Go To Your Death Chapter 8

Playing Obedient

Zhou Xuan stood at the edge of the port, watching the lights of The Dongshan cruise ship in the distance, looking like a city on the sea in the dark of night.

He looked at the unfamiliar number Lin Jinyao had dialed from his phone. After some thought, he backed out and dialed a different number. Once the call connected, he spoke in a serious tone. “Hey, Old Cha, help me look into someone. Zhang Ming, from the marketing department of Ruilai International. He died in a car accident three months ago. I want the original surveillance footage of the road where it happened.”

The person on the other end gave a decisive affirmation and hung up. Zhou Xuan looked back toward the cruise ship, took a deep breath, and turned to vanish into the darkness.

Lin Jinyao’s high fever lasted for three days and two nights.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in a bedroom at Mu Huacheng’s Xiling Mid-Mountain Villa.

This island was the golden cage Mu Huacheng had given him.

Outside the window were the blue sea, the clear sky, and the piercing sunlight.

“You’re awake?” Mu Huacheng’s voice came from a corner of the room.

Lin Jinyao struggled to prop himself up, his throat dry and raspy. “How long was I out?”

“Three days and seven hours.” Mu Huacheng set down his documents, poured a glass of warm water, walked to the bedside, and helped him drink it slowly.

“Seven said you need rest. Don’t go anywhere for the next few days.”

Lin Jinyao didn’t speak, only watching him quietly.

Mu Huacheng reached out to brush the stray hairs from Lin Jinyao’s forehead, his tone gentle. “A-Yao, you always manage to surprise me.”

Lin Jinyao lowered his eyelashes, his voice hoarse and weak. “What are you trying to say, Mr. Mu?”

“You clearly knew Fan Yu didn’t know anything, yet you still risked provoking me to test him.” Mu Huacheng let out a low chuckle. “Did you want me to know you’re investigating me?”

Lin Jinyao remained silent. He thought to himself, Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?

“You succeeded.” Mu Huacheng leaned down and whispered into his ear, “I’m truly very happy.”

Lin Jinyao met Mu Huacheng’s abyss-like eyes, truly baffled. “What is there to be happy about, Mr. Mu?”

“I’m happy that A-Yao is finally willing to take the initiative to get close to me.” Mu Huacheng’s finger lightly traced his cheek. “You’ve been by my side for over a year, always as obedient as an emotionless machine. Now, you finally seem to have some life in you, and the reason is me. Of course I’m happy!”

I’m not doing this for you! I’m doing it for Xiao Bai! Lin Jinyao grumbled inwardly.

“I was wrong, Mr. Mu.” Even Lin Jinyao’s apology was faint.

“Mhm, brave enough to admit the mistake, but determined never to change!” Mu Huacheng actually laughed. “What else do you want to investigate? I’ll accompany you.”

“Why?”

“Because…” Mu Huacheng leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his lips, “I like watching you exhaust your mind for the sake of investigating me.”

To put it simply: I like the way you focus all your efforts on me.

Lin Jinyao’s fingertips curled slightly.

Madman.

“Did you ever investigate Zhou Xubai, Mr. Mu?” Since Mu Huacheng had opened the door, Lin Jinyao wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by.

Mu Huacheng found his pushy attitude almost cute. Now, this person wasn’t even willing to pretend anymore. “You suspect me.”

“No!” Lin Jinyao analyzed calmly. “I just don’t understand what about Xiao Bai was worth your attention.”

Lin Jinyao knew that Xiao Bai’s death might not have been Mu Huacheng’s direct doing, but it was certainly connected to him.

Seeing Lin Jinyao’s bright eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge as he stared at him, Mu Huacheng felt his heart throb.

“Who were you looking for, Mr. Mu?” Seeing the man didn’t answer, Lin Jinyao continued to press in a raspy voice.

He knew he might be risking Mu Huacheng’s wrath again, but for Xiao Bai’s sake, he had to do it.

To his surprise, the expected storm did not arrive. Mu Huacheng’s expression remained normal. He simply touched Lin Jinyao’s paper-pale face, smiled gently, and then left.

He just left like that!

Lin Jinyao couldn’t hold himself up any longer and collapsed back onto the bed, deflated. He mocked himself in a whisper, “As expected, it’s still not working?”

This man, Mu Huacheng, was far too complicated!

Later that day, Seven came to check on Lin Jinyao and found Chen Jin there as well. Chen Jin informed him, “Mr. Mu is in a video conference.”

“What meeting is so important?”

“The International Banking Financial Risk Exchange.” Chen Jin was supposed to be taking minutes for the meeting, but Mu Huacheng didn’t feel comfortable leaving Lin Jinyao alone, so he had been stationed here instead.

Seven waved his hand dismissively. “I’m not looking for him, I’m looking for his precious darling. Where is he?”

Chen Jin pointed toward the flower garden not far away, where Lin Jinyao was watering the desert roses. “Right over there.”

Seven looked at Lin Jinyao’s cold, detached, and desireless state and burst out laughing. “Why does it feel like we’re back at the very beginning of the story?” He then sighed. “Everything Mr. Mu did was for nothing!”

Chen Jin didn’t see it that way.

A year ago, Lin Jinyao was much harder to approach than he was now. Later, after being forced by Mu Huacheng several times, he either had a change of heart or realized his own helplessness, adopting a self-destructive attitude.

Mu Huacheng had complained to Chen Jin privately several times, “This person intends to give me his body but never his heart!”

That wouldn’t do.

So, Mu Huacheng, knowing full well how much Lin Jinyao cared about the Zhou family girl, deliberately left traces of his actions in front of Lin Jinyao, forcing him to take the risk of investigating.

It was a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

Lin Jinyao wanted the truth. Mu Huacheng wanted Lin Jinyao.

If it succeeded, both parties would get what they wanted. If it didn’t… well, refer to the standard for success.

Chen Jin and Seven watched the quiet, icy beauty in the garden and exchanged a knowing look.

Chen Jin cleared his throat, raising his voice intentionally. “Next month on the eleventh is Mr. Mu’s thirty-second birthday. For this birthday banquet, Mr. Mu said he wants to keep everything simple. He only wants…”

Seven raised an eyebrow and played along. “Only wants what? Surely he’s not planning to announce some big news at the banquet?”

Chen Jin shot a meaningful glance toward the garden. Sure enough, he saw Lin Jinyao look up toward them. “Mr. Mu said he wants to hold a private dinner and only invite those closest to him.” He paused deliberately. “And he specifically instructed for Xiling Island to be redecorated.”

Seven let out an exaggerated “Wow.” “I remember the last time Xiling Island saw such a major overhaul was three years ago when Mr. Mu acquired Pacific Shipping.” He added pointedly, “It seems this occasion is even more important!”

A soft “clack” came from the garden.

Lin Jinyao stopped what he was doing. Could these two be any more obvious? It was as if they were terrified he wouldn’t hear them.

Chen Jin and Seven exchanged another look.

Chen Jin raised his voice again. “Oh, right. Mr. Mu asked me to tell Mr. Lin to take care of his health during this time. Starting tomorrow, someone will come to measure him for a formal suit.”

Lin Jinyao finally turned around.

“I don’t need a new suit,” he said, his voice as cold as ever.

“Mr. Mu specifically commissioned a designer from Paris for this,” Chen Jin added with a smile. “It’s being made with your favorite ice-blue silk.”

Lin Jinyao’s pupils contracted.

Ice blue was the color Zhou Xubai wore most often when he was alive. Only a very few people knew this detail.

He set down the watering can, his voice tightening. “What else did Mr. Mu say?”

Seven pretended to flip through his medical records and said casually, “Oh, Mr. Mu asked me to tell you that someone will be coming from Hai City on the day of the banquet.” He looked up at Lin Jinyao. “I think it was someone with the surname Zhou?”

An eerie silence fell over the garden.

Lin Jinyao stood frozen, his shadow stretched long by the sun.

After a long while, he asked softly, “What time is the fitting?”

“Tomorrow at three in the afternoon.” Chen Jin checked his watch. “By the way, Mr. Mu also said that if you have any special requirements for the suit, you can contact the designer directly.” He added meaningfully, “Any requirement at all.”

Lin Jinyao lowered his eyes and finally said only one thing. “I understand.”

Then he set the watering can aside and turned to leave without a backward glance.

Seven watched his retreating figure and suddenly lowered his voice. “Are you sure about this? Mr. Mu really agreed to use the Zhou family matter to provoke him?”

Chen Jin pulled back his smile, his gaze turning deep. “It’s the fastest way. That child has kept himself closed off for too long; he needs some strong medicine.” He looked toward a half-open window on the second floor. “Besides, this was Mr. Mu’s idea.”

Seven laughed. “It seems Mr. Mu doesn’t plan on slow-boiling the frog anymore.”

Chen Jin grinned as well. “We boiled him for a year, and it didn’t have as much effect as these past few days!”

Meanwhile, in the second-floor study, Mu Huacheng stood by the window, his gaze heavy as he watched everything unfolding in the garden.

The video conference was still ongoing. On the screen, a financial expert was talking incessantly, analyzing international exchange rate trends.