Translator: Lynn
For a while after hanging up the phone, Shen Qian busied himself tidying up the house while observing Ye Yin kneeling on the floor, vehemently denying the unfolding reality.
“Before that night when Li Weidu and Zhu Ling were fighting over me, those two had never even met! How could they suddenly become a couple?! Are they teaming up to infuriate me? Do they really think I’ll believe such nonsense?!”
“That might not be entirely false. Didn’t the ex-husband just mention that he and Li Weidu have known each other for a long time? From what he said, it seems he’s quite acquainted with Li Weidu.”
Perhaps he knows more than you do.
Leisurely playing with the newly purchased aloe vera on the windowsill, Shen Qian not only discerns that Li Weidu dislikes spicy food, has perpetually cold hands and feet, and finds imported stomach medicine more effective, but he also knows his hobbies—programming and collecting teacups. The necklace around his neck was bought during a Mediterranean trip, and his fish soup and sukiyaki are exceptionally delicious.
“It would be odd if there were absolutely no connections, right? How would Zhu Ling’s ex-husband know so many details about Li Weidu?”
Ye Yin remained silent for a while after this remark. After a brief pause, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly asserted: “Impossible! We’ve been together for so many years, and I know Li Weidu! He dedicates all his time and energy to me alone; there’s no way he’d have time for affairs outside. Falling for someone else just days after a breakup is absurd! Besides, it’s not like I wanted to like someone, so why would I choose him?”
“You seem quite discontent.”
“How can anyone feel content when something like this happens? What if something concealed from you suddenly surfaces? How can you be happy when someone steals from you?”
Shen Qian quipped, “You threw away things you don’t want into the trash can—why call it ‘stealing’?”
“Others aren’t allowed to pick up what I’ve lost! Qianqian, whose side are you on?”
Shen Qian promptly ceased his comments. With calluses forming on his ears, he endured Ye Yin’s prolonged monologue about how Li Weidu had cared for him in countless ways for over a decade, how his attention was exclusively devoted to him, and how he didn’t spare a second glance at countless beautiful models and actors…
He endured it and genuinely wished to reveal the truth—those models and actors were ignored because they hadn’t met this ex-husband, okay?
How potent is your ex-husband as a love rival? Zhu Ling is indeed a formidable player!
Three months ago, Shen Qian learned for the first time that Zhu Ling was actually married and was greatly surprised. Typically, someone as talented and arrogant as Zhu Ling wouldn’t settle down before the age of thirty, perhaps never marrying at all.
Unexpectedly, he tied the knot at such a young age. However, he didn’t disclose the ex-husband was the one who dumped him. According to Zhu Ling’s friend, “Brother Ling made us cry with regret. After drinking, he made consecutive phone calls and couldn’t stop…”
This unforgettable experience, combined with the recent shocking revelation, could possibly melt away Li Weidu’s aloofness in a short time.
It’s challenging to envision what kind of person he would be—beautiful as a flower, powerful, and unrestrained.
Wait!
As if suddenly recalling something, Shen Qian turned around and revisited the bookshelf. He pulled out an old tabloid titled “Shocking the CEO and the Migrant Workers.”
“Little Ye Zi, if the ex-husband and the little migrant worker are indeed the same person… can you confirm that this figure is really him?”
Ye Yin stared at the picture that was used to identify Li Weidu in the tabloid that caused a stir.
A cold sweat gradually broke out over his entire being—this height, this physique, this little black vest?!
Yes! Isn’t this Ji Kai? Why, why hadn’t he considered this before?
…
Everything, up to this point, seemed to finally fall into place.
No wonder Li Weidu remained so composed and unruffled on the day of their breakup! Zhu Ling had always wondered how Li Weidu obtained the phone number of his family…
The timestamp mentioned in the tabloid’s footnote predates that confrontation. They had, indeed, been acquainted for a considerable period!
After a moment of profound silence, a peculiar smirk suddenly crossed Ye Yin’s face in the vacant room. Ye Yin’s eyes gleamed, and for the first time, a semblance of “fighting spirit” emerged—a resolve fueled by intense and accumulated resentment.
“Ha, I’m going to find Li Weidu. I’m going to expose that Ji Kai to his face!”
…
“Don’t assume I’m oblivious to his intentions! You pretend to be so innocent in front of Zhu Ling, but you already know everything, and you’ve been coaxing Li Weidu to play underhanded tricks behind his back? He’s got a face like a saint, but a mind full of schemes! Deceiving everyone, how skilled can you be?”
“I used to be truly naive. I felt a bit sorry for him and wanted to let him off? Oh, who does he think he is? As soon as I return… as soon as he sees me, Li Weidu won’t be further deceived by him!”
After saying this, he was already brimming with energy, grabbing the keys and rushing to the door. But as he opened the door, he hesitated: “Qian Qian, won’t you come with me?”
Shen Qian vigorously waved his hands: “I won’t! And I strongly advise you not to go either!”
Still viewing him as a vulnerable child at Li Weidu’s place?
If he indeed goes, there’s a high probability he’ll face humiliation if he can’t handle the ex-husband, or worse, he might end up harmed!
…
However, convincing him proved to be an impossible task.
Shen Qian exerted every effort to dissuade him, seizing Ye Yin, laying out the advantages and disadvantages, and presenting facts and logic. He emphasized the necessity of enduring the humiliation if they still wanted their benefactor’s support, formulating a detailed strategy, methodically breaking down and eroding the influence of the ex-husband, and avoiding impulsive actions.
Regrettably, the Canary was unyielding. He couldn’t tolerate any injustice and had an elevated sense of self-worth.
Outside the window, the drizzle began, and within the empty room, a small hotpot was arranged. As enoki mushrooms simmered, Ye Yin stumbled back, clinging to the wall and drenched.
“Ugh… Li Weidu is completely, utterly deceived by him! His mind is in complete disarray now!”
Shen Qian: Why do I not feel surprised at all but rather have an urge to laugh a little?
“I want to inform Zhu Ling! I must tell Zhu Ling! If he doesn’t answer my call, I’ll change my number and send text messages until he answers! Zhu Ling is so naive. He still thinks he owes that person and believes he’s heartbroken? Hey, it’s been less than a month since the divorce, and he’s already forgotten about him, embracing Li Weidu and kissing him so blissfully!”
Shen Qian restrained Ye Yin and advised, “Don’t! Zhu Ling won’t believe you.”
“Why wouldn’t he believe it! There’s irrefutable proof in the newspaper, not to mention that they admitted it themselves! They even kissed each other—”
Although it was just a kiss on the face,
Ye Yin wasn’t a three-year-old child, so he understood that a kiss on the face could be fake, deliberately displayed to provoke him.
But something felt off.
Li Weidu’s eyes, that helpless surprise, the smile at the corner of his mouth that couldn’t be contained, the joy that brightened his entire world like a blossoming flower in his heart—those were undoubtedly genuine!
Without witnessing it firsthand, Ye Yin wouldn’t have believed it.
That person always only had eyes for him. How could he be captivated by someone else in just a few days?!
“Don’t rush into a confrontation!” Shen Qian restrained him again. “If you confront him, Zhu Ling will 100% think you’re sowing discord. What impression will he have of you, then? Don’t be hasty. I’ll go and give him a heads-up first. Let Zhu Ling’s friends spread the news; maybe Zhu Ling will believe it!”
…
In the pet shop, Li Weidu kept checking his phone repeatedly, but there were no new messages.
It had been a whole day.
Just… yesterday, he was surprised and elated, and today, he felt frustrated and lost.
You’ve already kissed me, so you’re just going to leave me alone?
Yesterday, on that beautiful maple leaf road, after hanging up the phone, Ji Kai predicted, “The little goblin will come to your house soon. Can you handle it by yourself? Do you need me to stand up for you and offer my support? Is there room for me?”
Li Weidu didn’t actually need anyone’s support.
But he couldn’t bear to let Ji Kai go, so he nodded, brought him home, and prepared a delicious and nutritious breakfast of toasted sun-egg and shrimp sandwiches. Just after eating, Ye Yin arrived at the door, as expected.
Li Weidu remained silent, moved out a box of things he had sorted earlier, and handed it to him.
Ignoring it, Ye Yin eagerly grabbed him and shouted nonsensically, “You’ve been deceived.”
“He just wanted to seduce you to make Zhu Ling angry,”
“He, he just wanted to use you to swindle your wealth and intimacy.”
Those who cheat for money are welcome, those who cheat for food are welcome, and those who cheat for sex are welcome… just welcome. Make Zhu Ling angry? Snort.
But Ji Kai wasn’t that kind of person.
After the meal, Brother Kai promptly left. This time, he didn’t quarrel with anyone. The entire conversation was polite and harmonious, with a clear central idea – “Zhu Ling, just keep him. I will accept his departure, and you shouldn’t be angry. It’s fair. You already have Zhu Ling, so there’s no point in wanting both, right?”
After that, he naturally reached out to hold Li Weidu’s hand.
Ji Kai’s palms were always warm. Li Weidu was taken aback, feeling the strange sensations of lightness, stagnation, and panic that extended from his heart to his entire body. Then, unexpectedly, his cheek was lightly rubbed by something.
Right in front of his house, in his small, white-fenced yard, in front of the few almost-ripe sunflowers.
Time seemed to stand still.
Ye Yin was so furious that his eyes gradually turned red, his cheeks flushed with tears, and he threw the box of things forcefully.
But Li Weidu couldn’t hear his unwilling accusations, nor could he hear the pieces rolling on the ground. All he could see were the golden hues of sunflowers and the cool autumn wind, making the whole world seem ethereal and brilliant.
At that moment, he realized more clearly than ever—he genuinely, truly liked the person next to him. And, for some inexplicable reason, he liked him a lot.
It was true; he no longer loved or missed Ye Yin at all.
Even though tears streamed down his face, he felt nothing when he saw him. The only thing burning in his entire being was the warmth of the person beside him holding his hand.
Their fingers intertwined, yearning to hold on like this and never let go.
…
On the journey back home, Li Weidu struggled to suppress his curiosity about Ji Kai’s recent actions. Why did you kiss me just now without offering any explanation?
Surprisingly, Ji Kai didn’t address this matter throughout the entire conversation: “Mr. Li, you did exceptionally well just now! You were composed, not sentimental, and didn’t disappoint me! Did you see Ye Min’s angry and shocked expression? Someone who showed kindness to him was seduced by others and snatched away. Does he finally realize whether you regret it or not? You should let that spoiled brat know how to cherish what he has!”
“Ye Yin,” Li Weidu corrected, “His name is Ye Yin, not Ye Min.”
“Still a little goblin, Ye Min! I can call him whatever I want!”
“…”
“Anyway, if he has any self-respect left, he probably won’t come to you again. It’s fine; let him sort himself out. It’s as if he’s lost everything. Don’t pay attention to him in the future. Investing time in such a person is not worth it. I may sound a bit intrusive, but really, your mother and Qi Yang have asked me to look out for you. I’d like to offer you some advice…”
Li Weidu drove in silence, the sun casting a warm glow on the car, comforting his sleeves.
That warmth brought back memories of the last time he and Ji Kai sat in a rundown car—the closeness he felt to his skin.
Suddenly, he felt an urge to lean closer to that person, but he couldn’t find a reason. He dropped Ji Kai off downstairs in the community, and watched him go upstairs, and there was still no explanation for the kiss.
Throughout the entire day after that, there was no news at all.
“…” Li Weidu was well aware that having no news was normal.
After all, it was Monday, and people were busy working on construction sites from early morning. It’s better to avoid looking at your phone while working, and dropping it and getting injured would be worse.
Yet he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being a disgraced concubine, favored by the king yesterday but rejected and relegated to the cold palace today.
I wonder, What is he having for lunch? A boxed meal? It can’t be that nutritious!
Checking the time, he noticed it was already past two in the afternoon. Secretly annoyed—why didn’t he think of inviting him for lunch? He quickly made dinner plans, intending to treat him to a good meal and replenish his energy!
Within a few minutes, Ji Kai responded: Sorry, Mr. Li, I have plans tonight. Can we reschedule for another day?
“…” You have plans. With whom?!
Because you must be aware that the “Take Medicine to Fight East China Hongxing Gang” has group rules, and you’re not allowed to break away from the collective to form a small gang! All solo appointments in the group must be reported to everyone, red envelopes must be distributed, and everyone must endure group banter.
No red envelope, no group teasing, and it’s not an appointment with anyone from the group.
Who is it with?! Does Ji Kai have other friends? Who is this person? Are they handsome? Are they close to Ji Kai? Could they have been eyeing him for a long time?
While he fumed internally, Qi Yang playfully hit his head with a rolled-up newspaper: “Weidu, you’re shameless, aren’t you? Such a significant event, and you didn’t breathe a word about it to us?”
Unfolding the tabloid newspaper before his eyes, the dazzling full-color second page featured a sensational headline: “Overbearing President Ji Kai’s Fifth Installment: Still Thick-Faced, Leaving Only a Stunning Figure to Ignite Imagination.”
Gossip always interesting, and Wei Xuan, who usually remains carefree, silently joined the discussion.
“After ‘The President Takes Migrant Worker Shopping for Clothes,’ ‘Sweet Late Night Escort,’ ‘Night at Five-Star Hotel in City A,’ and ‘Meeting the Parents in the Hospital,’ here comes a new sequel: ‘From Now On, the President Won’t Sleep at Night’ Chapter!”
“It turns out that after I left that day, you two stayed on the boat until I returned the next morning? So intense!”
“Fuck…” is a straightforward and vulgar verb, and Li Weidu completely comprehended it. A sensual and sinful scene played out in his mind, causing his brain to heat up, and he almost spewed blood on the spot.
“This wasn’t something I said; it’s right here in black and white text.”
Qi Yang’s fingers brushed over the newspaper, revealing bold lines stating, “Suspected of passionate love, hot ecstasy all night long.”
“…” Blood, my blood is boiling!
Who… who concocted this ridiculous story?! And how did they capture this image?
Which shameless reporter is squatting on such a secluded beach so early in the morning with nothing to do?! The precise moment Ji Kai helped him put on the necklace was captured! It’s like foreplay before the kiss!
“The internet is buzzing with discussions on whether it’s a migrant worker x boss or a boss x migrant worker.”
“It’s all fabricated! By the way, can I trust you? Brother Kai seems quite assertive…”
“But honestly, speaking of Brother Kai’s chest, waist, and butt, they do taste better after being pushed down, right? Just enjoy it. I ravaged him so hard he cried, that bass voice begging for mercy—oh, haha, hahaha, just imagine… don’t be so stingy, why not share how amazing it is?”
When he said this, the popular actor’s eyes, adored by thousands of girls, gleamed with an abnormal brightness, and the curve of his mouth was involuntarily exaggerated, giving him an utterly obscene expression.
Li Weidu felt like his entire body turned into a Rubik’s Cube, shattering into pieces: “Qi Yang! You, don’t speak nonsense. Ji Kai and I don’t have that kind of relationship at all!”
“No way? You didn’t savor such a fragrant piece of fresh meat, right in front of you? Then what did you do all night? What a waste!”
Li Wei trembled all over. “Who, who is as shameless as you?!”
“Uh, can we say Brother Kai isn’t your type?”
Qi Yang blinked, “Oh, I told you earlier! If you don’t want to, I will! You know I have great breast control, not to mention that Brother Kai is still a good man who dumped Zhu Ling so thoroughly. I think I can sleep with him, when I think of Zhu Ling’s twisted face, haha…”
After he finished speaking, the vest on his chest was grabbed directly, and his whole back was pressed against the cold wall.
Li Wei’s eyes flared in front of him: “Ji Kai is not that kind of person! All the grievances between you and Zhu Ling are not related to him!”
“…”
Ha, He’s angry!
I knew it! He immediately winked at Wei Xuan, who was wiping the pet cup.
Wei Xuan: “Qi Yang, I think you should stop teasing Weidu; otherwise, you’ll explode if you tease him again.”
Qi Yang waved his hands, hahaha: “It’s okay, don’t worry; Weidu and we are not people who value sex over friends~”
Not people who value sex over friends? It looks like he’s ready to kill his friend for sex! Wei Xuan turned his eyes and pursed his lips at the inflated pufferfish in the tropical fish tank in the store.
Damn it, the same!
Qi Yang looked at the fish and then at Li Weidu in front of him. Well, a poisonous threat from nature!
“Hahaha, Weidu, don’t get excited, don’t get excited. I just saw that you were restless all day after coming back from the ship, and I wanted to tease you… Seriously, are you a little attracted to Brother Kai? Actually, I have long thought that you will definitely meet someone who you really like and who likes you blindly. It just so happens that Brother Kai is also single, which is very suitable!”
“…”
“If you are with him, Wei Xuan and I will raise our hands and agreed! Do you still remember that day when we were fishing? I deliberately told him that I was a little afraid of bugs, and then he was responsible for bugs all the way. He is a very kind person, and will treat you well and know how to cherish you when you are together!”
“So, if he means that much to you, I just happened to have an appointment with him tonight. Do you want to come together?”
“…”
“I can help you create opportunities and say more good things about you… …”
“So, you are the one who made an appointment with him tonight?!”
The voice was completely cold, and a black fire like a cannibal was burning behind it. Qi Yang behaved for a second. Wei Xuan looked at Qi Yang sympathetically, as if he were looking at a dead person.
…Okay, very good!
You turned down my invitation and agreed to go out with Qi Yang?!
How well do you even know Qi Yang? You’ve only met once, and you’re already making plans? It’s like you instantly clicked, but what’s so appealing about a guy who’s always playful and grinning, capable of sweet-talking and deceiving people to no end?
Hold on, let’s be frank, aren’t Qi Yang and Zhu Ling the same kind of guy?
So, you’re naturally drawn to this type!?
Is your taste in clothing as questionable as your judgment in men?!
No wonder he’s got long legs, a slim waist, and handsome looks, yet he’s divorced at such a young age!
Frustrating!
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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