Seeing Yuan Zhitao's skeptical expression, Chen Qianqing said, "He was too afraid of running into walls."
Lu Zhengfei added, "Yeah, I ran into a wall."
Yuan Zhitao let out a long "oh" and then said, "You two are so scared, yet you were running so fast? I've been looking for you for so long and couldn't find anyone."
Chen Qianqing snorted, refusing to admit his fear, "He was afraid you would see him panicking, so he intentionally pulled me away."
Lu Zhengfei nodded, "Yes, yes, that's right."
Yuan Zhitao asked, "Qianqing, are you two just pretending? I want to eat an ice cream cone, so hurry and go buy one for me."
Lu Zhengfei interjected, "His legs hurt, so he can't stand for long. You wait here for a while, and I'll buy it for you. What flavor do you want?"
The reason Yuan Zhitao was so casual with Chen Qianqing was because their relationship was particularly close, and she knew Chen Qianqing wouldn't mind. But after Lu Zhengfei's words, she glanced at Chen Qianqing, silently asking for confirmation.
Chen Qianqing looked at Lu Zhengfei and noticed that his lips were indeed broken from being bitten. He said, "Let him go."
Yuan Zhitao replied, "Thank you, Lu Ge. I want a strawberry flavor."
Lu Zhengfei asked, "Qianqing, do you want to eat?"
Chen Qianqing shook his head. He didn't like eating cold things like ice cream.
Lu Zhengfei stood up and went to buy an ice cream cone for Yuan Zhitao. Since it was a National Day holiday, the shopping area was crowded, and there was a long queue for ice cream cones. It would take at least ten minutes or more to come back.
Seeing Lu Zhengfei leave, Yuan Zhitao turned to Chen Qianqing and said, "Qianqing, is this guy really your friend?"
Chen Qianqing asked, "Why do you ask?"
Yuan Zhitao's expression became strange, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Eventually, she whispered, "Qianqing, are you still mad at me?"
Chen Qianqing didn't know what had happened between him and Yuan Zhitao in the past, but based on her words, she must have done something to upset him. So he casually said, "I forgot what you're talking about."
Yuan Zhitao replied, "I didn't mean to say those things to you."
Chen Qianqing was still a bit confused.
Yuan Zhitao sighed, "I just...never thought you were like that."
Chen Qianqing had a bad feeling and asked, "Like what?"
Yuan Zhitao said, "I thought about it seriously, and I realized that sexual orientation is something that can't be forced...But didn't you like other girls before?"
Yuan Zhitao's words brought Chen Qianqing to a realization. If he didn't understand now, he would be a fool. His calm expression suddenly became incredibly stiff, and his head even buzzing. "Yuan Zhitao, did I ever tell you that I liked men?"
Yuan Zhitao shrugged, "You forgot? When you were in your second year, you suddenly told me... I didn't want to react so strongly, but I just couldn't accept it at the time."
Chen Qianqing fell silent. He looked at the unfamiliar face of the girl in front of him and suddenly had an urge to cry.
When Lu Zhengfei pursued Chen Qianqing, Chen Qianqing didn't show any softness towards him. He didn't answer Lu Zhengfei's calls, refused his gifts, and even avoided seeing him.
But due to other factors, and pushed to the extreme after being rejected, Lu Zhengfei resorted to coercive measures towards Chen Qianqing.
And now, Yuan Zhitao was telling him that the previous Chen Qianqing had decided to accept men. It was like a bolt from the blue for the current Chen Qianqing.
The original Chen Qianqing was stubborn, and after experiencing Lu Zhengfei's coercion, there was no possibility of compromise.
It was Lu Zhengfei who had ruined everything. It was his hot-headedness and volatile nature that completely destroyed the beautiful future they could have had.
Chen Qianqing couldn't say a word. He looked at Yuan Zhitao with a strange and sorrowful smile.
Yuan Zhitao stared at Chen Qianqing, bewildered, and hesitated, "Qianqing...I really don't discriminate against homosexuality. Don't be like this. We've been friends for so many years. Even if Auntie doesn't agree with you, I will still support you."
Chen Qianqing remained silent.
Somehow, Yuan Zhitao suddenly felt scared. She reached out and hugged Chen Qianqing, patting his back stiffly, and comforted him, "Don't be like this, Qianqing. Don't cry. Is that person named Lu Zhengfei the one you like? It's okay, I can help you pursue him. I'm really good at chasing boys. Hey, don't cry..."
Chen Qianqing looked down at the girl anxiously embracing him, and whispered, "I ruined everything."
Yuan Zhitao was even more terrified.
When Lu Zhengfei walked back with an ice cream cone in his left hand and popcorn in his right hand, the scene he saw was Yuan Zhitao hugging Chen Qianqing.
Chen Qianqing, with his head lowered, had tears in his eyes and a sad and desperate expression, as if he had discovered a truth that he couldn't accept.
The girl named Yuan Zhitao, who was held by Chen Qianqing, was at a loss, patting his back to comfort him.
Lu Zhengfei's originally intense smile faded away. In front of him, Chen Qianqing always wore a heavy armor, but it was so easy to expose his weakness in the presence of someone else.
Lu Zhengfei wanted to go over and greet them with a smile, but he couldn't. He wanted to directly pull Chen Qianqing out of Yuan Zhitao's embrace, but he ultimately held back. He simply threw the popcorn he bought for Chen Qianqing into the trash can and lit a cigarette on the spot.
The ice cream cone he bought started to melt. After finishing his cigarette, Lu Zhengfei turned around and walked towards Chen Qianqing and Yuan Zhitao. The originally tender expression on his face turned into a fake smile, and his eyes were filled with anger towards Chen Qianqing and jealousy towards Yuan Zhitao.
After Chen Qianqing calmed down, he turned his head and saw Lu Zhengfei standing there with a melting ice cream cone, indicating that he had been standing there for a while.
Lu Zhengfei said, "The ice cream is melting. Do you want me to buy you a new one?"
Yuan Zhitao, who had been emotionally affected by Chen Qianqing, had red eyes now, and she felt somewhat embarrassed. She said, "It's okay, it's no trouble. Thank you."
Lu Zhengfei didn't say anything, he just handed the ice cream cone to Yuan Zhitao.
Chen Qianqing knew what Lu Zhengfei had seen, and he knew what Lu Zhengfei was probably thinking. However, he suddenly seemed to have lost the ability to explain himself. He just wanted to sit quietly alone.
Yuan Zhitao ate the ice cream, while Lu Zhengfei sat next to Chen Qianqing without saying a word.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowd, filled with screams, the atmosphere among the three of them was incredibly quiet, as if they were separated from the rest of the world.
Finally, Yuan Zhitao couldn't stand the atmosphere any longer and suggested, "Shall we go play other games, Qianqing?"
Chen Qianqing was lost in thought and heard Yuan Zhitao's suggestion. He nodded mechanically.
However, Lu Zhengfei didn't plan to let Chen Qianqing continue indulging in playing. He sat in his chair, expressionless, and said, "Let's go back early today."
When Lu Zhengfei is kind to people, he appears to be a gentleman. But if he gets angry, there are very few who would dare to meet his gaze. He slightly raised his chin and coldly said, "Qianqing, say goodbye to your classmates."
Yuan Zhitao wanted to refute Lu Zhengfei's words, but faced with his indifferent gaze, her words kept swirling in her mouth and couldn't be spoken. In the end, she could only mutter softly, "Qianqing, don't you want to play anymore?"
If it was the old Chen Qianqing, he would probably be afraid of Lu Zhengfei because he didn't want to expose his relationship with him in front of others. But now, Chen Qianqing was no longer afraid. He smiled lightly and met Lu Zhengfei's cold gaze, saying, "Why not play?"
Lu Zhengfei's breath hitched. He didn't expect Chen Qianqing to dare to say that.
The biggest mistake of the old Chen Qianqing was that he thought Lu Zhengfei would actually hurt him. But now, Chen Qianqing was very clear that the enraged and jealous Lu Zhengfei in front of him was just a pitiful creature. As long as Chen Qianqing didn't run away, he could tolerate anything. Those threatening words he said were nothing but hot air.
Chen Qianqing stood up and said to Yuan Zhitao, "Let's go, let's play."
Lu Zhengfei was truly angry. He grabbed Chen Qianqing and said, "Are you sure?"
Chen Qianqing looked at Lu Zhengfei with a half-smile, filled with pity in his eyes. "Are you coming with us to play, or are you going to wait here?"
Lu Zhengfei stared at him but didn't say anything.
Yuan Zhitao cautiously suggested, "Or... Qianqing, maybe you should go back for today?" She felt that the person named Lu Zhengfei in front of her was not someone to be trifled with. Even being stared at by him sent a chill down her spine.
Chen Qianqing patted Yuan Zhitao's head and said, "We came out to play today. If we go back now, let's see what my mom will say."
Yuan Zhitao nodded and didn't say anything more. She sensed that there was something between Lu Zhengfei and Chen Qianqing, but she didn't know what their exact relationship was.
Chen Qianqing turned to Lu Zhengfei and said, "I want to eat popcorn."
Lu Zhengfei snorted coldly.
Chen Qianqing continued, "A mix of strawberry and taro flavors."
Lu Zhengfei turned his head away.
Chen Qianqing said, "Yuan Zhitao and I will wait for you at the Ferris wheel. Hurry up."
Only then did Lu Zhengfei say, "But I thought you didn't like sweet things!"
Chen Qianqing smiled brightly, "I didn't like them before, but now I do. Is that not allowed?"
This smile actually dissipated half of Lu Zhengfei's anger. He grunted and, to Yuan Zhitao's surprised gaze, actually went to buy popcorn for Chen Qianqing.
Yuan Zhitao asked, "...Qianqing, is he really your boyfriend?"
Chen Qianqing replied coldly, "No, he's my enemy."