Chapter 114: Ch 114: Hidden Fury and Hidden Claims

While the two pairs—adults and children—along with little Mo Yan and the cameraman rested peacefully beneath the trees that shielded them from the harsh sunlight, other people nearby were dealing with their own plans and difficulties.

Only a short distance away from the peaceful group, PD Xu Cui stood with a phone pressed to his ear. Every trace of his usual mischievous, jolly expression had vanished.

His face was serious, almost severe, the lines around his eyes and mouth drawn tight with controlled tension. The light that filtered through the leaves painted shifting patterns across his shoulders, but none of the warmth reached his expression.

"What?" he asked, voice low and carrying a dangerous pressure that made the air around him feel heavier.

On the other end of the line the staff member shivered. His tone turned meek and careful, as if he were speaking to a sleeping tiger that might wake at any second. "Gu Chengze is making trouble for our company."

PD Xu Cui’s gaze sharpened. His blood pressure climbed toward dangerous levels. He forced himself to take a slow breath and calm down, the sound of it rough in the quiet space between the trees. One hand rose to stroke his goatee while he hummed thoughtfully, the other tightening around the phone until the plastic creaked faintly.

"Elaborate."

"Yes, sir." The staff member swallowed, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "His company’s PR team is threatening to file a case against us for ruining their CEO’s reputation. They’re demanding compensation... Or they say they’ll actually sue."

The staff member was about to continue when he heard an angry puff of air from PD Xu Cui. He immediately fell silent, the line going quiet except for the faint crackle of the connection.

PD Xu Cui huffed and puffed several times, forcing the rising fury back under control. The hand that had been playing with his goatee stilled. When the silence on the line stretched too long he glanced at the phone, wondering if he had accidentally ended the call.

Seeing that the timer was still running, he leaned back against the tree behind him. The rough bark pressed against his shoulders, grounding him.

"Continue," he said, voice completely flat despite the anger simmering underneath.

"Ah.. yes." The staff member finally remembered how to speak again. "They claim the reason they’re filing the lawsuit is because we showed Gu Chengze’s arrogant behavior—or what they’re calling ’CEO Gu’s worries for Shen Guoxing’—and—"

PD Xu Cui could not stop the cold laugh that escaped him. The sound was sharp and humorless, cutting through the soft rustle of leaves.

"Worry? Please." He rolled his eyes. He had watched the footage recorded the day before. What he had seen was anything but concern. The memory of that footage, paired with the frightened expression his angelic eldest granddaughter had worn, made the last of his restraint snap.

In pure anger he punched the nearest tree. The impact sent a dull thud through the air. Birds scattered from the branches in a panicked cloud, the force of the blow sending them flying in every direction. Leaves drifted down in a soft, slow rain, spinning through the golden light.

PD Xu Cui slowly withdrew his fist and examined the mark left on the bark. A faint red flush marked his knuckles, but he only gave a cold chuckle. "Hm. I’ve gotten weaker," he muttered.

Then a threatening smile curved his lips. The expression transformed his face, stripping away the last traces of the goofy production director and leaving only something sharp and dangerous. "Tell them about the clause in our contract. If they still insist on filing a lawsuit.. let them."

His gaze drifted for a moment in the direction where he had left his grandchildren—the peaceful group under the trees, the soft laughter, the small figures he already thought of as family. "I’ll show them who they’re messing with."

Without waiting for a reply he ended the call. The sudden silence felt heavy.

For a short while PD Xu Cui remained leaning against the tree, eyes still holding a dangerous glint. The breeze stirred the leaves above him, scattering shifting patterns of light across his face, but none of it softened the cold calculation in his gaze. "I see how it is," he murmured.

Then he closed his eyes. Like a mirage, the heavy, frightening atmosphere surrounding him vanished completely. When he opened them again, the familiar goofy, mischievous smile the entire production team was used to seeing had returned.

The transformation was seamless—so complete that anyone who hadn’t witnessed the last few minutes would never have believed the dangerous edge that had just been there.

"I wonder what my grandbabies are doing," he said cheerfully, the words light and bright as if the phone call had never happened.

Whistling a light tune, he began walking back in the direction he had come from. The path was soft under his feet, the dappled sunlight shifting across his shoulders as he moved.

Ahead of him, the quiet shaded circle waited—the soft laughter of children, the quiet closeness of two adults, and the small, peaceful world he was determined to protect.

The birds that had scattered earlier began to settle back into the branches. The leaves continued to whisper in the breeze. And PD Xu Cui walked on, smiling and whistling, the dangerous edge carefully tucked away once more—ready to be drawn again if anyone dared to threaten the people he had already decided were his.

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Meanwhile, the remaining guests who had been left with the cold-faced man finally finished choosing the houses they would live in for the next two weeks.

The late afternoon light stretched long across the uneven ground, painting the weathered structures in shades of gold and shadow.

A light breeze carried the scent of dry grass and old wood, and the distant sound of birds settling into the trees mixed with the quiet footsteps of the contestants as they inspected their temporary homes.

Qin Yuran and Song Meiyu ended up with a decent, weathered but fully functional house. Though the exterior showed its age, the structure itself was solid. Inside they found a proper kitchen with a working stove and a small but clean counter, a compact dining area with a sturdy table and two chairs, a usable bathroom, and two separate rooms.

The floors creaked underfoot, and the windows let in soft, dusty light, but it was enough space for the pair to live comfortably without constant friction.

Qin Yuran ran a hand along one of the walls and nodded in quiet satisfaction. Song Meiyu offered a small, relieved smile. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was livable—and that was more than enough.

Zhao Yichen and Han Jiho received a smaller and more weathered house. It was clearly older and more worn, the wooden beams darkened by time and the exterior boards showing deeper cracks.

Yet it still contained everything necessary: a functional kitchen with basic appliances, a compact dining space just large enough for two, a bathroom that worked despite its age, and a single shared room. The space was tight. The walls felt closer, and the single bed would require careful negotiation, but it was livable.

Zhao Yichen stood in the doorway, surveying the room with a thoughtful expression. Han Jiho stepped past him, already assessing what could be rearranged to make the small space more comfortable. They exchanged a quiet glance—neither complained. They would make it work.

The most unfortunate pair, however, was Gu Chengze and Lin Xuanyu.

They were left with what could only be described as a ruin. The roof had several obvious holes that would let rain pour straight through during any storm. Parts of the walls were cracked or partially collapsed, revealing the bare framework beneath.

There was no kitchen and no dining area at all, which meant every meal would have to be cooked and eaten outside over an open fire or portable stove.

The entire "house" was essentially one single room—bare, dusty, and open to the elements in places. The floorboards were uneven, and the air inside carried the dry, slightly musty scent of old wood and neglect.

Gu Chengze stood in front of it, frowning deeply at the dismal state of the place they had been assigned. The late sunlight slanted through one of the larger holes in the roof, illuminating floating dust motes.

A quiet guilt settled over him as he thought of Lin Xuanyu. The omega had been nothing but gentle and accommodating, and now he was being forced to share this crumbling ruin because Gu Chengze had not finished his earlier task faster.

He turned to the omega, expression serious. "I apologize for this, Teacher Lin," he said, meeting those clear eyes. The words came out heavier than he intended. "If I had finished my task faster, I would’ve—"

Lin Xuanyu cut him off by gently patting his arm. The touch was light, almost careful, yet it carried a quiet intimacy that made Gu Chengze’s words falter.

"It’s okay," he said, voice soft and gentle—so gentle it only made Gu Chengze’s guilt heavier. "As long as I’m with you, I know I’ll be okay." His eyes shone with open, unmistakable affection, bright and unguarded in the slanting light.

Gu Chengze pressed his lips together, fighting the smile that threatened to appear at the corner of his mouth. He coughed lightly to cover it, the sound rough in the quiet space between them.

"I.. see," he managed after a short pause. He looked into Lin Xuanyu’s eyes and made a quiet vow, the words low and firm. "I won’t let you suffer any hardship."

Lin Xuanyu smiled brightly and nodded. "Thank you, CEO Gu!" His eyes sparkled with pure delight, the expression so radiant it seemed to soften the ruined walls around them.

Gu Chengze’s eyes widened slightly at the radiant expression. He quickly looked away, suddenly aware that his heart was beating unusually fast. The late sunlight caught the edge of Lin Xuanyu’s profile, and for a moment Gu Chengze found it difficult to look anywhere else.

How unusual.. he thought. I’ve had him so many times before, yet.. how is he still so magnificent in my eyes?

A quiet, unfamiliar seed of feeling began to take root in his chest—something warmer and more unsettled than the simple possessiveness he was used to.

Meanwhile, the moment Gu Chengze turned his gaze away, the soft, loving light in Lin Xuanyu’s eyes shifted. A cunning, possessive glint replaced it, sharp and calculating in the fading light. His fingers tightened around Gu Chengze’s arm, the gentle touch suddenly firm with quiet ownership.

You’re mine, CEO Gu... You’re mine, he thought obsessively, the words repeating in his mind like a promise. The ruined house, the uncomfortable living conditions, the cameras that would eventually capture their struggles—none of it mattered.

As long as Gu Chengze remained within reach, Lin Xuanyu would make certain that no one else could claim him.

The wind stirred the dry grass around the ruined structure, carrying the faint scent of dust and old wood. In the distance, the other pairs were already beginning to settle into their more functional homes.

But here, in the shadow of the crumbling walls, two very different kinds of attachment continued to take root—one uncertain and newly stirring, the other already deep, possessive, and unyielding.

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HA! LOOK WHO UPLOADED ON TIME TODAY! THAT’S RIGHT, IT’S MEH!