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ASPDDW Chapter 52

Second Bloom

Wen Xia led his horse back to the stable and grabbed a small handful of hay to feed it.

Liao Xingshen approached after feeding his own horse, “That guy earlier, was that… Fang Huai’s dad?”

Wen Xia nodded, “Yeah.”

Liao Xingshen continued, “It seems like your two families have never really gotten along.”

“Definitely not,” Wen Xia replied. “To put it bluntly, we’re practically archenemies. My dad and his dad have been at odds since their student days.”

Liao Xingshen chuckled and asked, “So why is Lin Fengqi here?”

Wen Xia replied, “Fang Huai’s dad wants to cozy up to him.”

Liao Xingshen’s family ran a hospital, so while the Fang family was in real estate and didn’t directly interact with his family’s business, they still knew each other by reputation. However, Liao Xingshen’s father was more focused on his medical profession, having spent most of his life dedicated to the operating room, so he wasn’t much involved in the business world’s comings and goings. That’s why Fang Lianshu didn’t recognize him earlier.

Liao Xingshen stroked his chin and teased, “I thought he might have come specifically for you.”

Wen Xia fed the last of the hay to his horse and nodded seriously, “You could say that.”

After resting for a bit and letting the horses rest as well, they decided to go for another ride.

More people had arrived to ride, but the field was spacious enough that the scattered horses didn’t feel crowded. Fang Lianshu’s group had dispersed as well, with only a few familiar faces visible in the distance.

As Wen Xia and Liao Xingshen rode forward, Liao Xingshen teased, “Are we going to find Lin Fengqi?”

But they didn’t need to search. After a short ride, they spotted Lin Fengqi and Fang Huai racing on the track, one ahead of the other.

A small crowd had gathered around the track, mostly people from Fang Lianshu’s group, watching the race. Wen Xia and Liao Xingshen joined them to watch.

This riding field was more for casual enthusiasts rather than competitive sports, so the track was smaller and less strict in its regulations.

“I wonder how many laps they’ve done,” Liao Xingshen mused.

“They just started,” a nearby riding enthusiast kindly replied.

Within a few moments, the distance between Lin Fengqi and Fang Huai had shortened. Fang Huai was catching up.

Wen Xia watched from outside the fence, feeling a bit tense as the gap closed. As the two riders neared the turn, Lin Fengqi’s gaze met Wen Xia’s.

Lin Fengqi’s grip on the reins instinctively tightened, causing his horse to slow down. This brief hesitation allowed Fang Huai to gain on him.

From the sidelines, the business executives in Fang Lianshu’s group began to cheer, “Lin, Fang is catching up!”

But Lin Fengqi’s eyes were still glued to Wen Xia.

Wen Xia, feeling a spark of mischief, suddenly shouted, “Fang Huai, if you’re a real man, then win this for me!”

Fang Huai was startled, almost losing his balance on the horse.

Before he could recover, Lin Fengqi, who had just slowed down, suddenly spurred his horse forward, galloping even faster than before.

The businessmen on the sidelines cheered, “Come on, Fang!”

Fang Huai gritted his teeth, his competitive spirit suddenly ignited. Originally, he had only joined the race because his father pushed him into it, even telling him to deliberately lose to give Lin Fengqi face—but to hell with that.

However, no matter how hard Fang Huai tried to catch up, Lin Fengqi seemed to be on fire, increasing the gap between them.

Wen Xia’s voice rang out again, lazily urging, “Go, Fang Huai!”

Fang Huai’s scalp prickled as he watched Lin Fengqi, who had nearly lapped him, slow down again and look back.

Confused, Fang Huai’s horse continued at its original pace, closing the gap once more. Just as he was about to catch up, Lin Fengqi spurred his horse into another burst of speed, pulling away again.

Fang Huai was left speechless.

What the hell was this?

This race was over. Lin Fengqi crossed the finish line well ahead, with Fang Huai trailing far behind, his face as sour as laundry left out in the rain.

Fang Lianshu, being an experienced player in the field, could see that Lin Fengqi’s actions were deliberate. While annoyed, he couldn’t help but be puzzled by Lin Fengqi’s seemingly out-of-character behavior. Wasn’t Lin Fengqi the type who wouldn’t play around like this?

And then there was that brat from the Wen family, who had yelled out just to mess with his son’s focus.

But as Fang Lianshu watched Lin Fengqi slowly ride back to where Wen Xia stood, he suddenly had an epiphany. Something clicked.

This was strange.

The timing of Wen Xia’s shouts—first, when his son got startled, Lin Fengqi slowed down and then sped up again; the second time, the same thing happened. It was odd.

Fang Lianshu pondered over this, while Wen Xia noticed Lin Fengqi approaching and heard Liao Xingshen mutter, “I didn’t realize earlier, but are you two wearing matching outfits?”

Wen Xia blinked, glancing down at his clothes. He hadn’t realized until now that his hoodie was the same color as Lin Fengqi’s sweater.

Honestly, he hadn’t put much thought into his outfit today since this wasn’t a real date, just something to get through. He had grabbed the first thing from his wardrobe, throwing on a jacket over it. It wasn’t until now, with the jacket off, that he noticed the matching colors.

When he looked up again, Lin Fengqi was already in front of him.

Lin Fengqi sat tall on his horse, his posture impeccable, but his gaze was a little melancholic, like a wronged wife.

Wen Xia knew what Lin Fengqi was moping about and sincerely praised him, “You were amazing.”

Lin Fengqi’s expression softened slightly, just as he was about to speak when Fang Huai came rushing over like a firecracker ready to explode. “Wen Xia, what the hell was that?”

If Lin Fengqi didn’t understand what it meant to have your day ruined, he sure did now.

He watched Wen Xia’s gaze shift from him to Fang Huai’s face.

“What do you mean?” Wen Xia asked.

“What was that ‘go, Fang Huai’ about?” Fang Huai couldn’t vent his anger on Lin Fengqi, so he directed it at the person who had started all this. “Did you take something weird this morning?”

Before he could finish, Fang Huai felt an icy gaze fall on him. He turned to meet Lin Fengqi’s cold, chilly eyes.

Fang Huai shivered, his bravado fading slightly as he weakly said, “You really shouldn’t do things like that.”

Lin Fengqi suddenly spoke up, “Young Master Fang, thank you for letting me win. We can have a rematch later if you’d like.”

Fang Huai’s eyes widened in disbelief. Was this guy serious?

“Let you win? Who let you win? Are you mocking me?”

Fang Huai was fuming, feeling utterly humiliated. The businessmen approached again, congratulating Lin Fengqi on his excellent performance and making jokes about the rematch. One even invited Fang Huai for another round, which he accepted begrudgingly, all the while seething with frustration.

Fang Huai eventually stormed off, too angry to deal with these two conniving individuals any longer. As he left, Lin Fengqi’s icy aura seemed to lift slightly.

He turned back to Wen Xia and said, “I won.”

Wen Xia nodded, “Yes, you won.”

Lin Fengqi’s voice grew more intense, “I beat Fang Huai.”

Wen Xia continued, “Yes, you beat Fang Huai.”

Lin Fengqi was silent for a moment before he stiffly said, “Earlier, you told Fang Huai…”

“Hmm?” Wen Xia looked at him quizzically.

Lin Fengqi swallowed and continued, “You told him, ‘If you’re a man, then win this for me.’”

Wen Xia blinked, “Oh, I did say that.”

Lin Fengqi remained silent, his gaze darkening.

Wen Xia then put on a troubled expression and said, “But even if you lost, you wouldn’t have turned into a girl, right?”

Lin Fengqi was speechless.

Wen Xia added, “You see, even though you won, you’re still a man.”

Lin Fengqi’s lips tightened as if he were feeling a bit wronged.

“Am I making sense?” Wen Xia asked with a playful smirk.

Lin Fengqi, suppressing his frustration, grumbled, “Yes, you’re right.”

Seeing that Lin Fengqi was on the verge of being thoroughly flustered, Wen Xia decided to cut him some slack. “Why don’t we head out and take a walk?”

Lin Fengqi’s eyes brightened slightly as he replied, “Alright.”

He really was easy to appease, like a human-sized Ah Mou, their pet dog.

Liao Xingshen joined them with a chuckle, “You guys don’t mind an extra third wheel, do you?”

Compared to Fang Huai, Lin Fengqi could tolerate Liao Xingshen’s company. The three of them left the racetrack and wandered leisurely around the spacious field. But after a while, Lin Fengqi had to return to his business obligations, despite wanting to stay with Wen Xia.

Before they parted, Wen Xia casually remarked, “It’s funny how our clothes match so well. What a coincidence.”

He then noticed a faint blush spreading across Lin Fengqi’s ears as he tried to maintain a composed demeanor, “Yeah, quite the coincidence.”

Wen Xia immediately realized that it wasn’t a coincidence at all. Lin Fengqi had planned it.

As Wen Xia and Liao Xingshen left the racetrack, Wen Shan Hai called to inform them that lunch was ready if they were hungry.

Wen Xia teased, “So, you’re still fishing with Uncle Fang? Catch anything?”

Wen Shan Hai replied, “Fishing isn’t just about catching fish; it’s about finding peace and reflecting on life.”

“Got it. You didn’t catch anything,” Wen Xia quipped.

Wen Shan Hai hung up in annoyance.

When the two arrived at the fishing spot, they found the two fathers still sitting by the water, looking more like they were meditating than fishing.

“Why are you here?” Wen Shan Hai asked, noticing their approach. “Didn’t I tell you to go eat if you were hungry?”

“Eating alone is no fun. Meals are better enjoyed together,” Wen Xia replied.

Wen Shan Hai gave him a disapproving look, “You always have some twisted reasoning.”

Wen Xia glanced at the water, “You’ve got a bite!”

Not only did they have a bite, but the fish almost pulled the rod into the water. Thanks to Wen Xia’s timely warning, Wen Shan Hai managed to grab the rod in time. After a bit of a struggle, they reeled in a large fish. Wen Shan Hai, thrilled with the catch, couldn’t resist showing it off to Liao Xingshen’s father.

“Haha, look at this big fat fish I caught!” Wen Shan Hai proudly announced, showing off the sizable catch to Liao’s father.

“Nice catch! I have to admit defeat this time,” Liao’s father replied, clearly impressed.

With their catch in hand, the two fathers were ready to wrap up their morning. They decided to have the fish prepared as a dish at the nearby restaurant.

They brought the fishing gear back and headed to the restaurant, where they ordered a private room and handed the fish over to the kitchen staff to be made into a spicy dish.

While waiting for their food, Wen Shan Hai asked, “So, what did you two do while we were fishing?”

“We went horseback riding,” Wen Xia replied.

“Just horseback riding?” Wen Shan Hai asked.

Wen Xia nodded.

Liao’s father then chimed in, “There’s so much to do here. You two should explore more this afternoon. If one day isn’t enough, we can always stay overnight and continue tomorrow.”

Liao Xingshen pointed out, “Dad, don’t you have surgery tomorrow? I thought today was your only day off?”

Liao’s father remained in good spirits, “That’s true, but you and Wen Xia can stay an extra day if you want.”

Liao Xingshen was stunned. He didn’t recall ever expressing a desire to stay longer.

Wen Shan Hai added, “No rush. Let the kids go at their own pace.”

Wen Xia felt a bad premonition.

Sure enough, Wen Shan Hai continued, “We can always come back another time or find somewhere even more interesting to visit.”

Liao’s father agreed, “True, true. My mistake.”

Wen Xia and Liao Xingshen exchanged helpless glances.

Liao Xingshen texted Wen Xia: [This ‘next time’ after ‘next time’… when will it end?]

Wen Xia responded: [You confess, or I confess. Your choice.]

Liao Xingshen: […]

Liao Xingshen: [Let’s just… wait a bit longer.]

Wen Xia wasn’t sure what Liao Xingshen’s situation was, but on his end, confessing to Wen Shan Hai wasn’t out of the question—just not today. Doing it in front of Liao’s father would be like severing ties between their families.

After a while, the food started arriving, but their spicy fish dish was still missing. Wen Shan Hai grumbled, “Where’s the fish? It should be here by now.”

Wen Xia stood up, “I’ll go check.”

“Sit down, let Xingshen handle it,” Liao’s father suggested.

“It’s fine. It’s a small thing. I’ll go,” Wen Xia insisted.

Just as he walked out of the private room, he bumped into a group of people. Wen Xia was taken aback, and so were they.

“Oh, Xia,” Fang Lianshu was the first to react, “What a coincidence. You’re eating here too?”

Wen Xia nodded calmly, smiling, “Yes, Uncle Fang. And you?”

“Yeah, what are the odds? We’re in the room right across from yours,” Fang Lianshu said.

More like bad luck, Wen Xia thought.

He glanced at Lin Fengqi, then heard Fang Lianshu ask, “Where are you off to?”

“Oh, one of our dishes is taking forever. I’m going to check on it.”

“I see. Go ahead, then,” Fang Lianshu paused, then asked, “Is your dad in there?”

“He went to the bathroom,” Wen Xia lied smoothly. “The big one. So he’s not around right now.”

Just as he finished speaking, the door behind him opened, revealing Wen Shan Hai stepping out.

Wen Xia froze.

He stared at Wen Shan Hai, who looked back at him sheepishly.

Wen Shan Hai had heard his son’s words, but by the time he realized what was being said, it was too late to stop himself from opening the door.

“Oh, there he is!” Fang Lianshu exclaimed, “Come on, Wen, what’s with the little white lie?”

Wen Shan Hai huffed, trying to cover, “Who said I was lying? Can’t a private room have a bathroom?”

Fang Lianshu was left speechless.

Wen Shan Hai glanced past him at the group of executives trailing behind. Recognizing his cue, they greeted him, “Wen, long time no see.”

“It hasn’t been that long,” Wen Shan Hai grumbled. “Didn’t we just celebrate Fang’s birthday not too long ago? Don’t make him sound so old.”

Fang Lianshu’s eye twitched. Like father, like son, he thought. Wen Xia had certainly inherited his father’s knack for being infuriating.

“Dad, you guys chat. I’m going to check on that dish,” Wen Xia said, wanting no part in the older men’s verbal sparring.

As he passed by Lin Fengqi, he hesitated, looking over at him.

Since leaving the racetrack, Lin Fengqi had put on a light-colored trench coat. The usual black that gave him a cold and steady aura was gone, replaced by a clean and refreshing look that was surprisingly alluring.

Wen Xia glanced down at himself—yep, his jacket was the same color. Just not a trench coat, but a denim jacket.

Well, we really are matching, he thought.

Lin Fengqi met his gaze and stepped closer.

It was only then that Wen Xia noticed Fang Huai standing beside him, glaring daggers at him.

Wen Shan Hai called out, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and check on the food.”

Wen Xia responded, heading downstairs.

As he walked away, Wen Shan Hai frowned slightly, something about Lin Fengqi’s demeanor struck him as odd.

When Wen Xia returned to the private room, the exchange in the hallway had ended, and Fang Lianshu’s group had retreated back to their room.

“They forgot about it,” Wen Xia reported, sitting down. “It’s being prepared now.”

Wen Shan Hai, still irked from the hallway encounter, grumbled, “How could they forget? If you hadn’t gone to check, they might have just given our fish to the other room.”

Wen Xia joked, “Maybe they’ll order fish, and our fish will end up on their table.”

Wen Shan Hai’s face fell, “Son, don’t jinx it.”

Liao’s father, sensing the tension, changed the subject, “Alright, alright, let’s focus on our meal. We came here to have a good time, right?”

The spicy fish finally arrived, a bit late, almost serving as a post-meal treat. Since they had finished eating before Fang Lianshu’s group, they could still hear the boisterous sounds of toasts and cheers from the other room as they left.

Wen Xia frowned at the noise.

“Son? We’re leaving,” Wen Shan Hai called, noticing Wen Xia lagging behind.

After paying the bill, the four of them stepped out of the restaurant. The two fathers quickly suggested that they split up, offering Wen Xia and Liao Xingshen some space. “We’re heading to the karaoke room for a few hours. You two probably don’t want to listen to us old folks singing. Go have your own fun.”

Liao’s father agreed, “Right. Or you two could get your own room if you want.”

Liao Xingshen told the elders they’d figure it out, and the two fathers happily walked off together, already immersed in the joy of their future as in-laws.

Once they were gone, Wen Xia pulled out his phone and sent Lin Fengqi a message: [Don’t drink too much.]

“What’s the plan for the afternoon?” Liao Xingshen asked, but Wen Xia seemed distracted. “Wen Xia?”

“Hmm?”

Noticing his absent-mindedness, Liao Xingshen suggested, “Why don’t we find a place to sit for a bit?”

They found a nearby café and had just sat down when Lin Fengqi replied: [Okay.]

But Wen Xia still frowned slightly.

“Worried about Lin Fengqi?” Liao Xingshen guessed, “It sounded pretty lively in that room when we walked by.”

Wen Xia sighed, not denying it.

He knew the kind of people they were dealing with. Lin Fengqi, who had climbed to his current position, surely had ways to handle such gatherings. After all, Wen Xia had seen Lin Fengqi return late from work before, with a faint scent of alcohol on him, indicating he could control himself well. But now, with only a wall separating them, Wen Xia couldn’t shake the feeling that Lin Fengqi was a helpless bunny about to be bullied.

Liao Xingshen sipped his coffee and suggested, “Given the kind of people we saw this morning, I bet by the time lunch is over, a third of them will be too drunk to continue, and the rest will want to stick together. Why not ask Lin Fengqi what their plans are for the afternoon?”

Wen Xia understood his meaning and sent Lin Fengqi another message.

After a long while, Lin Fengqi replied: [Not sure yet.]

Lin Fengqi had used the classic “bathroom break” strategy to escape the endless toasts. In truth, he had only had one drink. While cooling off outside, he received Wen Xia’s message.

He knew what the afternoon plans were. Despite the heavy drinking, the real drinking session would be in the evening. For now, they were pacing themselves.

As he was about to reply, he noticed someone else who had also come out to avoid the drinking—Fang Huai.

Fang Huai was about to approach but froze when he saw Lin Fengqi, his expression darkening. He stopped about ten meters away and pulled out his phone to play a game.

So Lin Fengqi changed his reply to Wen Xia: [Not sure yet.]

If Wen Xia knew their plans, he might come to the same place.

After all, he had cheered for Fang Huai so openly earlier, without even hiding it. Just standing there, calling out another man’s name in front of him…

He must want to find Fang Huai.

Lin Fengqi glanced at Fang Huai, who was standing there, slouching as he played on his phone. He thought about how Wen Xia had lingered in the hallway earlier.

Wen Xia had probably noticed that their clothes were the same color.

After all, it was a meticulously planned couple’s outfit.

He should have outshined Fang Huai, right?

After all, Fang Huai’s outfit was so plain.

And he was so rude to Wen Xia.

Fang Huai, engrossed in his game, suddenly felt that icy gaze on him again. He looked up, only to see Lin Fengqi staring blankly at his phone.

Weird, he thought.

Just then, his phone buzzed, and Fang Huai saw a message from Wen Xia: [Where are you guys going this afternoon?]

Fang Huai angrily replied: [None of your business.]

Wen Xia: [It isn’t my business, but it is yours.]

Wen Xia: [If you tell me where you’re going, I can avoid it. Otherwise, if we run into each other, it’s you who’ll be unhappy, not me ^_^]

Fang Huai: “…”

That… made sense.

After thinking it over, Fang Huai reluctantly sent Wen Xia a message.

Time passed, and Fang Huai stayed where he was, still playing his game. Lin Fengqi, who hadn’t paid him any mind, pocketed his phone and returned to the private room.

Wen Xia had sent another probing message, but Lin Fengqi dodged the question again.

There was no way he’d give Wen Xia and Fang Huai more chances to meet.

No way at all.

The lunch meeting ended with several of the younger, less experienced executives—who weren’t much older than Lin Fengqi—succumbing to the effects of the alcohol. Fortunately, the next activity was indoors, where they could sit or lie down to recover.

They dragged the tipsy ones along and headed to the KTV.

The KTV at Suye Mountain Resort stood out from regular KTVs, with a luxurious environment and top-notch service, perfectly matching Fang Lianshu’s taste for sophistication.

For the younger crowd, it was also a plus that the song selection was comprehensive, including the latest hits and obscure tracks alike.

The private room was spacious, allowing plenty of space for the drunken ones to stretch out on the couches.

Lin Fengqi didn’t participate much. Whenever the group egged him on to sing, he would only pick a song when the pressure became unbearable. Once he finished singing, the drunk executives turned their attention to Fang Huai.

Before long, the room filled with smoke as one person’s cigarette led to another’s, turning the room into a hazy, smoke-filled space.

Fang Huai, unable to take it, quickly made his escape.

As soon as he stepped out, he caught a glimpse of a figure in a cream-colored coat pushing open a door down the hall. For some reason, the sight of that color made his skin crawl, so he looked closer.

That person stopped and turned to look at him, making Fang Huai curse under his breath.

I knew it! he thought. Anyone wearing that color today is bad news!

He’d been deceived!

Damn it!

Wen Xia was also surprised to see him, but he quickly smiled, looking as harmless as ever.

He and Liao Xingshen had spent quite a while at the café. Initially, Wen Xia believed Lin Fengqi genuinely didn’t know the afternoon plans, but after several rounds of questioning, his sharp instincts as a seasoned observer of Lin Fengqi’s quirks told him that something was off.

But it didn’t matter. Lin Fengqi could dodge the question all he wanted; Wen Xia had his own ways of getting the information he needed.

Fang Huai turned out to be quite useful.

The room he had just left was where Wen Shan Hai and Liao’s father were, and Liao Xingshen had already gone inside. But Wen Xia wasn’t here to sing. He was here for Lin Fengqi.

Wen Xia changed course, heading toward Fang Huai.

“Well, isn’t this a coincidence?” Wen Xia said, throwing an arm around Fang Huai’s shoulder like they were old pals. “Who knew our fate was so deeply intertwined?”

Fang Huai’s face darkened as he struggled to get free, “What the hell is wrong with you, Wen Xia? Didn’t you say you’d avoid me?!”

“I wanted to, but my dad insisted on coming. What was I supposed to do?” Wen Xia shrugged.

“You…”

Just then, the door behind Fang Huai opened.

The cacophony of singing spilled out, and an irate-looking Lin Fengqi appeared in the doorway.

Lin Fengqi stared at the two of them, his world shattering.

He stood there for a moment, stunned, until someone inside noticed him and started to say something.

Lin Fengqi took a step forward, slamming the door shut behind him, sealing the noise inside.

Wen Xia had already removed his arm from Fang Huai’s shoulder but remained calm and unperturbed, showing no sign of guilt or embarrassment as he looked at Lin Fengqi.

But Lin Fengqi felt as if Wen Xia’s nonchalance had stabbed him in the heart.

Wen Xia didn’t even care how I feel, he thought, pained.

It was like Wen Xia was telling him, “Look, I don’t care what you think.”

Fang Huai, having been freed from Wen Xia’s grip, took a few steps back, feeling as if his skin was crawling with bugs. “What the hell is wrong with you, Wen Xia? I knew you were up to something when you asked me about our plans earlier! You’re just messing with me, right?”

His words were like another bolt of lightning, striking Lin Fengqi with a painful realization.

Wen Xia didn’t get the information from me, so he went straight to Fang Huai.

Of course. How could I forget? Wen Xia has Fang Huai’s contact information.

He probably asked me first because he was too proud to ask Fang Huai directly.

After all, Wen Xia had once asked Fang Huai out to dinner and been cruelly rejected.

The Wen Xia I knew, who was always so carefree and proud, had lowered himself to contact someone who had hurt him deeply…

How much does Wen Xia really care about Fang Huai?

And yet Fang Huai… still treated him like this?

Lin Fengqi, lost in his thoughts, noticed Wen Xia looking at him with a hint of concern. Maybe he had gone too far.

Thank you so much, Fang Huai, Wen Xia thought, steadying himself.

“Yeah,” Wen Xia admitted, a shameless grin on his face. “I was messing with you. So what?”

Fang Huai was furious, “You—”

Before he could finish, Lin Fengqi took a large step forward, positioning himself between them. This time, he didn’t turn his back on Fang Huai; he faced him head-on with an icy glare.

His eyes were cold as steel, devoid of any warmth.

Fang Huai was startled, his anger fizzling out as he stammered, “Uh, Lin?”

But Lin Fengqi grabbed him by the collar and started dragging him away.

Fang Huai almost stumbled, his long-standing frustration bubbling over. “What the hell, Lin? Let go of me!”

“Shut up,” Lin Fengqi ordered.

Wen Xia was stunned.

He hadn’t expected things to escalate like this. After a moment’s hesitation, he hurried after them, worried that Lin Fengqi might actually lose his cool and start a fight. That would be a real disaster.

Lin Fengqi marched down the corridor, his expression dark, while Fang Huai swore and struggled. People passing by looked on in shock, some even wondering if they should call the police.

Wen Xia quickly backtracked, reassuring them, “Don’t worry, it’s just a little spat between friends. I’ll go talk to them.”

One person reluctantly put away their phone, still unconvinced, “You’d better go quickly then.”

Lin Fengqi dragged Fang Huai to the end of the hallway, where the bathrooms were. It was quiet and deserted, the perfect spot for a confrontation.

He roughly shoved Fang Huai into a corner and let go.

Fang Huai angrily adjusted his collar, “What the hell is your problem, Lin? You better have a good explanation for this, or we’re done with any future business!”

Lin Fengqi cornered him, his icy demeanor unmoved by Fang Huai’s threats.

He simply looked down at Fang Huai as if he were a mere insect.

Fang Huai was already at a disadvantage in terms of height and now felt even more intimidated.

The oppressive atmosphere made Fang Huai shrink back, despite his best efforts to maintain his bravado. Half a minute passed, and he couldn’t take it anymore.

“What’s wrong with you and Wen Xia today? Are you both losing your minds? Did I do something to piss you off?” he demanded, growing increasingly agitated.

Hearing Wen Xia’s name made Lin Fengqi’s expression even colder.

“You have no right to say his name,” Lin Fengqi said, his voice as cold as ice.

“What do you mean I have no right? What is it with him? Is his name made of gold or diamonds?” Fang Huai spat angrily. “Even if it were, I’d still find it disgusting!”

Lin Fengqi’s voice remained steady, “You have no right.”

Fang Huai was so frustrated he could scream. Just as he was about to unleash a string of curses, Lin Fengqi spoke again, “Why did you treat him like that?”

His tone was strained, barely holding back his anger.

Fang Huai felt something was off, but his anger overrode his caution. “What do you mean why? Wen Xia and I have always been enemies!”

Lin Fengqi’s hand clenched into a fist at his side.

“I just don’t get it,” Fang Huai ranted. “What makes him better than me? In kindergarten, he’d steal my toys, steal my friends, and whenever we fought, he’d use dirty tricks. The teachers would praise him as a good kid? Please! They didn’t see how ugly he could be! And then in elementary school, he still beat me at everything. Every test, he’d score three points higher than me, like it was some kind of three-pointer basketball shot!”

Fang Huai grew more agitated as he went on, “What’s so great about those three points? He even made a copy of his report card and shoved it under my door, as if to rub it in my face!”

“And in middle school? I finally mustered up the courage to confess to my first crush, only for her to say she liked Wen Xia instead! And Wen Xia, that idiot, turned her down! She was such a nice girl, and he rejected her? Claimed he liked guys, as if anyone would believe that!”

“High school was even worse,” Fang Huai ranted, the floodgates of his complaints fully open now, “I thought I’d finally be free of him, but no, my dad kept comparing me to him. Wen Xia’s dad would brag about how well he was doing, how he always scored three points higher than me—always three damn points! My dad wouldn’t shut up about it. I couldn’t understand why studying was so important. To them, it was like a competition!”

Fang Huai kept spewing grievances, his mouth running like a machine gun, until he was practically gasping for air from talking so much. He finally paused, taking deep breaths to calm down.

Lin Fengqi, meanwhile, had grown increasingly confused by the direction of the rant.

Something didn’t add up.

Fang Huai glared at him, his breath still heavy, “Tell me, why should I be nice to someone like him?”

Lin Fengqi’s usually sharp mind had stalled, but it finally began to work again, albeit slowly, “But… he likes you.”

Then he watched as Fang Huai’s expression morphed from dumbfounded to incredulous, and finally to furious in the span of two seconds.

He looked as if he had just suffered the greatest insult of his life, shouting, “Are you trying to piss me off?!”

Lin Fengqi hesitated, opening his mouth to respond but unable to find the right words.

His instincts screamed at him to retreat.

Fang Huai continued his tirade, “Who the hell would show their affection by printing out sixteen copies of someone’s worst crying face as a birthday gift?! Don’t ask me why sixteen, because that was my sixteenth birthday, damn it!”

With that emphatic “damn it,” Lin Fengqi’s brain completely shut down.

He finally realized what had been bothering him all along.

Not a single one of Fang Huai’s stories had anything remotely to do with romance.

All of them were about grudges and spite.

At that moment, Lin Fengqi felt like he was gazing into the abyss of space.

Was it too late to have the R&D department develop a spaceship to leave the galaxy?

Human imagination really could be a curse.


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