Chapter 909

Gu Yun's head was spinning violently. He knew exactly what they intended to do, but his body refused to obey—every limb felt like lead. Panic surged through him. With a desperate shove, he pushed away the figures crowding around him, staggering sideways in search of escape. But his pursuers weren't about to let their prey slip away. Fumbling for his phone with trembling hands, Gu Yun smashed his forehead against the wall—the sharp pain the only thing cutting through his dizziness. His mind raced blankly; who could he call for help? In his disoriented state, his fingers dialed on their own accord. Only when the line connected did he realize—he'd called Pei Chuan. "Hello?" But the voice that answered belonged to Linda. That single word extinguished his last flicker of hope. All resistance drained from his body. What was the point? The phone slipped from his grasp as rough hands seized him. He didn't struggle when they dragged him out of the bar. Let this be the end, then. This... was how mistakes should conclude. ... Nan Cheng. Pei Chuan sought out Tang Jinzhou, demanding that he hand over Gu Yun. Tang Jinzhou looked at him with a mocking glint in his eyes. "Why can't you just let him go? If this is about revenge for what he did to Beckett, then the one you should hate is me, not Gu Yun. Give him a way out." Pei Chuan frowned. "I just don’t want him with someone like you. You’ll only corrupt him." Tang Jinzhou laughed. "Pei Chuan, what’s this really about? You knew full well Gu Yun prefers men, yet you still led him on. Compared to you, I’m practically a saint." Pei Chuan froze, rooted to the spot. "He’s already gone," Tang Jinzhou said coolly, glancing at his watch. "Left Pinebrook for good. He won’t be coming back, and he won’t be around me to be 'corrupted.' So, Pei Chuan… just let him be." He turned to leave. "I’ve got things to do. See you around." Pei Chuan stood there, motionless, for a long time. Gu Yun was gone. He’d left Pinebrook completely, and he’d never pose a threat to Beckett again. So why did Pei Chuan still feel this gnawing dissatisfaction? He wasn’t even sure himself what exactly he was still holding onto. But whenever he thought of Gu Yun, there was an inexplicable hollowness in his chest. "Find out if Gu Yun really left Pinebrook," he muttered. "He’s a liar—never tells the truth." His subordinate nodded. "Right away, Mr. Pei." … Pei Chuan’s residence. Returning home, he felt an unsettling emptiness inside. He gazed at the place where Gu Yun had once lived, sitting silently in the courtyard for a long time. "Pei Chuan, you left your phone at my place. You seem so anxious—did something happen?" Linda rushed out and handed the phone to him. "Did anyone call me?" Pei Chuan instinctively took the phone and checked the call log. What was he expecting? Hoping that Gu Yun would reach out after leaving? Maybe to say goodbye? A quick glance at the call history showed no unfamiliar numbers. Linda lowered her voice hesitantly. "N-no one called you." Pei Chuan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Alright." "Pei Chuan, I posted our wedding photos online. Did you see them?" Linda sat down beside him. Pei Chuan froze for a moment, his mind elsewhere. Tang Jinzhou had said it—he knew full well that Gu Yun liked men. Deep down, Pei Chuan knew he was being awful. He was fully aware of Gu Yun's preferences, yet he still clung to him with a mix of disgust and possessiveness, unwilling to let him love anyone else. "Pei Chuan, my adoptive parents are coming over tonight to discuss our wedding. You absolutely have to make time for this, okay?" Linda wrapped her arms around his. Pei Chuan nodded, but an inexplicable unease settled in his chest. I can't shake this feeling... something bad is about to happen. ... Shen Yue Hotel. Tang Jinzhou came to see Shen Rou, bringing her some fruit. When Shen Rou opened the door, she was visibly surprised. "You... washed them yourself?" Though it wasn’t anything extravagant, Tang Jinzhou seemed to know exactly how to touch her heart. Shen Rou stood frozen for a long moment before finally accepting the fruit. Back when she was poor, she couldn’t afford such luxuries. Now that she had money, it was the simplest things that moved her the most. As the CEO of Park Group, she had no shortage of suitors showering her with lavish gifts worth millions—yet none of them ever stirred her heart. But Tang Jinzhou? All it took was a box of hand-washed fruit. "How about French for dinner later?" Tang Jinzhou asked casually. Hugging the fruit box, Shen Rou nodded with a smile. He could afford expensive gifts, yet he still put thought into the little things. If Tang Jinzhou set his mind to it, no woman could resist him... "Want some?" Shen Rou offered him the fruit. Tang Jinzhou picked up a freshly washed cherry. "I tried one while washing them—they're surprisingly sweet." Shen Rou smiled, never expecting to see this side of Tang Jinzhou. It made her feel at ease, so much so that she nearly let her guard down. *Buzz!* Tang Jinzhou’s phone rang—a call from the police station in Harbor City. He froze for a second, his brow furrowing as an uneasy feeling gripped him. He stood up to answer. "Hello?" "Mr. Tang Jinzhou?" the officer asked. "Do you know a Mr. Gu Yun?" Tang Jinzhou’s chest tightened. "Yes. He’s my brother." "He’s been involved in an incident… Could you come down to the station?" Tang Jinzhou’s pulse quickened. He rarely worried about others like this, but this time, his eyelids wouldn’t stop twitching. "I’m in Pinebrook, but I’ll get there as fast as I can." He hung up and turned to Shen Rou. "My brother’s in trouble. I need to go to Harbor City." Shen Rou frowned in concern. "Do you want me to come with you?" Tang Jinzhou shook his head. "The Pinebrook bid is about to start. Stay focused—go consult with Bai Heming. Beckett and the Li family won’t be easy to handle." A warmth spread through Shen Rou’s chest, and she nodded. "Be careful." After Tang Jinzhou left, Shen Rou stared blankly at the fruit box on the table. A bitter smile tugged at her lips as she slowly unclenched her hand from where she had been gripping her own skin. Pale crescent marks bloomed red where her nails had dug in. If only she had met Tang Jinzhou earlier... How wonderful that would have been. But now, she was battered and bruised, tainted beyond recognition—even she couldn’t bear to look at herself. And Tang Jinzhou? He was just as enigmatic... Yet she had to admit, Tang Jinzhou was a far better partner than Bai Heming. Shen Rou knew all too well—Bai Heming was a monster. If she ever fell into his grasp, her fate would be no better than those women he’d toyed with until they ended up in the hospital. So… she really needed to make her move soon. Align with Tang Jinzhou. Cut Bai Heming loose. Take a leap of faith in Tang Jinzhou… …… Pearl Restaurant. Linda’s adoptive parents had arrived, and she had dressed to impress, bringing Pei Chuan to meet them. The entire ride over, Pei Chuan had been staring out the window, distracted. His mind was consumed by Gu Yun—the image of her leaping from the building without hesitation. "Linda…" The car pulled into the parking spot, and Pei Chuan’s voice was rough as he spoke. "I’m sorry… I told you before, I’ve never been in love. I don’t even know what it feels like. To me, you’ve always been like a little sister." Linda had said she was willing to wait—wait for him to fall in love with her, to marry her. "But now… I might have to break my promise. I don’t think I can marry you after all." Pei Chuan’s voice was low as he twisted the watch on his wrist. "I’m sorry." Linda's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at Pei Chuan. "Why... Is there someone else you like?" Pei Chuan thought of Gu Yun and rubbed his temples wearily. "Maybe..." Maybe he truly was a madman, a freak. It seemed he really did harbor an abnormal possessiveness toward Gu Yun. "It's that boy named Gu Yun, isn't it?" Linda choked out between sobs. "I'm sorry... He called you last night. I had your phone, and I answered it... I deleted the call record. I was so scared... I'm sorry." Pei Chuan's expression darkened instantly. Frantically, he pulled out his phone. "You're saying Gu Yun called me last night?"