“Do you have a habit of eavesdropping? This is the second time. Are you done yet?”
“What are you talking about?” Li Shengfei frowned, feigning a reprimand. “Cheng Meng, I won’t allow you to talk to Ning Ning like that.”
His acting was so poor, it was obvious he wasn’t sincere, or perhaps he thought Cheng Shuoning was too naive to notice.
This reminded Cheng Shuoning of Han Tian. “You’re quite like Han Tian.”
“What do you mean by that, Ning Ning?” Li Shengfei was taken aback, feeling both uncomfortable and a bit annoyed.
Comparing him to Han Tian? How could he be the same as that fool Han Tian!
The slight expression of displeasure didn’t escape Cheng Shuoning’s eyes. Instead of answering, he asked, “Are you done acting? If you are, I’ll be leaving.”
Cheng Meng sneered disdainfully at this, glancing at the people around Cheng Shuoning.
He wanted to approach them, but he knew he couldn’t, as it would only anger them.
Suppressing all his impulses, Cheng Meng looked at Cheng Shuoning with even more displeasure, finally slamming the door shut with a bang. “If you have something to say, say it clearly. I won’t be joining you.”
“I’m not acting.” Li Shengfei tried to discern from Cheng Shuoning’s expression whether he was serious or just joking.
But Cheng Shuoning’s expression was too calm to read anything from it. Li Shengfei could only show a look of sorrow from being doubted. “What I said is true. I only said those things because of you, Ning Ning. If you don’t like it, I promise I won’t do it again.”
‘That fool Han Tian got exposed so quickly. I won’t follow in his footsteps. Winning you over should be easy.’
The murmurs hidden in his heart were like grating noise, clearly heard whether he wanted to or not, cutting through his heart like a blade.
Cheng Shuoning lowered his gaze, suppressing his trembling voice. “Am I that foolish, Li Shengfei?”
He had known Li Shengfei the longest and thought that no matter how bad his image was in Li Shengfei’s mind, at least they were friends, the longest and best friends.
But in Li Shengfei’s eyes, he was just a fool to be deceived.
Li Shengfei’s throat tightened, and after a long pause, he shook his head. “Of course not, Ning Ning, you’re not foolish…”
The empty words only fueled the anger that surged through Cheng Shuoning’s body. His fingers gradually tightened, the veins on the back of his hand standing out prominently from the force.
He closed his eyes slightly, interrupting Li Shengfei, “I’m not foolish, so where do you get the confidence to keep deceiving me? Is there any benefit in deceiving me? Or do you just enjoy it?”
“No,” Li Shengfei panicked, grabbing Cheng Shuoning. “It’s not like that, Ning Ning. I haven’t deceived you, and I won’t. Please believe me, won’t you?”
“Impossible.” Cheng Shuoning pressed his lips tightly together, shaking off Li Shengfei’s hand. His dark eyes were as cold as if covered in frost, devoid of any emotion, a calmness born from disappointment. “I won’t believe you anymore.”
Li Shengfei froze.
The face that always greeted him with a smile now showed no familiar expression, leaving him to watch helplessly as Cheng Shuoning turned and walked downstairs.
He suppressed a growing sense of panic within.
The air was tense, and Zhou Xundu glanced at Li Shengfei, elegantly folding his coat as he spoke with a hint of reproach. “How careless of you to upset Ning Ning.”
He remained as gentle and courteous as ever, his smile perfect and inviting to anyone who saw it.
But Li Shengfei knew that beneath Zhou Xundu’s exterior lay a cold and indifferent heart.
He forced a smile, still holding onto hope. “Ning Ning can’t be that heartless to me. I’ll win him back, it’s just a matter of time.”
Zhou Xundu nodded slightly, turning to follow Cheng Shuoning. “Then, let’s wait and see.”
As the door opened, Cheng Meng watched Zhou Xundu’s retreating figure, hesitantly calling out, “Brother Zhou…”
The man didn’t stop for him, not even turning his head, quickly heading downstairs to find Cheng Shuoning, shattering Cheng Meng’s excitement and apprehension.
Cheng Meng gritted his teeth, his nails nearly digging into the wooden door, his gaze growing colder and more venomous.
*
The garden at the Villa’s entrance was vast, filled with flowers, with a swing between two trees.
Unlike the lively interior, it was particularly quiet here.
Cheng Shuoning sat on the swing, swaying gently as he stared blankly at the pale red flowers not far away.
Han Tian was like this, and so was Li Shengfei, making him question himself, wondering if he had done something wrong to make them treat him this way.
He recalled every event from childhood to now, but couldn’t think of anything.
He hadn’t offended them, nor made them angry.
Thinking about how, at some point, they were gentle to him on the surface, yet secretly discussing with Cheng Meng how much they disliked him, Cheng Shuoning felt as if a stone was pressing on his chest, making it harder to breathe the more he dwelled on it.
Footsteps approached, and a pair of shoes appeared in his line of sight.
“Are you crying?” the person beside him asked softly.
“No.” Cheng Shuoning immediately looked up. “I wouldn’t cry.”
Xu Wangzhi paused slightly. “You look like you’re about to cry.”
He hadn’t realized his eyes were red, his gaze moist, his long lashes fluttering as if he were on the verge of tears yet holding back, looking easy to bully.
“Don’t cry, Cheng Shuoning.” Xu Wangzhi raised a hand, gently stroking his hair. “Today is your birthday, be happy, don’t let yourself seem so easy to bully.”
The broad, warm hand seemed to carry a calming magic, Cheng Shuoning looked up at the boy’s cold, distant face, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Why?”
Xu Wangzhi: “Why?”
“You seem very angry.”
Xu Wangzhi withdrew his hand, looking down at him, not denying it. “Yes, I’m very angry.”
‘Angry that they hurt you, angry that you’re upset because of them.’
Cheng Shuoning was taken aback. “Not for them, just…”
Just feeling a bit wronged.
But this sense of grievance couldn’t find a suitable reason, just as there was no reason for Li Shengfei and Han Tian to dislike him.
He felt as if he were trapped in an invisible, intangible net, unable to break free or find relief.
“You look great today,” Xu Wangzhi said softly, gently smoothing his bangs. “So don’t let anyone ruin your good mood.”
Cheng Shuoning stared at him blankly.
The lights in the garden weren’t very bright, and under the vast night sky, the boy stood with his back to the cool moonlight, his eyes clearly reflecting Cheng Shuoning’s image.
Cheng Shuoning felt a strange illusion, as if he was meant to exist in Xu Wangzhi’s eyes, and he even saw a hint of madness in those eyes, though he couldn’t understand what it was, he vaguely felt it came from himself.
A gentle breeze blew, and Cheng Shuoning smelled the fragrance of flowers, as well as the faint scent of shower gel on the boy, which was pleasant and calmed his restless heart.
The tension in his mind eased, and under the boy’s increasingly gentle gaze, he couldn’t help but ask, “Xu Wangzhi, do you like me?”
All the chaos and confusion were shattered by this question.
Realizing what a ridiculous question he had asked, Cheng Shuoning’s face flushed red, and he stood up awkwardly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, I just blurted it out… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Sorry, let’s go back and cut the cake.”
His mind went blank, and Cheng Shuoning turned stiffly, but his wrist was caught.
The boy’s voice rose with the wind, “What if I say I like you?”
Cheng Shuoning’s heart skipped a beat.
“Would you believe me?” he pursued.
The heat from the boy’s palm traveled up his arm to his heart, making Cheng Shuoning’s long lashes tremble, throwing him into a panic.
He could feel his whole body heating up, as if being roasted by fire, and most importantly, he didn’t dare face Xu Wangzhi, nor did he dare to think whether his inquiry was sincere or just a way to give him an out, much less did he dare to guess.
Time seemed to pass slowly, almost as if it had stopped, and Cheng Shuoning heard his own increasingly rapid breathing.
His throat was dry, and he was extremely thirsty, knowing he was overly tense. He felt he couldn’t continue like this, so he pulled his hand back and bowed politely to Xu Wangzhi, apologizing.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I asked such a ridiculous question. I apologize to you.”
After speaking, he quickly returned to the Villa, like a rabbit.
Xu Wangzhi lowered his gaze, quietly looking at his hand, as if he could still feel the warmth of the boy’s wrist.
Cheng Shuoning’s wrist was so slender that with a little force, it could break, fragile enough to require utmost care.
The man with a gentle and amiable demeanor walked out of the Villa, stopping in front of him, smiling as he warned, “Anyone else is fine, but don’t harbor thoughts about Ning Ning that shouldn’t exist.”
“What if I insist?” Xu Wangzhi looked up, meeting the man’s gaze, his eyes as dark as ink.
“Just letting you know,” Zhou Xundu smiled slightly, “I’m not here to seek your opinion.”
The Villa grew livelier, with Cheng Shuoning, wearing a golden crown, surrounded by people singing a birthday song. Under the lights, his flawless face appeared even more dazzling.
Zhou Xundu turned and entered the Villa, having no further conversation with Xu Wangzhi.
Cheng Shuoning looked at the candles before him, clasping his hands together as he closed his eyes to make a wish: hoping all those who dislike him would stop pretending and be more honest.
He opened his eyes, blowing out the candles amid the excited voices, then picked up the long knife to cut the cake, distributing it to everyone before taking two pieces, one for Xu Wangzhi and one for Zhou Xundu.
Li Shengfei remained upstairs the entire time, never coming down.
Zhou Xundu took out a gift from his pocket and handed it to Cheng Shuoning. “Happy adulthood, Ning Ning. I hope you’re happy every day. Sorry for the late blessing and gift.”
Cheng Shuoning accepted and opened it, finding a necklace with the letters Z and N combined.
Zhou Xundu offered to help him put it on, but Cheng Shuoning avoided him.
The man paused, his eyes flickering with a gentle light. “Ning Ning, don’t you trust me? Rest assured, I will never be like them, so can you stop rejecting me?”
The overly gentle request was hard to refuse.
Cheng Shuoning turned his head, looking into his eyes, and upon hearing his inner voice say ‘I will never hurt you,’ he chose to believe. “Okay.”
He put the necklace on himself, without troubling Zhou Xundu.
Accidentally meeting Xu Wangzhi’s deep, dark gaze, Cheng Shuoning looked away in embarrassment, not daring to meet it, afraid of getting caught up again and saying something foolish.
*
By the time the party ended, it was quite late. Cheng Shuoning lay drowsily on the sofa, falling asleep. He vaguely remembered Zhou Xundu wanting to carry him to his room, but he turned away, curling up on the sofa, refusing to be carried, leaving Zhou Xundu no choice but to cover him with a blanket before leaving.
The Villa quieted down, and as his consciousness cleared, he sensed someone sitting beside him, their gaze intense. “Sorry, Ning Ning, for making you unhappy.”
“What happened today wasn’t my intention. You don’t like Cheng Meng, so I’ll stay away from him in the future. I only said those things because you’re his brother. I was wrong, and I hope you can forgive me, Ning Ning.”
The boy on the sofa breathed steadily, his long lashes quietly casting shadows on his eyelids, the bright light painting his fair, delicate face with a warm glow, making him look obedient and serene.
Li Shengfei felt a softness in his heart, unable to resist reaching out to touch his face, but stopped before he could.
Cheng Shuoning had already opened his eyes, looking at him. “We’ve known each other for eleven years. Have you always disliked me?”
Those clear black eyes were free of any impurities, like a fresh mountain spring, making one’s heart tremble.
Li Shengfei spoke earnestly. “No, I really like Ning Ning. If I ever choose someone to be with, it would definitely be Ning Ning.”
“So I’m just a backup, to be played with and indulged, then settled with. Is that your plan?” Cheng Shuoning sat up, placing the blanket aside.
Seeing him so calm, Li Shengfei didn’t argue, only offering a bitter smile. “I know you won’t believe anything I say now. I’m sorry.”
He stood up, leaving with a somber expression. “It’s late, get some rest. You have school tomorrow. No matter what you think of me, you’re the most important person in my heart.”
Cheng Shuoning watched him leave without a word, noticing him pause at the door, causing him to smile faintly.
Not hearing any plea to stay, Li Shengfei gritted his teeth.
Cheng Shuoning was always soft-hearted. In the past, whenever he accidentally hurt him or had a minor disagreement, as long as he apologized in time and coaxed him, he would be forgiven. But this time, he said nothing.
The arrow had left the bow, and there was no turning back. He could only leave unwillingly.
Not even half a minute after he left, Cheng Meng came downstairs, his hair a mess, casting a cold, sinister glance at Cheng Shuoning before turning off the lights. All his suppressed anger erupted at that moment. “Your face disgusts me more with every second I look at it.”
Only the fragmented light from outside the Villa remained.
In the dimness, Cheng Shuoning chuckled softly. “If you’re disgusted, you shouldn’t turn off the lights, you should close your eyes.”
“You used to ignore me. What now? Are you upset because they dislike you?” Cheng Meng crossed his arms, speaking with cold arrogance.
“I ignored you before because I thought you were beyond saving.” Cheng Shuoning stood up, turning on the lights, his indifferent expression exposed under the light. “Now I’m acknowledging you because I think you’re not only beyond saving but also quite pitiful.”
“You think I’m pitiful?” As if hearing the biggest joke, Cheng Meng released his arms, holding his forehead as he laughed mockingly. “You’re the one surrounded by people who pretend to like you but actually find you disgusting. Isn’t that the most pitiful?”
“Now they’re surrounding you, making you the disgusting one.” Cheng Shuoning smiled. “Don’t you think you’re like a garbage dump?”
“Say that again?” Cheng Meng picked up a cup from the table and slammed it down, shattering it, his gaze fierce as he glared at Cheng Shuoning, thoroughly provoked.
In contrast to his agitation, Cheng Shuoning remained calm, his gaze penetrating the darkness to settle on Cheng Meng, serene yet impossible to ignore.
He slowly asked, “Why did you have someone hit me before?”
The sudden question made Cheng Meng’s heart skip a beat, recalling the past with a hint of disdain.
“I don’t know how you found out, but isn’t it obvious? I wanted you dead. Didn’t you already know that?”