Chu Shichen's heart skipped a beat and he reached out to grab the document. Xiang Mingzhang dodged and raised his palm to catch Chu Shichen's outstretched hand and wrapped it into a fist.
Without even reading the will, one could tell that it was simply an attempt to embezzle his wealth and property. Rather than looking at the specific content, it was more like a notice, informing him in advance of the outcome of his life.
Xiang Mingzhang said: "After failing once, the old man must do it this time."
Chu Shichen regretted, "If I hadn't lured the snake out of its hole, Xiang Xingzhao wouldn't have been able to find the right opportunity, and maybe nothing would have happened."
"No." Xiang Mingzhang shook his head, "He can't wait any longer."
During the Spring Festival at Jingpu Mansion, Xiang Mingzhang stayed by Xiang Xingzhao's bedside, lamenting that all medicines are poisonous and he didn't know how long Xiang Xingzhao could live.
In Xiang Xingzhao's eyes, those few words in an instant were equivalent to Xiang Mingzhang revealing his murderous intentions.
When the whole family gathered together, Xiang Xingzhao deliberately mentioned Xiang Long, which was a further test of Xiang Mingzhang.
Several years ago, Xiang Xingzhao handed over the task of finding Xiang Long to Xiang Mingzhang, but he never got anything out of it. After suffering a stroke, he realized Xiang Mingzhang's true heart and suspected that he had been deceived.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xiang Mingzhang revealed Xiang Long's whereabouts for the first time in front of family members and guests, making Xiang Xingzhao convinced that it was Xiang Mingzhang who was controlling Xiang Long and preventing him from returning home.
Chu Shichen was watching everything at the time and was slightly surprised. He said, "You have been hiding the news about your father. Why did you choose to reveal it that day?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Because I am also testing Xiang Xingzhao."
Uncle Qi had followed Xiang Xingzhao for decades and was his confidant who always served him wholeheartedly. After Xiang Xingzhao suffered a stroke, Uncle Qi volunteered to take care of him closely and was almost inseparable from him.
But the Spring Festival is special after all, and Xiang Mingzhang was suspicious again, saying: "If it's just to take care of daily life, there's no need to stay all day long. Everyone in the family is here, and there's a nanny. He's so dedicated that it seems like he's on guard against someone."
Chu Shichen said: "So you suspected Xiang Xingzhao was pretending to be confused."
"It's just that the old man was so good at acting that I didn't investigate further." Xiang Mingzhang sneered, "He and I were both acting. Before, he was in the open and I was in the dark, but now it's me in the open and he is in the dark."
In addition, Chu Shichen analyzed: "Uncle Qi just said that we set up a plan to copy the signing party. Xiang Xingzhao, as the mastermind behind the scenes, must have seen through our purpose."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "He could have guessed that we suspected a yacht accident and were even investigating it secretly."
His own safety, Xiang Long's whereabouts and the possible exposure of the truth of the yacht accident, all these reasons forced Xiang Xingzhao to take action again as soon as possible.
On the night when Xiang Mingzhang and Chu Shichen asked Xiang Huan to borrow the venue, Xiang Xingzhao heard their party plan and decided to take advantage of the situation.
When they said goodbye in the restaurant, Xiang Xingzhao refused to leave and hugged Xiang Mingzhang and cried. Chu Shichen mistakenly thought that his abnormality was a last burst of energy.
Little did people know that it was Xiang Xingzhao who wanted to end the feud between grandfather and grandson and say his final farewell to Xiang Mingzhang.
Thinking back now, Xiang Mingzhang felt a chill: "It's hard for him to deceive the world, old man."
Chu Shichen exclaimed: "In order to achieve his goal, he pretended to be crazy and stupid for two years. It is hard for ordinary people to imagine."
Xiang Mingzhang had to admit that he was indeed the most like Xiang Xingzhao, and said self-deprecatingly: "I have been wearing a mask and pretending to be a good grandson for more than 20 years. What does it matter if he pretends to be an old fool for only two years?"
Chu Shichen pulled off his tie, wiped Xiang Mingzhang's bleeding mouth with the wide side of his tie, and said, "It's come to this, no matter what happens—"
Before he finished speaking, Xiang Mingzhang brushed off his tie, held Chu Shichen's hand and put it on his lips. He said fiercely and devoutly: "No matter what happens, I must let you leave safely."
Chu Shichen said soberly: "This time is the same as the yacht accident. On the surface, the focus of the conflict is me. Besides, I already know the truth and the mastermind behind it. I will not let anyone be left alive."
Over the past year, Xiang Mingzhang has become more trusting of Chu Shichen in his work and closer to him emotionally. He left his job to go to Harbin because of a phone call from Chu Shichen, and was comforted by Chu Shichen many times when he lost his temper, and even took Chu Shichen back to Manzhuang during the Chinese New Year.
Xiang Xingzhao had probably guessed their relationship a long time ago. When Uncle Qi saw the brooch Chu Shichen was wearing in the garage, he was certain that they were deeply in love.
Therefore, the current Chu Shichen is more useful than the "Chu Shichen" in the past. He is not only a decoy for the whole thing, but also a bargaining chip to threaten Xiang Mingzhang. It depends on whether he cares about his own life or Chu Shichen's life.
"Xiang Xingzhao didn't kill me directly because he wanted to know Xiang Long's whereabouts." Xiang Mingzhang said, "I have Xiang Long as my trump card, so I have room for mediation."
Two people, two lives, but only one trump card. Chu Shichen said, "Blood is thicker than water. After all, you are Xiang Xingzhao's grandson. There is still a glimmer of hope."
Xiang Mingzhang was unmoved: "I don't need any hope, I just want you to live."
"Don't let your emotions get the better of you." Chu Shichen weighed the issue rationally. "Just agree to whatever conditions are asked. If you don't want those material possessions, then just give them up. As long as you have the green mountains, you will never run out of firewood. Don't forget that you still have your aunt."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "At this point today, do you think my only weakness is my mother?"
Chu Shichen certainly understood, and covered it up by saying, "Aunt is your closest relative, no one can compare to her."
Xiang Mingzhang continued to refute: "Even if I survive, I will have nothing in the future, and it will be easier for Xiang Xingzhao to torture us mother and son."
Chu Shichen was speechless: "Then you—"
Xiang Mingzhang interrupted him again: "What do you mean by being emotional? If I am not emotional with you, then you should doubt whether I love you or not!"
Chu Shichen's throat felt hot, as if he was choking on a piece of red-hot charcoal. He said, "I never doubted it."
"Then obey me." Xiang Mingzhang said firmly, "I will tell them about Xiang Long and let them let you go."
Chu Shichen didn't give up: "I'm alone?"
Xiang Mingzhang almost scolded: "President Shen, I don't believe you were so indecisive in your decision back then."
"Okay, since you mentioned the past." Chu Shichen's expression was firm. "In 1945, I was shipwrecked at sea and came to this world for unknown reasons. I stole the identity of 'Chu Shichen' and met you, Xiang Mingzhang. I saw new things I had never seen before and tasted love I had never tasted before. That's enough."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "You are not destined to die, so don't let your imagination run wild."
Chu Shichen said: "God has given me one more year. With the sea and the boat, maybe it's time for me to leave."
Chu Shichen said seriously: "It doesn't matter, I'm not afraid of death."
"I'm scared!" Xiang Mingzhang confessed in a low roar, "I'm afraid you'll die, I'm afraid you'll get hurt, I'm afraid you'll get punched and kicked and have your bones broken."
He lifted Chu Shichen's chin: "I'm afraid you'll bleed, I'm afraid you'll ruin this delicate face, I'm afraid you'll fall into the sea again and disappear... I'm the one who's afraid, I'm most afraid of not being able to find you."
Chu Shichen was unable to utter a word. He didn't even dare to look at Xiang Mingzhang's determined yet fragile expression. He lowered his eyes and saw that the back of Xiang Mingzhang's hand was trampled by the hard sole of the boot, leaving a dirty wound.
He tried to touch her, but Xiang Mingzhang took his hand back, dropped it to his side, and said, "I'm exhausted, come closer."
Chu Shichen leaned forward, carefully afraid to squeeze Xiang Mingzhang's injured area. As soon as his coat touched Xiang Mingzhang, Xiang Mingzhang, who didn't know whether he was lying or had the strength to do so from somewhere, hugged him tightly in his arms.
Chu Shichen leaned on Xiang Mingzhang's shoulder, tilted his face, traced Xiang Mingzhang's earlobe with his eyes, and said, "You are a person who is easily influenced by others."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Do you like this?"
Chu Shichen replied: "I love you."
Xiang Mingzhang called him in shock: "Ruozhen... Can you be Shen Ruozhen for a while?"
The wall lamp seemed to dim, and the surrounding objects were covered with a hazy shadow. Shen Ruozhen wondered absurdly whether all this was just a dream.
The nightmare will eventually end, and if he shouted loudly but didn't wake up, it meant it was real. He lied to himself and whispered softly: "We'll think of a way."
Xiang Mingzhang shattered all his fantasies: "Xiang Xingzhao will not let me go. He knows me. If I can escape alive this time, he will definitely kill me, so I will definitely die."
Shen Ruozhen shuddered, and he broke free from Xiang Mingzhang's embrace, the light in his eyes gone: "Without you, what's the point of me living in this world?"
Xiang Mingzhang was reminded. He picked up the folder, opened it, tore off a page, pulled out a pen and said, "Of course there is. This world is wonderful. There are countless things you have never seen or tried. I want you to live better than anyone else."
Shen Ruozhen asked: "What are you writing?"
"Will." Xiang Mingzhang said as he wrote, "I will leave all my property to you and my mother. When the time comes, you can find my lawyer and he will help you. In addition to domestic assets, there is also a portion abroad. You can settle down wherever you want in the future."
The pen tip paused, and Xiang Mingzhang continued: "Once your identity is exposed, the Chu family's attitude is unknown. I will draft another letter of entrustment to the Yao family, which can be regarded as an additional support."
Shen Ruozhen seemed to have suffered another electric shock. Looking at the scars all over Xiang Mingzhang's body, and the fact that he had calculated the rest of his life stroke by stroke, he felt a pain in his heart.
After signing, Xiang Mingzhang pressed his fingerprints on the sticky bloodstains. He folded the "will", lifted the front of Shen Ruozhen's suit, and stuffed it into the secret pocket on his chest.
It seems that everything that needs to be said has been said and everything that needs to be done has been done.
Xiang Mingzhang was really exhausted. He leaned against the wall and moved his blood-stained and dried lips: "Ruozhen, kiss me again."
Shen Ruozhen held Xiang Mingzhang's face in his hands. He kissed the corner of Xiang Mingzhang's mouth, gently and tenderly stroking the peak of his lips, then licked it closely with the tip of his tongue, going deeper and deeper until he sucked out a cavity full of bitter blood.
Xiang Mingzhang reached into the lapel of his coat and took off his pocket watch.
Shen Ruozhen stopped and asked, "What are you going to do?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "I'll give it back to you."
Shen Ruozhen felt like a heavy stone was weighing down his heart, and couldn't breathe: "Why?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Following me will lead to bad consequences. This is your treasure, you take it with you."
Shen Ruozhen said: "This is a token I give you."
"We've been engaged and slept together," Xiang Mingzhang laughed uninhibitedly, "You've been with me through thick and thin, and you just said you love me. That's enough."
Shen Ruozhen's hands and feet were cold: "Xiang Mingzhang, don't be like this."
Xiang Mingzhang put the pocket watch into Shen Ruozhen's arms, fastened the watch chain to the buttons of his shirt tightly, pulled his hand out, and then straightened the lapel of Shen Ruozhen's suit.
He said, "Me too."
Shen Ruozhen said: "What is it?"
"I love you, I love you." Xiang Mingzhang replied, "You have given me the happiest year of my life."
The pen rolled to the ground, the cap was not fastened tightly, and the silver nib stained with ink turned dark gold under the light.
Shen Ruozhen paused for a moment, then picked it up and put it to his throat. He asked, "Do you think the tip of a fountain pen can pierce a person's neck?"
Xiang Mingzhang was startled: "What do you want to do?"
Shen Ruozhen rarely used brute force. He fiddled with the pen as if he were weighing a revolver. He was determined: "If this life is really over, I will accompany you and we will go to the next life together."
Xiang Mingzhang was stunned and said: "Shen Ruozhen..."
"Oh yeah, I forgot." This time it was Shen Ruozhen's turn to interrupt, "Reincarnation in the next life is a feudal superstition, you don't believe it."
Xiang Mingzhang looked at him: "So?"
Shen Ruozhen's voice was light but powerful: "I want to live with you."
(End of this chapter)