“Go to hell,” he said. “We cannot coax him back into good graces. The current him is a piece of frozen stone that can never be warmed, maintaining that we have wronged him. Heh.”
“A stone you cannot warm doesn’t mean I cannot,” Li Shengfei said disdainfully.
Han Tian wished to smash his food plate over the other boy’s face. Suddenly noting the individual sitting across from Cheng Shuoning, he leaned his back against his chair, his posture somewhat lazy and unconstrained.
“Why has that individual appeared beside Ningning so frequently recently? I recall Ningning was perfectly fine previously, yet he seemed to alter completely ever since that fellow appeared.”
“You mean Xu Wangzhi? I find him highly strange as well,” Li Shengfei agreed. “I even suspect he instigated Ningning, acting as the chief culprit behind Ningning distancing himself from us.”
Cheng Shuoning was entirely unaware of their thoughts. After finishing his meal, he called his homeroom teacher to request leave from evening self-study, intending to return home first to pack his belongings so he could stay at a hotel for a few days, moving over directly once the apartment was finalized.
When school concluded in the afternoon, Cheng Shuoning departed through the back door of the classroom, avoiding Han Tian who intended to block him at the entrance, and hailed a taxi back to the villa.
To his surprise, Cheng Mother sat squarely upon the sofa, seemingly waiting specifically for him. Seeing him return, she set her coffee down and spoke in a warm tone, “Ningning, come sit.”
Cheng Shuoning didn’t approach, heading upstairs to pack his clothing quickly. As he placed the rabbit plushie Xu Wangzhi had given him into his suitcase, an issue struck him abruptly. Walking downstairs, he asked Cheng Mother, “Where is that parrot?”
“Given away,” Cheng Mother said. “After you left, there was no one in the room, and it kept squawking incessantly, making my headache unbearable. I instructed Aunt Chen to take it home and raise it. If you desperately wish to raise it, I can have Aunt Chen bring it back.”
Since it was given to Aunt Chen, Cheng Shuoning could accept it, saying nothing further as he returned to his room to carry his suitcase down, preparing to depart.
Cheng Mother had initially intended to speak with him properly. Seeing him carry his suitcase, she furrowed her brows and ceased drinking her coffee, calling out in an un-serene tone, “What are you doing? Running away from home just because I gave the parrot away?”
“No, I am moving out,” Cheng Shuoning paused, his tone cold and detached.
“Stand still.” Recognizing his resolve, Cheng Mother rose to block his path, close to speechless from rage. Gathering herself for a few seconds, she stared into Cheng Shuoning’s eyes and said, “The words I said to you yesterday were indeed incorrect, but what kind of scene are you making right now? Moving out for what purpose?”
{You are truly rebellious, let’s see if you dare to step out today.}
Discerning her fury, Cheng Shuoning refused to yield a single inch, “I am not as understanding as you imagine, Mom. Therefore, when Cheng Meng comes to provoke me, I will not make any concessions to him. You likely have no desire to witness that either, so moving out is the most suitable option.”
Cheng Mother knit her brows, “I have already told you that I was incorrect, you can simply ignore Cheng Meng. Even so, you still insist on moving out?”
Cheng Shuoning’s expression remained unaltered, which counted as a tacit agreement.
Cheng Mother’s face turned cold, her tone unpleasant, “Could it be that you expect me to apologize to you? Expect me, a mother, to apologize to you, my son? Is that possible?”
“I have never considered it,” Cheng Shuoning smiled flatly, harboring absolutely no hope for any so-called apology.
He bypassed Cheng Mother, walking toward the exterior.
“Cheng Shuoning,” Cheng Mother shouted in anxiety, “if you depart this time, it will be impossible for you to return even if you want to later, do you know that?”
The youth departed without turning his head, without a shred of hesitation.
Cheng Mother was left in absolute disbelief, standing frozen at the entrance. Her proud character prevented her from chasing out to retain Cheng Shuoning once more, choosing instead to allow him to depart.
What kind of mess was this?
One son refused to grant her peace of mind, and the other son insisted on adding a massive headache on top of that.
Cheng Mother turned around and collapsed back onto the sofa, propping her forehead with her hand, thoroughly exhausted.
Taxi listings were non-existent along the roads of this residential zone, requiring a ten-minute walk to hail one. Cheng Shuoning dragged his suitcase, breaking into a slight sweat after walking a short distance, his cheeks lightly flushed.
Just as he stopped to rest, a black vehicle slowed to a halt before him, blocking his path.
A man dressed in a black trench coat stepped out of the vehicle, retrieving Cheng Shuoning’s suitcase to place it into the trunk.
“Brother Zhou? Why are you here?” Cheng Shuoning froze in surprise, never expecting Zhou Xundu to appear suddenly.
“I went to your school to look for you but failed to find you, only then learning you had returned home. I figured you would be packing your belongings.” Zhou Xundu opened the passenger door, his features containing a smile, “Ningning, climb inside, I will drive you.”
Cheng Shuoning’s heart warmed slightly. Climbing into the car, he requested Zhou Xundu to drive him to the residential estate where Xu Wangzhi stayed, “Troubling you, Brother Zhou.”
The hand Zhou Xundu used to hold the steering wheel tightened, asking as if casually, “What is Ningning going there for?”
Cheng Shuoning: “Renting an apartment.”
“My apartment has a room for you, why go through the trouble of renting an apartment?” An idea striking him, he said, “Is it because of Cheng Meng this time?”
Cheng Shuoning had initially assumed he knew the entire story, simply narrating a brief overview of the incident upon hearing his words.
His tone was exceptionally calm, as though narrating someone else’s business, delivering Cheng Meng’s hideous remarks without any agitation. This absolute calm left one feeling some heartache instead.
Zhou Xundu cast a glance at him, speaking softly, “Cheng Meng went altogether too far, and Auntie was incorrect as well, she shouldn’t have spoken about you that way. Ningning, do not take their words to heart.”
“Does Brother Zhou dislike Cheng Meng?” Cheng Shuoning asked suddenly.
“I dislike him, I find him highly detestable,” Zhou Xundu smiled dotingly. “I dislike any person or matter that makes Ningning unhappy. I only like Ningning.”
He didn’t clarify the underlying meaning of that affection, and Cheng Shuoning didn’t actively inquire either.
Due to his insistence on going to the residential estate, Zhou Xundu could only drive him there helplessly, arriving at eight o’clock when the sky had darkened completely.
Cheng Shuoning located the landlord’s contact details, calling to inquire, and ultimately rented the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment.
A dozen minutes later, the landlord arrived carrying the contract and keys. After signing the contract and receiving the rent, he handed the keys to Cheng Shuoning with a joyful smile, “I found someone to clean the interior, it’s very clean, you don’t need to hire cleaners again.”
After speaking, he cast a glance at the distinguished Zhou Xundu, asking in confusion, “Are you brothers? Living together?”
“No,” Zhou Xundu offered the landlord a slight smile, full of friendliness.
The landlord’s spine chilled, always feeling that this smile wasn’t as friendly as it appeared, turning around to depart quickly.
The room carried no massive issues overall, but a fraction of dust remained on the surfaces. Cheng Shuoning set his suitcase aside, commencing to clean.
Zhou Xundu removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, joining in as well.
By the time the two finished cleaning, it was already ten o’clock at night. Cheng Shuoning’s empty stomach roared in protest. Washing his face clean, he looked at Zhou Xundu, who was putting on his jacket, and asked, “Has Brother Zhou eaten dinner yet?”
“No,” Zhou Xundu shook his head.
In truth, he had eaten, but he didn’t mind accompanying Cheng Shuoning to consume another meal.
Cheng Shuoning smiled, “Then let me treat Brother Zhou to a meal. Brother Zhou has helped me so much. What do you wish to eat?”
Zhou Xundu didn’t refuse.
The restaurant was selected by him. Only after finishing did Cheng Shuoning discover it was a couple’s restaurant, surrounded entirely by sweet, affectionate couples, making him and Zhou Xundu the center of attention.
Some people had already commenced speculating about their relationship. Cheng Shuoning couldn’t sit still. Unsure whether Zhou Xundu did this deliberately or merely failed to notice, he rose quickly to exit the restaurant.
Discovering his embarrassment, Zhou Xundu couldn’t help but lose his smile, explaining that he genuinely failed to notice it was a couple’s restaurant, driving him back to the residential estate.
The dark clouds in the sky had dispersed at some unknown point, exposing a crescent moon that cast a cold glow over the earth.
The handsome man leaned elegantly against his car, offering a smile to Cheng Shuoning as he said, “Good night, Ningning. I will come fetch you tomorrow.”
“Does Brother Zhou not have work tomorrow?” Cheng Shuoning froze. “There is no need to fetch me for school, I can take the bus from the entrance.”
“I am not busy recently, and how can work compare to the importance of Ningning? I wish to accompany Ningning more,” Zhou Xundu said.
{I hope Ningning won’t refuse me.}
Hearing that voice in his heart, Cheng Shuoning’s words of refusal were withheld, pausing before he said, “Thank you, Brother Zhou.”
He stepped into the elevator. Even without turning his head, he could feel Zhou Xundu staring at him, his gaze intensely scorching.
A dim light illuminated the corridor. Cheng Shuoning opened his front door, recalling that he hadn’t returned the jacket he borrowed from Zhou Xundu previously. Holding the jacket, he stood before the corridor window, opening the glass pane. He had initially intended to call out to stop Zhou Xundu, but caught sight of an unexpected individual instead.
Cheng Shuoning closed his mouth, fearing discovery, moving aside slightly to stare expressionlessly at the two figures below.
Fragmented moonlight spilled through the trees. Cheng Meng, standing beneath a tree, threw himself into Zhou Xundu’s embrace, speaking with some displeasure, “What makes Cheng Shuoning worthy of your good treatment? Brother Zhou, I like you.”
“Can you like me too, and stop liking Cheng Shuoning? That person is both wicked and selfish, snatching away everything that belongs to me. Such an individual isn’t worthy of Brother Zhou’s affection.”
“Brother Zhou, pay attention to me, please”
The voice, sounding like acting spoiled, was exceptionally clear in the surrounding silence, making it difficult to ignore even if one tried.
Cheng Shuoning witnessed Cheng Meng’s face pressed tightly against Zhou Xundu’s chest, a faint flush upon his features, completely lacking any trace of his usual arrogant, mocking demeanor.
It was quite surprising.
He recalled the words Zhou Xundu uttered to him inside the car, disliking him, finding him highly detestable, disliking any person or matter that makes Ningning unhappy.
He suddenly grew curious about Zhou Xundu’s reaction.
The tender, restrained, and steady man didn’t push Cheng Meng away, allowing him to maintain the embrace, nor did he refute any of his words, acting precisely as though he tacitly agreed that his words were correct, his expression dark and inscrutable.
A moment later, he raised his hand to stroke Cheng Meng’s head gently, still uttering no words.
That was absolutely not an action that could be displayed toward an disliked individual, intimate and familiar to the point of appearing as though it had been performed numerous times.
Cheng Shuoning’s face displayed absolutely no waves, the depths of his eyes a sheet of numbness.
He had previously assumed Zhou Xundu was different from Han Tian and the others, but he no longer maintained that view right now.
In the essence of this matter regarding Cheng Meng, the three of them were no different, all playing him for a fool, deceiving him like an absolute idiot.
His fingers holding the jacket tightened gradually, only loosening his grip slowly once he felt the sting of pain.
Zhou Xundu’s stroke functioned like a form of encouragement and consent, causing Cheng Meng to smile instantly.
Griping Zhou Xundu’s clothes, he rubbed against his chest happily, his tone carrying a soft compliance reserved solely for the individual one liked, “Brother Zhou, you didn’t refuse me. Does that indicate I stand a chance?”