Neue Brücke der Hilflosigkeit

Kapitel 23

Qianye lowered his head and tugged at the corner of his mouth: "She doesn't know anything about the past, not even as much as you do. How could someone like that be a murderer?"

"She doesn't know your sexual orientation?"

“She knows. But she doesn’t know what happened before.” Qianye looked up at Feng Qi and smiled sarcastically, “Oh, Feng Qi, don’t you know how to hide your curiosity and intentions?”

Feng Qi remained silent, only looking at Qian Ye. His intuition told him that Qian Ye would tell the whole truth, and he could ignore the barbs in her words.

"I'm not the murderer, and I don't know who the murderer is." Qianye smiled slightly. "Of course, you can continue to hold your own opinion and believe I'm the murderer. I can't deny that all of this did start because of me. So, tell me, Feng Qi, which version do you know?"

"Version?"

"Yes, there are many versions of what happened four years ago. Different people know different versions. Which one do you know?"

"What I heard is that you injured someone and went to jail for Xiaoxi..."

Upon hearing this, Qianye's smile slowly faded, and he paused slightly: "Hao Jie, right?"

"You could guess that?"

"Only Hao Jie could come up with such a lie. It's really impressive. Feng Qi, let's make a deal."

Feng Qi looked at Qian Ye. In the night, his handsome face appeared even colder, and his ambiguous smile overlapped with that of someone in his memory. It was Mo Ran, the resolute Mo Ran, the Mo Ran who had proposed a deal to him with the desire to destroy everything. Feng Qi frowned. He didn't like this kind of conversation; he had a bad feeling about it.

Before Feng Qi could answer, Qian Ye continued, "I'll tell you the truth, and you promise me you won't make it public. Consider it a request from your childhood friend. Not reporting it might not be a big loss for you. But if it is, my life will be ruined. Feng Qi, your decision can determine a person's life."

Feng Qi hadn't expected Qianye to plead so humbly. Beyond the surprise, his doubts and unease deepened. He said softly, "Qianye...you don't have to say."

Qianye chuckled: "That's a lie, Feng Qi. Even if I don't tell you, you'll still find a way to dig it out. I might as well tell you myself."

Feng Qi couldn't refute it. If Qian Ye hadn't spoken, he would indeed have tried to find the truth. But did the truth really matter? He thought of Zi Jin and Han Jiaxi, and of Mo Ran. He wouldn't do anything without self-interest. This had almost become his creed. He always told himself that everyone was like this, that he wasn't the only ordinary person in the world. But was his belief truly correct? He wasn't sure. He took a deep breath and looked at Qian Ye. Qian Ye was still smiling indifferently, but Feng Qi saw struggle and a desperate gamble in his eyes. Was he gambling on his nostalgia for the past, or on pity? Such a proud person now seemed so vulnerable.

For no apparent reason, he suddenly lost interest in the so-called truth, and his previously tense body relaxed. He could finally smile sincerely: "I won't ask anymore. Qianye, just as you said, whether it's reported or not doesn't really affect my future much, so why should I drag you into this? You don't need to tell me the truth."

Qianye felt relieved, but still asked with unease, "Aren't you going to ask?"

"Since I promised you, I will naturally keep my word. However, this matter involves too many things. Can you guarantee that no one else will get hurt?"

Feng Qi's request made Qian Ye realize that he still doubted him, but since it was indeed caused by him, he couldn't argue. He could only nod and say, "As far as I know, almost all the people involved back then suffered strokes, and there are no others left."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qi couldn't help but sigh: "Only you..."

Qianye smiled and said, "At least you still remember our past friendship." Then he thought of Qingfei and said to Feng Qi, "Qingfei only knows that I used to work in a gay bar. She only found Yu Gang and Xiao Xi because she was worried that they would use this to blackmail me. In the end, she is just being protective. It's not smart of you to use her as a scapegoat. She is not as important to me as you think."

"Since you're not going to ask any more questions, why bring this up? My claim of having evidence was just a lie; did you really believe me?"

"I was just saying," Qianye said, picking up her coat and suggesting, "How about we go out for a drink?"

"Ah~" Feng Qi stretched and yawned: "I really need to have a good drink. Talking to you is so tiring."

"Likewise."

...

"You're just giving up like that? That's not like you."

When Feng Qi spoke with Xiao Ling on the phone, Xiao Ling was quite surprised. Based on his understanding of Feng Qi over the past year, he was not someone who gave up easily.

"Actually, it's not about giving up. I've thought about it carefully, and there's no scientific basis for this. It's hard to convince the public that these people's strokes are related to Qianye." At this point, Feng Qi took the opportunity to tease Xiao Ling: "You haven't been able to give me a solid support again."

Xiao Ling chuckled dryly twice and sighed, "I can't help it. Now that it's over, hurry back and don't linger in Zhicheng."

Feng Qi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll be back in the next couple of days." Having made up his mind to return, Feng Qi quickly booked a train ticket. Just as he was about to leave, another incident occurred.

First, He Zhiyuan called with harsh words, berating Feng Qi. After listening for a while, Feng Qi finally understood what was going on. It turned out that a post had appeared online in the past few days, initially only on various forums in Zhicheng. The content was related to Qianye, not only revealing his sexual orientation but also detailing Qianye's past in Maya four years ago in exceptionally high detail. Evidence, photos, and witness testimonies were all provided. Qianye's fans initially didn't believe it, but as more and more people investigated further, they discovered that although the post used exaggerated language, what it said was actually true.

When He Zhiyuan saw the post, he assumed it was Feng Qi's doing and became very angry, which is why he made that phone call.

Feng Qi hung up the phone and immediately went online to browse posts.

The post, which contained nearly 10,000 words and photos, stated only one fact: the famous dancer Henry Du was a homosexual who had sex with dozens of men four years ago and charged them money; in short, he had worked as a male prostitute.

The post attracted numerous comments, including not only Qianye's fans but also ordinary citizens. Some hurled insults, some expressed amazement, some offered sarcasm, and some offered sympathy, but most expressed anger at being deceived. The vicious language and blatant attacks were even unbearable for Feng Qi, an observer. As he read, he wondered how Qianye would react. If he felt so distressed by such a post, how must the person directly involved in the storm of public opinion be feeling?

Qianye was originally scheduled to have three more performances in Zhicheng. However, this unexpected event led the sponsors to cancel Qianye's tour. Only one show was planned in Zhicheng. When Feng Qi arrived at the venue, he found that the usually bustling hall was less than half full. On stage, the usually aloof and arrogant person seemed unaffected by the negative news, still immersed in his own world.

Quiet whispers filled the hall, some even throwing water bottles at the center of the stage, while many others let out malicious laughter. Feng Qi stood at the back, his eyes fixed on Qian Ye on the stage.

Qianye stubbornly raised the corners of her mouth, remaining unmoved even as trash thrown at her feet by the audience loomed around her.

This was probably the most grueling performance Feng Qi had ever seen.

After finally waiting for the performance to end, he immediately went backstage to find Qianye.

Qingfei fiercely blocked his way, roaring, "What else do you want?"

Facing the figure that always had its back to him, Feng Qi explained bitterly, "It wasn't me, do you believe me?"

After a long while, Qianye turned around, lit a cigarette, and slowly said, "It doesn't matter who it is anymore."

Feng Qi looked worriedly at Qian Ye's hand holding the cigarette; her long, beautiful fingers trembled uncontrollably, betraying her emotions. "You can clarify that it's slander," he suggested.

Qianye laughed despairingly: "Clarify? Only the truth can clarify that, right? If it's the truth, what can I say?" If he could choose, he didn't know what kind of life he would choose. But he had no right to choose; it was taken away from him at birth. A heart condition led his parents to abandon him, and the harsh environment in the orphanage almost made him give up on his dreams. But none of that mattered. If Qianye could choose, he wished he had never gone to Maya.

“I was spotted by Yu Gang in the park.” Qianye remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: “At that time, my adoptive father had just passed away, and my adoptive mother had remarried. I slept alone in the park for one night, feeling lost about the future. I didn’t want to study anymore. But I couldn’t do manual labor either. In the middle of the night, I woke up from the cold and saw a middle-aged man standing opposite me, looking me over. He was very focused on me, and even when I woke up, he didn’t leave. After a long time, he came over and asked if I would like to work for him. He was very perceptive and could see my situation at a glance. I asked what I would do and then agreed. At first, I was a waitress, serving the customers. Maya is a gay bar. Before that, I didn’t even know what gay was or what a gay bar was.”

“Luckily, Hao Jie was always there to help,” Qianye stubbed out his cigarette on the balcony railing and continued, “He taught me everything about surviving in a bar. Before long, I was as slippery as an eel; otherwise, without any knowledge, I’d be devoured. I tolerated customers taking advantage of me verbally and skimping on my earnings. You wouldn’t get paid this much in a regular bar. With the money, I could not only live independently but also continue learning to dance. Later, I saw that the dancers at Maya weren’t very good, so I went up and danced a few times, and the response was quite good. If… it had ended there, it wouldn’t have been so bad…”

Qianye's voice grew softer and softer, and Feng Qi couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He knew what it felt like to be in adversity, struggling to survive, fighting and striving to climb up the social ladder. Everyone born into poverty like him had experienced this; the only difference was whether they succeeded after their struggles.

“Until one day, Xiao west came to see me. He was the son of my adoptive father's neighbor, and we had always been on good terms. He told me that his parents had died in a car accident, and he didn't want to go to an orphanage, so he came to stay with me. I didn't want him to go to Maya, as it was a mixed bag and not suitable for a child, but he was extremely stubborn and insisted on supporting himself. At that time, Hao Jie and I were sharing a small apartment, and when Xiao Xi came, the three of us lived together. He was a clingy child, especially fond of me, and even imitated my dancing. He said he loved me and wanted to be with me forever. What does a child know about love? But he was incredibly persistent, and later, even Hao Jie said that if Xiao Xi went into sales, he might succeed. I accepted Xiao Xi. For the first time, someone needed me, couldn't do without me, and couldn't live without me. This feeling was very complicated.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Qi asked in confusion, "If he loved you so much, why did he end up with Hao Jie?"

"He got into trouble and offended a big shot in the underworld. I... went in his place... Xiao Xi is still too young and doesn't know how to protect herself, and she's also extremely stubborn. The offer from that guy was 2 million, to be paid off in 3 months. What can we do except sell our bodies?"

"Hao Jie said that Xiao west injured the gangsters, and you took his place in prison."

“Heh…” Qianye chuckled softly: “He likes these things, making me sound like a saint.”

"Are all stroke victims your customers?"

"Customers? That's a good word. Yes, they're all my customers, including Yu Gang. In three months, I've had sex with a different man almost every day. All the men I rejected before have flocked here to see how I've fallen so low. Over the years, perhaps they've all forgotten that there was once a dancer named Qianye."

"Your return has awakened their memories."

“You forgot, many people were already hospitalized before I returned to Zhicheng.”

Why did you leave in the first place?

"Isn't another name for a man ambition? When I saw the person I tried so hard to protect actually entangled in bed with my best friend, I suddenly felt relieved, as if a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I could finally walk my own path and become that selfish, not-so-kind person again, but one with endless expectations for the future."

"Do you know who the murderer is?"

Qianye didn't deny it, smiling calmly. He said softly, "What does it matter who it is? Advertisers blacklisted me, audiences scorned me, and my teachers refused to answer my calls after finding out. I used to think that the world's opinions didn't matter, but, after standing on high and falling down... there's nowhere left for me in this world..." At this point, he raised his head, "Feng Qi, I want to thank you for being by my side in the last moment."

"At the last moment?" Feng Qi froze. By the time he realized Qianye's unusual behavior, the proud man opposite him had already fallen from the balcony. He lunged at the railing, trying to grab Qianye as he plummeted, but it was too late. He could only watch helplessly as Qianye, a bitter smile on his face, continued to fall...

Chapter Ten: Epilogue

Chapter Ten?

Qianye's death brought this incident to a less-than-perfect end; everyone involved suffered a stroke or died. Feng Qi, however, felt a lingering unease, as if the matter wasn't truly over.

People only remembered Qianye's many virtues after he jumped to his death: his passionate performances, his handsome appearance, and his legendary life. Henry Du, Du Qianye, the world's one and only dancer, has vanished. Feng Qi used magnificent words to describe his life—short, but brilliant. In his writing, Qianye was a child who persevered despite adversity, a devoted lover who sacrificed himself for love, a king who stood at the pinnacle through his own efforts, and also a tragic figure killed by gossip and public opinion.

People from all over the world gathered, turning the funeral into a sea of sorrow. His sordid deeds before his death were completely forgotten. Feng Qi met Qianye's teacher, the teacher he still spoke of on his deathbed. She was a woman with graying temples, elegant and capable. Her face, behind sunglasses, revealed no emotion. He heard Qingfei timidly call her, "Teacher..." The woman sighed softly and said, "Fool, not answering the phone means it's business. Is such a trivial matter worth risking your life for?" She patted Qingfei, who was already sobbing uncontrollably, "Let's go, come back to France with me."

Cyber police easily traced the IP address of the person spreading rumors online. Through connections, Feng Qi learned that the person was none other than Yu Gang, whom Yu Ye had cured. Enraged by this undeserved misfortune, he furiously disseminated all the information he possessed. He wanted to teach Qianye a lesson, but he never expected it would lead to Qianye's suicide.

The culprit who orchestrated all of this has still not been found. It can't be Qingfei; given Qianye's personality, he wouldn't let her know about his past.

When Feng Qi returned home from the funeral, he saw Feixue bullying Xiao Hei, poking at it with her paws like a queen. He smiled slightly, squatted down, and gently stroked its forehead: "You're always bullying him, don't you get tired of it?"

Feixue seemed to meow in response, then rubbed against his palm twice. Xiao Hei, not wanting to be left out, also came over and rubbed against him. Just as the man and the two cats were enjoying this rare, heartwarming moment, a soft laugh came from the balcony. Feixue arched its back defensively, its snow-white fur standing on end. Feng Qi knew this was its way of being alert.

Feng Qi was familiar with the owner of the voice, but he was still stunned as he looked at Hao Jie, who had emerged from the shadows.

"You're still in the hospital..." Before he could finish speaking, Feng Qi suddenly realized something and looked at him with a start: "You did all this?" Yu Ye only promised to save Yu Gang, so Hao Jie, who should have been lying in the hospital, shouldn't be here. Unless he's the murderer.

Hao Jie leaned against the doorway, looking exhausted, and said, "You shouldn't have gotten involved in this. You shouldn't have dug up those past events. If it weren't for you, maybe everyone would be doing just fine. Qianye... Qianye wouldn't have left..."

The story is short.

Hao Jie was in love with Qianye from the first time he saw him. He felt that Qianye shouldn't live in the darkness, so he did everything in his power to protect him and teach him how to survive in the night. Qianye was a good student, quick to learn and apply what he learned. Watching Qianye become more and more outstanding, and his dancing more and more captivating, he knew that one day Qianye would leave, spread his wings and fly away, leaving Maya, leaving him. But the thought of that day made him happy. To him, Qianye was an angel, the only pure and beautiful person in the world. Even though there was a hint of ambiguity between them during their interactions, he told himself that he couldn't be with Qianye, that he couldn't be someone who hindered Qianye's future. He rejected Qianye, and the two continued to be friends, striving together for the future.

But Xiao Xi's arrival shattered everything. His persistent pursuit finally softened Qian Ye's heart, leading her to come out as gay for him. Xiao Xi had a fiery temper and often offended customers. On one occasion, he offended a powerful figure in the underworld, and Qian Ye actually sold her body for him. Watching the pure person he held dear fall deeper and deeper into depravity was unbearable for him. For Qian Ye's sake, he seduced Xiao Xi, allowing Qian Ye to witness the entire act. When Qian Ye ran away, his heart was torn apart, yet he also felt a sense of relief. This was for the best, for the best. Rather than letting Qian Ye fall, it was better to clear away the obstacles hindering his future. Silently watching over and protecting him was more meaningful than being together forever.

Upon learning of Qianye's impending return, he began preparations. He couldn't allow Qianye's life to be tainted in the slightest. To drug him, he didn't hesitate to have sex with those men. After Feng Qi's intervention, he first feigned a stroke to deceive everyone, then drugged Xiao Xi when she came to visit him. Xiao Xi's conversation with Qing Fei in his hospital room worried him. If Xiao Xi were provoked and revealed everything, then all his efforts would have been meaningless.

Despite all her careful planning, Qianye's past was still unearthed, and she committed suicide by jumping off a building.

At this point, he suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes wide, and the intense madness that erupted from him made Feng Qi tremble.

"Tell me, should I avenge Qianye?"

He slowly walked towards Feng Qi, each step feeling like heavy iron chains binding his feet. Feng Qi, with sharp eyes, noticed the fruit knife clutched tightly in his hand, and inwardly groaned. He quickly grabbed Fei Xue and Xiao Hei and ran towards the door. Unexpectedly, Hao Jie threw the fruit knife at Feng Qi as casually as if it were a frisbee and he were merely throwing a small knife. The sharp blade grazed Feng Qi's face, embedding itself in the wooden door in front of him with a thud, then wobbled twice on it. Feng Qi involuntarily stopped, breaking out in a cold sweat. He turned his head, only to see Hao Jie playfully pull out another knife from behind his back.

"How many knives are there..." Feng Qi muttered to himself as he hurriedly opened the door. Just as he was about to run out, another knife shot towards him. This time, unlike the previous one, it wasn't meant as a warning; the tip was aimed straight at Feng Qi's back. Seeing that he was about to be caught off guard, Fei Xue, whom Feng Qi was holding, broke free and lunged backward. Feng Qi turned around at the same time and saw that the knife, which had been heading straight for him, had been deflected by Fei Xue and fallen to the ground. Fei Xue was now covered in bright red blood. It barked angrily a few times and pounced on Hao Jie's face. With Fei Xue blocking his vision, Hao Jie cursed and reached out to grab it. Seeing this, Feng Qi froze on the spot.

Suddenly, Feixue glanced at Feng Qi.

Feng Qi trembled. In that instant, he understood Fei Xue's gaze—a gaze that clearly told him to go first. But should he abandon Fei Xue and escape alone? Just as he was hesitating, Yu Ye's voice came from the doorway.

"Hey, look what a show I stumbled upon."

Feng Qi was overjoyed and cried out, "Yu Ye, save me!"

It was indeed Yu Ye and Qian Cao. Hearing Feng Qi's words, Yu Ye scoffed, "Look at your pathetic self, you're not even as good as your cat." She then looked at the person and cat entangled in their struggle, and suddenly exclaimed, "This cat..."

The flying snow only managed to hold Hao Jie back for a moment, quickly showing signs of weakness. Yu Ye gave Qian Cao a look, and Qian Cao kicked out, closing in on Hao Jie, and with a swift movement, struck him on the back of the neck, sending him sprawling to the ground. Yu Ye snapped her fingers in delight, praising Qian Cao, "Not bad!"

Asakusa said coldly, "He's too weak."

Feng Qi, not bothering to chat with the two, ran to Fei Xue's side and carefully picked up the battered white cat.

"This cat is beyond saving," Yu Ye said, glancing at it from the side. Feng Qi understood; Fei Xue was badly injured. The knife had pierced its stomach, and some of its intestines were spilling out. Feng Qi's eyes reddened as he cradled Fei Xue, speechless. The dying Fei Xue, as if sensing something, licked Feng Qi's palm, its large blue eyes fixed on him.

Yu Ye sighed, pushed Feng Qi away, placed Fei Xue on the ground, and, ignoring Feng Qi's bewilderment, asked, "This cat won't live much longer. Would you rather continue like this, or speak to him in your original form?"

Feixue blinked. Yuye groaned and complained, "I knew it, I knew it! Why did you have to come here? You just had to know the whole story. Well, now I've been stuck with this job. Alright, Feng Qi, hurry up and get a basin of water and some salt. Hurry up, stop spacing out, I'll tell you what happened in a bit."

"Is Feixue saved?" Feng Qi asked with concern as he brought over the things Yu Ye had asked for.

"Feixue? This cat is beyond saving, but you can meet the people inside."

"people?"

Yu Ye deftly poured salt into the water, stirred it casually a few times, then bit her finger, adding a few drops of her own blood. Once everything was ready, she placed Fei Xue in the water. The moment Fei Xue touched the salty, cold water, she screamed in terror. Feng Qi, seeing this, scolded Yu Ye and tried to take Fei Xue out. However, Qian Cao, who had remained silent until now, stopped Feng Qi.