PTBLSI chapter 18

 

The walk-in closet in Qi Xi’s room wasn’t very big, but Uncle Quan had prepared everything thoroughly. From sporty casual to more formal styles, everything was there. However, Qi Xi didn’t understand how to match outfits and usually wore whatever he grabbed. His outfits weren’t ugly, but they always looked too mixed and mismatched.

Fu Yanchuan told him to change and went into the closet with him. Qi Xi casually picked up a jacket, but Fu Yanchuan put it back and picked out a full outfit for him, inside and out.

“Do I need to dress like this?”

Qi Xi held the clothes in his hands and felt like he was going on a date with Fu Yanchuan.

Fu Yanchuan looked over at him, his eyes full of affirmation. Qi Xi boldly changed clothes in front of Fu Yanchuan. However, when he was halfway through, he suddenly noticed Fu Yanchuan’s gaze. For no clear reason, he felt a bit embarrassed and pushed Fu Yanchuan out the door.

“If you won’t let me see, then you don’t get to see either.”

The walk-in closet door shut with a “bang” sound. Only then did Fu Yanchuan remember what Qi Xi was talking about: the incident from that morning when he had pushed Qi Xi out the door.

So vengeful?

He pushed his glasses up lightly, and it seemed as if Qi Xi’s fair, slender waist was still reflected in the lenses.

After changing, Qi Xi stood in front of the mirror and looked again and again. Aside from the clothes, he couldn’t see what was different.

But this was their first date, so it had to be special. After staring at himself in the mirror for a long time, he finally realized that his hairstyle was too ordinary.

Fu Yanchuan waited outside the door. Finally, the door opened. Qi Xi came out, glanced at him, and ran straight to the bathroom. Fu Yanchuan followed him in and saw him styling his hair. However, the method was far too simple—he was just using wet hands to mess his hair up all over the place.

“Qi Xi.”

He called out. Qi Xi looked at him. Only then did he say, “Come here.”

“What for?”

Qi Xi went over, and Fu Yanchuan brought him back to his room.

It was Qi Xi’s first time entering Fu Yanchuan’s bathroom. He noticed a very spacious, fully equipped vanity table inside and asked Fu Yanchuan, “Brother Yan, your hair is always so perfect. Do you do it yourself?”

Fu Yanchuan didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed Qi Xi over to face away from the mirror. He applied something to Qi Xi’s hair that he didn’t recognize, then blow-dried it for a long time. Finally, he sprayed setting spray on Qi Xi’s hair, turned him around, and faced him toward the mirror.

At that moment, Qi Xi saw the difference in himself. It was clearly still the same face, but something was different. The best word he could think of to describe it was that he looked much smarter.

He turned back around and asked Fu Yanchuan, “Do I look more like your white moonlight now?”

“Not like.”

Fu Yanchuan answered immediately. He stepped forward and pressed Qi Xi against the edge of the table. Qi Xi subconsciously leaned back. Fu Yanchuan hooked Qi Xi’s collar and tugged him closer. Expressionless, he straightened the part of Qi Xi’s collar that hadn’t been flipped properly. He asked, “Do you need anything else?”

Qi Xi wasn’t used to Fu Yanchuan being this close. After tilting his head and thinking for a moment, he answered, “Perfume.”

Fu Yanchuan didn’t move. Instead, he turned sideways, picked up an exquisite little bottle behind him, sprayed perfume behind Qi Xi’s ear, and gently spread it with his fingers.

Qi Xi instinctively shrank his neck. “It’s itchy!”

“Don’t move.”

Fu Yanchuan held Qi Xi steady. They were so close that it was almost like they were hugging. Qi Xi’s breathing clearly heated up. Unhurriedly, Fu Yanchuan spread the perfume evenly behind both of Qi Xi’s ears until their tips turned red. Only then did he step back and say, “All right.”

“Oh, then—let’s go.”

Qi Xi hurriedly jumped away, creating some distance between himself and Fu Yanchuan. He felt flustered but didn’t know why. He secretly touched the spot behind his ear that Fu Yanchuan had touched; his fingertips felt burned by his overheated ear.

Fu Yanchuan didn’t call a driver. He drove Qi Xi himself to a private restaurant hidden in the bustling city.

After getting out of the car, they entered a winding, secluded garden. After passing through, the garden suddenly opened up to reveal corridors, pavilions, ponds, flower beds, and ancient trees. Qi Xi felt as if he had entered an ancient prince’s residence.

Fu Yanchuan told him that, hundreds of years ago, this place had actually been a prince’s residence. However, for various reasons, only part of it was preserved and renovated into what it is now.

Qi Xi instantly felt as if he were about to meet a prince. However, after following Fu Yanchuan into the building, they were greeted by waiters wearing suits as uniforms.

“Mr. Fu, Mr. Qi, the head chef has prepared everything for you.”

It was Qi Xi’s first time at a place like this. He followed Fu Yanchuan step by step, occasionally reaching out to grab his wrist and ask about things.

The waiter led them into a room. The atmosphere was elegant. The moment he walked in, Qi Xi felt as if his soul had been elevated.

Outside the window was a pond. They had just sat down when the thick clouds in the overcast sky suddenly dispersed as if in greeting. Just in time for sunset, the pond instantly reflected a stretch of red clouds and the glow of the setting sun, creating a beautiful scene reminiscent of a painting.

Qi Xi walked over and leaned against the window to look outside. Then, he heard someone come in behind him. He thought it was the server bringing the dishes, but instead, he heard a woman’s voice.

“Yanchuan, you finally agreed to see me?”

He suddenly turned his head and saw a beautiful woman with elegant, generous makeup and a curvy figure walk in.

The room had a cooking counter on one side and a dining table on the other. The dishes hadn’t been served yet, so the three of them and the server were the only ones there.

Only then did Qi Xi remember that Fu Yanchuan had said he would introduce him to someone. Could it be this beautiful woman? But he didn’t know her, so why bring him to meet her?

His gaze swept over, and the woman happened to look at him as well. Their eyes met, and the beautiful woman’s eyes were full of direct, undisguised scrutiny. He quickly sat down next to Fu Yanchuan, leaned close to his ear, and asked in a low voice, “Brother Yan, who is she? Are we here to meet her?”

Fu Yanchuan turned his face slightly to look at him, then suddenly grabbed his hand. He interlocked their fingers, then looked at the beautiful woman who had just entered and said, “Miss He, perhaps someone has told you about my sexual orientation. But, to avoid any misunderstanding, I’m formally admitting to you today that I have absolutely no interest in women. Everything my dad said does not represent my intentions. Can you understand?”

Miss He froze, staring straight at Fu Yanchuan, their hands clasped together. After a moment, she smiled slightly. “So, you said you were inviting me to dinner just to show off your affection?”

Fu Yanchuan admitted it without hesitation. “You can understand it that way.”

Miss He gave a cold laugh and her expression turned cool. “Sorry, but I can’t eat this meal. Thank you for the Xuesong you sent me. Are you going to ask me to return it?”

Fu Yanchuan only then realized that Fu Zhenrong had sent the dog out after all. He replied, “As long as you like it.”

“Thank you.”

Miss He replied with those two words and turned around to leave.

Qi Xi watched her leave, completely confused. He asked Fu Yanchuan, “Who is she? Is she the person we were supposed to meet? What were you talking about just now? I didn’t understand any of it.”

At that moment, the chef arrived with the full crab feast. Fu Yanchuan let go of his hand and said, “It’s not important. Sit properly and eat.”

Qi Xi pulled out the chair he had moved next to Fu Yanchuan. He had been thinking about Miss He, but once the aroma of crab drifted over, he forgot about her. His eyes were greedier than his appetite as he stared straight at the crabs in the chef’s hands.

Qi Xi enjoyed this meal very much. Afterwards, he had completely forgotten what kind of person Fu Yanchuan had wanted him to meet.

When they finished eating, it was only 8:00 p.m. According to the typical date process, he felt that they should watch a movie or do something similar. However, if they did, it would definitely be late, and he still hadn’t finished his drawing. If he didn’t finish, he wouldn’t get paid.

Qi Xi hesitated between watching a movie and going back to draw. Fu Yanchuan didn’t hesitate and took him straight back.

All right then. At least he wouldn’t have to struggle to make a choice. Still, he felt like something was a bit of a pity.

After entering the house, Fu Yanchuan had just taken off his coat when Qi Xi rushed off to work on his drawing. Fu Yanchuan grabbed him and said, “Don’t stay up too late. It will affect your physical development.”

Men can still grow taller in their twenties. Qi Xi immediately stood up straight and went up close to Fu Yanchuan. His head only reached the corner of Fu Yanchuan’s lips. Unsatisfied, he lifted his head to look at Fu Yanchuan. “Brother Yan, do you think I can grow taller than you?”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Qi Xi was also very clear about reality. He replied casually, “That’s fine. I can be more muscular than you. Once I get sixteen-pack abs, I’ll lift you up with one hand.”

Fu Yanchuan hooked the corner of his mouth, and his gaze landed on Qi Xi’s waist. Through his glasses, it seemed as if he could see through the clothes to the waistline underneath. He replied, “Then you should sleep earlier. Otherwise, you won’t grow a six-pack.”

“All right, I’ll go draw now, and then I’ll go to sleep early!”

As he spoke, Qi Xi ran off. Halfway there, he remembered something and turned back to say, “Brother Yan, good night. You should sleep early, too.”

Fu Yanchuan watched Qi Xi go into his room before returning to his own. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down. The city lights were clearly under his feet, yet he felt incredibly far away from them.

His phone rang again. Seeing that it was Fu Zhenrong did not surprise him at all. He stared at the screen for a long while before answering.

“What did you say to Uncle He’s daughter?”

“I told her I’m gay and that I’ll never be with a woman.”

Fu Zhenrong’s breathing was heavy with anger as he asked in a low voice, “Do you like Qi Xi? Because he looks like Qiao Ye? Or did you find him on purpose to make the He family reject this marriage?”

Fu Yanchuan looked at the night view outside the window and didn’t answer.

After a moment of silence, Fu Zhenrong compromised, saying, “If it’s not the He family, that’s fine too. Choose according to your own wishes. No matter what, you must leave behind one legitimate heir.”

Fu Yanchuan let out a soft laugh. “It’s more realistic to have your lover give you another one.”

“Fu Yan—”

Fu Yanchuan hung up immediately. It was the first time he had hung up on Fu Zhenrong so abruptly. He took the phone away from his ear, turned it off, and tossed it aside. Then, he took out a piece of chocolate and returned to the floor-to-ceiling window.

He didn’t like eating candy, nor did he like this overly sweet taste. He only ate it because his mother liked it.

His mother and Fu Zhenrong were united for mutual benefit, just like he and Miss He. Fu Zhenrong needed an heir, and in his eyes, his mother was nothing more than a tool for giving birth.

The only warmth in his childhood came from the piece of chocolate his mother secretly slipped into his hand after Fu Zhenrong had disciplined him.

He popped the candy into his mouth, and the overly sweet taste instantly spread through his senses. He stood there until nearly dawn. He suddenly wondered if Qi Xi had gone to sleep early, so he went to his room.

Qi Xi hadn’t closed the door properly again, leaving a crack through which light leaked.

Fu Yanchuan stopped outside the door and looked in. Qi Xi wasn’t asleep tonight. He was sitting on a mat, holding paints and brushes and painting seriously. The orange cat slept beside him, its tail flicking from time to time.

To Fu Yanchuan, the scene looked like a painting. Qi Xi’s serious, focused gaze seemed different from usual yet also the same—just purer, as if nothing except the painting in front of him mattered anymore.

He didn’t go in. Instead, he stood outside the door like a despicable voyeur, quietly peeping at Qi Xi from the darkness.

 

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