The Old House - Just Before Dawn:
The location Zhenlong had given Ruifen was a quiet, unassuming house on the city's outskirts with a well-kept garden. The owner was an elderly, retired man who had once been one of Zhenlong's most loyal soldiers.
Inside, Zhenlong paced like a caged tiger. Yichen sat rigidly on a chair, the white bandage over his eye stark against his pale, bruised face.
"Yichen, for the last time, go to the damn hospital," Zhenlong growled, the worry making him angry. "Your eye could be permanently damaged."
"I'm not leaving," Yichen said, his voice flat and final. "Not until he's safe."
Headlights cut through the pre-dawn gloom. Cars pulled up. Ruifen stepped out first, elegant and composed. Guo Lian followed, roughly shoving a battered and bleeding Dr. Shen forward. Zhenlong's other captured men were marched out, hands bound.
Ruifen smiled sweetly at Zhenlong. "You kept your word. Let's see if you were telling the truth."
They were all herded into the house and down a narrow set of stairs leading to a basement. Guo Lian kept her pistol pressed firmly against Zhiyuan's temple, making every step agonizing for Yichen and Zhenlong to watch.
The basement was surprisingly spacious. At the far end was a heavy, modern vault door set into the concrete wall.
"Open it," Ruifen commanded.
Zhenlong, his jaw tight with fury and helplessness, stepped forward. He input a long code and turned a heavy wheel. With a hiss of pressurized air, the vault door swung open.
The interior gleamed under the basement's bare bulb. Stacked in neat rows were gold bars, glittering dully. Bundles of cash filled shelves. And on a small pedestal lay a leather-bound folder and a few sealed envelopes the last will and testament of Liang Wenhao, and other critical documents.
Ruifen's eyes lit up with greedy triumph. She let out a low, delighted laugh as she stepped inside, her fingers brushing over the cold gold. She went straight for the documents, pulling out the will. Scanning it, her smile widened into a victorious grin.
"Finally," she breathed. "Everything. It's all mine."
She turned to her men. "Start loading it. All of it." As her guards began hauling the gold bars out to the cars, she walked back to her captives, who were now being forced into a corner and bound with ropes by her other men.
Zhiyuan's bound hands clenched into fists. His eyes kept darting to Yichen, full of silent worry for his injury. Yichen, however, kept his head down, his single visible eye fixed on the floor, avoiding Zhiyuan's gaze, consumed by his own failure.
Once everyone was securely tied up in the corner, Ruifen stood before them, the queen of her newly claimed empire. The gold was being carried away behind her.
"Now," she said, smoothing her jacket. "We can have a proper little family chat while my men work." She looked at Zhenlong with pity. "All this wealth, all this planning for your retirement... and you just gave it to me to save one boy. Sentimental to the end, just like your dear Wenhao." She laughed her head falling back before looking at zhenlong "Poor brother," she sneered, her lips curling as she stepped closer. "I don't know what he ever saw in you. I wish he were here, just to see how pathetic you look now."
She laughed softly, cruel and satisfied. "But unfortunately, he had to leave early. You should be thanking me for that. I sent your beloved straight to heaven. He must be resting there, all peaceful and warm, while you…" She leaned down, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You suffer here, in my hands."
Then she turned sharply toward Dr. Shen, eyes blazing with madness and pride.
"See?" she said mockingly. "Even the Lord of the Underworld is on his knees in front of me. This is how powerful I am. This is what I was capable of."
Her smile shattered, rage pouring through the cracks. "I was so much better than Zhiyuan. Smarter. Stronger. More deserving."
Her voice rose, shaking with years of bitterness. "And what did I get? Nothing. Just being married off to some useless old businessman. A man who lost everything within months."
She laughed again, hollow this time, almost desperate. "And what did I get in return?"
Her eyes burned as she screamed, "Nothing. Nothing at all."
The trap had been sprung, the treasure taken. They were all alive, but utterly at her mercy, forced to watch their last hope be carted away.
The moment Ruifen's cars disappeared down the lane, the atmosphere in the bomb-rigged basement shifted instantly. The fear and tension melted away, replaced by a collective exhale and then low chuckles.
Zhenlong shook his head with a wry grin. "Wow. I have to admit, I didn't see the Louis twist coming. She really went all out to make it look like a gang war."
Dr. Shen, despite his bruises, let out a real laugh, wincing slightly. "Zhiyuan, you were right. She's utterly predictable in her overconfidence. I never thought the 'captured and desperate' act would work so perfectly."
Zhiyuan, still bound but smiling, shrugged as best he could. "I told you. Capture us all together, give her the treasure, and she can't resist gloating. She had to explain her genius to the captive audience. It's her fatal flaw."
Yichen, the bandage over his eye looking more dramatic than strictly necessary now, let out a soft chuckle. "I'm just glad she took the bait and monologued. And thank god Guo Lian convinced her to use bombs for a 'clean, untraceable accident' instead of just shooting us on the spot. Gave us the window we needed."
"Okay, okay," Zhiyuan said, his smile fading into pragmatic worry. "The gloating part is over. But the bombs she left are very real. What now?"
Zhenlong and Yichen exchanged a look a rare moment of perfect understanding and smugness.
"Now," Zhenlong said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone, "Boom"
The Next Day - A Public Park (The "Funeral")
Ruifen stood before a hastily assembled cluster of news cameras and somber-faced business associates. A tasteful display of white flowers framed her. She dabbed at dry eyes with a handkerchief.
"I just received the… the tragic confirmation," she announced, her voice trembling with practiced grief. "My dear nephew Zhiyuan, who had already been so critically injured, died doctors couldn't save him"
She paused for a dramatic sob. "Before his untimely passing, in his wisdom, he had already signed over all controlling interests of the Liang Group to me, his only remaining family, to steward in his absence. I am… I am too old for this burden, but I will do my best to honor his legacy…"
A woman beside her patted her arm soothingly for the cameras.
Just then, a ripple of gasps moved through the crowd. Heads turned. Cameras swiveled away from the weeping aunt.
Walking calmly, purposefully through the park, dressed in a flawlessly tailored black suit that spoke of authority and life, was Liang Zhiyuan. His face was clean, his gaze sharp and clear. Half a step behind and to his right was Chen Yichen, his eye still bandaged, his posture protective and unmistakable.
The crowd parted for them like the Red Sea.
Ruifen, sensing the shift, turned. Her face, a masterpiece of staged grief, shattered into pure, unvarnished shock. Her jaw went slack. The handkerchief fell from her numb fingers.
"You…" she whispered, the word lost in the growing murmur.
From the edges of the park, police officers in uniform moved in. One stepped forward, his voice loud and official. "Liang Ruifen, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Liang Zhiyuan, Chen Yichen, Shen Wei, and others, for the murder of Liang Xinyi, for conspiracy, fraud, and embezzlement."
As the officer began reciting her rights, the crowd erupted into chaos. Reporters shouted questions. Onlookers pointed and exclaimed.
In the VIP seating area, which had a large monitor showing the live news feed, Dr. Shen, Zhenlong, and Li Xiao Xue watched with triumphant smiles.
"YES! That's my best friend!" Xiao Xue cheered, jumping up and down, completely abandoning any pretense of funeral decorum. She pointed at the screen. "Uncle Shen! You looked so cool with those camera glasses! I want a pair!"
Dr. Shen, sitting beside her, adjusted the very same pair of stylish, thick-rimmed glasses on his nose and smirked. "These old things? They're just for reading."
But they weren't. They were high-definition recording devices. From the moment Ruifen's men had "captured" him at the warehouse, through the entire basement monologue where she confessed to murder, conspiracy, and her entire plot, every word, every smug smile, had been recorded and sent to the police.
FLASHBACK - The Night Before, After Guo Lian's Warning:
After Ruifen's call, the group in the safe house had been tense, unsure of her next move. Minutes later, Guo Lian's encrypted message came through: "Plan is bombs. Basement. She wants it to look like an accident. This is all the help I can give."
They had the warning, but they needed a bomb expert. Their usual specialist was with Dr. Shen's captured team. Time was critical.
Yichen had snapped his fingers. "Xiao Xue."
Zhiyuan had looked at him, puzzled. "What about her?"
"She's rich daddy's favorite daughter"" Yichen explained quickly. "I'm sure she can help us"
A desperate call was made. Xiao Xue, once she understood the severity, didn't hesitate. She contacted her old friend, who, sworn to secrecy, used his expertise to access the simple timer devices Ruifen's men had set.
BACK TO THE PRESENT:
As the police led a shell-shocked, silent Ruifen away, Zhiyuan stopped before the bank of cameras. He didn't smile. He looked solemn, powerful, and very much alive.
"The Liang Group," he announced, his voice carrying clearly, "is in safe hands. My hands. And this chapter of betrayal is now closed."
He turned, his eyes finding Yichen's. The bodyguard gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. The battle was won. The war for his life, his legacy, and his love was finally over.
Across the park, watching the man she once thought she would marry stand victorious, Xiao Xue cheered again, her joy pure and uncomplicated. She wasn't the heroine of the story, but she had played a crucial part, and that was enough.
The reporters went wild. They shouted questions all at once.
"Mr. Liang! Is it true you faked your death?"
"How did you survive the explosion?"
"What will happen to the Liang Group now?"
"Was your aunt really behind everything?"
Zhiyuan held up a hand. The crowd quieted.
"Please, one at a time," he said, his voice calm and firm.
A reporter in front spoke up. "Is it true you set a trap for your aunt?"
"We uncovered her plans," Zhiyuan answered carefully. "We used her own greed and overconfidence against her. The police have all the evidence they need."
Another reporter yelled, "What about the gold? The property?"
"All assets taken illegally will be returned to the Liang Group," Zhiyuan stated. "The law will handle it."
"And your health, Mr. Liang? There were reports of serious injury."
Zhiyuan's gaze flickered for a second to Yichen beside him. "I am recovering. Thanks to the people who truly care for me."
The questions kept coming. About the company, about the future.
Through it all, Yichen didn't say a word. He stood half a step behind Zhiyuan, his one good eye never leaving him. He wasn't watching the crowd or the cameras. He was only watching Zhiyuan.
He watched the way Zhiyuan handled the press with such natural authority. The way he stood tall, no longer the sheltered, poisoned heir, but a true leader who had faced hell and won.
A small, proud smile touched Yichen's lips, hidden behind his serious expression. His heart felt full. This was the man he had protected. This was the man he loved. Seeing him here, strong and in control, was better than any victory.
He didn't need to speak. His place was right here, beside him. Guarding him. Loving him. Admiring him.
For Yichen, that was enough.
The last of the media was ushered away. The park grew quiet. Zhiyuan finally turned to Yichen, a tired but happy smile on his face, only to find Yichen already looking at him with that soft, awestruck expression.
Before he could say a word, a blur of motion hit him.
"ZHIYUAN!" Xiao Xue cried, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. "I missed you so much! I was so worried!"
Zhiyuan chuckled, patting her back. "Thanks, Xiao Xue. For everything. You were a big help."
She pulled back, her eyes sparkling. She turned to Yichen and gave a funny, formal little bow. "And thank you, Mr. Bodyguard! For taking such good care of him!" She spun back to Zhiyuan, her excitement barely contained. "I'm so happy! And I never thought… your dad is so COOOOLLL! Oh my god, I can't believe Uncle Wenhao was gay! And had a secret mafia boyfriend! This is like the best drama ever!"
Zhiyuan and Yichen looked at each other and burst out laughing, the stress of the day melting away in the face of her genuine, cheerful shock.
Dr. Shen and Zhenlong walked over, looking relieved but weary.
"Finally," Zhenlong grumbled, though his eyes were softer than usual. "It's over."
Xiao Xue immediately zeroed in on Dr. Shen. "Uncle Shen! You promised! You said you'd give me those glasses!" She pointed at the high-tech frames on his face.
Dr. Shen looked away, pretending to be very interested in a distant tree. "What glasses? These? I told you they're just my old reading glasses…"
Zhiyuan laughed again, then his smile turned a little sad as he looked at Dr. Shen. "Do you really have to leave? Can't you stay a while longer?"
Dr. Shen sighed, a real tiredness in it. "I just want some peace, kiddo. Away from all… this." He gestured vaguely at the remains of the chaotic scene. "I'd planned this trip a long time ago. I just never thought I'd meet you again before I left."
"I'm sorry," Zhiyuan said softly, feeling a pang of guilt for dragging him back into the family turmoil.
Dr. Shen reached out and pulled him into a warm, fatherly hug. "Don't be sorry. I'm glad I was here to help. You take care of yourself, okay?" He pulled back with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I'll come back for your wedding, though."
The words made both Zhiyuan and Yichen glance at each other, their cheeks turning matching shades of pink.
Zhenlong, seeing the sentimental moment, rolled his eyes and gave Dr. Shen a gentle shove. "Yeah, yeah. Enough with the goodbyes. Now leave, you old nuisance. Go find your peace."
Dr. Shen chuckled, gave a final wave, and with his suitcase already waiting by a car, he walked away, leaving the strange, patchwork family he'd helped save standing together in the quiet park.
The train station was bustling. Dr. Shen sat on a hard plastic bench, his small suitcase at his feet. He was scrolling through his phone, mind elsewhere.
He reached into his pocket out of habit, pulling out a cigarette. He put it between his lips, then patted his other pockets. He'd forgotten his lighter.
A hand appeared in his peripheral vision, holding out a simple silver lighter with a quiet click of flame.
"Need a light?"
Dr. Shen looked up, slightly startled, and then his eyes widened in recognition.
Sitting beside him, dressed in casual, nondescript clothes, was Guo Lian. But not the cold, sharp enforcer he'd seen at Ruifen's side. This version looked… tired, but peaceful. The hardness around his eyes was gone.
"Guo Lian?" Dr. Shen said, his voice low with surprise. He leaned in and lit his cigarette, taking a slow drag. "Thank you."
Guo Lian nodded, putting the lighter away. "Where are you heading?" he asked, his voice quieter, less commanding than Dr. Shen remembered.
Dr. Shen hesitated, studying him. This was the man who had held a gun to his head, who had worked for Ruifen. But he was also the one who had sent the crucial warning, who had saved their lives by convincing Ruifen to use bombs instead of bullets.
"Xiapu Village," Dr. Shen finally answered, deciding on honesty. "It's quiet there. By the sea. I need… a long break."
A small, genuine smile touched Guo Lian's lips. It transformed his serious face. "Me too," he said simply.
Dr. Shen raised an eyebrow. "You're going to Xiapu?"
Guo Lian nodded, looking straight ahead at the arriving train. "It's my hometown. I haven't been back in… many years. Too many bad memories tied to the city. I thought it was time to go home."
The pieces clicked into place for Dr. Shen. Guo Lian hadn't just helped them for Zhiyuan or out of sudden morality. He was cutting ties. Escaping. Finding his own peace.
The train hissed to a stop in front of them.
Dr. Shen stood, picking up his suitcase. He looked at Guo Lian, who also stood, holding a single, worn duffel bag.
"Well," Dr. Shen said, a faint, wry smile on his own face. "It's a long journey. Would you mind some company?"
Guo Lian met his gaze, and for the first time, Dr. Shen saw a flicker of something like relief in the other man's eyes.
"I wouldn't mind at all," Guo Lian said.
They boarded the train together, two men from opposite sides of a war, both leaving the battlefield behind, heading toward the same quiet sea and the possibility of a quieter future.
Weeks later, sunlight streamed into the bedroom. Yichen leaned over the bed where a lump under the covers was stubbornly refusing to move.
"Wake up, bao bei," Yichen said gently, shaking the lump. "Do you want to miss the board meeting again? You're the CEO. You have to go."
A groan came from under the duvet. "I don't wanna go," Zhiyuan's muffled voice complained. "It's so tiring. I just want to sleep all day."
Yichen chuckled. He peeled back the covers just enough to reveal Zhiyuan's messy hair and one closed eye. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his temple. "Come on. The company needs its fearless leader."
Zhiyuan's eye fluttered open. He saw Yichen's smiling face, the crisp white bandage now replaced by a simple, sleek black eye patch over his left eye. A wave of fondness washed over him. He reached up and gently cupped Yichen's cheek, his thumb stroking the skin just below the patch.
"Morning," Zhiyuan whispered, his voice still rough with sleep.
Yichen turned his head to kiss Zhiyuan's palm. "Morning, sleepyhead."
Zhiyuan's smile faded slightly as his gaze lingered on the eye patch. His fingers traced its edge gently, his heart aching with a familiar, heavy regret. The doctor had been clear: if they had treated the injury immediately, they might have saved the eye. The delay, caused by the chaos and Yichen's stubborn refusal to leave him, had been too long.
Yichen saw the shadow in his eyes. He leaned down again, capturing Zhiyuan's lips in a slow, deep kiss, trying to chase the sadness away. When he pulled back, he put on a playful smirk.
"So?" Yichen asked, wiggling his eyebrows—the one above the patch and the good one. "Do I look hotter now? More mysterious? Dangerous?"
Zhiyuan snorted, the sadness breaking. He gave Yichen's shoulder a light shove. "More like a tired pirate who got into a fight with a drunken seagull. Or a very dramatic drug addict."
They both laughed, the sound warm and easy in the sunlit room. But the laugh settled, and Zhiyuan's expression turned serious again. He wrapped his arms around Yichen's neck and pulled him into a tight hug, burying his face in his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," Zhiyuan mumbled against his skin.
Yichen hugged him back, his hand rubbing comforting circles on his back. "Hey. Stop that. It's not your fault. Not even a little bit. This," he tapped his eye patch, "is a badge of honor. I got it protecting the person I love most. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
Zhiyuan pulled back just enough to look at him. His eyes were shiny. He leaned forward and pressed a soft, reverent kiss right on the center of the black eye patch.
"Okay," Zhiyuan said, his voice firming up with a new rule. "But that's it. You are not allowed to get hurt anymore. Not a scratch. That's an order."
Yichen's smile was soft and full of love. He gave a mock-serious salute with his free hand. "Anything you want, your highness."
Then, before Zhiyuan could protest, Yichen scooped him up, blankets and all, into his arms.
"Yichen! Put me down!" Zhiyuan yelped, but he was laughing, clutching Yichen's shoulders.
"Nope," Yichen said, marching them toward the bathroom. "Your highness has a meeting. And your highness needs to be awake for it. Let me help you take a shower. Consider it part of my bodyguard duties."
Zhiyuan shook his head, still chuckling, as he was carried into the steam-filled bathroom, the promise of a new day, and the unwavering presence of his one-eyed protector, who loved him more than anything.