Up until the plane landed, Zhan Yu remained absent-minded, unable to snap out of his trance from Lu Bai's shocking actions. Why did he kiss him? The person he liked should be Chu Hua! Wrong. When did Lu Bai start to place all of his attention on himself?
Zhan Yu recalled his words, "If you want to return to A City, you can go back and wait for me to finish handling the matters here. I will go find you once I'm done."
At that time, Zhan Yu was dazed at his words, unable to comprehend his meaning. But now that he recovered from the shock, his ability to reason returned too. He then realized what was wrong with Lu Bai's words.
Why is Lu Bai coming to A City?
The more he thought about it, the more he felt the need to talk to Lu Bai and make it clear between them. He didn't like him at all. Plus, who gave him the permission to forcibly kiss him? That was his first kiss! He was angrier by the moment.
Seeing that Zhan Yu furrowed his eyebrows the entire time, Xia Qiao couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter with you? I feel like ever since you came back from Shengjin City, you have been distracted."
When Xia Qiao had waited for him at the airport, he saw Zhan Yu getting off a black car. The driver seat's window was down; although he just glanced from afar, he noticed the composed side profile of the driver and had an idea who it was. If that person wasn't Lu Bai, who else would it be? Xia Qiao had asked Zhan Yu a question earlier, but he had not replied. He inquired again, "Xiao Yu, are you not feeling well?"
Xhan Yu was pondering ways to get rid of Lu Bai, so he was lost in his thoughts. He responded, "Nothing. I was just thinking about something."
"What are you thinking that made you so lost in your own world?" Xia Qiao slightly smiled.
Zhan Yu shook hid head and answered, "Nothing really." When he went to work the next day, everything was normal. Recently, Zhan Yu had been recording a new singing competition. The majority of the contestants were college students from all parts of the country. The program decided to record while editing it at the same time before it would be broadcasted. The results were pretty good.
Today, Zhan Yu had just finished the recording and didn't even have time to change clothes when one of his colleagues said, "Zhan Yu, there's a very handsome man looking for you downstairs! Very handsome!" When the colleague finished her words, she looked mischievously at him.
Zhan Yu never guessed it would be Lu Bai. She laughed and then said, "How handsome?"
"Super handsome!" The colleague said playfully.
Zhan Yu casually said, "How could be there such a handsome guy? You're exaggerating."
"It's true. If you don't believe me, why don't you go downstairs and take a look yourself?"
Zhan Yu walked downstairs, half-believing those words. When he saw the familiar slender figure by the black car, he was dumbstruck. "How are you–" Halfway through his words, he forcibly gulped down what he was about to say. It seemed like every time they met, he always had to question why he was there. After a while, he even became suspicious of his own ability to express his feelings.
Lu Bai raised his head to look at Zhan Yu. He slightly curved his lips up, "When do you get off work?"
"Why are you asking this?"
Hearing his tone filled with alarm, he laughed, "I just want to eat with you after you're off work."
"Thank you but there is no need."
After he was rejected, Lu Bai looked faintly at him and said, "Do you want me to do what I did last night to you again? If that's what you want, I am very willing to." Once he was done, he purposefully moved closer to Zhan Yu.
Zhan Yu continuously took a few steps back out of fright. He hurriedly rejected and waved his hands. He said, "No. Don't come over!"
"Ok. Go pack your things. I'll be waiting for you to get off work."
Zhan Yu clenched his teeth in frustration due to Lu Bai's confident look that he would submit to him. He firmly glared at him before returning to his office. When the colleague saw h returning, she immediately asked with bright eyes, "How is it? Do you know that handsome guy?"
Zhan Yu didn't want to talk about him. "Nothing happened. I'm going back to work now."
He had worked approximately another two hours until Lu Bai called him. Zhan Yu hung up on him without a doubt. In the next second, he sent him a blunt text. "If you don't come down. I don't mind coming up and bringing you down."
Zhan Yu looked at the message and felt like hardships were ahead. He grinded his teeth and picked up his bag as he stood up. When he walked downstairs, he was expressionless. Seeing his car was still parked there, he immediately got in the car. Without looking, he said, "Lu B, we should make it clear between us. I can act like nothing happened last night so stop coming to see me in the future…"
"Cough, cough…"
"Huh?"
This voice?
Zhan Yu looked shockingly at Lu Bai. That man looked expressionlessly back at him.
He wasn't the one making the noise before.
Zhan Yu was confused but Lu Bai shifted his gaze to the seat in the back. Zhan Yu followed his gaze to see a middle-aged man wearing a black suit in the car, besides Lu Bai.
Zhan Yu looked carefully at him and it wasn't hard to tell that he and Lu Bai had the same thick eyebrows and red phoenix eyes. Even the bridges of their noses were similar.
"This is…" Zhan Yu felt his heart thumping violently. Did he hear everything that he had just said?
Lu An seemingly understood how awkward Zhan Yu felt so he slightly smiled, before returning to his serious face. "Hello, I am that boy's father, Lu An."
"Father?" Zhan Yu was shocked. Why did he see Lu An?!
Zhan Yu remembered the book mentioning how Lu An was still a high government official early in his years and resigned later on due to health reasons. After many years of treatment, his body had recovered. Then, he muddled himself in the business world. His impression of Lu An wasn't fully developed. He seemed to be the typical male lead's father who was successful in business and had little to say. He also barely intervened with the male lead's matters and the matters at home were handled by his wife. He only made decisions regarding major matters.
Zhan Yu was feeling sluggish, up until Lu Bai reached over to pat his head. He laughed at him and said, "You really are self-conscious. Although you have to change the way you address him eventually, I'm scared that my father might be frightened by you calling him 'father' during the first meeting."
Seeing the two's interactions, Lu An pondered deeply over Zhan Yu's words. He immediately had a hunch that his son, who had been pursued in the past by numerous people since he was a child, was currently being mocked by the other party. This son was now having a hard time on the path to pursuing his future wife. Lu An was in a pretty good mood after thinking of this. Someone could finally abuse this boy now.
Lu An laughed and agreed, "I did get frightened."
Zhan Yu watched as the father and son echoed one another and he felt embarrassed. He avoided Lu Bai's hand seamlessly and explained, "That's not it. I was just a bit shocked so I repeated the phrase. Uncle, please forgive me. I didn't mean that."
Lu An glanced at Lu Bai who had a faint look on. Therefore, he said, "No worries." He urged Lu Bai and said, "Quickly drive. After lunch, I'm going to visit your Uncle Feng."
When Lu Bai turned the steering wheel, he said in despise, "Since you have so much to do in A City, why did you come find me?"
"I came to discuss matters with you! Otherwise, you think I want to see you?"
"I don't want to see you either." Lu Bai answered.
"Stupid boy!"
Zhan Yu who sat there was speechless. Right, he mustn't open his mouth.
At Shengjin City, Zhuang Zhu and a few others gathered together with Mo Be who just arrived today. Within a private room, Zhuang Zhu lifted his glass of wine and asked, "Are you planning to stay for good in Shengjin City now that you're back?"
Mo Bei lifted his wine glass and bumped it against his. "Yes, I'm planning to develop in the country. You know that my grandmother and the others have been urging me to come back."
Zhuang Zhu chuckled and said, "Aren't you stupid? They want you to come back and you actually obediently listened to them? Aren't you just coming back for the same old matters? All the young misses from wealthy families in the upper society are all forming a line to see who you will pick from amongst them!"
Mo Bei wasn't as excited, on the other hand. He said, "If I can avoid them, I will do so. If I need to act, I will do so. This isn't a problem for me."
He hadn't thought about so much when he came back. It was because Chu Hua had suddenly returned. He knew that she was bound to come back, but he didn't think it would be so soon.
Zhuang Zhe smiled and said, "Oh, I didn't know that you became a Film Emperor after going abroad. Does that mean there's a chance for you to get the Oscar in the future?"
Mo Bei rolled his eyes then asked, "Where is Lu Bai?"
"Oh, him! I heard that he went somewhere else in the country."
"For a business trip?"
"Probably, or probably not." When Zhuang Zhu said this, he laughed. "I heard that he had been frequently going to school recently. I hadn't heard that he enjoyed school that much in the past."
"So?"
Zhuang Zhu moved closer to him and winked. "I went to ask around and found out that the day before Shengjin College's anniversary, he had been very close to a male host. He's from the Zhan Family. Have you heard of him?"
Mo Bei pondered deeply. He's from the Zhan Family? Well, he had heard of Zhan Qiancheng.
He was about to continue asking when his phone rang. It was Chu Hua. She heard that he also returned back in the country, so she specially called to ask about him.
Mo Bei answered yes and conveniently explained how he was at a gathering with his close childhood friends. Who knew that Sheng Wenyang had asked, "Is it convenient? Can I come over?"
It was rare that she wanted to see him so Mo Bei immediately answered, "Of course. I'll come pick you up. Where are you now?"
"No need, I'm very close to where you are. I can just drive over."
After Mo Bei hung up, he urged Zhuang Zhu in dismissing the beautiful women in the private room. He continued to say, "My friend will be coming later on. Pay attention to your words and don't say any inappropriate things."
Zhuang Zhu was happy. "Your friend is that precious? Is it a beautiful woman?"
"She is a beautiful woman, but we aren't in that kind of relationship yet."
Zhuang Zhu didn't believe him. When Chu Hua arrived, Mo Bei introduced her, "This is Sheng Wenyang." Zhuang Zhu recalled right then. Her surname was Chu? She is Lu Bai's rumored girlfriend?
"You–" Zhuang Zhu was stunned and directly asked her, "What's your relationship with A-Bai?"
Chu Hua came over for Lu Bai. Yet, when she browsed the entire private room, she didn't see him. She slightly smiled and answered, "An unclear relationship."
Zhuang Zhu was speechless. Everyone's first impression on Chu Hua was "this was a beautiful woman". Their second impressions would be "this was a very confident beauty."
Yet, Zhuang Zhu's first impression of Chu Hua was "this was a woman that he mustn't provoke"!
Because of this, he even called Lu Bai.
At that time, Lu Bai was bringing Zhan Yu back to his apartment. He picked up the call and before he could say anything, Zhuang Zhu said in exaggeration, "Damn, Lu Bai! I'm not trying to scold you or anything but when did you come into contact with Chu Hua? She's so scary!"
"Chu Hua?" Lu Bai subconsciously said the name out loud as he heard it. He could feel Zhan Yu turning his head over to look at him after he heard the name.
Lu Bai was about to get out of the car to answer the call when he remembered how Zhan Yu had been misunderstanding his relationship with Chu Hua. If he continued to avoid Zhan Y while on call, Zhan Yu would definitely begin thinking nonsense.
Therefore,Lu Bai gave Zhan Yu a look of comfort.
Zhan Yu realized that he was overly sensitive so he turned hid head around. He unbuckled his seatbelt and wanted to get off the car when he heard 'snap'. The door was locked. He tried a couple times before coming to the conclusion that he really couldn't open it.
Zhan Yu sighed heavily before turning around to glare harshly at Lu Bai. "What are you doing?"
Lu Bai motioned for him to wait a while before he said, "If you have something to say, say it now or else I will hang up."
Although Zhan Yu's voice was low, Zhuang Zhu seemed to have heard a man's voice. Lu Bai actually has a man!
Oh my god. This was a miracle.
Zhuang Zhu noticed something new and odd. He asked excitedly, "A-Bai, you're with a beauty right now!"
"Hurry and hang up since you already know."
"Sigh, I called you to inform you about something, yet you are telling me to hang up. You really aren't grateful for the things I do for you."
"Stop talking nonsense."
Zhuang Zhu obviously knew that Lu Bai was about to get angry. He was scared that he might hang up on him later on so he hurriedly say, "Today, I was eating with Mo Bei and saw Chu Hua there. She didn't seem like someone easily to be provoked. When I asked her about your relationship with her, guess what she said? She said that you guys have an ambiguous relationship. Hey, A-Bai, you couldn't possibly have done something to her, right? She has been thinking about you constantly."
Lu Bai acted like this had nothing to do with him and he said, "Since you and her are familiar to the point you guys could eat together, tell her that I, Lu Bai, don't have any ambiguous relationship with her, the next time you see her." He didn't want for Zhuang Zhu to continue to take joy in his misfortune so he hung up on him.
Lu Bai placed his phone away and looked at Zhan Yu. Zhan Yu was staring deeply at him. He thought about it before he said, "There's really nothing going on between me and Chu Hua."
Zhan Yu first knitted his eyebrows before he continued to say, "There's nothing going on with someone you've kissed? Then, Mr. Lu, there's nothing going on between the two of us either."
Lu Bai's face instantly turned heavy when Zhan Yu finished his words.
Zhan Yu ignored him and twisted the door handle. He said toughly, "Open the door. I want to leave."
"Explain yourself." Lu Bai grabbed Zhan Yu's hand and pulled him closer to himself. He looked at him and said, "How do you know I kissed her?"
"If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it."
"Zhan Yu, you didn't lose your memory at all. Plus, you know more than what I think you do."
When Chu Hua kissed him, they were in his office inside the student union. At that time, there was no one in his office. When she kissed him, he was facing the window and the door. If someone was to pass by or on the opposite side, he clearly would've seen them.
The reality was that no one was there, so how could Zhan Yu know all of this?!
Zhan Yy thought that Lu Bai was angry because he had exposed his lies. He sneered and said, "Lu Bai, your ability to change the topic is quite good. We were clearly talking about you and Chu Hua and me."
"There is simply nothing between me and Chu Hua." Lu Bai.
"You dare to swear that she has no feelings for you?" Zhan Yu.
As expected, Lu Bai was silent.
Zhan Yu laughed again. "So, Lu B, you can place your feelings about me away now. It's not real at all. You don't truly like me and I don't like you. We simply won't have any results from being together."
"Do you mind Chu Hua that much?" Lu Bai.
"I do mind." Zhan Yu admitted directly.
"You mind her because you like me." Lu Bai.
"Heh." Zhan Yu chuckled.
"You're really narcissistic. I won't be that irrational and like you. Even if all the women or men in this world like you, I won't let myself like you." Zhan Yu.
"Give me a reason" Lu Bai.
Zhan Yu glanced the bright street lights in the darkness. He leisurely said, "Because this world doesn't belong to me. And you, won't belong to me either."
Lu Bai wanted to retort but his words changed to, "You don't like me because you like Xia Qiao?"
"I don't like anyone." When Zhan Yu finished, he continued, "I like no one."
Lu Bai humphed and said, "This is the most bizarre reason I've heard since I was a child to reject me. You think that you can cut off love and be ruthless? Are you confident that you won't like anyone?"
Zhan Yu looked far in the distance and said after a while, "Maybe I will find someone that I don't really dislike and marry them."
"If you can find a person you don't dislike and live with them, why won't you consider me?" Lu Bai thought this was endless mockery.
Zhan Yu reacted faintly to this. He smiled and said, "Because you're Lu Bai."
"You!" Lu Bai looked at Zhan Yu and felt his whole body bursting with anger. "You said that you wanted two peaceful years of life and I gave you it. You wanted to develop in A City and was unwilling to return to Sheng Jin City, so I gradually moved the main part of my work here. This is the first time that I, Lu Bai, wanted to be nice to someone. Yet, this is what happens when I try."
"Well, I am quite curious about what you like about me. Is it because I had been pursuing you non stop in the past and when I suddenly stopped being interested in you, you are interested now?" Zhan Yu.
Lu Bai was at a lack of words when Zhan Yu questioned him.
Zhan Yu smiled a fake smile, "So why must you put me in a difficult situation? From what I know, Chu Hua really likes you."
"Stop meddling in my business." Lu Bai shifted his gaze and looked straight ahead. He didn't want to look at Zhan Yu anymore. He was scared that he might want to choke him to death out of impulse.
Zhan shrugged his shoulders, "It doesn't matter to me, as long as you stop pestering me."
"You!" Lu Bai was speechless due to how angry he was. "Zhan Yu, do you even have a heart?!"
"What kind of heart do you want? A heart that likes you? I don't dare to have one like that. Open the door." Zhan Yu.
Lu Bai looked coldly at Zhan Yu and Zhan Yu stared back unyieldingly.
Right after, Zhan Yu heard the sound of the doors unlocking. He secretly relaxed in his heart and hurriedly opened the door and got out of the car. He walked to his apartment without looking back once.
On the other hand, Lu Bai sat in his car and stayed there for a while.
After Zhan Y got back, she rolled back and forth, unable to sleep. When he finally fell asleep, he had a few nightmares.
In the dream, he was unsure where the car was headed to. In the end, he got lost and even the GPS didn't know where he was. He passed by the crossroad and continued to drive straight, but an unfamiliar man came up and told him he was driving in the wrong direction. In his heart back then, he was thinking how there were quite a few nice people in the world.
Who knew that he had driven about a few hundred meters after he made an U-turn, and he was surrounded by people. Six or seven sturdy men surrounded his car and the leader was the 'nice person' who pointed out the direction for him.
He had a sinister expression and he easily smashed the glass window on his car. He pulled him out and without another word, he started to slash him with the knife.
In the beginning, Zhan Yu was terrified but it transformed into a sense of hopelessness. When he laid in his pool of blood, these people were laughing and saying, "he can't endure the cuts. It's not satisfying enough."
The surrounding puddle of blood was fresh red and Zhan Yu was startled, his face full of sweat when he woke up. He hurriedly opened the lamp by the bedside and looked around. After he saw that he was in his bedroom and there weren't any crazy and inhuman people, he couldn't help but to breath heavily.
It took him a long time to calm down and become peaceful. He went to the living room to pour a glass of water but didn't dare to return to the bedroom. He sat there with the lights on and he wasn't in the mood to listen to what the TV was broadcasting. He stared at a certain spot lifelessly.
Why would he suddenly have such a horrific nightmare?
Zhan Yu could only comfort himself, saying that he was probably under a lot of pressure recently. He wanted to start a new program and his boss said yes. But, he was in charge from writing and directing it to hosting the program. If he got good feedback, it was naturally good. But if the feedback were normal, the program will be immediately stopped. Due to this, he had wasted a lot of braincells on this. But no matter how he planned it out, he wasn't pleased. This program had therefore, made no progress.
Zhan Yu was deep in his thoughts when the doorbell rang time after time. He subconsciously shivered and his eyes were filled with terror and fright. His heart thumped rapidly at the ear-piercing noise. He tried his best to let himself calm down. At this time, his phone rang coincidentally too. It was Lu Bai.
Zhan Yu considered whether or not he should answer the call. Before he made a decision, the doorbell stopped ringing. The ringing of the phone stopped too. He watched as the screen of his phone dimmed down. Right after, Lu Bai changed to sending a text to her. "It's me, open the door."
"Are you ok?" Lu Bai.
"Zhan Yu, what happened to you?" Lu Bai.
Zhan Yu was surprised. He actually didn't leave yet still?
When Lu Bai saw that Zhan Yu wasn't answering the messages, he continued to call him. The moment the door opened, Lu Bai slowly placed the hand used to hold his phone down.
"Are you ok?" Lu Bai.
"I'm fine. Mr. Lu, why are you here in the middle of the night?" Zhan Yu.
Lu Bai looked at Zhan Yu's pale face and asked, "Why aren't you asleep at such a late time?"
"Thank you for your concern." Zhan Yu.
Lu Bai pondered deeply and asked, "You got a nightmare?"
"What?" Zhan Yu.
"Last time in the hospital, you had a nightmare the whole night." Lu Bai suddenly walked up and held Zhan Yu in his arms. He said softly and comforted, "Don't worry. I'm here."
Zhan Yu blinked his eyes and felt his eyes turning bitter and sour. Lu Bai, you're breaking the rules!
To be continued...
...