Chapter 19

Xu Jiahao raised his wrist to check the time. "He recently entered an American pool tournament too. The broadcast should be starting soon—I'll switch the channel."

Chi Ning gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment. When he turned around, the snooker match on TV had disappeared, replaced by Qin Heng's face.

He was wearing a three-piece suit. After entering the venue, he took off his jacket, revealing the multicolored

vest

and shirt underneath.

It had been nearly two months since they had last met.

Qin Heng was gradually beginning to resemble his past-life self. When his eyes lowered, his expression was unreadable; his face alone was intimidating enough.

He had grown taller, his frame fully filling out. He looked brimming with strength, his shoulders noticeably broader.

Chi Ning tipped his head back. "A broadcast? Then the results must already be out, right?"

Mo Yuanzhou said, "Mm."

He was about to say something else when he turned and saw Qin Heng lifting the curtain and walking in. He came in looking travel-worn, first nodding at Xu Jiahao. Then his gaze swept the room before fixing on Chi Ning's profile.

Mo Yuanzhou raised a brow and smilingly tested Chi Ning. "You haven't seen each other in so long, yet all you care about is what place Qin Heng got?"

Chi Ning caught the implication. Mo Yuanzhou was asking whether he missed Qin Heng.

He did not answer directly, only vaguely saying, "The competition venue isn't far from here. Counting the time, he should be here by now. We'll definitely see each other tonight."

So he had missed him? A smile curved Qin Heng's lips as he quietly walked behind Chi Ning.

He raised his hand, then lowered it again. In the end, he only said, "Turn around."

Chi Ning froze, then abruptly turned back. His forehead brushed against something soft. It was a little damp, and he raised a hand to wipe it.

Qin Heng's mind went blank.

Had he just kissed Chi Ning on the forehead?

Chi Ning asked, "Huh? Why is your neck red? Are you hot?"

Qin Heng said, "Ahem. I walked here too fast."

He turned and headed toward Xu Jiahao, his retreat somewhat flustered. "Dad, I'm here to collect the payment. You should rest."

As he looked at the receipts, the curiosity that had been stalled in his heart for nearly two months suddenly exploded—

Who exactly did Chi Ning like?

The vigorous feelings that had been frozen for two months seemed to have been cut open by that brief touch.

Qin Heng stared blankly at the calculator, tapping it bit by bit. He had even forgotten to take out his gold medal to show off.

The calculator said, "Resetting, resetting, reset-reset-reset-reset-resetting."

Xu Jiahao: ...

You're making it look like I didn't earn a single cent today.

Qin Heng touched his forehead again, his thoughts in complete disarray.

He thought uncertainly, I did... kiss him, right?

If the person Chi Ning liked found out, would they get jealous? Would they openly kiss Chi Ning to stake their claim? Would they be provoked into wanting to be with Chi Ning?

Chapter 19

Chi Ning was baffled.

Since Qin Heng felt hot, why didn't he take off some clothes?

As he thought about it, the corner of his lips suddenly felt itchy. He rubbed it with the back of his hand.

That soft, damp sensation made his thoughts stall.

He knew what his forehead had brushed against just now!

It was Qin Heng's lips!

Mo Yuanzhou clicked his tongue internally. His student was only sixteen! That kid Qin Heng looked decent enough, but he was actually incredibly shrewd. Who knew whether he had done that on purpose just now? If it had been intentional, how many tricks did he have up his sleeve to pull something like that off?

Could Chi Ning outplay him?

Mo Yuanzhou put down his cue. "Ningzai, I have something to do later, so I'm leaving. Help me carry my things. I'll go get the car first."

"Oh." Chi Ning could not have been more eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere. He hurriedly picked up Mo Yuanzhou's briefcase, walked him to the parking lot, and watched him leave for five whole minutes. Even after the car exhaust had vanished from sight, he still did not want to go back.

Inside the billiards hall, Qin Heng checked his watch three times in five minutes.

Why was it taking so long just to see someone off?

He frowned and said to Xu Jiahao, "I'll go take a look." Chi Ning had a soft heart. For all he knew, he had been fooled again by some pitiful little schemer.

The moment Qin Heng lifted the PVC curtain at the entrance of the billiards hall, he heard a bright, cheerful voice from nearby. "Chi Ning—"

An arm waved across the street like a flagpole.

The instant the light turned green, the arm's owner rushed over to Chi Ning.

It was Gu Zhe. He was not wearing his school uniform, having changed into an extremely punk-rock leather outfit. An electric guitar was slung over his back, and a brilliant smile lit up his face. "Chi Ning, long time no see! It's been two whole months!"

"Long time no see." Chi Ning looked at his glossy studded leather pants, hesitating before he spoke. "Did... something traumatize you?"

"No. I've always liked rock music. I'm the guitarist and lead vocalist of my university band now!"

Gu Zhe pulled out a concert ticket and handed it over. "I'm a student at the Popular Music Academy. We've been preparing for this concert for the past two months. Actually, I don't like Japanese-style school uniforms at all."

Chi Ning looked at the spray-painted concert ticket and thought of the sweet, delicate little flower who had sobbed in his arms two months ago. His expression turned dazed.

Were people in music and entertainment in 2001 really this stylistically... oh... versatile?

"I should thank you, too."

Gu Zhe looked shy and bashful, sneaking several glances at Chi Ning. "Those people really did spread rumors on the school forum. Luckily, you reminded me to check the surveillance footage. I copied it onto a USB drive and uploaded it to the forum, slapping them in the face!"

Chi Ning said, "Oh? Oh..."

Gu Zhe lowered his head. "You're so smart. If I hadn't met you, I might have had to ask my dad to help me transfer schools."

Chi Ning fell silent, feeling the concert ticket in his hand grow hot.

What was this little love-struck idiot doing?

Why did something feel off?

"You'll come to my concert, right?" Gu Zhe's eyes were full of hope.

Chi Ning sighed. "Sorry. I won't go."

Gu Zhe pressed his lips together. "Why not?"

Chi Ning handed the ticket back. "I wouldn't understand it. Going would just waste the ticket."

Gu Zhe knew that was a rejection.

He lifted a hand to rake through his hair, his eyes showing reluctance. "I know you like someone, but have you considered that the person you like might not like you back?"

Chi Ning: ?

Huh? Who did I like?

Qin Heng, who was eavesdropping: ?

Xu Jiahao, who had also come over to eavesdrop after Qin Heng failed to return for so long: ?

"How is he stirring up trouble?" Xu Jiahao commented.

Qin Heng turned to ask, "Do you know who Chi Ning likes?"

Xu Jiahao: You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?

Isn't it you? Does that even need asking?

The evening breeze was slightly cool.

Gu Zhe cleared his throat, his logic clear. "First of all, the difference in your social standing is too great."

Qin Heng's gaze abruptly darkened. He suddenly grabbed the fiddle-leaf fig placed outside the billiards hall, and the plant let out a strained creak.

Gu Zhe continued, "Second, ethically speaking, the two of you aren't suitable either."

Xu Jiahao did not understand the second point. "Are you related by blood to Young Master Chi?"

Qin Heng shook his head, loosening his grip on the fiddle-leaf fig.

"The age gap doesn't work either. He's already part of society, while you're still in high school." Gu Zhe counted off the reasons on his fingers.

Xu Jiahao looked at him sympathetically. Did this kid think Qin Heng had dropped out?

When Gu Zhe reached the third point, he delivered the final verdict. "Finally, he left just now without the slightest reluctance! You stood here seeing him off for so long, but he had no idea you couldn't bear to let him go."

Xu Jiahao: ...

Qin Heng: ...

Chi Ning understood.

Gu Zhe thought he liked Mo Yuanzhou.

This foolish kid...

Why was his IQ in such a hurry to leave?

"You misunderstood. I don't like my teacher."

Gu Zhe did not believe him. "If it's not him, then who is it? Unless you tell me the exact name, you have to come to my concert."

Chi Ning sighed, shoved the ticket back into Gu Zhe's hand, and explained with reddened ears, "We... don't match..."

Gu Zhe's ears reddened too. Clutching the concert ticket, he watched Chi Ning's retreating back as he walked toward the billiards hall.

A cute bottom was still a bottom...

He wanted to chase after him, but suddenly met a pair of eyes hidden in the darkness.

Qin Heng stood where the lights over the billiards hall entrance could not reach, like a mass of thick ink.

Gu Zhe took a frightened step back, even feeling as though he had met the gaze of a dragon lurking in an abyss.

Those eyes were pitch-black, sharp and emotionless, carrying unmistakable hostility. He instinctively looked away.

Qin Heng slowly walked over to Gu Zhe. "Is your liking really so casual?"

Gu Zhe froze.

Qin Heng sneered. "What do you think love is? Do you know what Chi Ning likes to eat? Do you know what he's doing? Do you know what kind of difficulties he's facing? Do you know what kind of help he needs?"

Gu Zhe parted his lips slightly and stubbornly resisted. "And you do?"

Qin Heng said, "Of course I do. But all you do is share yourself, prioritizing your own satisfaction. What can you give him?"

Gu Zhe said, "And you can?" It was as if he had found his confidence. "You haven't even confessed that you like him, while I, at least, dare to pursue him."

Qin Heng said softly, "Maybe you only like his face and personality. If that combination appeared in someone else, you would like someone else."

Gu Zhe fell silent. He could not refute it, because Qin Heng was right. He clenched his molars. "What about you? Do you truly like him?"

Qin Heng fell silent.

Two months ago, while eating with Chi Ning, he had noticed that something was wrong with him.

Over the past two months, he had forced himself not to think about Chi Ning. He had tried to numb himself with work and maintain the distance between them.

His background and experiences had made him profit-driven, ill-tempered, full of lies, controlling, extremely exclusionary, and fiercely protective of those and things he considered his own.

He would not be a qualified lover.

And Chi Ning was still underage—obedient and smart, sweet and honest. They were not from the same world at all. He should not indulge his feelings.

But every decision and effort had collapsed the instant he saw Chi Ning today.

Feelings like this could not be controlled at will.