[BL, GL, TL] - The Wrong Kind Of Love

Jin Haoran slipped out through the back of the gallery, where he knew there wouldn't be any cameras. Andy was already waiting for him.

"When you drop me, come back and pick Wanrou."

"No need, young master Jin. She already called Lei."

"Okay." Jin Haoran drummed his fingers on his thighs, then forced himself to stillness.

Andy peered at him through the rearview mirror. "Young Master Jin… Don't overthink what happened earlier. Ms. Jin rightfully deserved everything you said to her. I was very happy when you finally stood up for yourself."

"She's not who I'm thinking about." Jin Haoran cast his eyes outside the car. The seat felt cold against his back as he stared out at the skyline. He didn't notice as the lights blurred into streaks of gold and red. The things he had said to Sun Weiming unrelentingly pressed against his chest. He reached up and loosened his necktie.

"Did Master Sun's exhibition go well, Young Master Jin?"

Jin Haoran's ears twitched. He turned away from the window. "Andy… how do you handle it when you hurt someone you really care about?"

"This… Young Master Jin… If it's you... Just explain it wasn't intentional and you only had their interest in mind."

Jin Haoran straightened his back and let out a breath.

"Master Sun has been out of control lately," Andy continued. "With the type of person you are, you were bound to say something sooner or later."

"The things I said… they were too hurtful."

"That…" Andy chuckled. "It's really hard for me to judge because you can't do any wrong in my eyes."

Jin Haoran furrowed his brows in surprise. "How so?"

Andy huffed. "Do you remember my wedding, sir?"

"Vaguely…"

"A week to my wedding… You had asked how the preparation was going. Very nonchalantly. In the way that you do," He searched Jin Haoran's face in the rearview to make sure he wasn't speaking out of turn. Jin Haoran's facial expression was as neutral as it usually was, so he continued speaking. "You know… like everybody else because no one really cares about the staff."

Jin Haoran rearranged his tie.

"I didn't care that you were asking out of courtesy," he chuckled. "I was so excited. I told you how people were bringing different foods, how Lei was giving me his nice suit. It was oversized, but I was grateful." Andy laughed. "And you… You just said, 'that's depressing.'"

"Oh!" Jin Haoran's hands played with the underside of his necktie.

Andy laughed. "You ruined my mood immediately, sir. I started thinking I didn't want to get married at all. But you made me drive straight to your tailor, and he fitted me for a suit."

"I did?" His hands fell away from the tie.

"I was so uncomfortable, Young Master Jin. I had never received such attention before. And you didn't stop there. You hired these wedding planners who went to my wife and mum to ask what they needed. They were… much more forthcoming than I was." He paused, his voice dripping with emotion. "You gave my wife her dream wedding, Young Master Jin. And you haven't mentioned it once since then."

"I don't really remember that." Jin Haoran dragged out the sentence. It seemed like a core memory for Andy.

"Right. Because you do stuff like this all the time, that probably didn't stand out to you."

Jin Haoran smiled. He didn't do any of that for praise, but it was nice to be seen.

"So…" Andy drove up to a sprawling estate. Stone columns flanked the entrance, supporting a roof that seemed to float above the main structure. "I don't know what you said to Master Sun," he said as he passed through the wrought-iron gate, "or why you've come here… But to me, you can never be wrong."

Jin Haoran rearranged his tie. "Thanks, Andy. You go home to your wife, okay? I'll drive myself after this."

"Thank you, sir," Andy nodded, but continued speaking. "You know, sir… of everyone in your inner circle, you and Mr Chen are said to be the kindest."

"I like Mr Chen a lot." Jin Haoran stayed seated, although he had started to get restless.

"I know you also like Ms. Chen. But… she's particularly horrible, and it makes me uncomfortable to know you two are so close."

Jin Haoran furrowed his brows. "Chen Xinyan is a woman in power. If she's not assertive, she won't get any respect." As the words left his mouth, his mind wandered to Jin Wanrou and the words he had spat at her barely two hours ago. No matter how hard you try, how much you think you deserve it, you'll only ever be beneath me. "She only lets her true self show when she's around the people she's close to."

"But sir—"

"Andy, you go home now!"

Realizing he might have spoken out of turn, he muttered an apology. "I'm sorry, sir."

Jin Haoran stepped out of the car and approached the front door. Before he could knock, it opened.

The maid stepped aside in silence, and he followed her in.

The house was quiet. Dimly lit. As they crossed the foyer, a woman appeared at the top of the staircase. Dressed in a glamorous silk robe, her hair wrapped in a tight bun. 

She began to descend, each step measured and deliberate.

She moved to a seat and pointed out a chair for him. "Please sit."

He loosened a button on his suit, sat, and pulled down his tie. "Ms. Sun. What did you want me to come here for?"

She handed him an envelope. "For the artwork."

Jin Haoran took it from her, lifted the flap of the envelope, and eyeballed the sum.

"If it's not enough, you let me know and I'll make up the difference."

Jin Haoran scoffed and threw the envelope on the coffee table in front of him. Her eyes followed it sharply. He crossed his legs. "Do you think that's all your son's mental health is worth?"

"Young Jin—"

"No. Don't make me a party to your nonsense, okay?"

She flinched.

"You… What kind of a mother are you?"

"If you don't want the money, then don't take it, but do not insult me, okay?"

He drew in a breath and exhaled. Pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not going to apologize for this."

She nodded. The silence sat between them for a while, then she spoke, her tone careful. "How's he, Haoran?"

He lifted his right hand in a shrug. "We fought. He misses you. He's miserable."

She sat and leaned closer to him. "Then convince him to come home."

He gave a half-scoff, half-chuckle. "You think I haven't tried?"

She sat back. "I know you don't agree with me."

Jin Haoran pulled himself up. "No, I don't agree with you. And I don't agree with him either." He buttoned his suit. "But I won't betray him by giving him your money. So please stop calling me…" He gestured towards the envelope on the table. "…and doing things like this."

She stood up.

"If you miss your son, go see him. If you call me again, you won't like what I'll do."

"Young Jin..." She called after him as he started to walk away.

He stopped. "You know… growing up, I always envied you and Ah Ming's relationship. To me, it was the most sacred thing in the world. I can't believe you let this happen."

She wrapped her arms around her body.

"You shattered the illusion of unconditional love you taught me. And I will never forgive you for that." He said and walked away.

---

Jin Wanrou sat in the car, her mind replaying what Jin Haoran had said to her earlier this evening. You'll always be beneath me. There was nothing more she wanted than for this to be false. Jinyutec was her birthright and she would do anything to get it.

Her phone buzzed. She looked down at it. It was a text Message from Lili, the influencer. It read: Wanwan, you looked so pretty tonight. Let's have coffee sometime, please?

She deleted the text with a frown. As her thumb hovered over the power button, another text arrived. From Sun Weiming this time: Thanks for coming. I appreciate it. I'm sorry I couldn't be a better host.

She replied: I understand. Sorry that Haoran tried his best to ruin it for you.

It's fine. You know he's always been this way. He can't tell a lie. It's his best and worst quality.

The words hit her like a physical blow. She could hear Jin Haoran's voice again, cold and certain. You'll always be beneath me.

Hope you celebrate. This is big: she typed back.

Was supposed to have drinks with Haoran. I'm going on my own now.

Okay. Then: Haoran ruined my night too. I need to get some relief. I owe you a drink, okay?

Okay, have fun, then: I saw him looking at that Lisa's mosaic.

WTF. I want to kill him.

He thought the two nipples on one breast was weird. Nothing else. I just wanted to tell you is all. Any other person could've thought more about it.

Okay. I'm there. I'll talk to you later.

The chauffeur opened her door, and she stepped out. The restaurant rose before her, its red lacquered facade gleaming under paper lanterns. Inside, the scent of star anise and soy sauce hung heavy in the air. Dark wood panels lined the walls, and golden dragons coiled around pillars that supported a ceiling painted in deep blues and golds. She walked past tables where diners sat beneath warm amber light, their conversations a gentle hum.

She entered a section labeled VIP but didn't sit. Instead, she walked to the back and passed through a curtain. For several minutes, she disappeared from view. When she emerged, it was through a different corridor entirely.

The designer aesthetics had been stripped away. Her hair now bore streaks of electric pink, and she wore form-fitting black leather that hugged her curves. Full-body tattoos snaked across her exposed skin, and a silver nose ring caught the harsh fluorescent light. She walked down the corridor to a brass door that swung open before she reached it, loud music seeping out for only a moment until the door was closed again.

The bar pulsed with low red light and louder bass. In one corner, two men were speaking softly to each other. Near the back, a pair of girls kissed against the wall like they didn't need air. A slender silhouette danced slowly on a platform above the crowd, their body provocatively teasing a metal bar.

A few women were dressed exactly like her.

A lady in a white sunset stepped in front of her. "Hi… Are you the real Phoenix? Can you pick me tonight?" She asked in a cute voice.

Jin Wanrou ignored her and walked up to the bar. The bartender slid her a glass of the drink he'd poured as he saw her. Its pink was the same color as her hair, a bright red flame sitting on it. He leaned in and said, "Your package is upstairs waiting for you."

She replied, "Good." Tilting her head, she took a look at the person who had bothered her before.

The bartender leaned in. "Should I add this one too?"

"Get her out of here and don't let her back in again." She watched the flame for a beat, licked her finger, and pinched it out. She threw her head back, downed the drink in one smooth motion, and turned her back on the room—the silver in her boot clinking as she walked away.