CH 35

Translator: Lynn

Jian Jie rushed back to the room, his emotions in turmoil. Love was unfamiliar territory for him, and he had always believed it to be a connection between a man and a woman. The idea of two men having romantic feelings scared him. Sitting on the sofa, he felt distressed about what to do. Long Zichen had confessed to him, and he didn’t want to lose such a wonderful friend.

He tried to make sense of his thoughts, but the doorbell interrupted him. Expecting Long Zichen, Jian Jie was uncertain how to face him, feeling disturbed. However, it turned out to be a hotel waiter delivering his favorite food. Jian Jie realized that Long Zichen had ordered the meal for him, which made him feel a bit sad. Long Zichen was so good to him, but he found it strange and awkward to be in a relationship with him; it was hard to accept.

Quietly finishing the meal, Jian Jie waited until 9 o’clock, but Long Zichen still hadn’t returned. He hesitated to send a text message but was unsure of what to say. He didn’t know how to comfort Long Zichen, fearing that his words might worsen the situation. But before he could do anything, Long Zichen sent a text: “You can rest after eating; I probably won’t be back tonight.”

Jian Jie was lost in thought for a moment, then turned off his phone, and went to take a shower before going to sleep. He was tired and emotionally drained.

Meanwhile, Long Zichen didn’t receive a response from Jian Jie and felt increasingly frustrated. He thought Xiaojie didn’t want to talk to him.

On the other side, Ye Jing and the drowsy Yuan Chao were sitting opposite Long Zichen at the bar. They had dinner and were relaxed. Yuan Chao teased Long Zichen, recalling how he had previously denied his feelings for Jian Jie and now had been rejected. He found it amusing.

Long Zichen glared at Yuan Chao resentfully, but Yuan Chao was unfazed. He laughed, saying, “You had a lapse in judgment, right? Although you’re envious of my happiness, don’t worry about it. You had an impulsive confession! You’re not as handsome or charming as I am. Moreover, you’re a man, and you’re much older than Xiaojie. It’s natural for him to say no!”

Long Zichen felt defeated and desperate. He wanted to cry, but he had to admit that Yuan Chao was right. How could he expect Xiaojie to accept him? He regretted his impulsivity and now couldn’t even be friends.

Long Zichen said, “I can’t take it anymore. Go to sleep, and please don’t flaunt your affection in front of me!” Then he added, “Also, don’t go around talking about this. It could tarnish Xiaojie’s reputation.”

Yuan Chao patted Long Zichen in an old-fashioned manner, saying, “You’re so devoted. Learn from me and put more effort into it. Xiaojie has a good temper, and he might accept you if you soften his heart.”

Ye Jing also encouraged Long Zichen, “I heard from Chao about you and Jian Jie. I can see that you’re sincere. What Chao said is actually reasonable. I hope you get your wish.”

Long Zichen forced a smile, saying, “Thank you for being with me until now. Go rest; I’ll sit here for a while.”

As they left, Long Zichen sat until midnight before returning to the guest room. Upon entering, he found Jian Jie sleeping soundly on the bed. He stood there, gazing at Jian Jie’s adorable sleeping face, feeling a pang of sorrow.

He thought, “You’re really ruthless, rejecting me without any room for negotiation, and sleeping so peacefully!” But he couldn’t deny that the young man in front of him was beautiful and adorable. He deserved all the happiness in the world. Even though Jian Jie didn’t feel the same way about him, there was nothing he could do about it.

Feeling tired, Long Zichen booked a couple’s luxury suite initially, hoping to have a close connection with Xiaojie. However, he realized that Jian Jie might be scared upon seeing him beside him tomorrow, so he decided to sleep on the sofa instead. He felt like he had shot himself in the foot.

He covered himself with a blanket and lay there facing Jian Jie, staring at him until the early hours of the morning, unable to fall asleep. The scene of Jian Jie’s rejection replayed in his mind, and he feared that Jian Jie would avoid him like a snake the next day. His heart was filled with sadness, but he was unwilling to give up. As Yuan Chao had suggested, he wanted to win Jian Jie over with his genuine feelings.

However, reality had more blows in store for him.

The following day, Jian Jie woke up and saw Long Zichen sleeping awkwardly on the opposite sofa. He felt a pang of guilt, guessing that Long Zichen chose the sofa to avoid any discomfort due to him. He got dressed quietly and went downstairs to have breakfast, receiving a call from his elder brother.

“Jiejie, are you busy today?” His elder brother sounded happy on the other end of the line.

“I’m on vacation today, not busy. Is there something you need, big brother?” Jian Jie replied.

“Just got the notice last night. I didn’t want to disturb you while you were asleep. I’m coming back today. I’ve already bought a plane ticket and will be landing in Anping in about an hour. Let’s have a gathering at home,” his elder brother said.

Jian Jie was overjoyed to hear his brother was coming back, “Great! I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

“That’s wonderful.” His brother was equally excited. “But you’re a big star now; won’t it be inconvenient? The airport might get crowded with fans.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not that famous yet. If I wear a scarf to cover up, no one will recognize me.”

“Alright then. I’ll bring you a gift as well.”

Jian Jie arranged to meet his brother at the airport, feeling happy about the upcoming reunion. Even the previous troubles seemed to fade away. He quickly had a light breakfast and went back to the guest room. Seeing Long Zichen still asleep, he left a note for him on the coffee table, informing him about his plans. Then he called a taxi and headed straight to the airport, looking forward to seeing his elder brother after several months of separation.

When Long Zichen woke up, the room was empty, and he found Jian Jie’s farewell letter. He felt a wave of sadness: did Xiaojie not want to see him at all?

In truth, Jian Jie was indeed avoiding Long Zichen. He had a smooth life and had never experienced such a situation before. Not knowing how to handle it, he chose to escape, feeling guilty about it. He sincerely hoped that things would return to how they were before and that he and Long Zichen could still be good friends without anyone feeling sad.

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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