HOYSE CHAPTER 50

Chapter 50 — What Goes Around Comes Around

This trip of Gu Xi’s was not exactly secret, otherwise there would not have been so many fans at the airport to see him off.

Chu Yang had his family produce a doctor’s note declaring him mentally sound. Once the kidnapping scandal cooled, he was discharged. He then hired his own private investigator and dug up first-hand information on Gu Xi. The only reason he had managed to tail him into the terminal restroom earlier was that it had been too long since he had seen the person that he could not stop thinking about.

After leaving the hospital, Chu Yang also received a text from the matching center and went once for kicks. His real focus was still tracking Gu Xi, but for some reason Gu Xi had grown wary and even moved to a new place. Now, only public itinerary events like this offered a chance to get close, and those were rare. He would of course grab every opportunity.

A girl sitting next to Chu Yang noticed the sunny handsome boy and started chatting him up. They talked with great enthusiasm. Gu Xi noticed that Chu Yang had dropped his voice on purpose. Even if you listened carefully you would not hear the difference. It looked like specialized training.

Economy passengers were filing past. Gu Xi was about to switch on airplane mode when “Rong Jing” flashed on his screen. A bit of embarrassment flickered on his face as he picked up.

Rong Jing had not left the airport yet. He had found Gu Xi and then gotten knocked flat by the scent. He forgot every bit of proper aftercare and comfort, came across like some creep in a hurry to mark, and after marking he practically tossed the person aside.

Trash.

Watching the boarding gate, Rong Jing said, “You need to power off, right?”

Staring at the man in front of him, Gu Xi answered quietly, “Mm.”

Rong Jing paused. “No regrets.” Three words that did not answer a question, as if he had called for that one line alone. After the temporary mark, when they were about to part, Gu Xi had suddenly asked him if he regretted it. He had not waited for an answer before letting the assistant lead him away.

The ice in Gu Xi’s chest, chilled by glimpsing Chu Yang’s heart, finally thawed a little.

He gave the same reply now. “Pushing the green light was already my answer.”

“Mm. Until you meet the Alpha who suits you, I will stay on call.”

The smile at Gu Xi’s lips flattened. His face went expressionless.

Take your time waiting then.

“There is a gift. Open it later.” In truth Rong Jing wanted to ask if, after the mark, Gu Xi still intended to wash it off as planned. But just like with the gift, he simply could not get the words out.

Gu Xi saw Chu Yang stand and, without meaning to, followed him with his eyes. “Okay.”

He had no particular expectations about a so-called gift. It was probably food, or something practical. Rong Jing was a pragmatist, the type with no affinity with surprises at all.

Only when the flight attendant’s sweet voice came over the PA did Rong Jing say wish you a smooth flight and hang up.

Gu Xi pulled up the candid he had taken of Rong Jing and pressed down on the fear inside. He used to be so afraid. Faced with these perverts he only thought of running or enduring. His second personality would mock him every time for being useless. Even now Gu Xi sometimes felt he was a walking disaster. He did not know when it started, but a strange thought had taken root. Why could I tolerate so much before? Was I a ninja turtle or what…

Assistant Mo Dian had assumed Gu Xi would sleep once they took off. He usually did. Today Gu Xi kept his eyes open. “Not sleeping?” Mo asked.

Gu Xi put on sunglasses. “Not sleepy yet.”

He would see what Chu Yang planned to do. He kept one ear on the surrounding heart-voices the whole time, but luck was no good. He never randomly tuned to Chu Yang.

They entered nighttime flight. Nothing happened. Passengers gradually took the thin blankets the crew passed out and fell asleep. The cabin lights were low. Apart from the engine’s thrum, there was only the muffled rush of the fuselage through air.

During that time Gu Xi agreed to take a couple photos with flight attendants. They were careful not to bother him, apologizing repeatedly. They had been too excited to sleep once they realized he was on board, but airline rules had long required that on duty they must not disturb a passenger’s rest or schedule without permission.

Some stars were friendly on the surface, took the photo, then turned around and filed a complaint. In the crew’s private chat there was a list of Never Two-Faced celebrities. Gu Xi’s favorable rating was very high. He always cooperated. Beneath each autograph he would write a line of encouragement. This kind of star passing on positive energy was what ordinary people liked to see.

Gu Xi smiled and said it was fine, he was not tired. He took photos with several passengers. One Alpha steward brushed his arm by accident. Gu Xi glanced at the skin he had grazed. A minute later small bumps rose there and it itched a little.

So the allergy to Alphas had not disappeared. He was just immune to Rong Jing.

He returned to his seat after the photos. He saw that Chu Yang had pulled his cap low and wrapped himself in a blanket so that his face could not be clearly seen. He looked deeply asleep and was even lightly snoring.

Really?

Was he overthinking it? In a public setting like this, and on a plane, he probably would not act.

Gu Xi closed his eyes to rest, but did not dare truly sleep. Part of his awareness stayed turned outward. It was as if something was determined to drag him back into those years when he had been imprisoned. Lightless rooms. Trays of food set by his bed. A sunny boy smiling at him, eyes crazed and fanatical.

Then after that darkness a gentle voice wrapped around him, warm like falling into his parents’ arms. The voice told him he should like Chu Yang. Chu Yang would change for him little by little. He was Chu Yang’s salvation.

Seaweed wrapped around Gu Xi’s awareness. His legs would not move. The voice kept whispering in his ear that Chu Yang was the one most suited for him.

“Ah!” Gu Xi jerked awake with a low cry and looked around. Most passengers were still asleep. The red-eye had passed. The plane was sailing steady in the stratosphere.

Daylight spilled in from outside. Someone had opened a shade. The clouds swayed like the hem of a girl’s dress. He pressed his temples. After a night of that hypnosis his mind felt wrung dry. When he saw Chu Yang stand to go to the lavatory, he felt not the original fear, but a faint sense of fondness.

Fondness? Sirens blared in Gu Xi’s head.

What is this? Whose voice was in my dream?

He knew that no matter how advanced technology was, it could not control someone’s dreams like that, not with that hypnotic clarity.

He felt a vague sense that something was trying to block his feelings for Rong Jing. It was like an invisible force. He thought of that day when Rong Jing had been walking on the street like normal and then dropped into a manhole for no reason. Could there be a connection?

He truly could not figure it out. He shook off the strange feeling.

When breakfast service began, the attendants pushed the cart down the aisle taking drink orders. In first class you could order food and alcohol. Chu Yang asked for Sprite. The attendant filled his glass and moved on.

When she reached Gu Xi, he asked offhand for a white peach champagne, and in the few minutes after that he used Notes to remind Mo to ask for Sprite.

He could not calculate when the danger would strike, but he could not be unprepared.

The attendant went to the galley for a flute. On the way she bumped into Chu Yang, who was returning from washing his hands. The whole thing was very fast. Gu Xi watched each frame and still did not catch anything different, like a magician’s hands on stage. His instincts, though, hit the target often enough. He had ordered champagne so his drink would be distinct, to see if Chu Yang would act.

If he did not, then he was not targeting Gu Xi this time.

If he did, then do not blame him.

When the attendant came to pour the champagne, Gu Xi stopped her softly and said he preferred to pour his own. She smiled and agreed and went on to the next passenger.

Gu Xi looked at the flute. It might no longer be the original one. He glanced toward Chu Yang, who had a very official piece of paper that said he did not belong locked away, and gave Mo a look.

Mo had worked with him for years and understood. He was nervous though. He felt like Gu Xi had gone off model lately. In the past he had never been this suspicious or tactical.

Mo tapped the shoulder of the young woman ahead and said his pen had rolled under her feet. Would she help him pick it up?

The girl knew there was a big star behind her and that he was the down-to-earth kind. She was more than happy to help.

Holding his breath, Gu Xi calmly poured Mo’s Sprite into the flute, making sure to wash the inner wall thoroughly, then poured it back into the plastic cup. In the instant when there were no other passengers being served in this row and the only girl had her head down, he switched this Sprite-for-champagne with Chu Yang’s in the row ahead.

The whole process was one smooth motion without a pause.

When Chu Yang came out of the lav, he saw Gu Xi seemingly drinking champagne. A glint of amusement passed through his eyes. He did not notice that Gu Xi’s lips had never touched the rim.

At the same time, on the way home, Rong Jing dozed in the backseat. He had just marked an Omega, so he was tired. Marking drains both body and spirit, especially the A. It hits mental strength. The first time leaves you exhausted, even if you cannot deny it is also an extreme kind of pleasure.

He dreamed of his childhood. Being sad that his parents were too busy to notice him. A family birthday party to coax him into a good mood. A big sister staying up all night to play games with him when he was down. A second sister bursting onto the stage after his first award to say he was her pride. A voice asked him softly, Do you want to go back? If you do, give me control of your body right now…

His heart went soft and he was about to agree when he stopped. Why must I hand over my body to go back? If I wanted to go back, just send me back the way I came.

He jolted awake, breath ragged. In the darkness of the parking garage he opened his eyes.

“You are awake, young master,” Zhou You said from the driver’s seat. A laptop sat on his knees, tethered hotspot on, reporting to Zhou Xiang on the screen.

“In my dream, did I say anything?” Rong Jing asked.

“You said ‘go back’ and ‘I want to go back.’ Do you want to go to Yushui Bay or the main house?”

“No, I…” How could he go back. Not now. If he had an accident, all the cannon fodder who should die would be shoved back onto the rails, maybe even Gu Xi. This world’s Heavenly Dao was too sly, trying to slip in while he was weak. He wiped the cold sweat off his back. If he had handed himself over just now, would he have scattered to dust?

“Where are we?” He looked around. They were in an underground lot. The sign nearby belonged to a famous hotel and restaurant.

“President Xie said there is a dinner tonight. You should attend and meet people. It will be good for you.”

He nodded. That was Xie Ling’s style.

A message came from Ji Leping, asking him to swing by campus if he had time. A former roommate said he had left something behind. Rong Jing remembered the original packing everything clean. He replied: What did I leave?

Ji: Just come. It will not take long.
Rong: Just say it.

Ji: You are too hard to trick. I am just the messenger, but if you do not come you might regret it.
Rong: What could I regret.

He glanced at the class group chat. It had blown past 99+. He was in there but usually lurked. He skimmed and found nothing key.

Ji: !!!
Rong: ?

Ji: Not that. You are about to blow up!!! Open Weibo. Look at the trending page!

At the same time, a few classmates he had added along with the class group pinged him with similar messages.

Rong Jing opened Weibo. In the top ten only one tag caught his eye: #Lota, set life#, with a few on-set candids and fashion-y airport shots of Gu Xi. No filters yet he looked ridiculously good, narrow waist and long legs, snow-white skin and perfect features. Rong Jing glanced a few times and a flash of heat from a cramped hallway shot through his head. He saved the photos without thinking.

Then he saw a tag at number 25: #Airport, Thunder God#, marked “new.” The word “airport” was extra sensitive today.

He tapped in. A user called “Limping Immortal” had posted a short clip with a caption: At that moment I was terrified, thought I saw Thor!

Even before he hit play he saw his own figure in the thumbnail and his eyelid twitched.

The camera was angled up. The soundtrack was thunder. Outside the terminal the sky was black. The footage was shaky and blurred. At the start the girl filming muttered, This weather is spooky. Wait, let me post a Moments. Another voice chimed in, Film here, film here!

The lens swung. Thunder hammered so loud it seemed to split the terminal roof. Behind a man a bulky Alpha flinched to the floor. Before the laughter started, the man in the center of the frame lifted his eyes to the sky, face cold, expressionless, aura so strong it pierced the screen.

Dear mom. Scary hot.

Because of the low angle you only saw three quarters of his profile, but the chiseled features were pure visual attack. At the end another girl’s voice cut in: Why, why am I only one meter five? Next to him I look like an unripe taro. I cannot capture his Thor aura at all!

Comments piled up:

[Limping Immortal]: Everyone stared at this boy when he walked in, but he looked at no one. Please grant me an A who loves no one!
[SeaweedBite]: Wasn’t today supposed to be sunny? My friend said a freak gust on the highway nearly blew her and the car away [doge]
[GossipSquad]: Is this Thunder God or a manga rip-out?
[LittleStarlight]: Does the airport get special love from the heavens?
[WindMoonFlower]: I need all the info on this A. Now.
[YoHaha]: Why can’t he be a B. Are you using a bestiary to tell?
[XiXiYouAreMySunshine]: Is this handsome boy assigned by the state or do I pick him up myself?
[DeepInTheSun]: His planes are so deep. Did he get

“ZR” = “整容” (zhěng róng)
= plastic surgery ZR

?
[chik]: Say no more. A me head-on! Crowdfund a debut!

Rong Jing scrolled and figured this kind of random trending would drop fast. In his past life he had never even brushed a trending tag and had forgotten he was a walking trending body. He did not take it seriously. He stepped into the elevator with Zhou You. “What does ZR mean?”

Zhou thought. “Plastic surgery?”

Rong Jing: …

Back on the plane, Gu Xi had gotten a brief nap. After doing the bad deed, he waited for Chu Yang’s response. But after returning to his seat and drinking that cup of Sprite, Chu Yang went into deep sleep and did not wake. Gu Xi did not know if he was faking or if the glass swap had worked. Only waking would tell.

One thing was certain. If there had been a problem, the original victim would have been him. Gu Xi dropped his conscience somewhere along the way.

Suddenly Chu Yang opened his eyes. Maybe he had slept too long. The flight was nearing its end. The girl beside him patted her chest. “Good thing you woke up. I was about to call a flight attendant.”

He looked at her. Something about her was vaguely familiar. His head ached. He could not remember. He gave her a cold look. “Where did this cheap b***h come from? You think you could covet me? Maybe look in a mirror first.”

The girl had a great chat with him before takeoff. He had seemed sunny and polite. She had even planned to ask for his contact when they landed. She had not expected him to spit venom like that, as if he had turned into someone else. She was not a great beauty, but her features were decent, and her family well-off. So what if she was a rich plain Jane? Did she eat your

It's a Chinese saying meaning of
“What did she ever do to you?”
Used to question unfair or hostile treatment. Did she eat your rice?

Gu Xi was wearing Bluetooth earbuds and sketching a few notes on paper when Mo tugged his sleeve. He took an earbud out and saw the argument up front, which was getting louder.

Neither side would back down. After a round of mutual sniping, the girl, who looked like she had quite a temper, suddenly slapped Chu Yang across the face.

The sound was so loud the entire first-class cabin turned to look. Half his face bloomed a red handprint. She had clearly used her full strength.

Gu Xi thought: Ha.

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