Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 40

Once the ceremony concluded, Pei Jichuan helped Gu Nian change into more comfortable attire, and the two departed the cathedral. As they left, the priest at the entrance breathed a quiet sigh of relief, looking as if he had just seen off a ferocious beast.

However, his relaxation didn’t last a second before another “god of death” was standing by his side. The priest tensed up again, even slowing his breathing. Beside him, Zhou Yi reached up to pull the brim of his hat lower. He watched the backs of the departing couple, his eyes filled with fury and resentment, but eventually, he turned and left in a different direction.

The flower fields of Country F are world-renowned, hailed as a sacred spot for couples to visit. The bodyguards stopped at the edge of the fields, staying in the cars and keeping a sharp eye on their employer to prevent any danger.

Pei Jichuan and Gu Nian strolled through the sea of flowers until they entered a secluded valley, a place that felt like a forgotten fairyland. Having spent over twenty years in Country F, Gu Nian never knew such scenery existed. The rainforest where he grew up was filled with snakes, insects, rats, and fierce beasts. To train them, the perimeter of the base was filled with traps and landmines—both to sharpen their skills and to prevent escape.

Amidst the sound of violent explosions, Gu Nian had once seen the scattered limbs of his companions with his own eyes. Vivid red fragments had even splashed onto his face. There were also hidden pits where long spears would impale a person alive. Fortunately, he had eventually blown that base to smithereens.

The two were strikingly handsome, making them the center of attention wherever they went. Their joined hands made their relationship clear, so no one approached to bother them. They came to a halt beneath a large tree, and Gu Nian impatiently pulled the other man down to the ground.

Pei Jichuan didn’t resist, sitting down with his back against the trunk, completely indifferent to the dirt staining his clothes. Gu Nian lay beside him, resting his head on Pei Jichuan’s lap. A breeze drifted through, parting the thick canopy and allowing fragments of sunlight to spill down directly onto Gu Nian’s face. He narrowed his eyes, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Pei Jichuan looked down at Gu Nian; in the sunlight, the younger man’s smooth face seemed gilded with gold, and even the fine, soft hairs on his skin were clearly visible. Pei Jichuan’s lips were still slightly swollen; when Gu Nian had lunged at him earlier, his teeth had caught the edge of Pei Jichuan’s lip, seemingly breaking the skin.

Gu Nian felt a momentary prick of guilt. He reached up, touching the swollen spot. As cool fingers brushed the warm wound, Pei Jichuan flinched slightly before catching Gu Nian’s hand. He shifted his posture, lacing his fingers with Gu Nian’s, and pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. His gaze was direct, making no attempt to hide his desire.

Gu Nian felt a bit drowsy; the atmosphere was indeed a breeding ground for sleep. He blinked blearily, and for a second, Pei Jichuan’s face seemed to change in his eyes. A familiar yet strange face appeared before him, causing Gu Nian to snap awake instantly. He tensed his body, but the vision seemed to have been a mere hallucination. He took a deep breath and relaxed again.

Pei Jichuan seemed to sense the abnormality. “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

Gu Nian propped himself up, moving away from Pei Jichuan’s gaze. “A little,” he replied coldly.

The fervor of his earlier emotions seemed to be receding. For a moment in the cathedral, he had thought that living like this wouldn’t be so bad. But he had been impulsive; the more promises he made, the harder the eventual separation would be. He was, after all, a person who could be swayed by emotion. Cruel training hadn’t erased his longing for affection, but his past love had essentially ended without a trace. His original intent was to return to Black Crow after uncovering the truth, but now it was becoming harder and harder to extricate himself.

Gu Nian hesitated.

Pei Jichuan, seemingly unaware of his complex psychological state, grabbed Gu Nian’s arm and pulled him back into his arms. “Then take a nap. I’ll be right here with you.”

A person hidden behind a tree, having finally found the perfect angle for a photo, departed the area in a hurry.

Inside a dark, damp basement, a man with a scruffy beard sat with a cigarette in his mouth, flipping through the photos his subordinate had taken. A mocking smile appeared on his face.

“Gu Nian, oh Gu Nian… even you have moments where you let your guard down. Hahaha!” The man’s eyes were bloodshot, and his laughter was frantic. He looked at the other man in the photo. “Pei Jichuan? If I can take him out and frame Black Crow, the two sides will tear each other apart while I reap the benefits.” A flash of triumph crossed his eyes.

The man took the cigarette out and exhaled a deep cloud of smoke. He ignored the subordinate waiting respectfully beside him and turned his gaze toward another corner of the room. “I have your information to thank for this. Speak—what is it you want?”

As the smoke billowed upward in the dim light, the face opposite him became clear. It was Chen Yan!

His expression was poisonous. His unshaven face looked haggard, but his eyes glittered with the pleasure of imminent revenge. He had no idea who “Gu Nian” was. Since being ousted from the Pei Group, he had been secretly monitoring Pei Jichuan and Lin Nuo. Learning they had come to Country F, he had sold off his remaining assets and followed them in secret.

The Pei Group and Tianyu had always been rivals, but their recent contract meant he could no longer instigate Tianyu to act. So, he had sought out Black Crow. By chance, he found Li Yong, who held a grudge against Pei Jichuan and was reportedly being hunted by him. Though Li Yong had been kicked out of Black Crow, Chen Yan decided to try his luck, adhering to the principle that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“Boss Li is too kind,” Chen Yan said excitedly. “Pei Jichuan ruined me and sent my poor uncle to prison. I hate him to my core. As long as he dies, I want for nothing else!”

“I didn’t realize you were such a sentimental one,” Li Yong sneered, tilting his chin arrogantly. “Once I kill these two, you can stay by my side and work for me!”

Such a golden opportunity couldn’t be wasted. Only through chaos could profit be seized.

“Many thanks, Boss Li!” Chen Yan stood up abruptly and bowed deeply, his expression feverish. If Li Yong could completely seize control of Black Crow, Chen Yan’s status would rise with him; the benefits to be gained from the world’s largest triad were incalculable.

But… who was that ‘Gu Nian’ he just mentioned? Chen Yan wondered. Weren’t there only Pei Jichuan and Lin Nuo in the photos? He was confused but didn’t dare ask.

“Boss Zhou, we’ve found Li Yong’s trail. Our scouts spotted his men near the flower fields; they seem to be following Pei Jichuan.”

Zhou Yi frowned as he took the report. “They’re gathering men and seem to be planning something. Should we move in and take them down early?” the subordinate asked cautiously.

Following Pei Jichuan? That means Gu Nian is there too!

Zhou Yi stood up abruptly. He was about to issue orders when a dark, complicated thought flashed through his mind. He gripped the corner of the report tightly. After a moment of internal struggle, he spoke coldly:

“Have men monitor them for now. Do not act rashly.”

“Yes, sir.”