The partition in the back row lowered, and Sui Yuye stared out the car window. Even with his hand covering his face, he couldn’t hide his expression, which looked as though the sky were about to collapse.
Would Sheng Xian dislike the watch he had given him?
After all, he was a young master who had been living away from home. How could he possibly take a liking to a watch worth only 300,000? Such a price was simply unworthy of Qi Shengxian.
“You’re not angry?” Mian Guanfei’s voice sounded beside him.
Sui Yuye shook his head. “He truly stayed by my side for ten years.”
He only had Sheng Xian left.
Sui Yuye clicked his tongue, growing increasingly agitated as his mind began to wander uncontrollably.
If Sheng Xian decided to leave, what could he possibly use to keep him?
His own parents had passed away early, and his profession was merely that of a bodyguard. Although he wasn’t short on money, the gap between him and Sheng Xian’s family was simply too vast. They weren’t even in the same social class.
Perhaps he should just pretend not to know? As long as he didn’t break through that thin layer of paper, maybe Sheng Xian wouldn’t leave so quickly?
Mian Guanfei said, “His family situation is rather unique.”
Sui Yuye immediately turned his head, waiting for him to continue. But Mian Guanfei stopped there, leaving Sui Yuye anxious. Just as he was about to ask, his shoulder suddenly felt heavy.
Strands of hair brushed against the side of his neck as Mian Guanfei rested his head on his shoulder.
“…Are you feeling unwell?” Sui Yuye asked.
“Motion sickness.”
Sui Yuye lowered the car window, and the night breeze rushed in, stirring their hair. The strands gently intertwined, creating an ambiguous and intimate atmosphere.
Mian Guanfei asked, “How old were you when you found him?”
“Fifteen.”
“I met you earlier than he did.”
Sui Yuye paused, unable to hold back a laugh.
The impression of that little girl in a dress, who was extraordinarily beautiful, was simply too vivid in his memory. But in the end, it turned out to be a misunderstanding. He could no longer empathize with his younger self.
Just how bold had he been as a child to dare say something like, “When you grow up, be my wife”?
Sui Yuye still couldn’t resist opening his phone and asking, “Is this really you?”
He pointed at the picture. Yesterday, he had rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find the physical photo and had taken a picture of it with his phone. Mian Guanfei stared at the photo for a few seconds before suddenly saying, “You have other photos of me, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Sui Yuye’s words caught in his throat, and his expression changed abruptly.
He suddenly remembered something.
The photo he had shown was of Mian Guanfei wearing a dress, and Mian Guanfei disliked wearing dresses.
Sui Yuye broke into a cold sweat, opening his mouth to explain, when suddenly, a large, gloved hand grabbed his face, pinching his cheek and turning him around.
Meeting Mian Guanfei’s gaze left him somewhat flustered.
“Take another look at me. Do you still think I’m the same as the image in your memory?” A distinctly masculine, low voice sounded in his ear:
“What kind of misunderstanding did I give you that made you project the me from back then onto the present me?”
His tall frame, dressed in a suit, shoulders broader than his own, an unbridled sense of oppression and dominance—all of it indicated that Mian Guanfei was a high-level Rom. Where was there even a hint of cuteness or fragility in the aggressiveness of his eyes?
It really wasn’t his fault for not recognizing him back then.
The pinch on his cheek grew increasingly painful. Sui Yuye gasped sharply. If he didn’t explain soon, it would bruise. “You’ve misunderstood. I’m not trying to force that image onto you.”
Upon hearing this, Mian Guanfei chuckled softly. “How wonderful it would be if it were the other way around.”
At first, Sui Yuye didn’t understand what he meant. It was only later that he realized Mian Guanfei was referring to the person in the dress being him instead.
He immediately closed his mouth and didn’t respond.
Mian Guanfei’s fingers still hadn’t loosened. Sui Yuye’s features weren’t soft, but his face felt pliant to the touch, yielding flesh under the pressure of his fingers, and would wince in pain with just a slight increase in force.
His hand slid downward, settling on Sui Yuye’s neck.
Mian Guanfei enjoyed gripping necks, because the fragile life rested solely in his grasp.
He lifted his gaze, meeting Sui Yuye’s eyes that held not a trace of fear, instantly overturning his earlier thoughts.
No.
Merely gripping his neck like this wasn’t enough.
This couldn’t touch Sui Yuye’s core. This person appeared smooth and adaptable on the surface, but deep down, he possessed an untamable resilience and stubbornness. Even with his body restrained, he would never bow his head—
It would be better to lock him in his investigation.
That’s when fragility and pleading would surface.
Suddenly, Mian Guanfei’s head was gently pressed down.
“Aren’t you carsick? Leaning against something might help,” Sui Yuye said, letting his head rest on his shoulder. “Why don’t you sleep for a bit? I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Mian Guanfei’s eyes widened slightly.
Upon arrival, Sui Yuye realized Mian Guanfei had first taken him back to his residential complex.
Just as he was about to get out of the car, Mian Guanfei suddenly spoke: “I can tell you about Qi Shengxian’s family matters, and I can even arrange for you to meet his family. But you have to agree to one thing.”
“What?”
“Let me buy your time.”
Sui Yuye stared at him in astonishment.
A few seconds later, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, unsure if he had managed a smile.
Shao Jinghe said he was worthless, yet Mian Guanfei wanted to buy his time.
Sui Yuye didn’t ask what exactly it was for. Pushing the car door open, he turned back with a smile that was both handsome and gentle under the night sky: “Anytime.”
After stepping out of the car, Mian Guanfei’s voice drifted softly from behind: “Sui Yuye, you really have a knack for attracting bad Roms.”
Sui Yuye: “Me?”
Returning home, he headed toward Qi Shengxian’s room. The door was ajar, but inside was empty.
“…Sheng Xian?”
Sui Yuye switched on the living room light and called out louder: “Qi Shengxian?”
Still no response.
Sui Yuye checked everywhere else but still couldn’t find any sign of him. He tried calling, but no one answered.
He stood quietly in the empty living room, lowering the phone from his ear as the screen went dark.
Sure enough, he was alone again.