Chapter 2814 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 19

Seeing that Jin Chen's expression was off, Gu Fanghe assumed that he was thinking about the unpleasantness from before, and his frustration intensified.

He reached out and gently covered Jin Chen's eyes.

Before Jin Chen could figure it out, everything suddenly went black. He blinked and asked, "What's going on?"

“Young master,” Gu Fanghe kissed Jin Chen, “Don’t look anymore. I will never let you see those irrelevant things again.”

"If the painting isn't good, then tear it up. I'll paint for you every day from now on, until you're satisfied, okay?"

Jin Chen raised his hand and placed it on the back of Gu Fanghe's hand. Gu Fanghe understood and slowly let go of his hand.

Jin Chen stared into Gu Fanghe's eyes, touched him again, and was still deep in thought.

Gu Fanghe felt somewhat helpless as he was being watched so quietly. He wasn't good at coaxing people, and his usual tough methods were completely ineffective on Jin Chen, leaving him only with heartfelt tenderness.

He thought for a moment and began to untie the sash of his clothes.

Jin Chen snapped out of her daze and looked at him.

His clothes were loosened, and moonlight flowed over them, making the honey color even more intense. His chest muscles were full, and his abdominal muscles were clearly defined, rising and falling slightly with his breathing.

Gu Fanghe took Jin Chen's hand and placed it on his heart.

Beneath Jin Chen's palms lay warm skin, firm yet supple muscles, and the rhythmic thumping of his heart.

"Everything here, everything I think about, is only you."

"I will never admit my mistake."

Gu Fanghe continued to kiss him, from the corner of his lips to his cheeks, then to his earlobes, and finally buried his face in his neck.

“Young master,” he called softly, his voice muffled, “don’t ignore me.”

Jin Chen patted his back, rested his chin on the top of his head, and stopped pulling on him.

There will always be a chance to figure it out.

"I'm not ignoring you, I'm just sleepy," Jin Chen said, her voice tinged with weariness. "I really like this painting. I'll frame it tomorrow, so as not to waste the boss's good intentions."

Gu Fanghe felt relieved. "Okay, let's go rest."

Inside the room, Ayan had already made the bed before going to the side room; the quilt was soft and luxurious.

Jin Chen lay down for a while, then gently stroked Gu Fanghe's back before suddenly asking, "Are you angry that I tore up the painting?"

"Don't be angry," Gu Fanghe looked into Jin Chen's eyes, and in the hazy moonlight, he hooked the tips of their fingers together and kissed them lightly.

"You think you're drawing someone else, so it's understandable to tear it up, but... I've never drawn anyone else."

Jin Chen gently stroked his chest with her hand, and upon hearing this, smiled and kissed Gu Fanghe's eyes again.

"Was that the one you wouldn't let me see that day also me?"

“…Yes.” Gu Fanghe sighed softly, “but I have never met you before, and I don’t know how to tell you.”

At that time, Jin Chen had just been tied up and taken up the mountain. If a portrait were discovered, wouldn't he be confirmed as guilty of deliberately kidnapping someone? What would happen if he ran away?

"I understand, go to sleep." Jin Chen said, but didn't let go of the full, ripe breasts that Gu Fanghe had been playing with. Gu Fanghe glanced down, pulled the thin blanket over the two of them, and then closed his eyes contentedly.

[The villain's heart rate is detected +12, totaling 57! 】

-

One-Eyed thinks he should really check the almanac before going out today.

The new school building is finished, and we even had Mr. Jin write an inscription for it. Now that I have some free time, I get lazy.

He led seven or eight brothers down the mountain, intending to have a feast at a newly opened restaurant in Nanzhou City and buy some items that were in short supply in the village.

The group chatted and laughed, their horses' hooves clattering. Just as they circled around to the shortcut near Black Mountain Cliff, which few outsiders dared to take, they saw a carriage parked in the misty forest.

The carriage was quite elaborate, and the two horses pulling it were also plump, strong, and glossy steeds.

"Tsk," One-Eyed reined in his horse and grinned, "They're really easy prey."

Ordinary merchants and caravans would rather take a longer route than venture into this place easily. This carriage looks luxurious, yet it insists on going into this misty forest. It must be either that it has gotten lost or that it has some urgent business and has to take a shortcut.

No matter which one it is, once it falls into their hands, they can make a little money off it, enough to keep the brothers happy for a while.

He gave a wink to his brothers behind him, and they understood. They drew their swords from their waists, grinned maliciously, and slowly rode up to surround him.

The sound of horses' hooves startled the people beside the carriage.

"Listen up, you in the carriage!" The one-eyed man brandished his knife and shouted gruffly, "If you want to pass through here safely, leave some money as a toll."

At that moment, a figure stepped out.

The man was dressed in a plain white robe with a matching thin cloak. He was slender and stood by the muddy roadside, yet he exuded a refined and elegant air.

The sinister smile on the one-eyed face froze.

His one good eye was wide open as he stared at the person who stepped out of the carriage.

He hated it! He hated that his eye was so sharp! How could it...see so clearly!

"Young Master Ruan?" Behind him, the bandit wearing a yellow cloak exclaimed in disbelief.

The one-eyed man suddenly turned around and glared fiercely at the boy.

Seven or eight brothers were on horseback, unable to advance or retreat.

The one-eyed man was inwardly groaning.

If it were any other rich young master, he would have already led his men to swarm in and loot everything.

The group looked at each other, bewildered. "...What do we do now?"

"One-Eyed Brother, is this really Young Master Ruan? I'm not mistaken, am I?" the man in the yellow cloak whispered to confirm.

"Nonsense!" One-Eyed growled irritably.

"Should we...invite Young Master Ruan up the mountain?" another brother hesitated. "If the chief finds out Young Master Ruan is here but hasn't invited him up, what will happen..."

"Please go up?" someone immediately retorted.

"Have you thought about what will happen to Young Master Jin? He's the darling of the boss right now! If he sees Young Master Ruan... will he be happy?"

"That's right. If Young Master Jin is unhappy, do you think the Boss will let us off the hook?"

"...But the chief has always been..." Someone hesitated, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, creating a noisy and chaotic scene that gave One-Eyed a headache.

He felt completely overwhelmed.

Why does he always run into these terrible, unpleasant things! Last time he kidnapped the wrong person and brought back Young Master Jin, which caused so much trouble afterwards.

This time, they've actually blocked the person in question on the road!

Before they could reach a conclusion, Ruan Shutong walked over slowly.

Two attendants followed closely behind, their hands always on their sword hilts, their eyes wary.

“One-Eyed Brother, it’s been a long time. How have you been?” Ruan Shutong stopped a few steps away from them, a faint smile on her lips, her voice clear and melodious.

One-Eyed felt a chill run down his spine and a bitter taste in his mouth.

He quickly reined in his horse, rolled onto the ground, and his movements were somewhat hasty. His brothers behind him also dismounted and lined up in a row.

The one-eyed man clasped his hands in a fist salute and said with a forced smile, "Young Master Ruan... it's been a long time. What brings you here?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself.

What a pointless question!

Ruan Shutong didn't care about his loss of composure, "I haven't seen Brother Gu for three years, and I miss him dearly."

"I have been back in Nanzhou for some time now and have not had the chance to visit him. Thinking of my old friend, I have come here to catch up with him. I wonder if I could trouble Brother One-Eyed to take me up the mountain to meet him?"

One-Eyed: "..."

His lips trembled a few times.

Not bringing it?

But Young Master Ruan had done the village a favor back then, and the chief had indeed remembered it, looking at that portrait every day.

belt?

What about Young Master Jin? That little brat has been spoiled rotten by the head of the gang lately. If he finds out…

Damn!

One-Eyed gritted his teeth and decided to return the problem to the head of the gang. It wasn't like he was torn between the two sides.

"Very well, since Young Master Ruan has come from afar, it is only right... Please, please!"

Having said that, the one-eyed man stepped aside to make way and gestured for him to proceed.

At the same time, he quickly winked at the man in the yellow cloak behind him, his lips moving slightly as he silently urged, "Quickly, go and report the news!"

Huang Pifeng understood immediately, nodded emphatically, and took advantage of everyone's attention being on Ruan Shutong to quietly step back a few steps, mount his horse, and flick the reins.

-

Black Mountain Village, at the village gate.

Yan Qi and Liu Mianfeng arrived almost at the same time, both with sweat on their foreheads, clearly having rushed here after receiving the news.

They hurried as fast as they could and finally stopped Ruan Shutong's carriage at the village gate, but they didn't have time to inform Gu Fanghe.

Just as they caught their breath, they saw One-Eyed leading Ruan Shutong slowly towards them.

“Young Master Ruan, it’s been three years since we last met, and you’re even more charming than before.” Liu Mianfeng stepped forward first, cupped his hands and smiled, and subtly looked Ruan Shutong up and down.

Three years had passed, and while Young Master Ruan had lost some weight, his aloof and otherworldly demeanor remained unchanged.

Yan Qi quickly clasped his hands in greeting, "Young Master Ruan, it's been a long time."

Ruan Shutong alighted from the carriage and nodded slightly to the two men. "Master Liu, Brother Yan Qi, how have you been?"

"Where is Brother Gu? Is he... not in the village?"

"He...he..." Yan Qi was quick to speak, and subconsciously wanted to answer, but the words got stuck in her throat.

He drifted towards the east-facing warm pavilion, a look of hesitation and anxiety flashing across his face.

What is my brother doing right now? Is Young Master Jin nearby? What if we bump into each other...?

Liu Mianfeng gently tapped Yan Qi's back with his fan, then picked up the conversation, his smile unchanged.

"My elder brother is handling some important matters in the warm pavilion. Young Master Ruan has come from afar and must be tired from his journey. Why don't you go to the front hall for a cup of tea and rest for a while? I have already sent someone to inform him."

Ruan Shutong frowned slightly.

He noticed Yan Qi's hesitation and Liu Mianfeng's deliberate obstruction, but his purpose was clear, and he was certain that Gu Fanghe would not refuse to see him.

“It’s alright. I’m an old friend of Brother Gu, so there’s no need for formalities. He’s in the warm pavilion, so I’ll just go and find him. It’ll also be a good opportunity to see how Black Mountain Village has changed in the past three years.”

As he spoke, he actually took a step towards the east side of the warm pavilion.

"Wait a moment!!"

Yan Qi jumped up in shock and stood in front of Ruan Shutong, her voice rising eight octaves, "No, this isn't a good idea!"

"Young Master Ruan! Um...it's not convenient to go to the warm pavilion! My elder brother really has something urgent to discuss! Something extremely important!"

Liu Mianfeng also stepped forward, "Young Master Ruan, please wait a moment."

“My elder brother is indeed preoccupied with important matters and cannot meet me immediately. I will send someone to invite him, and I believe he will arrive soon.”

He turned to the two dumbfounded bandits beside him and raised his voice, "It's dark outside! Hurry up and go to the warm pavilion to inform the boss that a distinguished guest has arrived and ask the boss to come to the front hall immediately!"

The two bandits who were called out immediately sprang to attention and replied, "Yes, Third Boss!"

Ruan Shutong stopped and frowned even more as she looked at Yan Qi and Liu Mianfeng, who seemed to be facing a formidable enemy.

He found the two men particularly strange, and their attitudes were different from three years ago.

But he didn't want to argue with anyone, so he suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and nodded slightly, "Alright, then I'll take my leave."

Liu Mianfeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped aside to lead the way, "Young Master Ruan, please."

-

Inside the warm pavilion, however, the scene was quite different.

A chessboard was laid out on the small couch by the window, and Jin Chen held a black piece, deep in thought.

Gu Fanghe sat opposite him, casually resting his chin on his hand, but his gaze was not on the chessboard, but fixed on the person opposite him, as if he could never get enough of looking at him.

Jin Chen had decided where to place his piece, and his fingertips twitched slightly, but Gu Fanghe suddenly leaned over and quickly pecked him on the lips.

"Thud." Jin Chen's hand trembled, and the chess piece landed where it shouldn't have.

Jinchen: "..."

He raised his eyes and glared at the culprit.

Gu Fanghe acted as if nothing had happened, even taking advantage of the situation by moving closer and chuckling, "It's my turn."

Jin Chen stretched out a finger and pressed it against his forehead as he leaned in again, saying helplessly, "How come you're even more shameless than me?"

Gu Fanghe clearly understood his methods well. He smiled and was about to say something more when suddenly, the door to the warm pavilion was pushed open.

"Boss, something terrible has happened... Ah! No, it's not that! Boss! Young Master Ruan is here!"

Two bandits rushed in, blurting out their words before even seeing what was happening inside.

The leader held Young Master Jin's hand, his lips still touching the other's fingers. Young Master Jin... was disheveled.

The two boys froze, turned around in unison, and covered each other's eyes.

It's over! It's over!

Gu Fanghe released Jin Chen's hand, sat up straight, and said somewhat displeasedly, "...Explain clearly, who came?"

In the darkness, with his back to them, he was so frightened that his legs went weak. "It's Young Master Ruan! Young Master Ruan Shutong!"

"I met the one-eyed man at the foot of the mountain and brought him up. The third and fourth leaders are with him. Young Master Ruan said he wants to see you."

Jin Chen slowly placed the chess piece back into the chess jar, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Young Master Ruan, I've heard of you before."

Gu Fanghe: "..."

Just because of a portrait, he went to great lengths two days ago, coaxing, kissing, and pouring out his heart, almost unable to get out of bed, before finally softening the person up a bit. Now, things are even worse.

“Xiao Chen…” Gu Fanghe grabbed his hand, his brows furrowing slightly.

Jin Chen, however, had already stood up leisurely, casually tidied his slightly disheveled clothes and long hair, and even bent down to pick up a white chess piece that had accidentally fallen to the ground and put it back into the chess jar.

"Let's go."

"Go and meet the man that everyone in the mountain stronghold keeps a deep secret... Master Ruan."