Chapter 8: The Bathroom... "Sleep with me tonight."

After He Guan finished, he dropped the microphone and, without regard for his teammates' reactions, vaulted over the stage into the crowd.

Uncle Yue reacted swiftly, pushing through the crowd with one hand and reaching out for He Guan's extended hand with the other.

The two squeezed through a throng of photographers into the backstage passage.

He Guan knew Gan Qing was waiting for an explanation.

Judging by the frantic snapping of the photographers, he could guess the look on Gan Qing's face — a mix of confusion turning to anger.

Yet from beginning to end, He Guan never looked back.

On the road, He Guan changed out of his suit jacket, slipping into a cab that had been waiting at the company's back door to change his trousers.

As he changed, he said, "This outfit is custom-made by the brand sponsor, I need to return it. Uncle Yue, if the paparazzi snap photos, snatch their cameras and toss them into the bushes. Driver, if they block us, just drive forward. They fear death; they won't stop you. I'll open the window en route to meet my agent. After the crowd, head to the Bay Bridge and then to Hongqiao District."

His thinking was sharp, speaking rapidly, deploying his team in half a minute, all while changing into a sweater Uncle Yue had bought in advance.

Uncle Yue and the driver responded: "Understood."

As expected, reporters and paparazzi swarmed them when they exited. Uncle Yue tossed the bag containing He Guan's changed clothes to a junior assistant from their group and snatched cameras from the paparazzi.

Indeed, the paparazzi chased after them.

Amidst the chaos, Ren Ning, desperately searching for He Guan, was pulled forward by someone grabbing his arm.

"Who"

Before he could finish, he gulped down a breath of air as He Guan, pulling him by the arm, ran towards the road from the back door of the conference building.

He Guan pulled Ren Ning for about 200 meters with the window down, seeing not many people following, he then opened the car door to let him in.

He Guan instructed: "Breathe deeply. Don't ask me why I left the group now. I'll explain tonight. Head to the Bay Bridge for now and wait there for my butler."

Ren Ning, panting heavily, swallowing hard, responded, "...Okay."

Uncle Yue arrived shortly after, and the group departed from the Bay Bridge, heading straight for Hongqiao District.

Once Ren Ning had caught his breath, He Guan inquired, "How much longer is your contract with Cosmos? Are you not planning on renewing?"

Ren Ning retorted, "You're the hottest artist I manage right now, and you pull this on me. Why would I renew? Are you messing with me, bro?"

He Guan replied, "You have to renew; otherwise, you won't get last month's paycheck."

Ren Ning: "...How did you know Cosmos didn't pay me last month?"

He Guan, rubbing his chin, remarked, "I just do. How I know is none of your business. We'll talk tonight."

Because it was written in the book.

After forming, Nolimit gained immense popularity in a short span.

The superficial friendships within the group were criticized by hardcore fans. With the addition of the protagonist to the previously five-member group, both the old show crew and the current company faced backlash.

Unexpectedly, the criticism only fueled their popularity.

And it wasn't just regular fame.

A mere trending topic by any of the five could easily rank high on the trending list. Chu Li, in particular, maintained consistently high engagement, with likes, comments, and discussions.

However, this didn't deter Lou Jun's plan to bankrupt Cosmos.

The bankruptcy of Cosmos was a strategic move.

Unlike the pure financial domain where Lou Dongzang was involved, the entertainment industry was a secondary business for the Lou family, mainly managed by Lou Dongzang's elder brother, Lou Yi – the one who had sent Lou Dongzang to Dongyuan.

Lou Junduo was his son.

The Lou family's enterprise was vast; the bankruptcy of a minor entertainment company was a trifle.

For the Lou family, which also managed a vast commercial empire, even if an entertainment company went bankrupt, their other companies could swiftly shift assets under protection and easily discard this shell of a company.

As for the ordinary workers who couldn’t claim their social security? The laborers owed wages? The smug executives expecting promotions?

Who cares about them?

The cruelty of capitalism has always been at the expense of the common people.

Using this strategy, Lou Junduo amassed a fortune, gathering tens of billions in assets in just two months, and unexpectedly declared bankruptcy when no one was prepared.

After the reorganization of Cosmos' bankruptcy, its buildings were mortgaged and rebranded.

Before Cosmos fell apart, Lou Yi, heeding his son's advice, approached Lou Dongzang to inquire if he could assist in rescuing the company.

But at that time, Lou Dongzang declined.

Lou Dongzang wasn’t privy to the details, but he sensed a catch. Given his blindness, any involvement would just leave him vulnerable to manipulation.

Lou Dongzang was nearly twenty years younger than his elder brother.

From his birth, Lou Dongzang's growth was aligned with his nephews and nieces, as parents nearing their seventies and eighties naturally leaned towards their grandchildren.

There was a vast generational gap within his family, which made bonding difficult.

He had always been lonely.

Later, Lou Dongzang found that among those of his age, children like Lou Junduo, who were prone to tears and tantrums, were more attention-grabbing.

By then, he was mature beyond his years and exhibited adult-like demeanor. The most he could do in a fit of jealousy was stand on a staircase, looking down, ignoring the housekeeper's advice to return to his studies.

Meanwhile, Lou Junduo, sitting on the carpet below playing Nintendo, would flash him an inexplicable grin, which instinctively irked him.

Because of this, Lou Dongzang evaded the sinking ship of a company that, even with his intervention, couldn't be salvaged – escaping the trap that would ruin his life.

If Lou Dongzang had agreed, he, defenseless, wouldn't be able to save it, and eventually, Lou Junduo would take over. If he declined, his elder brother could confidently hand over Cosmos to his son.

It was a lose-lose situation.

Either way, Lou Dongzang's reputation would be tarnished, and Lou Junduo would reap the benefits. The former scenario would see him fade into obscurity, while the latter would have him vilified.

After this episode, Lou Junduo took over Cosmos. Initially intending to liquidate its assets and move on, he hadn't anticipated the swift return on investment thanks to Chu Li's meteoric rise. Capturing the idol market in the entertainment industry, he subsequently produced several boy bands.

Although these boy bands didn't hit it big, riding on Nolimit's coattails ensured they turned a decent profit.

As the saying goes, "When the wind is strong, even pigs can fly." And Lou Junduo was no exception.

In the following years, Lou Junduo's net worth skyrocketed to billions. He topped the Forbes list, and his company's market value steadily increased, placing him among the top tier of the city's new generation of young elites.

Replacing... the position of Lou Dongzang.

He Guan snapped back to reality, noticing an Aston Martin DBS passing by the front of his house.

He was slightly puzzled.

Only Dongyuan was nearby.

He hadn’t checked the family garage yesterday. Was it one of their cars?

It surely wasn't driven by Lou Dongzang. It probably belonged to an outsider.

The driver was about to leave after dropping the three of them, but He Guan stopped him, "Sir, don’t you remember to add me on WeChat for your son’s sake?"

The driver smacked his forehead, "Oh, my memory! No problem, I'll have my son contact you right away."

He Guan replied, "There's no rush. In a few days is fine. If he still wants to transport cement over there, that's alright."

The driver emphatically responded, "I'll make sure he contacts you immediately!"

He Guan nodded.

However, he sensed that this arrangement might not work out.

Since the driver didn't bring it up himself, and given He Guan's overly eager approach, reminiscent of an HR desperate to hire, this might fall through.

He could recruit again later. With the framework of Cosmos intact, hiring wouldn't be an issue.

As He Guan led Uncle Yue and Ren Ning into the house, Ren Ning elbowed him, "Is this your place?"

He Guan confirmed, "Yes, but this house isn't mine. It was here before we got married, so it's pre-marital property belonging to my spouse."

After a moment's thought, he added, "Don't go upstairs. My partner is rather shy."

He Guan could guess with utmost certainty that Lou Dongzang wouldn't appreciate strangers.

As a relatively new agent, Ren Ning had completely forgotten about it during their drive.

Reacting to He Guan's words, he grabbed He Guan's collar, "Why didn't you tell me you got married? Announcing it during the press conference, do you realize how the fans might react?!"

Internally, He Guan felt he might've been too driven by money in the past. Yet, what he voiced was, "It was someone I knew. We naturally gravitated towards each other. Besides, my spouse comes from a prominent family, so going public wouldn't bode well for them."

"About the fans... I can only apologize. I'm sorry for their votes. But I think I timed it right. They haven't bought albums or merchandise yet. I did a quick check, and it seems no one has spent money on me yet. This is a good time for my exit."

Ren Ning, almost in tears, exclaimed, "You’re an emerging star! Why would you want to 'exit'? And joining another family? You’re in your prime! Have you lost your mind?"

He Guan waved dismissively, speaking leisurely, "I can't explain it now. And for the record, I'm not marrying into your family. We'll talk tonight. Let's go inside first. Don't just stand at the doorway."

Ren Ning: "Forget it."

He waved his hand in exasperation and said, "Great, now I don't have to look after you. I don't have to care if you whimsically buy a plane ticket to Sweden or hang out at casinos. I don't have to be concerned if you meet fans and eagerly take photos with them, or if you get too greedy over money, leaving me for a box of duck necks worth twelve bucks. Damn, thinking about this makes me feel a decade younger. Your sibling must be a savior."

Sibling?

He Guan paused slightly.

He hadn't gotten used to the idea of being married. It's one thing to act in front of people, but it's another to talk about it with someone you're close to.

He finally felt a tinge of peculiarity.

So, he truly had a family now, and to outsiders, he had a virtuous...

Wife?

Spouse?

Somehow, those words didn't seem to fit with the gloomy, pale man.

He Guan shook his head, dismissing those thoughts, and led the two inside.

It was just past noon, and no one had lunch. He Guan decided on the menu: blanched lettuce in oil, braised chicken, fried lotus root, and some rice. Simple yet delicious.

As Ren Ning entered the seventh door, he exclaimed, "It's so messy in here."

He Guan replied with his usual excuse, "Yes, we've just moved in. We'll have it tidied up in a couple of days. After lunch, you can leave."

Ren Ning: "So, I'm just a tool to you?"

He Guan: "Not exactly. But it's still home, and it's not very convenient for outsiders. I'll cover your fare home. Don't you have work this afternoon? You need to contribute to the Starfield, agent."

Ren Ning: "...I can't believe I fell for your lies. You just said we'd talk tonight."

He Guan chuckled, "Impressive, your response time has improved."

Suddenly, he furrowed his brows.

As they chatted, they quickly reached the sixth door.

A muffled noise from within the house interrupted their conversation.

He Guan halted them at the round archway, listening closely. He stopped them from proceeding further.

He motioned for them to wait in a side room of the sixth door, "It seems we have unexpected guests. Stay here, and I'll come to get you once everything is sorted out."

Ren Ning: "Did you want to discuss something else with me today?"

He Guan glanced at him, then remembered the crucial matter at hand. "I almost forgot. Contact Chu Li for me, give him my WeChat. Just tell him I'm the one who made a purchase on the ship. Nothing more."

Ren Ning: "Huh?"

He Guan pondered for a moment, "Also, don't mention I'm He Guan."

Ren Ning: "Are you role-playing or something?"

He Guan shook his head: "There's another reason. Brother, if you want your salary, do this properly. Chu Li is a real catch. He's far more promising than I am."

Ren Ning: "Got it. I'll send the message now. You better hurry, curious to see how good-looking your wife is since you look like you're floating off the ground."

Ren Ning was a countryside boy, becoming an agent was a sheer coincidence, and he often spoke without filtering his words.

He Guan ignored Ren Ning's teasing habit; he was genuinely anxious and headed straight for the iconic two-story building inside the seventh gate of the Gui Hall.

As soon as he opened the door, a pungent smell of blood hit him, and he narrowly avoided stepping on a piece of broken porcelain.

Looking closely, He Guan recognized it as the plate with a Siamese cat print, which he used for Lou Dongcai's smoked bacon and fried egg toast in the morning.

He shut the door, instinctively calling out, "Lou Dongcai, where are you?"

A hint of tension laced his voice.

The scent of blood was overwhelming, as if several liters, all a person might have, were splashed all over the house.

Navigating through the chaos on the first floor and finding no one, he quickly rushed to the second, calling out, "Lou Dongcai, where are you? Answer me!"

After searching the entire first floor, He Guan found no one.

Who had been here? The only thing he'd seen today was that Aston Martin…

Aston Martin…

That car seemed too familiar…

How could he forget the most crucial detail!

The turning point for Lou Dongcai, from being abandoned to being completely unhinged, was the day Lou Yi visited him!

While Lou Dongcai escaped the debt trap, he couldn't evade humiliation by the assistant close to his elder brother.

The assistant lingered intentionally for a couple of minutes behind his elder brother.

He was close to Lou Jun.

The profanities he spat, filled with vulgar references, were so vile that even He Guan, when reading the novel, would quickly turn the pages, hoping Lou Dongcai would have a better ending. Yet, he inadvertently witnessed Lou Dongcai being thrust by the wrist into the edge of a bathroom sink by the assistant.

Damn it, damn it...

In the corner of the second-floor bathroom, He Guan finally found him.

The bathroom was in shambles. The person lying in the corner against the wall resembled a barely breathing snake, marked only by his faint breaths.

Wet hair clinging to his skin due to the overhead shower made him look more like a waterlogged ghost.

His clothes were soaked, revealing a lifeless, closed eye amidst the matted hair.

"...Where were you?"

Surprisingly, Lou Dongcai was the first to speak.

Fresh blood gushed from a muddy wound on his wrist, and he clutched the showerhead with his other hand.

The muffled sound earlier must have been the showerhead falling.

Seeing Lou Dongcai in this state, a heavy weight sank in He Guan's heart.

This can't happen. If Lou Dongcai loses control, life would become unbearable for He Guan.

Being with someone perpetually on the brink of self-destruction is like living in a minefield, never knowing when an explosion might rip everything apart.

He had only just arrived; it can't end like this, not like this…

There has to be, there must be a way…

He Guan's mind raced. He quickly turned off the shower, rushed out to get the first-aid kit, and returned trembling uncontrollably.

Silently, he staunched the bleeding, inspected the wrist, dressed the wound, and tried to lift Lou Dongcai from the floor, despite him being soaked through.

Lou Dongcai didn't resist during the dressing. There was still hope.

He Guan's hands trembled as he held Lou Dongcai, unaware of his own panic.

Overwhelming guilt threatened to drown him.

If only he hadn't left today... Perhaps Lou Dongcai wouldn't have...

It was his fault; he failed to look after him...

The bathroom floor was flooded, streaked with traces of blood.

It took He Guan a full two minutes to calm himself, then he spoke, "I smelled the blood and rushed in. Lou Dongcai, don't scare me. Why are you so cold... Who was here?"

Held tight by He Guan, Lou Dongcai, with his dull eyes, remained motionless, asking, "Where did you go?"

He repeated mechanically, seeking only one answer.

Unable to lift him, He Guan knelt on the cold, wet floor, "I went to work. I cooked this morning, ate, and left you some. Remember? I told you yesterday that today was my last day at the office. I rushed home early to make lunch for you. From now on, whenever possible, I'll work from home, to be with you."

Lou Dongcai closed his eyes, murmuring, "…Alright."

Up until this moment, he had only managed to sit up. Hearing the affirmative answer, he raised his drooping hand, grasping He Guan's shoulder.

Despite his frailty, he was still a grown man. His icy fingers dug deeply into He Guan's deltoid muscle, almost embedding themselves.

Yet He Guan remained still.

He didn't dare move.

In this state, Lou Dongcai truly resembled a cold, venomous snake.

Slowly coiling around you, its chilling body tightening around your neck, leaving fingerprint after fingerprint on your smooth skin, hissing all the while.

If your answer doesn't satisfy him...

The next moment, you might feel the sting of his venomous fangs.

In a slow drawl, Lou Dongcai asked, "Did we really get married?"

He Guan didn't hesitate for a second.

His primary concern right now was to pacify Lou Dongcai.

"Yes, truly. Your entire family knows that I signed an agreement with your father. Aren't we going home for a meal with your father-in-law in a few days? I'll go with you."

Lou Dongcai's father was celebrating his seventieth birthday soon.

In a hoarse whisper, Lou Dongcai asked, "...Will you stay with me forever?"

His voice dropped even lower.

When He Guan left earlier, Lou Dongcai's voice had been clear. Now, it sounded almost torn apart.

— It was so raspy, as if a blade grew inside his throat, attempting to split his fragile body in half.

He Guan responded, "I will. I'll always be with you. Trust me, I won't leave..."

He Guan knew Lou Dongcai might not believe his words.

But he still had to say them.

...All he could do now was to leverage their fragile marital bond to gain Lou Dongcai's trust.

Held in his embrace, Lou Dongcai felt devoid of warmth, resembling a cold cadaver. Aside from the occasional rise and fall of his breath, in all other aspects...

He Guan could barely recognize him as a living being.

Lou Dongcai lapsed back into silence.

The ensuing stillness amplified the bathroom's quietness, interrupted only by the faint trickling of water. Water dripped from Lou Dongcai's wet clothes onto the puddles on the floor, creating a rhythmic pitter-patter.

The hand he laid on He Guan's skin felt like snake scales, cold and wandering without restraint.

As He Guan was about to lift his finger to tug at his collar, the gesture was halted.

He turned his head, brushing his cheek gently against the fingertips.

He Guan's breath was light and warm, carrying the youthful vibrancy unique to young men, a stark contrast to the lifeless aura of Lou Dongzang.

Like a sparrow, hopping delicately on the body of a snake, landing on its head.

He Guan whispered, "Your hands feel like ice..."

Lou Dongzang remained silent.

The young man took his fingers, pressing the outer knuckle to the warmth of his palm and warming the inside with his cheek, engulfing his hand. He said, "It's 11:30 in the morning. I just got home and am about to cook. I'll make blanched lettuce, stewed chicken, and fried lotus root patties. It's a lovely day."

He didn't insist on getting Lou Dongzang out of the water and simply chatted with him.

That voice seemed to soothe Lou Dongzang.

Held tightly and unable to move, He Guan glanced around recalling details from his rushed entrance. He said, "It's almost noon. Sparrows from your window this morning entered the room and left droppings on the carpet. Can you clean it up?"

It took a while before Lou Dongzang responded, "...I can't."

A gentle laugh escaped from He Guan.

The visible gloom around Lou Dongzang gradually dissipated.

He Guan patiently waited for him to return to his usual demeanor.

He wore a sweater he'd changed into in the car. It was made of cashmere, soft and silky, very pleasant to touch.

The searing pain on Lou Dongzang's temples ceased its biting, and he relaxed his tense neck, resting his head on He Guan's shoulder, making the slightest nuzzle.

He liked that feeling.

"...Stay with me for a while."

He Guan was held close in his embrace, pressed as if they were melding into one.

At last, amidst the tightening grip, he spoke.

He said, "Also... I brought two people over for a meeting today. Do you want to dine with them or should I bring your food up?"

Lou Dongzang replied, "The latter."

The latter it is.

He Guan: "Can you let go of me?"

Lou Dongzang frowned immediately, the irritation in his brows evident.

"No."

Still drenched, he looked defeated and oppressed, about to revert to his prior state.

He Guan gently urged, "The water's too cold... Lou Dongzang."

The very breath Lou Dongzang exhaled was cold, his soaked clothes having drenched He Guan's sweater, sending a chill across his chest.

It wasn't until this moment that the palpable gloom surrounding Lou Dongzang slightly receded: "...Sleep with me tonight."

He Guan didn't immediately consent: "...Release me first. Your grip is so tight I can't breathe."

What's happening? He's straight. What's the deal with sharing a bed with another man?

Pretending is one thing, but to actually share a bed with him...

The usually oblivious He Guan just now realized how close they were. While he had smoothly answered the previous questions, he stumbled on this one.

Seeing Lou Dongzang's spirits drop again, He Guan quickly said, "I'll sleep with you, I will! But first, help me get up from the ground! Don't stay here; you'll freeze me to death."

Just sharing a bed, it should be okay, right?

He Guan had always been known for his peaceful sleeping posture.

The wet serpent clung tightly to him, constricting his waist, and uttered a single word.

"Okay."