A flash of surprise crossed He Juan’s features, as if he couldn’t comprehend why Mu Yuze was even bothered about that – which was absolutely ridiculous.

How could the man show up after almost a week of disappearance, looking very much gaunt and haggard as if he had made a round trip to the gate of Hell, and not expect Mu Yuze to ask questions about it?! He had initially assumed that the fractured arm was all there was to it, but now it turned out he had broken his ribs as well?!

Once again, Mu Yuze recalled the piece of bombing news he had heard in the car with Chen Youzhi. At that time, he noticed that Chen Youzhi had reacted almost immediately. He became visibly restless and hurriedly left once Mu Yuze reassured him that it was okay to leave him alone.

It couldn’t be... that day, had He Juan really been involved in that accident?

"Look at these deep little lines," a gentle touch on his forehead broke his line of thoughts and he almost went cross-eyed when he focused on He Juan’s finger pressed between his brows. The man’s smile was as gentle as ever, and Mu Yuze hated how it always made his heart skip a beat. "What kind of theory are you concocting in your mind again? Hmm? I’m totally fine. It’s only some broken ribs, nothing serious. Moreover, you are so light that you almost weigh nothing at all..." he chuckled.

Mu Yuze shot him a glare out of reflex. He did not know which point he should be angry with – He Juan teasing him again, or how the man had so easily claimed that broken ribs were nothing serious.

How could it not be serious? Did he think that Mu Yuze was a gullible child?!

Alas, He Juan was clearly undeterred by his dark glare, if the twinkles in his silver eyes were anything to go by. Instead, the man looked... happy. "Not angry with me anymore?" he asked, a tentative hope in his tone.

Mu Yuze suddenly recalled their previous argument – if his sudden outrage could even be considered an argument – and the embarrassment crashed back in full force. Now that he had gone through that rollercoaster ride of emotions, he strangely felt... naked and defenseless, as if he had been stripped off his clothes and being paraded around the street to become a laughing joke for everyone present.

Just what was wrong with him? Why was he so weak? To have a meltdown in the middle of the street... and in front of He Juan at that! Hell, could the situation get any worse?!

His fists clenched on top of his lap, nails digging sharply into the flesh. He dared not look straight at He Juan’s eyes again, for fear that... what was he scared of? He had no idea. He just felt so small, so worthless and fragile. He wanted the ridiculously expensive leather seat to open up and swallow him into its dark chasm. He wanted—

"Xiao Ze." A sigh sounded from the other man, causing him to flinch and shrink deeper into himself. He almost plastered himself to the car window behind him.

"Oh no, Xiao Ze, don’t look like that..." He Juan made a soft, distressed sound deep in his throat – a sound that Mu Yuze had never thought would come from a powerful Alpha like He Juan. It was like he was... like he was genuinely upset on Mu Yuze’s behalf. But why? Why would He Juan even care for someone like him? "Mu Yuze, listen to me—"

Alas, before He Juan could finish his sentence, the car rolled to a stop in front of a large and massive gate and Chen Youzhi – oh God, Mu Yuze had forgotten that the man existed and had literally become the only witness to this embarrassing conversation! – pressed on the honk twice.

A few seconds later, the gate slowly swung open on its own.

In front of him was the largest house he had ever seen. No, he was certain it couldn’t be considered a house anymore. It should be... a villa? A mansion? Or a castle?

Mu Yuze could feel himself gawking as he took in the surroundings. Lining along the path was a beautifully tended and trimmed garden, street lamps that gave off an antique vibe and... there was even a fountain! This was the first time Mu Yuze had ever seen something like this and he did not even realize that he was plastering his face to the window, taking in the sprinkles of water that bloomed like a firework before trickling gently to the small pool below.

The car halted right in front of the castle and it took Mu Yuze all his willpower not to gape at the sheer luxury and extravagance of it. Wow, he had only seen something like this on television...

Chen Youzhi turned off the engine, got down from the car and opened the door for He Juan, startling Mu Yuze out of his daze.

"Let’s go." He Juan told him. His tone, albeit gentle, showed that he would not receive any refusal. "We will talk again later."

"W–Wait!" Mu Yuze scrambled to hold onto the hem of the man’s sleeves, too flustered to recall his earlier predicament. He stared wide-eyed at He Juan, stuttering out in disbelief, "You... You want me to... go in... there?"

His fingertips were chilled and the breath he exhaled was shaky. He... He couldn’t do it! He already felt ashamed by entering a family restaurant, let alone this place that screamed of wealth and status! What if he accidentally broke something and couldn’t pay for it? What if the owner of the house despised a slum kid like him? What if—

Just thinking about it was enough to make him nauseous. He felt like he was going to have another panic attack.

He Juan’s expression shifted into something softer as if he knew exactly what Mu Yuze was worrying about. He realized half a beat late that it was the same face He Juan had made when the man pressed him to sit down in front of him at the family restaurant.

However, instead of comforting Mu Yuze like he had done last time, He Juan instantly hardened his face and said almost ruthlessly, "Yes, Mu Yuze, you are going to get down from the car and enter that place." Just as Mu Yuze opened his mouth in protest, he heard He Juan add with an arc of his brow, "If you refuse, I don’t mind carrying you in my arms like I did earlier. How about it?"