Chapter 26 I'll Be There Soon

When Cheng Dongxu mentioned that he had lent Lu Heyang 200 yuan to buy cigarettes, Fu Xun was already suppressing his anger. By the time Cheng explained that Lu Heyang had used the opportunity to slip out the back door of the convenience store, disappearing into a narrow alley filled with garbage and lacking surveillance, Fu Xun's expression had become exceptionally grim. The veins bulging at his temples betrayed his desire to tear everything apart.

The atmosphere in the conference room abruptly froze. The three shareholders, who had previously been tense and confrontational, let their half-burned cigarettes hang between their fingers, allowing the ashes to fall onto their expensive trousers. They even forgot to take another puff. They didn't know what had pushed the usually composed Fu Xun to the brink of losing control, nor did they know if he would channel this fury into the business at hand. They hadn't come all this way to leave empty-handed when facing this young and newly successful power player.

Silence fell on the other end of the phone. Fu Xun also didn't speak, and the room was so quiet that one could hear the faint ticking of the watch's second hand. His secretary, Cheng Xi, was fixated on the tea cup lid that Fu Xun was fiddling with between his long fingers and bony knuckles, certain that it would be smashed into pieces in the next second.

"He doesn't even smoke," Fu Xun finally pushed aside the innocent tea cup lid and pressed hard against his brow, speaking through gritted teeth. "What did I tell you? Didn't I say not to do anything else and just bring him here?"

"You told me not to do anything else, but you didn't mention Brother Heyang…" Cheng Dongxu hurried to explain, his voice growing quieter with each word. "And how was I supposed to know he doesn't smoke? It's been ten years—who knows what habits he has now? And besides, parking is restricted there, I couldn't just leave the car…"

"Enough," Fu Xun snapped harshly, and both ends of the line fell silent again. After a brief pause, Fu Xun gave Cheng Dongxu an address. "Go check his place. I'll be there soon."

The airplane climbed through the thick gray clouds. After reaching the designated altitude, bright white light streamed in through the windows, and vast, fluffy cirrus clouds spread out, soft and weightless, seemingly belonging to a different world than the dark city below.

His eardrums felt tight, and the pain extended to his ear bones. Lu Heyang opened his mouth slightly, moving his jaw to relieve the discomfort.

It had been 20 hours since he had left the Xinting Villa. He hadn't returned home during that time; instead, he had found a secluded motel to stay the night. He wasn't sure what to do next, or how long he could hide, but until he figured it out, avoidance and retreat had already become his automatic response—a habit carved into his bones.

For instance, he would avoid being alone with Lin Sheng on nights when his mother was away on business trips. With nowhere else to go on those silent, lonely nights, he would use the excuse of extra schoolwork, crouching in the stairwell, quietly reciting vocabulary amidst the acrid smell of smoke mixed with the sour stench of garbage. He would also instinctively shrink in the face of Lu Xun's hostile gaze, relinquishing anything the other wanted just to avoid conflict.

He had never believed himself to be someone who could be loved unconditionally. He always felt he had to offer something in return—whether it was his obedient personality or his beautiful body. Though Su Mei and Lu Bingwen's deaths had once cracked the ironclad defenses around his heart, and for a moment he thought that perhaps Fu Xun had even a sliver of genuine affection for him, now he was once again brutally reminded of the truth: The man he called "brother" was like fate, constantly toying with him, treating him as nothing more than a disposable object, never offering him anything real.

The next morning, he went to see Dean Wang at the university to inquire about the result of the "injustice" he had suffered. He learned that, eight days ago, Tang Yifei had taken the initiative to clear his name with the school, admitting that the photos were the result of her one-sided crush. Her hesitation and shame had led her parents to wrongly believe she had been coerced into an inappropriate relationship.

As the situation escalated, even threatening Lu Heyang's reputation and career, her guilt had finally overwhelmed her, forcing her to confess the truth. However, as a result, public opinion swiftly turned against her, bringing with it insults and slander. Her father had even lost his job due to the scandal. Under the weight of online harassment, Tang Yifei had decided to take a leave of absence from school.

"She's a brave child," Dean Wang sighed. "But thankfully, this matter is now resolved, and the school will not pursue it further."

After saying this, Dean Wang sat back in his chair, then leaned forward and asked, "I called you earlier, but your brother answered the phone. What happened? Didn't he pass this information on to you?"

Lu Heyang paused for a moment, then quickly fabricated a lie. "He told me, just not in enough detail, so I came to confirm."

Dean Wang, understanding, relaxed his expression. "Well... didn't your brother also mention to me that you were unwell and needed a month off for medical leave? I completely understand. After all, being wronged like this must have been an immense psychological burden on top of the public scrutiny. I approved the leave. Why have you returned so soon?"

Having been cut off from the world for more than half a month, Lu Heyang was eager to find out how this storm had concluded. Fu Xun had known everything yet told him nothing, keeping him caged like a prisoner.

All he could do was force a bitter smile and say, "I couldn't stand sitting idle."

Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. Gan Tang entered, holding a stack of files, her eyes lighting up excitedly when she saw Lu Heyang.

"Mr. Lu!" Gan Tang exclaimed in delight. "You're back? The students missed you so much. I've been covering your classes for nearly a month, but now I can finally hand them back to you."

Truthfully, Lu Heyang wasn't ready to return to the classroom just yet. He smiled noncommittally and turned to leave. "You two talk first."

Gan Tang patted the pile of papers in her arms. "It won't take long, I just need to report something to the dean."

With no choice but to pause, Lu Heyang adjusted his glasses and glanced over at the files. He noticed the words "registration form" printed at the top.

Gan Tang continued, "Mr. Li, who had signed up to go to Lu County for relief work, just found out this morning that his partner went into premature labor, so the spot opened up again."

"Lu County?" Lu Heyang's heart stirred.

Dean Wang explained, "Lu County was hit by a severe natural disaster, and rescue efforts are underway. Our university's geology and meteorology departments have already sent two teachers, and now they want to add an expert in psychology to help with post-disaster trauma counseling."

"Dean Wang," Lu Heyang volunteered, "I'd like to go."

"You've just taken medical leave, and Lu County is still experiencing heavy rainfall. It's very dangerous. I suggest you think this over carefully," Dean Wang said gravely as he sipped tea, steam swirling around his lowered head. Though he trusted Lu Heyang's character, in his eyes, the young man was an intellectual who had spent years abroad—someone who had likely never endured hardship, let alone waded through mud in a rural disaster zone.

"There's no need to reconsider," Lu Heyang replied firmly. He smiled at Gan Tang. "Looks like I'll need you to cover my classes a little longer."

After submitting his application form, he immediately went home to grab his bank card, ID, a few changes of clothes, and other essentials, then boarded the 3 PM flight to Qinggang City, the closest city to Lu County. From there, he would switch to a truck transporting relief supplies to reach his destination.

At security, he had two main worries. One, that the flight would be canceled due to bad weather. Two, that Fu Xun would somehow appear out of nowhere and drag him back to Xinting Villa. Thankfully, neither of his fears came true, and everything proceeded smoothly. As the plane soared through the clouds, the slight sensation of weightlessness deepened the surrealness of the situation.

Yet, along with relief, a bitter thought crept into his mind—had Fu Xun even tried to look for him? Perhaps his leaving was exactly what Fu Xun had wanted, an easy and convenient way to rid himself of a burden.

After all, he had been like a parasitic thorn in Fu Xun's flesh, a witness to his lowest moments, and an enabler of his most shameful desires.

Without him, no one would ever know that the powerful, glamorous heir to the Fu Corporation had once been mediocre, humble, and filthy. And if it were revealed that he had once shared a bed with his own brother, how could he ever win Miss Xu's love again?

Lu Heyang removed his glasses, rubbed his sleepless, swollen eyes, and sank into a deep, heavy sleep.