Xiang Shuyu was dazed for a moment, finding the words hard to process: “What?”
“The reason he’s home today is because my mother invited the only child of the Guan family, an Omega, over for dinner,” Duan Lin explained, appearing helpful. “Mother likes that Omega very much. In terms of family background and appearance, they are a perfect match for Duan Yue—and that Omega has the exact personality Duan Yue likes best.”
It felt as if Xiang Shuyu had been struck by lightning. He stood rooted to the spot, paralyzed like a wooden board.
“Wait a second…” he murmured, “Stop talking for now.”
He only wanted Duan Lin to stop so he could have time to breathe and absorb what had just been said.
But in this situation, Duan Lin was only worried that he hadn’t sown enough discord. If his words had no impact on the relationship between Duan Yue and Xiang Shuyu, he would be the one losing out.
Now, while Xiang Shuyu and Duan Yue were apart, hadn’t met, and weren’t in contact, was the most suitable time to drive a wedge between them.
Duan Lin looked down on his own clumsy methods, but he had no choice. Perhaps it was because Xiang Shuyu had a high pheromone compatibility with him, or perhaps because Xiang Shuyu’s looks coincidentally matched an ideal type he had never deeply considered before—he felt possessed, desperately wanting to obtain and possess him.
He still had a shred of moral conscience and a lingering sense of shame; he didn’t want to be the “third wheel” intervening while Duan Yue and Xiang Shuyu were still in a relationship—though, looking at it now, he already was.
Duan Lin’s tone became more urgent, taking on a pushy edge: “Duan Yue mentioned to friends before that he likes Omegas with bright, sunny, and proactive personalities. That only child of the Guan family truly fits his ideal type.”
“I…” Xiang Shuyu’s mind went blank. He didn’t know what to think or say; his only instinct was to flee. Clutching his backpack straps tightly, he murmured, “We’ll talk later. He never mentioned this to me, so I… I have to go board now.”
Xiang Shuyu hurried toward the boarding gate as if being chased by a monster. He just wanted to hide like an ostrich; as long as he couldn’t see Duan Lin, he could pretend he hadn’t heard those words, and thus pretend those things hadn’t happened.
Duan Lin’s brow furrowed slightly. He intended to chase after him but stopped abruptly, ultimately giving up.
He could see that Xiang Shuyu’s personality was too soft; he seemed to have little resolve and was easily frightened, wanting to escape the moment he encountered trouble.
With someone like that, one couldn’t rush things.
Duan Lin’s expression turned indifferent again. He returned to his assistant’s side and went to board as if nothing had happened.
Xiang Shuyu had an economy class ticket. Not long after he sat down, a flight attendant approached him. “Hello, Mr. Xiang. A Mr. Duan has applied for an upgrade for you.”
Xiang Shuyu was stunned: “What?”
“You are now a first-class passenger. The plane is about to take off, so you need to take your seat as soon as possible.”
“Wait,” Xiang Shuyu didn’t know why Duan Lin was upgrading him. He felt apprehensive, sensing the other man had ulterior motives. “Why… can I choose not to go?”
“Well…” the flight attendant looked troubled. “But Mr. Duan has already paid the difference…”
Duan Lin had instructed her to say this. He had anticipated Xiang Shuyu’s reaction and was certain that upon hearing this, he wouldn’t refuse.
Sure enough, when money was involved, Xiang Shuyu didn’t want to owe Duan Lin anything, nor did he want to waste his money. He had no choice but to follow the attendant to first class.
First class consisted of individual pods, but the door to the seat next to his—Duan Lin’s seat—was open. Duan Lin was sitting there scrolling through a tablet, silver-framed glasses perched on his nose. He exuded an air of noble elegance mixed with a touch of cold indifference.
Xiang Shuyu’s scalp felt tight. He called out softly: “Duan… Mr. Duan.”
“Call me by my name,” Duan Lin said flatly, sounding almost like an order.
Xiang Shuyu obeyed instinctively: “Duan Lin.”
Duan Lin finally looked up, satisfied, and glanced at Xiang Shuyu: “Sit down.”
The plane was about to take off; Xiang Shuyu didn’t want to hinder the crew or cause trouble. He sat in his seat, gripping his seatbelt tightly, feeling restless. “Why did you upgrade me… I’ll pay you back.”
“No need to pay it back,” Duan Lin said, sounding as if he were reminding himself of something. “As long as you and Duan Yue haven’t broken up, I have to call you ‘sister-in-law’ and it’s only right that I look after you.”
He was intentionally or unintentionally hinting that the fragile relationship between him and Duan Yue was coming to an end, which put immense pressure on Xiang Shuyu and left him feeling lost.
Since when was it “only right” for a younger brother to look after a sister-in-law? Xiang Shuyu had never heard of such logic, but he had no way to argue.
He truly hadn’t been with Duan Yue for long—only about a month. It sounded so easy to walk away from, but in reality, it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. He had already grown used to being with Duan Yue as a partner, used to living in that empty, beautiful cage woven of golden threads.
His future residence wasn’t settled yet. If he left Duan Yue now, he would have to return to Jiang Xiayue’s side, under her surveillance and control.
He suddenly had the urge to confront Duan Yue, but by this time, Duan Yue should have been up long ago. If he had seen the note on the dining table, he shouldn’t have failed to send even a single message.
Perhaps he really was busy dealing with the blind date, to the point where the “boyfriend” he had casually claimed was someone he could just ignore.
This made Xiang Shuyu a bit sad. He didn’t want to talk to Duan Lin anymore, but Duan Lin seemed completely unable to read the room and continued: “Since childhood, Duan Yue has never liked anything for more than a month. In high school, he once said he liked an Beta in the class next door. He chased them for two days; he was good-looking and charming, coaxing that Beta into confessing to him. But then his interest vanished instantly, and he rejected them, leaving that Beta heartbroken for a long time and the laughingstock of the grade for being too full of themselves.”
Xiang Shuyu’s breath hitched. His mind became a mess, and his heart raced so hard it felt like his whole body was aching.
How similar was that situation to his own?
But he vaguely remembered Duan Yue telling him that he had never liked anyone before.
Was that a lie, too?
It probably was. Duan Yue had said before that he was very easy to fool.
Xiang Shuyu didn’t even know how to be sad anymore; he felt numb, staring blankly while fidgeting with his fingers.
Duan Lin observed his expression and asked, “Have you thought about the future?”
Xiang Shuyu was familiar with this question. He had asked Duan Yue the same thing last night, and now the question was thrown back at him.
His lips moved, but the urge to escape took over again; he couldn’t say a word.
Had he thought about it?
Actually, he had, but in the future he envisioned, he never seemed to include Duan Yue. He knew deep down that he and Duan Yue wouldn’t last.
Xiang Shuyu lowered his eyes and suddenly felt like laughing, though he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He was silent for so long that Duan Lin grew anxious and asked again: “You like Duan Yue, don’t you?”
Xiang Shuyu felt the questions were becoming too aggressive. Even though he was used to being soft, being pressed on private matters made him feel frustrated.
“Mr. Duan,” Xiang Shuyu’s tone stiffened slightly, “This should be my private business.”
He closed the door to his pod, blocking out Duan Lin’s slightly surprised gaze.
Finally, it was quiet. Xiang Shuyu let out a long sigh of relief, curled up his legs, and hugged himself tightly.
There was Wi-Fi in first class. Xiang Shuyu stared blankly at his chat logs with Duan Yue. Duan Yue always said sweet things; sometimes if Xiang Shuyu wasn’t home when he woke up, he would proactively message asking where he was, when he’d be back, or if he should pick him up.
Sometimes when he was at work and had a moment, he would message Xiang Shuyu: “What is my baby busy with?” “What does baby want for dinner?” Then he’d send some interesting office gossip.
As a partner, Duan Yue was very good at providing emotional value, which was why Xiang Shuyu kept sinking deeper.
Xiang Shuyu wasn’t used to his silence today. His fingers trembled over the screen, typing and deleting, but the chat box remained empty.
If he asked and got a definitive answer, what then?
They were never going to get married anyway. How could the Duan family choose an in-law like him—someone with a complicated background and a flawed reputation?
But even though he knew this rationally, his heart still throbbed with pain. Xiang Shuyu’s eyes and nose felt incredibly sore.
I can’t cry over this, he told himself.
But the tears fell uncontrollably anyway. To this day, he still hadn’t learned how to face being abandoned calmly. Even though he knew this would happen sooner or later, it still hurt when it actually arrived—as if his heart had been pierced, throbbing in waves.
Xiang Shuyu sobbed, clumsily wiping the tears from his face with the back of his hand.
He thought that by closing the door he could block out all sound, forgetting that the cabin wasn’t completely soundproof. His sobs and gasps drifted through the gaps, heard clearly by the Alpha sitting on the other side.
The veins on Duan Lin’s forehead pulsed. He could almost imagine what the other looked like while crying.
It must be… very beautiful.
The plane sailed smoothly across the sky. Duan Lin unbuckled his seatbelt and left his pod. He could no longer hear any movement from Xiang Shuyu’s side; he had likely fallen asleep.
With an expressionless face, Duan Lin reached out and gently pulled the door open a crack.
The poor Omega was curled up on the sofa, his eyes and cheeks flushed crimson. His tear stains hadn’t been fully wiped away. He was fast asleep, but he looked restless.
Duan Lin stared at his sleeping face for a while. After a long moment, his Adam’s apple bobbed. He closed the door as if nothing had happened.
The fact that Xiang Shuyu was still sad about this reminded Duan Lin that in Xiang Shuyu’s heart, he valued this relationship.
To be honest, Duan Lin didn’t believe Duan Yue could truly be sincere with Xiang Shuyu. He had lied; Duan Yue actually hadn’t liked anyone before, but that didn’t mean Duan Yue was a good person.
Just like himself—they were twins; in many ways, they were both equally wicked.
So, Duan Lin thought, he was doing this for Xiang Shuyu’s own good. They had only been together for a month. If they waited longer and he saw Duan Yue’s true colors, he would find it even harder to accept when they eventually split.
Duan Lin pushed up his glasses, hiding a slight curl of his lips, and walked toward the restroom.
The Duan Residence.
Duan Yue had been gotten drunk the night before and woke up late. He was awoken by the ringing of his phone.
His mother had called him many times, urging him to leave the house. Duan Yue got up groggily, dressed, and washed up, mumble-calling Xiang Shuyu’s name, but received no response.
Once dressed, he went downstairs. Just as he was heading to the kitchen, his mother called again, nagging: “The whole family is waiting for you. What are you dawdling for?”
“I know,” Duan Yue muttered, “It’s not even noon yet. Why is the family dinner so early today?”
“You’ll know when you get here.”
Before the call finished, his phone ran out of battery and shut down.
Duan Yue hurried out and took a car back to the Duan residence. The house was lively. Duan Yue looked around; there were guests, elders he hadn’t met before.
As soon as he entered, he was pulled into conversations and couldn’t leave. The house was filled with the pheromones of young Omegas. Duan Yue’s nose felt uncomfortable, and he didn’t notice the Omega nearby looking at him with sparkling eyes.
He finally got his phone charged and sent a message to Xiang Shuyu: “Baby, where did you go to play?” “There are so many people at my house, I’m really not used to it. The air isn’t even fresh.”
Xiang Shuyu’s brow furrowed slightly. He opened his sleepy eyes, fumbled for his phone, and sat up. The flight attendant came to remind him that the plane was about to land; they had arrived in Nancheng.
Xiang Shuyu didn’t check his phone, just stared blankly out the window. The city of Nancheng was beneath his feet. He was spaced out, thinking of nothing, unaware that outside the open door, Duan Lin’s gaze was fixed on him.
His eyes were dry from crying, and his eyelids seemed a bit swollen. Xiang Shuyu looked down and touched his eyes, thinking with annoyance: How could I cry over something like this? It made it look like he cared so much about the relationship.
He calmed his emotions and packed his things, preparing to disembark.
Duan Lin suddenly asked, “Are you going to take a position at Duqing?”
Xiang Shuyu felt there was no need to tell Duan Lin. He didn’t want any interaction with him, regardless of whether he was with Duan Yue. He simply felt uncomfortable around Duan Lin, as if being watched, which felt a bit frightening.
So, he ignored Duan Lin’s question.
This reaction frustrated Duan Lin. He thought that perhaps he was a step too late, a step slower than Duan Yue, so Xiang Shuyu already had Duan Yue’s pheromones and had developed resistance and rejection toward other Alphas.
A truly bad sign. He might have to be even more forceful.
The plane landed smoothly. Xiang Shuyu ignored Duan Lin following behind him, got off the plane, and went to wait for his luggage.
Duan Lin said he was there for business, but he followed Xiang Shuyu as if he had nothing else to do. He said nothing, but Xiang Shuyu’s scalp felt tight. Once he got his luggage, he wanted to leave quickly.
As he hurried out of the airport, the Nancheng sunlight fell upon him. Xiang Shuyu squinted instinctively, only then noticing that Duan Lin had disappeared.
For a moment, Xiang Shuyu couldn’t tell how he felt—partly relieved, partly gloomy. If Duan Lin wasn’t wearing glasses, he actually couldn’t distinguish the brothers well. He only knew Duan Yue loved to smile while Duan Lin didn’t, but Duan Yue had cold moments too. When both were cold-faced, he saw no difference.
When Duan Lin was behind him, he couldn’t help but think of Duan Yue. Their pheromones were so similar; he had been in a daze the whole way, thinking it was Duan Yue following him instead of being on a blind date.
Thinking of the blind date, Xiang Shuyu felt sad again. Based on what Duan Lin said, Duan Yue must have known about the date for a long time. It would have been fine to just tell him; they could have parted on good terms. But why hide it from him?
So in Duan Yue’s heart, he wasn’t important; things that required respecting him weren’t worth mentioning. He had never communicated with Duan Yue on equal footing.
Xiang Shuyu felt sad and a chill in his heart. He had been too immersed in this month with Duan Yue, placing too much demand for emotional feedback on the other person, to the point where he almost lost himself and began to believe they might be a fated match.
Xiang Shuyu sniffled. He remembered Ping Wenchun told him to call when he landed, but checking his phone, he saw two messages from Duan Yue. Only two messages, nothing else. He didn’t confess anything—perhaps he hadn’t even seen the note on the table.
In an instant, Xiang Shuyu seemed to hear the sound of something shattering—perhaps his heart had died. His eyes grew moist again, blurring his vision, but the tears didn’t fall. With trembling hands, he sent a message to Duan Yue: “Let’s not contact each other anymore.”
Sending that one sentence seemed to exhaust all of Xiang Shuyu’s courage. He gritted his teeth, put Duan Yue on ‘Do Not Disturb,’ and turned off the screen.
Don’t think about it, Xiang Shuyu, he told himself.
Being together was wrong from the start. Duan Yue didn’t like him, and he didn’t like Duan Yue that much. Whether Duan Yue chose to marry a suitable person now or not had nothing to do with him. Breaking it off early was good for both of them.
Xiang Shuyu took a deep breath and prepared to call Ping Wenchun.
Before the call could go through, a low-profile luxury car stopped in front of him, blocking his path. The window rolled down, and Duan Lin took off his glasses. He looked even more like Duan Yue now, but his tone was flat, sounding like a command: “Get in the car.”
Xiang Shuyu froze, instinctively taking a step back: “No…”
His back suddenly hit someone else’s chest, and his phone was snatched away. Xiang Shuyu turned back in panic, looking at the two bodyguards closing in. His spine went cold, and his body stiffened: “You… what are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Duan Lin said calmly. “Taking you to Duqing.”
“I called someone I know to pick me up,” Xiang Shuyu said, trying to be brave. He didn’t know what Duan Lin meant; he felt Duan Lin’s actions were exceeding the bounds of their relationship. “It’s… no trouble for you.”
“No trouble,” Duan Lin looked away from him and back at his tablet. “I know Ping Wenchun. I’ve already told her I’m taking you to Duqing; she won’t be coming to get you.”
Xiang Shuyu’s eyelashes trembled. He gripped his suitcase handle tightly, suddenly feeling dizzy. “Why?”
Why interfere with his life? Clearly… clearly they shouldn’t have any intersection.
Duan Lin remained expressionless, not even looking at him, and simply said: “No why. Five seconds. If you don’t get in, my bodyguards will tie you up and throw you in.”
“Do you want to move yourself, or should I help you?”
Duan Lin was already unsettling when not being serious; now, speaking to Xiang Shuyu in this tone, Xiang Shuyu’s ability to think was almost stripped away. His head buzzed, and he couldn’t say a word.
Duan Lin gave the command indifferently: “Three.”
Xiang Shuyu snapped to his senses. The bodyguards behind him were Betas—he couldn’t smell pheromones, but he could sense the cold, threatening intent. In his panic, he pulled the car door open the second before Duan Lin said “Two.”
Duan Lin finally turned his gaze over, his eyes devoid of emotion, just staring at him. Xiang Shuyu’s scalp felt numb.
“Help Mr. Xiang put his suitcase in the trunk,” Duan Lin ordered flatly.
A bodyguard stepped forward, took the suitcase from Xiang Shuyu, and put it in the trunk. With his hands suddenly empty, Xiang Shuyu felt awkward, his heart racing. He cautiously got into the car.
Someone closed the door for him.
Duan Lin asked, “Why are you afraid of me?”
“I…” Xiang Shuyu lowered his head, his pale fingers interlacing, his crimson lips trembling slightly.
He knew why. Because he was afraid. He felt Duan Lin was too cold and his presence too oppressive, always carrying the aura of a superior. Standing before him, Xiang Shuyu felt he would always be inferior. It made him very uncomfortable.
But he couldn’t say such things to Duan Lin; he felt that provoking him wouldn’t end well.
Xiang Shuyu fell silent again. If he had actually spoken, Duan Lin might not have had too much of an emotional reaction, but this state of mutual silence made Duan Lin angry.
Duan Lin really wanted to ask Xiang Shuyu why he wasn’t like this in front of Duan Yue—why he could grab Duan Yue’s sleeve and hide behind him seeking protection, yet in front of himself, there was only fear.
Why was it like this? They had only met a few times and barely spoken; why was there such a world of difference?
Duan Lin was thinking himself into a frenzy, his fingers tightening around the tablet until it nearly snapped.
It’s because we’re not familiar yet, Duan Lin comforted himself. Not familiar, don’t understand each other; because of the strangeness, there is avoidance. That must be it.
Duan Lin looked away again, using his peripheral vision to observe Xiang Shuyu. Xiang Shuyu sat quietly, eyes downcast, his lashes trembling like butterfly wings. He had just cried on the plane; his eyes were slightly swollen, and there was a flush at the corners, looking like intentionally applied rouge on that pitifully beautiful face.
Duan Lin felt his fingers itch. He wanted to reach out, to touch the corner of Xiang Shuyu’s eye, to smear away that bit of crimson. But his finger only twitched slightly; in the end, he did nothing.
Just not familiar yet, Duan Lin told himself.
He was a businessman. In the business world, when there are no conditions, one relies on their own hands to create them. In the matter of pursuing someone, Duan Lin had no experience and was very clumsy, but he knew how to hold that principle as a golden rule.
He would find his own way to become familiar with Xiang Shuyu. After all, in Nancheng, Duan Yue wasn’t here. Here, he was the one in charge.
The Duan Residence.
Duan Yue put down his glass. He hadn’t drunk too fast, but his father and Mr. Guan kept pouring, and the drinks had added up; he was now a bit tipsy.
He didn’t know what that Omega named Guan Chengyue’s pheromones were. Although he had a scent-blocking patch, the smell still drifted out—a very rich scent. It was pleasant, but smelling it for too long made him feel a bit nauseous.
Duan Yue didn’t show this thought, fearing he would hurt the other’s self-esteem. He just put down his glass and stood up, wanting to go to the balcony for some fresh air and to call Xiang Shuyu. He’d been talking the whole time and hadn’t had a chance to check his phone; he didn’t know what Xiang Shuyu would say.
Usually, he would comfort him, say he’d made soup and was waiting for him at home. Xiang Shuyu never said “I miss you,” and Duan Yue guessed he was just shy, so he never forced him to say sweet words; he could say them to Xiang Shuyu instead. He loved seeing Xiang Shuyu’s shy, blushing face; it was incredibly cute.
But as soon as he stood up, his mother grabbed his wrist: “Where are you going?”
“Getting some air,” Duan Yue said. “Where’s Duan Lin?”
“He’s away on business. Take Xiao Yue with you. You’re around the same age, and Xiao Yue is in business too; you should have a lot in common.”
Duan Yue thought, I’m just getting some air, why bring someone along? “The wind will give him a cold.”
“It won’t,” his mother scolded him softly. “Don’t be so inconsiderate.”
“Brother Yue is probably just concerned for me,” Guan Chengyue said with a smile, having listened closely. “Just as well, I have something to talk to Brother Yue about. Let’s go for a walk together.”
Duan Yue didn’t like Guan Chengyue’s over-familiarity, but he only frowned, maintaining his gentlemanly facade without refusing.
Once they reached the balcony, Guan Chengyue followed him and proactively closed the sliding glass door, blocking out the noisy chatter. Duan Yue lit a cigarette but didn’t put it in his mouth, just held it between two fingers.
Xiang Shuyu didn’t like him smoking, saying it smelled bad, so Duan Yue had consciously started to quit. He hadn’t smoked in a long time, but today he was exceptionally frustrated and couldn’t help himself.
But Guan Chengyue didn’t seem to notice his impatience, or perhaps saw it but didn’t take it seriously, and continued: “I heard Brother Yue took over that real estate company under Uncle Duan.”
“Mm.” Away from his parents’ sight, Duan Yue’s expression turned cold as he took his phone from his pocket.
“What a coincidence,” Guan Chengyue said with a smile. “I’m currently in building materials myself, so I could collaborate with Brother Yue—”
Before he could finish, Duan Yue’s face suddenly darkened, his eyes fixed on his phone screen. Guan Chengyue had never seen Duan Yue like this and was momentarily frightened into silence.
Duan Yue completely ignored him, staring at the message from Xiang Shuyu: “Let’s not contact each other anymore.” For a second, he doubted if he was illiterate.
“Shit!” Duan Yue suddenly cursed out loud and dialed Xiang Shuyu’s number.
No answer.
What are you playing at?
Duan Yue’s hands trembled as he typed: “What do you mean, Xiang Shuyu? Why aren’t you answering?” “Reply to me quickly, what are you doing?”
But after a long wait, there was still no response from Xiang Shuyu.
Duan Yue’s immediate thought was: Did something happen to him?
His heart pounded wildly against his chest. His breathing grew shallow, and ignoring the guest standing next to him, he hurried out, not even taking his coat from the sofa, and left the house.
His mother’s voice rang out behind him: “What are you doing, Duan Yue!” The question faded into the night wind.
Duan Yue had the driver take him back to the south district villa. The night wind was chilly, and his body felt a faint coldness, but he was oblivious, only repeatedly dialing Xiang Shuyu’s number, trying every way to contact him.
But from beginning to end, Xiang Shuyu gave no response.
In his panic, Duan Yue called Ji Yeran. Ji Yeran didn’t expect the young master of the Duan family to contact him suddenly. Duan Yue had rarely attended parties lately, saying he was busy with projects, but Ji Yeran thought of Xiang Shuyu; he knew what Duan Yue was actually busy with—no more than having someone at home and being in love, so naturally his focus was all on Xiang Shuyu.
Ji Yeran had been a bit distracted these past two days. Before last month, Xiang Shuyu would always contact him, asking him to take him to banquets. Since he’d been with Duan Yue, he hadn’t made a single call.
Duan Yue suddenly calling… was it about Xiang Shuyu?
Ji Yeran answered the phone, and sure enough, Duan Yue asked bluntly: “Is Xiang Shuyu with you?”
Ji Yeran’s voice caught. An argument? Ran away from home? So they could only last a month after all.
Ji Yeran felt a secret sense of schadenfreude but hid it, saying: “He’s not. It’s been so long since I’ve been in touch with him. Why?”
“Nothing.” Duan Yue had nothing to say to Ji Yeran; he wasn’t unaware of Ji Yeran’s thoughts and saw no need to be polite to someone coveting his boyfriend. He hung up quickly.
He was already in the car, continuing to message Xiang Shuyu: “What exactly happened? Did I do something wrong to upset you? Why won’t you tell me anything?”
Why won’t you say anything and just sentence me to death?
Duan Yue bent over, covering his face with his hands, feeling incredibly frustrated. Just before this, he had praised Xiang Shuyu for being considerate and understanding. Who would have thought Xiang Shuyu would give him such a “surprise”?
When he found Xiang Shuyu, he would definitely tie him up, and then—
And then what? Before he could think deeply, his phone vibrated. He checked it with wild hope, only to see a financial news alert, not a reply from Xiang Shuyu.
Disappointed, he was about to turn off the screen when he noticed the headline:
“Duan Group’s Eldest Son Intends to Marry Guan Family’s Only Child; Lavish Blind Date Banquet, Pair Seen Talking Intimately on Balcony.”
Duan Yue’s head went blank for a second. Blind date? What blind date? Tonight was a blind date banquet?
The phone screen went black from inactivity, reflecting Duan Yue’s bewildered face. He dazed for a moment, then dialed his mother’s number.
His mother’s tone was reproaching: “A-Yue, look at what you’ve done. How can you leave a guest at home and walk out without saying a word?”
“Mom,” Duan Yue asked, “The reason you called me back today was for a blind date with that Guan person?”
“Yes, I see the child is interested in you, and you two are quite a match—”
Before she could finish, she heard the call disconnect. She blinked, muttering: “This child, getting more and more impolite.”
Duan Yue thought, I’m screwed.
Xiang Shuyu was prone to overthinking; he must have seen the news. He truly had no way to explain himself—he didn’t know about the blind date, didn’t know about the news; he thought his parents called him back for a simple family dinner, and no one told him there would be a guest.
Duan Yue was in a state of turmoil, and he felt that Xiang Shuyu didn’t trust him. The thought that had flickered in his mind before—that Xiang Shuyu didn’t truly see him as a boyfriend—surfaced clearly again. He really doubted now if Xiang Shuyu didn’t value him much; otherwise, why didn’t he trust him, didn’t question him, didn’t listen to his explanation, and just left a sentence so calmly and then ignored him?
Duan Yue was so frustrated his stomach began to ache. The alcohol was slowly hitting him; he felt dizzy and nauseous. He called Xiang Shuyu again.
This time, Xiang Shuyu finally picked up.
Xiang Shuyu had just gotten his phone back from Duan Lin. There were many messages on the screen, the most recent from Xiang Han, asking where he was.
Xiang Shuyu stood at the entrance of the Duqing studio. Ping Wenchun was talking to Duan Lin. Only then did Xiang Shuyu learn that although Duan Lin had an office at the Duan Corporation, he didn’t usually work there. He ran an entertainment company, so the person Duqing collaborated with wasn’t Duan Yue, but Duan Lin.
Perhaps the only reason he got this contract was because Duan Yue asked Duan Lin for help.
Xiang Shuyu’s thoughts were a mess; he hadn’t recovered from everything that happened today. He instinctively ignored Duan Yue’s missed calls and slowly replied to Xiang Han: “I’m in Nancheng.”
“You went to Nancheng?” Xiang Han replied instantly. “I saw the news. Duan Yue is going to marry into the Guan family. Is your relationship still ongoing?”
Xiang Shuyu didn’t know how to reply. He had sent that sentence to Duan Yue, but he hadn’t received a reply then, and he hadn’t picked up Duan Yue’s calls yet to talk personally. He wasn’t sure if their relationship still existed.
Xiang Shuyu replied listlessly: “I don’t know.”
As he went to type more, Duan Yue’s call came in, and he accidentally answered it.
For a moment, both their breathing stopped.
Xiang Shuyu heard Duan Yue’s breathing. He suddenly felt a sense of grievance, blocking his chest, making his nose and eyes sting. He was on the verge of tears.
What would Duan Yue say to him? Clearly, if he saw the message… they could just stay out of each other’s lives. Why call him?
“Xiang Shuyu,” Duan Yue’s voice was raspy. “What did you mean by that sentence?”
“I…” Xiang Shuyu’s throat felt tight. As soon as he spoke, he could hear the sob in his voice.
With Duan Lin and Ping Wenchun still in front of him, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold back his tears and would lose face. So while the two were talking, he turned and walked to a corner where they couldn’t see him.
“Xiang Shuyu, speak,” Duan Yue said urgently. “Why won’t you talk? Is it because of the blind date? My mother made me go, I didn’t know she wanted me to go on a blind date—”
“And after that?” Xiang Shuyu asked softly. “You’ll still get married, right?”
Duan Yue was momentarily speechless.
Xiang Shuyu’s voice choked up as he continued: “I know I’m not that important to you. I also know you don’t want to marry me, don’t want my child. I’ve been listening to you all along, so since you’re getting married, it’s better if we separate, otherwise your fiancé will overthink.”
“What would he overthink?” Duan Yue snapped, his tone turning cold. “You’re just too sensitive. I’ve met so many people, and no one is as sensitive as you. To accommodate your emotions, I’ve tried everything to please you, and then what? What else do you want?”
When had Xiang Shuyu ever been so harshly criticized by Duan Yue? Tears fell instantly, and his body trembled. He wanted to say he wanted to break up, but his lips moved and he couldn’t even make the request.
“Do you want to break up?” Duan Yue asked again. “I’m home. Where did you go?”
“…Nancheng,” Xiang Shuyu whispered.
He heard Duan Yue let out a cold laugh, repeating the question: “Nancheng? You’re already in Nancheng?”
Xiang Shuyu remained silent, only sobbing. His silence was a definitive answer. Duan Yue clutched the note from the dining table, almost laughing in anger: “You’re really something, Xiang Shuyu. I see it clearly now. Am I the one making you sad? Why are you crying? You were the one who said you wanted to be with me, and then? Have you ever treated me like a boyfriend? Have you ever trusted me? Before today, you didn’t say anything about going to Nancheng, didn’t say for how many days, didn’t say you were settling there—you just left a note for me?”
Xiang Shuyu stood dazed, having even forgotten to cry.