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This matter was a bit humiliating, to say the least.
A man’s face, both public and private, is his dignity. No matter how close friends are, not everything can be confessed; one must maintain a certain image, mustn’t they?
Zhao Mingchuan’s white lie, held with a glimmer of hope, was meant to get him through this one time. But he had calculated everything except for Zhao Xi overhearing it.
Before Zhao Mingchuan could react, his friends had already chased after her. “Xiao Xi! Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi!”
They stopped her, flattering her with smiles and trying to smooth things over: “You came back and didn’t even tell us. We only heard about it from Chuanzi today. If we hadn’t seen you, we would have thought he was pulling our leg. Want to join us? What a coincidence, why not come along?”
Then they yelled inside, “Stub out all the cigarettes!”
They seemed intent on clearing the room.
“No, thank you,” Zhao Xi politely declined. “You guys have fun.”
The people around Zhao Mingchuan used to treat her very well. Even in such an awkward situation, Zhao Xi still considered their past friendship, and her tone remained relatively gentle.
“Perhaps another time. Goodbye, Brother Fu.”
She left decisively, not sparing Zhao Mingchuan a single word.
“Chuanzi, you’re finished!” his friends exclaimed in unison, from the bottom of their hearts.
________________________________________
The people sitting in the private room were all shrewd. Friends brought friends, and while their relationships might have been a bit distant, just by observing the reactions of Zhao Mingchuan’s group, it was clear that the girl who just left was no ordinary person.
A few of Zhao Mingchuan’s circle huddled together, whispering rebukes: “I told you, we agreed to go bowling after dinner, but you just had to come here. Are you cursed? You’re just asking for trouble, aren’t you?”
Zhao Mingchuan was annoyed. He raised his hand, pinched the collar button of his shirt with his index finger and thumb, and pulled hard. It didn’t come off the first time, and he cursed under his breath, downing the glass of wine in one go.
In a bad mood: “What do you know?”
His friend sneered, “Keep acting up. You broke up once, do you want to break up a second time?”
Suddenly, he became agitated: “I never even properly won her over! What second time?! Get your words straight first!”
One person pressed on his shoulder, “Who doesn’t understand? Huh? I think you’re the one who understands least.”
It was not easy to speak such heartfelt words, but each word was laced with thorns, piercing Zhao Mingchuan’s bravado. He calmed down, feeling incredibly anxious. How could he not know? But sometimes, the heart surrenders before the body.
Who hasn’t said things they didn’t mean?
“She’s right next door,” Zhao Mingchuan suddenly said in a deep voice. “She’s here for a birthday party.”
His friends heard this and immediately connected the dots, exclaiming in unison, “My God! Stalking!”
This word made Zhao Mingchuan even more silent.
He felt frustrated, bewildered, and powerless.
He sat on the sofa, legs crossed, fiercely puffing on a cigarette. The interplay of light and shadow made his eyes appear gloomy. No one dared to sing the song someone had put on the screen.
Zhao Mingchuan had known for a while that Ke Yilin was hosting a birthday party here. But when Ke Yilin asked him if he was coming that day, he refused. A man always has his pride, holding onto a stubborn streak. He couldn’t bring himself to lower his guard with Ke Yilin, yet he couldn’t let go of Zhao Xi either. So, he acted up, coming up with this terrible idea of hosting his own party here.
He came openly, but his inner desire was truly something that couldn’t see the light of day.
The room quieted down for a while. Others thought everything was fine, and one drunk person started yelling and having fun again, embracing two accompanying princesses, hitting a high note in a pop song. The speakers vibrated the sofa, and a single yell was deafening!
This person was, at most, vaguely familiar. Zhao Mingchuan, who had been silent for a long time, held a cigarette, frowning with displeasure. “Who brought him? Tell him to get lost.”
His friends were used to his temper and didn’t take it seriously, some drinking, some looking at their phones.
When it reached the chorus, that person got excited, and the sound system was so good that he was practically screaming.
A friend nearby looked up and casually reminded him, “What’s with the wailing? Keep it down.”
Well, it was even louder than the accompaniment.
Zhao Mingchuan put his feet down, took the cigarette out of his mouth, stood up, and picked up a bottle from the table. Then, he suddenly raised his hand and smashed it fiercely onto the screen—
Bang! Crash!
Alcohol and broken glass scattered everywhere.
“Can’t you understand human language?! Get out!”
This time, it was completely quiet.
The club manager rushed in, knocking on the door, trembling, fearing he hadn’t served these lords well enough. The room was a mess, silence filled the air, and the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.
Zhao Mingchuan pushed past people and exited the room without looking back.
His friends were worried and wanted to accompany him.
He turned back, his expression gloomy, and warned, “Don’t follow.”
He strode away majestically, but his retreating figure conveyed nothing but heartache and a lost soul.
________________________________________
Zhao Mingchuan put on his jacket. The light apricot trench coat was a loose fit, yet it didn’t look casual on him, quite highlighting his dashing demeanor. He walked towards the elevator. Just as he turned the corner, his steps halted abruptly.
It was a conversation between a few people, among whom Ke Yilin’s voice was all too familiar to him.
“Let’s go over the process again so we don’t panic later,” one person said.
“I’ve picked out the song. It’s the third one. Then I’ll turn off the lights beforehand, and when you sing, I’ll project it onto the wall. That heart will perfectly show up,” another person said.
“Next are the roses, one hundred ninety-nine fresh ones. We’ll push them in.”
Ke Yilin said, “Alright, I’ll count on you guys later.”
Laughter echoed: “If it works out, just treat us to dinner. But seriously, that girl is really pretty.”
Ke Yilin’s laugh was also hearty: “Thank you!”
The arrangement was methodical, clearly a lot of thought went into preparing this confession.
He had been pursuing Zhao Xi for half a year, and he hadn’t shied away from subtle hints. Today, he decided to make it official. Ke Yilin was a very graceful man; he knew how the girl felt about him and at what stage their relationship was.
At least so far, he felt that Zhao Xi had softened a little.
“Alright, that’s settled. We’ll go prepare. The roses are still in the car.”
“Thanks for your trouble.”
His allies took the elevator downstairs, and Ke Yilin walked towards the private room. Turning the corner, he ran straight into Zhao Mingchuan.
Extremely surprised: “Brother?! You’re here too?”
Zhao Mingchuan said blandly, “Hmm, business.”
“Are you done with your work? Want to join us?” Ke Yilin was very enthusiastic.
Zhao Mingchuan pulled a smile that was ambiguous, changing the subject. “What? Got a girl you like?”
Ke Yilin had no reservations with his cousin, his thoughts simple. He nodded honestly, “Yes.”
“Zhao Xi?”
“Hmm!” After a half-second reaction, “Brother, how did you know?”
Zhao Mingchuan smiled.
Ke Yilin suddenly realized: “Oh right! I brought her to dinner with you.”
He also rubbed his head, embarrassed, “Look at my memory.”
Zhao Mingchuan, neither warm nor cold, asked, “How do you plan to pursue her?”
“Flowers, I guess,” Ke Yilin chuckled foolishly.
“Roses?”
“Yes.”
“A suggestion.”
“Huh?”
“She’s allergic to pollen.”
“Oh—huh?!”
Ke Yilin was stunned, looking at Zhao Mingchuan, first in disbelief, then confusion, gradually turning to suspicion.
Knowing what he was thinking, Zhao Mingchuan, with intent, became even more nonchalant.
Raising an eyebrow, with a slight curve of his lips, he asked, “How did I know?”
Ke Yilin didn’t speak, his eyes clearly showing defensiveness.
Zhao Mingchuan put one hand in his pocket and took a step closer to him. Their heights were similar, but their presence when facing each other was entirely different. One was still a bit naive, lacking ruthlessness, while the other was an old fox, whose malice wasn’t on the surface but in his bones.
He leaned in and whispered two sentences into Ke Yilin’s ear.
Every single word, they all looked the same—
All of them were the face of a bastard.
Ke Yilin’s face suddenly changed, and he couldn’t breathe properly. Even after Zhao Mingchuan entered the elevator, he stood there in a daze, as if his soul had been sucked out.
When he returned to the private room, Zhao Xi was sitting on the sofa near the door, turning her head and calling out, “Yilin.”
Ke Yilin turned around, slowly.
“Where did you go?”
Silence.
Zhao Xi frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Under the dazzling and hazy lights, the woman’s features were particularly charming. Ke Yilin looked at her for a long time, then suddenly took her hand and walked out without a word.
“What’s wrong?” Zhao Xi couldn’t keep up and tried to pry his hand away. Finally, she grew anxious, “Ke Yilin!”
A dull pain in her back; she was pressed against the wall.
Ke Yilin gripped her shoulders, enduring his pain.
Zhao Xi was puzzled and genuinely disliked such actions. Her tone became more serious: “If something’s wrong, just say it. Let go of me first.”
Ke Yilin’s eyes darkened. He suddenly lowered his head, a surging kiss attempting to land on her lips.
Zhao Xi quickly turned her face away, raising a hand to block her mouth.
This action intensified his anger. Ke Yilin continued moving to the left, his grip firm, pulling her into his embrace.
Zhao Xi was extremely resistant, softly rebuking, “Ke Yilin!”
When she uttered his name, there was no emotion in it whatsoever.
Ke Yilin suddenly deflated, his actions ceased, his fantasies gone, his heart seemingly dying. He mumbled like a delirious person, “Xiao Xi, have you ever liked someone before?”
Zhao Xi pursed her lips. “Are you crazy tonight?”
“Yes, I’m crazy, I am crazy.” Ke Yilin let go blankly, stepping back, as if drained of all spirit. “It doesn’t matter who you liked before, why him of all people?”
If it were anyone else, I’d be confident. But him, I have no chance of winning.
Zhao Xi’s face instantly changed.
Without needing to speak, her expression said it all.
Ke Yilin turned around and stumbled away.
________________________________________
Outside the club, the spring night wind carried a moist coolness that seemed to slow everything down as it blew upon them.
Zhao Mingchuan stood there, smoking cigarette after cigarette, occasionally glancing at the main entrance, never feeling time pass so slowly.
Ten minutes later, Zhao Xi appeared.
His eyes lit up; his whole being came alive.
Then, he stood fearlessly in front of her, asking for a beating, absolutely asking for it.
Zhao Xi was enraged. She walked over and questioned, “Zhao Mingchuan, are you a bastard?!”
With a desperate demeanor: “I haven’t been a bastard for just a while; I’ll never change in this life. What? Are you going to control me?”
Completely infuriated by his arrogant attitude, Zhao Xi clenched her lips until they turned red. “You bastard, you bastard! You bastard!”
Zhao Mingchuan looked at her, his jaw moving slightly, and said in a suppressed voice, “Let go; if you bite any more, it’ll bleed.”
Zhao Xi roared, “It has nothing to do with you!”
She feared losing control, she needed to calm down, she didn’t want to see this person again.
Zhao Xi took out her car keys, walked past Zhao Mingchuan, and with two crisp clicks, the white Audi TT parked five meters away unlocked. Zhao Mingchuan reached out to stop her, but Zhao Xi dodged him.
He grabbed her arm, his voice filled with suppressed pain, “Xiao Xi.”
She still violently shook him off.
Zhao Xi showed no hesitation, got into the car, and roared away.
Zhao Mingchuan felt frustrated and unwilling to give up, so he stubbornly got into his car and quickly chased after her.
Zhao Xi drove fast, speeding through the first green light to gain distance. At a red light, it should have stopped Zhao Mingchuan, but the man was reckless, flooring the accelerator and running the light.
They sped along the Jianguomenwai Bridge, chasing each other, the bright lights of Chang’an Avenue stretching endlessly. Zhao Xi gripped the steering wheel, determined to burn her bridges.
The word ‘love’ is not most difficult when it’s unrequited, but when it’s filled with confusion and entanglement.
The car speed had surpassed reason. Zhao Mingchuan followed behind, both worried and angry. How long had she been back in the country? Was she familiar with the car and the road conditions yet? Driving like this, so recklessly, didn’t she fear something bad happening?!
He hardened his heart, stepped on the accelerator, and directly overtook her from the right.
Not stopping, huh?
Fine!
Zhao Mingchuan turned the steering wheel, his face extremely cold, his emotions unruffled. He suddenly turned left, directly smashing into the guardrail.
“Bang!” a loud crash.
The car lights were crumpled, the body scratched, and the hazard lights flashed frantically.
The black Porsche was angled by the roadside, smoke rising from its hood.
Zhao Xi behind was stunned. She slammed on the brakes, her heart leaping into her throat. Inside the car, no one emerged.
Zhao Xi unfastened her seatbelt, got out of the car in a panic, and ran forward.
From outside, she couldn’t see inside. Zhao Xi frantically knocked on the glass. That bastard Zhao Mingchuan stayed in the car, silent, his sharp gaze assessing the person outside.
Worry clouds judgment.
Given this situation, how dare she still claim to have no feelings?
Zhao Mingchuan slid down the window, quietly looking at her.
Zhao Xi was also bewildered, her half-clenched fist still held in the air.
The car door opened, Zhao Mingchuan got out, and taking Zhao Xi’s hand, led her to her car.
At this point, any further struggle would seem overly dramatic. Besides, after the scare just now, Zhao Xi genuinely felt strength leave her body.
“Are you driving, or am I?” Zhao Mingchuan asked blandly.
Zhao Xi pulled her hand away and silently got into the driver’s seat.
Zhao Mingchuan’s actions were truly arrogant and eye-catching. More and more onlookers gathered, and passing cars slowed down, their occupants craning their necks to stare. He, meanwhile, acted as if nothing had happened, showing not an ounce of remorse.
This was the closest they had been in the two years since their breakup.
The car had a faint gardenia scent, Zhao Xi’s usual perfume. Zhao Mingchuan leaned back in the seat, closed his eyes, feeling, contemplating, and also feeling powerless.
“Xiao Xi, let’s talk properly.”
He opened his eyes, turned his head, and spoke with utmost sincerity.
Zhao Xi suddenly broke down, raising her hand to hit him. “Zhao Mingchuan, you bastard! Bastard! Bastard!”
Three curses weren’t enough to vent her anger. Zhao Xi’s arms clenched into fists, wildly striking at him. It was truly painful, but her heart ached even more.
Zhao Mingchuan remained silent, not resisting, not struggling, letting her vent.
“We broke up, we broke up! I was the one who didn’t want you, I didn’t want you two years ago! What right do you have to control me? What right do you have to think I still like you?!”
Zhao Xi’s tears streamed down. Once the first drop fell, she couldn’t stop them.
“Who I make friends with, who I date, does it concern you? Huh? It doesn’t concern you! We have nothing to do with each other anymore! You can mess around; your indecisiveness is your business! I want security, I want a stable life, do you understand? Do you understand?!”
She cried hysterically, hitting and cursing, feeling wronged, and hating herself.
Zhao Mingchuan suddenly grabbed her wrist, holding it suspended in mid-air.
This force made Zhao Xi half-calm. Her chest heaved rapidly, and she looked at him through blurry, tear-filled eyes.
Zhao Mingchuan’s voice was low as he asked, “Still not enough to vent your anger?”
Without waiting for an answer, he took her hand and slapped himself across the face.
“Smack!” The sound was loud, carrying all his strength; he had truly hit himself hard.
The man’s handsome right cheek instantly bore a red mark.
Zhao Xi’s expression fluctuated; she wanted to speak but hesitated, finally swallowing her words.
Zhao Mingchuan said hoarsely, “Did that vent your anger, Xiao Xi?”
With that, he was about to repeat the action.
At this moment, Zhao Xi had largely regained her composure. Countering his strength, she held most of his force. Although the slap that landed still produced a clear, resounding sound of flesh, the force was much lighter than before.
Zhao Mingchuan’s eyes deepened with emotion. “This slap, I owe you.”
Zhao Xi pulled her hand away, saying resentfully, “Who cares!”
Zhao Mingchuan frowned, “Whether you care or not, I owe it to you.”
“Psychopath.”
“Have you ever seen a normal person crash their own car?”
His three sentences didn’t deviate from the core issue and reverted to arrogance.
Zhao Xi cursed under her breath, “Shameless.”
“When I had self-respect, didn’t you still dump me?” Zhao Mingchuan acted like a broken pot, speaking as if it were a matter of course.
Her wrist was still held by that bastard Zhao. Zhao Xi struggled and twisted. “Let go of me.”
“If I let go, you’ll run.”
“Are you letting go or not?”
Zhao Mingchuan, instead, tightened his grip, showing his stance.
Zhao Xi, furious, bared her teeth and kicked out, crossing the center console, directly kicking him.
She was wearing pants today, so she had no qualms. Her high heels were pointed and thin, making excellent revenge weapons. One kick landed squarely on Zhao Mingchuan’s chest.
Hmph, he didn’t budge an inch.
The second kick aimed precisely at his right abdomen, quite viciously. Zhao Mingchuan couldn’t help it; sweat broke out from the pain.
“Can you kick somewhere else? I had surgery here!”
Zhao Xi paused for a moment, then quickly recovered, saying stiffly, “You deserve to die!”
But despite her words, she softened, her eyes flickering. She looked at him several times, wanting to speak but holding back. Finally, hardening her heart, she asked maliciously, “Did you have a kidney removed?”
Zhao Mingchuan scoffed coldly, “Yes, I exchanged it for money and bought an iPhone.”
Zhao Xi pressed her lips together, turning her head away. “A compulsive liar.”
These four words subtly revealed her years of dissatisfaction, intentionally and unintentionally piercing Zhao Mingchuan’s heart.
Zhao Mingchuan knew he had done wrong and understood her perfectly, offering no rebuttal.
The mention of that sensitive point was like flipping a switch to a memoir. Zhao Xi couldn’t control herself, and her eyes welled up again. She lowered her head, gritting her teeth, and said, “You’re not right for me. We, we’re simply not from the same world.”
“What defines ‘one world’?” Zhao Mingchuan’s whole demeanor sank as he asked blandly.
He turned his head, his gaze calm: “You want stability, a regular nine-to-five life, a boyfriend who’s truly good for living with, someone you can hold onto, right?”
Zhao Xi remained silent, her fingers gripping the steering wheel, tightening then loosening.
“I’m not that kind of boyfriend,” Zhao Mingchuan analyzed himself. “So when you broke up with me the first time, I had nothing to say.”
Zhao Xi coldly distanced herself: “And there won’t be a second time. After tonight, we’ll have no further contact.”
Zhao Mingchuan didn’t seem to care, saying blandly, “It’s fine. We’ll talk about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow. I accept if there’s no contact in the future.”
Zhao Xi looked up, momentarily confused.
Zhao Mingchuan leaned in, gently pinching her chin, neither too lightly nor too hard, preventing Zhao Xi from dodging.
The man’s voice was deep, blending into the night, extremely possessive:
He said, “Tonight’s contact, watch carefully, and remember it.”
With that, his hot kiss landed on her lips—
It was lingering and gentle, restrained in its desire, cautious, and filled with a burning sincerity that had never been hidden.
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