PTBLSI chapter 29

 

Fu Yanchuan had never received flowers before, nor had anyone ever dared to give him roses, especially ones this red without any other color.

He first held Qi Xi’s hand. In the spot blocked from view, his fingertips lightly slid across the back of Qi Xi’s hand as he took the flowers from him. He didn’t say anything; he only told the driver to pull the car over. With his other hand, he pulled Qi Xi to the streetlight by the roadside.

The car arrived quickly. After they got in, Qi Xi finally realized that the flowers were too big. They were wedged between him and Fu Yanchuan, making it feel like a 200-jin[mfn]200 jin (二百斤) = 100 kilograms / 220 pounds.[/mfn] fat man was sitting there.

Fu Yanchuan handed the flowers to the driver to put in the passenger seat. When he looked back, he saw Qi Xi’s face, full of anticipation. Qi Xi smiled and asked, “Brother Yan, do you like them? Is this a good way to say thanks? Did you feel my sincerity?”

Fu Yanchuan asked, “Who told you to give red roses?”

Honestly, Qi Xi took out his phone, opened the question he had posted online, and showed it to Fu Yanchuan. He explained, “Netizens said red roses represent the most passionate love. I feel that my gratitude toward you is just like that. I used to only be able to buy the smallest set of paints. Today, I bought a whole cabinet. Even red roses aren’t enough to represent how much i value you!”

Fu Yanchuan looked at the replies netizens had given to Qi Xi. He couldn’t say that Qi Xi had misunderstood—he hadn’t understood at all. Others had clearly pointed out the ulterior motives, yet Qi Xi still believed that red roses could express gratitude.

He returned the phone to Qi Xi without speaking. Qi Xi leaned closer and asked, “You… don’t like it?”

Fu Yanchuan didn’t answer the question until they had gotten out of the car. Qi Xi thought that he really didn’t like them, but Fu Yanchuan took the flowers with him anyway. After going upstairs, he found a vase and put the flowers on his desk.

Qi Xi leaned against the doorframe and looked inside. When Fu Yanchuan turned around and noticed him, Qi Xi immediately asked, “Brother Yan, you actually like them quite a lot, right?”

Fu Yanchuan leaned lightly against the desk and beckoned to Qi Xi. Qi Xi ran over eagerly, lifting his eyes to look at him.

Suddenly, he reached out, pulled Qi Xi over, and pressed him against the desk with the bright roses, telling him, “Roses don’t mean gratitude.”

“I know. They mean ‘I love you.’”

Qi Xi replied without hesitation. He held his breath slightly and asked, “Then what do they mean when I give them to you?”

“It means my gratitude toward you, just like love.”

Fu Yanchuan had never heard such a statement before. If it were anyone else, he would think it was deliberately ambiguous teasing. Yet, Qi Xi insisted, saying, “This is my highest level of gratitude!”

His hand moved to Qi Xi’s neck. He held it and touched Qi Xi’s beautiful adam’s apple. Then he let go and said, “Go eat.”

Ever since his bout with gastroenteritis, Qi Xi had lost the freedom to order dishes. At most, he could specify two ingredients, and a nutritionist had to decide how to cook them.

Still, Qi Xi wasn’t picky most of the time and happily ate every day.

After dinner, Qi Xi went to paint. Since he had no work, Fu Yanchuan sat behind the desk as well. He was positioned just right, facing Qi Xi’s easel and able to clearly see his painting.

After being refined, the piece, “Monster’s Love,” was even more shocking than the initial draft. Despite its eerie theme, Qi Xi’s bright and gorgeous colors still constructed the indescribable, mysterious terror of monsters. The painting conveyed a love that overcame all obstacles, along with rich, intense colors, to the viewer.

Usually, when Qi Xi painted, he became so focused that he often lost track of time. Fu Yanchuan always called him before he went to sleep.

Tonight, however, it was only 10 o’clock when he put away his brushes and told Fu Yanchuan that he was going to sleep.

Fu Yanchuan didn’t move from his seat and responded with a “Mm, good night.”

“Brother Yan.”

Qi Xi suddenly looked at him with delight. He waited until Fu Yanchuan looked at him before saying, “This is the first time you’ve taken the initiative to say goodnight to me.”

Fu Yanchuan hadn’t figured out what to say yet. As usual, Qi Xi said goodnight to him and left. The words he hadn’t thought through got stuck in his throat, and he had no chance to speak them.

Qi Xi ran back to his room, took a quick shower, and went to Fu Yanchuan’s room.

Fu Yanchuan had just finished showering and was only wearing a bathrobe. Qi Xi knocked, then opened the door a crack and poked his head in, asking, “Brother Yan, can I come in?”

Fu Yanchuan stood by the bed and turned around. Qi Xi had already come in and closed the door behind him. He smiled and walked up to Fu Yanchuan.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Yanchuan asked.

Qi Xi slipped his hands around Fu Yanchuan’s waist, hugged him, rested his chin on his chest, looked up, and said, “Let’s go to bed.”

A familiar scene. Fu Yanchuan didn’t move. He lowered his eyes and waited for Qi Xi to continue.

Sure enough, after a moment, Qi Xi explained, “You never said if you liked the flowers or not. I don’t know how to express it. I am really, truly grateful to you. You didn’t just give me a place to live; you also helped me get back the money I lost to a scam, and you encouraged me.”

At this point, Qi Xi sounded a bit sad. “No one has ever praised me like you did. That was the first time anyone had said those things to me. The day we met, you were the first person to wish me a happy birthday.”

“Don’t cry.”

Fu Yanchuan wiped the corner of Qi Xi’s eyes with his fingertips. Only then did Qi Xi realize that he was crying. He suddenly rubbed his face against Fu Yanchuan’s chest and said in a muffled voice, “I’m your stand-in. You found me just so I could replace him and accompany you, right? So… sleep with me. I’m prepared.”

“What have you prepared?” Fu Yanchuan asked.

He clamped his hand onto Qi Xi’s waist, holding him in front of him. Yet, he still refused to pull him fully into an embrace.

After a long while, Qi Xi lifted his face again and said, “Psychological preparation. I definitely won’t be nervous anymore.”

Fu Yanchuan took a deep breath. He moved his hand up along Qi Xi’s back and hooked it around the back of his neck. Then, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against Qi Xi’s, sucking on them briefly before pulling away.

Then, he slowly pulled down Qi Xi’s hands, which were holding him, and said, “Go back and sleep.”

“You don’t want to?” Qi Xi didn’t understand. “Didn’t you kiss me last time? You wanted to sleep with me, didn’t you?”

Fu Yanchuan didn’t respond. Qi Xi continued, “Is it because I keep getting sick, and you’re disgusted with me?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

Fu Yanchuan stared straight at Qi Xi. After a long while, he answered, “I don’t want you to sleep with me for this reason.”

Qi Xi didn’t understand. “What kind of reason?”

“I don’t sleep with stand-ins.”

Qi Xi felt as if his faith had collapsed in an instant. Fu Yanchuan’s words made him feel as if their relationship no longer existed. He froze on the spot.

“All right, go to sleep.”

Qi Xi refused. He hugged Fu Yanchuan again. “But didn’t you kiss me before? Didn’t you want to sleep with me? Why not anymore? Is it because I’m not enough like him? Tell me how I can be like him!”

“You don’t need to be like him.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

Fu Yanchuan gently pushed him away and said seriously, “Be yourself.”

Qi Xi was completely confused. Even after a long time, his still couldn’t grasp what Fu Yanchuan was saying. He scrunched up his whole face and said bluntly, “I don’t understand.”

“It’s okay. Take it slow.”

Qi Xi still didn’t understand. Suddenly, Fu Yanchuan leaned close to him again, lightly sucking on his lips. Then, he moved to Qi Xi’s ear and said in a low, hoarse voice, “Go sleep.”

“But—”

Qi Xi’s ear burned red from Fu Yanchuan’s breath. He grabbed Fu Yanchuan’s clothes at his waist and said, “You’re so good to me. How am I supposed to thank you?”

Fu Yanchuan’s breathing stalled. He lifted Qi Xi’s chin and asked, “Do you really want to thank me?”

Qi Xi nodded lightly. Suddenly, Fu Yanchuan lowered his head, bit onto his lips, and kissed him. Qi Xi’s mouth was instantly invaded. Fu Yanchuan’s lips and tongue tangled with his, and he tightened his grip on Qi Xi’s waist, pulling them closer together.

Qi Xi instinctively parted his lips, inviting Fu Yanchuan in more enthusiastically. It felt as if he was about to push into Qi Xi’s throat. Only when Qi Xi ran out of breath did Fu Yanchuan pull away, gently sucking the corner of his lips as a reminder.

“Qi Xi, breathe.”

Only then did Qi Xi remember to breathe. He looked straight at Fu Yanchuan, breathing lightly. Fu Yanchuan said, “You’ve already thanked me.”

“Just like this?”

“Go back and sleep.”

Fu Yanchuan still didn’t let go. He waited for Qi Xi to free himself of his grip, then walked to the door. He glanced back at him once before finally leaving the room.

After returning to his room, Qi Xi felt that it wasn’t enough, but he didn’t understand what Fu Yanchuan meant. After thinking it over, he decided to ask Xie Hui.

Xie Hui had just discovered that Qi Xi had transferred 200,000 to him and had immediately seen the message Qi Xi had sent.

[If someone has a white moonlight in his heart but doesn’t like him, he finds a stand-in.]

[Then he clearly kissed this stand-in but says he won’t sleep with a stand-in.]

[What do you think that means?]

Xie Hui replied immediately.

[Did Fu Yanchuan give you the money?]

[You kissed him?]

[I’ll return the money to you right away. You give it back to him.]

During this period, Xie Hui hadn’t said anything to convince Qi Xi, who was firmly convinced that Fu Yanchuan was a good person and refused to listen no matter what. Xie Hui couldn’t back down either and had no choice.

After a moment, Qi Xi replied.

[Not me. It’s someone I know. He doesn’t understand, so I’m asking you on his behalf.]

[The money wasn’t given by Fu Yanchuan. He helped me get it back. I earned it from painting.]

After looking at Qi Xi’s messages, Xie Hui decided not to expose the lie and took the chance to persuade him.

[What you’re asking basically means he’s playing with you. You’d better persuade that person to leave early. Normal people wouldn’t look for a stand-in!]

[Also, what kind of paintings are you doing to earn that much money? What does it mean that Fu Yanchuan helped you get it back?]

Qi Xi didn’t want to tell Xie Hui that he had been cheated by Brother Zha for over two years. He only realized he had slipped up and hurriedly patched it up.

[I earned it from painting. I told you I’m awesome. Fu Yanchuan said my paintings could sell for 100,000. Over the past two years, I’ve painted a lot and earned more than 800,000.]

[Are you serious? He’s not lying to you?]

[Of course not. I saw my paintings being used to promote a game. I don’t know if I’ll earn this much in the future, but when I make big money, I’ll let you spend it!]

[No need to let me spend it. What game? Show me quickly!]

Just like that, Xie Hui was led off the topic about Fu Yanchuan. By the time he wanted to talk to Qi Xi again, Qi Xi was so sleepy that he was typing nonsense. Xie Hui could only talk about it tomorrow, feeling helpless.

If Qi Xi had found someone willing to take care of him, regardless of gender or profession, Xie Hui would support it. But that person was Fu Yanchuan. To Qi Xi, it was like being a little white mouse in a laboratory experiment. Even if Fu Yanchuan treats him well for now, who’s to say he’ll always treat him well?

What worried Xie Hui was Qi Xi falling for Fu Yanchuan, only for Fu Yanchuan to push him away later, leaving Qi Xi deceived and heartbroken.

[Alright, I won’t say more. Go to sleep.]

[Mm, good night.

After Qi Xi fell asleep and woke up, he saw that Fu Yanchuan didn’t intend to throw away his stand-in, so he tossed aside all his worries from the night before.

Over the next few days, he painted, slept, and ate every day. However, Fu Yanchuan didn’t kiss him again. He no longer mentioned the rule about not hugging at home, but every time Qi Xi tried to hug him, Fu Yanchuan would push him away quickly.

Aside from that, though, Fu Yanchuan was still very good to him. Qi Xi felt that Fu Yanchuan was really hard to understand.

By the time the weekend arrived, he had finally finished Bai Peiyong’s painting. The day before, Fu Yanchuan had gone back to the Fu family. Qi Xi woke up early and, not knowing what to do, decided to bring the painting to Bai Peiyong.

However, he didn’t have Bai Peiyong’s phone number and didn’t know how to contact him. So, he simply took the painting to the Jianshan Art Museum.

Bai Peiyong graduated from an art academy. However, after graduating, he realized that his only pursuit was money, not art. He gave up on art and decided to make money off of other people’s artistic pursuits.

He especially liked discovering young painters with potential. Qi Xi was one such painter.

Fu Yanchuan called him to ask about Brother Zha. He thought he would never have another chance to get close to Qi Xi. During this time, he felt regretful—regretful that he could no longer see such a beautiful person who suited his taste, and regretful that he could no longer buy such impactful paintings.

But he never expected that, just as the art museum was about to open after he woke up from sleep, he would see Qi Xi clinging to the door and peeking inside.

“Little Qixi, what are you doing?”

Qi Xi was startled. It was almost 11 o’clock, but the museum still wasn’t open. He thought it had gone bankrupt. When he turned around and saw Bai Peiyong calling to him, he subconsciously took a step back. “Um, the painting you commissioned—I finished it. I came to deliver it today.”

“You painted it?”

Bai Peiyong stared at Qi Xi in shock. Qiu Yizhou had come to see him before and told him that they were planning to sue Brother Zha, so Bai Peiyong naturally thought that Qi Xi wouldn’t continue painting. His gaze fell on the roll of drawing paper in Qi Xi’s hands. He immediately said, “Come in and talk.”

He stepped forward to open the door. Qi Xi suddenly jumped back more than a meter. Bai Peiyong said helplessly, “This is a public place. There are cameras everywhere, and I really am not a hooligan!”

Qi Xi still didn’t believe him, but since Bai Peiyong had opened the door, he went in anyway. He handed the painting to Bai Peiyong and immediately stepped back.

There was another person with Bai Peiyong. He had been sizing up Qi Xi. Seeing how wary Qi Xi was, he couldn’t help but tease, “President Bai, what did you do to him?”

Qi Xi subconsciously looked toward the person who spoke. The other person immediately greeted him. “Hello, hello! My name is Cheng Shu. I’m President Bai’s classmate. I’m an animation director now. Have you seen God of the Abyss?”

“I have.”

“That’s my work.”

After Cheng Shu said that, Bai Peiyong elbowed him. “Don’t flirt randomly. This is Qi Xi, the one I told you about. Fu Yanchuan is his brother.”

“I’m not like you!” Cheng Shu ignored Bai Peiyong and handed Qi Xi a business card. “Do you have time to have a meal with us? Make a friend.”

“No.”

Qi Xi refused decisively. Then he said to Bai Peiyong, “Hurry up and look at it. If there’s no problem, I’m leaving.”

Cheng Shu looked at Qi Xi and somewhat understood why Bai Peiyong couldn’t forget him. He turned his gaze to Bai Peiyong, who had already spread out the painting. In that instant, Cheng Shu froze.

With this single glance, he truly understood why Bai Peiyong couldn’t let it go.

Many people could paint well, but few were not limited by existing styles and frameworks. Qi Xi’s paintings were probably ones that others would find difficult to imitate. This was the first time Cheng Shu had seen someone use such gorgeous colors to depict eerie, terrifying monsters. He couldn’t help but reassess Qi Xi.

Qi Xi waited for quite a while. The two people across from him didn’t say anything. It was his first time personally delivering a painting to a client. Uncertain, he asked, “Is there a problem?”

Bai Peiyong looked over at him with admiration in his eyes. “No, I’m very satisfied. You really have talent. Would you consider signing with our art museum?”

“No.”

Qi Xi refused without hesitation. “If there’s no problem, I’m leaving. Goodbye!”

Cheng Shu and Bai Peiyong watched as Qi Xi walked out. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned around, took out his sketchbook, and walked up to Cheng Shu. “I really like God of the Abyss. Can you sign it for me?”

“Sure.”

Cheng Shu took the sketchbook, signed his name, and handed it back. Qi Xi solemnly took it with both hands and said, “Thank you.”

“Then can—”

“Goodbye. I’m leaving.”

Qi Xi didn’t listen to what Cheng Shu was about to say. He stuffed the sketchbook back into his backpack and left immediately.

Watching him leave, Cheng Shu asked Bai Peiyong, “What exactly did you do to him? Even I’m being rejected like this.”

Bai Peiyong clicked his tongue and walked off, admiring Qi Xi’s painting.

Cheng Shu hurried to catch up. “President Bai, think about what I told you. How about it?”

“No, I’m a businessman. I’m not interested in playing dreams with you.”

“Don’t be like that. Dreams don’t necessarily lose money! What if the box office explodes? You’d get rich overnight.”

Bai Peiyong still refused. “I don’t believe it. Animated films are too difficult to create. They take time and effort. Even if the box office is decent, you don’t make much per year after spending several years to make one.”

“Can’t you pursue something else?”

“No.”

After handing in the painting, Qi Xi had nothing else to do. The driver had brought him to the art museum, so he told the driver to leave first. After a long time, he went to take the subway.

Just as he reached the subway station entrance, someone suddenly blocked his path. When he looked up, he saw Qi Zhounan.

Although Qi Zhounan was only fourteen, he was almost as tall as Qi Xi. He stood stiffly in front of him like a statue and called out, “Brother.”

“Why are you here?”

“I came to find you.”

Qi Xi had almost forgotten that he had a younger brother. He looked Qi Zhounan up and down and asked, “Looking for me for something? I have nothing to do with your family anymore.”

Qi Zhounan spoke as if he were angry. “Are you trying to cut ties with me?”

Qi Xi didn’t particularly hate Qi Zhounan. Qi Zhounan hadn’t done anything to him either. However, as the favored one in the family, seeing Qi Zhounan naturally made him feel sad.

He didn’t want to deal with him. He tried to go around him, but Qi Zhounan grabbed him and said, “Dad told me to come find you.”

Qi Xi finally stopped. Qi Zhounan said, “He knows about your maternal grandfather’s house being sold. He told me to find you and have you go back.”

Qi Xi had already accepted the fact that he no longer had home. But hearing Qi Zhounan’s words, he became unhappy again. He had been away for over a month before Qi Feng even thought of him. It would have been better if he hadn’t thought of him at all.

He shook off Qi Zhounan’s hand and said, “I’m not going back. I have a place to live. That’s not my home. Don’t come looking for me again.”

“Brother!”

Qi Zhounan called out, but Qi Xi had already run into the subway station. Qi Zhounan stood frozen in place, not chasing after him.

Qi Xi entered the station and stood among the bustling crowd. He took out his phone and called Fu Yanchuan.

After the call connected, it took a while before Fu Yanchuan answer. He only gave a light “Mm.”

Qi Xi’s voice instantly sounded aggrieved. “Brother Yan, where are you? Can you come pick me up?”

 

---

You can read the full completed story here with instant full access. ✨