When Xu Qingfeng asked that question, he noticed a complex look on Gu Tianze’s face, as if he were feigning ignorance while being perfectly aware of the situation. Instantly, the unease in Xu Qingfeng’s heart began to amplify.
Sure enough, if Gu Tianze didn’t cause some kind of trouble, he probably wouldn’t be Gu Tianze anymore.
The man being questioned let out an impatient click of his tongue before saying, “What could possibly happen in such a short time? Anyway, I already did my best to get along with him just like you said.”
Gu Tianze was telling the truth; he really had tried his best. If it hadn’t been for that phone call, there shouldn’t have been any issues. Regardless, his living allowance couldn’t be cut otherwise, wouldn’t all his previous efforts and endurance have been in vain?
Xu Qingfeng, of course, understood his subtext, but…
He was a man who liked to practice what he preached.
“I know you tried your best,” Xu Qingfeng said, pulling a gold card from his crocodile-skin wallet and handing it toward Gu Tianze as he continued, “But it’s also a fact that you failed to make him satisfied with you. Since you live and eat at home, you won’t starve to death, so don’t even dream of getting more money.”
The gold card clamped between his two fingers flashed before Gu Tianze’s eyes like a mere exhibition before being swiftly tucked back into the wallet.
The closing of the wallet was accompanied by a crisp click, a sound very similar to the noise of Gu Tianze grinding his back molars.
Meeting Gu Tianze’s resentful gaze, Xu Qingfeng’s smile only deepened, showing not a hint of fear.
He could sense that Gu Tianze was hiding something from him, but Xu Qingfeng didn’t press for details. He valued results far more than the process.
Perhaps a more suitable opportunity was needed to make Huo Xiu and Gu Tianze reconcile properly.
Gu Tianze was indeed unwilling to let Xu Qingfeng know about the embarrassing and unlucky incident where he was caught by Huo Xiu seemingly cheating with a “clinging piece of candy.” Therefore, he kept his mouth tightly shut.
However, the thought of the penniless days ahead made his whole body uncomfortable. He couldn’t bring himself to lose face by begging Xu Qingfeng for money again, and since the other man wouldn’t succumb to force, his face turned a bruised shade of purple from suppressed frustration.
With a quick turn of his mind, Gu Tianze thought of the invitation for that evening. Wasn’t this a perfect opportunity?
“Hey, give me the card,” Gu Tianze said, spreading his hand and putting on his best performance of a troubled expression.
Xu Qingfeng simply looked at him with a smile, making no move, waiting for him to continue.
“A friend of mine is celebrating a birthday today. I have to at least buy a gift before I attend, right? How can I buy one without money!” Because of the grievance in his heart, Gu Tianze was already very dissatisfied, yet he could do nothing against the man.
He could only try to move him with reason and emotion.
In reality, even if he truly had the money, he had no intention of buying Chen Feng any gift. Just looking at the guy was annoying enough; how could he be willing to spend effort picking out a present?
If the target were An Yan, that would be a different story he would definitely pick the best thing within his means.
Based on Xu Qingfeng’s understanding of him, Gu Tianze was surrounded by a bunch of debauched scoundrels; he didn’t have any true friends. Keenly sensing something was off, Xu Qingfeng asked, “Which friend?”
The lack of an immediate refusal meant there was still hope for the allowance.
“Chen Feng. You probably don’t know him,” Gu Tianze replied, assuming the other had already forgotten. He added, “If I go to the birthday party tonight, I’ll probably be back very late, or I might stay out overnight.”
This counted as a report. The old Gu Tianze would never have imagined a time when he would actually need to report his whereabouts to Xu Qingfeng.
He had underestimated Xu Qingfeng’s memory.
Though they had only met briefly once on campus and he had only heard the name once, Xu Qingfeng could clearly recall who Chen Feng was.
Moreover, the image of Chen Feng happily walking away while holding Gu Tianze’s arm flashed in his mind, forming a sharp contrast to An Yan’s dejection.
Back then, it had taken quite a bit of effort to comfort An Yan, and it was all because of the instigator, Chen Feng. Of course, Xu Qingfeng hadn’t forgotten the promise he made at that time either.
How could he not see that person’s designs on Gu Tianze? Sensing trouble, Xu Qingfeng immediately refused.
“Staying overnight? That’s not good. Don’t go.”
Having been suppressed too hard, Gu Tianze snapped back instantly, protesting, “What’s not good? Being managed like an elementary school student for months is what’s not good! I’m an adult; what’s wrong with going to a birthday party?”
Xu Qingfeng detected a hint of grievance in that loud shout. He began to reflect on whether his “training” had been a bit too excessive, concluding that in this matter, he indeed shouldn’t be too strict.
Gu Tianze wasn’t wrong. Since the rule of returning home before nine p.m. was established, he hadn’t been out to play for months.
With a light sigh, Xu Qingfeng changed his mind and agreed, though he didn’t give much money and added conditions.
“I wish you a fun time. However, you still cannot stay out overnight. This is the maximum extent of my permission.” On Xu Qingfeng’s well-defined face, the faint lines at the corners of his eyes were filled with caring affection.
Gu Tianze’s anger and grievance vanished mysteriously into thin air. He hadn’t really wanted to stay out overnight anyway; he was just testing the waters in advance.
“Fine, I’ll be back later.”
Once Gu Tianze left, Xu Qingfeng picked up his teacup and took a sip of hot tea, a deep sense of deliberation in his eyes…
Letting him go completely unmonitored definitely won’t work. Variables always occur in the corners where one cannot see.
Just like today—a great opportunity to naturally bring Huo Xiu and Gu Tianze closer was messed up by Gu Tianze when he wasn’t looking.
Therefore… he would give Gu Tianze freedom, but not total freedom. Otherwise, he really didn’t want to see his scumbag son end up being “finished off.”
The Cornflower Bar was the top gay bar in the city.
Now that same-sex marriage was legal, gay bars were flourishing, equaling the number of heterosexual bars, and Cornflower Bar was the leader among them.
Not only was the spending top-tier, but the threshold for entry was also the highest.
At the door, they checked your face first. If your face passed, they measured your height and weighed you.
Summary: If you were ugly, short, fat, or poor, you couldn’t get in.
With these conditions, the guests here were naturally of high quality, and elite hunters would first come here to seek their prey.
There was no shortage of celebrities and tycoons among the clientele.
Chen Feng’s choice to celebrate his birthday here was naturally linked to his status as a “rich second generation.” Without some financial power, one really couldn’t splurge here.
In the past, Gu Tianze was a regular here, often waving his hand grandly and declaring, “Tonight’s consumption is on Master Gu’s tab!”
In terms of being a spendthrift, if Gu Tianze claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.
Unfortunately, the present was different from the past. He was no longer that lavish young master, but a rebellious son under strict fatherly control.
Having not stepped foot in this bar for months, Gu Tianze felt a bit of a sense of strangery. He was a man of pride; since his allowance had dropped, he didn’t want others to notice.
But that strangeness soon vanished, replaced by the ease of a fish returning to the sea.
If only today’s protagonist wasn’t so clingy, it would be even more comfortable.
“Brother Ze, let’s go. Let’s go dance on the dance floor.” As the birthday boy, Chen Feng had dressed up meticulously today. Even in a place full of handsome men, he stood out.
He wore light makeup and a distressed knit sweater with nothing underneath, allowing glimpses of his fair, tender skin.
When he went to grab Gu Tianze’s arm to pull him toward the dance floor, the skin of his chest rubbed directly against Gu Tianze’s bare arm, carrying an ambiguous friction.
Gu Tianze wasn’t an idiot, and Chen Feng had never hidden his intentions. Yet no matter how much cold water he threw, Chen Feng remained unaffected.
“Get lost. Go by yourself.” Even with others present, Gu Tianze showed no consideration for Chen Feng’s feelings as he pulled his arm away in disgust.
But everyone just assumed Gu Tianze had drunk too much and didn’t pay much attention, including Chen Feng.
He couldn’t pull Gu Tianze away, so he gave up and started playing dice with the others.
Chen Feng, of course, had impure motives. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have thick-skinnedly asked Gu Tianze to come after being rejected three times. He was playing with all his heart, intending to get the man drunk…
Gu Tianze: “Can you still drink? If you want to vomit, go to the bathroom.”
Having the bad memory of An Yan puking in front of him, Gu Tianze wanted to avoid that risk in advance; he didn’t want to be puked on again.
Chen Feng, who hadn’t managed to get the other drunk but was about to give in himself, waved his hand and said in a joking tone, “Brother Ze can really drink. Is it natural?”
Gu Tianze leaned back lazily on the sofa with his elbows, too lazy to even speak, merely giving a grunt. It was indeed a natural high tolerance. He then turned his head to chat with the others beside him.
He completely ignored the person looking at him with deep affection. His patience for others was greater than his patience for Chen Feng. Chen Feng, feeling light-headed, naturally felt unbalanced. Looking at that handsome face, his whole body felt an itch. Fortunately he had a backup plan.
If Plan A failed, he would implement Plan B.
With the person right in front of him, how could he not get a taste? Once he actually slept with him, he had plenty of ways to make Gu Tianze unable to leave him.
To put it more realistically: he wouldn’t be able to shake him off.
Using his peripheral vision to closely monitor Gu Tianze’s movements, his hands also moved cautiously…
He poured a transparent liquid directly into Gu Tianze’s glass.
If he added a little “something,” Gu Tianze would have to be “drunk” even if he wasn’t. This drug could also stimulate sexual desire. When the time came, wouldn’t he be able to satisfy whatever he wanted to do?
Because of the scenes in his imagination, the flushed color on Chen Feng’s face deepened, and he became incredibly excited.
But heaven did not grant Chen Feng his wish. It wasn’t a matter of him getting a taste just because he wanted one.
A hand wearing an expensive watch suddenly squeezed his wrist, and a voice that sounded as warm as a spring breeze rang out: “Little friend, what do you think you’re doing?”
Caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, Chen Feng just stared blankly back at this charming, mature man. The empty bottle in his hand fell onto the table with a clatter.
Perfect. He had been caught red-handed on the spot; it was hard to even make an excuse.
“This is not something a good child would do.” Xu Qingfeng picked up the spiked glass of wine and swirled it gently, allowing the people at the table to stare at him without any sign of restraint.
The most surprised person was likely Gu Tianze. He didn’t even bother to find trouble with the underhanded Chen Feng, standing up directly from the sofa. “Why are you here? Are you following me?!”