With the matter settled, Chen Yuan took his leave.
Watching Chen Yuan’s retreating back, Gu Ye let out a sigh of relief. It was another case of spending money to avert disaster. Fortunately, the young man was reasonable and didn’t act on impulse. But was this matter truly over?
Chen Yuan had suffered from insomnia the previous night. He pondered how to kill Yu Yan without leaving any flaws and walk away cleanly once the deed was done. The primary issue, of course, was forging an alibi. Moving at night was ideal, but he was currently on the late shift and had to work until Midnight, leaving him with no time to commit the crime. If he rashly requested a shift change, it would undoubtedly arouse suspicion. After all, they had already formed a grudge. If Yu Yan died, Chen Yuan would undeniably become a prime suspect.
The clumsiest method would be to wait for a suitable opportunity. Given Yu Yan’s personality, who knew whom he might offend in the future? Striking then would reduce the risk to a minimum. But Chen Yuan didn’t want to wait. He tossed and turned, pondering deeply, yet struggled to come up with a foolproof plan.
Finally, Chen Yuan had an epiphany. No one was a fool; executing a flawless crime was nearly impossible. He had been overthinking and making things difficult for himself. Looking at it from another angle, so what if he was suspected of being the murderer? As long as he left no evidence, they couldn’t convict him, and eventually, the matter would just fade away.
So, Chen Yuan’s ultimate decision was to kill him in plain sight. Let them suspect him—what could they do about it? A dead man held no value.
However, he still needed to create a cover. For instance, coming to the Gu family to demand an explanation gave the public the illusion that the conflict had been amicably resolved. Not only that, but it would also lull Yu Yan into a false sense of security, making it easier to strike when the time came. He had even managed to score a sum of money from the Gu family for free. It was killing three birds with one stone.
The next step was to find a chance to eliminate Yu Yan.
Life seemed to return to tranquility.
When Yu Yan learned that Chen Yuan had chosen to take the money and let the matter rest, he sneered disdainfully. "What a coward."
He continued to do as he pleased, practicing martial arts as usual during the day. Every few days, he would run off to drink with some friends from the Martial Arts Hall.
No one in the Gu family paid any more attention to the incident, and the festive atmosphere within the estate grew increasingly heavy. The new year was only a dozen days away, which would also mark the wedding of Third Miss Gu and the genius Yu Yan. It was a double blessing.
Cheng Xiaoyu had been ordered to stay home and rest well these past few days. Although she yearned for the outside world, she thought about it and obediently complied. Brother Yuan had told her that once the injuries on her face healed, she could go back to the Gu’s villa to play with Third Miss Gu.
As for Chen Yuan, he also resumed his usual routine. He practiced martial arts at the Huo Courtyard in the morning and guarded the Medicinal Garden in the afternoon, living a dutiful and fulfilling life. In secret, however, he investigated Yu Yan’s habits and discovered that the man visited Osmanthus Pavilion for a drink every few days.
Three days later, Chen Yuan got his chance.
He spent a sum of money in the black market to learn that Yu Yan had reserved a private room at Osmanthus Pavilion for the following night. Early the next morning, he went to Funiu Mountain and asked General Manager Li for a day off, citing family matters. General Manager Li didn’t overthink it. After expressing a few words of concern, he agreed.
After finishing his practice at the Huo Courtyard that day, Chen Yuan took Yu, whose facial injuries were nearly healed, to the Inner City to eat and shop. Yu was very enthusiastic about such activities, and a long-lost smile soon appeared on her face.
With a candied hawthorn stick in her mouth, she asked indistinctly, "Brother Yuan, my injuries are already healed. Can I go to the Gu’s villa now? Third Miss must be missing me."
Chen Yuan smiled. "Wait a little longer. It will be soon."
By the time they returned home, the sky had completely darkened. Chen Yuan went into his room early to rest. Not long after, a black-clad figure silently flipped out of the window.
The night was as black as ink, the cold moon hidden behind thick clouds. The long street was dead silent; only the wind swept up remnant snow as it rushed past the alleyway, letting out a low, howling whistle.
In the elegant private room on the second floor of Osmanthus Pavilion, candlelight was still flickering.
Yu Yan downed the remaining wine in his cup. His face flushed with a slight buzz, but his eyes remained relatively clear. He patted the shoulder of a young man in brocade clothes beside him and chuckled. "You treated us to this meal today, but next time it’s on me. When the day of my wedding comes, all of you must be there. I won’t accept any absentees!"
"Is there any need to say it? We wouldn’t dare miss Brother Yu’s wedding," the brocade-clad youth replied with a smile, pouring Yu Yan another cup. "When the time comes, you have to let us witness the elegance of Third Miss Gu. I hear her beauty eclipses the moon and puts flowers to shame. You are truly blessed, Brother Yu."
Yu Yan laughed smugly, throwing back another mouthful of wine. As the alcohol rushed to his head, he became more talkative. "What is Third Miss Gu? Sooner or later, she will be my woman. The Gu family currently has to rely on me. In a few days, when I step into the Muscle Stage, let alone the Gu family, who in the entire Outer City won’t give me some face?"
His friends echoed their agreement, showering him with another round of flattery. Yu Yan thoroughly enjoyed the praise. With a grand wave of his hand, he ordered another pot of wine. They drank for nearly another hour before everyone finally dispersed, fully satisfied.
Yu Yan pushed open the main doors of Osmanthus Pavilion. A gust of cold wind blew directly into his face, causing him to shiver violently and immediately sobering him up by a fraction. He pulled the fur trim of his collar tighter and exhaled a puff of white mist, cupping his hands in farewell to his friends in front of the building.
Before leaving, the brocade-clad youth turned back and cautioned, "Brother Yu, it’s getting late. Be careful on your way back. It’s pitch black out here; don’t let anyone target you."
Yu Yan waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. When have I ever actually drunk myself under the table? In the territory of Qingyuan County, the person who dares to touch me hasn’t even been born yet."
His friends went their separate ways, and the long street was soon left with only Yu Yan. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he stepped on the thin layer of accumulated snow and headed toward the Gu’s villa. As gusts of cold wind continuously poured into his collar, his footsteps became a bit steadier than when he had first exited the tavern.