PMWAIAAPM Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Playing With Me?

The wind in Switzerland doesn’t seem so gentle.

The window in the top-floor hotel was left open. Xing Yang used his room key to unlock the door, holding a plastic bag in one hand. He casually tossed the lighter onto the bar table, and the bag spilled open, several bottles of nutritional supplements falling to the floor.

“Secretary Song, the scenery here is great. Why not take a day off tomorrow and enjoy yourself? The company will reimburse everything,” Xing Yang sent a voice message while holding his phone.

The room was dark and silent, the wind carrying the scent of roses.

The roses were anxious, trapped inside the room.

Upon entering, there was a long corridor leading to a huge open living room. The window there blew in the strong winds, creating a whistling sound.

Xing Yang opened a bottle of nutritional supplement and downed it in one go. He didn’t know how many of these he had consumed over the years; his taste buds seemed to have changed long ago. Perhaps it was because the bitterness was so different from the sentiments in his heart that he had already become numb.

“Where have you been?” A man sitting on the sofa questioned, his figure lost in the dark, rising like a beast ready to hunt, his voice slightly hoarse.

Xing Yang had known from the moment he stepped into the room that there was someone else there.

He tossed the empty supplement bottle, which was a third full, into the trash can, casually tossed his phone onto the sofa, and turned to the coffee table to power on his computer. “The company—didn’t I say I was on a business trip? Of course, I’m busy with work.”

Xing Yang’s tone was nonchalant, as if nothing had ever happened.

“I called and asked. You didn’t go to the branch today,” Tan Zhiyu’s voice was heavy, gradually stepping out of the shadows. The bloodshot veins were prominent in his eyes, and under the corners of his eyes, the fair skin had a hint of dark tint.

Seeing his appearance, Xing Yang paused for a second, then quickly averted his gaze, bypassing him. “Aren’t business trips only when you’re at the company…?”

At this moment.

It had been twelve hours since the round print real estate stock plummeted.

Tan Zhiyu caught the earliest flight, and by the time he arrived in Bern, it was already late at night. The director, Li Yue, and the agency in the country were all busy dealing with the scandal, and with the online buzz being so high, Xing Yang couldn’t possibly be unaware.

“How did you get in?” Xing Yang asked as he opened his computer.

His fingertips rapidly tapped on the keyboard, a coldness making one uneasy.

Before Tan Zhiyu could reply, Xing Yang suddenly chuckled lightly, “Sorry, I forgot. The front desk seems to be a compatriot, so they probably let you in after swiping the card for us, right?”

Tan Zhiyu looked at him in confusion, his deep green eyes slightly squinting, Adam’s apple tightening: “What do you mean?”

Inside the room, even though there was the sound of wind,

The silence that followed echoed only their breaths and the sound of flowing blood in their veins.

Xing Yang today was not dressed in his usual proper suit; he wasn’t even wearing a shirt, just a simple gray sweatshirt and long pants. His short hair wasn’t as tidy as usual but fell softly on his forehead. The refined Xing boss had faded away, leaving just an ordinary man.

They hadn’t seen each other for only two days, but Tan Zhiyu felt he seemed to have lost weight. He appeared extremely tired, as if he hadn’t slept well for several nights.

“You saw it, those matters…”

“Yes,” Xing Yang slightly curled his lips, his eyes cast down, “I also saw your company’s statement. Following the terms of the prenuptial agreement. Quite good.”

They were just in a hidden marriage, each fulfilling their own needs, resolving physiological requirements. Tan Zhiyu, as a star, had the effect of being famous, and it was agreed that no scandals would be leaked; Tan Zhiyu had the right to deny it unilaterally.

Three hours ago, Tan Zhiyu’s agency had fully denied the rumor.

[It has been verified that our artist Tan Zhiyu has no private dealings with Round Print Real Estate. The internet is not a lawless place, and those spreading rumors will face criminal liability.]

No dealings.

Xing Yang spread the clarification news from his computer for him to see, then switched to a new screen, the green stock market.

Round Print Real Estate, due to public pressure, saw its stock price plunge sharply at the new opening, nearing the critical point of liquid assets. If new funds were not injected into such a market, it would soon be bought out by someone else. In simple terms, the company Xing Yang had built from scratch over the years was about to become someone else’s.

“Zhiyu,” Xing Yang pressed his lips together, his voice as gentle as ever, “Although I’m a businessman, I keep my promises. I said I would split the assets with you in the event of a divorce. Even if you and your father want it, there’s no need to rush…”

In fact, if time could be sped up.

Three years might be enough for him to die.

“What?” Tan Zhiyu stared in surprise, suddenly gripping Xing Yang’s shoulders tightly, “You think I’m behind this?!”

He had flown ten hours to get here.

On the way, he had thought that Xing Yang may misunderstand, but he felt it wouldn’t happen because Xing Yang was the person who understood him the most in the world, the one who would always be with him. He believed that if he explained clearly, there would be no problem.

He could even clarify, severing ties with the agency, and turning against his father.

None of that mattered; what mattered was Xing Yang…

The previous night, he hadn’t slept at all, and his hand was still wrapped in blood-soaked gauze. His worries and grievances felt so insignificant in Xing Yang’s eyes at that moment.

“Isn’t it?”

Xing Yang originally wanted to shake off his hand, but seeing the gauze on it, his eyes revealed a hint of red.

The man turned stiffly, facing away from him: “We were just in a marriage of convenience, right? You said I looked ordinary, you said I built everything from scratch without any ability, and the scent was just your genuine feelings after marking me. Other than money, what else could you want from someone like me? Who in the entertainment industry doesn’t know your parents love you? Tan Yushen even bought you a golden sports car. With such a father-son relationship, you’re using me, and you wouldn’t know?!”

Xing Yang’s emotions were agitated, even the veins on his forehead were strained, and the crimson tint at the corners of his eyes looked like suppressed madness.

“Tan Zhiyu, are you here to find me now because you’re afraid I might run away and leave debts unpaid? It can’t be that you’ve actually grown fond of me, right?”

That was his hard work, all that he had painstakingly built over the years.

“Our pheromone compatibility is merely a coincidence, it’s an illusion; you’ve never liked me. Understand?! If anyone else had such high compatibility, it would be the same! What dating, what nonsense feelings, what does it even count for?! Nothing at all!”

“It’s just coincidence! Anyone else would be the same!” Xing Yang hardly ever argued loudly, his lips trembling slightly.

“Your dad loves you so much. No matter how many illegitimate children he has, you’re the only legitimate heir! You’re telling me you weren’t involved in this matter?!—”

“Tan Zhiyu, I don’t believe you.”

Xing Yang’s words were like a cold knife, stabbing deeply into Tan Zhiyu’s heart. His palms clenched into fists, and the wounds that had been healing gradually soaked through the gauze again.

But Tan Zhiyu felt no pain at all.

“You don’t believe me?” Tan Zhiyu raised his voice, his gaze so deep and heavy.

“I’ve never believed a single word you said. Never!” After finishing, Xing Yang turned to meet his gaze.

In that instant, had it not been for the bar table behind Xing Yang, he would have been nearly pinned against the wall!

Tan Zhiyu’s face suddenly leaned closer, his breath heavy: “What did you say?”

Thinking back, Xing Yang had indeed never said he believed in him.

“The situation is already like this. I lost the bet on the agreement, and I’m willing to accept the loss.” Seeing that Tan Zhiyu remained silent, he added, “Let’s get a divorce.”

“I said, this incident has nothing to do with me,” Tan Zhiyu’s brows twitched.

Xing Yang regained his calm gaze: “I don’t believe you.”

Xing Yang asked, “What’s the matter? Why don’t you want to get a divorce? Could it be that someone as charming as Tan the superstar has really fallen for a person like me instead of just playing around?”

His tone was so light, as if in just a few days, their affection, love, and fondness had flown away with the open window.

Tan Zhiyu’s thin lips pressed tightly together, the corners of his eyes reflecting a hint of gloom, his handsome cheeks frost-like, devoid of any extra expression, only indifference.

Their eyes locked.

Xing Yang said, “I can undergo gland surgery at the hospital in Switzerland now; from now on, I won’t need an Alpha marking.”

After he spoke, Tan Zhiyu looked at him with red-rimmed eyes, unsure how long this silence lasted.

Cold wind rushed in, and in the dimly lit living room, the computer’s only glow faded, leaving it pitch black.

“Xing Yang, are you playing with me?” Tan Zhiyu stared at him, an unfamiliar coldness in his gaze.

In such dim lighting, the dark green of Tan Zhiyu’s eyes was filled with shadows, his expression almost sorrowful.

This time, he did not shed tears.

He just felt deceived, as though after flying ten hours, he had gained nothing—no embrace, only exhaustion.

The words he had prepared were all left unspoken, as if someone had unleashed a heavy rain in his pond, washing away all the fish.

Xing Yang was taken aback, and for a moment, his heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly.

Unintentionally recalling the doctor’s words.

[Your condition has relapsed. You mentioned experiencing drowsiness, and it is currently uncertain whether this is a pregnancy reaction or a complication from Alzheimer’s disease. However, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients typically survive no more than 20 years. Your gland was implanted later; if treated well, perhaps 10 years.]

Ten years, five years, or even tomorrow.

If he was destined to die sooner or later, with no relatives, no children, giving these assets to Tan Zhiyu earlier wasn’t a bad thing.

He didn’t want Tan Zhiyu to see him losing sensation in his limbs, ultimately ending up senile and drooling, unrecognizable to anyone; that was too disgusting.

“It’s not playing, it was mutual consent.”

Tan Zhiyu suddenly curved his lips, and actually laughed.

“Good, very good, Xing Yang, you’re impressive, truly impressive, very—” Tan Zhiyu gritted his teeth, repeating those few words.

He clenched his fists, the scent of the red roses nearly overwhelming, his anger surged. The air felt heated from his influence.

Just when Xing Yang thought he would soon be punched in the face,

“Bang—”

Tan Zhiyu’s fist hit the wall beside his ear, the sound of cracking knuckles echoed. The gauze on his hand soaked through, dripping blood. He didn’t say the last word, turning away and leaving without a glance back.

Xing Yang slowly opened his tightly closed eyes. He didn’t chase after him but gently closed the door behind him.

Everyone said Xing Yang was greedy for wealth.

But in their marriage agreement, there was a clause stating that if either spouse passed away, even if the marriage did not continue, Tan Zhiyu would still inherit all the assets—this was willingly granted by Xing Yang.

Xing Yang felt an itch on his face, raising a hand to touch, only to find that he unconsciously shed tears.

Hot and burning.

It felt as if his heart was somewhat uncomfortable; he felt as if he had developed a heart condition.