Tutoring Has the Older Man, Playing Has the Younger Man…
But the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment. Perhaps it was someone he had encountered once in an insignificant setting; Qi Qian did not dwell on it. He dialed his driver’s number, his voice returning to its usual composed and cold tone: “I have sent you the address; come pick me up.”
After hanging up, he raised a hand to press against his brow. He had a multinational meeting that evening and needed a bit of caffeine to remain absolutely alert.
There happened to be a newly opened boutique coffee shop across the street, rumored to have excellent beans and craftsmanship. Qi Qian strode forward with his long legs, crossed the street, and pushed open the thick glass door of the cafe.
The wind chimes on the door emitted a crisp sound.
Almost simultaneously, he heard a very soft voice, laced with the nasal tone of someone who had just woken up:
“A cup of pearl milk tea with full sugar, please. Thank you.”
Qi Qian’s footsteps faltered, his gaze following the sound. His pupils dilated, and his vision locked in place. It was Yun Zhixue, and he looked even better than in the photos.
The evening sunset filtered through the glass windows, slanted and warm, pouring into the cafe like melted honey flowing over Yun Zhixue.
He was standing slightly on his tiptoes, focused on the drink menu above. The lines of his profile were almost unreal in the warm golden halo. Xu Chi stood half a step behind him, his tall frame enveloping Yun Zhixue in a safe shadow, his eyes never leaving him for a second.
Qi Qian’s gaze was thus caught off guard and nailed to the spot.
He had carefully studied the photo Yun Zhixue sent him just last night. In the photo, Yun Zhixue was wearing a pink camisole nightdress, his black hair messy, his eyelashes moist with sleepiness. His skin was like snow, his cheeks like peach blossoms, his lips red and moist, his eyes filled with a naive bewilderment.
He was so beautiful that Qi Qian almost forgot Yun Zhixue’s true nature.
Yet the real-life Yun Zhixue was even more beautiful and vibrant. Even the golden dust of the twilight seemed to favor him, lingering on the tips of his curled eyelashes. As he blinked, they fluttered, casting fragmented light and shadows.
Qi Qian stood there, the lingering chime of the bell seemingly still echoing in his ears, while that voice had already burrowed into the softest part of his heart.
He was almost bewitched, but then he saw Xu Chi leaning over, whispering something into Yun Zhixue’s ear. Yun Zhixue leaned back slightly, appearing to listen very earnestly.
Qi Qian snapped back to reality. What was he thinking just now?
Yun Zhixue, such a pretentious and artificial man! He was fickle and unfaithful, liking men yet not even knowing how to avoid suspicion!
He suddenly understood; this was clearly a new tactic. He did not believe it for a second; he knew how stubborn Yun Zhixue had been about him. Not long ago, Yun Zhixue was making a scene, threatening to jump off a building for him, yet now he had changed his target.
So, this was definitely playing hard to get.
He had even specifically tracked his whereabouts. How impressive. Qi Qian sneered, took a few strides forward, his tone very cold: “A signature cup, something strong enough to make me sober.”
Xu Chi vaguely felt the voice was familiar. Looking up, he realized it was Qi Qian. Although he and Qi Qian were biological brothers, their relationship was truly worse than that of stray cats and dogs one might encounter on the road—at least he might tease a stray cat.
Now, seeing Qi Qian, he was reminded of that note. This old man could not stand the beautiful youth of the younger generation.
He did not bother greeting him, instead ushering Yun Zhixue to a booth by the glass window. However, they were suddenly interrupted by Qi Qian, who stood there with a cold face, his tone calm—the posture of someone used to giving orders.
“Yun Zhixue, is this what you meant by ‘changed’? Tracking me, following me. You have not changed one bit.”
The cashier, who was in the middle of taking the order, slowed down. Xu Chi frowned at Qi Qian, his eyes filled with a trace of imperceptible confusion and anxiety.
What did this mean?
Yun Zhixue blinked in confusion. Who is this? He did not recognize the voice. He turned around. Xu Chi was still holding his hand, though for some reason, his grip was a bit too tight, making his palm feel sticky.
As his skirt lifted in a small arc, Yun Zhixue lifted his chin, raising his delicate face. That beautiful face was fully exposed to Qi Qian’s gaze. Qi Qian’s breathing hitched for a second, and he tightened his thumb.
Yun Zhixue was full of confusion; he truly did not know this person.
Under the lights, the crown tilted in his black hair sparkled, but it was far less bright than Yun Zhixue’s eyes.
Yun Zhixue tilted his head slightly, his lips parting: “Are you…” before he was interrupted by the System’s scream: “Little Xue, this is Qi Qian, your crush—no, you should call it your ‘out in the open’ crush.”
“Your persona is that you like him, like him very much, love him. Love him to the point of jumping off buildings and acting recklessly.”
Yun Zhixue widened his eyes; his task was truly difficult.
He remembered his tasks.
Random Task
Collect disgust values.Xu Chi: 20/100
Qi Qian: 0/100
Chu Chao: 30/100
Xu Lin: 0/100
Yun Zhiqiu: 0/100
Please remember you are a fickle little young master with a cross-dressing fetish. Please have three relationships that start but do not end, including but not limited to completing dates, kissing, cohabitation, and other things couples should do. You may choose from the following targets: Xu Chi, Qi Qian, Chu Chao, or Xu Lin.
Go abroad.Dating progress: 0/3
Couple events: 0
He not only had an “out in the open” crush, but he also had to date—and date three times at that. Wouldn’t that make him a bit too promiscuous?
Yun Zhixue reacted after a long moment, his eyelashes curled. In Xu Chi’s eyes, this looked like him staring blankly at Qi Qian, which made Xu Chi’s shoulders tighten. He could not help but wrap his free arm around Yun Zhixue.
Qi Qian’s brows furrowed. Qi Qian disgust value +5.
Yun Zhixue came back to his senses and shrunk his shoulders. No way. Was he that disliked? His disgust value increased the moment they met. He was clearly very likable.
Dating Qi Qian was probably impossible.
The confusion faded from Yun Zhixue’s face as he glanced at Qi Qian’s cold, hard eyebrows. His jawline was as sharp as if cut by a knife, with thin lips, slicked-back hair, and a black suit. He looked like someone not to be trifled with.
Compared to Qi Qian, Xu Chi, whom he was more familiar with, could give him a sense of security. Yun Zhixue leaned back slightly, and Xu Chi’s tense shoulders relaxed a little. The two of them were fitted together seamlessly.
Yun Zhixue subconsciously used the same term of address he had used when sending the message yesterday: “Brother Qi Qian, why are you here?”
Xu Chi disgust value +10.
? Yun Zhixue felt they were truly unpredictable. Although he had completed his task, they were increasing his disgust value without a second thought. That was too much! A man’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. He told himself it was fine; it was all to complete the task.
Xu Chi’s brows were furrowed tightly, the fury in his eyes directed at Qi Qian ready to erupt. What does this mean?
“Brother.”
Yun Zhixue had never even called him that. What exactly was their relationship?
Qi Qian, glared at by Xu Chi, remained relaxed, the ice in his cold eyes melting slightly. He raised an eyebrow and said casually: “Just passing by. It seems Yun Zhiqiu has not disciplined you enough, giving you another chance to follow me.”
Yun Zhixue: “?”
Yun Zhixue was bewildered: “I did not follow you. I just came to buy a dress.”
Qi Qian’s gaze fell on the exquisite black velvet short skirt he was wearing. The pearls on the hem reflected a warm, moist luster under the cafe’s lights. It must have been bought under Xu Chi’s accompaniment. Maybe while buying the dress, he asked for Xu Chi’s opinion. Trying on all kinds of dresses, asking in that soft, coquettish voice.
Qi Qian told himself not to forget what kind of person Yun Zhixue was, but his internal restlessness did not diminish at all.
Yun Zhixue was held tighter by Xu Chi, his back pressing completely against the warm chest. He could feel Xu Chi’s arm muscles tensed hard, his heartbeat abnormally fast. He moved uncomfortably, but Xu Chi thought he wanted to break free and pulled his arm even tighter.
Xu Chi roughly understood now: Yun Zhixue used to like Qi Qian. But that was in the past. He mocked Qi Qian coldly: “Qi Qian, do you think the road was built by your family? Everywhere you go is you being followed? It was I who stained Little Xue’s dress and brought him to buy a new one. I chose the location, and I heard the milk tea here was good.”
“From beginning to end, Little Xue is following my arrangements.”
Qi Qian’s focus was completely off. “Xu Chi, what did you call Yun Zhixue just now? Little Xue?”
Qi Qian disgust value +3.
Yun Zhixue felt a bit aggrieved, but he was getting used to it. More disgust value? Why are these two so hard to please? One increases it when they meet, another increases it just from hearing a form of address. He told himself it was fine, it was all to complete the task.
Xu Chi sneered, his eyes filled with a sense of showing off: “So what if it is ‘Little Xue’? Do not tell me you have never called him that?”
“I think all the things you said are just your own delusions. After all, we were just passing by to buy a cup of milk tea, yet you can fantasize that Little Xue is following you. I am afraid you do not know how much you have ruined Little Xue’s reputation in private.”
The few customers and staff in the cafe pricked up their ears, their gazes circling between the three men, who were all exceptionally attractive but stuck in a bizarre atmosphere. The wind chime rang again; the new guests noticed the stifling air, silently chose a corner to sit in, and took out their phones.
The corners of Qi Qian’s mouth curled into a cold arc, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
“Delusions? Xu Chi, you think too highly of yourself. You have stayed abroad for over a dozen years, and you have only known Yun Zhixue for a few days. Matters between me and Yun Zhixue are not for an outsider like you to interfere in.”
Xu Chi was poked in a sore spot; he knew nothing about Yun Zhixue’s past. A wave of intense jealousy and anger clouded his mind. “You do not think you know him very well, do you? You are an old man in your thirties, and Little Xue only liked you before because he was too young and bewildered. Little Xue thought you were successful, mature, and steady.”
“But as long as Little Xue spends more time with you, he will find that your so-called maturity and steadiness are just dead-faced stubbornness. Always pulling a long face, living like a programmed robot. What fun is there in life besides reports and meetings? Little Xue was young and naive, thinking you were cool and deep. Heh, now that he has seen the truly vibrant world, will he still look back at you, this cold tombstone?”
“After all, you are too old; you smell like an old man.”
“But I am young. Being with us, Little Xue can wear a dress if he wants, drink full-sugar milk tea if he wants, and laugh out loud if he wants.”
The words were too harsh and too direct. Gasps could be heard in the cafe.
Yet, there were faint sounds of agreement. The two young women sitting by the window appeared to be students from a nearby university. The one with short hair pressed against her best friend’s ear and whispered: “I think he is right. The young boy is so beautiful; you cannot take your eyes off him just by looking. If you get old and die early, what happens to the young boy?”
The long-haired girl whispered back, using almost only air: “But he is too young and too childish. He does not care about the occasion and just makes a laughingstock of himself for no reason.”
“In my opinion, they should be paired up. Tutoring has the older man, playing has the younger man, and the two together are even tastier. Hehehe.”
The short-haired girl nodded repeatedly, a knowing smile on her face: “You really know how to eat; you have great taste.”
As soon as the short-haired girl finished speaking, the long-haired girl tapped her lightly, signaling her to be quieter, but could not help pursing her lips to smile. The two leaned in closer, their lowered voices filled with excitement.
“Look at that high schooler,” the long-haired girl pointed with her eyes at Xu Chi. “Although his words are blunt, he protects the other person so tightly. He has not let go of his arm even once; his possessiveness is off the charts. And when he called him ‘Little Xue,’ his voice softened by half. It is like he is a completely different person from the one who was just bickering.”
The short-haired girl nodded repeatedly, her gaze circling on Yun Zhixue: “Yes, yes, yes! And have you noticed? The little boy was held, but did not struggle at all, and seemed quite used to it. Especially those legs; they are really beautiful. Being sandwiched between the two, with snow-white legs appearing between the blue school uniform trousers and the black suit trousers, the skin looks like milk—it is glowing. Contrasted with those sneakers and school trousers, it makes it look even more… that. Pure yet seductive.”
The long-haired girl and the short-haired girl looked at each other for a second and revealed a knowing smile. The long-haired girl hurriedly took a sip of coffee and whispered, her excitement impossible to suppress: “Me too; it is just that he is too thin; the calf flesh is just a thin layer, sticking to the slender bone. The trembling is just so cute. Why can I not eat such a cute little boy? He is born to be a wife. I have never seen anyone look so suitable in a dress. His little movements are so cute. Does he even know these two men are about to fight over him?”
“I do not think he knows it all.” The long-haired girl raised her coffee cup, using the action of drinking coffee to cover her mouth. “His eyes are too clean; he does not look like the kind of person who would intentionally play around. Look at him now, he seems troubled as to why the two of them have such sour faces. God, this kind of unconscious fishing is the most lethal, is it not!”
“The younger guy is straight-forward and protective, the older guy is cold-faced and jealous,” the short-haired girl excitedly pinched her friend’s hand. “This configuration, the novel has come to life! Look at the one in the suit; what kind of look is that? He looks like he wants to swallow the little boy alive, but he is desperately telling himself, ‘No, this person is poisonous, I must stay sober.’ Hahahaha, the sense of self-conflict is maxed out!”
“A battleground of love, it is delicious.” The long-haired girl concluded and then sighed regretfully, “But honestly, the suit guy’s elite aura really does attract innocent young masters. But the high schooler is not wrong either; being with that kind of person, there are too many rules, and you would not be as free as you are now. Look at the dress the little boy is wearing; it is so beautiful. If he were with the suit guy, he would probably be warned that it is ‘inappropriate’ or ‘unseemly.'”
“The little boy is so beautiful and cute, I would feel sorry for him if he were managed into wearing things he did not like. But I have to say, the suit guy looks like the successful type who can support the little boy. The high schooler is not necessarily so.”
In the end, the long-haired girl concluded: “Better to have both. Such a cute and beautiful little boy, it would be a shame not to try more.”
Qi Qian disgust value +1.
Yun Zhixue looked at their argument in confusion, unable to get a word in.
He was a bit troubled. The System said he had to date three people, but Qi Qian hated him so much. His disgust value kept rising every time they met. Qi Qian really seemed to hate him; if he dated him, would he not hit him? He was a bit scared, so he silently removed Qi Qian from his list of potential dating targets.
Yun Zhixue pursed his lips; he was a bit hungry.
Do they have to keep arguing? He had not even had his milk tea yet.