The next day, dressed in a suit and standing in front of the mirror, Zhou Jinheng noticed several scratches on his handsome face, and his eye corners were swollen. When he gently touched it, the pain that surged made him involuntarily inhale sharply. It was evident that Minglu had not held back.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Zhou Jinheng felt somewhat annoyed. These marks that even medicated ointment couldn’t erase were obvious to anyone who looked at them. How could he go to work like this?
If it weren’t for the “small-scale battle” that erupted last night, he would never have imagined that his little rose, who had always been well-behaved in front of him, had such a sharp, willful, and bossy true personality. It seemed that before, she had deliberately tried to please him to appear gentle. Zhou Jinheng admitted that he had misjudged her. However, he had to admit that this kind of child was somewhat refreshing, with a touch of novelty, and the presence of thorns made her more intriguing than being gentle and docile.
Even her cold and indifferent expression when hitting him was like an adorable cat showing its teeth and claws in a competition for affection. It was cute to the extreme. If only it wasn’t him who got hit, Zhou Jinheng thought absentmindedly. Well, considering how passionate the other person was, maybe it was a good thing it was him after all.
With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Jinheng’s anger dissipated completely. He took out a tie from his closet, the one the kid had bought for him earlier. He thought about wearing it today to comfort the still upset youth.
After tying the tie, Zhou Jinheng took out his phone and saw five or six missed calls, all from Qiao An. His heart skipped a beat, wondering if something had happened to Qiao An for him to make so many calls in succession. But at this time, it was the morning rush hour in the capital, while it was late at night in New York. He didn’t want to disturb Qiao An if he was resting.
Just as Zhou Jinheng was hesitating whether to call back, he heard the sound of a door opening in the adjacent room. It was clear that Minglu had also gotten up.
Last night was the first time that kid had actively requested to sleep separately. Usually, it was Zhou Jinheng who found his partner too clingy and sent him to the other room to sleep. It seemed that he had been genuinely angry last night, as the kid had gone to the other room while hugging a pillow, with a cold expression.
Zhou Jinheng wondered if the kid had calmed down now. He temporarily forgot about calling back and instead focused his attention on the footsteps approaching from outside the room.
After being slapped yesterday, Zhou Jinheng felt somewhat embarrassed. Even though he had the intention to comfort the youth, he couldn’t bring himself to do it right away. He wanted to wait for the youth, who had resorted to violence, to apologize first, and then he would follow suit. After all, no matter what, it was not right for a partner to resort to physical violence.
However, he endured for quite a while and saw that the clock was slowly approaching nine o’clock, the time for him to leave for work. But the youth still hadn’t come to him to offer an apology or even say good morning. Thinking about the usual behavior of the youth, even if he was running late for work, he would be the first to fuss around Zhou Jinheng, like a busy little bee, helping him find clothes, tie his tie, make breakfast for him, and sweetly pulling his arm from time to time, saying, “Honey, you’ve worked hard.” Even though Zhou Jinheng knew that all of this was the youth’s clever act, it was still quite sweet.
But looking at the youth’s cold attitude today, Zhou Jinheng couldn’t hold back anymore. The youth had slapped him yesterday, which was already enough, but today, was he planning to continue this cold war? This was becoming unreasonable! Zhou Jinheng knew he was in the wrong with Qiao An, but he had clearly said to give him some time to forget! Was the youth so petty that he wouldn’t even give him that? This jealousy was getting out of hand!
With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Jinheng began to feel a little angry. He maintained a cold and distant demeanor, pretending to get ready to leave. He adjusted his wristwatch and walked into the living room. Several times, he glanced over at the youth, but each time he saw the youth sitting on the couch playing with his phone, not even looking at him.
Zhou Jinheng felt somewhat uneasy.
But seeing that the youth was only wearing a short T-shirt and shorts, revealing two long, fair legs and a beautiful face, even if the youth had an expressionless face, he still couldn’t stay mad for too long. He thought that if the youth’s jealousy wasn’t so intense, he could indulge him a bit.
“You…” He was about to say something when suddenly the doorbell rang. Seeing the youth’s reaction to the doorbell, immediately jumping off the couch and rushing to answer the door, barefoot and with an eagerness reminiscent of a hungry baby bird, just like how he usually welcomed Zhou Jinheng at home, Zhou Jinheng was stunned for a good three to four seconds. Who could it be? Suspicion flooded his mind as he hurriedly followed.
However, what he saw was a person in a blue uniform with a helmet standing at the door, holding a meal box and handing it to the youth with a warm smile. “Enjoy your meal! If you can, please give us a five-star review~”
The youth nodded in agreement, thanked the person, and closed the door.
It turned out to be a food delivery. Zhou Jinheng sighed in relief, and his tense heart settled down. He was indeed hypocritical, allowing himself to have someone else in his heart but not allowing the youth to have anyone else in his heart. Especially since he had placed the youth in the position of preparing for marriage, he couldn’t allow any betrayal.
Seeing that the youth completely ignored him, carried the food box, and walked toward the dining area, Zhou Jinheng couldn’t help feeling uneasy again. The takeout meal looked like a single portion, which meant that the youth was not only angry enough not to cook breakfast but also ignored him completely, eating alone.
This was also the first time.
Zhou Jinheng walked over, intending to say a few words, but when he saw that the youth’s bowl was filled with chopped green onions, he was startled. He immediately grabbed the youth’s hand and said, “Are you crazy? You can’t eat green onions. Put it down! Why didn’t you leave a note when you ordered noodles?” He remembered that the youth couldn’t eat onions because both of them had an intolerance to them. He disliked the strong onion flavor as it affected his personal aura, and the youth would have an allergic reaction to them.
“I left a note, but the restaurant didn’t see it. Let go!” The youth pinched the chopsticks and coldly pulled his hand away, saying in a resentful tone, “Why do you care about me? Go care about that Qiao An. After all, you’re going to break up with me. Don’t bother about my affairs! What does it have to do with you whether I have an allergy or not?”
Sure enough, he was still angry. Zhou Jinheng thought to himself and momentarily forgot about the youth’s rough behavior from yesterday. He felt both angry and helpless and said, “I’ve already said it, baby, you have to give me some time. I didn’t plan to break up with you. Come on, put down the noodles, don’t eat them. What if you have an allergy later? Don’t harm yourself.”
He had always known that Qiao An was a straight guy. He had been in a relationship with a girlfriend since his student days, and there was no room for Zhou Jinheng to intervene. But he just couldn’t let go. If the youth resented him for it, it was only natural, and he knew he was in the wrong.
“Don’t stop me. Why shouldn’t I eat? If I don’t eat, it’ll go to waste. Besides, no one cares about me, no one cooks for me. I’m so silly, silly enough to cook for someone every day, capturing his appetite but not his heart.” The youth continued to eat with his head down. At some point, his eyes had turned red. He was already a cute and obedient child, deliberately keeping his head down to hold back tears, which easily captured someone’s heart.
Zhou Jinheng’s heart ached, and he suddenly felt like the rumored scumbag. Before he could reach out to hug and comfort the youth, the child who made people feel sorry for him shook off his hand, turned cold, and said meaningfully, “Since I consider someone as my future spouse, but he treats me as if I were dirt under his feet, why bother? It’s better to part ways and go our separate paths. This way, I won’t be in the way, and he can go find his true love, while I can find a new partner and live a good life with them.”
“No, you can’t!” Hearing the last sentence, even though he knew the youth was just being stubborn, Zhou Jinheng still felt unhappy and blurted out. He loved the youth, and the youth belonged to him. How could he break up with him like this?
With these strong and assertive words, the youth’s ears twitched, and he raised his swollen eyes as if unable to bear it any longer. He punched the person in front of him twice, accusing him coldly, and took the opportunity to bring up old grievances, saying, “Why not? Why is it that you can enjoy yourself outside, but I can’t even move on, and I’m not allowed to marry someone else after breaking up? Zhou Jinheng, you’re being too domineering. I genuinely considered you as my partner, but since you’re treating me like this, there’s no point in continuing this relationship. I’m the one paying the rent for this place. Pack your bags tonight and move out. I’ve been taking care of you and supporting you all this time, and I’m tired. Breaking up is a good idea. As for what I’ll eat in the future, you never cook for me, or take care of me, so don’t worry about it. I’ll find someone who is willing to take care of me and cherish me.”
There was a hint of inexplicable weariness in the youth’s tone. The fist he raised was ultimately not swung but slowly lowered. This both pained and surprised Zhou Jinheng. He had originally thought the youth was just being stubborn, but it turned out that the youth genuinely wanted to break up with him and even wanted him to leave?
Zhou Jinheng couldn’t allow this!
He originally thought that the youth was making a big deal out of a little jealousy, and given the youth’s previous displays of intense love for him, he never thought he could be pushed away. But now, seeing that the youth actually wanted to break free from their relationship, Zhou Jinheng suddenly felt a sense of panic, as if he was about to lose something precious. Even though the youth resisted his touch, he instinctively wanted to hold onto him, gently embracing him and reassuring, “Baby, listen to me. I was really wrong, and there’s nothing between me and that person. I will choose to forget about him. Please don’t do this. I love you sincerely, and I genuinely want to marry you. I’ve seen all the little things you’ve done for me.”
“You said taking care of me is tiring, then it will be my turn to take care of you and support you. Don’t be upset. I’ll go make you some food, and you can put down this bowl of noodles. Look, your face is all red and full of rash.” Seeing the redness on the youth’s face, Zhou Jinheng’s long and narrow eyes suddenly tightened. He grabbed the youth’s hand and forcefully took the chopsticks from him. The youth appeared weak and indifferent, allowing Zhou Jinheng to manipulate him, his face displaying hurt and distrust, which made Zhou Jinheng feel guilty and sorry.
He admitted that because the youth was much younger and sometimes exhibited childish behavior, he hadn’t really appreciated the youth’s efforts. Even when the youth talked about sharing their lives together, he had often dismissed it as child’s play, but now he realized how wrong he had been.
It was only when he saw the lifeless look on the youth’s face that Zhou Jinheng became serious and realized that he had been careless in his previous attitude. He had hurt someone who had genuinely cared for him, and it was natural for the youth to feel disillusioned. He needed to find a way to make amends. Zhou Jinheng, who had always been a player, momentarily forgot the punches he had received earlier. Instead, he felt a mixture of bitterness and helplessness as he tried to melt the youth’s heart.
He gently pressed down the youth’s slender shoulders, removed his suit jacket, brought him some hot water, and made him take medicine. When he saw the youth reluctantly but obediently taking the medicine, he sighed with relief. Then, he went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and placed it in front of the stubborn youth, soothingly coaxing him to eat.
Due to Zhou Jinheng’s constant urging, Yin Minglu ate a few bites reluctantly, his delicate jaw always slightly raised, like a defiant peacock. However, in the end, he finished the meal. Zhou Jinheng couldn’t help but smile, not caring about being late for work. After the youth put down the chopsticks and he took the empty bowl back to the kitchen, he planned to have it washed when the housekeeper came later.
At that moment, Zhou Jinheng couldn’t anticipate that this was just the beginning of his involvement in housework, cooking, and taking care of the youth, including washing his feet, massaging his shoulders, and pampering him. When he didn’t comply with the youth’s demands, he would be met with threats of violence or breakup. Seeing the tearful look on the youth’s face, he would have no choice but to surrender and immediately comfort him.
He had been thoroughly tamed. The youth’s status in the relationship had risen dramatically, and with the leverage he had gained, he became the master in their relationship, even though he had come from a humble background.
After finishing the meal, Zhou Jinheng gave the youth several cards and attempted to touch his hair affectionately. When the youth evaded his touch, he didn’t get upset and said, “Use these cards. I know I made you work hard to support me recently, so from now on, I’ll take care of you.” He didn’t explicitly mention that he was testing the youth because, in his view, the youth had already passed his test. The drastic changes in behavior and hysterical actions had proved that the youth loved him for who he was, not for his money.
Moreover, the youth genuinely considered him as a potential spouse, as evidenced by the pile of his photos and a downtown housing purchase manual found under the youth’s pillow. The youth had even thought about raising a child in the future to gain recognition from his parents, and he had posted all these heartfelt thoughts on social media. It all touched Zhou Jinhang deeply. Compared to Qiao An, who was distant and might never be within his reach, the youth was the one who stayed by his side and genuinely cared for him. Unfortunately, he had failed to cherish the youth, and now he couldn’t even hear the sweet address of “husband” from him. Instead, the youth remained cold and seemed to be evaluating his actions.
Feeling lost and regretful, Zhou Jinheng didn’t want to mistreat the youth any longer. He wanted to make amends for his guilt, so he took out his credit card and told the youth that he could use it for anything, with no spending limit. He thought the youth would be happy, but he didn’t expect that he had just given away another piece of leverage. The youth calmly asked, “What’s the password?”
Zhou Jinheng pushed his glasses and was about to smile as he was about to reveal the digits. However, in the next moment, he froze because he suddenly realized that the password was Qiao An’s birthday. He stammered, “…”
Seeing Zhou Jinheng’s reaction, the youth sneered a few times, and his beautiful face revealed a cold, indifferent expression that seemed to say, “Just as I thought.” He once again pulled away from Zhou Jinheng’s touch. Zhou Jinheng was in despair, and in order to appease the youth who was becoming more obstinate and temperamental, he immediately called his secretary to change all the passwords. They were all changed to the youth’s birthday, which finally earned him a perfunctory smile from the youth.
However, all of this was a story for another time.
In New York, Qiao An, who was far away, hadn’t gone to bed yet. He had called Zhou Jinheng five or six times, and it had become too much. He couldn’t call again; otherwise, he would appear too urgent and cheap. So he resisted the urge and refrained from dialing that number.
After waiting for what seemed like an entire day to get to daytime in Beijing, he expected Zhou Jinheng to have woken up and at least return his call, allowing him to explain why he hadn’t answered the phone last night. However, a whole day had passed, and Zhou Jinheng hadn’t called him back. It was as if he had forgotten about it entirely, without even sending a text message. According to his informants within Zhou’s company, that day Zhou Jinheng had even been late to the office and explained to his secretary that he had been cooking for his temperamental little cat at home.
Cooking? Who on earth was he cooking for? Zhou Jinheng, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen and was allergic to cat fur, couldn’t possibly be keeping a cat, let alone cooking for one. This temperamental little cat was clearly referring to someone else, and everyone knew who it was.
The employees chuckled at the situation, but Qiao An felt a sinking feeling in his heart. Especially when he went to the Bank of America to withdraw money, he discovered that the account password was incorrect. His face turned completely dark.
Author’s Note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or nourished this story with nutrients~
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