SDT 55

Chapter 55: You Can’t Leave Me

When Yu Xiaowen opened his eyes in the morning, Lu Kongyun was already awake once again. This time, however, he wasn’t sitting eerily by the bed watching him; he was seated properly at the desk, adjusting something on his computer.

The curtains allowed light to seep through, and a small lamp glowed on the desk. Lu Kongyun’s hair was still damp, suggesting he had already showered. His complexion looked paler than usual, his knuckles faintly flushed, and even the collar of his sleepwear was left slightly open, revealing a rare glimpse of bare skin.

The sight was warm and harmonious. So Yu Xiaowen lay still, silently watching.

…Well, with his help, Lu Kongyun truly did look different. Compared to the previous days, he seemed far calmer, more like the composed and self-controlled man he had once known.

Just as Yu Xiaowen began feeling pleased with himself, Lu Kongyun lifted his eyes.

“You’re awake?”

Caught watching, Yu Xiaowen rubbed his eyes and pretended to have just woken. He sat up. “Mm… What are you doing?”

“Deleting some foolish data,” Lu Kongyun said.

Then he turned toward Yu Xiaowen and stared at him. Once their eyes met, he didn’t look away.

“…Uh, it’s getting late. I should go to work,” Yu Xiaowen said, rising from the bed and gathering his uniform.

“There’s no need.” Lu Kongyun’s tone was calm. “I already spoke to your manager. From now on, your assignment is me.”

The words carried an odd sense of familiarity.

“Why?” Yu Xiaowen stepped into the washroom, removing his sleepwear as he fastened his belt. “There are a lot of guests disembarking today for the exposition. There’s a ton of work this morning.”

Lu Kongyun watched the shifting light that fell through the doorway as Yu Xiaowen moved around inside.

When Yu Xiaowen poked his head out, Lu Kongyun’s gaze shifted. He pointed to the desk where several newly crafted silver swans and tiny eggs sat. “The ones you wanted.”

“You said you wouldn’t give them to me.” You Xiaowen smiled, immediately walking over to pick them up and slipping them into his pocket.

Lu Kongyun continued, “You may go about your security duties today. But once we disembark, the exposition’s internal staff will take over. From then on, your only duty will be me. You’ll follow me and cannot leave me. You still need to continue my treatment.”

“The treatment is fine. But you…” You Xiaowen hesitated, he couldn’t reject the gift. He sat opposite Lu Kongyun and asked, “What is it that you’ve been meaning to tell me? It’s been three days, and you still haven’t said it.”

“I have many things I need to ask you,” Lu Kongyun said.

“Then ask now,” You Xiaowen replied.

“I said there are many.” Lu Kongyun studied him intently, his tone layered with meaning. “It will take time.”

You Xiaowen raised an eyebrow. “Then start with the most important.”

“The most important,” Lu Kongyun repeated softly. His eyes dropped briefly, then returned to You Xiaowen.

“First,” Lu Kongyun said slowly, “don’t lie to me again.”

You Xiaowen froze.

“Second,” Lu Kongyun continued, “you’re coming back to S Country with me.”

“You… with you”

The first response sounded uncertain. The second was heavier, it was a statement.

You Xiaowen’s thoughts tangled. After a pause, he spoke carefully. “I’ve never met your friend, the police officer who died in the line of duty. We have no connection at all. He was a good man, but I’m just an ordinary security guard.”

Lu Kongyun’s fingers tightened abruptly, his knuckles whitening.

He drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. Then, in a restrained voice, he said, “If there’s anything troubling you, tell me. I’ll help you in every way I can. You can trust me. M Country isn’t safe.”

The sincerity in his tone made You Xiaowen’s lips tremble. His fists clenched, nails pressing into his palms.

The curtain swayed with the sea breeze, light flaring and dimming across the room.

You Xiaowen rose slowly and walked toward the door.

His hand rested on the handle as he said quietly in a low and uncertain voice, “I have my own life here. I’m… doing fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Lu Kongyun didn’t respond.

You Xiaowen opened the door and left.

That morning, Dai Lanshan went to the dining hall to find Lu Kongyun, who was already packed and ready to disembark.

The Alpha sniffed, then laughed in disdain. “Second Young Master Lu, this is how you ‘take care’ of a martyr’s family?”

Lu Kongyun didn’t argue.

Dai Lanshan continued, “I didn’t expect much from you to begin with, but you’ve still managed to surprise me. Weren’t you the one who swore to treat that person like your own brother?”

Lu Kongyun glanced at him, silent.

Dai Lanshan asked, “So the person you were looking for, are you giving up?”

“I’m not looking anymore,” Lu Kongyun said quietly. “The mission’s been canceled.”

Dai Lanshan frowned. “You’re abandoning the quantum experiment?”

“I am,” Lu Kongyun replied. “I’ll give you the prayer bead.”

His expression didn’t show the slightest disturbance, nothing like the man who had once raved about the power of mysticism.

Dai Lanshan thought wryly, Brother, my wife, see? The only Alpha in the world who stays loyal is me.

Thinking that, he pulled out his phone and began admiring the photo of his “brother-wife.”

Then Lu Kongyun suddenly asked, “The person you mentioned last time, Ye Yisan. Who is that?”

…

The entire morning, You Xiaowen drifted through work, unable to focus.

Lu Kongyun’s words lingered in his mind.

Don’t lie to me.

…Did he already know that I’m the former blackmailer You Xiaowen?

If you have any difficulty, tell me. I’ll help you. You can trust me. M Country isn’t safe.

Could it be that the story about the twin brother was never true? But if Lu Kongyun already suspected him, then why go through the trouble of fabricating that absurd story?

It didn’t fit his personality at all.

If Lu Kongyun’s motive had been genuine sympathy for a fallen officer’s brother, why treat that man with such care, when the real You Xiaowen had once deceived and humiliated him?

The logic didn’t align.

You can’t leave me…

The words stirred heat in his chest before he caught himself, mocking the feeling. He reached into his pocket and counted the tiny swans and eggs, one, two… he was missing one. His back went cold until his fingers found the third hidden in a seam of the fabric. Warmth returned.

He thought back to that day in school, standing beneath the raspberry blossoms, looking up at the boy behind the window, the first time his heart had quickened. Even after all these years, the feeling hadn’t dulled. Touching those tiny metal eggs brought back the same bittersweet ache, painful and tender all at once.

However tangled things seemed, he still believed Lu Kongyun’s intentions were kind. Lu Kongyun was, at his core, a man of good character. That thought alone calmed him.

After inspecting the recreation room, You Xiaowen leaned by the window to rest. His roommate Da Guang approached.

“Brother,” Da Guang said, “you didn’t come back to sleep last night.”

You Xiaowen answered easily, “I got drunk and passed out in the garden.”

“I saw you leave with that guest,” Da Guang said.

“…He was drunk too. I was taking care of him.”

“Brother Dali,” Da Guang stepped closer, lowering his voice, “did you use protection? Being with an Alpha of that level is dangerous.”

“How the hell do you know about that?” You Xiaowen turned to stare at him.

“So you did do something with him?” Da guang leaned in, trying to catch his scent.

You Xiaowen shoved his face away. “Get lost!”

Ever since Lu Kongyun had mentioned Alphas using another’s clothes for nesting, You Xiaowen had gone back to the dorm and checked. To his horror, he’d noticed subtle shifts in how his belongings were arranged. Had Da Guang really used his things… for that?

He felt torn, disgusted yet reluctant to confront him directly.

Once, Da Guang had seemed like a simple younger brother. Now the thought made his skin crawl.

It was thanks to Lu Kongyun that he’d learned the truth.

But ignorance was bliss. Knowing only made it worse. If he had to rent a new place after returning to M Country, it’d cost him dearly.

He sighed.

Half an hour later, the ship would reach port. Following Lu Kongyun’s instructions, his “assignment”, You Xiaowen returned to the suite early to await orders.

If he had to stay by Lu Kongyun’s side, that could become a problem. Dai Lanshan had arrived with him, and Dai Jingxi would also attend the medical conference. If all three met, and Dai Lanshan decided to stir trouble, dragging Ye Yisan into it…

That would be a disaster.

As You Xiaowen adjusted his collar before the mirror, he frowned slightly, lost in thought. When he finally looked up, the room had gone unusually quiet. Instinctively, he turned, and found Lu Kongyun sitting on the sofa, watching him.

He didn’t know how long Lu Kongyun had been staring. There was something animal in that focus, like a predator crouched in the grass.

“…,” You Xiaowen opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Lu Kongyun stood and walked up behind him.

“From now on,” Lu Kongyun said, voice low but calm, “just stay with me.”

In the mirror, Lu Kongyun’s reflection met his eyes – dark, calm, and unreadable – as he reached forward to smooth the collar You Xiaowen had been struggling with.

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