CYNTM CHAPTER 43

“You know, invite him to dinner, then pin him down on a Japanese-style floor with a bang. Doesn’t that sound spicy?”

“Haha… Very spicy indeed.” Hunter rubbed his nose. “The person you want to pounce on is right behind you.”

“What?” Audrey turned around and saw Winston standing there with a suitcase in one hand.

“Hey! Why didn’t you tell me sooner!” Audrey pretended to be angry and punched Hunter’s shoulder.

“Hahaha! Your prince charming needs to know your true feelings!” Hunter revealed a mischievous grin.

Deep down, he couldn’t help but feel envious of Winston.

Then… an ache settled in his chest for no reason.

“Miss Wilson.” Winston nodded with his usual polite expression.

Hunter nudged Winston’s shoulder and whispered, “If you dare, try being a pervert again!”

“Are you sure?” Winston asked in a low voice, his face expressionless.

“On second thought, maybe not.” Hunter had a hunch that any bad luck would definitely fall on him.

“Are you guys… on vacation together?”

“Yeah, we went to Noboribetsu to soak in the hot springs!” Hunter replied with a smile.

“No wonder your skin looks so good. I’ve come to a conclusion.”

“What conclusion?”

“Next time I want to interview Winston without an appointment, I need to ask you, not the Ferrari team.”

“Hahaha! That’s right. The next time you interview me, you have to write something nice! Otherwise, I won’t give you any inside information!” Hunter winked.

They lined up to board the plane. After entering the cabin, Hunter found that Audrey’s seat was in the same row as theirs, just across the aisle.

Hunter helped Audrey stow her luggage like a gentleman.

“How does it feel to travel with Winston? We journalists both hope for and fear interviewing him the most.”

“Why is that?” Hunter asked curiously.

“Because after a spectacular performance, he always manages to give all the reporters awkward silence.”

“Hahaha!” Hunter laughed, then glanced at Winston beside him.

This guy was still reading the newspaper like he did on the way here, his face as expressionless as a silent statue. It was impossible to connect him to the flirtatious guy with a smirk at the hot spring inn.

“We wish he would say a few more sentences.”

Audrey peeked at Winston.

Even though Winston could sense Audrey’s feelings, he didn’t show any sign of wanting to talk to her, only answering politely when necessary.

Hunter leaned towards Audrey and whispered, “If he really talked to you, he’d just tease you and find ways to embarrass you. It’s better not to.”

“Tease and embarrass me?” Audrey glanced at Winston. “I don’t think so.”

Hunter shrugged.

At that moment, a flight attendant pushed a beverage cart down the aisle.

Hunter felt a sudden tug on the back of his collar, pulling him upright just as the cart passed by.

“Oh right, I initially contacted your team to request an interview with you, but Mr. Marcus told me you were on vacation. Turns out you were with Winston. I was wondering if I could interview you when we get to Tokyo.”

Hunter was about to answer, but Winston, who had been silent until now, interjected, “We’re flying directly to Abu Dhabi after arriving in Tokyo.”

“Yeah, that’s a shame.” Hunter scratched the back of his head.

For some reason, he felt that Winston had been acting strange ever since they met Audrey.

Of course, Winston now matched the impression that others had of him.

“Then, can I be the first to interview you when we arrive in Abu Dhabi?” Audrey’s eyes were sincere.

“Oh, sure. If the team doesn’t have anything special planned, it should be possible.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“Okay.”

Many passengers on the plane were sleeping, so Hunter didn’t feel comfortable continuing the conversation with Audrey. He closed his eyes and tried to relax.

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Winston hadn’t turned the page of his newspaper the whole time.

Audrey took a bottle of mineral water from the flight attendant and struggled to open it.

“Ugh, this bottle is so tight.”

“Let me help you.” Hunter took the water and twisted it open.

Just then, Winston beside them finally turned the page of his newspaper, the rustling sound breaking the silence.

Hunter tilted his head curiously to see what Winston was reading.

“Entertainment news? You’re reading this?”

Which singer was holding a concert, which celebrity was getting divorced, which movie might sweep the Oscars… None of these things seemed like something Winston would be interested in.

Winston didn’t respond. Instead, he folded the newspaper and stowed it in the compartment in front of him.

Hunter scratched his head, puzzled. Was Winston in a bad mood?

Winston folded his arms and closed his eyes.

Feeling strange, Hunter deliberately took out the newspaper and carefully examined its contents.

The first page was about the growing US economy and the second page detailed global struggles. The third page was dedicated to economic news that Hunter couldn’t comprehend, and the fourth page covered entertainment news… with no interesting celebrities.

So what was Winston reading that put him in a bad mood?

At that moment, Hunter had a narcissistic fantasy: maybe it was because, ever since Audrey appeared, Hunter had been talking to her and neglecting him.

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Although Hunter believed that only Winston could neglect others and no one could neglect Winston, this fantasy gave him a sense of superiority.

He unfolded the small table in front of him, tore the newspaper apart, and began folding and smoothing it out. Even Audrey sitting on the other side couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing.

A few minutes later, Hunter poked Winston with his finger.

“Stop it.” Winston turned his face towards the window.

Hunter poked him again.

Winston slowly opened his eyes and saw Hunter holding a rose folded out of the newspaper.

“Here’s a flower for you, so stop ignoring me.”

Winston seemed stunned for a moment, then turned his face away.

Hunter stretched his head over, trying to check Winston’s expression.

“Are you smiling?”

Winston still didn’t answer.

But Audrey, watching from the other side, was astonished. She had never seen anyone interact with Winston so naturally before.

Winston pushed Hunter’s head away with his hand.

“Stop it.”

These were the same words, but Audrey could almost hear the faint smile in his voice.

“Then talk to me.” Hunter stuck the flower in the storage compartment in front of Winston, forcing the newspaper rose on him.

“What do you want to talk about?” Winston finally looked at Hunter. Although his face was expressionless, Hunter was sure that his mood had improved.

“…The food on the plane is terrible,” Hunter said.

“You can write a complaint.” Winston closed his eyes to continue to rest.

“Do you think I could pull out the parachute and take a look?”

“Do you want to get kicked off the plane?”

“No, but I’ve never skydived before.”

“Go skydiving in Dubai after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.” Winston’s voice was flat.

“I don’t know how to. What if I pull the parachute too late and fall to my death? Or what if I pass out in mid-air?” Hunter’s head rested against the seat in front of him as if he was so bored that he was just saying anything to get the person next to him to talk to him.

“I’ll teach you how to skydive.”

“Why can you do everything?”

“But I can’t make you shut up and sleep.”

“…”

Fine, I’ll sleep then.

Hunter leaned back against the chair and glanced at Audrey, who gave him a slight smile.

Hunter felt as if Winston’s icy heart had healed him. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

He tilted his head towards Audrey.

When the plane shook slightly, his head fell to the side.

Winston, who had been sleeping with his eyes closed, reached out and cradled Hunter’s head on his shoulder.

Hunter inhaled the familiar scent and unconsciously snuggled closer to Winston.

Winston’s fingers gently stroked his head, and Hunter stopped moving and continued to sleep peacefully. Winston turned his head to the window and went back to sleep.

Audrey, who was watching them, was surprised.

She knew that Winston always treated Hunter differently, to the point that among so many drivers, Hunter was the only one who could make Winston talk about things other than racing. But Winston’s current behavior was completely beyond Audrey’s imagination.

Hunter slept the whole time until the landing announcement.

When the plane landed, the passengers disembarked one by one.

Hunter helped Audrey get her luggage. She smiled, “Hunter, you’re such a gentleman.”

“Haha, if I wasn’t a gentleman to you, Marcus would kill me.”

“Call me when you get to Abu Dhabi.”

“Definitely.”

Hunter was about to follow Audrey out, but his shirt was tugged from behind.

He turned around and saw Winston holding a suitcase in one hand and the newspaper rose in the other.

“What?”

“Hold it carefully.” Winston handed the flower to Hunter.

“Ah…”

“Hold it until we get to Abu Dhabi. If you drop it, I’ll never talk to you again.”

“Are you serious?”

“What do you think?”

“…”

Hunter realized that Winston wasn’t easy to coax.

As they walked through the terminal to transfer flights, Hunter passed by a trash can. He was about to throw away the rose when Winston, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, turned around and looked at him coldly. “What are you doing?”

“…I…I’m just exercising my hand…hahaha!”

Hunter twisted his shoulders and gave a dry laugh.

“If you throw away that rose, I’ll buy you a thousand newspapers to slowly fold on the plane.”

“That’s impossible!” Hunter exclaimed without thinking.

“Impossible? Don’t you know I’m a super VIP of this airline?”

Meaning it would be easy for him to ask the airline to prepare a thousand newspapers for Hunter.

Hunter suddenly felt sorry for the airline, having to meet all kinds of weird demands.

He reluctantly picked up the rose and followed behind Winston with his head down.

“Can’t I just fold another one for you after we get off the plane?” Hunter sighed.

“Imagine Marcus wants to propose to a woman one day but hasn’t prepared anything. He rushes across the street and buys a diamond ring for her. Then she loses the ring, so Marcus orders an identical ring. Which ring do you think means more to her?”

“…Marcus has been divorced many times…” Hunter couldn’t grasp the point of Winston’s question.

“I’m asking you, which ring do you think is more important to the woman?” Winston stepped closer, looking Hunter in the eyes, and asked.

“…The first one, I guess.”

“Why?”

“…Because the first ring is the real proposal ring, and the second one… is just a replacement?” Hunter frowned.

Why was he asking such a question!

“The first ring was given impulsively, it was a pure response from the heart. But the second ring is not just a replacement, it is… something that has been thought through,” Winston said.

“Alright, alright… So what does this rose have to do with a proposal ring?” Hunter waved the newspaper rose in his hand, causing its head to droop and sway.

“To me, it’s like the first proposal ring. It was an impulsive, genuine gesture. Anything else would feel insincere.” Winston turned away.

Hunter stood there stunned, looking at the paper flower in his hand. He followed behind Winston, speechless.

“But it’s just a flower made from a newspaper… It has nothing to do with a proposal ring! Otherwise… after the Abu Dhabi race, I’ll get you a giant diamond ring in Dubai, okay!”

“Are you proposing to me?” Winston asked, turning around.

“…You can use it to propose to someone else.”

Hunter prayed in his mind for someone to please tame this man!

But less than half a second later, he regretted it.

If someone else really tamed Vann Winston… wouldn’t that mean no one would go on trips with him anymore?

Then… before meeting his soulmate, he hoped Winston would remain single and unattached like this!

“Then keep holding the flower.”

Winston turned back. His legs were already long, not to mention when he deliberately quickened his pace, Hunter had a hard time keeping up.

“Hey—Winston!”

Hunter really regretted his actions at this moment. Why did he have to fold this stupid paper rose on the plane!

At that moment, someone bumped into Hunter, but because his eyes were fixed on Winston, he couldn’t dodge in time. The paper rose in his hand was flattened by the collision.

Hunter froze, desperately wishing someone to give him a newspaper so he could fold a new flower before Winston turned around.

He looked around, but when he wanted a newspaper, he couldn’t find one!

Fate is so cruel!

Just then, Winston turned around. Hunter wished he could be struck by lightning and die on the spot.

“S…sorry…” Hunter raised his hand, and the rose fell.

A traveler rolled a suitcase over the rose, crushing it.

Hunter stood there dumbfounded, unsure whether to pick it up.

Winston walked back slowly, bent down, and picked it up.

It was flattened, no longer resembling a flower.

“You know… you’ve hardly ever given me anything.”

When Winston said this, Hunter’s heart felt like it was sinking into the depths of the ocean.

“This is the first time you’ve thought of giving me something.” Winston lowered his eyelids.

Hunter wanted to say: If you think it’s so important, you should hold it yourself! Why do I have to carry it the whole time!

But he didn’t say it.

“I want you to hold it as if the process of you giving it to me is extended.”

Winston turned around and tucked the flattened paper flower into his pocket before walking away.

Hunter’s heart felt like it had been hit by something. He unconsciously quickened his pace to catch up.

Winston remained silent all the way, his expression giving Hunter no clue about his emotions.

This feeling reminded Hunter of when Winston was on TV or they accidentally passed each other before they first met in the bathroom at the Spanish Grand Prix. His expression… as if they had never known each other.

They sat on the flight to Abu Dhabi close by, but Hunter felt distant.

From putting away their luggage to fastening their seatbelts and the plane taking off, Hunter knew that Winston was really angry with him. Although they had agreed not to say “break up” again, maybe Winston would soon act like this never happened. Hunter almost understood, but he didn’t understand the reason for Winston’s anger and didn’t want Winston to pretend not to be angry in the future.

It was always Hunter who acted childish and willful, and if Winston occasionally acted this way, could he… be generous enough to “coax” him?

Afterward, Hunter felt disheartened… What could he possibly do to coax Winston! When dealing with people, Hunter seemed cheerful and sunny, but in reality, Winston was more capable of solving problems and more respected by people. As for general knowledge, Hunter was just a good-for-nothing leech, but Winston could meticulously plan a last-minute trip.

Who was coaxing whom here…

Suddenly, Hunter felt hopeless.

The plane had been flying for two hours, and Winston hadn’t said a single word to him.

How sad…

He rested his forehead against the seat in front of him, then turned and tugged at Winston’s sleeve with his fingers.

Winston turned his face away, clearly avoiding Hunter.

Ah… someone who never got angry was really difficult to deal with when they did!

“You’re ignoring me, I’m upset…”

Winston remained silent.

“You know, before I met you… no matter how much McGrady scolded me, I wouldn’t get angry.”

He still didn’t pay attention to him. Hunter continued to talk to himself.

“That time in the hotel lobby, when McGrady scolded me, I was so agitated I couldn’t speak… because you were beside me. I didn’t want you to hear anyone say anything bad about me.”

Hunter lowered his eyes, not wanting to see Winston’s expression.

“My bet with McGrady… wasn’t that he would stop messing with me if I got into the top six… but he couldn’t use you against me anymore. But at Silverstone, I only got eighth place, so I cried.”

Hunter’s voice was muffled.

“I’m telling you the truth, are you still mad at me? Maybe you feel that I rarely give you anything, so it’s important because it’s from me, right? If someone on your team gave it to you, would you still feel that it was as important? I folded that paper rose, but you feel I’m not as important as a paper rose.”

Hunter felt extremely sad.

Ten seconds later, a slightly cold but gentle voice spoke.

“There aren’t many truthful words in this world. Your bowed head and sorrowful look are more precious than a rose folded from a newspaper.”

Hunter didn’t look at him, just raised his fist and punched Winston’s shoulder.

“You did that on purpose?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I want to see you struggle and feel sad because of me.” Winston’s voice was as calm as ever.

Hunter’s mouth curled up. He didn’t say anything, put on his eye mask, tilted his head, and prepared to sleep.

“I thought you were going to explode with anger.”

Winston’s finger gently hooked Hunter’s eye mask. Light seeped in, and from this angle, Hunter met Winston’s eyes through the gap.

It was warm, like something blue melting away.

“I have nothing to give you, so I can only give you a little bit of the right to be willful.”

“What right to be willful?”

“The right to watch me relieve your sadness, something no one else can do.” Hunter stretched the corner of his mouth.

“Then thank you.” Winston’s finger lifted Hunter’s eye mask higher. He leaned in, and Hunter could see his lips more clearly. “My king.”

Winston’s finger moved away, and the eye mask fell back, covering Hunter’s eyes. Everything was plunged into darkness.

But Hunter felt his heart pounding wildly.

Then thank you, my king.

My king.

It was Winston’s unique voice.

Hunter suddenly became restless and turned over in his seat.

In theory, he should have fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but that sentence kept running through his mind for several minutes.

Just as he managed to fall asleep, the flight attendants started serving food. Annoyed, Hunter pulled off his eye mask. The Emirates airline food was edible, but… not filling.

After finishing the meal, Hunter considered having some bread.

Despite his strong fingers, he couldn’t open the small butter packet.

In the end, he used his teeth to bite the edge of the packet… The result was that he managed to bite off the edge, but the wrapper remained intact.

Hunter threw the butter packet back into the meal box and sighed in frustration.

It was just a small piece of butter… He didn’t want to eat it if it took so much effort…

Suddenly, he thought of Winston’s words at the hot spring inn: Putting on a condom, six calories.

His face gradually turned red, but then he heard Winston’s voice.

“Ahh.” Winston raised his chin and opened his mouth.

Hunter turned his head and saw Winston’s fingers holding a piece of bread towards his lips.

Hunter opened his mouth. After biting into the bread, he realized it was already buttered.

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The author has something to say:

Winston: You are my king.

Hunter: What are the king’s privileges?

Winston: Fold me a paper rose.

Hunter: No way!

Winston: Sleep on my shoulder.

Hunter: That I can do!

Winston: Be fucked to tears by me.

Hunter: Refuse! Refuse! Refuse!