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aside, and began to think of a way to keep the rest.

This afternoon, Nine Eagles suffered heavy losses.
The other underworld bosses found some clues from Lian Jun and Zuo Yang’s occasional exchanges.
They paid closer attention to the organizations mentioned and discovered all of them were “bedbugs” similar to Pegasus.
The looks they sent Zuo Yang became more and more unfriendly.

Everyone could see it—most of the illegal organizations vetoed by Lian Jun should have a connection with Nine Eagles.
Sure enough, Zuo Yang really had a burning ambition to become emperor of the underworld!

After the meeting, Zuo Yang glared at Lian Jun for a long time before leaving the government ship.
Lian Jun, of course, continued to ignore him, refusing to acknowledge him with even a short glance.

The other leaders caught all this, and two feelings wrestled in their chests.
They were happy to see Nine Eagles’ leader having a bad time, but at the same time, they felt strange.
Why? Because, from a certain point of view, Zuo Yang really was acting like he was in love with Lian Jun and hated him because his love was unrequited…

After dinner, Xiao Si’s attempt to locate Long Shi bore results.
He was indeed on the Nine Eagles’ ship, but in a very unexpected place: confined in Zuo Yang’s quarters.

Shi Jin marked Long Shi’s position on the scan of Nine Eagles’ ship Xiao Si made earlier.
His brows furrowed.
“Are you sure that’s Zuo Yang’s cabin?”

Xiao Si replied, confident in the results.

Frustrated, Shi Jin collapsed on the bed.
“That’s it, we’re done—the plan to sneak in and snatch Long Shi is definitely not going to work.
It’s impossible even with your buffs.
Zuo Yang’s cabin is too deep in, I’d never get that far.”

Xiao Si seized the opportunity to interject,

“I know it’s dangerous, but I just can’t help thinking…” Shi Jin looked at the ceiling, staring as if in a trance.
After a long time, he exhaled and threw his forearm over his eyes.
“No, I can’t.
Being concerned is fine, but I shouldn’t lose my head.
Let’s see what Zuo Yang will do first—Lian Jun said he wouldn’t be able to endure and will bring Long Shi out to parade him before us.
We just need a little patience.”

Xiao Si hurriedly chimed in, fully endorsing what he said, and urged him to abandon the risky plan.

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Unexpectedly, when it was almost time to sleep, Lian Jun knocked on his door.

Shi Jin had just finished his shower.
He opened the door and asked, surprised, “Jun-shao? Did something happen?”

Lian Jun glanced at his still dripping hair and motioned him inside.
“Tomorrow is the last day of the conference.
We made a bet, remember? I came to ask about your answer.”

Shi Jin was taken aback.
“Is the bet still valid? I mean, Old Ghost came out with everything on his own.
I thought it was long expired.”

“Of course it’s valid.” Lian Jun closed the door then slid into the bathroom to take the hairdryer.
He plugged it into the socket at the head of the bed and beckoned to Shi Jin, who stood in the middle of the cabin like a fool, “Come here and sit.
You should quickly dry your hair after a bath, or you’ll catch a cold.
It’s best to be careful.”

“Isn’t that what I told you on the island?” Shi Jin wanted to laugh.
He obediently sat down and reached out, hand open: “Let me do it myself, you’ll get your hands wet.”

Lian Jun eyed him silently.
He moved his wheelchair closer, put one hand on the teenager’s shoulder, and pulled him forward, switching the hairdryer on with the other.
It was quite obvious he didn’t agree.

Shi Jin let himself be pulled and felt the hand on his shoulder move to the top of his head then gently push it down.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to dissuade Lian Jun, so he conceded: “All right, all right.
I blow-dried your hair once, you’re going to blow-dry my hair now, so we’re even.” He bowed his head lower, to make it more convenient to dry.

“We’re not.” Lian Jun pushed his hand in his hair, gently massaging his scalp with the tips of his fingers.
Moving the hairdryer, he asked, “So what’s your answer?”

What a simple question.

Shi Jin set his hands on his knees.
Because his head was lowered, he could only see Lian Jun’s jaw and neck.
Unconsciously, his eyes became glued to them. “My guess is, the reason Phantom arrived at the meeting place earlier than usual this year was to observe us, find a chance to talk to us and ask us for help.”

Lian Jun’s fingertips brushed his ear.
“You’re only half-right.”

“Huh? Only half?” Shi Jin couldn’t help but look up.

Lian Jun wasn’t prepared for that, and the hand he held on the side of the teenager’s head slipped and landed on his face.
His other hand hurriedly pulled the hairdryer away to avoid hitting him.

They stared at each other.
Lian Jun hadn’t managed to hide the warmth in his eyes in time, and Shi Jin was stunned again.

“Don’t move.” Lian Jun took advantage of the situation to pinch Shi Jin’s face and pushed his head down again.
“Phantom came early not only to observe us but also to observe the authorities.
The same with their purpose: Old Ghost not only wanted to ask us for help but was hoping to get a connection with the officials through us.
Strictly speaking, even asking for help was secondary—what he really wanted was to use us to convey his determination to leave the underworld and get the government’s support.
However, he’s doomed to not get it.
The officials don’t need a second Annihilation because it’s not easy to control.”

Shi Jin’s head was pushed a little further this time and almost bumped Lian Jun’s arms.
His eyes fell on Lian Jun’s legs, outlined by the robe.
He remembered how they felt when he massaged them and couldn’t help but reach out and knead them gently, replying, “It seems my answer is really only half-right, not comprehensive enough.
Since this is the case, how should we decide the bet’s results?”

Lian Jun’s movements paused for a second, but he quickly continued moving the hairdryer, ignoring Shi Jin’s unruly hands.
The ear peeking from the messy hair drew his attention, and he couldn’t resist leaning closer.
“Let’s make it a draw, and change the stakes: we will both fulfill the other’s one request.
What do you think?”

His warm breath caressed Shi Jin’s ear, utterly different from the hairdryer’s hot air.
Somehow, it felt intimate.

Shi Jin instinctively shivered, feeling goosebumps all over, and couldn’t help but turn his head.
“This is fine.
So, the bet is settled?”

Lian Jun leaned sideways in just the right moment for Shi Jin to end up in his arms, the teenager’s cheek against his chest.

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It was close enough for Shi Jin to hear the other man’s heartbeat.
He was a little dazed.

As if everything was normal, Lian Jun lowered the hairdryer and, without changing his position, touched Shi Jin’s hair.
“All right, it’s dry,” he said.
Then, he moved the “groping hand” on his knees away and backed up his wheelchair.

Maintaining his leaning posture, Shi Jin looked up at him.

“It’s getting late, you should go to sleep.” Lian Jun didn’t stay much longer.
He set the hairdryer on the table and left.
It seemed he really came over just to talk about the bet.

Shi Jin watched him in a daze until the sound of the closing door woke him up.
He rubbed his face and ear which had stuck to Lian Jun’s chest, took a look at the hairdryer, and said, confused, “Why do I feel that Lian Jun was a little weird just now…”

Delighted, Xiao Si promptly asked,

“Somehow, I feel…” Shi Jin unconsciously moved the hand which kneaded Lian Jun’s legs a moment ago and shook his head.
“I don’t know… Oh, forget it, let’s sleep, it’s already late.” And he simply got in bed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Xiao Si nearly crashed.
It hated it didn’t have a physical body so it could drag him out of bed and force him to keep thinking.

By breakfast time the next day, the results of the fingernail identification arrived—they were indeed Long Shi’s nails.
The person who brought them was Uncle Long, who now sported dark circles under his eyes.

Lian Jun’s forehead wrinkled in a slight frown.
“Uncle Long, you didn’t have to get involved in this, I’d understand.”

The doctor looked haggard, but his voice was resolute.
“It was me who taught him—I’m also guilty.
Jun-shao, you were kind and didn’t hold me accountable, but it doesn’t mean I can keep running away from this.
We were father and son for more than twenty years.
Now, it’s time to sever our relationship.”

Since this was his attitude, Lian Jun persuaded him no more and acquiesced to his presence.

When the morning meeting began, Uncle Long didn’t listen to Gua One’s suggestion to take a rest in the cabin but instead accompanied Shi Jin on deck.
He watched Zuo Yang, sitting opposite Lian Jun, with a complicated expression on his face.
It was hard to tell what he was thinking.

Shi Jin wanted to comfort him but didn’t know what to say, and looked visibly tangled.

Probably noticing his expression, Uncle Long suddenly broke the silence: “I picked Long Shi up in a moment of sympathy.
His father was a drug dealer, and his mother an alcoholic—they weren’t good people and died early.
I was afraid Long Shi would follow in their footsteps, so I’ve been very strict with him.”

Shi Jin turned to him, listening in silence.

“He was a withdrawn, unsociable child.
The previous leader advised me to send him to an orphanage belonging to Annihilation and let him grow up with the other children, but I was afraid he would be bullied and refused.
Now that I think about it, his suggestion was correct—growing up without interacting with their peers really isn’t good for children’s development.” Uncle Long sighed, raised his hand, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Maybe I was too strict with him.
That’s why, when he first met Jun-shao, he got those ideas… I’m sorry, Shi Jin.”

Shi Jin asked, confused, “Why are you apologizing to me?”

Uncle Long lowered his hand and glanced towards the conference room, where Lian Jun observed the other leaders as they argued.
He said, his voice dropping to almost a whisper, “Because if I never gave Long Shi the chance to get close to Jun-shao, Jun-shao would’ve never become like this.
He used to be very gentle and often smiled.
If the Jun-shao you met was still the Jun-shao of that year, you would…”

Gentle Lian Jun, who often smiled?

The picture of Lian Jun helping him dry his hair last night flashed through Shi Jin’s mind, and the hum of the hairdryer seemed to echo in his ears again.
He couldn’t help but raise his hands to rub them, asking, “I would what?”

Uncle Long glanced at him and wanted to say something, but swallowed his words.
He said instead, “You would be smarter.” You wouldn’t be stupid for so long, blind to the feelings Jun-shao has for you.