Ever since Jing Xuehao held something over Ren Zexi, his life has turned a lot better, or at least he didn't have to feel inferior again in front of that teenager.
In the end, both of them were the same. They would go to such lengths to get whatever they wanted. Ren Zexi was even worse— for wealth, power and status, he would even seduce a man 25 years older than him. The more Jing Xuehao thought about it, the better he felt.
Since that day, everytime he locked eyes with Ren Zexi, he would think of that photo and give that teenager a sneer. Ren Zexi was more powerful, more well liked and more popular than him just because he had Lu Yizhou. If he, too, had someone like Lu Yizhou, he would also be able to stand at the same place as Ren Zexi.
Meanwhile, Ren Zexi who usually held zero care over his surroundings, started to get conscious of Jing Xuehao. Ren Zexi would give him a glare every time their eyes met. He was aware of how childish he behaved but he didn't know why either, whenever he saw Jing Xuehao, he was reminded of the gaze that teenager directed to Lu Yizhou and also the attention Lu Yizhou spared him.
Warning bells rang in his mind. From the years of staying together with Lu Yizhou, there were countless people who had tried to get close to that man — both men and women — yet Ren Zexi never felt anything whatsoever because he knew that Lu Yizhou wouldn't have given them his attention. But why…from Jing Xuehao, he felt a sense of danger he never felt before?
He felt so insecure. He was afraid that… Lu Yizhou would be taken away from him.
Thus, the two teenagers who were totally in different wavelengths started to compete in every single thing, totally consumed by the spirit of competitiveness. From the mock exam's scores, who was able to answer Teacher's question the most, who could run the fastest in PE Class, who could sing the best in Music Class — everything. It was to the point where the whole school gossiped about it.
"I really don't like him!" Ren Zexi grumbled one day after he returned home. Jing Xuehao and his mock exam's score was tied again — both got full marks in all subjects. With a belly full of anger and grievance, he leaned on Lu Yizhou's leg as the man sat on his chair by the fireplace, a book on his lap.
Hearing him, Lu Yizhou merely hummed and turned the page, totally immersed in it.
Ren Zexi felt even more wronged and started to tug on his pants. "Uncle Lu!"
"I heard you." Lu Yizhou said in an impassive tone and patted his head casually.
Usually, it was all it took to satisfy Ren Zexi. Every touch or look he received from Lu Yizhou was able to make him happy for days but recently, he had gotten greedier and greedier due to the uncertainty in their relationship. Up until now, Lu Yizhou hadn't given him an answer yet. To be exact, nothing had changed at all since his confession.
Dejected, Ren Zexi mumbled. "Uncle Lu, what do you think of me?"
"You're the best." The man said smoothly.
"Really?" Ren Zexi clenched his fists, eyelashes fluttering. It wasn't enough. It still wasn't enough. He wanted more. He wanted to get a definite answer from Lu Yizhou's lips. "How am I the best?"
Lu Yizhou's hand paused. [What's wrong with him?] He asked, feeling weird.
These days, all Ren Zexi talked about was Jing Xuehao. Was this how the world worked? That no matter how many things he had diverted from the original plot, Ren Zexi's inferiority toward the protagonist wouldn't disperse?
Exactly what did he feel so insecure about? Lu Yizhou couldn't fathom it regardless of how hard he pondered.
[666: Aiyah, Host. That's how a teenager was. According to the book in Admin God's library "Teenager's Hormone and Insecurities", it was the time when Ren Zexi will be provoked as long as there's someone better than him. That's just his pride talking. You have to convince him that he's the best.]
[How?]
[666: Praise ah! Acknowledgments ah! Give him what he wants! Reward him! 666 surmises that should do!]
Lu Yizhou glanced down toward Ren Zexi's thick and fluffy hair whorl, contemplating. Praise? He had done that often. Acknowledgments? Wouldn't choosing Ren Zexi as Lu Group's successor be the greatest acknowledgement? Reward him what he wanted? Hmm…
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Ren Zexi grumbled. "You can't even explain how I'm the best? Are you lying?"
"I'm not." Lu Yizhou massaged his brows and sighed. Who said that children were cute? He would have a good talk with 666 about it later on. "Why are you like this lately? This isn't like you. Did Jing Xuehao do something to you?"
Ren Zexi snapped his head up, glaring. "You said his name again! I have never included his name in our conversation before! Last time, you told me that you didn't know him!"
Lu Yizhou raised a brow, unruffled although his lie was exposed. "I know every single person in your class. That way, I can do a background check on them to ensure your safety."
"That—" Ren Zexi almost choked on his breath. Lu Yizhou's words didn't hold anything special but how come his anger was halved just like that?! No! You couldn't be this easy otherwise you would be an utter embarrassment, Ren Zexi! "That's not fair!"
"What's not fair?"
He glared up at Lu Yizhou. What's not fair, the man asked? Everything. He hated how calm Lu Yizhou was, he hated how he was the only one whose feelings were easily swayed just by one word or gesture from the other, he hated how huge his liking was toward Lu Yizhou.
He was the one who needed Lu Yizhou, he was the one who couldn't live without Lu Yizhou whereas Lu Yizhou himself…
Tears welled up in Ren Zexi's eyes the more he thought about it. Was he also an indispensable part in Lu Yizhou's life? Or could he be… easily replaced?
Lu Yizhou frowned and grazed the corner of Ren Zexi's eyes with his thumb. "Why are you crying now?"
"Uncle Lu…" Ren Zexi felt so suffocated for the years he had spent hiding his feelings. Adrenaline rushed to his head and suddenly, he wanted to be brave. He wanted to be someone who could proudly declare his love. Grabbing Lu Yizhou's hand, he planted a soft kiss on the man's palm, tears sliding down his fair cheek. "Uncle Lu, what do you think of me?"
"What do you—"
Ren Zexi rose from his position and reached out toward the surprised Lu Yizhou. He spared not even a second to lean in and close the distance between them. Under Lu Yizhou's widening eyes, their lips melded into a kiss that tasted so much like tears; salty with a tinge of bitterness.
.
.
.
Mini theater:
666, who had stumbled upon Ren Zexi's spicy scene before, returned to complain to Admin God about a system's psychological insurance. Hence the systems were finally updated to enhance family friendly mode. As soon as the kiss scene was coming, 666's screen was instantly blocked by mosaics along with a message. "The following scene is inappropriate to be seen by good and obedient systems. Please wait for a moment."
666: !!!
666: Oh. My. Admin. God. I—I didn't see it wrong! That day, Ren Zexi indeed—
Panicked, it went to the system forum. Since 666's first post, it had gotten quite popular among the systems because first, the other systems felt like it had an interesting Host and second, it always asked for help with impossible things.
[Help! 666 didn't see wrongly! The villain has truly been enamored with my Host! And in that context, I mean romantically!! And one more thing, he's currently seducing my Host!!! And lastly, my screen is mosaicked!!!! What should I do?!!!!]
Many replies came within seconds.
[Ohoho, interesting.]
[No pic = hoax.]
[Little 666, you're so lucky! Last time you said your Host is a drug addict and now, he is seduced by the target?! Are they making babies right now? Hehehehe….]
[I don't believe it! Come on, share it! No pic = hoax +1]
[I also want to watch a romance happening in front of my eyes! My Host is sooo boring!]
[No pic = hoax +2]
[No pic = hoax +999]
[No pic = hoax +10086]
666: How is it supposed to take pictures?! ヽ(#`Д´)ﾉ
Let's just #playdead