Translator: Lynn
In Ji Kai’s circle of gay acquaintances, the seemingly ordinary mutton stall owner, Ying Jian, appeared to lead quite an extraordinary life.
Rumors circulated about his mysterious wealthy background, and it was whispered that he had a stunning partner who embodied both grace and audacity.
The members of the gay group had interviewed this “butcher lover of a gangster” numerous times. Had he ever encountered the classic scenario of “I’ll offer you five million to leave my son immediately”?
“I’ve always wished for it.”
“…”
“Really,” Ying Jian mused as he held up his skewers of meat, his gaze distant. “If someone kindly handed me five million, I’d seize the opportunity and vanish into seclusion in the depths of a mountain forest. Not a moment would be wasted.”
Unfortunately, he had yet to encounter such a considerate and pragmatic prospective mother-in-law.
It wasn’t that the potential mother-in-law was miserly. Rather, the main impediment was the woeful circumstances of Ying Jian’s own prospective mother-in-law. To delve into this minor saga, one must recount how Ying Jian crossed paths with that enigmatic beauty who resembled the Lord of Hell.
I recall the time when Ying Jian’s father, retired and enamored with square dancing, fell for a captivating aunt.
The elderly gentleman had been single for over a decade, and Ying Jian harbored no objections to his father’s newfound romance.
However, fate took an unexpected turn when the aunt’s son, accompanied by a band of ominous figures, intercepted Ying Jian’s father and flung a box of banknotes before the trembling elder.
“[I’ll give you five million to leave my mother immediately!]”
Indeed, the honor of experiencing the dramatic slap of a check across the face fell upon his father, not Ying Jian.
As for the subsequent melodrama involving the elopement of the middle-aged Sunset Hong and the bitter reprisal against his son by malevolent forces… delving too deeply into these tales would surely evoke tears.
Following the interview with the butcher in the boss’s bed, envy permeated the conversations among the group members.
Life, with its unpredictable twists, offered experiences they had never fathomed encountering even once.
“Thank you, Auntie!”
“Alright, Auntie, no problem Auntie!”
“Auntie, five million is quite steep. How about a four million offer with a 20% discount? Much obliged for your patronage; please do come again!” With these lines, Ji Kai glanced at himself in the mirror, pondering if he’d ever have the opportunity to employ his strikingly handsome, domineering visage.
Yet, fate had its own peculiar plans.
On that particular day, clad in sportswear beneath a black windbreaker, Ji Kai locked the door of his modest villa, intending to head to the gym. However, his path was obstructed by a line of black luxury cars and shades-clad bodyguards stationed beneath the bare maple tree at his doorstep.
Ji Kai remained unperturbed, even secretly thrilled.
Today, he, too, was ensnaring the attention of a scion from a wealthy family. Truly, this life had proven to be worthwhile.
…
“Take a seat.”
Li Weidu’s father, despite his towering height, bore little resemblance to his son.
Unlike his son’s cool demeanor, the elder gentleman possessed distinctly three-dimensional Western features, with deep furrows etched between his brows. In his youth, he must have been a strikingly handsome man.
However, age had taken its toll, rendering him somewhat stern and somber. His countenance bore the marks of life’s hardships, akin to a weathered old tree.
Li Weidu often carried a serious and introspective air about him.
Yet, his eyes remained clear and soft, a contrast to the man before him whose heart appeared hardened by years of trials and tribulations, with a simmering anger barely concealed beneath his reading glasses.
“Is this your first visit to our home?”
Nestled on the hillside amidst springs and blossoms, the grand estate required a ten-minute drive from the gate to the main entrance.
Ji Kai had long been aware of Li Weidu’s status as a scion of wealth, thus the journey did not surprise him. However, it wasn’t until he stepped into the house and beheld the towering three-story wall behind Li’s father that he found himself speechless.
Adorning the entire expanse of the wall was a massive old photograph of a woman.
She was delicate, with slender eyes and single eyelids, captured in the graceful movements of ballet.
Her visage struck a chord of familiarity within Ji Kai. Finally, he recognized who Li Weidu resembled.
“That’s right, that’s Weidu’s mother. Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Her name is Luo Rui. She’s the Luo Rui of ‘the wave on silk stockings, fragrant lotus pistils.’ She was my first love, the love of this lifetime. The only woman I’ve ever loved.”
Li’s father shook his head with a wistful smile, his gaze tinged with nostalgia, a hint of sternness dissipating.
“It’s regrettable that I failed to recognize what truly mattered. In my youth, I was consumed by my pursuits in business, oblivious to her feelings. Alas, it was too late for regrets when she departed. Weidu resents me for this, understandably so.”
As the maid served black tea and biscuits, Li’s father continued his narrative.
He recounted the trials and triumphs of his journey to success, lamenting his son’s lack of understanding and the strain that their tumultuous relationship had caused him over the years.
“That Ye Yin fellow, Weidu should have parted ways with him long ago. You, Professor Ji, are exceptional, much like my son. A top scholar with a promising future. You two are a perfect match for us.”
“… Haha, I apologize, Uncle. I did some minor research on your background.”
Ji Kai couldn’t help but marvel inwardly at the resemblance between father and son.
“You did ‘a little’ investigation on me, and your son followed me ‘a little’.”
But, he shrugged inwardly, embracing the eccentricity of his newfound acquaintances. Who could blame them?
“That kid Weidu inherited his mother’s stubbornness and resilience. He’s been independent since he was a child.”
“I’m not in the best of health, and I struggle to care for myself. I’ll have to rely on you, Professor Ji, to look after me from now on. My most precious son will be in your hands. Please!”
Truly…
If not for Aunt Bai’s revelations about the old gentleman’s colorful past.
If not for Li Weidu’s silence regarding his father.
If not for Zhu Ling’s cryptic warning long ago about familial tragedies.
Even Ji Kai, typically astute, might have been deceived by the lavish praises of wealthy parents.
As Ji Kai bid farewell, Li’s father clasped his hand, his eyes kind yet tinged with loneliness.
“Professor Ji, I have one more favor to ask of you. Please, advise Weidu and see how things go this year. I won’t be able to return home for the Lunar New Year.”
“I’m growing old, a solitary figure guarding an empty home. It’s truly… alas…” As the car receded into the distance, Li’s father gradually became a small black speck, alone and pitiful.
…
“Ji Kai, you mustn’t trust him!”
“He’s a deceiver. Every word he utters is calculated. Don’t listen to him! Don’t believe him!” She winced as her shoulder took a hard hit. Li Weidu seemed to have expended all his strength as he held her tightly, her breathing gradually returning to normal under his gentle touch.
A muffled voice emanated from beside his neck, “Can’t you just trust me?”
“You belong to me, and you must stand by my side! Don’t let him deceive you! If you believe him and side with him against me, it would utterly devastate me!”
After uttering these words, Li Weidu fell silent, seemingly taken aback.
I can’t believe I’ve become so emotionally vulnerable. In the past, even amidst overwhelming sadness, I never uttered such words.
His father’s ability to manipulate and confuse people’s emotions was unparalleled.
During his school days, classmates and even their parents were swayed by his small favors, offering unsolicited advice under the guise of concern and constantly reporting his every move.
Even Ye Yin, who knew all the secrets of that grand mansion, had been deceived by Li’s father’s feigned pitiful demeanor, appearing lonely and helpless, eliciting sympathy and commiseration.
“No one desires such a fate. I believe Uncle… must be enduring his own anguish and struggles. Weidu, are you truly unwilling to hear his side of the story?”
Li Weidu refused to listen.
That’s no explanation; it’s shameless sophistry and manipulation. He would never believe his father’s words.
Now, that man had once again set his sights on his “baby bear.”
Li Weidu was genuinely afraid.
Finding someone with whom he could embrace and sleep peacefully was no easy feat. If he were to be beguiled and deceived by that man…
People always seemed to be this way.
The more you cared about something, the more you fretted over potential losses, and ultimately, the more susceptible you became to hurt.
Hence, Ji Kai was always cautious, especially with someone as sensitive and fragile as Li Weidu, who felt pain even from the prick of a cotton needle.
He didn’t want to inflict any more wounds upon this broken little puppet.
And here I am, with you, sharing your meals, your drinks, and residing in your home.
If I can’t do anything else for you, then at the very least, I can ensure never to cause you sadness.
“Weidu, I promise, I trust only you. What he says is irrelevant; your words are what matter. If you say he’s a liar, then he’s a liar. If you say there’s no misunderstanding, then there’s none.”
Li Weidu’s eyes welled up with tears as he held his “baby bear” tightly.
So soft, yet so resilient and warm.
Even without asking for anything, he declared his unwavering belief. It brought Li Weidu immense joy and relief.
“Zhu Ling… is also a liar.”
Ji Kai: “?”
Why had the conversation suddenly shifted to Zhu Ling?
“I couldn’t stand him during high school. Not because he was always against me, but because he could boldly lie to people’s faces!” However, Ji Kai acknowledged Zhu Ling’s natural aptitude for deception.
But why was this coming up now?
Li’s father’s fishy visage loomed in his mind.
“… I saw it that day.”
“Huh?”
“You and Zhu Ling arranged to meet at a tea shop! And you were smiling at him!”
Ji Kai was taken aback. When did this meeting happen? “Oh, that time. We just happened to run into each other. I swear I wasn’t smiling!”
Li Weidu bit his lip, letting out a dissatisfied grunt, “Don’t just ‘happen’ to run into me again!”
This… seemed a bit challenging to navigate. Ji Kai pondered on the right approach: “How about this? If I accidentally encounter him on the street in the future, I’ll call you immediately. I’ll put it on speakerphone so you can listen, alright?”
Li Weidu was momentarily appeased.
After a while, he felt a twinge of embarrassment, “Am I… too preoccupied with things?”
Am I, as Ye Yin said, suffocating people?
“A little bit.”
“!!” QAQ
“However, I quite enjoy being doted on. It’s been so long since anyone took care of me. Being controlled feels good.”
Even if it’s just solace, my heart is gradually filling up. Li Weidu’s tense body finally relaxed completely.
He slowly stretched his arms and wrapped them around Ji Kai’s waist.
Huh?
“You, you seem different from before…”
All the muscles in his waist seemed to have returned, even more supple and elastic than before!
The abdominal muscles were more defined. Ah~ It feels like touching a block of butter!
“Did you notice?” Ji Kai boasted proudly of his fitness progress.
He unabashedly took Li Weidu’s hand and trailed it downward, then down once more.
Li Weidu struggled, his fingers inadvertently brushing against something they shouldn’t have, quickly retracting as his cheeks flushed. His lips trembled, his stomach fluttering.
“I just said… we have to wait a bit longer!”
“Pfft,” Ji Kai chuckled, “I won’t tease you anymore.”
He placed Li Weidu’s hand back on his waist, wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace.
“Weidu, actually, Aunt Bai told me a bit about your family.”
“But just a bit. Whenever you’re ready, you can tell me everything.”
“It’s not a pleasant story,” Li Weidu admitted. “I’m afraid it might unsettle you.”
“There’s no rush. We have all the time in the world to talk, bit by bit.”
Bit by bit. He retrieved a cold leg and laid it across his warm body.
Even if I must wait for you, I fear nothing in this life.
“…” Li Weidu’s eyes flickered a few times.
My father is suspected of murder, my mother of mental illness, and I seem to have a brain ailment myself.
If I were to disclose everything, everyone would flee in terror.
But why, after hearing his reassurances and being held so tenderly by him, do I feel so at peace? Even if he were mentally ill, “Baby Bear” would strive to accept it, to hold onto him and remain by his side.
…I am indeed deeply troubled.
…
…
“Zhu Ling, Zhu Ling! Get ready to warm up, it’s your turn!” Manager Sister Tong sighed with exasperation. A grand Christmas Eve party hosted by a satellite TV station held significant importance.
Just a moment ago, this little Zhu Ling was fine, so why did he suddenly become unresponsive?
Zhu Ling didn’t want to falter at crucial moments.
But sometimes, suppressed emotions unexpectedly erupt like waves crashing against the shore, leaving one disoriented and lost.
Just now, the messaging app suddenly indicated disconnection for unknown reasons.
It used to log in automatically, but now it required re-entering the password.
The password was in Pinyin. Ji Kai and Zhu Ling1225.
…
It was a summer day when they obtained their certificates, and a winter day when they exchanged vows.
On December 25, a snowy Christmas, Ji Kai gifted him a luxury brand ring he had always desired.
He was both delighted and somewhat proud: “What’s the meaning behind giving me this ring?”
“What do you mean?”
Zhu Ling had pondered over it for years.
Others’ proposals involved flowers, roses strewn across the floor, while his own proposal featured a snowy backdrop, someone else’s Christmas tree adorned with lights, and a ring devoid of any romantic words or gestures.
What’s more embarrassing was that although the branded ring was expensive and uniquely designed, it was made of stainless steel.
A stainless steel ring bound him for a lifetime. Sigh.
The once sweet memories now flooded back, tinged with bitterness. Suddenly, he yearned for the ring with an inexplicable intensity.
He felt like a scatterbrained fool, as if he had left it at home and forgotten to bring it along.
…
He scrolled through the messaging app several times, but the familiar baby bear avatar was nowhere to be found.
No, it couldn’t be true, right?
Zhu Ling’s complexion turned pale. Ji Kai couldn’t possibly be that petty! He wouldn’t block him without a word, would he?
Damn it! Could it be Qi Yang’s influence that led him to delete his account?
Are they together now?
Originally, the party Zhu Ling attended had invited Qi Yang to perform as the grand finale, but Qi Yang declined and didn’t show up.
The program team received a response stating, “I want to spend Christmas with my Darling.”
Could it be that he was truly spending Christmas with his baby bear?
…
“There’s no time difference with Russia, Lake Baikal, and Olkhon Island.”
Inside the cozy wooden house, a small pine tree adorned with colorful balls exuded a festive Christmas atmosphere. The entire island was aglow with fireworks and Christmas lights.
“Why ‘AAAAAA Mr. Li’?” Ji Kai emerged from the shower, water droplets tracing the contours of his abdominal muscles. Meanwhile, Li Weidu lounged on the bed, engrossed in his phone.
Forget it, endure it. I’m well aware of my past tendencies as a stalker and screen voyeur.
Sitting beside him, Ji Kai pointed to the string of “AAAAAA Mr. Li”: “Because it resembles your expression.”
“My expression?”
“Yes, in my eyes, you almost resemble this.” Ji Kai typed an =A= kaomoji.
“I don’t look like that!” Mr. Li retorted, slightly miffed.
Actually, ‘AAAAAA’ is because ‘A’ comes first alphabetically, making you the first contact in my phonebook. It’s surprisingly simple.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, your avatar is adorable. Who drew it for you?” Li Weidu always found the little bear avatar very expressive and reminiscent of Ji Kai. During his hospital stay and daily cooking sessions in Zuo Yan’s kitchen, thoughts of the cute bear avatar filled his mind.
“Haha, you really don’t miss a beat,” Ji Kai chuckled. “Remember when Lei Nanyu and I discussed matching avatars with the little devil? Weren’t you there?”
“And you still didn’t grasp what was happening from start to finish?”
…
“Change it, remove it!”
“But what should I change it to?”
“Anything will do. Qi Yang and the others use their own faces as avatars, so why not use your own photo?”
“I don’t have a flattering selfie in my phone.”
Li Weidu grabbed his phone eagerly: “I’ll take one for you right now!” “Now? Not now, right? We were up till midnight last night and out all day today. I just checked the mirror and my eyes are bloodshot, with heavy dark circles.”
“What does it matter? I think you look quite handsome. Come on, smile!”
“Smile?”
“Hehe.”
“Smile naturally! Don’t force it, just smile like you normally do!”
“…”
“Otherwise, I’ll tell you a joke.”
“Hahaha, hahaha…” Mr. Li shared a joke, which cracked him up. “It’s so funny, hahaha.”
“Why is your face so dark?”
“But wasn’t that line just a joke?”
The shutter clicked softly, and Li Weidu examined the photo on his phone: “It’s not bad, it’ll do. I’ll resize it to fit your avatar.” Ji Kai wanted to intervene, but Li Weidu was too quick. “Look, it’s done.”
…It didn’t look like it was taken in a dimly lit cabin at night. The lights from the Christmas tree behind him appeared as though he stood against bright neon lights. And that smile… it was deceivingly charming.
Ji Kai was pretty sure he was only laughing at a mildly amusing joke. But somehow, in the photo, it seemed like his eyes gazed at something precious with warmth and tenderness.
“I’m quite skilled at taking pictures, aren’t I?” Li Weidu remarked, oblivious to any discrepancy.
“It’s evident that the person you’re photographing is good-looking and appears handsome no matter how you capture him,” Ji Kai replied, no longer surprised by his fond gaze.
Zhu Ling’s hands trembled as he noticed the baby bear avatar change on his phone. It was blank moments ago, now replaced by a smiling face. That smile was arresting. Who was he smiling at? Did he truly have a new boyfriend?
It couldn’t be Qi Yang. His vision wasn’t that poor. Who else could he look at with such tender eyes?
The signature had changed too.
Three simple words.
“He took it.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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