The next evening, Chen Qianqing went to the party with Lu Zhengfei as planned.
It was raining lightly that day, and Chen Qianqing dozed off in the car until they arrived at their destination and was awakened by Lu Zhengfei.
"Qianqing, wake up, we're here," Lu Zhengfei said.
Chen Qianqing opened his eyes, yawned, and lazily got out of the car with Lu Zhengfei.
Since it was a private gathering, it was held at someone's private villa. Lu Zhengfei seemed to be quite familiar with the people there. After exchanging greetings with the doorman, he led Chen Qianqing inside.
"Lu Zhengfei, you finally made it," as soon as Lu Zhengfei entered, all eyes were on him, accompanied by mocking whispers, "Have you been so indulged in your love affair that you almost forgot about your friends? Today, you finally brought your little cutie with you?"
The "little cutie" naturally referred to Chen Qianqing.
Lu Zhengfei's friends all thought he was just playing around, not believing that he would actually spend his life with another man. Hence, their words carried a hint of disdain. Although it didn't matter to the current Chen Qianqing, it was a form of insult to his former self.
It was not easy to hold one's head high when everyone thought of you as a plaything.
Upon hearing the teasing remarks, Lu Zhengfei frowned and said, "If you guys keep talking, I'll leave."
Everyone burst into laughter, but they didn't continue with their remarks. There was no need to provoke Lu Zhengfei over some casual comments.
"Lu Zhengfei, how have you been recently?" Among the crowd, Xu Shaoren, the doctor who once consulted Chen Qianqing for his psychological issues, greeted Lu Zhengfei.
Lu Zhengfei knew exactly what Xu Shaoren was getting at. He glared at him and replied, "Thanks to you, I'm doing fine."
Xu Shaoren burst into laughter again. He and Lu Zhengfei were good friends and had been for many years. Otherwise, Lu Zhengfei wouldn't have asked him about Chen Qianqing's sensitive problem. Seeing Lu Zhengfei's gloomy expression, he guessed that Lu Zhengfei hadn't found a solution to his problem yet.
Compared to Lu Zhengfei, Xu Shaoren was undoubtedly more emotionally intelligent, almost reaching the level of a love guru. He glanced at Chen Qianqing, who was sitting beside him expressionlessly and eating fruit, and whispered to Lu Zhengfei, "How about trying those pills that enhance performance?"
Lu Zhengfei hadn't thought about this at all, and his initial reaction was anger. But after a moment of thought, he became hesitant, "Aren't those pills harmful to the body?"
"What harm can they cause?" Xu Shaoren looked at Lu Zhengfei with a smirk, "It's not like you'll be using them long-term. Just occasionally for some boost... By the way, have you figured out the question I asked you before?"
When Lu Zhengfei inquired about Chen Qianqing's issue, he asked a question—whether Chen Qianqing couldn't get it up only for him or for others as well.
Lu Zhengfei had also wondered about it, but he was also afraid to find out the answer. Xu Shaoren said, "Isn't today a great opportunity? Let me help you find out..."
Lu Zhengfei glared at him and said, "Get lost." He knew Xu Shaoren all too well. He knew that with Xu Shaoren's preferences for both men and women, this suggestion probably meant he was interested in Chen Qianqing.
Xu Shaoren chuckled and said nothing. He was already in his thirties and had long surpassed the age of believing in love. Seeing Lu Zhengfei's expression, he couldn't help but sneer inside... Seriously? People like them could never be serious about anything.
Chen Qianqing had been sitting at the table playing with his phone and occasionally eating fruit, not paying attention to what Lu Zhengfei and Xu Shaoren were talking about.
In fact, he didn't care much. Whatever Lu Zhengfei and Xu Shaoren talked about, he probably had discussed it with Xu Shaoren before—an idle chat and an exchange of information, that's all.
Although everyone was curious about him, they didn't want to provoke him. Lu Zhengfei had a fiery temper, and if he provoked his little lover, who knows what would happen. It was a pity that despite so many men and women in their circle who were interested in Lu Zhengfei, not a single one had managed to win him over.
Chen Qianqing knew that no one dared to provoke Lu Zhengfei when he was around, so he appeared unusually relaxed, looking as if he was about to fall asleep.
Xu Shaoren invited Lu Zhengfei to play snooker, but Lu Zhengfei refused after seeing Chen Qianqing, who was dozing off.
Xu Shaoren smirked and said, "Lu Zhengfei... You're not serious, are you?"
Lu Zhengfei knew that Xu Shaoren didn't believe him. After a moment of silence, he said, "I plan to come out to my family during the Spring Festival."
Xu Shaoren was stunned. "Are you crazy?"
Lu Zhengfei said, "I want to give him a proper status... I don't want him to be bullied."
Xu Shaoren could hardly believe his eyes. He looked at Lu Zhengfei, who had a serious expression on his face, and said, "Lu Zhengfei... Are you really in love with him, or do you want to kill him?"
In his previous life, Lu Zhengfei didn't have the chance to talk to Xu Shaoren about this because Chen Qianqing was still able to resist. So Lu Zhengfei had no need to consult his friend about this issue. But in this life, due to a twist of fate, Lu Zhengfei found himself telling Xu Shaoren about his thoughts.
Lu Zhengfei said, "What do you mean, Xu Shaoren? If I didn't like him, why would I come out to my family?"
Xu Shaoren looked at Lu Zhengfei helplessly and said, "Lu Zhengfei... You're really serious."
Lu Zhengfei furrowed his brows and said, "I know there will be pressure when coming out, but I will protect him."
So naive, this was too naive. Xu Shaoren couldn't understand. Lu Zhengfei was usually such a shrewd person, but he was being foolish in this matter. Chen Qianqing was clearly just an ordinary student, and after Lu Zhengfei came out, he would face pressure from his whole family. How could he protect Chen Qianqing then?
Xu Shaoren sighed. "Lu Zhengfei, is the IQ of people in love negative?"
Lu Zhengfei asked, "What do you mean?"
Xu Shaoren patted Lu Zhengfei's shoulder and said, "Don't rush to tell your family. Try talking to your cousin first and see how he will deal with you and Chen Qianqing."
When Xu Shaoren said this, Lu Zhengfei immediately remembered the incident with Ruan Wenhong deliberately leaving a lip print on his collar.
"If I were your family, if you dare to come out to me, do you really think I can't find a way to deal with Chen Qianqing? Lu Zhengfei... Think carefully before doing this."
Lu Zhengfei fell silent and appeared to be considering it.
Xu Shaoren said, "Moreover, look at the people around you. How many of them see Chen Qianqing in a positive light? Even if they do, what can you do to protect him? I have also liked men before, but I knew it was just a fling."
Finally, Lu Zhengfei fell silent.
Xu Shaoren said, "And to be honest, he can't even get hard for you. Doesn't that tell you that he only has emotional trauma and no other feelings for you?"
Lu Zhengfei said, "But he hasn't argued with me recently, and his attitude has improved a lot... Xu Shaoren, isn't this a sign of softening?"
Xu Shaoren said, "No, he just became smarter."
Lu Zhengfei's face turned extremely ugly, and he said, "Is it that difficult to like me?"
After thinking for a moment, Xu Shaoren sincerely said, "If it's a straight guy, it can be quite difficult to like you."
Just as the two were talking, Chen Qianqing encountered the first person to strike up a conversation with him since he entered.
"You're Chen Qianqing, right?" The person looked very young, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with a delicate appearance and a sweet smile. "Hello, I'm Tan Yuqiao."
Chen Qianqing temporarily put down his phone and looked up at him. "Is there something?"
Tan Yuqiao grinned and said, "You must be bored... I'm here with my friend too."
Chen Qianqing glanced at Tan Yuqiao, vaguely recognizing him as a celebrity sponsored by Sun Qi. He casually responded, "Hmm."
Xu Shaoren said, "No, he has just become smarter."
Lu Zhengfei's face turned extremely ugly, and he said, "Is it that difficult to like me?"
After thinking for a moment, Xu Shaoren sincerely said, "If it's a straight guy, it can be quite difficult to like you."
Just as the two were talking, Chen Qianqing encountered the first person to strike up a conversation with him since he entered.
"You're Chen Qianqing, right?" The person looked very young, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with a delicate appearance and a sweet smile. "Hello, I'm Tan Yuqiao."
Chen Qianqing temporarily put down his phone and looked up at him. "Is there something?"
Tan Yuqiao grinned and said, "You must be bored... I'm here with my friend too."
Chen Qianqing glanced at Tan Yuqiao, vaguely recognizing him as a celebrity sponsored by Sun Qi. He casually responded, "Hmm."
Tan Yu Qiao said, "You're so cold... Can I have your phone number? I'll come find you in the future."
Chen Qian Qing asked, "Are you always this familiar with strangers?"
Upon hearing this, Tan Yu Qiao didn't get angry and just smiled, "I'm only familiar with people who look good."
"Who is that person?" Lu Zheng Fei noticed someone talking to Chen Qian Qing and asked Xu Shao Ren.
Xu Shao Ren glanced in Chen Qian Qing's direction and replied, "Seems like it's a little toy brought by Sun Bai Qi... Why?"
"No reason." Lu Zheng Fei withdrew his gaze and said, "Just worried that he'll feel uncomfortable alone."
Xu Shao Ren exclaimed, "Young Master Lu, I've never seen you being so considerate before."
Lu Zheng Fei said, "Because you're too ugly."
Xu Shao Ren: "......."