Chapter 78#

“Aren’t you just stirring up trouble for the sake of it?” Yan Zishu smiled faintly, glancing sideways at Fu Jinchi. “She was just going with the flow. Whether she said she didn’t bring it or whatever, finding an excuse to refuse would have been enough. Are we really going now? Is it fun, Mr. Fu?”

“Go, why not?” Fu Jinchi smiled lazily, showing no remorse, and rested one arm on the back of the sofa behind Yan Zishu’s head. “As long as someone sincerely invites me, even if it’s a Hongmen Banquet (a trap), there’s no reason not to go.”

In the end, the two had different styles of doing things. A gentle person like Yan Zishu would be somewhat considerate of other people’s engagement banquets. It happens only once in a lifetime. He wouldn’t fool around just because a little girl was fooling around. After all, he had to take care of other people’s face and feelings.

Otherwise, what? Are they going to crash the party?

But Fu Jinchi wouldn’t care what the occasion was. As long as he was happy, he just saw everything as fun.

Yan Zishu could even sense his psychology. It was something like Ding Hongbo appearing in the gossip tabloids with him, which made Fu Jinchi unhappy. So he didn’t mind crashing the other party’s engagement banquet to retaliate and declare his sovereignty by the way.

Thinking about it, Yan Zishu found it a bit funny. He shook his head, got up and went back to the reading room, picking up that “Rongcheng Travel Guide”.

When he first met this person, he knew that there was such a nasty side in his bones. He chose it himself, so what could he do?

But he didn’t really want to read outside right now. Carrying a book and two invitations, he went back upstairs to his room.

Actually, compared to going out, Fu Jinchi also preferred to hole up in the room with Yan Zishu.

Closing the door shut out all the disturbances from the outside world. Usually at this time, they were like two young people hiding away to taste love for the first time, kissing and rubbing against each other in a secret corner, indulging each other.

This kind of tenderness didn’t make people feel ashamed, but only made them indulge in it, unable to resist.

Especially since Fu Jinchi had just returned. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and he missed him very much, as if a kitten was scratching his heart.

Yan Zishu used the key card to open the door. Fu Jinchi followed him in, closed the door with his foot, and then smiled frivolously: “You’re the only kind-hearted one.”

Sure enough, Yan Zishu also smiled, pulled his tie, and kissed him on the cheek: “Why don’t you say you’re the only one with bad intentions.”

Fu Jinchi lowered his eyes, pressed the back of his head and kissed back: “You only know now, isn’t it too late?”

Yan Zishu freed a hand, stroking the back of his neck, allowing him to drive straight in and conquer cities and territories.

Especially the phrase “boyfriend with whom I have a good relationship” just now. The speaker might not have intended it, but the listener took it to heart. It was like pouring some catalyst, making Fu Jinchi extremely excited. In the quiet room, only panting could be heard, until the book in Yan Zishu’s other hand slid down.

He hurriedly pushed Fu Jinchi away while catching the book with quick eyes and hands, saving it from hitting anyone’s feet.

The two invitations, however, fell pitifully to the ground with a clatter.

Fu Jinchi clicked his tongue, picked up the invitations, and threw them carelessly onto the cabinet, overlapping with the decorative bonsai.

Yan Zishu looked at it, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “I say, if you put them down, put them down properly. Won’t they get wet in a while if you put them there?”

As he spoke, he wanted to reach out and take them. Fu Jinchi still looked disgusted. Probably because Ding Hongbo’s big name was printed on them, he finally thought of a suitable way to sort the garbage. He grabbed them first and threw them casually onto the table, onto that pile of expired gossip tabloids.

Yan Zishu decided to remain silent, put the travel guide in his hand on the table, pulled a chair and sat down.

However, before opening the first page, he heard Fu Jinchi say again: “Want to make a bet?”

“Bet on what?” Yan Zishu raised his head, his gaze following him.

Fu Jinchi leaned over: “For example, is Ding Hongbo really gay?”

“Him? But you haven’t even met him in person, right?” Yan Zishu’s eyes widened in surprise, “Can you tell from a photo?”

Saying that, his eyes couldn’t help but turn to the colorful newspaper page, slightly hesitant.

Some say that people in this group can recognize each other. Actually, it’s not that mysterious. Sometimes it’s possible, sometimes it’s inaccurate.

Although the tabloids fabricated stories at length, some parts were very detailed, detailed enough to dig out that Ding Hongbo had participated in that kind of rainbow club during his university years from a certain year to a certain year, using this as evidence that he was homosexual. But such far-fetched clues, to put it bluntly, only the person involved knew what was going on. If you don’t suspect, there’s a natural interpretation for not suspecting. Once you suspect, everything looks suspicious.

Fu Jinchi had no proper posture in front of Yan Zishu. With his hands casually in his pockets, as if missing a bone, he sat on the edge of the table, looking at him with a light smile: “Mn, guess. If you suddenly had an extra ‘paramour’, would I find someone to investigate his situation?”

“Then what did the investigation find?” Yan Zishu leaned back, crossing his arms, “Is my relationship with him innocent enough?”

“Perfectly innocent.” Fu Jinchi leaned over and kissed him on the ear, “Seriously, he indeed has only had girlfriends.”

“So you think he’s gay instead?” Yan Zishu found it hard to understand.

“That’s why I’m betting with you.” Fu Jinchi said meaningfully, “If everything was so certain, of course it wouldn’t be called a bet.”

*

So it’s true that Fu Jinchi’s mouth just can’t speak properly.

If he didn’t say it, Yan Zishu really wouldn’t have thought so much. Once he said it, even unfounded things made Yan Zishu suspicious. Perhaps there was also some blindly trusting filter, that he always felt Fu Jinchi had a sharp eye for people and wouldn’t speak empty words.

But for them, this was ultimately just gossip. Even if Ding Hongbo was an alien, it was Mr. Ding’s problem to worry about.

And right now, Mr. Ding was already very worried.

Lisa came to pick a fight with Yan Zishu foolishly. He heard about it as soon as he woke up. Any mentally mature adult wouldn’t do things like this, but she had already done it, so what could be done? The future granddaughter-in-law had already patted her butt and left after the matter was done, leaving the old man very embarrassed: “The little girl is insensible and spoiled at home. Don’t lower yourself to her level.”

There was a small bar in the public area, and the old and the young sat there chatting. Not many people in the sanatorium could drink too much alcohol, so there were at most a few bottles of low-alcohol red wine here. Yan Zishu pushed a glass over to Mr. Ding. Observing his expression, the old man still had something on his mind.

Reasonably speaking, his grandson was finally engaged, so he should be satisfied, but the wrinkles on his face didn’t show much happiness.

Yan Zishu said “it doesn’t matter”, put the invitation on the counter, and returned it to Mr. Ding.

Fu Jinchi wasn’t here at the moment, but Yan Zishu expected that he wouldn’t care. Besides, even if he did care, Yan Zishu always had a way to deal with it.

Compared to being angry, he felt more sympathy. Girls always like to be silly. The stiff face she was trying to maintain meant nothing in front of her fiancé’s indifference. Did she really have no brains and couldn’t see that the problem wasn’t with Yan Zishu?

Yan Zishu sat up straight and sipped his wine, seeing Mr. Ding keeping a straight face and waving his hand over there: “You take it. Go if you want, forget it if you don’t, throw it away for him. The younger generation can invite whoever they want. If I meddle too much, I’ll be annoying.”

He snorted again: “This marriage isn’t for me anyway.”

This was sulking.

“What are you saying.” Yan Zishu smiled with maturity and prudence. With elderly people, you just have to go along with them, “Who would dare to find you annoying?”

“I find myself annoying!” Mr. Ding said, “Maybe you young people have complicated minds now, or maybe I, an old man, think too much. Is it all because I urged them? Look at the young couple, do they look like they are getting married?”

Yan Zishu’s expression was faint; this was hard to answer. But, it was quite absurd, indeed.

“I saw it last time too. He seems dissatisfied with Lisa somewhere, but if it’s not suitable, he should say so?” Mr. Ding continued to complain about his grandson, “Ask him and he refuses to say anything. I said I wouldn’t force it, change to another one if it’s not suitable. Later, not knowing what he was thinking, he suddenly insisted on getting engaged urgently. I don’t understand, what on earth do these little brats want to do all day long?”

Naturally, only the person involved knew the answer to this question.

Yan Zishu made no comment and gently put down the glass. However, men understand men after all. If a man makes all kinds of excuses and doesn’t want to develop further with his girlfriend or enter into marriage, you have reason to suspect that he says one thing but means another.

As long as this man is willing to change his mind, without asking why, he can get a happy marriage? Is there such logic?

But plenty of people do turn a blind eye to such obvious things.

Mr. Ding was still rambling on, talking about how Lisa was the granddaughter of a friend, how she had a crush on Ding Hongbo for many years, and how she chased him hard with his help. He didn’t know if he was convincing himself or others.

No matter how angry he was, he actually revealed an eagerness for approval. He wanted to prove that this should be a match made in heaven.

Yan Zishu just smiled in the end: “It’s a pity that we have other arrangements on Christmas Eve, so we might not be able to join in the fun.”

The engagement banquet written on the invitation was scheduled for Christmas Eve, which happened to be a Saturday. It was a good day.

Mr. Ding still said stubbornly: “No need to go to show support, let them handle it themselves.”

Yan Zishu drained his wine and responded somewhat insincerely.

After a while, Fu Jinchi came over. In front of the old man, he naturally put his arm around Yan Zishu’s shoulder again.

Yan Zishu looked up at him, smiling more sincerely unconsciously: “Do you want a glass?”

The laser light was reflected in his pupils. His eyes were shining when he looked at Fu Jinchi, as if stars were twinkling.

Fu Jinchi said yes. Yan Zishu took another goblet and poured him a little. Fu Jinchi took it, clinked it with his empty glass, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing them together now, Mr. Ding had probably digested it almost completely. He saw through it but didn’t say it. He even greeted Fu Jinchi and asked when he came back. Fu Jinchi responded casually and buttoned one more button for Yan Zishu.

When the two walked out side by side, Mr. Ding was still sitting at the bar, sighing deeply.

Yan Zishu looked back. Only the ambient lights were on around the bar, dim and dark. The old man was like a statue in his twilight years, almost motionless, his cane leaning listlessly to the side. Always wanting to seek a life fulfillment he imagined, but in the end, it was just near dusk.

*

Back in the room, after taking medicine and getting into bed, Yan Zishu finally finished reading the travel guide. After all, it wasn’t very thick.

He closed the book, put it on the bedside table, took off his glasses, folded them and placed them on top.

Fu Jinchi was lying on his thigh, one hand under his head, the other scrolling through his phone.

“Finished the book?” Fu Jinchi finished typing, pressed send, and glanced up.

“Mn.”

“Shall I turn off the light?”

“No need.” Yan Zishu looked down at him for a long time, then suddenly said, “I think…”

“What do you think?” Fu Jinchi looked up at him, placing his phone on the quilt casually.

“Shall we do it?” Yan Zishu stroked his hair, “I think it should be fine if we go gently.”

Fu Jinchi froze, but his body reacted faster than his brain, having already caught that cool hand.

“What, made up your mind?” Fu Jinchi looked at him from below, “I can wait a bit longer.”

“It has nothing to do with making up my mind or not.” Yan Zishu smiled, “It’s just that I feel I worry too much about the future and the past. Sometimes the more I think, the more chaotic it gets. Why not just forget it, let’s try again. There’s no point in worrying too much.”

People’s thoughts change from moment to moment. Fu Jinchi probably didn’t know that in the morning he was still seriously thinking about what to do if they broke up in the future. But now Yan Zishu felt that if this went on, it would be endless.

There are always so many things to worry about anyway. But look at others, plenty of people dare to jump into the grave of marriage with their eyes closed, one after another. All living beings suffer. The two of them were just two mayflies. Where in the world is there a foolproof path?

Yan Zishu embraced the person in front of him and slowed his voice ambiguously: “I missed you.”

The meaning of this sentence was quite different from the one in the morning. Fu Jinchi smiled, his eyes becoming deep.

He turned over without hesitation, pressed onto Yan Zishu, and kissed him gently: “Okay.”

“But the timing isn’t very good.” Yan Zishu pointed to the matter of him transferring assets during the day, “Doesn’t it look like some improper transaction?”

“Ignore it.” Fu Jinchi laughed, “Isn’t that more exciting? I’m willing to spend my entire fortune to buy you.”

Of course, apart from verbally, they didn’t dare to really pursue excitement anywhere. Fu Jinchi was gentle yet dangerous, but still restrained. It could be called a lukewarm reconciliation. Yan Zishu woke up once in the middle of the night, dazed, only to see Fu Jinchi sleeping soundly with his arms around him.

As soon as he moved, Fu Jinchi, not knowing if he was awake or dreaming, instinctively scooped him closer into his arms.

Yan Zishu closed his eyes, felt at ease, and soon fell asleep again.

The next day proceeded as planned. Yan Zishu went to Hong Kong Island with Fu Jinchi.

It is generally recognized that Hong Kong is a well-deserved shopping paradise. However, Yan Zishu had been here for so long, yet he hadn’t actually been to the most bustling and famous business districts. Before, he was always hospitalized, and the need for shopping was ranked last. Moreover, he didn’t want to waste money.

After getting off the boat and following the crowd out of the pier, there were vendors on the street selling instant noodles and bowl pudding (Put Chai Ko), and someone was dragging a large bunch of balloons.

Tourists and office workers were shuttling back and forth beside him. Yan Zishu felt as if he had suddenly returned to the mortal world, bewildered for a moment, hesitating about which direction to go.

He subconsciously looked up to find signs for buses or taxis first, but actually hadn’t decided what transportation to take.

It seemed that only then did Yan Zishu realize that going out without a plan like this was not his style at all.

He had to admit that Fu Jinchi’s presence did bring him great inertia, which had unconsciously corroded him.

It’s just that the feeling of having someone to rely on was too comfortable. Yan Zishu quietly put away the thought and lazily held the other’s hand.

Fu Jinchi held Yan Zishu’s hand back, composed. He had always been good at dressing himself up. Even in casual clothes, standing in this bustling, dark crowd, he didn’t lose his gorgeous appearance. It seemed that a random snapshot could make the cover of a magazine.

On the other hand, Yan Zishu was still wearing Fu Jinchi’s coat. It wasn’t that it didn’t look good; he also had a slender and upright figure. It was just that by comparison, the two seemed to be dressed for different seasons.

Withdrawing his gaze from the glass window, Yan Zishu smiled and decided to follow commands for everything: “Which way do we go?”

–

The author has something to say:

Edited. I sobered up and looked at the last paragraph, damn, what kind of nonsense was I writing? Tore it up and rewrote it.