Translator: Lynn
A brief hush settled in the air, and the other man let out a low scoff brimming with intense disdain.
“You don’t appear the least bit surprised,” he commented, narrowing his elongated eyes and reclining against the sofa. His hands idly crossed over his chest, while the curve of his lips held a mixture of scorn and sarcasm—an expression that seemed to pity Ji Kai’s ignorance while simultaneously reveling in his misfortune.
“In other words, you were already aware of Zhu Ling’s tangled affairs?” The question was delivered with an aggressive edge. Ji Kai continued to uphold a courteous smile, though his grip on the fork in his hand subtly tightened.
Mr. President, tigers don’t beget cats. Do you genuinely think I’m going down without a fight?
Just let me ask you this—Do you possess functional eyes?!
You should really look more carefully! Open those eyes of yours wide! Take a good, thorough look at my face and physique! During my time on the treadmill, half of the gym would turn around to admire my well-defined chest muscles, abdominal muscles, waist, and buttocks!
Do you want to exert control? What’s that supposed to mean? How could I possibly be inferior to that bland, vanilla Ye Yin?
Hehe! Forget it, no need to get angry…
After all, the person across the table is “Ye Yin’s boyfriend.” And well, I’ve already set my heart on the sort of mischievous devil that can’t be pinned down. What sense of taste can I even speak of?!
“Gentlemen, what can I get for you today?” The young waitress, dressed in a green skirt with a matching green bow tie, approached with her notepad, flashing a timely smile.
…
Speaking of which, this establishment is the green-themed coffee shop “The Wizard of Oz.” The walls are adorned with plastic green leaves, the curtains are green, and even the tables and chairs have been painted green. Even the plant pots on the windowsills, meant for potted plants, are decorated with green dots and stripes.
So green, in such an abundance of green, green, green, permeating every nook and cranny.
Ji Kai swiftly glanced at the waiter and offered a wry smile, saying, “I’ll have the green juice and matcha cake. Could you kindly inform me about any other ‘green’ beverages and food items available in your establishment?”
Mr. Li, You might underestimate me, but it’s wise not to get too self-assured prematurely. It’s uncertain who’s the greener one between the two of us!
“There’s also kiwi juice and… ah! We also feature a unique pistachio pie on our menu.”
“Mr. Li, shall I order these for you? They’re both green and refreshing, fitting for the occasion.” Ji Kai’s words naturally carried a hint of sarcasm, leading to a partial darkening of the other man’s expression, as expected. Ji Kai propped his chin on his hand, squinting his eyes as he observed silently, and his mood finally began to lift slightly.
“By the way, Mr. Li, you’re aware that your associate, Ye Yin, came to my residence and rang the doorbell a few days ago, right?” Seizing the moment of respite, Ji Kai intended to deliver a well-placed verbal jab at the high-ranking CEO. However, Li Weidu’s dark eyes betrayed no sign of disturbance, merely nodding with calm assurance.
“I’m aware.”
“…” Ji Kai found himself somewhat at a loss for words in the face of such unflappable calmness.
Timely enough, the matcha cake arrived, giving Ji Kai’s fork a purpose as it absently swirled through the verdant cream. Meanwhile, the soothing notes of a melody began to fill the café, drawing his attention away. In the midst of the ambiance, he rambled on, “So logically speaking, even if there’s some kind of connection between them, it’s likely not a situation where one side is solely luring or harassing the other. Both parties must bear some responsibility.” He was referencing Zhu Ling’s latest song.
The song was titled “Honey,” and its tempo was unhurried, deep, and soulful, creating an overall pleasant listening experience. Released just a month ago, it had already garnered several awards, a well-deserved recognition. The melody and lyrics both exuded a tender and affectionate quality.
I recall that night during the celebratory banquet at home. He gazed into my eyes and said, “Baby Bear Ji Kai, my dear, this song is for you.” Amidst the warm candlelight and colorful balloons, I smiled proudly at Zhu Ling. After excusing myself to the restroom, I covertly splashed my face with cold water and fetched a pair of simple glasses to conceal my slightly reddened eyes.
Our marriage spans three years, while our acquaintance dates back five years. It’s been a journey of smooth sailing, punctuated by occasional hiccups and challenges. Overall, it can be described as profoundly joyful.
Ji Kai often projects a rugged and mature demeanor, rarely displaying a childlike disposition. Yet, in the midnight hours, when he gazed upon his serene visage illuminated by moonlight, He was reminded that the passing years had been tranquil. He marvels at the fortune of marrying Zhu Ling, feeling as though he has struck luck that spans countless lifetimes.
However, at this moment, he was perplexed by which “dear” to refer to.
“It’s indeed the case that both parties hold responsibility,” Li Weidu affirmed, cutting short Li Kai’s introspection. His words jolted him from his sentimentality: “We share in the responsibility as well.”
…
His movements halted abruptly.
What did I just hear?
While society often echoes a mainstream viewpoint that both sides must take responsibility when issues arise in relationships or marriages, this perspective—lacking nuance—parallels brain-dead reasoning like “Why do thieves only steal from you?” or “Why were you singled out by a criminal?”!
Is it my obligation to be “responsible” for your boyfriend’s audacious act of ringing my doorbell? How am I—the victim—required to shoulder this “responsibility”?
Mr. Stalker President, are you genuinely serious, or are you jesting?
Examining Li Weidu seriously, he found him deadpan—devoid of any hint of irony. Despite his involuntary nod, Ji Kai couldn’t suppress a burst of shameless laughter, a “poof.”
“Could you refrain from eating and spraying at the same time?” Li Weidu’s disgusted frown showed his disdain.
“Whether you sit or not, eat or not, if this is how you act at home, it’s no wonder Zhu Ling prefers not to stay with you.”
“Crack.” The fork bent entirely out of shape.
Who’s eating and spraying simultaneously? Despite the matcha cake on my plate being a mess, it’s still untouched, alright?
With a stern gaze, Ji Kai shot a pointed look at Li Weidu. He scooped up a substantial bite of the green cream, aggressively devouring it with exaggerated slowness—a deliberate display of threat.
As he witnessed the other party’s aversion gradually intensifying, he couldn’t help but muse,
Hmm…
Damn it! So bitter. Why is it so bitter!
The bitterness of matcha spread throughout his mouth, prompting Ji Kai’s realization that only Zhu Ling truly enjoyed matcha. He never had a fondness for this flavor, so why did he order it just because it was green?
In haste, he took a sip of the green juice.
What on earth is this concoction? The flavor is exquisite, oscillating between palatable and unbearable!
He mused with exasperation. A promising afternoon had transformed into not only enduring the speechless disdain of “Ye Yin’s boyfriend” but also grappling with the bitterness of matcha and the grassy tang of green juice.
Who had he provoked?
…
Meanwhile, on Li Weidu’s plate, the pistachio pie remained untouched.
Its unconventional appearance had prompted Li Weidu to roll his eyes upon its arrival. The sentiments encapsulated by his expression could be aptly summarized as “ugly rejection.”
“Boss Li, uh, you don’t fancy this, do you? Just hand it over to me!” Yearning to cleanse his palate of the bitterness, Ji Kai impulsively dismissed the pie. With unwavering determination, he devoured three or four mouthfuls in quick succession—uttering a sigh of relief as the sweetness enveloped his taste buds.
“…Zhu Ling earns well, so why live like this?” The man’s gaze evolved from 100% disgust to an emphatic 120% disgust.
Brows furrowed, Ji Kai shut his eyes, relishing the delectable pistachio cream in his mouth. Without hesitation, he confiscated the other person’s juice, immersing himself in the pleasure of savoring it without reservation.
…
After indulging in both food and drink, Li Weidu settled the bill. Not only did he handle the payment, but he also obtained two pistachio pies, sighing as he did. He instructed the waiter to place them in a charming little paper bag and hand it over to Ji Kai.
“Come with me.”
“Why bother? Mr. Li is being so considerate. Why not have you drop me home?”
Li Weidu’s lips twitched with a hint of unease. “Taking you home is fine, but first, come with me to the mall next door.”
“Why the mall?”
“I’m taking you to clothes shopping.”
“…Huh?”
“Get some decent clothes. Remember to wear them when you come back! Don’t keep wearing these shabby things that make you look disheveled and not taken seriously!”
Excuse me?
Li Weidu’s single-lidded eyes exuded impatience as he extended his slender fingers, seemingly on the verge of disdainfully grabbing at Ji Kai’s less-than-impressive black streetwear vest. Yet, those fingers stopped merely two centimeters from Ji Kai’s chest—likely because the fabric was so poor that it resisted even a simple pat.
“It’s practically like a street vendor’s merchandise. It might even be an affront to actual street vendors.”
“It’s not like Zhu Ling lacks money. Why must you settle for this? Can’t you invest in something better? Or is it that with Zhu Ling’s current wealth, even this minuscule expense is considered too extravagant for you?”
Ji Kai found himself deeply dejected.
It was indeed a disheartening situation.
Putting aside the fact that Mr. President had somehow assumed that “I need Zhu Ling to foot the bill,” let’s focus on this vest for a moment—yes, it’s true that it’s street-style. However, it’s this flimsy, see-through, flea market variety that’s designed to make my physique look firmer, more pronounced, and conspicuously curvaceous, alright?
This, my dear zombie-faced, stalker-ish, perverted local tycoon, is what we call embracing a sexy, down-to-earth style without any pretense. Do you not possess the taste to appreciate it? Don’t you know bears?
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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