Xiang Yu sat on the plush leather couch in his boyfriend’s office, his legs crossed with an air of casual confidence. He slipped on Han Xin’s clean shirt, the fabric crisp against his skin. As he buttoned it up, he glanced at his man, a playful glint in his eyes. "Xin-ge, you ruined my favourite shirt," he said, his voice carrying a hint of coquetry.
Han Xin, who was meticulously cleaning his desk with a paper towel and cleaning spray, looked up and smiled recalling how Xiang Yu’s shirt got ruined. If he was being honest, he would do it again but he didn’t say out loud.
"Don’t worry, I will get you even more shirts," he replied, his grin stretching from ear to ear like a love-struck fool, "... so I can ruin them again." His voice was so low that it was barely audible.
"Huh?" asked Xiang Yu as he ran his fingers through his hair but Han Xin would never repeat that.
He said, "I will take you shopping soon." Xiang Yu let out a throaty chuckle that sent a shiver down Han Xin’s spine. Han Xin bit his lower lip, about to ask if Xiang Yu enjoyed what they had just done when his phone rang again. He had been ignoring it, but the persistent ringing demanded his attention. With a sigh, he unlocked it and saw his father’s name flashing on the screen. Han Xin knew something was up, but he couldn’t avoid it any longer. He picked up the call, his responses limited to a series of "yes" and "sure."
Xiang Yu, curiosity piqued, stood up and walked towards Han Xin. He wrapped his arms around Han Xin from behind, his presence a comforting weight. When Han Xin finished the call, he turned to face Xiang Yu, his expression troubled.
"What is it? Your face doesn’t look good," Xiang Yu asked, concern lacing his voice.
"My father wants me back at the family home right now," Han Xin replied, his tone heavy with unease.
Xiang Yu adjusted Han Xin’s tie, his fingers deft and reassuring. "It’s nothing good so why go?" he murmured.
Han Xin pinched Xiang Yu’s chin gently, lifting his face. "But I have to go," he said, pressing a kiss to Xiang Yu’s forehead. "I know my old man is onto something but... you have my back, right?"
Xiang Yu’s eyes hardened with determination. "You know I will go to war for you. If you are not back in two hours, I am kicking down doors and breaking jaws."
Han Xin smiled, a wave of relief washing over him. He kissed Xiang Yu’s slightly swollen lips the kiss fleeting but intense. "In the meantime, search Peng Xiu’s office and apartment."
"Don’t worry, I am on it, boss," Xiang Yu replied with a confident nod.
Han Xin chuckled, their fingers entwining as he led Xiang Yu to the resting area, a separate room in his office. He guided him to a mini closet filled with his clothes. Pressing his palm against the back of the closet, a light scanned his prints, revealing a hidden safe. Han Xin retrieved a flash drive, placing it in Xiang Yu’s hand and closing his fingers around it.
"You know what to do with this if anything goes wrong," Han Xin said, his voice steady.
Xiang Yu looked down at the flash drive, his brow arched. "You trust me with this?"
Han Xin pulled Xiang Yu into a tight embrace, his head resting in the crook of Xiang Yu’s neck. His fingers curled, clasping Xiang Yu’s shirt. "I trust you with my life."
Xiang Yu smiled, hugging him even tighter. "And I won’t let you down."
Han Xin drove up to the Han family mansion, the imposing structure looming ahead. The atmosphere was thick with tension, a palpable unease that set his nerves on edge. He had reassured Xiang Yu not to worry, but in truth, he was on high alert. He had chosen to drive alone, a decision that now seemed both wise and reckless. As he navigated the winding driveway, he noted the presence of several bodyguards from various clans, their eyes tracking his every move.
Parked around the grand water fountain were numerous luxury cars, their registration plates revealing the identities of their owners. Han Xin didn’t need to guess. He knew exactly who was there. He turned the wheel, his expensive watch catching the sunlight and casting a brief, blinding glare. As he parked, he pulled out his phone, scanning his biometrics and scrolling through an app. Just as he pressed a button, a knock on the window drew his attention.
The butler of the Han family stood there, peering in with an unsettling grin. Han Xin slipped his phone back into his pocket and stepped out of the car, his demeanour shifting to one of cold indifference. He had never liked this butler from the day he met him. He would always manage to get under his skin every chance he got.
He was the same man who had come to fetch him when his mother passed away, arranging the funeral with a kind face that belied the malice Han Xin sensed beneath. Even his grandmother had disliked the butler, a sentiment that had always made Han Xin wary.
As Han Xin gained power within the family, the butler restrained himself, but today, he seemed overly confident, as if something significant was about to unfold. Han Xin buttoned his suit jacket, his movements deliberate and controlled, and walked into the house.
Meanwhile, Han Zhan sat at home, a cigarette dangling from his lips as Little Bai worked on his tattoo. Han Zhan took a long drag, the smoke curling upwards in a lazy spiral. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out, exhaling a cloud of smoke. Little Bai frowned, his irritation clear. "Do you have to smoke right now?"
Han Zhan unlocked his phone, the cigarette pinched between his fingers, a long wisp of smoke rising to the ceiling. "I told you I needed a smoke break, but you said no," he replied, his tone nonchalant. Little Bai rolled his eyes, glancing at the twins playing in the pool outside. Lian and Mei were hitting each other with a pool noodle, their laughter echoing through the glass door. No one was crying, so he didn’t intervene.