smoke ring and asked, “What did you find?”
“I found out Xiao Bai once had someone she was seeing. Did you know?”
Lin Jinyao lowered his head and smoked in silence, having no intention of answering the question.
“Forget it. How could a mute like you know anything?” Zhou Xuan lit another cigarette for himself and sneered. “Besides, Xiao Bai hated you so much.”
Lin Jinyao listened expressionlessly.
“I really don’t know what was wrong with you two growing up. But whatever, it’s in the past. Thanks for coming to see Xiao Bai anyway.”
The rain grew heavier, dampening the tips of Lin Jinyao’s hair.
He was about to speak when he looked up, his gaze locking onto a black business van in the distance. His brow furrowed.
Eavesdropping again. No creativity at all.
“Xiao Bai hid this person very well; there’s no information at all,” Zhou Xuan’s voice continued. “If I hadn’t found mentions of ‘him’ in the diary she burned, I wouldn’t have known she even had a boyfriend. I suspect Xiao Bai’s death is related to this person.”
“Is that so?”
“You don’t believe me?”
“No.” Lin Jinyao took a final drag, stubbed the cigarette out on a nearby trash can, and turned to walk down the mountain.
Zhou Xuan caught up quickly, throwing an arm around his shoulder and practically hanging his weight on him. “You’ve become even more silent this past year. Are you getting annoyed because I asked you to help me investigate Xiao Bai’s business?”
“No.” Lin Jinyao’s voice was as calm as still water.
“Where are you going? Come to my place! Let’s drink until we drop.”
“I’m going back to Mr. Mu’s house.”
Zhou Xuan stopped dead in his tracks, his arm sliding off Lin Jinyao’s shoulder.
His expression turned grave instantly. “Don’t tell me you’re actually with Mu Huacheng, Lin Jinyao!”
Lin Jinyao continued walking, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible. “If I don’t go back now, Mr. Mu will be unhappy.”
“Lin Jinyao!” Zhou Xuan grabbed his arm and yanked him back. His other hand balled into a fist, and he struck Lin Jinyao hard across the face in a fit of frustrated rage. “What the hell are you doing? Can’t you wake up? Don’t you know what kind of man Mu Huacheng is? Why would you provoke him? He has more blood on his hands than you’ve drunk water. Do you think I don’t have enough to worry about? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Lin Jinyao didn’t dodge, taking the punch head-on. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. From his expressionless face, he quietly uttered four words: “I like him.”
“Like him, my ass! I don’t see it at all!”
“Not surprising. You never see anything.”
Just as Zhou Xuan couldn’t see that Zhou Xubai actually loved him, yet had been forced to be with Lin Jinyao.
Lin Jinyao wiped the blood away with the back of his hand, looked at Zhou Xuan calmly, and turned to leave.
“Lin Jinyao!!” Zhou Xuan shouted after him in exasperation.
Lin Jinyao’s silhouette was soon swallowed by the curtain of rain.
Xijing City. At the summit of the Radiant Pearl, the top-floor sky garden was shrouded in rain. Hundreds of meters up, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, lightning pierced the clouds like a sword, momentarily illuminating the entire city.
In an instant, thunder rolled, deafeningly loud!
Mu Huacheng stood before the window, his fingertip lightly tapping against a wine glass.
From the recording equipment behind him came Lin Jinyao’s “I like him” followed by Zhou Xuan’s hysterical cursing.
Those four words seemed to possess a great magic; every syllable made the corners of his mouth curl upward.
The door opened.
Lin Jinyao walked in soaked to the bone. Water dripping from his bangs left dark stains on the carpet.
“You’re back.” Mu Huacheng didn’t turn around. He simply swirled the whiskey in his hand, his voice slow and powerful.
“Mhm.” Lin Jinyao took off his soaked trench coat and hung it in the cloakroom at the entrance.
“The day you negotiated for was spent visiting a friend’s younger sister.” Mu Huacheng turned around, his deep eyes staring directly at Lin Jinyao.
“Mhm.”
Mu Huacheng approached, gazing intently at the rain-drenched face—fragile yet ascetic. He reached out to tilt Lin Jinyao’s chin up, his thumb brushing over the bruise at the corner of his mouth. “What happened here?”
Asking what he already knows, Lin Jinyao thought.
“I took a fall.”
“That must have been quite a fall.” Mu Huacheng chuckled softly, not pressing further.
“Since you’ve seen the dead and met the living, can you finally settle down and have dinner with me?” Mu Huacheng’s eyes were full of desire as he leaned in, still holding the chin.
Lin Jinyao tilted his head, dodging slightly. He suddenly realized his behavior was inappropriate and risked angering the man before him, so he made an excuse. “I’m dirty and cold. I shouldn’t pass the chill to you, sir.”
Mu Huacheng only gave a low laugh. He suddenly gripped the chin and forced himself closer. “Go wash up, then join me for dinner.”
Then he let go.
Lin Jinyao freed himself from Mu Huacheng’s grip and felt a wave of relief. He turned and went to the bathroom.
The sky garden atop the Radiant Pearl was Xijing City’s premier skyscraper, costing over ten billion to build. Mu Huacheng had commissioned the famous architect Porphyry to design it over two years.
The top floor where Mu Huacheng resided integrated an observation deck, bar, pool, restaurant, and club.
Inside, a hundred-million-dollar air circulation system ensured fresh air twenty-four hours a day. Gradient lighting was installed every five meters.
A fragrance system emitted a unique scent around the clock, the height of luxury.
Yet, such a place was merely a temporary residence for Mu Huacheng.
When Lin Jinyao emerged in fresh clothes, an exquisite dinner was already laid out on the table, still steaming.
Under the soft lighting, Mu Huacheng’s striking features appeared much gentler.
Nearby, the melodious notes of a cello drifted through the air, every low tone seeming to strike the depths of the soul.
Over the past year, Mu Huacheng had been satisfied with his compliance—at least on the surface.
If only he were this submissive in bed, it would be even better, Mu Huacheng thought.
However, he was in no hurry. The person was already his; the heart would follow sooner or later.
During the meal, Mu Huacheng occasionally mentioned financial news. Lin Jinyao’s brief but insightful responses earned him Mu Huacheng’s side-glances and appreciation.
“A-Yao, accompany me to a banquet at sea in a few days.” Mu Huacheng set down his utensils and looked up.
Lin Jinyao slowly stopped his knife and fork. Without looking up, he asked in a low voice, “In what capacity?”
“As my partner, of course.” Mu Huacheng smiled, as if stating the most obvious fact.
Lin Jinyao’s lips twitched wordlessly. Sometimes, one really does laugh when they are beyond speechless.
“Alright.”
Mu Huacheng was in a good mood; Lin Jinyao could tell. But because of that, Lin Jinyao’s own mood soured.
For no other reason than this:
Late at night, the bed felt like a torture rack.
Mu Huacheng’s desire swept over him like a storm. Lin Jinyao lay on the bed, his body utterly exhausted.
In this past year, he hadn’t adapted much to being under this man; every time ended in total exhaustion.
Mu Huacheng exhaled a smoke ring. “It’s been over a year. You should show your face. There are more legends about you in our circles than there are about me.”
“You’re joking, Mr. Mu.”
Mu Huacheng was the truly legendary figure in Xijing. What was he? He was merely riding on Mu Huacheng’s coattails—someone who had survived a year with him and was living quite well.
The members of Xijing’s Crown Prince Party were likely placing bets in secret, seeing if he could even last a month by Mu Huacheng’s side.
Lin Jinyao endured the soreness to get up, staggering toward the bathroom.
Mu Huacheng stubbed out his cigarette. Watching the silhouette appearing through the bathroom glass, the corners of his mouth turned up.
Outside, the rain continued to fall. The city lights blurred in the downpour like an oil painting soaked in water.
Water splashed in the bathroom. Lin Jinyao buried his face in the stream, only looking up to gasp for air when the feeling of suffocation pressed against his chest.
Lin Jinyao propped himself against the mirror with one hand. In the reflection, the corner of his mouth was bruised, and bite marks from the previous night remained on his collarbone—like marks on a piece of property meticulously claimed by Mu Huacheng.
He turned to look at the neon lights blurred by the rain outside, remembering another night a year ago when the rain had poured just as heavily.