(M) Chapter 22 – The Ugly Truth
Novel Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 黎朔 (Li Shuo -MC), 赵锦辛 (Zhao Jinxin -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Li Shuo was looking down at the contract when he heard that uncommon surname, which instinctively made him raise his head. Zhao Jinxin maintained a calm expression and said, “It should have arrived. I’ll check later.”
Lawyer Chen wanted to say something else. But the office door was knocked just then, so he turned to say, “Come in.”
The secretary entered with freshly brewed tea and a few snacks. Li Shuo didn’t pay much attention to it and helped the secretary set things on the table.
Zhao Jinxin glanced at Li Shuo sneakily. His eyes flickered. Then, a smile appeared on his face. “These desserts are from the French pastry shop downstairs. My favourite is this cranberry pudding.” He picked up a piece and handed it to Li Shuo. “Try it.”
“Hmm, it’s delicious and looks exquisite,” Li Shuo said with a smile. “There are a lot of good things to eat around your company. It’s not easy not to gain weight working here all the time.”
“That’s true. The company’s gym is usually empty.”
They chatted about health and fitness for a while. After a break, they went through the remaining clauses of the contract. There were a few points of disagreement that still needed to be consulted with Zhao Rongtian. But the problem was almost resolved. Li Shuo calculated the time and thought it could be finalised within the week.
After the discussion, Zhao Jinxin brought Li Shuo back to his own office. Li Shuo stretched his somewhat stiff shoulders and joked, “Mr. Zhao, it was a pleasure working with you.”
“A pleasure indeed,” Zhao Jinxin replied with a mischievous smile, extending his right hand toward Li Shuo.
As Li Shuo raised his hand to shake it, Zhao Jinxin pulled him into his arms. Li Shuo teasingly said, “Now that work is done, where do you want to go for a date?”
“To a place you like.” Zhao Jinxin held him by the waist, rubbing his nose against Li Shuo’s cheek as he walked backward, all the way to the door.
“A place I like? Where?”
“The office…” Zhao Jinxin said as he kissed Li Shuo’s lips, locking the door with a click.
Li Shuo recalled their conversation at the small bar. They hadn’t done anything yet. But he was already feeling warm all over. In between passionate kisses, Li Shuo muttered, “You’re quite bold…”
Zhao Jinxin chuckled, “I’m not just bold.” He picked Li Shuo up in one swift motion, carrying him to the desk in a few strides. He placed him on top of it.
Li Shuo tried to sit up uncomfortably but was pressed back down by Zhao Jinxin’s weight, leaving no room for words as they kissed deeply.
The unique setting heightened the men’s desire, and both were highly enthusiastic. Zhao Jinxin was clearly prepared. And when Li Shuo’s body was fully receptive of his, he thrusted inside him completely.
The large wooden desk shook with their movements.
Then, Zhao Jinxin carried Li Shuo to the floor-to-ceiling window. The window was covered with venetian blinds. Across from them was the towering Rockefeller Center, surrounded by various high-rise buildings. Zhao Jinxin grabbed the blinds and pulled them hard, breaking them from neck to waist level. Li Shuo was pressed against the window. His view was limited to the narrow slits between the blinds, with the bustling cityscape in front of him and the primal thrusts behind him. If anyone in the surrounding office buildings had even a cheap telescope, they could see the exposed parts of their entangled bodies through the gap in the window and easily guess what was happening at that moment.
Li Shuo felt his mind go blank. The unique experience provided him with immense physical and mental stimulation. Zhao Jinxin, Zhao Jinxin, Zhao Jinxin—the name that could easily drive him crazy was all that remained in his mind.
After an intense physical activity, both of them were quite hungry. Zhao Jinxin hummed a song as he ironed their clothes. He then personally helped Li Shuo dress. Finally, they left the company looking presentable.
Zhao Jinxin had rented a yacht to cruise around Manhattan. They ate the freshest sashimi on the boat, accompanied by a performance from the principal violinist of the Philharmonic Orchestra. The shores were adorned with the vibrant and splendid nightscape of Manhattan.
As the wine took its effect and the moonlight deepened, they found themselves alone on the Hudson River, with the city’s lights just within sight yet seemingly unreachable due to the water’s separation. This isolation made the boat feel uniquely distant and independent. They lay on lounge chairs, wrapped in cashmere blankets, feeling as if they had become invisible in the bustling world. They could see the outside world, but the outside world could not see them. In this space, it was just the two of them.
For a long time, neither spoke. Li Shuo felt the alcohol wandering freely in his bloodstream, making his body feel light and his mind a bit unclear. Yet, he felt very comfortable—whether it was the cool breeze brushing against his face, the heavy and warm blanket covering him, or the furry head resting on his shoulder, everything felt wonderful.
Despite being so intoxicated that he could hardly walk straight, he had never felt so clearly that this was what love looked like. Comparing this experience to the past, he couldn’t help but feel that he hadn’t met the right person before. He couldn’t help but think that Zhao Jinxin was the one truly suited for him.
Zhao Jinxin hummed softly in Li Shuo’s ear and gently asked, “Are you cold?”
“No,” Li Shuo replied with a smile in his tone.
“Do you want to sleep on the boat? Or should we go ashore?”
“I’m too lazy to move, let’s sleep on the boat,” Li Shuo yawned. At that moment, he didn’t even want to lift a finger.
“Whatever you want,” Zhao Jinxin said, giving him a kiss and carrying him into the cabin’s bedroom.
Li Shuo couldn’t help but think that being taken care of wasn’t so bad. Maybe it was because he was getting older. With his increasingly limited and focused energy, he started to enjoy being the passive one in a relationship. It saved effort and was surprisingly pleasant.
Zhao Jinxin got under the covers and held him tightly, rubbing his hard head against Li Shuo’s neck. “Li Shushu, I really like you.”
Li Shuo smiled and said, “I like you too.”
“How much do you like me?”
“Very, very much.” This kind of rapidly igniting, nerve-wracking love was something he had never experienced. It was incredible to him. His feelings usually developed slowly. But Zhao Jinxin seemed to awaken some gene inside him, making him realise he could also get so infatuated.
It was fresh, interesting, and unforgettable.
Zhao Jinxin chuckled, “I want to go on vacation with you. But it seems we don’t have much time.”
“Yeah, once the contract is signed, I have to go back. Aren’t you coming back with me? We can go on vacation after dealing with things back in China.”
“Alright,” Zhao Jinxin said, rubbing his lips against Li Shuo’s cheek. “Are you tired? Go to sleep.”
“I’m not tired, just sleepy,” Li Shuo retorted.
Zhao Jinxin chuckled softly and whispered in his ear, “Who was it that couldn’t even stand up after I was done with him?”
Li Shuo pinched his thigh. Zhao Jinxin exaggeratedly yelped in pain. They laughed together and eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Li Shuo spent quite an indulgent period. During the repeated modifications of the contract, he and Zhao Jinxin met almost daily. No matter the reason for their meeting, it always ended up with them finding a place to take off their pants, often indulging until they were exhausted. Zhao Jinxin was bold and playful, and many details made Li Shuo blush when he recalled them.
Even in his prime at around twenty, Li Shuo had never experienced such a passionate love affair—one that felt like it was about to explode. Zhao Jinxin’s appearance made his previous relationships seem dull in comparison. At times, he felt abnormal. He was like a train that was supposed to run smoothly suddenly veering onto a roller coaster track, enjoying the ride immensely. The more he was drawn in, the more dangerous it felt. But the more dangerous it felt, the more addicted he became.
Of course, he understood that passion wasn’t eternal. But for now, he just wanted to continue.
By the end of the month, all the terms of the contract had finally been negotiated. They were just waiting for Zhao Rongtian’s signature on Monday. Since the law firm’s seal was back in the home country, Li Shuo had to take the contract back to officially sign it and make it effective.
Zhao Rongtian was very pleased. It happened to be his wife’s fiftieth birthday, and he hosted a banquet at a hotel. He naturally invited Li Shuo and his family.
Li Shuo had asked Zhao Jinxin in advance about Madam Zhao’s preferences and prepared a set of snakewood tableware. It wasn’t too expensive to seem inappropriate. Yet it was suitable enough considering their relationship.
It was evident that Zhao Rongtian held great respect for his wife. He had rented the entire banquet hall, which was decorated in a classical and elegant style. The guest list wasn’t large. It only consisted of close friends and confidants. The menu was extravagant, making one marvel at its opulence.
Zhao Jinxin presented his mother with a pair of jade earrings worth over ten million as a birthday gift. His extraordinarily handsome and dignified appearance surely made many envious. The Zhao family was well-known in the Chinese community throughout the United States, almost as if they were favoured by the gods. As Li Shuo watched Zhao Jinxin on stage, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride and affection.
After dinner, the hotel played waltz music, which is a favourite of Mrs. Zhao. The couple led the dance, and most of the guests, who were of similar age, joined in. Whether they could dance or not, they were just there to liven up the atmosphere. It was all among friends, after all.
Li Shuo cheered, “Dad, Mom, come on. Let’s have a dance.”
Mr. Li cleared his throat, stood up, and made a gesture inviting his wife. They began dancing happily, creating a harmonious scene.
Li Shuo watched his parents with a gentle glow in his eyes.
Suddenly, a hand extended unexpectedly in front of him, startling him. He looked up to see Zhao Jinxin making a perfect gesture of invitation to dance. His smiling, peach blossom eyes were mesmerising.
Li Shuo chuckled, “Don’t be silly.”
“Come on, what’s the harm?”
Li Shuo glanced around, adjusted his clothes awkwardly, and whispered, “Jinxin, stop it.”
“What are you afraid of? It’s just a dance.” Zhao Jinxin grabbed his hand, pulling him up from his seat. He then loudly announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, my Li Da Ge and I are going to show off our dance moves!”
The crowd burst into laughter and applause.
Li Shuo took a deep breath, trying to appear composed and said with a smile, “Alright, let’s see how good your dancing is.” He put one arm around Zhao Jinxin’s waist. Zhao Jinxin cooperatively rested his hand on Li Shuo’s shoulder, playing the role of the female partner.
Both had been trained in ballroom dancing. With their tall figures and striking looks, even two men dancing a tango had a certain unique charm. Their performance drew continuous applause and laughter.
The older generation likely thought the younger ones were joking around. But both sets of parents looked somewhat uneasy, though they dared not show it.
As for Zhao Jinxin and Li Shuo, they became more engrossed in the dance, as if the sounds and gazes around them had vanished. Even in such an awkward situation, they found joy.
By the end of the dance, Li Shuo had worked up a slight sweat. He winked at Zhao Jinxin and said, “Not bad.”
“Fun, right?” Zhao Jinxin leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Next time, let’s find a secluded place outdoors and dance naked.”
Li Shuo laughed, “I knew your mind would go there.”
“Food and sex are natural human desires. I’m talking about serious life matters, what’s wrong with that?”
Li Shuo couldn’t help but smile.
At that moment, the host suddenly took the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, we just received a gift from the homeland. This is the farthest-reaching birthday gift for our star of the day, the lady of honour. I must show it to everyone.”
The crowd’s attention was drawn.
The host opened the jewellery box. From a distance, Li Shuo saw what seemed to be a relic. The host cleared his throat and read from a card, “This Buddha relic was obtained from Master Hui Yi’s parinirvana. Wishing Ayi a happy birthday, good health, and eternal youth. Sincerely, your nephew—Shao Qun.”
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*Translator’s Note: Not too much NSFW so I’m not censoring it here. Anyway, that’s the ugly truth; ZJX is SQ’s cousin. -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Gege/Ge/Da Ge = (Big) Brother
- Shushu/Shu = Uncle
- Ayi = Auntie
- Didi = (Little) Brother
☝🏻Reiteration…
*Proofread by 2024.07.30* I’m currently in the middle of the proofreading stage of my first ever translation; ‘Winner Takes All’. Lots of changes will be made especially to titles such as ‘Brother’ will be changed to ‘Ge’ and ‘Uncle’ will be changed to ‘Shushu’. I will proofread these chapters slowly when I’m free so please understand if there are any delays or discrepancies. TQ.
Proofread version of the rest of the novel will only be available on Novels Space.space while Mature Chapters will be released on Wattpad.
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