“You’re in love with him.”
The person questioning was a childhood friend of Rong Jing. Unlike the others from their group who liked to be wanton and often change lovers This young man has been living abroad since he had found true love and never came back.
They had been in contact occasionally. Now after listening to Rong Jing’s words, he blew the cup in his hand and wiping it he said with certainty, “Even if it’s not love, it’s definitely different from those before.”
Love…
Rong Jing found himself at a loss with this unfamiliar term.
He spent his time among flowers 1 The word used is 花叢(huā cóng) which is also a metaphor for brothel. from the very beginning, He had always looked down at those who quickly settled down with someone, dismissing their emotions altogether.
To him, so-called love was nothing more than the stimulation of hormones.
And when those hormones faded, all that was left of these nonsense/bullshit lovey-dovey sentiments was emptiness.
Just like Wen Mingquan, who claimed to love Bai Yuxiu while continuously seeking out lovers who resembled Bai Yuxiu. His so-called deep love was just that, not that special.
And now, someone was telling him that he had fallen in love with his little pet?
No, absolutely not.
Rong Jing was well aware that his feelings towards Xie Mu were merely possessive. He only wanted to imprison him in the Rong family, to amuse himself for a lifetime.
“Possessiveness is also a form of love.”
In the camera frame, the childhood friend finished wiping the cup and then took out a baby bottle to start mixing milk. Amidst his busy actions, he expressed, “Your previous lovers, have you ever thought about wanting them to accompany you for a lifetime?”
No.
Usually, he would get bored/tired of them after a while, unable to tolerate them any longer.
.”Rong Jing, if you like that person, just confess. But I think the person you like is truly unfortunate to be plagued by a scourge like you.”
“Oh, by the way, does that person like you?”
A fleeting image of the youth’s eyes filled with admiration flashed, and Rong Jing hesitated for a moment before replying, “He likes me.”
“But he used to like someone else.”
“En? An ex-boyfriend?
In the camera frame, the childhood friend began pouring water into the baby bottle, handling it carefully, then gently shaking it before placing it into a basin of cold water.
“Are you saying you mind that he has this ex-boyfriend?”
“No.”
Although he once cared a lot, Wen Mingquan now meant nothing to Xie Mu.
Rong Jing’s voice was somewhat subdued. “He used to really like that man, and now he likes me just the same.”
“How long was he down(distressed) after breaking up with his ex-boyfriend?”
“Less than a day.”
The childhood friend raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Carnivore, huh? Seems like you two are birds of a feather/partners in notoriety 2 The idiom used is 臭味相投 (chòu wèi xiāng tóu,xiù wèi xiāng tóu), meaning that people with bad thoughts and bad styles have the same interests, habits, etc., and can get along with each other. To share vile habits..
“Rong Jing, if you really like him, confess to him and you two can be together. If you don’t like him, then do as you please. I was worried you might hurt him, but since he has a temperament similar to yours, then, I guess, it doesn’t matter.”
Rong Jing knew that Xie Mu wasn’t the type of person his childhood friend said.
He just chose to escape after being hurt..
Rong Jing is a liar, deceiving Xie Mu into believing that they share mutual affection, even lying to him that they’ll grow old together
He has deceived many people like this before, but no one has made him feel as uneasy as Xie Mu.
If, in the end, Xie Mu discovers that this is all a deception, what will he do?
Will he feel momentarily lost and continue searching for a new boyfriend, or will he harbor a deep-seated hatred towards him?
Thinking about this, the man became increasingly restless/irritable.
The voice of a woman suddenly came from the opposite camera frame , “Why is it taking you so long to prepare the formula?”
“Coming, coming, it’s ready now.”
The childhood friend quickly picked up the just-warmed baby bottle, ignoring Rong Jing as he stood up. Behind him, a woman with a beautiful appearance walked in, holding a crying baby. She said impatiently, “Look at how the baby’s crying, why are you always so slow?”
“I was just speaking a few words with a friend. Come on, sweetie, let Daddy hold you. Here, time for your milk…”
The video call hadn’t been disconnected, and Rong Jing could clearly see the ingratiating smile on his childhood friend’s face and the foolish grin after picking up the crying baby.
Stupid, utterly stupid.
Despite having resources beyond the imagination of ordinary people since the beginning, despite the ability to be able to live carefree for a lifetime, he had tied his life to another person.
He wouldn’t be so stupid/foolish.
Rong Jing ended the video call, facing the darkness, he made a decision.
He enjoyed Xie Mu’s tenderness, but he would never hang onto him for a lifetime.
The slight unease in his heart was ignored by the man.
Anyway, even if the two were to separate, Xie Mu would treat him just like he treated Wen Mingquan.
****
Xie Mu’s custom-made suit arrived.
It was his favorite color, red, a dazzling shade that made the young man look so beautiful that people can’t take their eyes away.
On his delicate wrist, he wore a rare red watch.
This was a gift Rong Jing gave him before.
With a hint of excitement, he knocked on Rong Jing’s study door.
With sparkling eyes, he stood before the man and asked, “How do I look? Do I look good?”
As he spoke, he extended his wrist to show Rong Jing the watch. “When I receive the award, I’ll use the hand wearing this watch to hold the trophy.”
The man who had been gentle with him these days now showed impatience on his face. “Xiao Mu, I’m working in the study.”
The smile on the young man’s face faltered uneasily. Summoning his courage, he whispered, “You said before that I could find you anytime…”
Rong Jing did say something like that to him when they first confirmed their relationship.
But now, he needed to make Xie Mu understand his identity/position.
Rong Jing’s sharp brows frowned slightly, his tone turning somewhat cold and stern. “In the future, don’t come to the study when I’m working.”
His sudden change in attitude frightened Xie Mu.
He wanted to ask what was wrong, what had happened, why he was treated like this suddenly. But in the end, the young man just murmured in a low voice, “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”
The door was closed, but Rong Jing couldn’t focus on the documents on his desk anymore.
His mind was filled with the image of the young man’s transition from excitement to confusion just now.
Meanwhile, Xie Mu, feeling dejected, changed out of his clothes. These past two days, as he was about to receive an award, the company hadn’t assigned him any other tasks, so he had nothing else to do for the time being.
There was a piano in the living room, so with nothing else to occupy him, the young man sat down at the piano and began playing the only song he knew.
But as he played, his enthusiasm waned.
This song was one he learned because of Wen Mingquan and one that made Bai Yuxiu like him.
He stopped playing, and Rong Jing happened to come down from upstairs.
Seeing the young man stop playing halfway through, Rong Jing’s already upset heart seemed to be troubled again.
“Keep playing.”
Xie Mu looked up at him, still looking somewhat distressed. He muttered, “I don’t want to play anymore.”
Rong Jing’s inner turmoil intensified.
None of his previous lovers had the courage like Xie Mu. They always did whatever he asked them to do.
Indeed, he had spoiled this person too much.
The man sat down on the sofa, watching the young man stand up from the piano. He commanded, “I want to hear it. Keep playing.”
His tone reminded the young man of when he first arrived, back when Rong Jing treated him as if he were an object.
He thought that phase had passed.
Xie Mu became increasingly uneasy. He asked softly, “Rong Jing, what’s wrong with you?”
Was he in a bad mood?
The man’s face remained cold. “Play.”
In the end, the young man finished playing the song.
While Rong Jing listened, his expression remained indifferent. He answered a call and received news that his brother, whom he had hit, was being discharged from the hospital.
He glanced at the young man sitting at the piano with his back to him and said, “It’s my fault. I drank too much and didn’t hold back. It’s not that serious. Don’t you like Xie Mu? Do you want to come to my house and watch him play the piano?”
This seemed to be the tone of speaking about a mere plaything.
Xie Mu suddenly stood up.
His eyes were already red as he looked at the man aggrievedly, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you suddenly treating me like this?”
Rong Jing gave the young man a cold glance. “Didn’t I tell you not to make a sound when I’m on the phone?”
The young man was dumbfounded.
He did say that, but it was at the beginning, when they were still in the master-pet dynamic.
That period was probably the darkest time in his memory.
No dignity, no hope, violated in front of others by the man before him.
He thought it was all over.
Didn’t Rong Jing say he liked him?
Obviously, just before, he was still so gentle.
Xie Mu went upstairs, feeling wronged and confused.
The man sitting on the sofa stared fixedly at his back until he disappeared into the hallway, then he withdrew his gaze.
“Rong Ge 3 Brother , why aren’t you speaking? Can I come over this afternoon? Are you tired of playing? If you’re tired, Can I play? Rong Ge?”
Rong Jing’s hand holding the phone suddenly tightened and he threw the phone away.
—Bang!
