The majority of the students in the school were unaware of the relationship between Chen Qianqing and Lu Zhengfei.
Lu Zhengfei did a good job keeping it secret, and almost everyone who knew Chen Qianqing believed that he had dropped out due to illness. However, "almost" implies that not everyone was fooled.
Liu Jingyang was an exception.
During their freshman year, Liu Jingyang had a good relationship with Chen Qianqing. Despite his own inferior family background, which forced him to spend a significant amount of time working part-time jobs, Liu Jingyang couldn't help but feel jealous when he saw how popular Chen Qianqing was in their department. At a time when young people were full of ambition, Liu Jingyang tried to control his negative emotions by telling himself that everyone had their own fate and that he should not demand what he couldn't get. This weak self-talk was better than nothing, but it still didn't prevent Liu Jingyang from doing something that would harm their relationship.
However, things took an unexpected turn. Due to his excellent performance at work, Liu Jingyang was given an opportunity to work as a waiter at a large private banquet. As an ordinary citizen, this was a chance for Liu Jingyang to interact with the upper class, and he eagerly accepted the offer without hesitation.
After signing a confidentiality agreement and receiving training, Liu Jingyang finally set foot in that place - albeit as a waiter. Liu Jingyang wasn't particularly handsome, but he stood at a height of 1.87 meters and had a good physique. Just the thought of having the opportunity to work at such an upscale venue fueled his fantasies.
Liu Jingyang had high expectations, but unfortunately, reality often diverges from dreams. He was destined to be disappointed. The experience of climbing the social ladder through this failed attempt might have been a fleeting memory for Liu Jingyang. However, Chen Qianqing's appearance made that banquet an unforgettable memory for him.
Yes, unlike Liu Jingyang, Chen Qianqing also appeared at the banquet, but as Lu Zhengfei's lover.
Liu Jingyang couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the cold and indifferent Chen Qianqing, dressed in a suit and being escorted by Lu Zhengfei into the venue. He was so astonished that he almost dropped the tray of glasses he was holding.
Fortunately, the person next to Liu Jingyang called out to him, snapping him back to reality and preventing him from making a fool of himself in such an important occasion.
"Who are you looking at? Why do you have that expression?" The person standing beside Liu Jingyang, another waiter, followed his gaze and said, "Forget about that person. He's the new head of the Lu family, handsome, wealthy, and a gay." This person assumed Liu Jingyang was looking at Lu Zhengfei, but in reality, Liu Jingyang was looking at Chen Qianqing.
When Chen Qianqing entered the room with a cold expression on his face, even when Lu Zhengfei spoke to him, he didn't have a pleasant expression. Strangely enough, Lu Zhengfei didn't get angry; instead, he seemed a bit embarrassed.
At that moment, Liu Jingyang realized that his claim of not despising Chen Qianqing was definitely false. Chen Qianqing was more handsome, came from a wealthier family, and had better grades. Even in this situation, Chen Qianqing was a guest while Liu Jingyang was just a waiter.
According to normal logic, encountering such a situation would undoubtedly be awkward and might even lead one to avoid meeting classmates. However, when Liu Jingyang saw Chen Qianqing's expressionless face, he found an opportunity to approach him.
"Chen Qianqing," he pretended to be surprised as he approached with a tray, "what are you doing here?"
Chen Qianqing was sitting alone and was startled by Liu Jingyang's voice. He turned his head and revealed a slightly flustered and embarrassed expression. He replied, "I, I came with my brother."
"Your brother?" Liu Jingyang glanced at the person Chen Qianqing was talking to, surrounded by others. "Your blood brother?" He intentionally asked this, wanting to see Chen Qianqing's discomfort, which would bring him some pleasure.
Sure enough, Chen Qianqing showed a trace of embarrassment and only said after a long pause, "Don't tell anyone."
"Oh, so you're being kept by someone," Liu Jingyang said without hesitation. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Chen Qianqing, a young man in his twenties, blushed at the word "kept." It wasn't clear whether he was angry or embarrassed, but his upbringing had taught him to be a gentleman, so for a moment, he couldn't find words to refute Liu Jingyang.
"But don't tell anyone that we know each other," Liu Jingyang said. "It's embarrassing to have someone like you as a classmate."
In this world where poverty is laughed at but not prostitution, if Liu Jingyang had made fun of someone else, that person would probably have responded with, "Mind your own business, I'll do what I want." But Chen Qianqing couldn't do that. He didn't really like Lu Zhengfei to begin with, and having his classmates see this scene made him feel even more hopeless.
Seeing Chen Qianqing stop talking, Liu Jingyang turned and left, feeling very satisfied. He was delighted to see Chen Qianqing in this state, and his twisted vanity was strangely fulfilled.
After that day, Chen Qianqing never came back to school. The reason was given as being sick, but Liu Jingyang believed that he just didn't have the face to come to school. In reality, it was because Chen Qianqing had angered Lu Zhengfei and was locked up, and then later broke his leg while trying to escape.
This is the butterfly effect. Seemingly insignificant words spoken in anger can change the trajectory of a person's life.
Liu Jingyang didn't know what impact his actions had caused, but he did know that Chen Qianqing, with his broken leg, returned to school and became the target of his mockery again.
Chen Qianqing and Liu Jingyang agreed to meet at a Chinese restaurant near the school. They sat in a private room and ordered some dishes casually.
"Chen Qianqing, don't tell me you were actually sick," Liu Jingyang said, holding the menu. "I don't know about those things of yours?"
"What things?" If the real Chen Qianqing had heard this, he probably would have fled in despair. But now sitting here was a fake Chen Qianqing, or more accurately, Lu Zhengfei who was already in his middle age.
"Oh, after being sick for a few months, you forgot about your shameful deeds?" Liu Jingyang didn't want to speak so harshly, but seeing that Chen Qianqing didn't seem guilty at all made him very displeased. He said, "I clearly saw you mingling with that man at that event."
Chen Qianqing didn't know which event Liu Jingyang was talking about. The original owner had attended so many events that he could almost be labeled with a name tag. Even if he was seen, it didn't matter to him.
"So what?" Chen Qianqing looked at the menu and lost his appetite. He asked, "What do you want to say?"
Liu Jingyang was speechless. He never expected that months later, Chen Qianqing wouldn't care about this matter at all. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell our classmates?"
"Article 246 of the Criminal Law stipulates that if a person publicly insults or fabricates facts to slander others using violence or other means, and the circumstances are serious, they shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a maximum of three years, detention, control, or deprivation of political rights," Chen Qianqing said coldly. "Do you think your circumstances are severe enough to warrant a few years in prison?"
Liu Jingyang was angry and said, "Am I slandering you? Isn't it a fact that you were kept by someone?"
Chen Qianqing put down the menu and smiled. "Liu Jingyang, is this how you used to talk to me before?"
"What do you mean, how I used to talk to you?" Liu Jingyang became even more disdainful and said, "I told you last time, you were scared back then. You didn't come to school for months. Now your backbone is strong? Did you find a powerful sugar daddy? Come on, I'm so afraid of you."
Liu Jingyang dared to say this because he was certain that Chen Qianqing wouldn't retaliate against him. After spending a year with him as classmates, he knew that Chen Qianqing had a strong sense of justice. He would even step forward to stop a thief if he saw one in a car. Being told this, he would probably just feel ashamed.
Unfortunately, the real Chen Qianqing was already dead.
Upon hearing Liu Jingyang's words, the person sitting here, Chen Qianqing, had no expression on his face. He simply said coldly, "Before I dropped out, did you mock me for being kept?"
"Isn't it worthy of mockery?" Liu Jingyang said. "It's something that shouldn't be seen."
Chen Qianqing stopped talking. He had always known that there were many obstacles between him and the original owner. The old Chen Qianqing didn't love him, wasn't gay, and still had parents. But he never expected that the person sitting in front of him, who spoke hurtful words without caring about others, was the one who set the butterfly effect in motion.
Chen Qianqing remembered the day when the original owner suddenly lost his temper and turned the whole room upside down. He could even remember the expression on the original owner's face.
The honest, kind, and stubborn Chen Qianqing, while packing his luggage, yelled angrily at Lu Zhengfei, "Lu Zhengfei, how dare you force me to be with you! I'm leaving! I don't want to be kept by you!"
The term "kept" struck a nerve in Lu Zhengfei. And then a series of events unfolded, ultimately leading to Lu Zhengfei imprisoning Chen Qianqing.
"Liu Jingyang," Chen Qianqing looked at the boy in front of him who was still using vulgar language, and said, "Perhaps you should have had a chance to find a good job, marry a beautiful wife, and have adorable children."
Liu Jingyang was taken aback, not understanding why Chen Qianqing would say such things.
"But now, you have no opportunities left," Chen Qianqing said. "You will pay the price for what you have done in the past and what you are doing now."
"What are you talking about? Are you threatening me?" Liu Jingyang panicked. "Chen Qianqing, are you going to complain to your sugar daddy?"
Chen Qianqing smiled. "Yes, now that you've portrayed me like this, it would be a shame not to be kept for your righteous indignation."
"Chen Qianqing, aren't you afraid that I will tell our classmates about your ugly deeds?" Liu Jingyang panicked. He knew he couldn't afford to offend those people, at most he could show off in front of Chen Qianqing. But if Chen Qianqing decided to take serious action, it would be him who would be finished.
"You can say it," Chen Qianqing stood up with a crutch. "But everyone has to take responsibility for their actions." -- Just like he is now, experiencing every bit of the pain that Chen Qianqing has gone through.