Following the commotion caused by Fang Qiming, the relationship between Chi Yuan and Lu Huai inexplicably eased.
Chi Yuan thought back to the scene when they parted ways earlier. He had asked Lu Huai what kind of person he liked, but Lu Huai had kept his mouth tightly shut, refusing to answer. Chi Yuan waited patiently, only to see Lu Huai lower his eyes, smile faintly, and airily reply, “You guess.”
It was truly enigmatic.
Lu Huai was accustomed to keeping people in suspense; perhaps it was his spiteful nature at work. From childhood to adulthood, Chi Yuan had been tricked by him more than once. Chi Yuan rubbed the tip of his fountain pen, narrowing his eyes slightly. He felt his mindset had shifted for the better. When Cheng Ye had told him that Lu Huai might be interested in him, Chi Yuan had been shocked, thinking that Cheng Ye’s brain must have been wasted from living a life of indulgence among the wealthy elite to have such thoughts. But now, he could not help but feel there was a slight possibility.
In any case, the two were currently caught in a delicate harmony, unlike the past when they would bicker upon meeting. Chi Yuan found Lu Huai much more agreeable, and for the first time, he saw the smile always present in Lu Huai’s eyes, finally understanding the meaning of “captivating” as described in books.
Well, Lu Huai did indeed look quite good.
However, since Lu Huai’s feelings for him remained unclear, Chi Yuan would not do anything rash or stupid. Moreover, the Lu and Chi families had deep ties, so everything had to be weighed carefully. At this thought, Chi Yuan’s expression dimmed. Let it be, then. After all, one is not held responsible for an unspoken heart, and the weight of this sincerity was unclear.
Chi Yuan examined himself with a hint of self-mockery, attempting to deduce any traces of Lu Huai potentially liking him, only to remember the decades they had spent at each other’s throats.
He did not think that in the same scenario where he found Lu Huai’s face hateful, the other person could actually fall in love with him.
Stunned in his thoughts for a moment, his phone rang sharply, pulling him back to reality. Seeing the unknown number on the screen, Chi Yuan frowned and added it to his blacklist without hesitation; it was Fang Qiming, undoubtedly.
Having loved each other for two years, how could he not have known the other was so clingy? They had already broken up; how could he still have the energy to keep dragging things out? Chi Yuan found it ironic. Since there was so much reluctance, why had he not spoken up when Chi Yuan was willing to wait for an explanation? Was he feeling aggrieved now?
He had no time to deal with him.
Furthermore, Chi Yuan pressed his lips into a tight line, thinking of the exhaustion from their subsequent constant arguments and disagreements. Even without this mess, a breakup was only a matter of time. Since that was the case, he turned his phone face down, his brow stern. There was no need for entanglement.
Having his mood ruined for no reason, his mind stirred slightly. He lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on the cabinet to his right. He did not know what mindset he had been in back then, but he had impulsively placed the watch Lu Huai had given him inside, along with various other accessories. He had just remembered it today.
Just then, Lu Huai pushed the door open and saw Chi Yuan staring fixedly at the cabinet before him. He coughed lightly.
“You?”
“How did you get in?” Chi Yuan was startled by Lu Huai’s sudden voice. He frowned and asked, “Is the Chi Group’s security system this non-compliant now?”
“Why?” Lu Huai looked at Chi Yuan with a faint smile. “It cannot be that just because you do not like me, the entire Chi Group has to unite against an outsider, right?”
As he spoke, he walked closer. “Besides, we are in a partnership.”
Seeing Chi Yuan blink unnaturally, Lu Huai stopped talking and asked calmly, “Why did you not answer your phone?”
Chi Yuan was puzzled. He lowered his head to check his phone and, sure enough, found several missed calls from after Fang Qiming’s. He just had not noticed because he had silenced his phone in frustration.
“I did not hear it.” That served as his explanation. He looked up at Lu Huai and asked, “Do you need something from me?”
“Yes.” Seeing Chi Yuan’s change in expression but his unwillingness to say more, Lu Huai tactfully moved past the topic, saying concisely, “It is the school anniversary invitation. Are you not going?”
Chi Yuan, who had clearly forgotten, checked his watch and realized there was only about half an hour left. He stood up immediately, and while flustered, he caught a glimpse of the composed Lu Huai. He asked in surprise, “You are still here?”
Lu Huai’s eyes held a smile as he replied lightly, “Waiting for you.”
Chi Yuan had not expected this answer. When he looked at Lu Huai, he met those brilliant, captivating eyes. Caught off guard, he felt a flash of something; his Adam’s apple bobbed.
For some reason, the person in front of him suddenly slowed down. Lu Huai’s eyes flickered with scrutiny. He had been at the hospital when he received the school anniversary invitation; perhaps it was due to the chaos of those two years abroad, but a common cold had lingered, never quite going away. His throat felt a bit hoarse today, so he grabbed some medicine. Coughing softly, Lu Huai prepared to wait outside, but as he looked up, he caught sight of a fair wrist resting before him.
Chi Yuan had poured him a glass of water.
He was slightly surprised, meeting Chi Yuan’s displeased expression. He thought his movements had been subtle, but he had not expected the other to notice.
The movements had indeed been subtle, Chi Yuan thought, frowning. Every time he saw this person, he looked unwell. Did he not know health was the most important thing? So, he gave the other a cup of warm water, but felt a surge of inexplicable irritation: “You are sick and you do not know it yourself?”
Was this a form of awkward concern? Lu Huai lowered his eyes and smiled faintly, taking the water. “It is not serious.”
“And you still want to return to school to give a speech?” Chi Yuan was puzzled.
“Yes.” Seeing that Chi Yuan’s concern did not seem fake, Lu Huai thought about it and explained, “I brought medicine.”
Chi Yuan’s aura suddenly sank. He said with indisputable authority, “I will take you to the hospital. You did not look well the last time I saw you, and you are still like this now. Do you not care about yourself at all, Lu Huai?”
The concern that slipped out left them both stunned.
Lu Huai’s gaze dimmed for a moment. He looked at the suddenly silent Chi Yuan, understanding that the other also felt like a stranger to this sudden care. To ease the awkwardness, he smiled: “I have to go, otherwise would you not be the only one stealing the spotlight?”
Lu Huai’s tone was light, as if he were stating his true thoughts, but Chi Yuan clearly did not believe him. He might say the same thing, but Lu Huai would not.
It was just that Chi Yuan bit his lip, following his own thoughts. In every instance where they had refused to give ground, whenever Chi Yuan won, Lu Huai never competed for the glory. However, their current relationship was not quite at that stage yet. Seeing the other insist, Chi Yuan could not persuade him otherwise.
So, he gritted his teeth and said, “Suit yourself.”
Watching the person walk ahead with a stifled mood, Lu Huai sighed, not knowing what it tasted like. The shimmering hope in his eyes flickered and vanished in an instant. Thinking of the scene just now, he always felt that Chi Yuan knew something.
But he did not know how much Chi Yuan had actually understood.
He squeezed his palms, finally suppressing all emotions into silence. They had survived over a dozen years, so it seemed there was no rush for this moment.
Lu Huai rubbed the tattoo on his wrist, his expression darkening bit by bit.
Streetlights dotted the night, and fireworks bloomed over the homes, spreading along the river, their reflections on the fine ripples looking extraordinarily brilliant in the darkness.
Lu Huai followed the person.
Graduation seemed to mean the lifting of certain taboos, and everyone wanted to grasp the tail end of their youth. When the instigators opened the first bottle of alcohol, things naturally spiraled out of control.
As the class monitor, Chi Yuan was naturally the primary target.
Lu Huai watched the man drink glass after glass. He knew he could not stop him, and given his own status, any attempt to intervene would easily be perceived as a provocation.
So he could only watch from the sidelines, coldly refusing others who tried to force drinks on him.
By the time the event broke up, Chi Yuan was somewhat incoherent. However, being drunk at least meant his usual sharp edges were softened, and he allowed Lu Huai to bundle him into the car.
Afraid the alcohol and the night breeze would give him a headache, Lu Huai tried to get him home, but Chi Yuan, in his stubborn state, insisted on walking along the levee. Afraid that something might happen to him, Lu Huai could only follow.
Looking at the slight, intoxicated flush on the other’s face, Lu Huai felt that his own rationality was being blown away by the wind, and certain emotions were secretly at work.
“Lu Huai.” Chi Yuan suddenly stopped. His voice was sticky with drunkenness. Lu Huai was taken aback by being called out.
Chi Yuan stood a foot away from him. His phoenix eyes held a lingering, heat-filled intensity that was unfocused, yet his entire demeanor remained imposing.
Lu Huai found it funny and was about to walk up to him, but was stopped by the other.
“You stand there.”
The drunk person forgot the beginning of his sentence as he finished the end. Chi Yuan suddenly lowered his head and muttered, “I hate Lu Huai.” He had no idea what the connection was between the “you” in his words and “Lu Huai.”
Lu Huai’s brows softened with faint helplessness. He uttered a sound of acknowledgment, and even knowing the person in front of him was drunk, he habitually hid his true emotions, pulling out a smile: “Why do you hate him?”
This question was too difficult. Chi Yuan, who prided himself on his sharp mind, could not wrap his head around it at all. He only felt that this shadow in front of him was deliberately making things hard for him, and said with hatred, “You are also hateful; just as hateful as Lu Huai.”
Lu Huai stood in place, his faint smile carrying a touch of bitterness. “Then how can he become less hateful?”
Chi Yuan hugged himself, slowly squatting down, shaking his head while whispering, “He is high and mighty; he does not care about anyone; he does not care about me.”
“I hate him the most.”
An unexpected answer.
Lu Huai chewed on these words, feeling that Chi Yuan himself probably did not understand his own thoughts. The phrase “hate the most” strangely made one’s heart turn sour.
He was not eloquent and was not good at expressing himself, so at this moment, he could only weigh the three words “hate the most” to see how much weight of caring was hidden inside.
Reflecting the lake in his eyes, but shining brighter than the brightest star, Chi Yuan felt like he was floating in the sky while the star was right in front of him. Swaying, he walked toward Lu Huai, who was still standing there, and cupped the other’s face.
Lu Huai wanted to take a half-step back, but feared the other would fall, so he had to steady him. He bowed his head slightly, but felt a warmth at the corner of his eye, his entire body instantly freezing.
Cupping the star he had been thinking about, Chi Yuan felt a sudden, inexplicable dryness in his throat, inducing him to lean over to kiss him.
His watery eyes were truly bright. Lu Huai, in his astonishment, forgot to close his eyes, watching as Chi Yuan kissed his eyelid with affection. His heartbeat thundered at this moment, rising to the heavens.
“Like.”
Chi Yuan, having obtained his greatest treasure, murmured about liking.
The upbringing refined through many years was still fermenting even through the intoxication. As Lu Huai watched Chi Yuan let him go, his hands suddenly began to fumble over his own body, as if looking for something. Before he could ask the question, “What do you like?”, his wrist was gripped tightly.
Having kissed the star without permission, Chi Yuan took out his own possession to exchange. He produced a handful of candies, handed them to Lu Huai, and then tilted his head in thought for a moment before pulling out a pen. Grabbing Lu Huai’s hand, he wrote a word on it: “étoile,” only then satisfied enough to let go.
“My star.”
Lu Huai held the person who had fallen drunk into his arms. As the other rubbed against his neck and slowly spoke these two words, he locked his embrace tight, his eyes as deep as ink.