Abandoned White Moonlight Chapter 70

During this period, Huo Youqing hadn’t returned to his eighteen-year-old timeline, but he vaguely felt that he would eventually go back. He wanted to return to change a few things—not only to alter the fate of his uncle and aunt’s deaths, or the decline of their family, but he also wanted to do something else.

This thought had existed in him for a long time, although it was once just a vague shadow. Now that shadow had taken shape, like a seed rooted and sprouting in his heart.

The risk of this was high, but not without hope. After all, he had nine more years of memory and experience than anyone in the eighteen-year-old timeline. Since he could cross between two timelines, why not release the butterfly from its amber prison and let it flap its wings, bringing about an unprecedented storm?

As he thought about this, Huo Youqing’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. His gaze seemed to be fixed on a distant place, but before turning at the intersection, he glanced at the rearview mirror.

Just a brief glance, seemingly just to check the flow of traffic behind him.

—

The day he returned to the eighteen-year-old timeline came unexpectedly. He opened his eyes, gathered his senses, and realized he was in a hotel in Country M. And Dai Yuan was in his room, sitting on the sofa and watching him. When he saw Huo Youqing wake up, Dai Yuan beamed and said, “Older Brother, you’re awake! Are you hungry? I brought you breakfast.”

Huo Youqing didn’t say anything at first. His prolonged silence made Dai Yuan hesitate. Dai Yuan’s smile faded, and he said a bit uneasily, “What’s wrong? Are you upset that I came in without asking?”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” Huo Youqing rubbed his brow and got up to wash. He didn’t bother being polite to Dai Yuan and ate the breakfast he brought.

Dai Yuan, unbothered, sat beside him and brought up Dai Yixin. “After you left yesterday, my brother voluntarily asked to contact our father for the first time.”

Huo Youqing responded with a simple “Mm.”

“Aren’t you curious why he wants to contact him?” Dai Yuan rested his chin on his pale hand. Despite being brothers and looking alike, Dai Yuan always widened his amber eyes when he looked at people, giving him an air of innocence and naivety.

But anyone who knew Dai Yuan’s true nature would know this appearance was just a disguise, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a deeply calculating person pretending to be cute.

Huo Youqing, unhurriedly finishing his milk, looked at Dai Yuan. “Curious about him? I’m more curious about you. You know very well where your hostility toward your brother comes from. Now I want to make a deal with you. It’s risky, but I wonder if you’re willing.”

Dai Yuan blinked twice, “Older Brother.”

He said it in a sweet, coquettish tone, but was met with a clear look of disdain. After a moment, Dai Yuan chuckled and, still with a playful attitude, asked, “What kind of deal?”

“The position of heir to the Dai family will be yours in exchange for Dai Yixin’s freedom.”

Dai Yuan laughed at that. “Older Brother, why are you saying such fantastical things? The heirship has always been up to my father to decide. How could we interfere? Besides, how do you know my brother doesn’t want it?”

Huo Youqing could see the mockery in Dai Yuan’s smile—aimed not only at him but also at himself. Still, Huo Youqing remained calm, answering the last question, “I know Dai Yixin. He’s never wanted the position of heir.”

If Dai Yixin wanted it, he wouldn’t have pretended to be mad to the extreme, even leaving the Dai family with him. If Dai Yixin wanted it, he wouldn’t have so easily given away most of his wealth, choosing instead to undergo a lobotomy.

Dai Yixin didn’t want it, but Dai Yuan did.

Dai Yuan had never been content to be a shadow, someone who could be overlooked. To be noticed, to make people remember him, he would go so far as to stage an earth-shattering lie, risking his life.

Now, Huo Youqing placed a possibility before Dai Yuan. If he was willing, he could potentially become the heir to the Dai family, flipping his position with his brother, Dai Yixin.

Seeing the change in Dai Yuan’s expression, Huo Youqing continued, “The dream I mentioned yesterday wasn’t really a dream. It was everything I’ve experienced. Whether you believe it or not, I can travel between two timelines—one is the present, and the other is nine years into the future. I’m from the future, so if you cooperate with me, this deal won’t be just a fantasy.”

This passage made Dai Yuan squint, and unconsciously, the smile on his face completely vanished. Instead, he looked at Huo Youqing with suspicion. Such words would be shocking to anyone, and if Huo Youqing couldn’t prove himself, he would very likely be sent to a mental institution.

However, Huo Youqing was already prepared for this. He had considered laying everything out for Dai Yuan, knowing that Dai Yuan was an indispensable part of the changes he wanted to make. So, he tilted his chin slightly and asked someone to turn on the TV.

Dai Yuan, not understanding what was going on, still got up to turn on the TV. In the less than ten seconds it took him to walk over to the TV, Huo Youqing calmly recited a piece of news that hadn’t yet aired, but would be broadcast in five minutes.

A magnitude seven earthquake had struck a city in M country.

Huo Youqing even accurately named the field reporter who would deliver the news.

Dai Yuan stared at the TV screen, and a moment later, his eyes turned to Huo Youqing with an odd expression. Unlike the fake cuteness or obsession he had shown earlier, his first instinct now was a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

Faced with something that made him fearful and uncontrollable, Dai Yuan’s instinct was to eliminate it.

But within just three seconds, the murderous intent vanished completely.

Wearing a turtleneck sweater, Dai Yuan licked his lips and gave a sincere smile. “You’re really something. I think I like you even more now.”

Huo Youqing responded coolly, “Choose between the Dai family and me.”

“Both,” Dai Yuan answered without hesitation.

“Then you’ll end up with neither,” Huo Youqing smiled faintly, which was rare for him. “In fact, even if you choose me, it’s the same—you’ll still end up with neither.”

Dai Yuan stared at that rare smile, dazed, and only after a long while did he ask, “What about my brother? In the future you spoke of, where I commit suicide, did he get everything, including you?”

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he saw a flash of pain in Huo Youqing’s eyes.

Huo Youqing turned his face away. “No, he got nothing.”

Dai Yuan was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “I’ll agree to your plan, but can you also agree to one of my requests? If we succeed, give me a kiss—as compensation for losing you.”

This was a high-stakes gamble, and both of them knew it.

“…Alright.”