Title: 不正经关系 (Improper Relationship)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists ：严海安 (Yan Hai’an – MC), 孙言 (Sun Yan – ML)
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The market price of Mo Yisheng’s painting is only five figures at the current price and size, and the number at the beginning will not exceed three. ¥700,000, which can be said to be a sky-high price for such a newcomer’s work.
The host was silent for two seconds before saying again: “It seems that this gentleman likes this painting very much. ¥700,000 once.”
The venue was originally very quiet, but this time everyone’s attention came to this side. Yan Hai’an was originally watching with the mentality of “I will see if the local tyrants are throwing money”. But now, he has a headache.
Even though he was still a little unspeakably cautious, Yan Hai’an couldn’t go back to his attitude towards Sun Yan. It was probably because what happened that night was his bottom line. In front of this person, he really didn’t need to hold back any longer. He just got up and said, “Are you done now? You’re not afraid if people found out you have a lot of stupid money?”
Sun Yan felt that something was wrong with himself. Every time he was looked at by Yan Hai’an, he would be inexplicably excited. It was as if he was driving a new sports car on the road without speed limit, and today he was not here for Mo Yisheng: “A thousand pieces of gold can’t buy a good heart. This painting is worth so much to me.”
To sum up in one sentence: he is rich and willful.
Yan Hai’an listened to the host with an indifferent face and said, “¥700,000 for the third time. The deal is done. Congratulations to this gentleman for ‘Sunset’.”
Yan Hai’an said flatly, “Thank you for your patronage.”
“You’re welcome.” Sun Yan raised his glass and turned to look at the stage, “Are you happy? The highest transaction amount tonight is for Yi Sheng’s painting.”
Yes, this painting by Mo Yisheng is bound to be mentioned in the follow-up media reports. People always only like to discuss things that are in the first place.
Yan Hai’an’s mood is very complicated. Sun Yan’s actions are helpful to Mo Yisheng. It seems that the advantages of having a good relationship with Sun Yan outweigh the disadvantages. But his casual attitude makes him look too easy. Who knows what this psychopath will do next? Both he and Mo Yisheng had to be cautious.
Thinking of this, Yan Haian’s mouth slackened a little: “Anyway, thank you. It cost you money.”
Mo Yisheng came over with a plate full of dishes: “Sun Yan, did you just bid it?”
Sun Yan has always been very kind to Mo Yisheng: “The painting is great, no matter how expensive it is.”
“Mr. Sun also came over to admire this one.” Li Qing also touched it with a smile, “Do you want to collect all of Yi Sheng’s paintings?”
Sun Yan said gracefully: “If there is a chance, why not?”
Anyway, I don’t lack money. He thought to himself.
Except for Mo Yisheng, everyone heard the meaning of this layer of golden light, but then again, Mo Yisheng’s paintings didn’t originally cost much. Thinking about it, Yan Haian hasn’t seen Sun Yan for so long. He drives al kinds of cars and every car is an expensive brand. So, he can only laugh.
“There are a lot of people here today.” Sun Yan saw a few figures of people he had seen in business, and said to Li Qing, “Are there many painters here?”
In view of Sun Yan’s usual comments and recent trends, Li Qing obviously misunderstood this remark, and said enthusiastically: “There are many talented seedlings. Would you like me to introduce them to Mr. Sun?”
Yan Hai’an: “…”
Sun Yan: “…”
He glanced at Yan Haian who thought no one saw his thought and rolled his eyes: “I mean don’t you want to introduce them to Yi Sheng? Those people from the industry and the media?”
Li Qing was stunned for a moment. Thinking about this sentence, she then nodded and took Mo Yisheng’s hand: “Yes, I also have this plan.”
Yan Hai’an wanted to say something, but closed his mouth again. Mo Yisheng looked reluctant, but Li Qing knew him well: “He Ling is there too. He asked about you just now.”
Hearing the name of his new friend, Mo Yisheng reluctantly followed Li Qing.
Yan Hai’an didn’t move and just watched them walk towards the crowd.
“You’re just like a parent who sent their children to kindergarten for the first time.” Sun Yan also followed his eyes and looked at them. But he felt that it was not interesting. “For what? You don’t want Yi Sheng to talk to them? Then just call him back.”
“I can’t be like that all the time…” Yan Hai’an sighed, “No matter how much he focuses on painting, he has to deal with people outside to some extent. I can’t keep looking after him.”
The two stood silently for a while, and Sun Yan tilted his head and pointed to the terrace with his chin: “Let’s go smoke some cigarettes?”
Saying he just sent the child to the kindergarten and just pushed Mo Yisheng out a little bit, Yan Hai’an was also a little annoyed. But he nodded and the glass in his hand was taken away by Sun Yan. Sun Yan summoned a waiter, put the two’s cups in the tray, and directed Yan Hai’an to the terrace.
Yan Hai’an is actually a heavy smoker, but he doesn’t smoke in front of Mo Yisheng. So, he doesn’t take his cigarettes with him. He took the cigarette that Sun Yan handed over and put it in his mouth. He wanted to take the lighter from him, but Sun Yan leaned over slightly, holding the lighter with one hand and blocking the wind with the other to light it for him.
Yan Hai’an was stunned for a moment, aware of the mute friendliness in this action. So, he lowered his head and approached. A flickering red flashed in the dark terrace, like ashes in a bonfire that would not be extinguished, and like he was guided a little in a dark place.
Like him, Sun Yan leaned back against the terrace and exhaled a ring of smoke.
They both knew that each other’s eyes were placed on Mo Yisheng’s figure across the crowd.
“I really don’t understand people like you,” Sun Yan shook off the ash, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I want to ask this to you too.” Yan Hai’an smiled after he asked. He turned his head and found that Sun Yan also turned his head towards him at the same time.
After the incident that night, something was different between them.
Yan Hai’an thought that it was a little funny. Sun Yan had said before that he had given up on Mo Yisheng. After several contacts, although most of the time there was a big fire between them, Yan Hai’an felt that Sun Yan was indeed a man of his words.
It’s just that he came here on purpose. Does it mean that he still can’t let Mo Yisheng go?
He pondered: “If you are serious about Yi Sheng…”
Thinking of what Sun Yan had done during their not-so-long relationship, Yan Hai’an actually felt that Mo Yisheng and Sun Yan were not quite a bad match. A domineering person like Sun Yan would be suitable for Mo Yisheng to block those things that Mo Yisheng didn’t want to encounter. And his identity could help Mo Yisheng maximise his strengths.
What Yan Hai’an can’t do, Sun Yan can do.
As long as he is serious, he can definitely protect Mo Yisheng well.
He doesn’t know how many people who were willing to be with Sun Yan in the past where he was serious about someone. But how likely is such a person to be serious with someone? Does he even need to be serious with someone?
After Sun Yan smoked a cigarette, he turned to face the blurred plants outside the window: “You always tell me to be serious. Even if we are serious at first, how long can it last?”
He took out another cigarette from the cigarette case and lit it: “Even if you want to be serious, there are too many changes in life that will make you unable to persevere. Since it’s only a matter of time, what difference does it make if you take it seriously? Tell me, who can give this guarantee? Yan Hai’an, ask yourself, how long can you be serious about someone?”
Yan Hai’an’s hand shook and the ashes from the cigarette that burned to the end fell to the ground.
It’s ridiculous. He asked Sun Yan to be serious. But even he himself couldn’t believe about being serious from the bottom of his heart. Love is the most deceiving feeling. When you are serious, it will be right in front of you for a long time. When you no longer love someone, you can’t wait to throw them away immediately.
This is still the case with the opposite sex. But what’s more with the same sex? The kind of relationship which is neither protected by law and was also rejected by morality?
Sun Yan saw him thinking and smiled: “You hope that Mo Yisheng will be cherished forever. Why don’t you give it to him? I think he can accept a man. What do you think?”
Yan Hai’an said in a trance: “In Yi Sheng’s heart, there may be no gender difference. He only likes pure things.”
“Pure?” Sun Yan repeated playfully and asked, “You like it too, don’t you?”
“I hope he can find a girl.” Yan Hai’an didn’t answer his question, but said to himself, “This will make it smoother.”
Sun Yan rested his elbows on the terrace, turned sideways, and faced his profile: “Oh? You really don’t give a fuck about yourself. What about you?”
Yan Hai’an was silent for a while. He didn’t know why he would have such a conversation with Sun Yan, which was far beyond his psychological safety barrier.
It may be that he has been holding back for too long, hiding his inner pessimism and pretending to be a positive person is too tired. Or it could be that the moonlight is too dark tonight, the crowd is too far away, and the smell of cigarettes separates reality and makes it feel like an informal dream.
How incredible, only at this moment, he can perceive that he and Sun Yan found a common ground. There was a fault in his heart, and the echoes of the time in his past were surging in his chest. They have not dissipated to this day. He kept getting used to it. Today or even many years later, he couldn’t forget it.
Yan Hai’an stretched out his hand, but Sun Yan only paused, and handed him half of the cigarette in his own hand. It was an indescribable tacit understanding, almost frightening. In completely different people, they have grasped some of the same points. The numbness that is watered by the world may not be able to collide with the spark of confidant, but it is enough for them to know and enjoy the short-term mutual company.
Yan Haian took a sip, and the smell of nicotine filled his chest: “I will probably find someone who is not serious. Have a relationship that is not serious. And then go on with my life without any seriousness.”
He looked at Sun Yan with a confused smile as if he was drunk.
The warm wind blew and caused a little itch in people’s hearts. But when he lowered his head and raised his eyes, the atmosphere changed in an instant, becoming ambiguous and romantic.
Sun Yan suddenly said, “You painted those paintings, right?”
The abrupt black spot among the splendid colours, with the self-knowledge of being out of place, gradually fades away in different scenes. The distorted sense of loneliness that almost tore out of the canvas, but it has to be smeared with the colours next to it. It was blurred, pretending to be nonexistent.
Yan Hai’an silently let Sun Yan take the cigarette back and continued to smoke, then whispered: “It’s not for sale even if you find the painter. I didn’t expect you to really like painting. I thought it was just an excuse.”
“I can’t say that either.” Sun Yan said casually, “I liked wandering around when I first returned to China. I once bought a painting on the side of the road. I still don’t understand that painting, and most of the time I still don’t understand you people who are engaged in art.”
After the two finished smoking a cigarette together, they walked back to the banquet tacitly, leaving the smoke and emotions on the terrace together.
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Next update: 2022.05.09
