Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 16

Pei Jichuan’s ability to oust his own father and take the throne was a testament to his competence.

Under his investigation, the years of dirty dealings by Chen Yan and his uncle, Chen Yongbing, were laid bare. Bribery, substituting quality goods with inferior ones to pocket the difference, colluding with HR to plant cronies, and workplace sexual harassment…

Chen Yan proved to be an excellent breakthrough point. Within a few days, Pei Jichuan purged Chen Yongbing’s faction with overwhelming force.

On the day they were kicked out of the company, Pei Jichuan watched from the window of Vice General Manager Liu’s office on the second floor. Vice General Manager Liu stood silently by his side, equally indifferent as he watched Chen Yongbing’s deathbed struggles below.

“I must thank Vice General Manager Liu for your full support. Leaving such vermin in the group would have wasted untold resources and caused endless trouble,” Pei Jichuan said, swirling his red wine. The liquid traced the curves of the glass with the momentum of his movement.

He had removed his formal suit jacket and wore only a white shirt. His sleeves were neatly rolled up, revealing powerful hands where faint veins could be seen running along his wrists before disappearing into his cuffs.

Vice General Manager Liu bowed slightly. “It was all for the benefit of the group. President Pei, you are too kind.”

Cold sweat slid down the back of his neck, soaking into his shirt.

Downstairs, Chen Yongbing was still shouting obscenities. Chen Yan, having just been slapped by his uncle, stood to the side clutching his face, looking utterly lost. Security personnel held Chen Yongbing back, preventing him from rushing inside. Outside the circle of guards, Secretary Han stood tall and composed.

“General Manager Chen, you know exactly what you’ve done over the years. Are you not familiar with President Pei’s temperament? He has already instructed the legal department to sue you. His exact words were: ‘Everything you’ve eaten, you’re going to spit it all back out.'”

Secretary Han’s red lips curved upward. She was strikingly beautiful, her chestnut-colored curls draped meticulously behind her back. Assistant Jiang stood beside her, but unlike her composure, he appeared nervous, seemingly afraid that Chen Yongbing might break free and charge at them. Secretary Han turned her head, giving Assistant Jiang a reassuring look.

“Pei Jichuan can’t do this! This is killing the donkey once it’s finished the haul! Back then, his rise to power wouldn’t have happened without my support! I won’t accept this! I want to see President Pei! I want to see him!” Chen Yongbing’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression manic. It took four or five guards just to pin him down.

Secretary Han didn’t bother responding. She raised her arm to check her watch. “It’s about time. They should be here.”

Almost as soon as she finished her murmur, the wail of sirens approached. As soon as the police stepped out of their vehicles, they swarmed forward and handcuffed Chen Yongbing.

The leader was an officer with a steady bearing. He walked over slowly to confirm the identity. “Someone has reported you for suspected illegal money laundering. Come with us.”

The Pei family’s security assisted the police in hauling Chen Yongbing into the car. The sirens wailed as they arrived and wailed just as loudly as they departed.

As for Chen Yan, he had slipped away unnoticed at some point. Before leaving, he looked up at the second-floor window with a look of pure venom.

Pei Jichuan watched the police car disappear. His lips quirked slightly as he turned to Vice General Manager Liu. “Since Chen Yongbing has been brought to justice, let this matter conclude here.”

Pei Jichuan paused, set down his wine glass, and stepped forward to pat Liu on the shoulder. “Work hard, General Manager Liu. The group has high expectations for you.” Pei Jichuan gave a meaningful smile and turned to leave.

General Manager Liu formerly Vice wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and straightened his back slightly. His gaze shifted to the wine glass on the desk. The liquid was still shimmering slightly, yet Pei Jichuan had not taken a single sip.

Gu Nian had come to deliver lunch to Pei Jichuan again. Claiming he had to work overtime, Pei Jichuan asked Gu Nian to wait in the office and eat first.

It was nearly one in the afternoon by the time Pei Jichuan returned. Gu Nian asked Assistant Jiang to reheat the food, then sat across the table with his chin in his hands, watching Pei Jichuan eat.

Pei Jichuan ate very elegantly, chewing slowly and methodically. Gu Nian had recently learned to slow his own pace. In his past life, his time for meals was always tight; when missions were heavy, it was normal to go a day or two without food or water. However, gorging himself truly damaged his stomach. Now that he had a second chance at life, there was no need to be hard on his own body.

Once Pei Jichuan finished, he had his assistant take away the containers.

“Tomorrow is the anniversary of your parents’ death. I’ll accompany you to the cemetery,” Pei Jichuan said suddenly.

Gu Nian, who had been fiddling with an ornament on Pei Jichuan’s desk, froze. He gripped the sharp edges of the ornament, struggling to remain calm.

Dead… How could they be dead?

Pei Jichuan was in the dressing room changing. The smell of food would cling to his clothes, so he usually changed after eating. Blocked by the partition, he did not see Gu Nian’s loss of composure.

The sudden news shattered Gu Nian’s secret hopes. He had seen countless parents do everything in their power to protect their children, even at the cost of their own lives. He had envied and been moved by such familial love. Looking at the photo of Lin Nuo with his parents on the phone, he felt that such a family wouldn’t have sold their child. But now, he could never verify it. Lin Nuo was dead, and his parents… were also gone.

The ornament snapped under the pressure, the sharp edges slicing into his palm. A startling red surged out, splattering onto the carpet and the desk.

The ornament hit the floor with a dull thud. Pei Jichuan rushed out, the buttons of his shirt not yet fully fastened. He stepped forward quickly, met by the sight of blood everywhere. He grabbed Gu Nian’s wrist and immediately dialed the internal line to summon a doctor.

Before he could ask what happened, Pei Jichuan saw Gu Nian’s blank expression and dull eyes. Upon seeing the boy’s reddened eyes, the questions died in his throat.

The doctor arrived quickly. He bandaged Gu Nian, gave a few simple instructions, and left with his medical bag. The cut wasn’t deep, but it was long and looked terrifying.

Hope seemed to have been crushed again. Gu Nian felt a dull ache in his chest. He didn’t bother to feign anything anymore, letting his tears fall freely. Pei Jichuan knelt before him, gently wiping away the tears.

After a long silence, Gu Nian stopped crying. He suddenly opened his arms and buried himself in Pei Jichuan’s embrace. Pei Jichuan held him, soothing him carefully, his lips parted but unsure of how to offer comfort.

Gu Nian closed his eyes. A part of his heart felt empty. It seemed he was destined to always be alone.

“He” leaned against the wall, moving forward cautiously. His right leg seemed unable to bear weight, forcing him to stop and start.

Again, Gu Nian could not control the body; he was trapped within this shell.

“He” leaned against the wall beside the study. Through the ajar door, he could see Pei Jichuan’s profile and the blurred figure of another person. Their mouths moved, but he couldn’t hear what was being said. He noticed wet spots dripping onto the carpet—only then did he realize those were “his” tears.

A dark whirlpool spun. “He” was lying in a bathtub, a surge of crimson flowing from his wrist. The entire tub was a startling red.

The door was kicked open violently, and Pei Jichuan lunged forward in desperation…

Gu Nian snapped his eyes open. It was that familiar 3:00 AM again. Beside him, Pei Jichuan was still sleeping deeply. The mechanical ticking of the floor clock in the corner echoed rhythmically.

Gu Nian sat up slowly. Different dreams, yet the same inability to control the body. It was truly strange.