Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Music And Memories Part 13

Mo XuanYu feels terrible for Lan XiChen, having to learn like this that he can't trust the man he married. He's still wondering why Jin GuangYao insisted on them marrying last week, and he's thinking about the possibilities. Jin GuangYao's behaviour, everything they know about the man up until now, shows that he's meticulous about every step he takes or initiates, so why was the marriage rushed like that?

Secondly, he obviously wanted to keep XiChen away from his Uncle Qiren and Lan Zhan, and he took extreme measures to make that happen. Was that just to control XiChen? To make him dependent on only Jin GuangYao for all his emotional needs? It was certainly effective, judging from XiChen's reactions.

Thirdly, Jin GuangYao's insistence on the safe in the panic room. It makes sense that Jin GuangYao is cautious and possibly paranoid enough to hide sensitive information and perhaps evidence in different places. Why keep all your eggs in one basket, right? With XiChen estranged from his family, whatever was kept in the safe would remain a secret because nobody would go to his house. If one wanted dirt on the Jins, they would look no further than Koi Tower, a fact he must have been banking on.

XiChen seems to have reached the same conclusion because he stands up.
"Let's go."

"Where?" Lan Zhan is already standing, his body coiled with tension and braced to act.

"The Hanshi. I want to see what that safe contains. You can either come with me, or stay here." XiChen starts moving towards the door.

Both Mo XuanYu and Lan Zhan are right on his heels, neither willing to miss this opportunity. The snakey little man could use his silver tongue on XiChen and talk him out of investigating their safe, and the worst case scenario would be that he would know that they're on to him. He could try to hurt Mo XuanYu for sure, then. Plus seeing is believing, as they say.

"Will you use the front door?" Lan Zhan asks him, as XiChen veers off the main path towards his home.

"I'm not stupid, Didi. If A-Yao-Jin GuangYao sees me, he's going to ask me what I'm doing. I want to delay that conversation as much as possible, at least until I know what's in there. I don't want to give him the chance to switch anything out just so he can lie to my face again." His eyes are red and bloodshot from the effort of holding back his emotions.

Great, so everyone is on the same page, Mo XuanYu reflects, though he's not certain how much to trust XiChen yet. Everything depends on what they find in the Hanshi, and how incriminating it is for Jin GuangYao, and how much it will sway XiChen towards which side.

XiChen leads them around the back of the Hanshi, past a lovely quaint garden hosting a small pond with colourful koi fish. The area is well kept, so perhaps a gardner has been procured to maintain it.

The layout of the Hanshi is similar to the Jingshi. XiChen approaches the door to the kitchen hesitantly, listening for any activity. Hearing nothing immediately, he pulls out his keys and selects the correct one, slotting it into the lock and turning it.

Straight away, they hear raised voices.

"Jiang WanYin, hold your temper! There is no need to panic," an unfamiliar person says loudly.

Lan Zhan gestures at his brother, a silent request to know the identity of the man speaking.

"Su Minshan," XiChen replies, but he isn't hanging around, moving towards the second door to their left which must lead to the basement.

"Mo XuanYu, I will follow in a moment," Lan Zhan whispers to him, taking out his phone and waving it at him. He locates the correct app and begins recording what they're hearing.

"I told you, everything is under control. Mo XuanYu doesn't remember anything, so you're safe. I will make sure of it after this meeting." That's Jin GuangYao.