TBS Chapter 15

 

Xu Miao placed the message board in the most conspicuous spot, making sure that when Xie Ge woke up, he would see it instantly without any effort.

Its existence was perfectly justified. Xu Miao finally understood why some people worshiped Platonic love. From this day forward, he would devoutly and willingly join that camp.

The flight was nearly four hours long. Xu Miao slept from takeoff to landing. Barely keeping himself together, he dragged himself home, dropped his luggage at the door, stumbled straight to his room, and fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes.

While Xu Miao was sleeping like the dead, Xie Ge was practically hopping mad.

In Xie Ge’s imagination, the two of them would wake slowly under a room full of sunlight, Xu Miao lying in his arms, their eyes meeting in a warm smile.

In that moment, he and Xu Miao would give each other a sweet good-morning kiss.

So where was Xu Miao? Why was reality completely different from what he had imagined?

When one person is disappointed, another is satisfied.

Everything was unfolding exactly as Xu Miao had hoped. The message board, placed in the most obvious location, was effortlessly spotted by Xie Ge.

After working together for a few days, Xie Ge could recognize Xu Miao’s handwriting even if it turned to ashes. What did Xu Miao mean by this? He slept with him and now didn’t want to take responsibility?

Why didn’t he want to see him? Why say he was annoying? Why hadn’t he said any of that while sleeping with him? And now, after it was all done, he turned his face away and vanished without a trace.

He should’ve known better—entrusting his life to someone like Xu Miao, so handsome and sharp-tongued, was as risky as gam//bling.

No, no, no… Things couldn’t possibly have turned out that tragically. Xie Ge tried to console himself.

Maybe Xu Miao was just saying it in anger, just trying to scare him. There was no way he would sleep with him and then run away without taking responsibility. He must be overthinking it. Maybe Xu Miao was already on his way back. He might even bring breakfast.

So easy to placate himself—his anxious heart calmed instantly. Xie Ge even had the leisure to pick up the message board and admire it—why did Xu Miao even have to write so beautifully, seriously.

The longer he stared, the more a strange thought bloomed in Xie Ge’s mind: he really wanted to marry Xu Miao. Why couldn’t he marry Xu Miao? If he had already married Xu Miao, then this trip could have doubled as their honeymoon.

Speaking of which, if he proposed to Xu Miao right now, would Xu Miao say yes?

Xie Ge was as bold as he was imaginative. He opened their chat and started typing rapidly.

[ATM]: So, um… this might be a bit forward, but… will you marry me? I mean, we already did that yesterday.

He was abnormally excited for Xu Miao’s reply. After editing the message, he nervously hit send.

A few seconds later, the loading icon next to his message spun twice—then turned into a red exclamation mark.

> “XM has enabled friend verification. You are not yet his/her friend. Please introduce yourself. After they accept, you may chat.”

[ATM]: How could you delete me.

Still a red exclamation mark.

[ATM]: Did I do something wrong?

Another red exclamation mark.

[ATM]: You’re really going too far!

[ATM]: I hate you!!!!

[ATM]: [Forcing-a-smile.jpg]

[ATM]: I’ll never smile again.

[ATM]: Your phone won’t connect either.

[ATM]: I can’t reach you.

[ATM]: Why are you treating me like this?

[ATM]: Am I some kind of unforgivable monster?

[ATM]: I’m so sad.

Each message had a glaring red exclamation mark in front of it. Xie Ge was so anxious that he paced around the room several times before angrily continuing to send messages.

[ATM]: Hello.

[ATM]: I won’t let you off.

It was rare for Xie Ge to talk tough to Xu Miao, but unfortunately, the target of his threat had no way of receiving his anger.

Meanwhile, Xu Miao was sleeping soundly at home, finally restoring some life to his sore and numb body. Too lazy to cook, he decided to order takeout to make do.

While waiting for the delivery, Xu Miao suddenly realized something was off—wasn’t his phone… a bit too quiet?

Could it be that Xie Ge was mad at him for leaving without saying goodbye?

But technically, it wasn’t like he left without a word—he had left a note…

He wouldn’t really be angry, right?

…No, he probably would.

Alright, yes, he definitely would.

After thinking it over, Xu Miao reached two conclusions.

First, what happened yesterday wasn’t actually that serious. Second, he was older than Xie Ge—so what if he let Xie Ge have his way?

Besides, he really had left without saying a word. With Xie Ge’s terrible temper, he was probably sulking somewhere alone right now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone this long without sending a single message.

He was definitely mad.

Xu Miao covered his face and rubbed it hard, letting out a long sigh.

What was he even holding a grudge for? It wasn’t like he didn’t know Xie Ge. He wasn’t malicious—just a bit clueless, a bit spoiled. As for the lies he’d told, it was entirely possible he hadn’t even meant them.

The more Xu Miao thought about it, the more he felt he was the one at fault.

Sending a text might not be enough to show his sincerity. He needed to call Xie Ge.

He had barely pressed a few digits on the keypad when a loud knock suddenly came from the front door.

Takeout? That was impossible—he had only placed the order a few minutes ago.

Xu Miao didn’t call out, but the knocking didn’t stop.

Putting the call on hold, he walked to the door and leaned toward the peephole, but saw nothing outside. Yet the knocking persisted.

When the person outside received no response for a long while, they finally spoke up:

“Mr. Xu, are you home? You have a cash-on-delivery package. Please sign for it.”

So it was just a delivery.

Xu Miao didn’t think much of it and turned the doorknob.

Who could have expected that the moment the door cracked open, it would be violently yanked from the outside? Xu Miao, who hadn’t let go of the handle, was pulled a step forward.

“Tsk.” Xu Miao frowned, his mood instantly plummeting as if a bucket of paint had been dumped over his head. His tone was harsh. “I’m telling you—”

He lifted his eyes—and what the peephole hadn’t shown was now perfectly clear.

The visitor wasn’t a deliveryman at all. It was Xie Ge.

Xu Miao froze. “Why are you here…”

Aside from the hours spent on the plane, Xie Ge had been tortured endlessly by the system’s notifications telling him he’d been unilaterally deleted by Xu Miao. Now, Xu Miao’s words were like gasoline on fire. He glared at him angrily.

“Can’t I come?”

“You think I was joking with you?”

“I told you, once I’ve seen your face, I can find you anywhere you go.”

“If I don’t listen to you, it’s wrong. If I do listen to you, it’s still wrong. You just want to break up with me.”

“In your dreams.”

“Don’t even think about dumping me.”

“And what am I, huh? A pet you can throw away whenever you’re upset? I don’t even know why you’re upset!”

“Fine, even if I am a pet, do you know people point fingers at those who abandon their pets?”

“Xu Miao, what you’re doing is immoral.”

“And very, very mean.”

“Very, very.”

The hallway lights stayed on at night, letting Xu Miao clearly see that with every sentence, Xie Ge’s eyes grew redder. By the end, Xu Miao felt he was on the verge of tears.

Xu Miao feared Xie Ge crying the most—once Xie Ge cried, he couldn’t remember or care about anything else.

“My fault, my fault.” Xu Miao quickly stepped forward and hugged him. “I was just so surprised. It’s not that I didn’t want you to come.”

Xie Ge didn’t believe him. “You’re lying again.”

He hugged Xu Miao so tightly that Xu Miao could barely breathe. But he didn’t dare tell him to loosen up, so he pressed closer instead. “I’m not lying. I mean it.”

Who would believe that? Xie Ge thought.

“Then why did you sneak off while I was asleep, leave me a note saying not to look for you, and call me annoying? Am I really that annoying?”

“No, no.” Xu Miao hugged him and, with difficulty, guided him inside. Despite his size, Xie Ge was surprisingly obedient. Xu Miao managed to pull him onto the sofa without much trouble. “I told you, didn’t I? My flight was in the morning. When it was time, I just left.”

Seeing Xu Miao’s softened attitude, Xie Ge started acting spoiled. “Then you could’ve woken me up and taken me with you. Don’t bother explaining—I don’t believe a word.”

He wasn’t wrong, and Xu Miao couldn’t argue. Feeling guilty, he deflated. “Okay.”

“‘Okay’ what?” Xie Ge was furious. “I tell you not to explain and you really don’t explain? Xu Miao, what is wrong with you?”

“Then… should I explain?” Xu Miao asked tentatively.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

Xu Miao immediately heard the obvious reverse psychology and insisted, “Just listen.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Come on, listen.”

“I’m not listening.”

“Fine, then I won’t.”

“…Maybe I will listen.”

“Forget it, I don’t want to talk anymore.”

“Why not?!” Xie Ge practically shouted.

“No reason.”

“Xu Miao, I hate you!”

“Okay. I accept that.”

“You’re so annoying!”

“Okay. I’m very annoying.”

“What are you doing! You’re really going to make me die of anger!”

“That wouldn’t be good. Better to keep living, baby. I’m begging you.”

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Hétáng Tángtáng:
You guys are so quiet, I thought we always had things to talk about, sob sob.

By the way, I couldn’t find this newly written second draft in my memo app. I’ll check my computer when I get home tomorrow. If I find it, I’ll upload it to replace this version; if I can’t find it, then… oh well, ww.