PE Ch36: Interruption 

“Mr. Pan, the ice on the lake has melted. Would you like to go boating?” The servant knocked and entered the room.

Pan Yinchuan put down his book, suppressing the ridiculous and terrifying guess in his mind. This line of reasoning had made his heart palpitate, and his head was dizzy.

Pan Yinchuan took a deep breath and tilted his head back to feel a bit more comfortable. He asked, “The ice has melted?”

“Yes, it’s already March,” the servant replied with a smile.

“Time flies.” Ever since coming here, Pan Yinchuan’s sense of time had become blurred.

He followed the servant to the riverside.

A coach-like figure, shirtless, was testing the oars on the boat.

“The ice just melted. Isn’t he cold?” Pan Yinchuan turned and asked the servant.

The servant shook his head expressionlessly.

Seeing Pan Yinchuan arrive, the coach jumped ashore from the boat, the melted river water soaking his trouser legs, causing them to cling tightly to his leg muscles, the contours clearly visible.

As he walked towards Pan Yinchuan, Pan Yinchuan felt as if he could faintly hear the sound of water.

“I thought you weren’t coming,” the coach said with a smile.

He had taught ice skating here before, so they had seen each other a few times.

“After reading for a long time, you need to do something else,” Pan Yinchuan said.

“That’s good, balancing work and rest. Come on, get on the boat.” The coach beckoned while placing a hand on Pan Yinchuan’s shoulder, immediately leaving a wet mark.

Pan Yinchuan frowned slightly in displeasure.

Even though he hadn’t bought these clothes himself, they had been prepared by Huai Yu’s people.

The coach didn’t notice at all and continued, “It’s almost warm, why are you still wearing a down jacket? You won’t have the strength to row in a bit. How about I help you take it off?”

“No, thank you. My physique can’t compare to you Alphas. It’s windy on the lake, and I don’t want to get sick.” In this wilderness, getting sick would be troublesome.

“By ice skating and skiing more, you’ll gradually get used to it. I was curious before, why did you stop playing after just a few times?”

To avoid being corroded by a life of luxury and debauchery, Pan Yinchuan thought.

He didn’t say it aloud.

Because this coach talked too much; if you said one thing to him, he’d respond with forty.

Pan Yinchuan wasn’t someone with a high social need; he preferred to immerse himself in his tasks.

Once on the boat, the coach suddenly placed his hand on the back of Pan Yinchuan’s neck, making him shiver from the cold.

“Sorry, did I chill you? I wanted to help you take off your coat. You’ll warm up once you start moving.”

“No problem, I can take it off myself.” Pan Yinchuan distanced himself.

Previously, he just felt this person was overly enthusiastic verbally. Now it seemed even physically he was a bit too passionate.

“Alright, alright.” The coach withdrew his hand, set up a stove on the boat to make tea, and placed a grill nearby to roast some nuts.

“Do you want to flip them?” the coach asked, picking up the oars again.

“Sure.”

“Recently, the situation outside has been particularly turbulent. Only this place remains peaceful,” the coach sighed.

Pan Yinchuan hadn’t been following the news much.

Ever since he talked about the rumors in Lunan City in front of Huai Yu and found out they were all false, he realized many pieces of information were limited.

Rather than looking at various news websites, it was better to ask Huai Yu directly.

If Huai Yu still had the leisure to sleep with him, it meant the sky wasn’t falling outside yet…

However, Pan Yinchuan paused, thinking, Mr. Huai really hasn’t come in a while.

The coach was still sighing, “Since I was hired, I haven’t gone out.”

Really? Is that so?

So during the days he wasn’t skating or skiing, this person had to stay in the manor too?

No wonder he had such resentment about him not continuing to play.

The coach continued, “But I guess it’s a good thing, thanks to you, I don’t have to worry about enduring the ravages of war outside. But my mother and sister are still out there. When I have nothing to do, I always think about them and wonder how they are. The news only talks about big events, not small ones…”

“You can call them.”

“Communication is down. We have thawed ice here, but other places haven’t yet. There’s a thick layer of snow weighing down the utility poles, and the signal towers are frozen. Oh, that’s also what the news said.”

Pan Yinchuan’s expression froze instantly.

The coach glanced at his face and said, “Do you know what it’s like outside?” He sighed heavily, “I really hope they can survive until I get back.”

Pan Yinchuan understood immediately.

The coach was subtly asking him for help.

“By the way, I’ve been here for a while but still don’t know your name,” the coach suddenly changed the topic. “How long are you going to stay here? Until the war ends? That would be fortunate for me.”

As he spoke, he temporarily set down the oar, put on his coat, and came to the stove to help Pan Yinchuan peel some nuts.

Pan Yinchuan didn’t speak. He wondered if the coach had misunderstood him, thinking he was a young master sent here by his family to take refuge.

After peeling the nuts, the coach brought them directly to Pan Yinchuan’s mouth, staring at him intently with an inexplicable fervor in his eyes.

Now it was certain.

He had pledged loyalty to the wrong person.

And it could be fatal.

Pan Yinchuan immediately put some distance between them, saying, “You didn’t wash your hands.”

The coach’s expression stiffened, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. He said, “I’m sorry,” and then threw the nuts into his own mouth.

“You like Omegas, don’t you?” the coach asked bluntly.

Pan Yinchuan thought, who doesn’t like Omegas?

Oh, except for Mr. Huai.

“My sister is an Omega…” the coach’s lips moved slightly, “Can you help me save them?”

Pan Yinchuan sighed, “I can try to help you. But it’s not certain because I don’t have the final say. Also, you’d better keep your distance from me, otherwise, not only will it not work out…”

You might even end up exiled to Ros State.

The coach was overjoyed, saying, “Of course it will work, it will definitely work! I saw the high-spec weapons equipped in this manor…”

Pan Yinchuan interrupted him, “Those aren’t mine, and the manor isn’t mine either.”

The coach was stunned, “Then whose…”

Pan Yinchuan was really afraid the coach would get himself into trouble, so he sighed and said, “They’re my sponsor’s.”

“Are you joking? If that’s the case, why would they send you here alone for protection…”

Before the coach could finish, the sound of a helicopter suddenly approached.

Both looked up in shock, then watched as the helicopter landed on the lawn by the shore.

The cabin door opened.

A person stepped down the gangway.

Pan Yinchuan said, “…That’s my sponsor.”

At that moment, he almost wondered if Mr. Huai had put surveillance on him, how could he arrive so suddenly?

But even for a “bust,” this was too quick.

It was just a coincidence.

Pan Yinchuan turned to the coach and said, “Row back to shore.”

The coach slowly recovered from the immense shock.

Before he could find his voice, a bodyguard had already launched a small boat, quickly reaching Pan Yinchuan with the engine running.

“Mr. Pan, please.” The bodyguard extended his hand to him.

Pan Yinchuan used the bodyguard’s support to switch to the small boat.

The engine started again, and in an instant, Pan Yinchuan was taken back to Mr. Huai. Meanwhile, the small boat and the coach on it were pushed further away by the water currents driven by the motorboat’s oars.

Pan Yinchuan took a look, “…”

“Reluctant to leave?” Mr. Huai asked.

Pan Yinchuan jumped off the small boat and stood in front of Mr. Huai, “What did you say?”

Mr. Huai also felt that his tone just now was a bit undignified, so he said faintly, “Nothing. This person dislikes wearing a shirt, I think he is suited to live with the beasts in the forest.”

Pan Yinchuan said, “Alright, let him go then. His mother and sister are dying soon. If he gets eaten by a bear in the forest, wouldn’t it be a family reunion in the afterlife?”

Mr. Huai: “…”

Mr. Huai’s eyes were no longer as cold as before, and he continued in a faint tone, “You even know all about his family situation?”

“He asked me to save their lives, how could he not explain clearly?”

“…”

The bodyguard behind them listened to this conversation, not daring to breathe.

But it seemed that Mr. Pan’s tone had become a bit more “rebellious,” hadn’t it?

“He asked you to save his life, so he seduced you by going shirtless?” Mr. Huai said, looking back at the coach left alone on the boat.

“Do you think he looks seductive?” Pan Yinchuan threw the question back.

He now found that this tactic worked particularly well with Mr. Huai.

The young Alpha coach, due to his love for extreme sports, had a great body, tall and muscular, with honey-colored skin.

Apparently, it didn’t match Pan Yinchuan’s aesthetics.

Mr. Huai thought, instinctively looking down at himself.

Pan Yinchuan looked straight ahead, but his ears were secretly listening intently.

Why wasn’t Mr. Huai speaking?

Was it… glossed over?

At this moment, a car stopped in front of them, and Mr. Huai opened the door, saying, “Get in.”

Pan Yinchuan got in first, followed closely by Mr. Huai.

The door closed, but the car didn’t move. Not only did it not move, but even the driver got out.

Huh? Are we going to… in the car again?

“I won’t be able to come to see you for a long time.” Mr. Huai hooked his fingers around the shock absorber Pan Yinchuan was wearing, sighing, “This thing has become more durable.”

It could actually be even more durable, Pan Yinchuan thought.

“Yu Jia’an is still looking for you; his people have dug tunnels all the way to Lunan City.”

Pan Yinchuan felt an instinctive pang of discomfort when he heard those words.

“They’ve caught him, but I had to come back to personally ensure your safety.”

After saying this, Pan Yinchuan noticed that Huai Yu’s body and eyebrows were stained with blood. He wasn’t just weary from travel; he looked like he had rushed over straight from the front lines.

Pan Yinchuan instinctively pulled out a tissue and handed it to him. “Want to wipe it off?”

Huai Yu paused, grabbed his hand, and used it to wipe his eyebrows.

Huai Yu couldn’t see the bloodstains on his own face. After a hasty wipe, he pushed Pan Yinchuan against the car window.

Pan Yinchuan’s buttocks tightened. Wasn’t this a case of repaying kindness with enmity, Mr. Huai?

But Huai Yu only lightly kissed his face.

Then he opened the car door behind Pan Yinchuan and said softly, “I have to go.”

Just like that… he was leaving?

Pan Yinchuan slowly blinked. So he really just came to check on his safety?

The Beta’s heart sank a bit.

They both got out of the car, the helicopter still waiting in the distance. Huai Yu didn’t rush back but held Pan Yinchuan’s shoulder and said softly, “I taught you last time, let’s see if you learned.”

Taught what?

It had been a long time since they last met. Pan Yinchuan struggled to recall, even to the point where Huai Yu’s face darkened.

Huai Yu raised his hand and pinched his lips.

Pan Yinchuan finally had a moment of realization and, steeling himself, leaned forward to kiss Huai Yu on the lips.

Huai Yu pulled back slightly and asked, “Is that how I taught you?”

Pan Yinchuan: ?

I can’t just pin you down like you do, can I? What if your bodyguards think I’m trying something and shoot me?

Pan Yinchuan thought to himself, ultimately deciding to wrap his arms around Huai Yu’s neck and kiss harder.

Huai Yu’s expression softened. After just a few seconds of Pan Yinchuan kissing him, he reversed the situation, biting Pan Yinchuan’s lips and kissing him even more forcefully.

Pan Yinchuan couldn’t breathe and had to use his nose.

As he breathed, the cold air entered, and he pushed Huai Yu away: “I’m going to get a runny nose.”

Huai Yu: “…”

But today, Huai Yu seemed unusually patient. He didn’t make any more demands, just squeezed the back of Pan Yinchuan’s neck and whispered, “That idiot dared to flirt with you after seeing the marks on you.”

Huh?

Pan Yinchuan remembered that when Huai Yu came over, he had bitten his neck… So that was for others to see.

“He didn’t see it.” Pan Yinchuan said.

“Hmm?”

“I stayed inside reading during that time… He didn’t see it, so he really didn’t know about us, um…”

Huai Yu was silent for a moment, then said, “Then he kept his job. If he’s lucky, he might even get to call his mother and sister again.”

What kind of “if he’s lucky” was that? Pan Yinchuan wondered, but Huai Yu didn’t seem inclined to explain. He patted his shoulder and turned to board the helicopter.

Once the helicopter was far away, the coach’s boat dared to come ashore. The coach scrambled off, trembling, and said, “I-I was wrong… I almost made Mr. Huai a cuckold?”

Almost?

Not even close, okay?

Pan Yinchuan looked at him seriously and emphasized, “I don’t like people like you.”

“But you like people like my sister.”

“I haven’t even met your sister.”

“If you met her, you definitely would…” The coach abruptly stopped, realizing he had said something dangerous.

He looked around nervously and asked, “Am I going to die?”

“No.”

The coach collapsed to the ground, saying, “Sorry, my legs are a bit weak.”

The next day, Pan Yinchuan saw the coach passing by downstairs. This time, he had wrapped himself up like a dumpling, with no skin exposed.

Pan Yinchuan: “…”

Good.

You’ve saved your life.

And I’ve saved my butt.

A few days later, Pan Yinchuan saw him again in the garden.

This time, the coach looked happy. “I contacted my family, thank you.”

Thank me? Pan Yinchuan thought it must have been the “good luck” Mr. Huai mentioned.

After expressing his gratitude, the coach didn’t leave but said, “Do you remember my name?”

Pan Yinchuan felt a bit embarrassed. He really didn’t remember.

“My name is Jody. This is my number.” The coach carefully slipped a piece of paper under Pan Yinchuan’s hand on the table.

Pan Yinchuan was shocked.

Seriously? He’s still trying? So daring?

“Being the lover of someone as powerful as Mr. Huai must be tough,” Jody said sincerely. “If you ever leave here and need my help, please call me.”

“You know, relying on your looks won’t last. You should plan for yourself.” Jody even offered advice.

Pan Yinchuan couldn’t help but say, “Do I look seductive to you?”

Jody immediately looked at him with utmost respect.

So, he must be especially skilled in bed?

Seeing Jody’s strange expression, Pan Yinchuan felt confused.

“But there aren’t many days left,” Pan Yinchuan counted on his fingers.

“Not many days left for what?” Jody asked curiously.

Not many days until the contract expires, Pan Yinchuan whispered in his heart.

Perhaps because the date was approaching, every day felt exceptionally fast for Pan Yinchuan.

The ice on the river completely melted, spring arrived, and in the blink of an eye, it seemed like summer was coming.

One morning, a servant asked if he wanted to hike in the nearby forest and camp there for a night. He might even see deer.

It could be said they racked their brains to keep him from getting bored.

Indeed, it was boring.

Even though he knew it was for his safety, staying in one place for a long time, not seeing other people, far from the bustling city… there was an indescribable irritation. It felt like a bird with its legs tied.

But Pan Yinchuan refused the servant’s suggestion. He said, “Time’s up.”

The servant was confused. “What time is up?”

“I should leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“Back to my own home.”

The servant was still confused, thinking wasn’t this his home?

However, Pan Yinchuan suddenly realized that he couldn’t leave just because he wanted to. He quickly asked, “Did the sir say when he would return?”

“How could we know the sir’s movements?”

“Alright.” Pan Yinchuan found his phone and dialed the number Huai Yu had given him.

…Turned off.

Fine, then he called Assistant Zhang.

…Also turned off.

The feeling of finally reaching this day but having no way out was really unpleasant.

Pan Yinchuan’s expression fell. “Alright, I’ll wait a bit longer.”

In special times, one couldn’t expect Huai Yu to rush back from the battlefield.

“So… should we still go camping?”

“Let’s go.” Pan Yinchuan said weakly.

On the second day after the contract expired.

Huai Yu didn’t come back.

On the third day, Huai Yu didn’t come back.

On the fourth day, fifth day… Pan Yinchuan waited for a whole month, growing more and more listless. But he couldn’t run around, and there wasn’t the condition for it. In this wilderness, without Huai Yu’s word, he really couldn’t leave just because he wanted to!

Jody even noticed the deep dissatisfaction emanating from his soul.

“Worried about Mr. Huai’s safety?” Jody tried to comfort him. “Did you see the news yesterday? Most cities have already returned to normal order.”

Pan Yinchuan perked up a bit.

With order restored, Huai Yu should be back soon too.

At least there was some hope now.

At this point, Pan Yinchuan couldn’t focus on reading anymore, so he decided to follow Jody for some stream tracing.

The heavily shut gate of the manor opened, and a convoy slowly drove in. The servants greeted respectfully, “Sir.”

“Young Master Pan went to the back mountain. We’ll go get him right away.” The servant quickly added.

Huai Yu glanced in the direction of the back mountain and said, “No rush.”

The servant saw the deep fatigue on his face and swallowed the rest of his words.

Huai Yu went straight to Pan Yinchuan’s bedroom, opened the door, and found there was no sign of life inside. He stopped and asked, “He didn’t sleep here?”

“Yes, recently Young Master Pan hasn’t been in high spirits and moved to the attic, saying he could see the stars there and feel better.”

“Not in high spirits?” Because it had been too long since they last met? Or unhappy from being stuck here too long?

Huai Yu didn’t ask further. He had the servant lead him to the attic. The living atmosphere was much stronger here. There was a small white bucket by the bed, with sunflowers inside. Books were spread out nearby, with handmade bookmarks made of leaves.

There were also two pillows piled on the floor, and a small blanket was crumpled to the side. Huai Yu could imagine Pan Yinchuan lying here, enjoying the breeze.

“Sir, should I… clean up?” the servant asked.

“No need, leave.” Huai Yu said, lifting the quilt and lying on Pan Yinchuan’s bed, closing his eyes and quickly falling asleep.

When Pan Yinchuan returned from the back mountain, he immediately sensed something was off.

“Is the sir back?” he asked eagerly.

“Yes, the sir is…” The servant didn’t finish the sentence before Pan Yinchuan, elated, ran upstairs. But after searching around, he couldn’t find him.

“He’s resting in the attic.” The servant followed up and finally finished his sentence.

Pan Yinchuan wondered, “Why is he sleeping in the attic?”

The servant had no answer.

But Pan Yinchuan didn’t care. He excitedly ran to the attic, the sound of his footsteps on the wooden stairs echoing loudly. Before he even entered, he had woken Huai Yu.

“Pan Yinchuan, so happy?” Huai Yu sat up slowly, his voice hoarse.

Pan Yinchuan halted at the bedside.

Huai Yu looked thinner, and since he had just returned, the air of hostility hadn’t dissipated. Even though he was just leaning lazily, there was an overwhelming sharpness to him.

“What are you looking at?” Huai Yu asked.

Pan Yinchuan thought it wasn’t good to be too direct. Thinking he should make some small talk first, he said politely, “Checking if you are injured.”

Huai Yu reached out and pulled Pan Yinchuan into his arms.

“Why not feel for yourself,” Huai Yu said in a low voice.

Pan Yinchuan leaned back, saying, “I just came from outside, I’m all sweaty.”

Huai Yu liked cleanliness, something Assistant Zhang had drilled into his mind.

“No problem, I still have blood on me.” Huai Yu hadn’t rested well, even his natural inclination for cleanliness was temporarily buried.

He only stared at Pan Yinchuan, wanting to use some force, to treat him roughly, to calm the deep-seated irritability and fatigue within his soul.

The Alpha’s hand was already around Pan Yinchuan’s waist.

No more pleasantries.

Pan Yinchuan struggled a bit and then raised his face, saying, “Mr. Huai, I’m very glad you’re not injured. I want to leave here today. If it’s convenient, could you arrange a car and flight for me?”

Huai Yu paused, looked down at him, the light casting a shadow over his face, making it very oppressive.

“Where do you want to go?” Huai Yu’s tone was devoid of any emotion.

“Of course, back home.” Pan Yinchuan thought he might not have understood his meaning, so he explained in detail, “The contract expired last month, it’s already overdue.”

The irritation and fatigue from not getting enough rest hadn’t been alleviated; instead, they overwhelmed him.

Huai Yu’s temples throbbed, and it seemed like even his brain was throbbing.

He looked at Pan Yinchuan without saying a word.