A “service” I would rather die without.
Lu Huai hung a smile on his face, pushed Chi Yuan outside without hesitation, and slammed the door shut behind him.
He clutched the ointment in his hand, his arm raised in hesitation for a few seconds before he gripped it tightly in his palm. Lu Huai felt that he had underestimated the extent of Chi Yuan’s shamelessness.
But, as his gaze fell on the ointment, his face, usually as pristine as white jade, flushed with a pale pink. Even his earlobes turned a shy, embarrassed red. Lu Huai gritted his teeth, recalling the contents Ling Zhi had repeatedly emphasized during their last phone call. He asked himself if he was truly going to use it.
He took a few deep breaths and lowered his lashes, attempting to mentally prepare himself. The result was that he squeezed the ointment box until it deformed and then threw it onto the bed in defeat. He covered his face with his hand, finding it impossible to imagine the scene of applying the ointment to himself. Whoever wants it can have it. Lu Huai lowered his eyes, pressed his lips into a thin line, and thought expressionlessly that he would rely on his own self-healing abilities.
.
Chi Yuan was ushered out by Lu Huai’s force, but a smile still hung on his face. He thought of Lu Huai’s sharp, blade-like gaze and struggled to keep his lips from curling upward. He simply dragged a chair over and sat comfortably in front of the door, waiting for Lu Huai’s reaction.
However, there was no movement. Chi Yuan listened carelessly, understanding that Lu Huai had not thrown the item into the trash right in front of him, which was already enough of a sign of respect. He pondered for a moment and then tapped the avatar that had been silent on his list for ages: Ling Zhi.
The man was Lu Huai’s close friend, but their relationship was neither deep nor shallow; they were the type to exchange mass-sent “Happy New Year” messages. Chi Yuan weighed his options, understanding that if he asked under Lu Huai’s name, he would likely be blocked by the easily embarrassed man. Given how much he had offended Lu Huai recently, Chi Yuan shook his head with a faint smile and typed on the screen: “Dr. Ling, sorry for the trouble.”
Ling Zhi, who was frantically eating dinner between tasks, suddenly felt his pocket vibrate. He rubbed his eyes hard before he could believe the person messaging him was Chi Yuan, and the inquiry was very strange.
Ling Zhi took a sip of water and frowned. He wondered why Chi Yuan was bothering him when the Chi family had such vast wealth and surely had access to their own doctors. He was about to pretend he had not seen it, but the wording of the message felt oddly familiar. He remembered Lu Huai asking him something similar. Are these two competing on who can get injured more? Are they trying to outdo each other?
This was truly bizarre.
The response he had planned was swallowed back. Caught between confusion and professional ethics, Ling Zhi gave a serious answer, deciding that once he was finished with his work, he would definitely ask Lu Huai if they had made a pact to fight each other.
Chi Yuan looked at the long reply, a smile touching his eyes. He fired off a follow-up order and then knocked lightly on Lu Huai’s door. “Refusing to face the world in there is not your style, Mr. Lu?”
He did indeed have some mischievous intentions. Thinking of the message Lu Huai had sent to Cheng Ye when he was drunk, he felt that tit-for-tat could not be allowed to break in his hands. Thus, he took the opportunity to message Ling Zhi, though he kept it vague, unsure if the conversation would reach Lu Huai’s ears.
“Get lost.”
Lu Huai’s voice was clear and firm. He stared at the screenshot on his phone, which featured a highlighted section reading “Internal use only, do not apply externally,” and could not help but laugh out of anger. There was also Ling Zhi’s sincere question: “When did you two fight? You did not even call me to watch such a spectacular scene!”
Lu Huai’s eyes grew cold. If I had called you, would you have dared to watch? A fight in bed; I am afraid you would not have the stomach for it.
He did not reply. Just as he was about to extinguish the screen, he saw a voice message from Fang Ting of the Fang family.
Fang Ting was Fang Qiming’s older brother. This was the only connection Lu Huai could think of. Lu Huai lowered his eyes, recalling the email he had seen in the car, and his smile faded. I have not gone looking for them yet, and he is already rushing to provoke me. I wonder how he got my contact information.
However, do they really think I will engage with them?
Lu Huai looked down at the voice message with a sneer and promptly chose to block and delete it. Sorry, he really had no interest.
Moreover, Lu Huai pressed his lips into a thin line, his eyes reflecting a hint of melancholy. Chi Yuan probably does not want me to interfere anyway.
Another knock on the door.
Chi Yuan heard the “get lost,” and his smile deepened. He raised an eyebrow, finding Lu Huai increasingly like a noble cat—arrogant and easily riled—so different from his usual rational, decisive self, yet this was a Lu Huai only he could see.
He coughed a few times, his voice low. “I am serious. I can do it for you.”
His response was the door opening, revealing Lu Huai’s strikingly beautiful face.
“Are you feeling smug?” Lu Huai’s smile did not reach his eyes. He raised an eyebrow and said, “I think…”
Lu Huai tilted his head slightly, his eyes holding a glimmer of silver sand and hidden provocation. He leaned toward Chi Yuan’s ear, his voice cooling. “Based on Mr. Chi’s level, we have likely not reached that stage yet.”
The distance between them closed rapidly. Chi Yuan did not feel offended by the doubt in Lu Huai’s words; instead, he responded with meaningful intent: “I hope so.”
Lu Huai and Chi Yuan locked eyes. A silent rivalry began again, though this time it seemed to carry a trace of ambiguity that only the two of them understood, hidden in the lingering glances exchanged between them.
Chi Yuan’s gaze shifted from the red mole at the corner of Lu Huai’s eye to his lips. Memories seemed to revive with the sight, as if he were retracing the path of his touch.
The gaze was too intense. Lu Huai lowered his lashes, marking a temporary truce.
But then, the doorbell rang downstairs.
Chi Yuan circled around him, thinking it was the medicine he had ordered, and said casually: “I will get the door.”
Lu Huai looked weary, raising his chin with noble grace to signal he could go, and then turned to sit on the sofa, resting his face in his hand.
But then he saw Chi Yuan’s back freeze.
The visitor was Fang Ting.
Chi Yuan instinctively frowned. The man usually had a gentle, elegant air, but Chi Yuan always felt there was something sinister about him. He knew Fang Ting through Fang Qiming, but what did this have to do with Lu Huai?
Why was he here?
Chi Yuan said bluntly, “Fang Ting? What are you doing here?”
Fang Ting was slightly surprised to see Chi Yuan. When he recalled what Fang Qiming had told him, his face darkened. He gave Chi Yuan a smile that was not a smile. “Does this perhaps have nothing to do with you, Mr. Chi?”
“What?” Lu Huai walked to Chi Yuan’s side and saw the visitor. He frowned, remembering the message he had received. He asked in a low voice, “Fang Ting?”
Chi Yuan watched as Fang Ting’s expression changed when he saw Lu Huai, then reverted to his previous hypocrisy. What is the meaning of all this?
Fang Ting said with a faint smile, “Since today is inconvenient, I shall take my leave. I hope there will be an opportunity in the future to spend time with you alone, Mr. Lu.”
“I will not see you out.”
The inexplicable appearance and the strange final words were followed by his direct departure.
Lu Huai and Chi Yuan looked at each other, only to see Fang Ting pause and walk back toward them. Fang Ting walked straight to Chi Yuan and shoved a business card into his hand.
Chi Yuan looked down; it was the name of a hospital and a room number written in fountain pen. Fang Ting glanced at Lu Huai with pointed meaning, saying nothing more. “He is not doing well lately. As his brother, I still hope you will visit him.” At this point, his gaze flickered briefly toward Lu Huai. “Perhaps there are some misunderstandings you have not yet explained?”
Hearing this, Lu Huai clenched his fists. His naturally amorous eyes now held blades, a chill that could not be melted.
“If you want to go, you can leave right now.”
By the time Fang Ting was far away, Lu Huai still had not looked at Chi Yuan. He walked straight to close the door, but it was blocked by a hand with distinct knuckles.
“Do you think I should go?” Chi Yuan looked at Lu Huai, his gaze deep, his tone carrying a hint of danger.
“Why ask me?” Lu Huai stood like a pine tree, his lashes lowered, still refusing to look up. He laughed softly. “I do not want to meddle in your affairs.”
Chi Yuan suddenly felt that it was all meaningless. He ground the business card between his fingertips, his peripheral vision sweeping across the tattoo on Lu Huai’s wrist. His throat felt as if it were being squeezed, and he could only nod dumbly.
It was as if he agreed deeply with Lu Huai’s words.
“Since that is the case, I will go.”
Lu Huai lowered his eyes, his fingertips rubbing restlessly. If he truly did not know the truth, his current appearance would look very much like guilt.
But what did it matter? The “try it out” relationship had been agreed upon, which perhaps meant the “parting” in “parting on good terms” was simply something they both tacitly accepted.
Fortunately, his own feelings had not become so clear that he could not hide them, avoiding further embarrassment. Instead, it felt like he was in control.
He finally looked up, meeting Chi Yuan’s gaze with a faint smile. “Since Fang Ting delivered the news to you personally, you should go, both for the sake of the past and the present.”
“I think so, too.” Chi Yuan’s lips pressed into a straight line, all traces of a smile vanishing. His phoenix eyes stared coldly at the person in front of him. “Hearing the inside story might not be a bad idea.”
“I just did not expect Fang Ting to be in contact with you.”
A skylark chirped, like a raindrop falling into a lake, disappearing without a sound, leaving only ripples expanding in circles.
Lu Huai watched Chi Yuan’s back and blinked in confusion. The ringing of his phone brought him back to reality. He checked it; it was his assistant.
“Mr. Lu, the reason for the capital chain break at Star River has been found.”
He lowered his eyes calmly. “Yes.”
“The Fang family.”
A new friend request appeared at the top of the list. While listening, Lu Huai looked at the clear “Fang Ting” label on the request, and his mind suddenly cleared.
The Fang family’s intervention in Star River’s situation; if he had not changed his plans, not only would the project in his hands be lost, but the entire Star River company would have eventually fallen into the hands of the Fang family.
He seemed to have spoiled Fang Ting’s plans.
However, it had been quite a while since he entered the scene. For Fang Ting to only realize it now, and even come to find him in person—what did that mean?
His fever had only recently broken, but Lu Huai’s lips remained pale. He accepted the friend request.
He felt there were some things he still had not seen through.
.
The forest shadows swayed, and the drizzle fell like tears.