Chapter 40: 2.19

"Ronghui…"

Ronghui felt that his cold heart was warming up again after he heard that voice calling his name. After he joined the underworld, he had to bear the pain of sleepless nights, because all his dreams turned into nightmares. However, he always remembered about Yunyu. How Yunyu became his roommate in the dorm for one year, how Yunyu would stare at him admiringly, and how dedicated Yunyu was with his study. They lived in harmony together without anyone disturbing them.

Yunyu was his only solace.

Life in the underworld was harsh, unforgiving, and ruthless. Death came with just one bullet, and Ronghui, who was used to being a good, righteous student, was forced to witness everything. Eventually, he got used to the routine.

Money, guns, blood, and tears, it was all imprinted in his mind. But Ronghui swallowed everything like the good student he was, and his father was satisfied with his development.

In only two years, Ronghui had become the closest man to his father. Ronghui was efficient, quick, remorseless, and smart. He was a perfect student in high school as he was the perfect young mafioso in the underworld.

But Ronghui felt that his world slowly crumbled, and his future with Yunyu was his only way to keep his sanity.

"Ronghui…" Yunyu called his name again. Ronghui's hand trembled and he hugged Yunyu tighter.

"I'm here. I'm sorry that I never came to you, I…" Ronghui couldn't say it. He couldn't say to Yunyu that he had been entangled deep in the underworld, that he had plenty of enemies targeting him. If they knew that Ronghui had someone he loved, they would definitely kidnap Yunyu, or worse… kill him.

"Ronghui... I'm sorry," Yunyu clenched Ronghui's hoodie.

Yunyu was not acting right now, he cried for real because of guilt. He knew that Ronghui went through a lot, and he couldn't fathom how much of a nightmare for Ronghui to bear everything. Because Ronghui should've been a bright man in the spotlight, adored by many.

"It's me who caused you to be like this…" Yunyu's tears didn't stop, in fact, he cried everything out, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Ronghui, I'm so sorry… please come back…"

Ronghui was overwhelmed by Yunyu's response. He thought that Yunyu would struggle, run away, or even hit him, so he could escape. He always thought that Yunyu hated him now, so he didn't care if he had to use an underhanded method to get Yunyu.

But it was completely out of his expectation to see Yunyu begging for him to come back. Ronghui's heart beat fast as he stared at Yunyu's eyes, "Do you still have me in your heart? Even… even after I become like this?"

"I constantly think about you…" Yunyu said truthfully, "Ronghui, it's all my fault."

[Pupa: Ding! Yang Ronghui's Fatemeter increases to 95%.]

"It's not your fault," Ronghui felt that his worry had been alleviated, "Yunyu, I want to go back. I want us to live together, only two of us. I don't need anything else…"

"Then let's do it," Yunyu tried to persuade Ronghui back. He was always anxious about Ronghui's wellbeing. Because the system kept saying that Ronghui was thriving in the underworld, he was a talented killer.

Ronghui was a male god that was supposed to be shining under the spotlight, adored by many and protected by his fame. But he had been reduced to be a gangster that was deep in the underworld, doing underhanded crimes, and even murder.

"Let's do it, Yunyu…"

Ronghui put his hand at the back of Yunyu's head and pulled him closer. He lowered his head and closed his eyes gently, he wanted to kiss the lips that he had been dreaming every night.

Then suddenly, Yunyu turned his face to the side. He avoided Ronghui's kiss.

Ronghui opened his eyes, he was confused, "Why?"

Yunyu gulped as he tried to find better words to address his situation. He didn't want to hurt Ronghui's heart, because Ronghui was deeply in love with him. But he couldn't accept the kiss from Ronghui. Because he was in a relationship with Junze.

"I… I'm in a steady relationship with someone else," Yunyu said meekly. He didn't want Ronghui to get hurt, so he added, "I want us to be good friends, you are always in my mind, but—"

"But I'm not in your heart, right?" Ronghui's gaze darkened. His previous gentle warmth vanished instantly, he chuckled mirthlessly. He stared down at Yunyu who was powerless in his embrace. His heart still beat fast whenever he looked at Yunyu, he couldn't lie that he was deeply in love with this guy.

But this guy was not his anymore, because he was just too weak. He was nothing compared to Junze, "Because Junze can give you everything with his parent's money, you easily give your heart to him."

Ronghui scoffed in disdain, "Since I am nothing in your heart, then I don't need to be gentle anymore."

Ronghui kissed Yunyu's lips forcefully. Yunyu finally struggled, but Ronghui didn't care at all, "Ronghui, mmph--!"

Ronghui pushed his tongue inside, their tongues intertwined as Yunyu tried to push Ronghui away, while Ronghui's tongue completely dominated him. Ronghui tasted everything inside Yunyu's mouth, just like what he expected, it tasted like candy, sweet and addictive.

Ronghui finally let go after Yunyu started to lose breath. He was satisfied with how Yunyu yielded after his kiss. Unlike his mouth, Yunyu's body didn't lie, "You taste sweet, just like what I expected."

[… I had a full set of meals before the exam. I wonder if he is lying or not about the taste.]

[Pupa: He is a simp for you, even if you smell like stinky tofu, he'd still eat that tofu.]

Ronghui finally let Yunyu free after he was satisfied. Ronghui chuckled, but his eyes were full of hostility, he ridiculed Yunyu, "You just kissed another man while your boyfriend is busy with his exam, maybe your love for him is not so strong after all."

"Don't worry, I will end his pathetic life soon. He is just a spoiled boy that knows nothing, I will make sure that he will pay."

"Why do you need to do this?" Yunyu asked.

"Why? You are still asking why?! Because he took you away from me!"

"But this is insanity. Ronghui, you are a bright man, you have a better future than this—"

"—In that future, you will get married to Junze. I don't want that future at all," Ronghui gripped Yunyu's hand and kissed it, his eyes didn't leave Yunyu's eyes at all, "I will make sure that the future belongs to us."

[Pupa: He is helpless, the Breakmeter is still stuck at 70%, maybe it will peak at 80% after Junze finished his exam.]

[No, I still have something.]

"… you will kill him, even if he is your own brother?"

Ronghui's eyes widened for a moment, he paused, and said nothing. But his grip on Yunyu's hand loosened a bit, "Did Duan Biya or my father tell you?"

"Ronghui, I am not a saint, but I still have moral conduct. I don't want to marry someone who would murder his own brother for his personal interest," Yunyu said firmly.

Ronghui started to hesitate. He didn't think much about his blood relation with that bastard Junze, but when confronted by Yunyu like this, he felt slightly guilty.

What would he do if Yunyu never forgave him for killing his brother?

[Pupa: Ding! Breakmeter increases to 75%.]

"Ronghui, let's go back…"

Ronghui's will wavered in front of Yunyu, he was conflicted in his heart. He wanted to yield and follow Yunyu back to his old days. Maybe it was for the best.

Then, the sound of the ringtone suddenly interrupted them. The ringtone was the voice of Junze reciting a cringy poem for Yunyu on his birthday.

Ronghui fell into silence, he stared at Yunyu who desperately tried to mute his phone, then scoffed, "It doesn't matter if he dies or not. He bullied you for one year, but you still accept him as your boyfriend because of money. Even if I murder him, I can buy your love with money and power."

"No—"

Ronghui brushed Yunyu's hand who was trying to hold him again. He walked off the alley and said, "It doesn't matter anymore."

[God damn it, Junze! Why do you need to change the ringtone!]

[Pupa: You should delete that abomination, I got shiver just by hearing it.]

Yunyu replied Junze with a message and asked the system to show the percentages. Pupa showed the hologram, both Junze and Ronghui's Fatemeters were already 95%. Meanwhile, the Breakmeter stayed at 75%.

[Eh? I thought the Breakmeter would decrease, since Ronghui heard that abomination of a ringtone.]

[Pupa: Maybe because deep down, he still has that hesitation.]

Yunyu agreed with the system's opinion. Ronghui was originally a righteous man, even after he joined the underworld, he would inevitably retain some of his conscience.

Yunyu was optimistic about the progress, it seemed that it was not a dead end. But now, he had to take care of one thing, his engagement with Zhou Junze.