Silence filled the room, tension thickening the air. President Yin’s face contorted with a mix of disappointment and frustration when he saw that his nephew hadn’t said anything.

"You are a fool. Love often comes at an expensive price and like a flower, it will soon wither away. But remember this, family loyalty should always come first."

Luo Muchen gritted his teeth before saying,

"Family betrayed me first." He soon walked out of the house and didn’t look back.

Meanwhile, President Yin called his secretary over. He bowed before him waiting for his instructions. "Find me Bager and his accomplice. If I know my nephew he is going to eliminate them next. Bring them to me," he said his tone stern.

"Yes sir," he replied before turning to make some calls. The man took a sip absentmindedly his gaze staring into blank space. He had learned from experience and to get what he wanted he had to sever the two men’s relationship.

***

Luo Muchen clenched his fists tightly as he settled into the leather seats of his car. His uncle’s words still echoed in his mind, the threatening words reverberating through his thoughts.

As the miles passed by he couldn’t hold back any longer. His anger coursed through his veins, his emotions reaching a boiling point. Unable to contain his frustration Luo Muchen’s hand collided with the car seat in front of him, his clenched fist striking it repeatedly with a force that shook the entire vehicle. The sudden display of aggression startled his driver and his henchman, their concerned gazes fixed on their boss.

Just when it seemed like Luo Muchen’s hand would break a melodic ringtone specific to Qie Xieling echoed through the car.

The sight of it instantly transformed Luo Muchen’s demeanour. His anger dissipated, replaced by a look of relief. The storm raging within him quickly vanished and he pulled himself together.

He fixed his hair and accepted the video call. He was suddenly met with Qie Xieling’s handsome face looking at him.

"Did I disturb you?" he asked while putting his water bottle down. Luo Muchen couldn’t help but recall what his uncle said. If Qie Xieling really leaves him what would he do? His anxiety was showing on his face so Qie Xieling asked, "What? What’s wrong?"

Luo Muchen opened his mouth to say something but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Would you be with me if I didn’t have any money?"

Qie Xieling had no idea where this was coming from. He sneered with slight annoyance. "Where is this coming from?" he asked and Luo Muchen wished he could take his words back. He shouldn’t have asked because now he was upsetting him.

Qie Xieling knew something must have been bothering Luo Muchen for him to ask such a stupid question.

"Forget it... Let’s forget I asked," said Luo Muchen trying to move on from this subject.

"No no no, let’s talk about it. You have already brought it up so...," he said before looking up at Bo Ailun who was analysing his stats. "Bo Bo," he called out and Bo Ailun stopped what he was doing to glare at him.

"Will you stop calling me that? Now everyone will start calling me Bo Bo."

Qie Xieling quickly apologised. "Uh uh uh I get it. I will stop. Do you think I am the type to be with someone for their money?"

Bo Ailun laughed out loud before saying, "You do love money. I mean who doesn’t? But you don’t love money that much otherwise you would have dated that witch from Eastside Triads. Didn’t she try to seduce you and you said you don’t mix business with pleasure? She had money but you didn’t date her."

Qie Xieling, "..."

He wanted Bo Ailun to advocate for him not snitch on him. Granted he wasn’t the one who did those things but still.

"Oh and remember when we were down bad and those second-generation rich kids approached you so they could be your sponsors but in return you had to date one of them? You gave that kid a middle finger and he ran to Daddy. After that news spread that you were taking drugs. That time even I thought you were too stupid. You should ha-."

"Ah stop stop stop. Just stop talking," he said as he got up to leave.

"What? You asked?" said Bo Ailun.

Qie Xieling walked a bit further and said, "You see. I might be a jerk but I have standards. If you go broke we can buy a cabin in the woods and spend the rest of our lives carefree."

Luo Muchen knew that Qie Xieling was highly sought out but it never bothered him until now. Instead of reassuring him it made him feel like Qie Xieling had even more options. There was a line of men and women waiting for him to become single.

Qie Xieling could see that his plan had failed stirring up shit that wasn’t there before thus he said, "I am not with you because of that. I am with you because I love you. I don’t know what I can do to prove myself to you," he said only for Luo Muchen to ask,

"What did you say?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Qie Xieling raked his fingers in his hair as he repeated, "I don’t know wha-."

"No before that. What did you say?" interrupted Luo Muchen and Qie Xieling said,

"I am not with you_."

"No, after that," said Luo Muchen and Qie Xieling replied, "I am with you because I love you."

Luo Muchen’s breathing stagnated his hand holding his cell phone trembling.

"Lin Lin, get off the phone and continue training!!!" yelled Jolie who had caught him slipping again. The break was meant to be for fifteen minutes but it was already an hour.

"Okay geez, just stop nagging," he said before turning to Luo Muchen, "We will talk about this later tonight. Muah."

Luo Muchen stared at the black screen for a while. He didn’t think in a million years Qie Xieling would say that to him and when it came out of his mouth it felt so natural and not forced like he genuinely loved him. His heart couldn’t handle it. It was too good to be true.