Chapter 52: Encountering a Rival in Love

Chen Qianqing went to City D alone.

Without Lu Zhengfei or anyone he knew, he bought a ticket to City D on the same day he met Han Huaiyun. The following day, he packed his belongings and left.

Even after the Lunar New Year, the weather remained cold.

Chen Qianqing arrived in City D at 6 PM, just as night was about to fall. It was drizzling, and Chen Qianqing hadn’t brought an umbrella. After leaving the airport, he randomly found the nearest hotel and checked in.

Not long after, Liu Huamei called, once again reminding Chen Qianqing to stay safe. He responded to all her concerns one by one.

Lu Zhengfei’s forced coming-out had occurred just before the Lunar New Year. Now that the holiday was over, it would still be a long time before he was released. Chen Qianqing could enjoy this time that was entirely his own.

City D was a perfect place for retirement: clean cobblestone streets, small canals running through the city, charming inns, and leisurely bars. The light rain pattered against the cobblestones, creating shallow splashes of water. After spending one night at the hotel, Chen Qianqing began his journey through City D.

In City D, staying at an inn and visiting bars were a must.

Although Chen Qianqing had never visited the city with the original Chen Qianqing, he had still learned a lot about it because of the other’s interest. It was his way of understanding what the other person loved, even if they had never had the chance to experience it together.

He found a quaint inn down a narrow alley and decided to stay there.

Handsome young men like Chen Qianqing were always well-received wherever they went. The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman in her fifties, greeted him with constant smiles and even rounded down the cost of the room when charging him.

Chen Qianqing planned to stay there for about ten days before returning in time for the start of the new semester.

The weather in City D was mild, with minimal temperature fluctuations year-round. Even though it had snowed in City C this year, the lowest temperature in City D was around 3°C (37°F).

Chen Qianqing, being sensitive to the cold, wore thick clothing. Once he had settled in, he began wandering the city.

Due to the higher altitude, the rice in City D was slightly undercooked, which didn’t suit Chen Qianqing’s already poor appetite. Post-holiday, the number of tourists had decreased significantly, but since the winter break wasn’t over yet, the streets were still filled with visitors. Finding the crowds bothersome, Chen Qianqing took to sitting by the window in his room, watching the scenery from there.

The innkeeper joked about it while cleaning, saying he looked more like someone who had come to retire than to travel. Chen Qianqing simply smiled in response without saying much.

After a few days of rest, Chen Qianqing picked a pleasant afternoon to visit one of the city’s most famous bars.

Bars in City D were popular among artsy youth looking for chance encounters. In the dim lighting and romantic atmosphere, falling in love at first sight seemed almost effortless.

Chen Qianqing entered, ordered some random drinks, and found a quiet spot to sit. Knowing his health wasn’t good, he rarely drank alcohol, let alone smoked. Now, he simply held the glass, taking small sips, his gaze wandering aimlessly through the kaleidoscopic crowd.

Chen Qianqing wanted to sit quietly, but someone like him was bound to attract attention.

Before long, someone approached him. It was a pretty girl with chestnut curls, wearing a beige coat and a confident, sweet smile. She walked over brimming with assurance and asked, “Hey, handsome, can I buy you a drink?”

Chen Qianqing snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the girl with a trace of displeasure. “Sorry, I’d prefer to be alone.”

The girl replied, “Being alone isn’t any fun. Wouldn’t it be better if I kept you company?”

It was clear she was a girl who hadn’t faced much rejection in her life. With her beautiful face, curvaceous figure, and sweet voice, most men she approached would likely find it hard to brush her off.

But Chen Qianqing was clearly not in that category. He took a sip of his drink, smiled, and said, “I like men.”

The girl’s expression changed instantly. Her eyes swept over Chen Qianqing, as if trying to determine whether he was lying. But when her gaze met Chen Qianqing’s calm and composed eyes, she quickly retreated in defeat. “Sorry to bother you,” she mumbled before fleeing.

Chen Qianqing raised his glass toward her in a small gesture.

He thought that was the end of it, but not even two minutes later, the girl returned—this time with a tall man in tow.

“Didn’t you say you like men? Let me introduce my brother!” she said.

Chen Qianqing: “…”

The girl added, “What? Don’t tell me you were lying to me.”

Chen Qianqing: “I already have someone I love.”

In the dim lighting, Chen Qianqing could only vaguely make out the man’s features. He had a well-defined face, a buzz cut that accentuated his strong features, and stood at least 1.9 meters tall. Just standing there, he exuded a commanding presence that made people instinctively shrink back.

When Chen Qianqing finally saw the man’s face clearly, his expression changed—he hadn’t expected to encounter this person on what was supposed to be a casual trip.

The girl pressed on, “What’s your name? Why aren’t you saying anything? Do you like my brother or not?”

The man spoke, his tone calm but firm. “Xiaoxiao, stop messing around.”

Then he extended a hand toward Chen Qianqing. “Wang Wulin.”

Chen Qianqing was silent for a moment before finally shaking his hand. “Chen Qianqing.”

The girl burst into laughter. “You two have a good chat! I won’t bother you anymore. Bye-bye!” With that, she turned and left.

Wang Wulin naturally took a seat next to Chen Qianqing and said, “Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

Chen Qianqing responded, “Isn’t that pickup line a bit too cliché?”

Wang Wulin paused for a moment before replying, “I don’t like men.”

Chen Qianqing picked up the bottle and poured him a drink. “That’s fine. Just keep me company for a while.”

In his previous life, Chen Qianqing and Wang Wulin would never have sat together like this, quietly chatting now and then. The reason was simple: they were love rivals—or more accurately, Wang Wulin was someone Lu Zhengfei imagined as a rival.

To Lu Zhengfei, who was obsessively in love with Chen Qianqing, everyone seemed like a threat. Even when Chen Qianqing was simply making friends, Lu Zhengfei saw it as a danger.

Wang Wulin was one such person. He and Chen Qianqing were good friends, but in Lu Zhengfei’s eyes, they were something much worse.

Chen Qianqing and Wang Wulin became friends during the three years when Lu Zhengfei was locked away. By the time Lu Zhengfei found Chen Qianqing again, the two had become confidants.

Lu Zhengfei, of course, was consumed with jealousy and did everything he could to sever the connection between them. In the end, he succeeded. Wang Wulin once helped Chen Qianqing escape, and they almost succeeded, but suddenly, the Wang family faced a major crisis.

Although Lu Zhengfei wasn’t behind that incident, to Chen Qianqing, there was no one else who could hate Wang Wulin enough to orchestrate such a thing. The misunderstandings deepened as a result. Lu Zhengfei, unwilling to explain himself, let Chen Qianqing believe what he wanted.

Eventually, Lu Zhengfei confirmed that there was no romantic relationship between Chen Qianqing and Wang Wulin. But by then, it was too late. The powerful Wang family had fallen and never recovered. Wang Wulin, forced to leave the country, disappeared without a trace.

Chen Qianqing thought about this and took a sip of his slightly chilled drink.

Wang Wulin was actually a decent person. If he truly considered you a friend, he would help you as much as he could. Otherwise, in their previous life, he wouldn’t have risked helping Chen Qianqing escape.

Lu Zhengfei had initially been filled with disdain for Wang Wulin. It wasn’t until Chen Qianqing’s health began to deteriorate, and Lu Zhengfei started seriously reflecting on himself, that he realized—if not for Wang Wulin, Chen Qianqing might have passed away even sooner. How ironic.

Chen Qianqing poured more wine into his glass and said lazily, “That girl’s your sister?”

Wang Wulin grunted in affirmation. He was significantly taller than Chen Qianqing, sitting with his back straight, exuding the disciplined air of a soldier from head to toe.

Chen Qianqing propped his chin on his hand. “You’ve retired?”

Wang Wulin replied, “No, just on leave for the Lunar New Year.”

“Why are you visiting D City?” Chen Qianqing asked.

Wang Wulin’s gaze turned scrutinizing. “Do you know me?”

Chen Qianqing chuckled. “I’ve heard of you.”

Wang Wulin narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to recall whether he had come across the name “Chen Qianqing” before. He mentally went through the prominent families in Hongcheng but couldn’t place this name.

Chen Qianqing seemed to know what he was thinking and said lightly, “Just a nobody. Not worth mentioning.”

Wang Wulin took a sip of his drink. “A branch member of the Chen family?”

Chen Qianqing shook his head. “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s drink.”

At his words, Wang Wulin stopped probing. He had only come over because his sister dragged him along. Initially, he planned to greet Chen Qianqing and leave. But after meeting him, he decided to stay.

Wang Wulin had joined the army in his teens and had spent over a decade in service. In a few months, he was set to retire. His family wanted him to take some time off before transitioning into his next responsibilities, so he chose this trip to unwind.

The bottle of wine quickly ran dry. A faint flush appeared on Chen Qianqing’s pale face, giving him a languid air. His gaze and demeanor lacked the vibrancy of youth.

Yet, this contrast only made him more captivating. The incongruity between his demeanor and his age drew attention.

“How old are you?” Wang Wulin asked.

Chen Qianqing burst into a bright smile, mischief dancing in his expression. “Why don’t you guess?”

Wang Wulin considered for a moment. “Thirty?” Chen Qianqing’s maturity felt at odds with his youthful face.

Chen Qianqing raised a finger to his lips, shushing him softly, then leaned closer to Wang Wulin and whispered, “I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone… I’m in my forties.”

Wang Wulin froze. Chen Qianqing’s breath brushed against his neck, making him feel slightly uneasy.

Chen Qianqing’s next move was to drape an arm around Wang Wulin’s shoulder, sighing. “Buddy, our tastes are pretty similar.”

Wang Wulin didn’t move.

Chen Qianqing continued, “But, alas… you’re no match for me!”

It was only when Chen Qianqing said this that Wang Wulin realized—this person sitting next to him was drunk.