On the other side, after Zhou Jinheng received the picture sent by Yin Minglu, he was indeed greatly shocked. He hadn’t expected that just a second ago, he was confessing to Qiao An, seemingly unable to control his feelings, and the next second, he received ambiguous bed photos of the other person with his girlfriend. In the photo, Qiao An was not wearing clothes, with his long arms around his girlfriend, the other hand holding a post-coital cigarette. His facial expression clearly indicated a sense of satisfaction that any man could understand.
Zhou Jinheng’s heart was even more hurt because this bed photo was a constant reminder that Qiao An was undeniably a straight guy. Even if Qiao An and his white girlfriend named Emily had broken up, from the perspective of his sexual orientation, Zhou Jinheng had no chance. The last bit of fantasy was ruthlessly shattered.
He even wondered why Qiao An sent him this photo. Did he accidentally send it to the wrong person? Didn’t Qiao An just tell him that he had broken up with his girlfriend? So what did this bed photo mean? Was it indicating lingering feelings or informing others that they had reconciled? Zhou Jinheng dared not ask, and dared not think. The more he thought about it, the more wounds it added to his heart.
When Yin Minglu returned home after work, he saw Zhou Jinheng with disheveled hair, supporting his gold-framed glasses, and several open bottles of alcohol in front of him, portraying a somewhat pitiful image of drowning his sorrows in alcohol. The entire room was not lit, emitting a gloominess characteristic of a person in despair.
All of this was within Yin Minglu’s expectations. He raised an eyebrow, pretending not to notice the mess on the sofa. After taking off his shoes with a “pat,” he turned on the lights and said, “It’s already six o’clock. Why aren’t you cooking?”
The glaring warm light illuminated the room as if it were daytime. In that moment of brightness, Zhou Jinheng felt like a creature of the night exposed without a place to hide. Coupled with the cold and unfeeling urging of the young man, he felt exhausted and sad. It seemed that there were so many people in the world, yet not a single person cared about him.
“If you’re not cooking, then I’ll order takeout.” The young man continued talking to himself, bypassing the scattered pillows on the floor and taking out his phone.
Not a single caring greeting was offered.
Seeing Yin Minglu like this, Zhou Jinheng opened his eyes, chuckled a few times. His smile was bitter and pitiable, making it impossible for anyone to resist. If it were the original owner, he would definitely have pounced on him with heartache.
Yin Minglu, however, couldn’t be bothered. He wasn’t the original owner, and why should he rush to console the emotional trauma caused by Qiao An? But thinking that it wasn’t good to eat alone, he kicked the other’s leg with one foot and kindly said, “By the way, do you want me to order for you too?”
The words “by the way” stabbed at Zhou Jinheng’s heart, especially seeing the young man, not offering comfort or inquiring about what happened, but showing more concern about his own meals. The heartless and indifferent attitude made Zhou Jinheng feel even more wounded.
In response to the young man’s greeting, he lifted his eyes, the lenses revealing a pair of reddened eyes filled with patience. He lowered his voice, pointing towards the entrance, and shouted, “Get lost!” Since you don’t care about me, then just get lost!
Did he really just tell him to get lost? Zhou Jinheng was really asking for trouble. If it were the original sensitive and delicate owner, he might have been heartbroken.
Yin Minglu sneered, without saying a word, he directly took action and beat him up a few times after pinning him to the ground. The man clearly became more obedient, even covering his swollen eyes, and headed into the kitchen.
Clearly, the beating had sobered him up.
He also remembered that the young man was no longer the little rose who used to endure being driven away, scolded, and summoned at will without complaints. If he acted unreasonably, the young man might just use his fists to settle things.
“Eat.” With a pair of swollen peach blossom eyes from the beating, Zhou Jinheng put down the spatula and apron, shouted towards the sofa without much patience, then carried the plates to the dining table.
These days, he had become the diligent househusband, taking care of all the household chores, while the young man was the young master who didn’t lift a finger for any domestic tasks.
Upon hearing that the meal was ready, the young man immediately put down his phone and walked over in a few steps, praising, “Not bad, the food smells delicious.”
Zhou Jinheng remained silent. When the young man attempted to grab chopsticks without washing his hands, he coldly admonished, “Go wash your hands first.”
“Oh.” The young man obediently went to the sink, applied some hand soap, rubbed his tender white hands into bubbles, washed them several times, and then returned to the dining table, saying, “Look at my hands, they’re clean now.”
The posture was somewhat cute, completely making it hard to associate him with the person who had been ruthlessly beating him half an hour ago.
But Zhou Jinheng remembered. When the young man was casually eating without a care in the world, he took the opportunity to talk about life. He asked, “Minglu, do you still know who I am?”
“Of course, you’re my boyfriend,” the young man replied with a childish tone while picking up a piece of beef with his chopsticks. Then, his attention quickly shifted, saying, “Wow, this beef is so tender and delicious.”
Pretending not to hear the latter part, even though it was clearly a compliment, Zhou Jinheng still felt irritated. He said, “Since you know I’m your boyfriend, your husband, how could you resort to violence? Is it okay to casually beat your boyfriend? That’s what angers me.” How could the young man treat him like a ragdoll just because he was unhappy? Wasn’t he, as a man, entitled to his dignity?
So he felt it was an opportunity to make things clear with the young man. Gentlemen settle matters with words, not fists. Moreover, he didn’t want the young man to become more and more unruly, taking violence lightly. The time when the Little Rose was temperamental could be attributed to playfulness, but if it happened frequently, he would find it exhausting.
“Have you ever thought that if you continue like this, I’ll get tired?” Zhou Jinheng said, “I don’t like it when you behave like this. If you have something to say, we should sit down and talk about it.” He didn’t feel he was wrong in telling the young man to get lost just now. After all, it was wrong for the young man to hit him without reason.
“Oh, and then what?” Yin Minglu rolled his eyes, thinking that this man was really adept at double standards. “So, when you make a mistake, you’re melancholic for someone else, don’t even bother cooking, and when I kindly offer to order takeout, you tell me to get lost. Can’t I be angry? I haven’t even asked you why you didn’t come to the office to pick me up today. I had a hard time squeezing into the subway by myself, and when I get home, I see you holding a wine glass, looking like you want to die. Could it be something happened with your first love, Qiao An, again? So, you’re so angry, even venting it on me. Is it wrong for me to hit you to try to get you back on track? With your temper, do you want to break up with me? We’re not even married yet, and I already have to watch your mood. After we get married, do I have to grovel to satisfy you? Is that what you want?”
No wonder they say people in love are like Sherlock Holmes. The young man clearly hit the nail on the head with the reasons for his despondency, and his words were forceful, leaving Zhou Jinheng at a loss for words.
But he didn’t want to admit defeat and retorted, “I’m just worried about work. Since you say we’re going to get married, and I look so sad, shouldn’t you comfort me instead of sternly threatening me? Clearly, you weren’t like this before!”
Zhou Jinheng admitted that he had wrongly vented his heartbreak on the young man after seeing the private bed photos of Qiao An. However, the young man shouldn’t have resorted to violence so easily. When he realized he couldn’t even win in a physical confrontation with the young man, it dealt a severe blow to his male pride.
He also thought about how, in the past, the young man used to warmly embrace him as soon as he came home, gently soothing him, and regardless of his mood, the young man, like a tender rose, would revolve around him. Now, looking at the young man sitting casually with his legs crossed, the contrast was too great, leaving Zhou Jinheng feeling quite disheartened.
“Work? I hope so.” The young man squinted skeptically, clearly not buying into his nonsense. As he hopped down from the dining table, he spoke again, “Jinheng, you need to know, you’re a person with a boyfriend, and I’m your boyfriend. Our status is equal. Just a few days ago, you said you would take care of me, marry me, and live together. I thought you had changed, that you finally had me in your heart. But this morning, I saw you absorbed in your phone again, I don’t know which little enchantress stole your attention. I didn’t question it, wanted to give you one last chance. But when I finished work today, you didn’t come to pick me up, didn’t even bother to call me in advance, made me wait for you for a long time. When I got home, you were yelling at me, clearly it was your fault, yet you complained that I laid hands on you. If you don’t love me anymore, you could have just said it. I wouldn’t pester you. We could part ways amicably. Instead, all day long, I see you making international calls, and I have to reluctantly believe that you’re talking to your parents! You keep saying you’ve sincerely invested in our relationship, but you still treat me like a fool!”
With that, Yin Minglu ignored the shocked expression on Zhou Jinheng’s face, forcefully set down his bowl and chopsticks. He even avoided Zhou Jinheng’s attempt to reach out and pulled away, angrily retreating to his room.
The victory of the young man’s verbal onslaught once again left Zhou Jinheng defeated, and he didn’t even have to wash the dishes because Yin Minglu was genuinely shaken by the “unreasonable compromise” he had expressed. Zhou Jinheng began aimlessly tidying up the dishes in the dining room, looking lost and soulless.
After the aftermath was cleaned up, Zhou Jinheng had completely pulled himself out of the tender trap woven by Qiao An. He lightly knocked on the door of the young man’s room and apologized in a gentle tone. The colder the young man became, the more remorseful Zhou Jinheng felt, repeatedly assuring him that he wouldn’t do it again.
Seeing that he was pushing the two of them back into a frozen state, Zhou Jinheng was full of regret. He realized that he had been enchanted, thinking that there was hope with Qiao An, a straightforward man. He had foolishly been moved by a few words and pictures. After being rudely awakened by that photo and the young man, he realized the folly of his imagination.
The ancient saying “cherish the person in front of you” was indeed true. While he was worrying about Qiao An, the smart young man by his side knew about it but pretended to be ignorant. Zhou Jinheng had hurt the young man deeply, and if the young man hadn’t spoken up, he might have overlooked it.
He really shouldn’t continue like this.
It’s impossible between him and Qiao An. He should forget about Qiao An and seriously consider his future with the youth. He should put all his thoughts on the people around him.
“Darling, it’s my fault. I had my secretary check the accounts. Oh, I didn’t mean to check on you, I just wanted to understand what you were up to, without any intention of prying into your whereabouts. I want to ask why you don’t use the card I gave you. I know you’re not with me for money, but you shouldn’t always deprive yourself. After work, interact more with your colleagues, invite them to dinner, don’t always revolve around me. It’s not that I dislike you being around me, I just want you to be happier.” Thinking about how the youth used to always be around him after work, while he spent his time in bars and clubs with his buddies, Zhou Jinheng felt awkward. He felt like he had locked a cheerful and innocent person in his own world but hadn’t cherished him enough.
“I’ll buy you a car. In the future, if I can’t pick you up after work, don’t inconvenience yourself by taking the subway, just drive home directly.”
“How about we buy a new house in the city center? There’s a cluster of high-rise luxury residences there. I’ve checked it out; the location is excellent, the interior is well-decorated, the transportation is very convenient, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows that you like. I know you lack a sense of security. The house will be in your name, so if I ever make a mistake, you can kick me out anytime. Darling, please open the door. I know you love me a lot, and it’s my fault. Don’t be angry. It’s not good for your health if you get upset.”
In fact, Yin Minglu didn’t hear any of these words. He took a shower, didn’t even bother drying his hair, and went straight to bed. However, this created a huge misunderstanding for Zhou Jinheng.
Yin Minglu kept the door closed, and Zhou Jinheng didn’t want to force it open. But when he saw the wet footprints, step by step, extending into the youth’s bedroom, he couldn’t resist the itch in his heart. He really wanted to talk to the young man in person, so he took out a spare key and quietly opened the bedroom door.
He thought the young man would be furious and maybe even give him another beating for disregarding his wishes and opening the door directly. However, as he entered, he found the young man in pajamas, eyes closed. The sight of the pure and innocent features softened Zhou Jinheng’s heart slightly. But then, the young man frowned slightly, as if feeling sad, and Zhou Jinheng noticed the clear “water stains” on the young man’s face. His heart tightened, realizing for the first time how deeply he had hurt the young man, making him cry even in his sleep, unable to find happiness.
That night, Zhou Jinheng silently stared at the young man’s adorable sleeping face, filled with “worries,” for a long, long time. It was also the first time he pretended not to see Qiao An’s incoming call, realizing that he needed to take the time to sort out this relationship. He was indecisive and couldn’t bring himself to cut ties decisively, but he also knew that dwelling on the past would cause great harm to the young man.
When Yin Minglu woke up the next day, rubbing his eyes in a daze, he quickly noticed that there was now a car and a house under his name. Additionally, there was a man holding breakfast with a pleasing expression on his face.
The man even mentioned that when he wasn’t busy with work, he would introduce him to his good friends.
Oh? Yin Minglu raised an eyebrow, took a bite of the bun in his mouth, and casually thought that he unexpectedly received the treatment the original owner never got. However, it was of no use because getting recognition from Zhou Jinheng’s circle of friends was harder than reaching the sky.
A child might have silenced Zhou Jinheng’s parents, but no matter how much the original owner humbled himself, he couldn’t change the opinions of Zhou Jinheng’s group of close friends. Those privileged offspring from prominent families in Beijing always believed that the original owner was beneath their notice, either after Zhou family’s money or influence. As a result, they often ridiculed him. Ironically, even though Qiao An’s family background was not as good as the original owner’s, they all supported Qiao An and Zhou Jinheng being together. When the original owner was dumped at the wedding, these people were the quickest to mock and kick him while he was down.
Qiao An grew up with these people, so even if Yin Minglu managed to establish good relationships with them, once Qiao An returned to the country and showed signs of wanting to compete for Zhou Jinheng, these people would undoubtedly not hesitate to sell him out, actively playing matchmaker between Qiao An and Zhou Jinheng.
In the previous life, there seemed to be an incident where they got Zhou Jinheng drunk and sent him to Qiao An’s hotel, with these friends acting as Qiao An’s divine helpers. This kind of blatant support for infidelity was utterly disgusting. Therefore, in this life, Yin Minglu would absolutely not let them off lightly.
On the other side, Qiao An was unaware of why Zhou Jinheng, who had clearly been very moved by his advances, quickly rejected his calls. When he thought about the credit card statements sent by the bank, Qiao An’s eyelid twitched, especially as the bank urged him to repay within three days, or they would lower his credit rating. Americans are not fond of saving money; they prefer to max out their credit cards every month. Having lived abroad for a long time, influenced by this atmosphere, Qiao An had adopted this habit of premature consumption, especially with Zhou Jinheng’s previous support. He had been spending recklessly, making each month’s bank statement alarming.
Zhou Jinheng suddenly changed the password, and Qiao An couldn’t withdraw money or pay off this debt. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell Zhou Jinheng that he was out of money. Coupled with various bank reminders and the strict laws in the United States, credit card overdue payments could be suspected of credit card fraud, especially for immigrants. If his credit rating decreased and his conduct was deemed problematic, it might lead to rejection of future immigration applications.
Therefore, Qiao An was naturally in a state of panic, more anxious than anyone else. He valued his pride and didn’t want to borrow money from the Chinese community around him, fearing it would damage his reputation. Since Zhou Jinheng intentionally refused to answer his calls, Qiao An had no choice but to indirectly inquire about Zhou Jinheng’s plans through his group of good friends back in China. When he learned that Zhou Jinheng was planning to formally introduce the guy named Minglu to them, Qiao An’s brows furrowed tightly, and his face became extremely dark.
He had already made up his mind. That little lover of Zhou Jinheng must have deceived him, taking away the money Zhou Jinheng originally intended to spend on him. The guy was a stumbling block on the road to repaying his credit card debts. Now, he even wanted to please Zhou Jinheng’s group of good friends and smoothly marry Zhou Jinheng. Qiao An was not going to let that happen.
Otherwise, once that little lover was officially recognized, where would Qiao An stand in the future?
The author has something to say: Adding a supplementary update.
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