PTBLSI chapter 69

 

Qi Xi looked at Fu Yanchuan and smiled unconsciously. He still remembered when Fu Yanchuan first took him on a date and styled his hair really nicely.

But now, he felt it was different from back then. He didn’t think carefully about what had changed; he just felt happy. He craned his neck and leaned closer to Fu Yanchuan. “Brother Yan, this is our second date.”

Fu Yanchuan froze, unable to remember which time Qi Xi had counted as their date. He didn’t dare ask, though, afraid that admitting he didn’t remember would make Qi Xi sad. He asked stiffly, “Where do you want to go?”

Qi Xi’s understanding of dates was limited. Other than eating out, he didn’t know what else to do.

However, it wasn’t time to eat yet, and he couldn’t think of anything else to do, so he threw the question back to Fu Yanchuan. “You’re the one taking me on a date. Why are you asking me?”

Fu Yanchuan had never been on a date either and knew even less than Qi Xi about what to do. He fastened Qi Xi’s seatbelt and said, “Wait a moment for me.”

Then, he stepped out and closed the car door. He didn’t get back in right away. Standing outside under the sun, he took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He realized that none of his friends were seriously dating. In the end, he sent a message to Zhou Zhiwei:

[Do you have a boyfriend?]

Zhou Zhiwei was startled when she suddenly received a message from her former boss. Seeing the message startled her again. She didn’t understand the meaning of the question. Could Fu Yanchuan possibly be trying to set her up with someone?

Luckily, Fu Yanchuan soon sent a second message.

[What do you do on dates?]

“What date?” It took Zhou Zhiwei a long time to understand, but when she finally did, she couldn’t help but slap the table and laugh. A colleague sitting next to her looked over and asked, “What are you doing?”

This colleague was no longer the one who used to ship President Fu and the White Moonlight CP. After Fu Yanchuan resigned, there was a lot of turnover in the president’s office. Zhou Zhiwei was kept on because she was the most familiar with the president’s schedule.

The new acting CEO was Fu Jinshen, who was also the chairman. Compared to the Fu Yanchuan machine-like, by-the-book work style, Fu Jinshen was more like a puzzle game—friendly and easygoing on the surface, but who knew how many tricks he had up his sleeve.

She didn’t dare tell her colleague that the former president had contacted her. If Fu Jinshen found out, he would never believe that Fu Yanchuan was asking her how to go on a date. She quickly put away her smile, said it was nothing, and replied to Fu Yanchuan.

But, as she prepared to type, she realized that, since leaving school, she hadn’t dated either. Fu Yanchuan’s dating life would definitely be on a completely different level. She couldn’t possibly suggest that he take his beloved boyfriend to a night market to eat skewers, could she?

Wait—wasn’t Fu Yanchuan’s boyfriend a male college student?

Zhou Zhiwei’s complicated inner monologue finally ended, and she replied to Fu Yanchuan.

[Dates are usually walking around together, then having dinner, and then watching a movie.]

[If the other person doesn’t mind, after the movie you can go open a room and sleep or something like that.]

[The main thing is the feeling of accompanying each other; what you do isn’t that important.]

[Don’t forget to take photos as keepsakes. They’ll all be your beautiful memories later.]

After reading this, Fu Yanchuan frowned deeply. He suddenly remembered that the “first date” Qi Xi believed in was when he used Qi Xi as an excuse to reject the arranged marriage with Miss He. To this day, Qi Xi knew nothing about it and still regarded that day as their first date.

“Brother Yan? What are you doing? Aren’t you hot?”

Qi Xi had been waiting a long time while Fu Yanchuan was still outside. He opened the car window and stuck his head out. Fu Yanchuan immediately put away his phone, got into the car, rolled up the window, and asked, “Xi Xi, would you like to walk around somewhere?”

“Mm, where to?”

Fu Yanchuan answered, “I just received an invitation to an art exhibition. Do you want to go?”

Qi Xi had been to a few art exhibitions before and thought this one would be similar, so he agreed. “I want to go.”

But when they arrived, he realized it wasn’t quite what he had imagined. It wasn’t a public place like an art museum, but rather a private club. Tickets weren’t sold to the public. You could only enter with an invitation from the organizer.

It was his first time at this kind of exhibition. He looked around curiously as he followed Fu Yanchuan inside. Someone had been assigned to guide them.

When they reached the exhibition hall, he noticed how refined and luxurious it was. All the visitors were holding wine glasses and talking about something or other.

He asked Fu Yanchuan, “Brother Yan, why is everyone holding wine?”

In short, a private art exhibition was actually an interest exchange among a select group of people. The rarity of the exhibits merely highlighted status. Very few of the people who came truly understood art.

Fu Yanchuan brought Qi Xi to the exhibition because of the rare pieces, but he didn’t want Qi Xi to socialize with the other guests. So he told him, “Don’t worry about them. Just look at your own.”

Even though Qi Xi could draw, he didn’t consider himself very artistic. He could only tell if something looked good, and he couldn’t discuss deeper meanings. It was only in the past few months, thanks to Cheng Shu’s particular attention and explanations, that he gained an understanding of art history.

Following Fu Yanchuan’s gaze, he suddenly saw an ancient painting Cheng Shu had told him about, one that had long since disappeared.

Fu Yanchuan said, “This is a private collection. If you don’t know who collected it, it’s usually hard to know where it is.”

Qi Xi was extremely shocked. It was the first time he truly felt the gap between people in this world.

Then he turned into a ‘hundred thousand whys’[mfn]“十万个为什么” (a hundred thousand whys) is a common Chinese expression. It describes someone becoming extremely curious, like a child who keeps asking question after question about everything they see.[/mfn], asking Fu Yanchuan about everything— “Brother Yan, what’s this?”

All of Fu Yanchuan’s appraisal knowledge that he had learned but never used was now put to good use as he became Qi Xi’s guide.

After the tour ended, Qi Xi admired Fu Yanchuan even more. The exit of the exhibition hall led to a break room with tea, pastries, and drinks. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he walked up to Fu Yanchuan, tilted his face up, and said, “Brother Yan, how are you so amazing? You know everything!”

Fu Yanchuan was like a peacock spreading its tail in courtship. His gaze was even more intense than Qi Xi’s admiration. He lowered his head and replied, “Xi Xi, are you satisfied with my service?”

“Very—”

Qi Xi had only said one word when he noticed someone walking over. He quickly stepped back, but Fu Yanchuan grabbed his hand. Qi Xi struggled to pull his hand back, glanced at the approaching person, and whispered, “Someone’s here.”

Fu Yanchuan still didn’t let go. He didn’t say anything; he just looked at Qi Xi until another person passed by. Only then did he finally release him.

However, Qi Xi unconsciously reached out and grabbed Fu Yanchuan’s hand again. Fu Yanchuan suddenly stared at his hand, his eyes seeming to ask why.

Qi Xi couldn’t explain it either. He just felt that, the moment Fu Yanchuan released him, he felt lonely.

“Xi Xi, once you hold on, you can’t let go. Understand?”

Fu Yanchuan refused to let go again. He slipped his fingers into Qi Xi’s, interlocking their hands tightly.

Qi Xi kept glancing around at the people with the corner of his eye. “But what if people see us?”

If they see, they see!

Fu Yanchuan’s fingertips brushed against the back of Qi Xi’s hand. He knew he was being unreasonable. After all, Qi Xi was only 20 years old. Although society was more tolerant than before, homosexuality was still a minority, and there was no reason to draw unnecessary attention. In front of people they knew, Qi Xi had never hidden their relationship.

Fu Yanchuan looked at Qi Xi, his gaze like countless tentacles entangling Qi Xi’s face.

Qi Xi didn’t know what Fu Yanchuan was thinking. All he felt was Fu Yanchuan grab his hand and suddenly tug it, causing him to stumble forward. Fu Yanchuan wrapped his other arm around him and suddenly leaned in to kiss him.

Frightened of being seen by others, Qi Xi tried to pull away, but Fu Yanchuan brushed past his lips and hugged him as if he were about to fall and needed steadying.

Then, as usual, Fu Yanchuan slowly let go of him and asked gently, “Do you still want to walk around?”

Qi Xi clenched the hand that Fu Yanchuan had just held, feeling contradictory. He didn’t want Fu Yanchuan to kiss him in public or hold his hand because he was afraid of being stared at constantly.

Yet, when Fu Yanchuan let go of him, Qi Xi felt disappointed. Was he some kind of pervert with a fetish for being watched while kissing?

“Xi Xi?”

Fu Yanchuan called out to the dazed Qi Xi. He instinctively wanted to reach out and take his hand again but restrained himself.

“Let’s not walk around anymore. Let’s go.”

Qi Xi snapped back to his senses and subconsciously reached for Fu Yanchuan’s arm. However, he saw Fu Yanchuan put his hand in his pants pocket. He withdrew his hand in confusion.

Fu Yanchuan glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to walk ahead. Seeing that Qi Xi hadn’t moved, he stopped and waited for Qi Xi to catch up.

It wasn’t until Fu Yanchuan drove the car out of the garage that Qi Xi realized it was dark outside.

Fu Yanchuan suddenly asked, “Xi Xi, what do you want to eat tonight?”

Qi Xi had been spoiled by the chefs at home and no longer found outside restaurants very novel. He wasn’t really hungry, and he was still upset about how Fu Yanchuan had stuffed his hand into his pocket just because Qi Xi wouldn’t hold his hand. Unable to hide his grievance, he said, “Anything.”

Fu Yanchuan tightened his grip on the steering wheel and remained silent. He took Qi Xi to a famous restaurant for couples in the city center. He didn’t like the exaggerated atmosphere or the taste of the food, but he still came because it was a couple’s restaurant.

But Qi Xi didn’t notice any of this. He ate the entire meal absentmindedly.

After eating, they went downstairs and walked along the noisy pedestrian street, keeping a half-step distance between them. They didn’t say a word as they moved forward.

They passed by a luxury store. Qi Xi suddenly stopped to stare at it. Fu Yanchuan quickly stopped, too, and asked, “Do you want to buy something?”

Qi Xi didn’t want to buy anything. He suddenly remembered the gift he had bought for Fu Yanchuan a long time ago. He had been too embarrassed to give it to him and had hidden it deep in the closet.

Glancing at Fu Yanchuan, he said, “I bought you a gift a while ago, but I was too embarrassed to give it to you.”

“What gift?”

Fu Yanchuan was visibly surprised. Qi Xi replied, “I’ll give it to you when we get back.”

“Then let’s go home now, okay?”

“Mm.”

They retraced their steps, found the car, and drove home. Even after entering the house, they kept that half-step distance.

“Brother Yan, wait for me.”

Qi Xi hurried to get the gift for Fu Yanchuan. Fu Yanchuan stayed where he was, watching Qi Xi go back to the room where he hadn’t slept in a long time. After a moment, Qi Xi ran out holding a small paper bag.

When he reached Fu Yanchuan, he looked up at him first, and then suddenly threw himself into his arms. His voice was full of grievance. “Are you angry at me? That’s why you wouldn’t let me touch you?”

Fu Yanchuan didn’t know where this grievance came from. He had restrained himself to the point of almost going crazy—how could he possibly not let Qi Xi touch him?

He hugged Qi Xi back tightly and asked carefully, “Have you been unhappy all this time because of this?”

Qi Xi suddenly buried his face in Fu Yanchuan’s chest, his voice choking. “Weren’t you the one who was unhappy? You kept sticking your hand in your pants. I didn’t do it on purpose to stop you from holding my hand. When we hold hands, people stare at us, and I feel embarrassed. If they see it, they’ll scold you again. You never got angry about this before, so why are you suddenly angry today? You didn’t say anything, so how would I know? I’m not that smart; I can’t always guess what you’re thinking!

“Xi Xi, I wasn’t angry! It was my fault. I kept my hand in my pocket because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to resist holding you again. If you dodged again, I might lose control and ignore your wishes. I’m not as good as you think. You can be angry with me, but don’t blame yourself.”

The more Fu Yanchuan spoke, the more he felt like a bastard. He lifted Qi Xi’s face. His beautiful peach-blossom eyes looked at him, tears falling nonstop. He reached out to wipe them away. The tears soaked his fingers but felt branded into his heart.

Panicking, he kissed Qi Xi’s tears and said, “Xi Xi, don’t cry anymore! Why do I always make you cry?”

Qi Xi sniffed and replied, “Because I like you too much.”

—Because I like you too much!

Fu Yanchuan lifted Qi Xi up immediately. Qi Xi wrapped his legs around Fu Yanchuan’s waist. He supported the person in his arms and kissed him.

After the sticky, wet kiss ended, Qi Xi said softly, “You still haven’t looked at your gift.”

“What is it?”

Qi Xi leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Go back to the room to see.”

Silently, Fu Yanchuan carried Qi Xi back to the room, put him on the bed, leaned in close, wiped away the remaining tears at the corners of his eyes, and asked, “Xi Xi, have you forgiven me?”

Qi Xi nodded. “Brother Yan, I feel like I’ve become very strange. These are clearly small things, but I can’t help overthinking. One moment I think this way; the next moment, I think that way. I’m very narrow-minded and fickle.”

“Xi Xi, you’re not wrong. It’s my fault. Don’t blame yourself, okay?”

“Then, from now on, can we always say out loud what we’re thinking?”

“Okay.” Fu Yanchuan immediately put it into practice. “I was thinking about holding your hand and letting everyone see that we’re together so that others won’t dare covet you anymore. What were you thinking about?”

The discomfort in Qi Xi’s eyes dispersed, and his face turned red. In a very small voice, he said, “I was thinking about you kissing me forcefully in front of a lot of people and loudly telling everyone that you like me.”

Fu Yanchuan’s expression froze. Qi Xi couldn’t read Fu Yanchuan’s expression, so he bumped his head against his. “You’re doing this again! We just agreed that we’d say whatever we’re thinking!”

Fu Yanchuan tried hard to maintain a serious expression and replied, “I’ll say it, but don’t get angry.”

Qi Xi nodded generously. Suddenly, Fu Yanchuan laughed. Then, Qi Xi grabbed his collar and bit him.

“You said you wouldn’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry. I just want to bite you.”

Fu Yanchuan immediately caught Qi Xi’s hands, pinning them above his head. Then he leaned down and asked, “Do you still want me to kiss you forcefully and loudly tell you that I like you?”

“No, there’s no one else here.”

“Tomorrow.”

Qi Xi refused. “I don’t want to tomorrow, or the day after. Forget it.”

Fu Yanchuan still wanted to bargain with him, but Qi Xi forcibly changed the subject. “You haven’t seen your gift yet! Hurry up and look!”

In the end, Fu Yanchuan accepted the gift, albeit late. When Qi Xi said he was embarrassed to give it to him, Fu Yanchuan had already guessed what the gift was—but he hadn’t guessed that it would be pink.

Qi Xi asked him seriously, “You don’t like it?”

Fu Yanchuan wasn’t sure if he should like pink briefs. He picked it up and bit it against Qi Xi’s lips and said, “Do you want me to wear it for you?”

 

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