Chapter 31 – Jealousy
Novel Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 黎朔 (Li Shuo -MC), 赵锦辛 (Zhao Jinxin -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Li Shuo pondered for a moment. He felt that telling the truth was not a good idea. But he was unwilling to lie, so he chose a middle ground: “I’m going to see an old friend.”
“An old friend from the ‘usual place’?” Zhao Jinxin narrowed his eyes. “It wouldn’t be an ex-boyfriend, would it?”
Li Shuo looked directly into Zhao Jinxin’s eyes without flinching and said, “Yes.”
Zhao Jinxin clicked his tongue. “You can’t even humour me a little?”
“I don’t like lying. And there’s no need to.”
Zhao Jinxin pressed his chest against Li Shuo’s, their faces almost touching. They were breathing on each other’s faces. His eyes sparkled with a dangerous light. “What if I don’t let you go?”
Li Shuo involuntarily swallowed. “What reason do you have to stop me?” He didn’t know what reason Zhao Jinxin would give.He felt like he was anticipating a reason but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Zhao Jinxin just stared into his eyes for a long time. He then smiled slightly. “I guess I really don’t have a reason to stop you. After all, I’m nothing to you. And I’m used to being a ‘liar’.”
Li Shuo frowned and said nothing.
Zhao Jinxin’s hand suddenly covered Li Shuo’s head. His hand was large enough to easily hold a basketball. He rudely pushed Li Shuo’s head to the side, then pressed his lips against Li Shuo’s slender neck.
Li Shuo was stunned for a moment, then felt Zhao Jinxin sucking on his neck forcefully. It was almost as if he was biting.
“Zhao Jinxin!” Li Shuo realised what he was doing and pushed him away forcefully.
Zhao Jinxin staggered back a few steps, licked the corner of his mouth, and looked at Li Shuo with a mischievous smile. His voice was very gentle: “You may go now.”
Li Shuo touched his neck and glared at Zhao Jinxin angrily. “Can you be more mature?”
Zhao Jinxin simply grinned at him. “How should I be mature? Li Shushu, teach me?” His teeth were white and sharp, resembling a carnivorous animal’s.
Li Shuo wanted to question Zhao Jinxin—weren’t you the one who agreed to this casual relationship at the hospital? What game are you playing now? But he didn’t want to humiliate himself. He had met countless people. Yet he couldn’t understand this young man in his early twenties. The more he couldn’t understand him, the less he wanted to open his heart, especially since he had been deceived before.
Li Shuo shook his head in disappointment. “Teach that to yourself,” he said, turning to open the door and leave.
Zhao Jinxin placed his hands on his hips and stared expressionlessly at the closed door for a long time. He then mocked himself, “‘Teach that to yourself’? Who the hell cares for that.”
Back in the car, Li Shuo looked at his neck in the rearview mirror. A large, reddish-brown hickey marred his skin, only concealable with a scarf. But wearing a scarf in this weather would be even more suspicious.
He even considered using makeup to cover it up.
But why cover it up? Why hide it? Li Shuo suddenly thought.
He and Han Feiye had broken up twelve years ago.
It has been twelve years.
Seeing Han Feiye again made him excited and happy, recalling the pure and innocent feelings of their student days. It was like drinking a sip of honey.
But upon calming down and thinking about it, they hadn’t seen each other in twelve years. Maybe Han Feiye had moved on, and he…-
He also…
Li Shuo looked at the hickey in the mirror and fell into thought.
He and Zhao Jinxin were nothing more than bed partners. But that didn’t mean there would be anything between him and Han Feiye. He couldn’t deny that there was a bit of expectation in his heart. But he couldn’t tell if that expectation was for the memories of his youth or for the current Han Feiye, who still moved him.
In any case, meeting him would clarify things.
Li Shuo let go of the collar he had been trying to pull up and stopped trying to cover up. He drove to the ‘usual place’—the café where he and Han Feiye often met back then.
The café was near the university and probably was there before he was born. It had become part of the school’s ‘history’. The people coming and going were either students or faculty members.
Since graduation, Li Shuo had never been there. Just like his feelings for Han Feiye, it was untouched for twelve years.
Li Shuo walked into the café and immediately saw Han Feiye sitting by the bookshelf in the corner.
Today, he was dressed casually, with his elbows on the table, head down, reading a book. At a glance, he blended in with the surrounding students.
Li Shuo felt a superimposition of past memories and present reality. He couldn’t count the number of times Han Feiye had waited for him this way, reading a book until he arrived, then looking up and smiling, saying, “You’re late again.”
Han Feiye’s smile pierced through the fog of time, appearing before him once more.
Li Shuo’s heart ached slightly as he looked at the now no longer youthful face. He couldn’t help but marvel at the passage of time, wondering if Han Feiye felt the same way about him. Shared memories make good old friends.
Li Shuo smiled gently. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“I just got here too. Have a seat.” Han Feiye glanced around. “This place hasn’t changed much after all these years.”
“Yes. But the books have been updated quite a bit.” Li Shuo shook his head with a smile. “And the people.”
“Twelve years. Time sure flies.” Han Feiye looked at Li Shuo quietly. “You’ve changed a lot. You’re so steady and suave. But still as gentle as ever.”
Li Shuo smiled faintly. “You don’t seem to have changed much.” Han Feiye was a year older than him but had always been more mature. Though he appeared to be a frail scholar, he was actually very bold, decisive, and courageous. This water-like, supremely gentle yet strong temperament had only intensified with age.
“I…-” Han Feiye suddenly noticed the hickey on Li Shuo’s neck and froze for a moment.
Despite being prepared, Li Shuo instinctively covered his neck and apologised, “Sorry, it’s a bit inappropriate. I initially didn’t want to go out looking like this.”
Han Feiye smiled. “What kind of person is he?”
“He’s… a mischievous person.”
“Is he your boyfriend, or…?”
Li Shuo felt a lump in his throat and a sudden sense of discomfort. He said softly, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
Han Feiye nodded and didn’t pursue the topic further. His lowered eyes made it hard to discern his emotions.
Such things were common in the gay community, especially for people their age.
“Where are you working now?” Li Shuo changed the subject.
“I switched jobs last year to a tech company focusing on AI. I’m the CFO.” Talking about his career, Han Feiye seemed more spirited. “We secured 220 million in Series B funding and plan to go public within two years.”
“Congratulations,” Li Shuo said with a smile. “We shouldn’t be meeting in a café. We should have a drink at the bar.”
“Here is just fine.” Han Feiye raised his coffee cup. “It’s the people and the intention that matter; what we drink doesn’t.”
Li Shuo also raised his cup and clinked it with Han Feiye’s. He then said sincerely, “Feiye, really, congratulations.”
Han Feiye took a sip of coffee, and his smile suddenly became a bit stiff. “Our company’s product is in the medical AI field. Last year, with the support of our investors, we donated equipment worth five million to… Africa.”
Li Shuo was stunned for a moment.
“The donation ceremony was a big event. Our boss went there. And I went along with him.” Han Feiye took a deep breath. “After so many years, I finally went to Africa and provided some help to the people there. But it was a tad too late. During that time, I kept thinking about you.”
“Feiye…” Li Shuo felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. “I’ve always wanted to apologise to you. I was so immature back then and didn’t understand your difficulties.” He had grown up in a privileged household, never worrying about money. At that time, he was too young to comprehend Han Feiye’s choices, and he had regretted it ever since.
Han Feiye’s eyes reddened. “I also want to apologise. Back then… you know, my parents smuggled themselves into the United States. I couldn’t refuse the $50,000 annual salary. But I broke our promise.”
“Feiye,” Li Shuo said seriously, “I’m sorry.” After twelve years, he finally managed to apologise sincerely in person.
Han Feiye took a deep breath to calm his emotions and said softly, “Xiao Shuo, no one was at fault. We were just too young. At the time, I thought, if you loved me, why couldn’t you stay for me? And you thought, if I loved you, why couldn’t I go with you? I never stopped feeling inferior while being with you. Parting ways was inevitable.”
“Feiye, you have no reason to feel inferior,” Li Shuo said, gazing at him. “You are perfect.” He still remembered their first meeting. He saw a young man in a white shirt, quiet and refined, standing out in a crowd of tall black and white people like an orchid in a secluded valley or a fawn in the woods. He had been instantly smitten.
Han Feiye smiled faintly. “Xiao Shuo, you’re the one who’s perfect. You have no idea how others see you, probably much better than you think of yourself.”
Li Shuo smiled too. “Thank you.”
“You know, you were already handsome when you were young. And now, in your thirties, you’re even more charming. I can’t compare to you. I’ve focused on work all these years and have become an old man,” Han Feiye joked self-deprecatingly.
“It seems you’re really busy. You’re even too busy to even look in the mirror.” Li Shuo looked at him seriously. “We’re both ordinary people. But you don’t have much of the mundane about you. You were just like how you were back then.”
Han Feiye chuckled. “You still know how to talk. Time flies too fast. Next year will be my zodiac year.”
Li Shuo paused. “You… are also born in the Year of the Goat.”
“Yes. You forgot? I’m a year older than you.”
“I didn’t forget.” It had just slipped his mind. Li Shuo ran a hand through his hair, feeling inexplicably restless.
Two people under the zodiac sign of the Goat—one 11 years younger, with whom he had spent a passionate night just two days ago. And the other one a year older, sitting in front of him, reminiscing about their youthful years.
Could it be that what the so-called master said was true?
Li Shuo quickly took a sip of coffee to break his train of thought. He was afraid of being brainwashed.
“All these years, I’ve always…-“
Han Feiye was interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. Li Shuo glanced at the phone on the table and saw that the caller ID was a picture of Zhao Jinxin’s bare chest!
Li Shuo quickly picked up the phone while Han Feiye awkwardly turned away.
Li Shuo silently cursed Zhao Jinxin. When did he change that? He answered the call, feeling annoyed, “Hello?”
“Li Shushu.” Zhao Jinxin’s voice sounded pitiful.
“What is it?”
“My place…-“
Li Shuo tensed up. Could something have happened?
“The power is out.”
Li Shuo was silent for a moment. “I still have things to do. So…”
“I’m afraid of the dark.”
Li Shuo sighed. “How old are you?”
“Can’t adults be afraid of the dark?” Zhao Jinxin said sulkily. “Li Shushu, will you come and keep me company?”
Li Shuo felt Zhao Jinxin was being ridiculous. But he couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility that Zhao Jinxin was genuinely afraid of the dark, even though he had been tricked by him more than once.
Han Feiye said, “If you have something to do, go ahead. We were just chatting casually today.”
Li Shuo considered the fact that Han Feiye had seen the caller ID photo. He probably needed to leave for a bit to alleviate the recent awkwardness. He said into the phone, “Hold on. We’ll talk later.” He hung up and apologised, “Feiye, I’m really sorry. Can we catch up another time?”
Han Feiye nodded with a gentle smile.
Li Shuo looked at him seriously, then couldn’t resist reaching out to touch his hair. “Seeing you doing so well makes me very, very happy.”
Han Feiye’s bright eyes sparkled, and he displayed a soft smile. “I feel the same.”
Li Shuo stood up, gave him a gentleman’s bow, and turned to leave.
Han Feiye’s eyes followed his departing figure until he disappeared.
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*Translator’s Note: Han Feiye= 🟢. Zhao Jinxin= 🔴. But we’re all a sucker for the red-flags trope… 🤣 -K
*Proofread by 2024.08.08* I’m currently in the middle of the proofreading stage of my first ever translation; ‘Winner Takes All’. Lots of changes will be made especially to titles such as ‘Brother’ will be changed to ‘Ge’ and ‘Uncle’ will be changed to ‘Shushu’. I will proofread these chapters slowly when I’m free so please understand if there are any delays or discrepancies. TQ.
Proofread version of the rest of the novel will only be available on Novels Space.space while Mature Chapters will be released on Wattpad.
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