Chapter 25 SJC

Chapter 25 – Does He Look Like Me?

The door and lock to Gu Yan’s apartment were perfectly intact, with no signs of forced entry. It was clear he had locked up and left of his own accord.

Since he’d locked the door himself, it was unlikely he had been threatened by that yellow-haired thug and the pig-headed guy.

But then, why had Gu Yan gone missing?

Shen Jinnian followed the phone number written on the little slip of paper and dialed several times. As Chen Han had said, no one answered.

His messages also received no replies.

He even knocked on the neighbors’ doors—still no response.

A restless anxiety began to grow and multiply in Shen Jinnian’s chest.

With no other choice, he went to find the building manager to ask if there were any clues.

The elderly janitor furrowed his brow, thinking for a long time before his eyes lit up. “You’re talking about the resident in Unit 6?”

Shen Jinnian quickly nodded. “Yes.”

“A few days ago, a whole crowd of people showed up, went straight to that building. I’ve no idea what it was about.”

Shen Jinnian’s heart sank. The first image that flashed through his mind was that group with the yellow hair and pig-head.

“Do you remember what those people looked like?” he asked, voice tight with nerves. Cold sweat broke out on his back. “For example, one bald and muscular, the other scrawny with sallow skin and hair?”

The old man gripped his broom and slowly sat down on the edge of a flower bed by the road.

His cloudy eyes turned left and right as he tried to recall the scene. It took him a while to dig something useful from the haze of his memory. “Yes! That group looked like a gang of thugs. The guy at the front was bald and holding a steel rod as thick as an arm. They stormed upstairs like they were ready to kill someone. Scared me half to death!”

Hearing this, Shen Jinnian had already guessed what had happened. His face turned visibly pale.

He thanked the old man.

Clutching his chest, Shen Jinnian took a few deep breaths. Once the numbness in his limbs eased a little and the blood started flowing again, he shakily pulled out his phone and called 110 as he walked.

He was afraid that Gu Yan would get into trouble, and his spirit was extremely nervous. All his attention was focused on burying his head and reporting the situation to the operator.

He didn’t even notice the group of people approaching from the opposite direction—until he walked straight into someone’s broad chest. The impact made his nose sting with pain.

Just as the pain started to fade, a familiar scent lingered at the tip of his nose.

Shen Jinnian’s heart pounded like a drum. He suddenly looked up at the man in front of him. “You...”

Gu Yan hugged Shen Jinnian's shoulders, stabilizing his staggering body, and a hint of surprise and joy was quietly hidden on his tired face.

Before Gu Yan could speak, one of the policemen behind him beat him to it. “You’re Gu Yan’s family member, right?”

That single sentence hit Shen Jinnian right in his sensitive spot.

He was about to clarify their relationship, but before he could open his mouth, Gu Yan reached out and pulled him closer by the waist, their pose looking intimate and close.

This act was as good as confirming their relationship in front of the police.

Sure enough, the leading officer seemed to get the message and scolded him sternly: “As a family member, you should’ve been keeping a closer watch on him. Using pheromones to hurt someone is a serious offense. Fortunately, this time it was self-defense, so it’s just a three-day detention. If it happens again, he’ll be facing real jail time.”

“Huh?”

Shen Jinnian’s heart clenched.

His mind raced, trying to match the pieces—finally, it all clicked into place. Gu Yan had used his pheromones against the yellow-haired guy and pig-head.

So the reason Gu Yan had been unreachable for the past three days… was because he’d been detained for saving him.

This massive favor wrapped Shen Jinnian up like a tightly woven net, making it hard for him to breathe.

He numbly thanked the officer.

Then dazedly followed Gu Yan back home.

It wasn’t until Gu Yan handed him a glass of warm water, temperature adjusted just right, that Shen Jinnian finally snapped out of it.

"Why are you here?" Gu Yan took the initiative to speak first. His lips twitched a few times before he gave in and smiled. "Were you worried about me?"

The moment his voice reached Shen Jinnian's ears, the water he'd just drunk caught in his throat.

His cheeks and eyes flushed red from choking. He fought through the discomfort, spat the water into the trash can, and immediately clutched his chest, coughing violently.

"Don't flatter yourself." Shen Jinnian was coughing so hard his body felt weak.

He had to lean back against the sofa to catch his breath. "I-I was just passing by."

After being locked up for three days, Gu Yan saw Shen Jinnian the moment he came back—it clearly lifted his mood.

He even had the mind to tease him on purpose. "Passing by this accurately? Right in front of my door?"

"You are exaggerating and spreading rumors!" In order to enhance his credibility, Shen Jinnian deliberately sat up straight, "It was the old guy from the complex who told me you got ambushed. That’s why I came to check.".

Gu Yan frowned slightly, confused. "Ambushed?"

"Yeah, the janitor said some guys with weapons stormed into the building. I suspected it was that yellow-haired gang." Shen Jinnian's voice got lower the more he explained, his embarrassment growing. "I was worried they were coming after you for revenge… figured if things got dangerous, at least I could call an ambulance for you."

"Thanks for the thought." Gu Yan stared at Shen Jinnian with burning eyes and sighed softly, "But sorry to disappoint—it wasn’t thugs. They were debt collectors, and they were after my neighbor across the hall."

"You’re full of yourself. I didn’t ask for an explanation."

Even so, Shen Jinnian felt relieved. He kept a calm expression, acting like it didn’t matter, patted his knees, and stood up to leave.

Gu Yan remained seated, but just as Shen Jinnian passed by, he suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.

Shen Jinnian’s wrist was slender and smooth—Gu Yan could easily wrap both his hands around it.

His tone suddenly deepened. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Ages ago." Shen Jinnian stood by him, looking down at Gu Yan’s head. "Since you’re done worrying, can you let go now?"

"I want to talk about something else."

As Gu Yan said this, he didn’t release his grip. Instead, he pulled Shen Jinnian down onto the couch beside him, like he was preparing for a harsh interrogation.

Shen Jinnian's inner alarm bells were blaring now.

He knew exactly what Gu Yan wanted to talk about. And in this moment, he was on Gu Yan’s turf—completely cornered, no room to refuse.

So Shen Jinnian gave up struggling, slumped down, and glared at him. "You get to ask one question. That’s it."

Gu Yan sat upright and asked carefully: "That child at your place... is he yours?"

The atmosphere between the two people gradually became solemn, and the temperature around them dropped directly to freezing point.

"There’s a saying," Shen Jinnian replied, quoting calmly without giving a straight answer, "‘Your greatest enemy often knows you best.’” He locked eyes with Gu Yan. "Whether that child is mine or not... don’t you already know the answer?"

Gu Yan’s mind was a mess.

Based on all the information he had, Shen Jinnian hadn’t done anything out of line—there was no reason for that child to exist.

But… that kid’s appearance was seriously baffling.

Gu Yan stared hard at him. "But don’t you think... he kind of looks like me?"

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The wind outside is so nice. I keep telling myself this will be the last chapter I translate tonight, but man... These cliffhangers are really making me question my sanity. (｡•́︿•̀｡) (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

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Today's update is here.

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