Chapter 37

Chapter 37

“There are plenty of men in the world. These days, people are open-minded-it’s not even unusual for a man to like another man. And you’re so outstanding; just walk into a gay bar and a crowd will cling to you. Why hang yourself on one tree? Bo Suihan is starved for love-are you starved for love too?”

Wu Xiaojiu’s shoulders were grabbed and shaken back and forth.

Wang Xiao was getting more and more worked up by now, not even noticing when a cigarette butt landed on his hand.

“That’s not the point. I have my own unspeakable problems. Besides, a corpse appeared out of nowhere in the exhibition. The police aren’t idiots; they’ll trace it to me eventually.”

“So you’ll die with him? Wu Xiaojiu, I think you’re really blinded by lust.”

Wu Xiaojiu’s reaction made Wang Xiao laugh. He crouched down, leaning against the wall, unable to straighten up from laughing.

“At worst, at worst I’ll go take the blame for you. Anyway, because of what happened more than ten years ago, I’ve always hated Bo Suihan deep down. If I go down with him in a fight to the death, at least it’ll be satisfying.”

Although Wang Xiao said this, his eyes secretly studied the other’s expression.

He wasn’t stupid. With his great revenge still undone, he wouldn’t sacrifice himself for one enemy.

He only said this to try and persuade Wu Xiaojiu not to die.

Sure enough, the other’s expression showed a moment of hesitation.

“Are you serious?”

Wang Xiao’s heart clenched at the question; he curled the corners of his mouth and nodded emphatically.

“You kill him, don’t die, I’ll take the blame.”

“Come on, just by your look I can tell you’re unwilling. I, Wu Xiaojiu, am a man of responsibility-I’ll own up to what I do alone. Don’t say another word about this. Let’s stick to the plan. We’ll drive out in a bit, and I’ll call him and trick him into coming.”

Wang Xiao could see he was truly dead set.

Frustrated, he scratched his head wildly. He really couldn’t understand how Bo Suihan, a broke kid who could only talk big, had fooled this rich young master so completely.

“What unspeakable problems? You just want to go with him. Fine, it’s settled then.”

After they finished discussing, Wu Xiaojiu got into the car.

Wang Xiao went to the police station to hand over the remaining details of the case, and soon after, he got in as well.

Now it was dusk, and the country road stretched out under the setting sun. A few farmers herded geese back and forth. Wang Xiao’s car stopped and started; Wu Xiaojiu leaned out the window to look.

Blue sky, the sun, the moon, white clouds, and even a few stars had already fallen into the sky.

Waves of wheat rippled layer after layer, fluttering in the wind.

Wu Xiaojiu had reached a dead-end road.

He didn’t know how to describe his mood. It seemed pretty good, even though he knew he would soon depart for the heavens, he felt completely at ease.

“Repaying with my life, settling the karma. Bo Suihan, don’t blame me-you had crooked intentions first.”

By the time the car drove back into the city, the sky had already darkened.

Far off in the distance, clusters of fiery clouds gathered.

Wu Xiaojiu took out his phone from his pocket and dialed a familiar number.

“Bo Suihan, are you free now? I think we need to talk about that matter again.”

The call was picked up after only one ring.

The person on the other end was panting, as if they had just been exercising. After a second of silence, they immediately said:

“I’m free-today, tomorrow, the day after, I’m always free for you. If you come to see me, I’ll always make time. Xiaojiu, does this mean you believe me now?”

The voice asked cautiously. Wu Xiaojiu lowered his eyes and gave a soft “mm.”

“Wang Xiao slipped up and I caught him. Come over. Let’s meet near my family’s factory-it’s pretty secluded there.”
“All right, I’ll be there on time. No, I’ll head over right now.”

Bo Suihan agreed at once. A moment later, the sound of him getting up came through the line.

Then came the sound of him going downstairs.

Wu Xiaojiu hung up in silence, then turned to look at Wang Xiao, whose expression was complicated.

“You don’t look nervous at all. Next, once we get him to the factory, you’ll stay in front and I’ll stay behind. Just say whatever nice things you need to say. Once he lets his guard down, I’ll slit his throat with one stroke.”

“Then we’ll dump the body at sea. After that, you can do whatever you want.”

Neither of them said another word.

They got back in the car and drove on.

The sky went completely dark.

The cold wind howled, and raindrops clung to the windows. August weather changed on a whim.

A moment ago, the sky had been clear for miles. Now rain was pouring down in sheets.

In the mountains, rain arrived with a storm at its back.

Wu Xiaojiu tightened his grip on the dagger hidden in his sleeve. Now that he had no way back, his mind was strangely calm.

All he could do now was gamble.

…

“Xiaojiu! You believe me now, don’t you? I really don’t have those kinds of thoughts about your family. Maybe I did before, but I absolutely don’t now.

“I’m not so heartless that I’d do something that cruel to my only best friend.

“Don’t listen to Wang Xiao. He’s calculating and vicious. If you listen to him, you’ll only end up hurting others and yourself!”

The factory gate was battered and broken. This was an abandoned steel plant that belonged to the Wu Family.

Because it had been built in such a remote area, and because it had fallen into disrepair over the years, the government and local police had marked it as a danger zone. Normally, no one came here.

In other words, if Bo Suihan were stabbed to death here and his body was dumped somewhere inside, left to rot and stink, it was entirely possible no one would ever know.

Yet even after being invited to a dangerous place like this, Bo Suihan did not realize it was a trap.

Instead, he wrapped Wu Xiaojiu in his arms with a face full of concern, pressing him tightly against his chest.

Drip, drip, drip.

The surroundings were so quiet that even the slightest movement could be heard. Wang Xiao crept forward from behind a pillar at the side.

But the footfalls he could not completely suppress were still magnified endlessly in the silence.

“Is someone there?”

Bo Suihan frowned and moved to turn his head.

Wu Xiaojiu hurriedly held his face in place, gripping his chin hard and forcing Bo Suihan’s head still.

Forcing him to look at him.

“No one. It’s just water.”

That was what Wu Xiaojiu said, but he still instinctively glanced in Wang Xiao’s direction.

Bo Suihan noticed the shift in his eyes.

Though confused, he forced himself not to turn around.

He nodded blindly, trusting Wu Xiaojiu’s words.

He paid no attention at all to the danger already closing in behind him.

Just as Bo Suihan was about to explain everything, all of a sudden…

A violent wave of pain surged through him. Bo Suihan began trembling uncontrollably, his brows knitting in disbelief.

“Wu Xiaojiu…”

Before he could say anything after calling his name, blood gushed from his mouth.

Blood spilled all over the ground, and Bo Suihan broke into loud, uncontrollable coughs.

“Wu Xiaojiu…”

Blood and words spilled out together in a murmur, the emotions in them as complicated as the blood he spat up.

Bo Suihan clutched his chest and turned around with difficulty, disbelief written all over his face.

“Never thought this day would come for you too, did you? How does it feel to be stabbed? Right now, does your heart hurt more from the knife, or from being betrayed?”

Wang Xiao smugly waved the sharp knife in his hand, his long, narrow eyes slowly curving with satisfaction.