Additional Inheritance - Chap 92

Chapter 92

As Luo Yi drew closer to Chang Xing, Chang Xing reacted suddenly and took a step back. He stood behind one of his henchmen.

Luo Yi quietly tightened his fists, looking frostily at Chang Xing like a resentful ghost in the Underworld.

Two of the men grabbed Luo Yi, pushed him down on the sensor and untied the rope around him.

Luo Yi shook his hands, which were numb from being tied up.

Chang Xing looked down on him and asked, “Luo Yi, do you have any regrets?”

Luo Yi lifted his head when he heard those words. “My biggest regret is that I didn’t manage to burn you to death, causing all this trouble.”

“You would have died too if you wanted to burn me to death.”

Luo Yi replied, pausing after each word: “I know.”

Chang Xing laughed bitterly. “You’re not my only son, but you resemble me the most. I originally had high hopes for you, so I was extra lenient, giving you the opportunity to plot against me.”

Luo Yi replied coldly, “Do you really think you’ll be able to leave the country?”

“Those items you prepared in advance for me should be ready by dawn. As to whether I’ll be able to leave China, it’s none of your concern – you should save your time for saying farewells.”

Luo Yi closed his eyes slightly without saying anything.

“There is a speedboat outside the cabin. Only one of you can leave this boat before it explodes. I’m looking forward to the final outcome.” Chang Xing’s smile looked particularly cruel. “Of course, if I don’t receive those items by dawn, neither of you can think about leaving.”

Luo Yi stared directly at him. “If I give you what you want, how can I be sure you’ll let him go?”

“Take our remaining father-son bond as a pledge.” Chang Xing laughed, “You don’t have any other choice.”

Luo Yi glanced at Wen Xiaohui before lowering his head.

Chang Xing waved and led everyone off the boat. Silence soon blanketed the cabin. The swaying of the dim light bulb was the only evidence that it wasn’t stationary.

Wen Xiaohui sat against the wall. His mind went blank. Under his bottom was the detonator for the bomb, so he didn’t dare to change position.

After a while, Luo Yi said softly, “Xiaohui-ge.”

Wen Xiaohui didn’t move. He didn’t even turn his head, as he continued to stare at the lightbulb overhead like he was in trance. He asked in a hoarse voice, “What should we do? Do you have any ideas?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Should we just sit here and wait to die?”

“That’s not going to happen.” Luo Yi turned to look at him with an intense gaze. “It won’t happen to you.”

Wen Xiaohui’s heart trembled, twisting his head to look at Luo Yi. “What do you mean by that?”

Luo Yi didn’t respond, stretching his hand out. He whispered, “Let me touch you.”

Wen Xiaohui looked at Luo Yi’s hand – he’d always liked Luo Yi’s hands a lot, with his long and slender fingers and strong joints. He could hold a basketball in one hand. It was sexy. The gesturing hand seemed to possess some kind of magical power that made him reach out to gently place his own hand on top of Luo Yi’s.

Luo Yi clutched his hand tightly. Despite the arm’s length between them, they immediately felt each other’s warmth because of their overlapping palms. Luo Yi sighed deeply, like a person lost at sea who had found a piece of driftwood. His rigid posture relaxed slightly. “Your hand feels hot.”

Wen Xiaohui lightly bumped the back of his head against the wall. He was experiencing bouts of headaches, and the swaying made him feel dizzy. He needed pain to remain clear-headed.

Luo Yi pinched Wen Xiaohui’s palm. “Stop banging your head, you haven’t recovered from your injuries.”

Seeing red, Wen Xiaohui turned to look at him. “What are you planning to do? Is someone coming to save us? Did you call the police? Don’t tell me we’re supposed to sit here like this…”

Luo Yi smiled. “It’s a rare opportunity for us to have a calm discussion.”

“How did you conclude that I’m calm?!” bellowed Wen Xiaohui, restraining himself, trying not to get too worked up in fear of accidentally sliding off the sensor.

“Don’t worry. Daybreak is still a while away, I’ve a plan.”

Wen Xiaohui’s pounding heart finally calmed down a little after hearing those words. He didn’t think Luo Yi would have come to surrender his life, and he wasn’t the kind of person to obey obediently either, so there must be a backup plan. Subconsciously, Wen Xiaohui lowered his voice, “Is someone coming to save us?”

Luo Yi smiled gently. “Yeah, nothing will happen to you. Don’t be scared.”

Wen Xiaohui sighed deeply. He was still concerned as he asked, “Is it foolproof?”

“I told you I’ll protect you. I’ll keep my word no matter what happens.” Luo Yi’s hands rested upon Wen Xiaohui’s hand, as he caressed each finger, engraving them into his memory.

Wen Xiaohui felt a little awkward, however, he didn’t retract his hand. The life-or-death situation permeated each of his cells, repelling the memories of his past grievances. After all, as long as they were still in danger, each word could be the last thing they said to each other.

“Five and a half years,” Luo Yi suddenly lamented,”since the day we met. It’s been such a long time.”

“Yeah, time flies.” Wen Xiaohui also felt a sense of regret. The first time they met, Luo Yi was a 15-year old teenager, but he was now a tall and strong man. Those two thousand days and nights had changed them both completely – inside and out. Not a moment would pass where he didn’t yearn for the past; the simple and beautiful past.

“It was the best time of my life because I met you. I realised I could live happily… Even though I know that we can’t go back in time.”

Wen Xiaohui’s heart throbbed with pain. Luo Yi’s voice sounded so tranquil, but it was also brimming with sadness.

Luo Yi smiled all of a sudden, and gazed at him tenderly, “Do you remember the first time we met? I knocked you down and went to help you get back up. Your eyes shone when you looked up at me. I felt a little nervous at the time, because I recognised you at a glance, having seen your photos numerous times. Although you looked a bit feminine in photos, you were neatly-dressed and beautiful in real life.”

Wen Xiaohui fiddled his fingers on his other hand.

“Afterwards, we went home together. You must have felt similar – I felt close to you almost immediately, even though it was the first time we met. Very close. To the point where you accepted me without knowing much about me and treated me like a member of your family. You were so kind to me, because I’m my mum’s son…” Luo Yi lowered his eyes. “For the longest time, I thought I was clever and that I had complete control over you – your emotions, your life, your way of thinking – they all developed in line with my desires. But I failed to take into account my own feelings for you. Unwittingly, I’d become the one who couldn’t let go.”

Wen Xiaohui closed his eyes. His eyes immediately became moist.

“That wasn’t my plan originally – I wanted to take your share of the inheritance and give you three million to close out the deal. What could you do even if you found out the truth? You wouldn’t be able to do anything. However, I found myself caught up in it. I persuaded you to be Chang Xing’s hostage at the time, and perhaps, it was because I wanted to prove to myself that you didn’t mean anything to me and that I only cared about my goal.”

Wen Xiaohui found it unbearable. Luo Yi’s words felt like tearing open a healing wound. The bleeding was unstoppable. Subconsciously, he wanted to take his hand back, but Luo Yi gripped it firmly. Wen Xiaohui’s tears flowed down his cheeks.

“I seldom make mistakes and plan five steps ahead… I don’t know why I keep making mistakes when it comes to you. There’s no turning back, even if I know it’s futile.” Luo Yi’s voice sounded a little emotional. “I know… I know locking you away, tying you up and coercing you will make you hate me even more. I know I’m adding to your suffering and you’ll never forgive me. I know you’ll only go back to being yourself if I disappear. I know better than anyone else, but I can’t let you go. As long as I still have my last breath, I can’t let you go.”

Wen Xiaohui’s tears fell like the rain. A multitude of emotions surged towards his chest. It was as if poisonous gas was trapped in the cavity of his chest, eating his nerves and flesh, and leaving him in agony. It rendered him silent. Why did it hurt so much? How could it be so painful? Throughout his entire life, he had never committed any evil deeds, so why did he have to endure such feelings of despair?

Luo Yi placed Wen Xiaohui’s hand firmly on his chest, in the hope that his palm would be able to feel his heartbeat. He pressed down on it and bit his lip hard. His voice sounded like it would tear a soul to pieces as it trembled. “I get it now. I shouldn’t pester you any more or make things difficult for you. I want you to lead a safe and carefree life like before – laugh whenever you want and do whatever you want. If you meet someone you like and he treats you well, unlike me, I won’t make things difficult for him. Really…” His voice quivered to the point where he was almost inaudible. “Li Shuo is a really good guy… He still cares about you. He’s not like me at all. He’ll be able to give you a normal and happy life.”

Through clenched teeth, Wen Xiaohui mumbled, “You… Why are you saying this now?”

“It’s not too late.” The back of Luo Yi’s head rested on the wall. At some stage, his face had become streaked with tears. Upon his perfect jawline hung a sparkling teardrop, which dripped onto his chest and dispersed. Fracturing like his heart. He gasped for breath, as if each breath he took consumed all his energy. “You should start afresh when you get back. I won’t appear in front of you ever again… I won’t pester you any more. You’re so young, just pretend I never existed and go back to your old life.”

Wen Xiaohui’s heart was so distressed, it felt like it would explode. Luo Yi was bidding him farewell with every word, saying goodbye to their past, their five and a half years together, and their everything. Love, regret, resentment, hatred, both good and bad things, and things that couldn’t be expressed easily in words. Everything. Luo Yi wanted to wipe it all clean, as if they had never met. From now onwards, not a trace would remain. That was what Luo Yi was trying to tell him and he was about to put his words into action.

Wasn’t this what he’d always wanted? To be completely free from Luo Yi and live the life he desired. After struggling for some time, he would finally receive what he’d always wanted, but why was he in so much pain?

Luo Yi grabbed Wen Xiaohui’s hand, moving it towards his lips and kissing his fingers with the greatest affection.

Wen Xiaohui felt his warm tears drip down and splash onto the palm of his hand. The temperature was enough to scald his skin. He didn’t have the courage to turn his face to look at Luo Yi, and he didn’t know how to cope with Luo Yi’s farewell tears. With the momentum of a crumbling mountain, the day he had eagerly anticipated was rapidly drawing near, and his heart felt overwhelmed.