Translator: Lynn
Three months ago, in South America.
For a hundred days and nights, he endured the scorching sun of a foreign land, enduring wind and rain as he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
Zhu Ling vividly recalls how it took two weeks just to secure a single day off. In the Peruvian capital, he dashed from one large shopping mall to another in the city center, finally procuring a MOVA dark blue marble rotating globe.
Why? Because Ji Kai once shared a captivating tale of an adventurous traveler he saw online. This traveler perfectly aligned the longitude and latitude of “home” to the opposite end of the world, then embarked on a journey to that distant continent, standing at the furthest point from home.
It was incredibly romantic. From that spot, every movement, every step—east, west, north, south—felt like a step towards “home.”
As the globe gently rotated, the northern hemisphere faced the southern, the Pacific met the Atlantic, and the farthest point from Asia on Earth coincided with the South American soil beneath his feet.
Despite careful calculations, Zhu Ling discovered that the mirror in City S had plunged into the deep sea near Argentina, leaving no land to stand on.
Yet he consoled himself—Peru was distant enough from home for now.
Upon his return, every stride he took was a step homeward, brimming with faith.
But now, where was home?
Little did he know that after three months of absence, his once cherished home lay overrun with weeds, his cherished roses plagued by pests.
For days, he had believed Qi Yang to be the adversary, but now, Qi Yang sat on an iron chair, watching the sweet interactions between others while munching on popcorn flavored with the bitterness of his own heart.
Zhu Ling felt his head throb. In just three months.
The fruits of his labor had been plucked, and the baby bear he nurtured for five years had been whisked away by another?
Not Qi Yang. But perhaps, he wasn’t as bad as Zhu Ling believed.
Li Weidu?
Was this a prank? A tasteless joke?
…While he toiled away in a foreign land, suppressing his yearning.
The person he loved most was now with the person he despised most? How could such absurdity exist in the world?
The lingering rationale incessantly warned against hasty action, prompting a desperate recollection of every book consumed in those three months, each sip of soul-soothing chicken soup, and every profound quote revered as wisdom.
Yet, the body moved autonomously, defying conscious restraint.
Step by step, limbs numbed, the marble floor seeming devoid of sensation. Nerves ablaze, from scalp to follicle, radiated with searing, blood-red fervor.
Thoughts? Impossible.
Each day consumed by thoughts of his baby bear, what was his beloved doing? Whose hand did he hold? Whose smile did he reciprocate? Was it just a peck on the cheek or something more intimate, more unbearable?
“!!” Qi Yang was the first to spot Zhu Ling.
A strangled gasp escaped, face flushed, struggling for air. He teetered on the brink of becoming the first victim of popcorn-induced asphyxiation since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Unaware, Ji Kai basked in joy, his eyes aglow, hand interlocked with the slender, elegant fingers of Li Weidu.
Perhaps there’s truth to the adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
In Zhu Ling’s gaze, Mr. Li was always adorned with a rosy hue, his disheveled appearance transformed into the epitome of dashing charm, radiating a mesmerizing allure that set hearts aflutter.
Ji Kai, a rugged man, had never before harbored a maiden’s heart. Never.
Yet, as Li Weidu hoisted him from the chair, Ji Kai experienced a momentary illusion—the princess in her golden gown, swept off her feet by her prince charming at the ball.
If only… His Highness had not suddenly cast a frosty glare, shattering the enchantment.
Then, in a heartbeat, the tender, caring countenance gave way to icy indifference—
Zhu Ling’s fingertips hovered mere centimeters from Ji Kai’s sleeve.
But just as they neared contact, Li Weidu seized his wrist with an iron grip, his visage icy, eyes piercing.
…So near, yet so far.
Unyielding, Li Weidu enveloped Ji Kai in a tight embrace, deftly wrenching Zhu Ling aside as agony surged, leaving him feeble and reeling.
Zhu Ling staggered back, his brows furrowed, feeling as though he had stumbled into a surreal nightmare.
“Why are you here?” His own voice sounded foreign, disconnected.
The haze of unreality thickened as he struggled to comprehend the scene before him. “Why are you here?” he repeated, the words still feeling alien, his thoughts muddled.
The nightmare persisted as Li Weidu withdrew the hand that had shoved him, enveloping Ji Kai in a tight embrace. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” he retorted.
In the next moment, a sharp pain shot through him as a bone-jarring blow landed.
Agony, labored breaths, and predatory glares amidst the chaos. Popcorn tumbled from Qi Yang’s mouth.
Damn it!
A brawl between Mr. Li and Zhu Ling over the “little migrant worker brother”?!
Zhou Yile, always at the forefront of sensational gossip, had rushed to the scene to capture Qi Yang’s playground scandal. Little did he expect… he was trembling so violently with excitement, the shutter nearly slipped from his grasp.
No, wait!
A lightning bolt of recollection struck. That masked figure he passed in the hospital corridor before snapping photos of the ailing CEO and his devoted worker… wasn’t that Zhu Ling?
What revelations would this upgraded version of the bloody feud unveil?
No, no, now wasn’t the time for speculation. Li Weidu was trained for combat! He would utterly crush Zhu Ling!
Ji Kai, stunned into silence, couldn’t reconcile the image before him with the Li Weidu he knew. Annoying at first, then endearing in his awkwardness and vulnerability.
But this creature with formidable martial prowess? Unrecognizable. Swift, precisely, a stark departure from the man hospitalized after a beating from Zhu Ling. And Ji Kai recalled Li Weidu’s arm strength; despite his training, he never bested Zhu Ling in arm wrestling.
Lost in these thoughts, Ji Kai failed to recognize the familiarity of the scene unfolding before him.
It echoed a past summer night, with cicadas chirping. The same dynamic between an otaku version of a domineering president, a dazzling star, and a mischievous imp.
Only this time, Ji Kai found himself unwittingly embroiled in the fray.
Back then, he had said, “Zhu Ling, it’s okay.”
“Weidu, it’s okay.”
Cease the fighting. Cease the questioning.
Truly, the cyclical nature of fate was evident in the heavens above.
…
Perhaps everyone who has experienced hurt or disappointment has entertained similar thoughts – the hope that upon reunion, they would stand victorious while their former lover suffers in misery with their new partner.
The upgraded version is what Ji Kai embodies now. Not only does he continue to shine brightly, but he also walks hand in hand with someone even more handsome and worthy than you.
There’s no need to flaunt joy openly; a silent smile suffices to convey the message – thank you for letting me down.
Just three or four months ago, Ji Kai harbored similar vengeful intentions.
He couldn’t help but entertain thoughts of exacting some form of revenge or leaving behind traces of his newfound happiness for Zhu Ling to stumble upon, so that one day, when he awakens to the truth, he might taste the bitterness of betrayal.
But now, such thoughts no longer linger.
He no longer desires anger; it serves no purpose. Regardless of what fate befalls Qi Yang and Zhu Ling, it’s truly inconsequential.
Ji Kai attributes much of this newfound peace to Li Weidu.
With his daily acts of care and tenderness, Li Weidu tended to Ji Kai’s once-torn and aching wounds, nurturing him back to health with utmost diligence.
Though the pain lingers, Ji Kai’s current life brims with happiness. As long as those individuals no longer intrude upon his serenity, all is well.
…
“Zhu Ling, you and Weidu are already acquainted. There’s no need for introductions,” Ji Kai stated calmly, holding Li Weidu’s hand. “I mentioned last time. He’s my boyfriend.”
Observing Ji Kai’s affectionate gesture with Li Weidu, Zhu Ling’s lips quivered while Qi Yang beside him chuckled audaciously.
…The expression was priceless.
Onlookers could easily perceive the heart-wrenching impact of this revelation.
It resembled a scene from their Republic of China drama, where the cheating ex-husband’s world crumbled upon discovering the heroine’s bond with the teacher. Your acting now vividly mirrors your true emotions. Why do you pretend on set?
As Zhu Ling’s heart shattered, a furrow creased his brow as he recalled the day of their divorce.
Li Weidu had appeared.
Initially dismissed as a mere spectator that day, Zhu Ling now pondered whether Li Weidu had harbored feelings for Ji Kai even then…
“Don’t misunderstand,” Ji Kai interjected, his understanding of Zhu Ling’s mindset crystal clear. “Weidu and I did know each other before, but our relationship is merely an acquaintance.”
It’s all thanks to you and the little fairy.
“However, circumstances brought us together after your trip to South America. I find him remarkable, so I chose to be with him,” Ji Kai continued. “I believe our breakup marks a clean slate – we’re essentially strangers now. I’ve moved on, and there’s no need for detailed explanations.”
“But since we’ve crossed paths today, allow me to formally introduce you.”
Zhu Ling tuned out the ensuing words.
From the dismissal of their past relationship to the deafening sound of his own heartbeat, Zhu Ling felt overwhelmed.
“Yeah, you don’t owe me any explanations,” he retorted, mustering a sneer as he gazed up at the pair before him. “But next time you decide to flaunt affection by holding someone else’s hand, could you at least refrain from wearing the scarf I gave you?”
In truth, he regretted the remark the moment it left his lips.
Ji Kai paused, then swiftly removed the scarf. “Take it back!” he exclaimed, frantically checking if anything else on him bore Zhu Ling’s mark. I’ll return everything to you!”
Ji Kai harbored no anger.
Zhu Ling had been irrelevant to him for a long while, and he vowed never to invest any emotion in him again.
Yet, inexplicably, anger surged within him at that moment.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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