The Big Shot's Mute Lover

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Bustling, glittering Qionghai is a money pit for the rich and powerful. Here, money is everywhere.

As head of the Qin family, Qin Xiaohua commands the foremost of Qionghai's four merchant guilds. He is iron-fisted yet smooth with everyone.

One day, Boss Qin steps out of the Rose Dance Hall and spots a little beggar hunched beside his car, acting suspiciously.

The beggar looks about eighteen, skin and bones, dressed in a gray-blue short jacket. When he sees Qin come out, he jumps back in fright, his round eyes shining like stars.

The beggar's colorless lips move soundlessly a couple of times. In the end, he says nothing and runs off.

The next day at noon, Boss Qin runs into the little beggar again.

Half-hidden in an alley, the beggar watches him with round eyes, like a puppy looking at a meaty bone.

Kindhearted Boss Qin hands the chestnut cake he just bought to his underling and tells him to give it to the beggar.

As it turns out, you shouldn't feed stray dogs. Feed one once, and it will latch onto a softhearted boss.

Qin Xiaohua finds it amusing. Once, he even brings the beggar a chestnut cake himself. The beggar's eyes brim with tears, and he bows to Boss Qin three times.

His underling fumes. "You filthy beggar! Don't you know the rules? What are you bowing for?"

The beggar trembles under the underling's menacing bark, grabs the cake, and runs off, afraid they'll take it back.

The underling grumbles, "He can't even say thank you! Brother Qin, you really did feed a dog out of kindness!"

Qin Xiaohua only smiles.

One night, a sudden downpour drenches the streets. The soaked beggar runs to shelter by a wall. He hasn't earned a single cent today, and his old man will scold him when he gets home. He plans to wait for the rain to stop, then go begging again.

But the rain only grows wilder, as if it means to drown the neon city. The wind drives it against him, and he shivers, covering his head as cold water streams through his sleeves.

Amid the raging wind and rain, the beggar hears someone ask, "What are you doing here?"

He looks up and sees kindhearted Boss Qin crouching in front of him, holding a black umbrella over his head with a long, pale hand like cool jade.

The beggar freezes.

The underling grumbles behind him, "Look at that dumb face. He can't even talk!"

Qin Xiaohua notices the beggar's eyes dim in an instant, as if the stars have gone out.

Qin Xiaohua asks, "What's your name?"

The beggar looks at him, then fishes a half-damp, hard-covered notebook and a pencil as long as his thumb from his clothes.

He writes three characters for Qin Xiaohua to see: Fang Xiaodong.

Looking into the beggar's dark eyes, Qin Xiaohua thinks: So he's a little mute.

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Reader's Note:

1. Set in an alternate Republican-era China. Alternate history, alternate history, alternate history! Please don't scrutinize the setting or connect it to real-world events!

2. A gentle, mature boss x a sweet, adorable mute. They are each other's one and only, in both body and heart.

3. The characters aren't purely good. There is melodrama and angst, but it has a happy ending.

4. A supporting male love interest stirs up trouble.

Theme: Live toward the light