The Awakened Red Rose [4]

Qiao An had known from a young age that Zhou Jinheng had a secret crush on him. He was also aware that Zhou had stored a collection of photos of him in his phone, whether it was of him playing basketball on the playground, dining in a restaurant, or traveling abroad. Zhou had carefully preserved these memories, including his unsecured moments on social media, with occasional posts accompanied by pictures, all designed to make it easier for Qiao An to browse and remember, so that he wouldn’t forget him despite the distance. Ideally, Zhou could showcase his own excellence and outshine the shallow lovers Zhou had previously been involved with.

But who was Zhou Jinheng? He was a well-known scion of a wealthy family in the capital, while Qiao An had come from a humble background and almost couldn’t afford to go to college. Zhou had supported him all the way through, fearing that he would struggle in a foreign land, and had even purchased a luxurious mansion and a sports car for him overseas. In the overseas Chinese community, Zhou had pulled strings for him behind the scenes. Qiao An smiled as if it were all a breeze, but in reality, he was deeply touched.

He wasn’t being selfish or vain. Of course, he hoped to be lifelong friends with Zhou Jinheng. However, it was clear that the young master of the Zhou family wanted him to be more than just a friend; he wanted a romantic relationship, and that would put him in a lower position. Qiao An also knew the darker side of men – the things they get often seem less valuable than the things they can’t have, and once they get them, they may become indifferent. So, he decided to remain as a cherished memory, something Zhou Jinheng would long for but couldn’t have, even if Zhou had many other lovers. He wanted to remain the most important person in Zhou’s heart.

Qiao An had always followed this strategy and it had served him well. Zhou Jinheng loved him deeply, and he was a secret that Zhou couldn’t openly talk about. Even when Qiao An had a Caucasian girlfriend overseas who had a penchant for luxury, effectively being a money drain, Zhou was willingly his girlfriend’s financial support.

Qiao An believed that this kind of life would continue smoothly until he successfully accumulated wealth and returned to China as a distinguished designer. However, things took a turn on Zhou Jinheng’s side.

First, the bank card with his birthday as the password was changed, making it impossible for him to withdraw money or make payments. He could no longer live an extravagant and elegant life in the bustling city of New York. However, he couldn’t straightforwardly ask Zhou Jinheng for money, claiming that he didn’t have enough. He knew that in Zhou’s eyes, he had always been seen as someone who didn’t covet wealth and lived a pure and noble life, different from those gold-digging individuals who clung to Zhou’s family fortune. Asking for money would tarnish his image in Zhou’s eyes.

Secondly, the calls he made to Zhou Jinheng began to get sporadic.

The time difference between New York and Beijing was already more than ten hours, making it difficult for them to communicate frequently due to their busy work schedules. Now, it became even more challenging. Qiao An often dialed video calls, only to see Zhou Jinheng in his shirt sleeves, busy in the kitchen. This sight alone shocked Qiao An.

What left him dumbfounded was the scene that followed. Before he could say a few words, he heard the voice of a young boy on the other end of the phone, sounding suspicious, “Jinheng, who are you talking to?” Following that, there were rapid footsteps approaching, and Qiao An could only catch a glimpse of half of a handsome and sharp face. Before he could see the whole picture, the call abruptly disconnected, as if the man, feeling guilty, quickly turned off his phone.

Before hanging up, Qiao An saw the man wearing a gentle smile, lying to pacify, “No one, just an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time.”

The young boy seemed to not believe it, his head moving around the man as he expressed doubt, “Where did all these old friends to catch up with suddenly come from? You’re not trying to fool me, are you? Zhou Jinheng, let me tell you, if you dare to lie to me again, we’re done. Don’t think just because I’m young, I’m into older men like you who eat tender grass.”

The man, although feeling guilty, was also getting frustrated. He retorted, “Darling, I’m only 26 years old. How can you call me old?”

The young boy smirked, “You’re six years older than me, that’s old enough. You’re clearly robbing the cradle, and you won’t admit it! Don’t try to change the subject. Who were you talking to just now? Spit it out!”

Naturally, the man tried to sweet-talk his way out of it again, and the call ended without any real answers. This left Qiao An feeling very uncomfortable because the young boy’s tone seemed like that of a legitimate partner, and he ended up feeling like a mistress who got hung up on when the original partner came calling.

After several similar incidents, Qiao An could see that Zhou Jinheng still loved him, but he seemed to be deliberately considering the young boy’s feelings and his heart was slowly wavering and shifting. During their conversations, Zhou Jinheng also started mentioning the young boy’s name every few sentences. This made Qiao An feel like he was facing a looming crisis, and he couldn’t afford to just sit around and do nothing anymore.

Zhou Jinheng’s attitude and his increasingly difficult life in a foreign country were pushing Qiao An to realize that he couldn’t continue like this.

Qiao An, disregarding the time difference and his own sleep schedule, started calling Zhou Jinheng frequently. They talked about everything, from work-related matters, past memories, and personal anecdotes to emotional experiences. Zhou Jinheng, still holding onto his past feelings, inadvertently shared a lot during their conversations, including details about his daily life with a guy named Minglu.

Qiao An learned that this guy was obedient at times and had a fiery temper at other times. He had a bad temper and could get physically aggressive, and Zhou Jinheng complained about how he had made mistakes recently, causing Minglu to withhold physical intimacy and even scratch his face often. If Zhou Jinheng didn’t comply with Minglu’s wishes, the guy would sulk and eat raw onions as a form of self-punishment, forcing Zhou Jinheng to comply to win the young boy’s affection.

While Zhou Jinheng was complaining, he kept talking about Minglu’s actions and behaviors in great detail. This made Qiao An increasingly impatient, and he wished he could shout at Zhou Jinheng, “Then let him eat onions until he can’t take it anymore! Why do you care so much about all of this?”

Qiao An, who was well-versed in manipulative tactics himself, understood the tricks the young man was using. Minglu’s actions, like eating raw onions despite the allergies and other manipulative behavior, were simply a result of him taking advantage of Zhou Jinheng’s affection and security in the relationship. It was not uncommon for couples deeply in love to resort to such tactics, such as self-harm or threats, as a way to test the depth of their partner’s feelings and control their behavior. Once they sense that their partner cares deeply, they might escalate these tactics further.

Qiao An didn’t want Zhou Jinheng to be subjected to such low tactics. Therefore, he started talking about himself, indirectly criticizing Minglu, saying things like, “You two quarrel like this from time to time, and it’s surprising how well you handle it. Remember back in high school, your tough temper made everyone bow down to you. Little did you know that you’d have to pacify someone else now. I hate to say this, but your little lover has quite a temper for someone so young. He’s so controlling and even forbids you from calling me. I used to think he was so gentle.”

Qiao An was deliberately speaking in a sarcastic tone, trying to provoke Zhou Jinheng’s strong sense of pride and subtly mentioning how the young man was obstructing their communication. He wanted Zhou Jinheng to dislike Minglu, knowing that Zhou Jinheng was concerned about his image. However, Zhou Jinheng didn’t catch on to Qiao An’s intentions.

“It’s fine,” Zhou Jinheng chuckled bitterly. He thought about Minglu’s fiery temper, his quick mood swings, constant suspicion, sharp tongue, and tendency to overanalyze. But he couldn’t do anything about it because he knew that Minglu’s behavior was, in part, a response to his own actions and choices.

Whenever Zhou Jinheng talked about Minglu, Qiao An would patiently listen, feigning understanding and empathy. Zhou Jinheng would vent his frustrations about Minglu’s temper and occasional mood swings, complaining about how he was like a completely different person when they were alone versus in public. At times, their conversations even began to take on a cloyingly affectionate tone, reminiscent of couples displaying their love publicly.

These conversations with Zhou Jinheng alarmed Qiao An, and he knew he couldn’t let things continue down this path. Minglu was too skilled at manipulation, and Zhou Jinheng was bound to fall victim to it sooner or later.

So, Qiao An decided to change his approach. Whenever Zhou Jinheng mentioned Minglu, Qiao An would smile and bring up their shared memories. Then, as Zhou Jinheng became lost in reminiscence, Qiao An would casually drop a bombshell, saying, “I broke up with Emily. I couldn’t stand her anymore. It turns out she was only getting close to me for my money. When we were dating, she would call me all the time, checking on who I was with. Even when I was trying to work seriously, she would pester me relentlessly. She also loved to argue, and her temper was fiery. I just couldn’t handle her. I prefer being with my buddies. You know, that kid, even when he has only one dollar to his name, he’s willing to give you half. Well, I could do the same. After all, you’re my lifelong best friend, and our bond is so strong.”

After sharing these stories, Qiao An would flash a brilliant smile.

Qiao An’s strategy worked like a charm. He deliberately brought up his own relationship experiences, stirring a sense of hope in Zhou Jinheng’s heart. He made their shared experiences of being deceived by their partners and being entangled with difficult lovers seem like a common bond, bringing him closer to Zhou Jinheng’s emotions and making him feel understood.

The final sentence was the most impactful, delivering a subtle yet powerful message. It essentially said, “Your little lover is willing to share half when he has a dollar, and so am I. I’m willing and able, even if we base it on our ‘brotherly bond’.” This statement was enough to tug at Zhou Jinheng’s heartstrings, despite its casual tone.

Throughout the day, Zhou Jinheng couldn’t concentrate on anything else. He constantly analyzed the meaning behind Qiao An’s words, wondering if he had misinterpreted them or if there was something more to them. Even when Minglu whispered in his ear a few times, he didn’t hear a word.

Seeing Zhou Jinheng’s distracted state, Minglu narrowed his eyes dangerously. However, he decided not to say anything for the time being. This was all within his expectations. He packed his things and headed to work, planning to return in the evening to deal with Zhou Jinheng, who was easily swayed by a few words.

Yin Minglu’s plan was to shatter Zhou Jinheng’s fantasies and hopes completely. He decided to go for a direct approach by photoshopping a picture of Qiao An in bed with a Caucasian woman and sending it to Zhou Jinheng’s phone. He would tell Zhou Jinheng that no matter what he wished for, Qiao An was a straight man and couldn’t be bent at the moment. He wanted Zhou Jinheng to give up on any romantic ideas he had. If, in the future, Qiao An did change his orientation, they could discuss it then.

As Yin Minglu was meticulously editing a suggestive image on his computer in his office, an unexpected figure loomed over him. The shadow cast by the tall and imposing presence covered half of his computer screen. Suddenly, a young and handsome face enlarged before him, and then those thin lips parted to reveal a low, magnetic voice.

“Excuse me, what are you doing during work hours?”

Author has something to say: Catching a little employee not doing their job during working hours, and they are actually watching adult content in broad daylight.

CEO Young Master: Very good, you’ve caught my attention.

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