Chapter 68: The Devil’s Sacrifice (18)
—The boss… was sucked into the dream?!
Huangying was stunned for two seconds, then quickly ran over to check on Nie Hongshen’s condition.
The powerful boss was now sitting in his wheelchair, his eyes closed, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he were asleep, having a not-so-pleasant dream.
But Huangying didn’t dare to move. Once this dream started, it wasn’t so easy to get out. If his consciousness were forcibly pulled out, it would most likely leave irreversible damage.
Fortunately, the flow of time was different. After the dream plot was over, only a few tens of minutes would have passed in the real world…
Just wait!
By the way, what kind of role will the boss be playing inside…
Huangying secretly crept over to the water mirror projection and began to watch with great interest.
As she watched, she was taken aback:
…Why is this different from the plot set by the R&D department?
***
“Hongyue, who are you going to choose for the opening dance at tonight’s ball?”
The beautiful and moving Madam Jiao looked at Yu Jiao with a smile.
Yu Jiao was sitting stiffly before the mirror, looking at the familiar yet strange face in the mirror.
“Don’t choose brother-in-law!”
Jiao Baishuang, who was still a half-grown child, was clinging to the dressing table and shouting, “He’s been so mean to sister lately! Hmph, sister, don’t choose him. Choose a handsome big brother. Let brother-in-law eat shit— Mmph!”
Madam Jiao quickly covered the naughty child’s mouth and reprimanded her softly, “You’re so disrespectful… It’s fine to say such things at home, but we’re at the Yu family’s old residence now. If someone hears you, your sister will be in a difficult position.”
…The Yu family’s old residence.
Based on the information Yu Jiao had gathered before, the story of this dream was probably set eleven years ago—the year Jiao Hongyue had suddenly died.
This year, Yu Fenghe’s illness had worsened, but the cause was unknown. As a last resort, he had moved back to the Yu family’s residence with his wife, Jiao Hongyue, to recuperate.
—But who would have thought that the sickly Yu Fenghe would actually last for eleven years before he died, while the beautiful and vibrant Jiao Hongyue had died in this very year.
Yu Jiao sighed inwardly, but her hand was gently taken.
Madam Jiao patted her hand with pity. “Hongyue, do whatever you want. You don’t have to look at anyone’s face. I’m here for you, and the Jiao family is here for you.”
A warmth spread in Yu Jiao’s heart. Even though she knew it was fake, she cherished this stolen affection.
“Let’s go,” Madam Jiao pulled her up from the stool. “Today is your twenty-sixth birthday. It’s time to let those people see the grace of our Lady Hongyue.”
…Huh?
Yu Jiao froze.
If she remembered correctly, Jiao Hongyue had died on her twenty-sixth birthday…
According to Supervisor Huangying, she had to finish the plot to leave the dream. It seemed this death birthday ball was unavoidable.
Yu Jiao lowered her eyes and, holding Madam Jiao’s arm, entered the cheerful reception hall.
The dream was extremely real. Not only the small details of every scene, but also every minute change in the characters’ faces were so vivid.
It was… like a memory, replaying.
“Lady Hong is here?”
“Good day, Miss Yue. To be born on a rare Bright Sun Day, you are truly blessed and loved by the gods.”
“Hongyue, come. I was just asking Fenghe where you were.”
“Happy birthday, Lady Hong!”
“…”
Amidst these extremely considerate greetings, she was adorned in gold and jade, her expression indifferent, looking proud and composed.
Her silk-like white hair was all done up, decorated with pearls and jewels. It was not at all gaudy, but like a goddess, descended from the true divine kingdom. Others would be driven mad by a single glance.
“…”
Yu Jiao was not sure of Jiao Hongyue’s personality, nor was she sure if acting out of character in this dream would have any negative consequences. So she was quiet, pretending to be in a bad mood.
Fortunately, under Jiao Hongyue’s great fame, not only did no one question her, but no one even dared to talk to her, afraid of getting on her bad side.
This was exactly what Yu Jiao wanted. She made an excuse to leave Madam Jiao and began to look around, searching for useful information.
The Yu family’s old residence had a gloomy, magnificent air.
The servants were all covered from head to toe in wide robes, while the guests were all dressed in strange, colorful clothes.
The clash of conservatism and openness created a strange atmosphere.
Unconsciously, Yu Jiao had walked to the courtyard outside the reception hall.
Not far away, a tall, slender figure was standing with his back to her, talking to someone. He was wearing a strange, ancient-style costume, his choppy hair covering his ears, and a few thin, long braids hanging down, revealing a sliver of pale white skin.
—Yu Fenghe.
Beside him stood a slender, handsome young man. The young man saw Yu Jiao and said something in a low voice to Yu Fenghe.
Yu Fenghe paused.
The face that had given Yu Jiao a psychological shadow turned around. His cheeks were thin, his black eyebrows pressed down on his eyes, his thin lips had a purplish tint, and his whole being was sharp and handsome. His dark, quiet gaze was as if it had pierced through time.
Yu Fenghe walked towards Yu Jiao and called out in a low voice:
“You’re here.”
“…”
As if sensing her faint hostility, Yu Fenghe let out a low sigh. “Hongyue, don’t blame me for hiding it from you. I—”
His long eyebrows furrowed, and he held a silk handkerchief to his lips, coughing a few times. His figure looked even more gaunt.
“I have my reasons… I’m sorry.”
Yu Fenghe lowered his black-feather-like long eyelashes, and his cold, rugged, large hand took Yu Jiao’s, as if he cherished it very much.
…It’s really not easy to get used to Yu Fenghe’s dead face, saying soft words.
Yu Jiao nonchalantly pulled her hand back.
Yu Fenghe froze.
“Hongyue…”
His gaze was as dark as a dense fog, and it was as if it had congealed with a snow-like sorrow, a heavy look that Yu Jiao couldn’t understand.
Yu Fenghe suddenly began to cough violently again, as if a sharp weapon had attacked his defenseless body and soul.
He turned his head away, embarrassed, his voice hoarse. He slowly changed the subject. “By the way, you haven’t seen A’duo in many years, have you?”
Yu Fenghe beckoned to the young man not far away.
“Come here, A’duo.”
—Helan Duo?
Yu Jiao looked over with a hint of curiosity.
While Yu Fenghe was talking to Yu Jiao, the little young man had been staring at them without blinking. His light beige, semi-long hair was tied in a small ponytail at the back of his head. He was wearing a well-fitting formal suit, and his figure was thin and straight.
Like a beautiful doll in a shop window.
At this moment, being called over, a pleasant smile appeared on his face, and he became a doll, bought by a kind customer.
Helan Duo walked over politely and nodded to Yu Jiao. “Mother, long time no see.”
He enunciated his words with a strange, poetic rhythm.
After his proper greeting, his pale green eyes looked up, quiet and longing. His lips were pert, as cute as a little puppy, looking at her with a longing expression.
A beautiful young man in his prime.
Remembering what Yu Fenghe had said just now, “long time no see,” Yu Jiao asked casually, “How have you been these years?”
But to her surprise, hearing this, the little Helan Duo’s eyes darkened, and he was visibly dejected. His posture was not as straight as before.
Helan Duo lowered his head and answered cautiously, “Reporting, Mother. My studies at the border research institute have been excellent. I will be graduating soon.”
The seventeen or eighteen-year-old Helan Duo did not have the gentle, dense, yet oppressive aura of the twenty-something Helan Duo. He was more like a tender, soft seaweed, soft and harmless.
He was also only half a head taller than Yu Jiao. At this moment, his dejected look was even more like a pitiful, cute little dog.
Yu Jiao didn’t know, and didn’t want to know, why he had suddenly become sad. So she just nodded, indifferently. “Not bad.”
“…”
Helan Duo was visibly happy for a moment, and then he became sad again.
Yu Fenghe coughed and tried to smooth things over. He paused, closed his eyes, and took a slight breath, as if he had made some decision:
“For the opening dance later, A’duo, you and your mother will dance together.”
Helan Duo opened his beautiful, pale green eyes wide, and looked up with a look of heavenly joy.
Helan Duo pressed his lips together and said calmly, “Alright, Father.”
“…”
In that moment, Yu Jiao had a flash of insight. She thought about her character and began to act:
“You’ve arranged everything so well.”
A sarcastic sneer appeared on the beautiful woman’s face. Her face darkened, and she turned to leave.
“Hongyue!”
Yu Fenghe held her hand tightly, and it was even trembling slightly, with a suppressed, lingering fear, as if he were trying to hold on to something he was about to lose.
“Lord Bishop!”
Just then, a tactless guest came over with a glass of wine. “Is this your adopted son? He looks so talented!”
“Eh?” the guest looked around, pretending. “Isn’t there another one?”
Yu Fenghe was holding Yu Jiao’s struggling hand tightly. He coughed. “That boy, Yuan Cang, is training in the border defense army.”
The guest’s tone rose slightly. “He’s not even coming back to celebrate his mother’s birthday?”
Before anyone could answer, the guest sighed repeatedly:
“It seems Young Master Helan is more proper… Is Lord Fenghe also more inclined to make Helan the Holy Son?”
“…”
The air suddenly fell silent. No one answered him.
The couple were both indifferent, and the adopted son just smiled and said nothing.
The guest laughed dryly and left, having made a fool of himself.
The moment he left, Yu Jiao shook off his cold hand and, with a sour look on her face, she left, her high heels clacking.
Yu Fenghe watched her retreating back until the last corner of her clothes was hidden by the rockery and the flowing water.
He closed his eyes, his voice hoarse. “…A’duo, go and see your mother.”
“Yes.”
If this dream were a game, then Yu Jiao had just finished one event and had triggered another:
Just as she had rounded the rockery, she saw a group of people, surrounding a person and pointing.
“This guy is the second son of the Yu family.”
“Yu Bingci? Isn’t she a woman?”
“Oh! No,” one person whispered. “Didn’t Yu Qing and her husband have a test-tube baby? Not long after the first child—that is, the current Lord Yu Fenghe—was born, her husband brought back a baby, saying it was from a woman outside…”
The tall, thin young man in the middle was hunched over, his long, black hair hanging down, covering his face completely, like a hanging ghost.
“It’s probably retribution. That illegitimate son is a dwarf. Though he’s the same age as the bishop, his body didn’t grow, and he’s had the appearance of a child for several years. It’s strange. They can’t find the cause of his illness.”
Someone looked again and said, puzzled, “Isn’t this guy quite tall? He looks to be about 1.9 meters!”
“Oh, you don’t know. He’s only grown a little in these years. But I heard that he still has a problem with one of his legs. He’s a cripple…”
“Tsk, tsk, you say this despicable man. Why did he have to cheat? I don’t know which bitch outside gave birth to a sick bastard.”
The tall, thin young man’s fists were clenched, like a suppressed firecracker, about to explode and blow everything to pieces, when—
A low cry.
“I’m sorry, Madam!”
A servant, completely covered in a black robe, repeatedly apologized.
—He had accidentally spilled tea on Yu Jiao.
The commotion here attracted attention. The gossiping crowd, upon seeing Yu Jiao, immediately covered their faces and scattered like birds and beasts.
The tall, thin, ghost-like Yu Bingci was also taken aback. He slowly relaxed his fists and, from between his messy hair, he stared at her without blinking.
The servant was still apologizing. “Madam, I’m so sorry, so sorry. I really didn’t mean it.”
Yu Jiao frowned.
Not because she was angry about being splashed with water, but because the servant’s muffled voice, coming through the black robe, was very familiar. Before she could think it through, she heard a gentle, pleasant voice from behind:
“Mother, what’s wrong?”
Little Helan Duo glanced over and, understanding the situation, immediately dismissed the servant.
As if by chance, he turned sideways and blocked Yu Bingci’s line of sight.
“Mother,” Helan Duo smiled respectfully. “I’ll take you to change.”
The sticky feeling was uncomfortable. Yu Jiao nodded.
Little Helan Duo properly led her to the back hall. After calling a maid to bring a change of clothes, he quietly stood guard outside the door.
“…”
Yu Jiao ran her fingers over the magnificent new dress and asked the maid beside her, “This isn’t the spare dress the Jiao family brought back, is it?”
The maid answered, “Reporting, Madam. This dress was prepared by Young Master Helan in advance. The opening dance is about to begin. I’m afraid there’s no time to go and get a dress from Madam Jiao now.”
Yu Jiao lowered her eyebrows.
“…”
After she had changed, she walked out of the room.
Little Helan Duo was holding a tray and said softly, “Mother, the ball will be very tiring later. You should have some tea and pastries to fill your stomach first.”
He really was like a sincere and considerate son.
The maid retreated. At this moment, there were only the two of them. Yu Jiao looked at him thoughtfully.
This guy’s every move, every smile, is really not like the real Helan Duo… Perhaps he is in a different kind of dream?
With that thought, Yu Jiao, who was parched from the incense in the room, took the teacup and took a few sips.
“…”
After she had finished, little Helan Duo put the tray to the side. His pale eyelashes were lowered, and his long, slender fingers were caressing the handle of the teacup.
His voice was still soft and gentle. “Mother, since you don’t want to dance the opening dance with me, then we won’t.”
He said it very lightly and cheerfully, but Yu Jiao’s heart sank. She smelled something wrong.
Her vision blurred.
A dry heat, like a vigorously growing tropical plant, in just a few breaths, had crawled all over her body.
Yu Jiao panted and leaned against the wall. She lifted her hazy red eyes and questioned him coldly, “Did you drug me?”
Little Helan Duo blinked innocently. “Because Mother doesn’t want to dance the opening dance with me. So…”
He gave a warm smile. “We’ll spend a wonderful night together.”
“…”
He timely reached out and caught Yu Jiao’s soft, slumping body.
His slightly cool lips were on the side of her neck, and his cute lips were now lingeringly grinding against her sensitive skin.
He called out, one after another:
“Mother, Mother, I’ve written you so many letters these years in the borderlands. Did you… not read them?”
—They weren’t really written to her. How would she know if Jiao Hongyue had read them!
Yu Jiao turned her head, trying to avoid his grinding kiss.
He pursued her relentlessly and, by her ear, he said deeply:
“It’s alright. I’ll read them to you one by one tonight.”
“…”
As her consciousness was being pulled into a quagmire of lust, Yu Jiao’s last thought was:
—So even a seemingly harmless seaweed can drown a person.