CH 76

Chapter 76: Misunderstandings

"You are the wanted criminal with the military arrest warrant." Shen Yueran looks at Huo Zaiyuan with a self-satisfied expression, blinking her big eyes filled with false innocence. "If I tell this to your soldier friend, I'm sure he will decide to split from your little group."

Huo Zaiyuan's eyes narrow in visible anger. "What exactly do you want? How does threatening me benefit you?"

"Threaten? Haha…how am I threatening you?" Shen Yueran's bell-like laughter rings out before her gaze shifts pass Huo Zaiyuan to the male figure walking over. Laying a delicate hand on his shoulder, she slowly opens her mouth. “I like you and I want to be with you. If you agree to be my man, then…"

"I would rather not - mm…!" Huo Zaiyuan's face smooths over as he rejects the proposal instantly. Just as he opens his mouth to refuse, Shen Yueran stands on tiptoe, soft lips plastering themselves over Huo Zaiyuan's mouth.

As the kiss was too sudden, Huo Zaiyuan, who had never been kissed on the lips before abruptly freezes. His brain stutters from shock and he completely forgets to push the woman away.

The scene Long Zhanye walks into is Shen Yueran suddenly kissing Huo Zaiyuan, and the youth actually didn't push her away. The soldier's face darkens, immediately whirling around on his heels and leaves.

Seeing Long Zhanye walking away, a triumph light appears in Shen Yueran's eyes and her smile turns crafty.

Hmph…this is a sure-fire plan.

When Shen Yueran is feeling very proud of herself, Huo Zaiyuan who finally returns to his senses immediately changes. Eyes displaying deep loathing, he shoves her away without a single trace of pity.

"You - don't gain an inch and want a mile! It's the apocalypse right now. If you want to tell people about that matter, go ahead!"A furious Huo Zaiyuan spits out before stomping off.

Falling to the ground from the force of that push, Shen Yueran grits her teeth, scoffing coldly as she watched the youth's retreating back. "Unable to differentiate good from bad. If that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

~~~

The moment Li Qing steps into the group's temporary residence, he is met with a very strange scene. The usually vigilant and far-sighted older brother Long is actually staring ahead blankly. A drinking glass clutched in the soldier's hand shatters in a terrifying manner, causing blood to drip from various cuts as shards dig into flesh.

Doesn't - doesn't that hurt?

Quickly hurrying over, Li Qing calls out. "Older brother Long, what are you doing? Your hand is already cut by glass." Saying this, he tries to pry open Long Zhanye's tightly clenched fist.

Li Qing's cry of alarm eventually makes Long Zhanye return to reality and notice his bleeding hand. Frowning, he unclenches it.

Fortunately, there was already a first-aid kit stored away in his ring. Taking out a pair of tweezers, Li Qing removes the glass fragments from Long Zhanye's palm, then bandages his wounds.

"Older brother Long, this is unlike you. Did something bad happen?"

Long Zhanye is such a capable, self-aware individual, and seeing him stare blankly into space is an extremely rare and unnerving sight.

Glancing at Li Qing, Long Zhanye's lips purse before he slowly speaks. "Little Yuan has gotten together with that woman with the Shen surname."

"How is that possible?!" Li Qing exclaims. "I don't believe it!"

If it was the Huo Zaiyuan from before who liked to party and play, there is be a possibility that Li Qing will believe his childhood friend got together with a lady he knew for only two days. But his current best friend who is not even shaken by thunder or lightning…Li Qing wouldn't believe even if you beat him to death.

"I saw that lady kiss him and he didn't reject her." As soon as he recalls the scene he stumbled across, Long Zhanye's expression becomes depressed again.

"Eh…" Li Qing is at a loss for words, but at least now he knows the reason for Long Zhanye's strange behaviour. Ever since that day he caught Long Zhanye kissing Huo Zaiyuan on the lips in the backseat, he immediately recognizes what kind of feelings the soldier harbours for his childhood friend. Only because Long Zhanye refrains from openly declaring it does Li Qing keep his mouth shut. Now, however…

"That…older brother Long…I actually think it will be better if you say it clearly to little Yuan. If you don't do so, you will have no opportunities to confess forever."

"But he clearly doesn't have any interest towards men." Wrinkling his brow, Long Zhanye broods.

This is precisely the reason why he continues to conceal his feelings even after he realised his affection for the youth. Rather than allowing his face to be shredded when little Yuan rejects him, he would much rather guard his affection in silence.

"Who says so? At that time, when I still hesitated in getting together with Qin Jun, it was little Yuan who laid bare my obvious feelings and made me overcome my indecisiveness. He told me he doesn't believe in love, but if he ever falls in love with someone, he will definitely fight with all his might to cherish them no matter if they are male or female." Li Qing's expression is very serious as he regards Long Zhanye. "Which is why I think you should say it clearly. At most, you'll be rejected and your heart will hurt for a while, but it is still a lot better than never saying anything."

"Un, I understand. Thank you." The gloomy expression on Long Zhanye's face finally disperses as he nods in gratitude.