Shoutout to nyanmaru for the commission!
When Chen Mo received Yan Henan’s call, he had a bad feeling. Although nothing specific was said during the conversation, the other party’s serious and angry tone was enough to raise concern. By the time he arrived at the Yan family mansion, he realized he had been stabbed in the back.
“You disgrace! Explain yourself! What is all this about?”
In the cold, empty hall, Yan Henan’s voice thundered as he flung a stack of photos at Chen Mo’s face.
Chen Mo remained silent, his gaze flicking to Yan Chen, who was seated on the sofa. A sharp look crossed his face. He had thought he was fast enough, but this scum had been even more ruthless and decisive.
Chen Mo had planned to use the media to gain the upper hand, but he hadn’t anticipated that Yan Chen would preemptively use Yan Henan to block his path. This move would make the next steps much more difficult.
The two had been at odds for years, but there was an unspoken rule: they wouldn’t involve Yan Henan unless absolutely necessary. Victory and defeat were to be decided without resorting to such underhanded tactics. The fact that Yan Chen had resorted to this showed just how desperate he was.
Logically, Yan Chen should have waited until he had more photos and evidence before exposing Chen Mo and Ye Mu’s relationship. The fact that he acted early suggested that he knew Chen Mo was planning a press conference. But how had he found out?
Chen Mo’s eyes flashed as a certain person’s image crossed his mind, causing his heart to race.
“Speak! Are you mute? Or do you have the guts to act but not to own up?” Yan Henan’s stern face was filled with rage. The thought that both of his sons were gay made him feel like he couldn’t show his face in public.
Chen Mo finally glanced at the photos on the floor and after a long silence, he spoke, his voice cold. “At most, these are just photos of us holding hands. They don’t mean anything.”
Despite his power, Yan Henan was still wary.
“Do you think I’m that easy to fool?” Yan Henan slammed his hand down on the table. “You and that Ye Mu have been eating and living together for days. Anyone can see there’s something between you two.”
Chen Mo’s expression darkened. “We’re just close friends.”
Yan Henan sneered, “Close friends? Everyone knows that Ye Mu is a notorious lowlife. And you’re ‘close friends’? Who would believe that?”
Chen Mo’s tone turned icy. “As my elder, I hope you’ll watch your words. Whether he’s decent or not, I’ll judge for myself. I don’t need anyone else’s opinion.”
Yan Henan’s eyes bulged in anger as he swung his cane at Chen Mo. “Fine! You’ve really grown wings now, huh? Remember who took you out of that backwater village. If it weren’t for me, you’d have starved to death!”
Chen Mo’s face was cold, his voice deepening, “Yes, and I also remember who abandoned me there in the first place. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had to suffer.”
Yan Henan’s eyes turned red with anger. “You ungrateful b*stard! You think I should have pampered you? If it weren’t for your dead mother, I’d have kicked you out long ago!”
Chen Mo’s face was as cold as ice. “For her sake? If you really respected her, you wouldn’t have refused to see her before she died. The only reason you brought me back was because you were afraid the Yan family line would end. Don’t pretend you’re so righteous.”
Yan Henan took a few deep breaths, his neck stiff, and said, “Good, very good. Now you dare to say anything. Over the years, you haven’t changed your last name or called me ‘Dad’ even once. Since you’re so stubborn, then today, get out of this house and don’t come back. I’ll withdraw all the funds registered under your company soon. I want to see how you’ll end up as a stray dog!”
Chen Mo had already prepared himself for the worst before coming, and his expression remained calm as he looked at Yan Henan. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted.
Yan Chen, who had somehow moved behind Yan Henan, said quietly, “Dad, I think he just can’t figure things out for the moment. You should go upstairs and rest. Leave the rest to me.”
His deep black eyes exuded confidence, giving others a sense of reassurance.
Yan Henan shook his head with his eyes closed, a trace of regret on his forehead, and waved his hand, saying, “I can’t be bothered anymore. It’s up to you. Just don’t disgrace the Yan family name, do whatever you want.”
The old man turned and, supporting himself with a cane, went upstairs, leaving behind an indifferent figure.
Chen Mo glanced at the man in front of him, his eyes full of contempt. “You really are ruthless.”
Yan Chen smiled enigmatically, “You were the one who wanted to take him away in such a hurry. There’s nothing I can do.”
Chen Mo turned his head, touching the stubble on his chin, his face sharp and cold. “That’s really funny. Don’t forget, it was you who pushed him away in the first place.”
Yan Chen took a sip from a wine glass. “I haven’t forgotten, but is it so wrong to regret it now? A b*stard like you doesn’t deserve him.”
Chen Mo’s profile was sharp as a dagger. “If I don’t deserve him, do you?”
Yan Chen looked at him meaningfully. “At least I’m far more deserving than you.”
Chen Mo narrowed his eyes slightly. “Where does your confidence come from?”
Yan Chen put down his alcohol glass. “Recently, I hired a private investigator to look into you. It turns out you’ve had issues in that area for a long time. Whenever you sleep with a woman, something goes wrong. It wasn’t until you got together with Ye Mu that you finally found some satisfaction.”
Chen Mo stared at him. “So what?”
Yan Chen’s eyes deepened as he raised an eyebrow. “In other words, you’re just indulging in physical pleasure. It’s not as if you can’t live without him.”
Chen Mo lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent. “That’s just your subjective assumption, without any basis.”
Yan Chen casually curved his lips. “True, but I’m simply offering you a piece of advice. If you’re just looking for a good time, you could go to a gay bar and hook up. It’s already public, and you’ve been kicked out of your home. From a personal gain perspective, don’t you think it’s not worth it?”
Chen Mo tugged at the corner of his lips. “Thanks for the advice, but other men only disgust me. Don’t twist things around. I like him, and nothing you say will change that.”
Yan Chen smiled, half amused. “If I recall correctly, when you first met Ye Mu, you were disgusted too. But later on, you gradually accepted him, didn’t you? Maybe if you try sleeping with another man, you’ll find that you’re not just into Ye Mu.”
Chen Mo scoffed, mocking him. “Nonsense.”
A hint of playfulness flickered in Yan Chen’s fox-like eyes. “Whether you listen or not is up to you, but in my view, that’s the reality. By the way, I heard you built a Hope Primary School in your mother’s hometown. I just had the funding withdrawn in Dad’s name. You might want to consider how you’re going to support those teachers and kids from now on.”
Hatred flared in Chen Mo’s eyes. “That’s just like you, a despicable person.”
Yan Chen remained unperturbed, his long fox-like eyes dark and unreadable. “I’m not worthy of that title. Before insulting me, I suggest you figure out what you truly want.”
It was essentially a veiled threat: if he insisted on staying with his partner, it would mean losing everything he currently had—his hard-earned company, charity work, and wealth.
Chen Mo tightly pressed his lips together, exuding a sense of defiance. “A large part of my success is thanks to my status as an illegitimate child. If you want it, take it. I’ll start over from scratch if I have to.”
Yan Chen remained calm, his dark eyes impossible to read. “No need to rush your decision. I’ll give you a month. We’ll see how it turns out then.”
Chen Mo’s face tensed as he stared directly at him. “So you’re saying you won’t make any moves during this period?”
Yan Chen’s gaze was indifferent. “In general, yes, but I can’t rule out the possibility that I might send those photos to the relevant entertainment media in a few days. The combination of public scrutiny and economic pressure—I’m quite eager to see what choice you’ll make.”
Chen Mo sneered, glaring at him with a cold look before turning and leaving without saying another word.
After driving off the road from the Yan family’s estate, he soon found himself stuck in traffic on the highway. With no phone signal, he could only sit in his car and wait.
As people returned home for the holidays, the heavy congestion turned the roads into a complete standstill. In the two to three hours that followed, the traffic barely moved a few meters.
Chen Mo watched helplessly as the movie’s start time passed, his bangs hanging over his forehead. All he felt was frustration.
The words Yan Chen had just spoken still echoed in his mind, leaving his thoughts in a tangled mess.
Though he had appeared unmoved, he couldn’t deny that when confronted about his physical attraction to Ye Mu, he had felt a moment of doubt.
Over time, whenever Ye Mu asked him why, he had always explained everything under the guise of love, using it as a convenient excuse. But perhaps he had been subconsciously avoiding the real issue.
Thinking back to that night in London when his personality changed drastically, and he began relentlessly pursuing Ye Mu, insisting on living together just to have more intimate moments—he had automatically overlooked the deeper question. Now that it had been brought up again, he couldn’t help but feel troubled.
It wasn’t just observers—sometimes, even he wondered what his true feelings were.
Chen Mo, do you love this person, or do you just love his body?
If not, why have you so easily accepted being bent? Why do you always want to cling to him after each time and not let him go? Why can’t you stop yourself from wanting to kiss and hug him?
In the cramped car, the young man in a tailored suit found himself grappling with this question for the first time.
He stared at the steering wheel for a long time, burdened with thoughts, but still couldn’t find a clear answer.
Winter winds howled coldly, carrying with them frozen white flakes. Snow began to fall harshly, quickly covering the road in a defiant blanket, as if declaring its dominance.
Chen Mo gazed through the window at the congested flow of cars, a deep frown etched on his brow.
That idiot, he must still be waiting for him.
