Chapter 118: Lin Yunjian is Taken Away
Nan Zhi always yearned for a quiet life, but it never seemed to go as planned.
Since the onset of winter, the ground was often damp and muddy. Corners of sidewalks that nobody cleaned were littered with decaying, yellow leaves.
The distant trash bin was overflowing, with a black garbage bag lying next to it, discarded by some unknown individual.
Just another ordinary day.
As dusk deepened, a misty drizzle blanketed the entire city.
When four or five luxury cars pulled up outside, Nan Zhi was inside, engrossed in an animated film with Lin Yunjian.
Over a dozen men in black suits began approaching Nan Zhi's house.
Oblivious to it all, Nan Zhi was daydreaming about enjoying a warm bath with his little "crybaby" that evening.
The door to the living room swung open from the outside. Nan Zhi, startled, turned to look, only for his body to freeze in shock.
At the center of the crowd stood a woman all too familiar to Nan Zhi, Xu Lan, Lin Qiuwu's mother.
Yet, in this lifetime, Nan Zhi hadn't met the woman before him. How did she find this place?
Xu Lan's discerning gaze swept over Nan Zhi for a few seconds before finally settling on Lin Yunjian. "So this is Qiuwu's little alpha. He looks exactly like Qiuwu did as a child."
Dressed in a vibrant red coat, she removed a pair of sunglasses that seemed oddly out of place at night.
"Why did you..."
"How did I find out? Keeping Qiuwu's little alpha hidden, planning to elevate your status using this little one – such a vulgar scheme."
"Take him."
As soon as Xu Lan's words left her lips, several uniformed men advanced towards Nan Zhi.
"You have no right to take Yunjian away!"
Even the most oblivious would now understand the reason for Xu Lan's sudden appearance.
"Let go!" Nan Zhi roared in desperation.
The men moved swiftly, roughly taking a bewildered Lin Yunjian from Nan Zhi's embrace.
As Nan Zhi clutched the boy's hand, Lin Yunjian's previously innocent eyes now glared angrily at the men before him.
"Daddy! Waaah.. Daddy."
"Release him! Lay a hand on him and I'll call the police!"
Nan Zhi's eyes blazed with fury. The rising and falling of his chest signaled his distress, and Lin Yunjian's cries tore at his heart.
How did Xu Lan come to know of Lin Yunjian's existence? Did Lin Qiuwu inform her?
If she's here, it must be on Lin Qiuwu's orders.
"Madam?" The man holding Lin Yunjian hesitated, glancing back.
"Take him."
"Daddy... Yunjian's scared... bad people... Dad... sob sob sob."
The little alpha was naturally timid, and now terrified and wronged, he even cried out for his dad in his distress.
Four tall men, each around six feet, blocked Nan Zhi's line of sight.
Lin Yunjian was taken away, on what was otherwise a day like any other.
He was forcefully snatched away by Xu Lan, Lin Qiuwu's mother.
Heavy rain began to pour from the sky, despite it having snowed lightly just a few days prior in the winter season.
Dressed in a thin nightgown, he dashed outside, only to be splashed with muddy water by a passing car.
He didn't know what to do. Nan Zhi couldn't bear the thought of losing Lin Yunjian.
If Yunjian was truly taken to the Lin family by Xu Lan, then he might never get another chance to see the little alpha.
If it was Lin Qiuwu's doing... there might still be a chance to reunite with Lin Yunjian.
Without hesitation, drenched and in his thin nightwear, he sought out Lin Qiuwu.
The upscale villa community had well-maintained roads, devoid of any muddied puddles.
Taxi drivers and pedestrians gave him odd looks, but he paid them no mind, dashing into the community as soon as he got out of the cab.
"Hey! Stop! You can't come in here!"
The security guard shouted after his retreating figure. Nan Zhi didn't respond; he couldn't hear anything right now.
By the time he stood at the grand doors to Lin Qiuwu's living room, he was shaking all over. He felt no cold, only a rage he'd never experienced before.
"Lin Qiuwu! Was it you who had Xu Lan take Yunjian away?"
His trembling hands pushed open the grand doors without hesitation. Warm air enveloped his freezing body.
"Nan... Yi? How... how did you get here? Why are you dressed so lightly?"
Lin Qiuwu wasn't there. Only an alpha, leisurely reclining in the center of the sofa, was present. He held a glass of red wine, his hair disheveled, and his face slightly flushed from inebriation. He mistook Nan Zhi for Nan Yi.
Even inebriated, the alpha's beauty was mesmerizing, with a face that combined the gentleness of an omega and the striking definition characteristic of alphas.
This stunning alpha was Yun Luo, the one Lin Qiuwu had cherished his entire life.
Even the name sounded enviously beautiful.
No wonder Lin Qiuwu hadn't sought him out this month; he had clearly found his heart's desire.
For someone who had resolved to let go of Lin Qiuwu, the slight twinge in his heart was unexpected.
"Where is Lin Qiuwu?" Nan Zhi asked tersely.
"You're looking for Qiuwu? He's in the restroom. Come, sit. You look so dejected. Did you have a quarrel with Yu Shen?" The alpha on the couch lowered his eyes slightly, a flicker of sadness evident within.
"You two shouldn't fight. Yu Shen... he truly loves you."
Somewhat irritated, Nan Zhi tried to cut him off: "I said, Lin Qiuwu..."
"Did you know? I actually have feelings for Yu Shen."
Nan Zhi: !
Yun Luo had feelings for He Yu Shen!
No wonder Lin Qiuwu harbored such animosity towards He Yu Shen. Initially, Nan Zhi thought it was because Lin Qiuwu had affections for Nan Yi.
But upon learning of Lin Qiuwu's fondness for Yun Luo, he hadn't contemplated the reason for Lin Qiuwu's hostility towards He Yu Shen. It was all because of Yun Luo...
"I've had these feelings... for a long time. But don't worry, I won't compete with you for him. After meeting you, Yu Shen learned to love, which is truly enviable."
Nan Zhi's brow furrowed. He didn't want to listen to the drunken ramblings of Yun Luo, but the revelations were shocking.
So shocking that he stood frozen by the entrance.
"I'm getting engaged too, to a very adorable... omega... my family arranged..."
"I... truly... adore... Yu Shen."
Truly drunk, Yun Luo rambled on intermittently.
"What are you here for?"
With a voice as cold as ice, Nan Zhi suddenly looked up.
"Lin Qiuwu! Was it you who let Xu Lan take Jianjian away?"
Upon meeting those eyes filled with grievance and anger, Lin Qiuwu was momentarily stunned.
This was the first time he'd seen such an emotion in an omega's eyes, anger directed at him.
No omega had ever looked at him this way, and Lin Qiuwu was so taken aback that he missed what was said.
"Have you lost your mind..."
Lin Qiuwu's words trailed off as he noticed the trembling figure before him.
The omega's hanging fingertips were still shaking, his face pale as if he was ill, which caused Lin Qiuwu's brow to furrow.
"Wearing only pajamas in the dead of winter? Dirty and trying to play the victim?"
"Tsk, take him upstairs and get him cleaned up."
"As you wish, young master." The butler, who appeared behind Nan Zhi at some point, stepped forward.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Nan Zhi shouted, his voice full of grievance: "You promised not to take him away this winter! Lin Qiuwu, you broke your word!"
Lin Qiuwu retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"How could you go back on your word... I even said I wouldn't blame you anymore."
"Hmm, Qiuwu, I'm going back to sleep..." Yun Luo, drowsy on the sofa, staggered to his feet.
"Let me help you." Lin Qiuwu supported the unsteady Yun Luo.
"If you don't want to bathe, then get out! Stop acting out."
"Mr. Nan, perhaps you should head upstairs for a warm bath first, lest you catch a cold," the butler suggested.
"Lin Qiuwu, I want to see Jianjian! Return him to me!"
Lin Qiuwu's tone carried a hint of coldness: "Now, would you like to go upstairs, bathe, and rest, or would you prefer to leave? The choice is yours."