After a night passed, Yu Nian barely slept for a few hours. Early the next morning, he woke up Li Lai and told the foolish boy to leave.

He was still wearing a robe, deep blue velvet fabric, making his fair skin shine like a jade sculpture.

After a night passed, Li Lai wasn’t as timid as before. But there was a bit of inexplicable admiration in his eyes when he looked at Yu Nian.

He bowed to Yu Nian sincerely, “Thank you, Mr. Yu.”

Yu Nian remained expressionless.

He wasn’t used to this kind of scene, but with his experiences, he didn’t show much on his face anymore.

“Hurry up and go,” he said, “in the future… don’t be so easily manipulated, do whatever you want to do.”

Li Lai nodded repeatedly, feeling embarrassed, and smiled awkwardly.

He wanted to say something more to Yu Nian.

But just like the scene yesterday, the quiet corridor was interrupted by the sound of a door opening again.

Yu Nian’s expression changed.

Could it be?

Is this hotel cursed for him? Every time he goes out, is he destined to meet his ex-boyfriend?

But soon, he realized that some things were just coincidences.

Qi Wang, in loose black home clothes, leaned against the doorframe, walking out from inside, looking at them coldly.

Yu Nian couldn’t explain why, it was almost a reflex, he put his hand on Li Lai’s shoulder.

He awkwardly adjusted the slightly wrinkled collar for Li Lai, casually saying, “Look at you, rushing so much, didn’t even bother to straighten your collar.”

Li Lai also saw Qi Wang beside him, he stood stiffly, not knowing what was happening now, not daring to move.

It wasn’t until Yu Nian gave him a formal smile and said, “Hurry up, don’t you have work to do?” that he felt like he had been granted amnesty. He didn’t dare to say anything more and left with his coat.

Once Li Lai left, only two people were left in the corridor.

Normally, Yu Nian should have gone back to his room. But he leaned against the door, arms crossed, a layer of boredom evident in his eyes, and asked Qi Wang, “Mr. Qi, what’s going on? Did you eavesdrop early in the morning, or do you have something to go out for? If so, why haven’t you left yet?”

He chuckled again, the sarcasm evident in his tone.

Qi Wang had been silent since a while ago.

He truly hadn’t slept all night. Although the hotel room was warm, he felt cold all over as he sat in the living room.

He imagined Yu Nian on the other side of the wall, not knowing what he was doing with that young man, feeling a pang of pain in his heart.

After a night like this, he heard a very slight sound coming from next door.

It was as if a gray-white statue slowly came to life, and his fingers moved lightly.

He knew full well that as a respectable adult, he shouldn’t have come out.

He shouldn’t have stood so stiffly and awkwardly in this corridor, face to face with Yu Nian.

But he couldn’t help himself.

Now that the young man had left, he met Yu Nian’s eyes, feeling as though he were under a spotlight, with all his dark, twisted thoughts laid bare.

He took a very light breath, trying hard to put on a calm and composed face.

“I don’t have anything urgent,” he took a step forward, closing the distance with Yu Nian a bit but still maintaining a polite boundary, “I just wanted to ask, now that that person has left, if you’re free, would you like to have lunch with me?”

What the hell?

Yu Nian’s expression turned incredulous.

He had been rather listless before, but now his eyes widened in surprise, showing a glimpse of his younger self.

However, he quickly regained his composure, asking mockingly, “Is our relationship suitable for having lunch? Oh, I see, you’ve achieved success overseas, indulged in all sorts of pleasures, and finding that not enough, you recall the naive innocence of your youth upon seeing me, your ex, and want to rekindle old flames?”

Qi Wang bit his lip, remaining silent.

Yu Nian chuckled.

Of course, he didn’t actually believe that. He just wanted to sting Qi Wang.

He continued, “Or is it that now you see some usefulness in me again, and you want to get close to me, please me, and gain something from me?”

His tone suddenly became very light.

He even hesitated a bit when he said it.

Because he was afraid that his words might come true.

But he quickly heard Qi Wang’s denial.

“No.”

There was a hint of pain flickering in Qi Wang’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

He looked at Yu Nian and corrected, “I haven’t indulged in pleasures either. After we separated, I’ve been alone.”

Yu Nian’s fingers tightened on his arm.

He restrained the disdain on his face, looking at Qi Wang strangely.

At this point, if he couldn’t hear Qi Wang’s question, he would be a fool.

“So,” he asked softly, “what does your relationship status have to do with me?” He chuckled, “It’s not like I’m the one keeping you celibate.”

He lowered his eyes, staring at the pattern on the carpet, thinking that if Qi Wang dared to say he still harbored feelings for him, he might actually slap him.

But he didn’t hear Qi Wang speak for a long time.

After a while, he raised his eyes and found Qi Wang looking lost.

That expression was like a traveler in a snowy wilderness gazing at distant lights.

Full of longing and envy, yet knowing it wasn’t meant for them.

After a moment, he heard Qi Wang say, “I just wanted to say, since you don’t have a partner, can I pursue you?”

.

This conversation that wasn’t really a conversation ended with Yu Nian slamming the door in Qi Wang’s face.

“What are you doing,” Yu Nian, after a brief shock, quickly regained his composure, finding the situation absurd. He even wondered if Qi Wang had lost his mind and needed to see a psychiatrist.

He didn’t believe Qi Wang was serious at all.

God knows what had triggered Qi Wang.

“This joke isn’t funny at all. Are you still half-asleep in the early morning, or are you delirious? If you’re not sober, go to the kitchen and get some ice cubes to cool your feverish brain.” Yu Nian said coldly.

After that, he didn’t want to bother with the lunatic in front of him anymore.

Without giving Qi Wang any time to react, he slammed the door shut.

But when he returned to the room and sat back on the sofa with his legs crossed, he found himself staring blankly at the empty space in front of him.

From the moment he reunited with Qi Wang, he had been cold and aloof. He could mock and ridicule Qi Wang at will, even though he himself wasn’t feeling great.

But now that Qi Wang suddenly deviated from the norm, he felt a bit at a loss.

Unconsciously, he curled up into a ball.

The armor of adulthood peeled away from him, his eyebrows furrowed, his knees bent, his chin resting on his knees, his head slightly tilted.

He looked exactly like he did when he couldn’t solve problems in Qi Wang’s room back then.

Yu Nian had originally planned to take a nap, but Qi Wang’s sudden appearance had dispelled any desire to sleep.

The secretary happened to send him the marketing plan for this quarter, and he thought it might help distract him, so he put Qi Wang aside for the moment.

By the time he finished reviewing the various plans, an hour had passed.

He glanced at the time and felt it was about time to check out and leave.

But he thought for a moment. Although he believed Qi Wang wouldn’t be outside his door, out of caution, he opened the door a crack and peeked out.

And then, his gaze met Qi Wang’s hanging eyes.

Yu Nian: “…”

.

Instinctively, he wanted to close the door again, but this time Qi Wang caught hold of the doorframe.

Qi Wang had always been strong, and Yu Nian couldn’t pull him away. After struggling for a while, the door remained unmoved.

“What the hell do you want!” Yu Nian exclaimed in frustration. He let go of the door, his temper flaring up again. He kicked Qi Wang directly.

His kick was not gentle; he used all his strength, and Qi Wang even grunted in pain.

“Are you crazy, Qi Wang,” Yu Nian was furious, “I didn’t see you being so enthusiastic towards me at the banquet before. You disappeared for eight years without a word, and now you’re telling me you want to pursue me? Do I look so gullible to you? Huh? What else do you want, is one house not enough for you? Let me tell you early, I can’t make decisions in the Yu family anymore, all my assets are now managed by my siblings, if you want to climb up, you’re late…”

He lost his composure and couldn’t pretend to be mature and frosty anymore.

Now, when he was jumping around cursing, he didn’t look much different from the explosive young master he used to be.

Qi Wang didn’t want to listen to what he was saying.

But he looked at Yu Nian’s face, Yu Nian’s lips, pink and soft, eyes so bright, hiding anger yet so beautiful, staring at him without blinking.

Eight years.

For eight years, he could only see Yu Nian in his dreams, but now he stood solidly in front of him.

Alive, warm.

He slowly bent down.

Yu Nian’s voice stopped abruptly in his throat.

Because Qi Wang kissed him.

Not at all passionate, not even teasing.

As pure as a child’s kiss, just lips touching lips.

Like the spring breeze brushing over flower branches, willow leaves caressing a beauty’s face.

In an instant, Yu Nian even felt his heart skip a beat.

All the blood in his body surged up, coalescing on those warm lips.

.

But in the end, this kiss didn’t last long.

Yu Nian’s slap landed on Qi Wang’s face.

But it wasn’t enough for him. He thought for a moment, then slapped Qi Wang again.

“Are you shameless, Qi Wang,” his voice trembling, “Is it fun for you to toy with me like this?”

His eyes slowly turned red, clearly, he was the one who struck, but now he looked like an injured little lion, glaring fiercely at Qi Wang.

He really thought Qi Wang was playing with him.

He even felt a bit desperate.

He thought Qi Wang probably saw through his tough exterior, knowing he was tough on the outside but weak inside, and was still the same helpless young man inside.

So Qi Wang could condescend to him with pity.

He snorted, not wanting to appear too embarrassed, turned his face to the side a bit, and said softly, “If you wanted to pursue me, why didn’t you come back earlier? Why wait until now?”

With a palm print on his face, Qi Wang’s face looked somewhat ridiculous against his handsome face.

But he didn’t care. He reached out and gently touched Yu Nian’s trembling body.

“I’m not playing with you,” Qi Wang said, “I actually came to settle down in A City this time because of my ridiculous and shameful longing for you. I wanted to know if you were doing well.”

“If you’re doing well, I shouldn’t have appeared. I’m just a stumbling block in your path.”

“Last time we met, you said you were doing well, and I was really happy because it meant you didn’t grieve for too long after I left.”

“But now I realize I was wrong.”

Qi Wang paused, his hand grabbing Yu Nian’s sleeve, his Adam’s apple rolling.

He struggled to say the last sentence, “You’re clearly not doing well.”

^[1]Author’s Note: I also want to ask why these two fools haven’t gotten into bed yet… It shouldn’t be like this, my outline, why hasn’t it reached this part yet? But Qi … Continue reading)