What Should I Write Next?

Main Characters:-

Ji Cheng (Top):- A man who has always been known for his intelligence, discipline, and remarkable ability to stay composed under pressure. To the outside world, he appears to be a man who knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. But even the strongest people have their own weaknesses, and sometimes, the things we fail to understand become the very things that change us.

Xi Yu (Bottom):- A man whose quiet nature and sharp mind often hide more than they reveal. Beneath his carefully maintained composure lies a complicated man whose emotions run deeper than he ever allows the world to see.

Have you ever wondered how far a person could go for someone they love?

No, let me rephrase that.

How far could a person go before their love becomes something neither of them can escape?

This is a story about two men, Ji Cheng and Xi Yu. Two people whose lives became intertwined long before either of them understood what it meant to have someone become such an important part of their world.

One was a man who seemed to have everything under control. The other was someone who had learned, perhaps a little too early, that not everything in life could be controlled.

Their story began long before they became the men they were destined to be. Back when their biggest concerns should have been examinations, school, and the uncertain future waiting for them.

But life doesn’t always give people the stories they deserve.

And sometimes, the people we grow closest to are the very people who end up knowing how to hurt us the most.

So, before I tell you how their story ended, let me take you back to where it all began.

It was summer. The kind of summer when the days seemed longer than usual, the afternoon heat settled over everything, and the school corridors never quite escaped the warmth.

Our story begins in a high school, where two boys studied in different classrooms, lived different lives, and had little reason to cross paths.

One was Ji Cheng, the school’s top student, a name that teachers remembered and students couldn’t help but compare themselves to.

The other was Xi Yu, another bright student who held the position of second topper. However, unlike Ji Cheng, his school life was far from pleasant.

They belonged to the same school, walked through the same corridors, and breathed the same summer air. Yet, at that point in their lives, they were little more than strangers existing in separate corners of the same world.

Neither of them knew how much the other would eventually come to mean to him.

But before we get to that, let’s take a closer look at the lives they lived back then.

Xi Yu was a very obedient guy, the kind who never said no, the kind who followed orders without questioning them. And maybe that was where fate played a terrible game with him. He was bullied at school, and his father was a drunken bastard who beat him whenever he got irritated. As if that wasn’t enough, Xi Yu’s mother had been hospitalized after his father brutally beat her. Her heart condition was already weak, and she needed surgery. All this led to Xi Yu to work multiple part time jobs as he was very poor.

On the other hand, Ji Cheng came from a middle-class family. Well, his father was a drunken bastard, and he had no mother. His father would take out all his frustration from work on that poor guy. Beating him mercilessly whenever Ji Cheng failed to score full marks on a test. The only time his father treated him like a human being was when Ji Cheng lived up to his expectations. Ji Cheng couldn’t afford to say no or go against his father’s wishes.

At school, the leader of the bully group was Sun Kai. Being the only son of the chairman, he enjoyed the most privileges. Yet, despite having almost everything handed to him on a silver platter, bro decided to fuck with other people’s lives. And one of the victim is Xi Yu, he was the bullied in the entire school.

Sun Kai would always corner Xi Yu in the secluded area behind the school. He humiliated him to the very limits of what a person could endure, yet Xi Yu never said a word or fought back for his dignity. He simply stood there, silently enduring every bit of cruelty thrown his way, hoping that if he stayed quiet long enough, it would all come to an end. But little did he know that cruelty didn’t always end when its victim stopped fighting back. Sometimes, silence only encouraged the cruel to go further.

One day, a teacher who witnessed the bullying called Xi Yu in for an explanation, followed by Sun Kai. She began lecturing Xi Yu about wasting his time on such things, despite knowing perfectly well that he was the victim. She didn’t even bother to question Sun Kai properly, as though his position as the chairman’s son excused him from everything.

But Xi Yu wasn’t listening. He stood there silently, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular, his mind wandering somewhere far away. The teacher’s words reached his ears, but none of them registered. He had grown so accustomed to being blamed for things he hadn’t done that even being treated unfairly by someone who knew the truth no longer surprised him.

But then, a voice from behind caught his attention.

“May I come in?”

The voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and his eyes instinctively shifted towards the doorway.

“Oh, Ji Cheng. Come in,” the teacher said.

That name.

Ji Cheng.

For some reason, the name registered in Xi Yu’s mind, lingering there as the boy stepped into the room. Ji Cheng walked straight towards the teacher and handed over his assignment, completely ignoring the other person standing beside him, as though Xi Yu’s presence didn’t matter at all.

And just like that, Xi Yu found himself staring at the very same boy. He couldn’t seem to look away. His eyes, his lips, his long eyelashes—everything about him held Xi Yu’s attention captive. For the first time in a long while, his mind was stirring with something other than emptiness. Thoughts he couldn’t quite understand began to surface, leaving him strangely aware of the person standing right in front of him.

Ji Cheng, who could feel someone’s gaze lingering on him, finally turned his head to look at the person beside him.

And just like that, their eyes met.

For a moment, neither of them looked away. The room around them seemed to fade into the background as they stood there, caught in a silence neither of them knew how to break. It was as though, for those few seconds, they had forgotten the very existence of space and time.

Unfortunately, the teacher just couldn’t keep her mouth shut, breaking whatever chemistry had been building between them.

And just like that, Xi Yu returned to his miserable routine. He continued to get bullied at school and beaten up at home, trapped in a life where neither place offered him a moment of peace. Day after day, he endured the same cruelty, with nothing changing.

Ji Cheng happened to pass through the corridor that led to the back of the school. That’s when he saw Xi Yu being bullied. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes settling on the boy who stood there, looking utterly vulnerable. Yet, Ji Cheng did nothing. He didn’t step forward or utter a single word. He simply stared at Xi Yu, watching him silently.

And Xi Yu, as if sensing his gaze, looked back at him.

There was no plea for help in his eyes, no anger, not even a trace of hope. There was simply nothing. The two boys stood there, staring at each other in silence, as if the entire world around them had momentarily ceased to exist. But for Xi Yu, something unfamiliar stirred within him. Maybe it was embarrassment, a feeling he had never really experienced before. He had grown used to being humiliated, to being treated like he was worth nothing. So why did being stared at by this particular boy make him feel so strangely conscious of himself? For the first time, he didn’t know where to look or what to do. And that unfamiliar feeling left him more confused than he had ever been.

Days passed, and Xi Yu continued avoiding Ji Cheng whenever their paths crossed. Before he knew it, the main examinations were approaching.

Meanwhile, Sun Kai had his own problems to deal with. His father had warned him to secure the top rank in school, especially with the elections approaching. After all, what better way could there be for the chairman to show off his son’s academic excellence than to have him rank first in the entire school?

But Sun Kai wasn’t exactly the kind of guy who could achieve that through his own efforts.

With his father’s threats hanging over his head, he decided to find someone who could do the work for him. And who better than Ji Cheng, one of the brightest students in school?

So, Sun Kai approached Ji Cheng with a demand: he wanted Ji Cheng to write his examinations for him.

Well, the so-called bullies were actually scared shitless of Ji Cheng. For all their big talk and arrogant attitudes, none of them dared to mess with him. But somehow, Sun Kai had gathered enough courage to make a move on him.

Unfortunately for Sun Kai, Ji Cheng wasn’t someone who would tolerate his nonsense.

The moment Sun Kai made his ridiculous demand, Ji Cheng gave him an earful of insults so brutal that they struck right at his ego. Sun Kai stood there, burning with humiliation, desperately wanting to wipe that infuriating look off Ji Cheng’s face. But he couldn’t bring himself to lay a finger on him, not when he knew exactly how far Ji Cheng could go once someone managed to piss him off.

With no other option left, Sun Kai turned to Xi Yu, the obedient boy. Xi Yu agreed the moment he heard the amount Sun Kai was willing to pay. It wasn’t because he wanted the money for himself, but because his mother needed surgery. And if this was the only way he could gather enough money for her treatment, then he was willing to do it, even if it meant putting himself at risk once again.

But Sun Kai had a condition of his own. Xi Yu would receive the money only if he managed to secure first rank in the entire school. And for that to happen, he needed Ji Cheng, the current topper, to score less than he normally would. Now, how exactly was Xi Yu supposed to ask someone to deliberately perform poorly in an examination? Even thinking about it made his stomach twist. He knew how ridiculous the request sounded, and the thought of facing Ji Cheng with such an unreasonable demand made him want to crawl into a hole and never come out. But then again, he needed the money, and that need was far stronger than his embarrassment. So, after wrestling with his pride for long enough, Xi Yu finally decided to approach Ji Cheng and beg him to score less so that he could secure first rank.

As expected, Ji Cheng wasn’t particularly pleased with the request. “Don’t you have common sense? How can you beg someone to do something like this? Go and work hard if you want to score better!” he snapped, looking at Xi Yu as though he’d lost his mind. But Xi Yu wasn’t ready to give up just yet. No matter how insulting Ji Cheng’s words were, he continued pleading with him, explaining how Sun Kai had promised him money if he managed to get first rank. However, he carefully left out the reason he needed the money in the first place. He wasn’t ready to share that part of his life with anyone, not even if it meant making himself look utterly desperate.

When Ji Cheng still refused to listen, Xi Yu did something that even he might never have imagined himself doing. He fell to his knees and begged. He had already swallowed his pride by approaching Ji Cheng, so what difference would it make if he swallowed the rest of it, too? Ji Cheng stared at him in disbelief before letting out a scoff.

“Just how desperate are you for money, huh?” he asked, looking down at the boy kneeling before him. Then, with a mocking smile, he added, “What if I give you the money myself? Are you willing to sleep with me, then? Since you’ve got no shame, right?”

Ji Cheng’s final remark made it worse. Overwhelmed by shame, Xi Yu scrambled to his feet and fled without uttering another word. He couldn’t bear to look at Ji Cheng anymore, let alone remain there for another second.

Unfortunately, running away from Ji Cheng didn’t mean he could escape his troubles. Sun Kai soon learned that Xi Yu had failed to persuade the school’s top student, and he was far from pleased. After all, he had made his expectations clear, and Xi Yu had returned without delivering what he wanted. Sun Kai confronted him, his anger quickly turning into violence. He began beating Xi Yu mercilessly, as though the poor boy’s failure to fulfil his demand justified every bit of cruelty he inflicted upon him. And Xi Yu, who had already endured enough humiliation for one day, found himself facing yet another punishment for a deal he had desperately wanted to succeed.

And as if things weren’t already bad enough for Xi Yu, fate had another cruel surprise waiting for him. Ji Cheng, who happened to witness the entire situation. He simply turned around and walked away, leaving Xi Yu at the mercy of Sun Kai.

Soon, the examinations arrived, and both Xi Yu and Ji Cheng gave it their best. Days passed, and when the results were finally announced, Sun Kai rushed to check the rankings, eager to see whether his efforts had paid off.

But the moment his eyes landed on the results, he froze.

Sun Kai — First Rank.

Ji Cheng — Second Rank.

For a moment, Sun Kai couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He had actually topped the entire school, with Ji Cheng trailing behind him. The very same Ji Cheng who had refused to bow to his demands was now standing beneath his name on the ranking list.

And Sun Kai couldn’t have been happier.

Sun Kai transferred the promised money to Xi Yu.

Xi Yu, who had already given up hope of saving his mother, was left stunned when he saw the notification on his phone. The agreement between him and Sun Kai had been clear: Xi Yu would receive the money only if Sun Kai secured the first rank. Otherwise, he wouldn’t get a single penny.

And yet, the money was there.

For a moment, Xi Yu simply stared at the screen, unable to believe what he was seeing. He hadn’t expected Ji Cheng to actually help him, especially when Ji Cheng had every reason to refuse Sun Kai’s demand. But somehow, Ji Cheng had done it.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Xi Yu wanted nothing more than to find Ji Cheng and thank him. For once, someone had given him a reason to feel that perhaps things weren’t entirely hopeless.

But no matter where he looked, he couldn’t find Ji Cheng anywhere.

Thinking that he could thank Ji Cheng another time, Xi Yu didn’t waste another moment. He immediately called the hospital and asked them to begin the necessary procedures for his mother’s surgery, assuring them that he would pay the fees.

By evening, he had withdrawn the money from the bank and brought it home. He carefully hid it away before going to check on his father.

Xi Yu could only take care of important matters when his father was out of reach, and that usually happened when the man was drunk. So, he came up with a plan. He would get his father drunk, sneak out to the hospital, and somehow convince the staff to accept the payment without his father’s presence. He would simply tell them that his father would arrive soon.

With that plan in mind, Xi Yu poured drink after drink for his father until the man was too drunk to bother him.

Just as he had expected, things seemed to be going according to plan.

Then his phone rang.

It was the hospital.

Xi Yu hurried outside to answer the call, discussing the arrangements with the staff. But when he returned, he stopped dead in his tracks.

His father was sitting on the sofa, with the bag of money resting beside him.

For a moment, Xi Yu couldn’t move. His heart sank as panic washed over him. He knew exactly what his father might do with that money. The man had a habit of gambling, and Xi Yu couldn’t bear the thought of watching all that money disappear into his father’s reckless hands.

He couldn’t lose it.

Not this time.

That money was his mother’s only chance at getting the surgery she desperately needed. After everything he had endured, after finally finding a way to save her, Xi Yu couldn’t let it slip away.

An argument broke out between the father and son. Xi Yu desperately tried to stop his father from taking the money, but the man was in no mood to listen. Their voices grew louder, and before Xi Yu could react, his father struck him across the face. The force sent Xi Yu crashing to the floor, where he lay motionless, having lost consciousness.

10 Years Later

A decade had passed, and both men had built empires of their own. They were no longer the helpless boys they had once been, but powerful businessmen with firms that commanded respect and influence. Yet, the power dynamic between them was anything but balanced.

For the time being, Ji Cheng’s company had secured the top position in the industry. Among its many achievements, the company had just landed one of the most prestigious projects in the business world, a deal significant enough to elevate its reputation and strengthen its position in the market.

It was the kind of opportunity that could change everything, and Ji Cheng had no intention of letting it slip through his fingers.

So, Ji Cheng came up with a plan to collaborate with Xi Yu. The partnership would bring in more funding, increase their profits, and strengthen their influence in the business world. More importantly, it would help them earn even greater trust from their customers, giving both companies an opportunity to expand their reach and secure a stronger position in the industry.

As the meeting between the two companies was arranged, Ji Cheng prepared everything meticulously, determined to convince Xi Yu to agree to the collaboration. Every board member from both companies had taken their seats in the conference room, yet Xi Yu was nowhere to be seen.

While Ji Cheng was discussing a few important matters with his secretary, the conference room doors finally opened and everyone stood including Ji Cheng.

Xi Yu walked in with a mischievous yet confident smirk playing on his lips, as if he already knew something the others didn’t. His late arrival did little to shake his composure. Instead, he carried himself with an ease that seemed almost deliberate, as though he had no intention of following anyone else’s pace.

Ji Cheng’s eyes never left Xi Yu. He had expected Xi Yu to notice his gaze, perhaps even acknowledge his presence, but Xi Yu did nothing of the sort. He simply ignored Ji Cheng’s presence, walked straight to his seat without greeting anyone, and ordered them to begin the meeting.

His unexpected behavior left everyone in the room exchanging shocked and confused glances. Even Ji Cheng was momentarily taken aback by his indifference. After a brief pause, he took his seat, and the others soon followed.

With everyone finally settled, the meeting began. The representative stood up and started explaining the project, going through its objectives, financial prospects, and potential benefits for both companies.

Throughout the presentation, Xi Yu occasionally stole a few glances at Ji Cheng. His attention lingered on the way Ji Cheng sat beside his secretary, leaning slightly toward him whenever they discussed something important. Their quiet exchanges didn’t escape Xi Yu’s notice, even as he maintained his composed expression and pretended to remain focused on the presentation.

The presentation finally came to an end, and the proposal for collaboration was put forward. Ji Cheng was just about to speak when, all of a sudden, Xi Yu slammed his hand against the table with such force that everyone in the room flinched in shock.

A sudden silence fell over the conference room.

Xi Yu slowly rose from his seat, his expression cold and unreadable. He glanced around the table before letting his gaze settle on Ji Cheng.

“I don’t think your company has the potential we’re looking for,” he stated bluntly.

Before anyone could respond, Xi Yu turned on his heels and headed toward the exit. Just before leaving, he cast one last glare at Ji Cheng and his secretary, his lips curling into a faint, mocking smirk.

And with that, he walked out, leaving the entire room stunned by his unexpected dismissal.

That night, Xi Yu returned home and headed straight to his room. After freshening up, he slipped into a silk robe and stood before the mirror, adjusting the fabric around his waist. His reflection revealed his lean, slender figure. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he applied his favourite fragrance, letting the scent settle before he turned away from the mirror.

With everything in place, Xi Yu made his way to bed, carrying the same mysterious smirk that had lingered on his face throughout the evening.

In the middle of the night, Xi Yu stirred awake at the sound of unfamiliar rustling coming from the hall. The electricity was out, leaving the entire house shrouded in darkness. A thin layer of sweat covered his face as he lay there, listening carefully.

A moment later, he heard his bedroom door creak open.

Yet, he didn’t move an inch.

He could feel someone approaching his bed. Then, a hand gently brushed against his skin, and a familiar voice escaped his lips in a sleepy murmur.

“What took you so long to come, Mr. Ji?”

“Why did you reject the proposal?” Ji Cheng asked, ignoring his question.

“Still worried about your company, Mr. Ji?” Xi Yu replied, turning to face him.

Ji Cheng, already irritated by his indifferent attitude, leaned forward and pinned Xi Yu against the bed.

“Yes, I am.”

“Fine,” Xi Yu muttered, his expression twisting with annoyance.

Before Ji Cheng could react, Xi Yu pushed him aside, reversed their positions, and pinned Ji Cheng to the bed instead.

“Are you cheating on me, Mr. Ji?”

Ji Cheng frowned at the unexpected question.

“Why do you even care who I’m with, huh?" he snapped, his irritation evident in his voice.

Xi Yu merely smiled.

“Fine. Then fuck off.”

He released Ji Cheng and moved away, making it clear that the conversation was over.

For a moment, Ji Cheng remained silent, watching him with a frustrated expression.

“What do you want me to do?” he finally asked.

A mischievous smirk spread across Xi Yu’s face. He moved closer, caught Ji Cheng by his tie, and pulled him toward himself until their faces were only inches apart.

Then, leaning toward his ear, Xi Yu whispered,

“Prove yourself.”

With that, Ji Cheng pulled Xi Yu closer, leaving no room for the argument to continue. The tension that had been building between them all night slowly gave way to something far more intense. Soon, the rest of the world seemed to fade into the darkness surrounding them.

Xi Yu lay back with his signature smile still adorning his lips, looking as though he had just won a game Ji Cheng hadn’t even realized they were playing. Even now, he seemed far too pleased with himself, his mischievous eyes never losing that familiar glint.

The night grew quieter outside, but inside the room, neither of them seemed willing to let the other go. Their whispered words gradually dissolved into soft murmurs, their names passing between them in the darkness as the hours slipped away unnoticed.

For once, neither business nor pride mattered. There were no boardrooms, no rivalries, no carefully constructed facades—only the two of them, caught in the complicated pull of a relationship neither seemed willing to define.

And by the time dawn began to creep through the curtains, the night had left its mark on them both, even if neither would ever be the first to admit it.

The next day, as Ji Cheng woke up without Xi Yu beside. He got used to it. He went to washroom and freshen up and wore Xi Yu's clothes as they're of same size.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the city, interviews were being conducted for intern positions at Xi Yu’s empire.

Well, guess who’s the lucky candidate?

Our beloved Sun Kai.

After his father’s illegal activities were exposed to the world, the entire family empire came crashing down. The privileges he had once enjoyed, the power he had so proudly flaunted, and the wealth he had taken for granted—all of it slipped through his fingers.

For the first time in his life, Sun Kai had nothing to fall back on. With no other options left, he was forced to step into the world he had once looked down upon and search for a job.

And guess where fate decided to take him?

Straight into Xi Yu’s empire.

Well, Sun Kai, break a leg! You’re definitely going to need it.

Xi Yu sat comfortably on his throne—well, his CEO’s chair—flipping through the resumes of the candidates waiting to be interviewed. His eyes scanned each page with little interest until a familiar name caught his attention.

Sun Kai.

A mischievous smile crept onto his lips as he studied the resume for a moment. Without a word, he placed it at the very bottom of the pile.

Well, some candidates deserved a little extra patience, didn’t they?

Hours passed, and one by one, the candidates were interviewed. Finally, it was Sun Kai’s turn.

He stood outside the office, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” a familiar voice called from inside.

Sun Kai stepped into the room, his resume clutched in his hand. But the moment his eyes landed on the man sitting behind the desk, he froze.

His expression changed instantly.

Xi Yu.

The very same Xi Yu he had once bullied, humiliated, and treated as though he were beneath him.

And now, that very man was sitting in the CEO’s chair, presiding over an empire Sun Kai could only dream of being part of.

Sun Kai had never imagined that the quiet boy from his school days would one day rise to such heights, let alone become the man deciding his future.

Meanwhile, Xi Yu leaned back in his chair, watching Sun Kai’s reaction with an amused smile.

Oh, how the tables had turned.

Karma really was a boomerang. And it seemed Sun Kai was finally standing right where it had thrown him.

And so, the interview began.

Sun Kai sat stiffly in his chair, beads of sweat slowly forming on his forehead. His eyes wandered everywhere except toward the man sitting across from him. He kept adjusting his posture, trying desperately to appear composed, but the slight trembling of his fingers betrayed his nervousness.

Xi Yu noticed every little detail.

“Why are you sweating, Mr. Sun?” he asked casually, leaning back in his chair. “Is the air conditioning not up to your standards?”

Sun Kai immediately shook his head. “N-No, sir. It’s perfectly fine.”

“Really?” Xi Yu raised an eyebrow. “You look like you’ve just run a marathon. And here I thought this was only an interview.”

Sun Kai forced a nervous smile, unable to find an appropriate response.

Xi Yu glanced down at his resume, slowly flipping through the pages.

“Hmm. It seems you’ve participated in quite a lot of extracurricular activities, haven’t you, Mr. Sun?”

His lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Sun Kai swallowed nervously. “Yes, sir.”

“How impressive.” Xi Yu tapped the paper lightly against the desk. “Team leadership, strategic thinking, handling difficult situations...” He paused, pretending to consider the details. “You must have had quite an eventful school life.”

Sun Kai’s fingers tightened around his knees.

“Oh, don’t look so worried.” Xi Yu smiled pleasantly. “I’m sure all those experiences taught you something valuable.”

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes fixed on Sun Kai’s increasingly uncomfortable expression.

“After all, some people learn how to lead others. Some learn how to make others do their work for them.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “And some, unfortunately, never learn the difference.”

Sun Kai’s face paled.

Xi Yu turned another page as though he hadn’t noticed.

“Tell me, Mr. Sun, what would you say is your greatest strength?”

The question sounded ordinary enough, but the mocking glint in Xi Yu’s eyes suggested otherwise.

Sun Kai opened his mouth, only to find himself struggling to produce an answer.

For the first time in his life, he was sitting across from someone he couldn’t intimidate, manipulate, or simply walk away from.

The man holding all the cards was enjoying every second of it.

“Time’s up,” Xi Yu announced, glancing at his watch. “You may leave now.”

Sun Kai didn’t dare question him. He hurriedly got to his feet and left the office without looking back.

Xi Yu’s gaze followed him until the door closed. For a moment, the smirk on his face faded. Watching Sun Kai walk away had stirred something deep within him—a memory he had buried long ago, yet one that had never truly disappeared.

It was a day from their school days.

Xi Yu had been on his way home when he heard the grunts and shuffling sounds of a struggle coming from somewhere nearby. Curious, he quietly moved behind a tree and hid, peering out to see what was happening.

A short distance away, a group of students had cornered someone. Their fists flew as they surrounded their victim, leaving him with little room to escape. Leading them was none other than Sun Kai, accompanied by his usual group of minions.

Xi Yu cautiously leaned to one side, trying to get a better look at the person they were beating.

The moment he recognized the familiar figure, his heart seemed to stop.

Ji Cheng.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Xi Yu’s expression turned cold once more. “Cancel my upcoming meetings,” he ordered his secretary.

“But, sir, your—”

“All of them.”

His secretary immediately fell silent and nodded. Xi Yu rose from his chair, grabbed his belongings, and strode out of the office without another word.

Meanwhile, Ji Cheng had also cancelled his remaining meetings and left the office. As he drove through the city, he stopped at a flower shop and bought a bouquet before continuing his journey.

After parking his car, he stepped out with the bouquet in his hand and walked along the quiet path. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of two graves—his father’s and his mother’s.

For a while, he stood there in silence, his eyes fixed on the names engraved on the headstones.

All Ji Cheng could think of were the rare moments when his father had treated him kindly. Whenever he met his father’s expectations, scored the highest marks, or did something worthy of praise, his father would soften, if only for a little while. In those fleeting moments, he would behave like a real father, making Ji Cheng believe that perhaps, deep down, he was loved after all.

And Ji Cheng held on to those memories.

He chose to remember the rare smiles, the occasional words of approval, and the brief moments of warmth, quietly pushing everything else into the darkest corners of his mind. Perhaps it was easier that way—to cherish the little affection he had received than to confront the painful truth of everything he had endured.

A few minutes later, Xi Yu arrived to accompany him. Without exchanging many words, the two stood together and offered their prayers before the graves. Once they were done, they turned and walked away.

Neither of them spoke on the way. An unusual silence lingered between them, but neither seemed willing to break it.

After a while, they arrived at another cemetery. Xi Yu stepped out and led the way toward a pair of graves—his parents’.

For Xi Yu, visiting the cemetery was nothing more than an obligation he had no desire to fulfil. He was there merely for the sake of appearances—and for Ji Cheng’s sake. Unlike Ji Cheng, he had no fond memories to hold on to, no fleeting moments of warmth to revisit. He had never received the affection he had once longed for, so there was nothing left for him to miss.

Leaving the rest of the world behind, the two drowned themselves in alcohol until neither could hold on to their consciousness any longer. Whatever thoughts haunted them, whatever memories they wished to escape, they kept them buried beneath the haze of intoxication. By the end of the night, both had completely given in to exhaustion, with nothing left to say to each other.

The next morning, Ji Cheng was occupied with an urgent matter at the company. Several discrepancies had surfaced in the project documents, and he was carefully examining each one when an employee knocked on his office door.

“Come in.”

The employee stepped inside and approached his desk.

“Sir, there have been some discrepancies in the documents. Also, we may receive a meeting notice soon regarding the project’s approval.”

“Fine. Keep me informed as soon as there’s an update,” Ji Cheng replied without lifting his eyes from the documents.

“Of course, sir.” She hesitated for a moment before adding, “By the way, sir, would you like to join us for dinner sometime?”

Ji Cheng finally looked up. “What?”

“I mean, a team dinner!” she quickly clarified, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It would be nice if you joined us. Everyone would love to have you there.”

“Would they?” Ji Cheng asked flatly.

She smiled, taking his response as an opportunity to continue. “Well, I certainly would. It’s not every day we get the chance to spend time with someone like you outside the office.”

Ji Cheng stared at her for a moment, seemingly unimpressed by her attempt to flirt.

“Miss, I suggest you focus on your work rather than trying to arrange private dinners with your CEO.”

Her smile faltered.

“And if this is genuinely about a team dinner,” he continued, returning his attention to the documents, “ask your department head to organize one. You don’t need to expect the CEO to attend.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

“Anything else?”

“No, sir.”

“Then you may leave,” Ji Cheng said, returning his attention to the documents. “And regarding the project updates, have your department head inform me directly. It’s their responsibility to keep me updated, not yours.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied quietly before leaving his office.

She hurried out of the office, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Ji Cheng, meanwhile, had already returned to the discrepancies in front of him, apparently having forgotten the entire conversation the moment she left.

As if the morning hadn’t been frustrating enough, the door to Ji Cheng’s office swung open without warning.

And in walked Chen Xu.

His long-standing rival, the man who never missed an opportunity to get on Ji Cheng’s nerves, strolled into the office with an irritatingly relaxed expression, as though he owned the place.

Ji Cheng slowly lifted his eyes from the documents, his already unpleasant mood worsening at the sight of the uninvited guest.

“Who permitted you to enter my office?” Ji Cheng asked coldly.

Chen Xu smirked. “Since when do I need your permission?”

“Since you became insignificant enough to forget your place.”

Chen Xu’s smile faded slightly. “Careful, Ji Cheng. One day, that arrogance of yours will cost you everything.”

Ji Cheng leaned back, his gaze icy. “And you won’t live long enough in this industry to witness it.”

Chen Xu’s smile widened, but his eyes held no amusement.

“Let’s see whose empire burns first.”

After spending an unreasonable amount of time getting on each other’s nerves, Chen Xu finally stormed out, his irritated expression making it painfully obvious that Ji Cheng had won the argument.

Ji Cheng watched him leave with a faint, victorious smirk. However, when he turned back to his work, he found himself unable to concentrate. The words on the documents blurred into meaningless lines, and his patience had long since worn thin.

With an irritated sigh, he shut the files and stood up. He’d had enough of the day.

Without bothering to entertain another distraction, Ji Cheng grabbed his belongings and left for home.

When Ji Cheng arrived home, he entered the password on the digital lock, only for the door to reject it. “Shit.” He remembered changing the password recently and tried again. This time, the lock clicked open.

He stepped inside, shut the door behind him, and headed straight for the liquor cabinet. Pouring himself a drink, he sank onto the sofa, hoping to wash away the irritation the day had left him with.

For the next twenty minutes, the house remained eerily quiet. Then—

A sudden, violent pounding against the front door shattered the silence. Ji Cheng flinched, his glass pausing halfway to his lips. His brows furrowed as he glanced toward the entrance. Who the hell would show up at this hour?

Another bang echoed through the house, harder than the last. His irritation flared. “Who the hell is it this time?” he muttered, setting his glass down.

But just as he rose from the sofa, something made him pause. There had been no sound of footsteps outside. No doorbell. No warning. Just the relentless banging.

And whoever was standing on the other side of that door seemed awfully impatient to get in.

Ji Cheng opened the door, only to find Xi Yu standing on the other side. His face was dark, his expression unreadable, and something about his presence sent an inexplicable chill through the air. There was a strange intensity in his eyes, as though he had come with something far more serious on his mind than a simple visit.

Ji Cheng, however, chose to ignore it.

“Why did you change the password?” Xi Yu asked, his voice low.

“Come inside,” Ji Cheng replied, stepping aside.

Xi Yu followed him in without another word. Ji Cheng shut the door and walked ahead, deliberately keeping his back turned toward Xi Yu. He didn’t want to look at him—not when he had no idea what that darkened expression might lead to.

“I don’t like other people coming here,” Ji Cheng continued, his tone casual, as though he hadn’t noticed the tension hanging between them.

When Ji Cheng was nine years old, his mother had told him to close the bedroom door before going to sleep. But, being a child, he had forgotten about it and drifted off to sleep without a second thought.

Hours later, a piercing scream jolted him awake.

Confused and frightened, he climbed out of bed and cautiously opened his bedroom door, peeking through the narrow gap.

What he saw that night would remain etched in his memory forever.

His mother lay motionless on the floor, surrounded by blood, with shattered pieces of glass scattered nearby. A few steps away stood his father, a knife in his hand.

For a moment, Ji Cheng couldn’t move. He couldn’t even comprehend what he was looking at.

Then his father turned and noticed him.

Before Ji Cheng could react, the man charged toward him. Terror finally broke through his paralysis, and the boy slammed his bedroom door shut. He pressed his back against it and sank to the floor, trembling and sobbing uncontrollably.

All night, he remained there, too terrified to move, while his father continued pounding on the door from the other side.

The following morning, the neighbors discovered what had happened and reported the incident to the authorities. His father was arrested and eventually sent to prison.

Years passed before he was released, but prison had done little to change him. He returned as the same abusive man Ji Cheng had known before, carrying the same anger and drinking habits into their home.

Eventually, his father found a small job and began earning just enough to get by. But for Ji Cheng, nothing ever truly returned to normal. The memories of that night remained buried deep within him, along with the fear of the man who was supposed to protect him.