DPT chapter 67

They broke up amicably and still sat at the same table to eat after the delivery arrived.

They had dinner together many times, but this was the first time they had takeout. Qin Xu opened the takeout packages and arranged them neatly, breaking apart disposable chopsticks and handing them to Zuo Chi.

Zuo Chi: “Thank you.”

Qin Xu talked about Qin Rui waking up, lamenting that another storm would hit the Qin family: “My father is somewhat famous abroad in the business world. Both my brother and I hoped the other would inherit the family business. I can’t understand why they fight so fiercely for it. Now that Qin Rui is awake, I won’t associate with the Qin family anymore.”

Zuo Chi nodded: “Your mother, father, you, and your brother are the real family.”

Qin Xu’s mood dipped: “I wonder what the Qin family will do with Qin Xuan.”

Zuo Chi raised an eyebrow: “Qin Xuan?”

Qin Xu: “Hasn’t Sheng Li told you? Your car accident and Qin Rui’s accident two years ago were both masterminded by Qin Xuan.”

Zuo Chi’s face was full of surprise. He had been classmates with Qin Xuan for three years and had no deep friendship, but he hadn’t expected him to commit such crimes.

He suddenly remembered what Qin Xuan said to him at Grandpa Qin’s funeral.

“They’re all hypocritical to Grandpa, respecting him only for his power and money, but not me. I can’t understand why Grandpa never saw me.”

“Even on his deathbed, he still worried about my older brother, saying if only he hadn’t had an accident, saying he couldn’t rest easy with the Qin family in such chaos.”

“I thought you’d understand me. We’re both excluded from our families.”

Everything seemed unbelievable yet traceable. Jealousy, resentment, and hatred are the most corrosive emotions.

Zuo Chi knew many in their circle couldn’t understand why he didn’t fight with Zuo Lie.

He’d heard many similar comments—

“You’re the legitimate young master of the Zuo family. What right does Zuo Lie, an illegitimate child, have to inherit the business?”

“Zuo Lie is a loser. Are you afraid you can’t beat him?”

“Even if both of you are named Zuo, you should get a share of the property and cash.”

He once felt it was unfair, blamed Zuo Lie for taking his place, and wished Zuo Lie would disappear.

But if he was determined to fight Zuo Lie, it meant enduring Zuo Yi and Shu Qingyu’s interference in his life for some time.

He had enough and didn’t want to live like that anymore.

“Of course, Qin Xuan will face legal consequences,” Zuo Chi said. “Qin Rui won’t allow the person who harmed him to appear before him again.”

“That’s good,” Qin Xu said. “Zuo Chi, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

Zuo Chi: “You don’t have to apologize. I’m fine, aren’t I?”

After eating, Qin Xu cleaned up the mess and took out a bag of trash when he left.

Zuo Chi felt a bit embarrassed: “I can take it out myself.”

Qin Xu: “It’s no trouble.”

Zuo Chi wanted to walk him downstairs, but Qin Xu refused. He looked at Zuo Chi, still a bit sad: “Get some rest and heal quickly.”

Zuo Chi stopped at the door, watching Qin Xu until he disappeared around the corner before closing the door.

Before bed, Zuo Chi unpacked his suitcase, put everything back in place, and walked into the movie room, where he found something new by the sofa.

It was a record player, the same brand as the one he gave Sheng Li, but a different style. Made of walnut, it was vintage and classic, with beautiful grain and metallic accents for extra texture.

He looked closely and saw his name engraved on the record mat. He gently touched the engraving and sighed.

On the day of the car accident, Sheng Li must have called to wish him a happy birthday.

Cheng Xiangwan was right; looking back requires more courage than giving up. Zuo Chi remembered his 25th birthday, calling Sheng Li’s friends one by one to find him, but never hearing a “happy birthday” from Sheng Li. It had been a year, but he still remembered how cold it was that day, how lonely he felt sitting alone in the convenience store, and how cloyingly sweet the small cake he ate was.

When he wavered, scenes of humiliation and embarrassment caused by Sheng Li would surface in his mind. He didn’t want to relive the heart-wrenching pain again.

After being deeply hurt, he found himself once more drawn to the person who had hurt him. How pathetic could he be? Did he have any shame left?

Zuo Chi knew he could leave Sheng Li. Without Sheng Li, his day would still consist of twenty-four hours, busy and fulfilling. Yet, whenever Sheng Li appeared before him, he cared, he became distracted, unable to help but pay attention. In his most beautiful fantasies, Sheng Li’s shadow always lingered. Sheng Li could effortlessly play on his heartstrings, make him laugh, infuriate him, leave him at a loss.

Love should have been joyful, but unrequited love brought endless torment to the one who gave more. Deciding to let go required rationality triumphing over emotions to end the suffering. Wanting to turn back required balancing reason and emotions to measure whether torment or happiness awaited in the future.

The next day, Sheng Li called Zuo Chi to inform him of the results of the investigation into the car accident. Zuo Chi remained calm. 

“Did Qin Xu tell you?” Sheng Li asked.

“Yeah,” Zuo Chi replied.

Sheng Li immediately asked, “Did you have dinner together?”

“Yeah.”

“What did you eat?”

“…Why do you care?” Zuo Chi retorted.

Sheng Li felt a pang of pain.

“It’s none of my business. I was just asking,” his voice softened. “Don’t be so harsh with me.”

“Was I harsh?” Zuo Chi cleared his throat. “How did you get the evidence?”

Sheng Li detailed the process of his investigation, unable to resist a bit of self-satisfaction. “How was it? I’m pretty smart, right?”

Zuo Chi: “Yeah, smart. I wonder who’s been at the bottom of the class all these years.”

Sheng Li defended himself, “My mind wasn’t on studying! If I had put in the effort, maybe I could have gone to the same university as you.”

Zuo Chi: “Your mind wasn’t on studying, but then why bother me about extra lessons? Weren’t you just intentionally wasting my time?”

Sheng Li: “I just wanted to spend time with you after school.”

His straightforward words stirred Zuo Chi’s heart. He didn’t know how to respond.

Zuo Chi’s silence made Sheng Li uneasy. “Ah Chi, during the last semester of senior year, Sheng Changyu said if I didn’t get into a university in China, he would send me abroad. At that time, I thought I couldn’t go abroad. If I did, I wouldn’t be able to see you often, so I worked hard to stay in China.”

Zuo Chi thought, back then he had hoped Sheng Li would go abroad, using time and distance to sever unrealistic thoughts. If Sheng Li had gone abroad then, perhaps everything would be different.

“I usually am carefree, but when I set my mind to something, I follow through.” Sheng Li said seriously. “Even this time when something happened, I could do something for you.”

“Are you boasting about it?” Zuo Chi asked.

Sheng Li quickly said, “No! Everything I do is because I want to. I don’t mean to pressure you.”

“Ah Chi, am I still in negative territory in your heart?”

“When did I rate you?” In his heart, Sheng Li was just Sheng Li. His actions couldn’t be measured by points. Sometimes he was foolish, sometimes smart, sometimes lovable, sometimes hateful, sometimes very kind to him, but sometimes he abandoned him.

His assistant knocked on the door and Zuo Chi wanted to hang up. “Let’s stop talking,” he said.

“Wait…” Sheng Li began.

Zuo Chi’s hand was already poised over the end call button. “…”

“Your company needs startup funding, right? I…” 

Sheng Li realized the call had ended and spoke to his phone screen for several minutes.

Damn it.

He felt wronged. Why did Zuo Chi have such little patience with him?