Chapter 31

Facing the deep gaze of the man, Fan Xing opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He simply lowered his eyelids obediently, resembling a guilty child waiting for punishment.

The man’s hand, which had been pinching his chin, slid down to the nape of his neck and pulled him closer. He leaned in, bringing his lips close to Fan Xing’s ear, and whispered, “When you’re married, you should act like a married person. Don’t contact those important friends in front of your husband next time.”

The man’s voice was low, but when he mentioned “important friends,” his tone became noticeably heavier, tinged with a hint of displeasure.

Fan Xing couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at him. At this moment, the two were very close, and Fan Xing’s face was almost brushing against the man’s. His cheeks flushed slightly, and his mind raced with thoughts he couldn’t quite put into words. He blurted out, “So, what’s the deal with you and Senior Luo Chi?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, both of them froze.

Then, the man suddenly chuckled, seemingly in a good mood. He lightly pinched Fan Xing’s nape and raised an eyebrow as he asked, “Do you mind?”

Fan Xing immediately realized how foolish he sounded asking that question. It made him sound like he was jealous, but he wasn’t! So, upon hearing He Qingmo’s question, he hurriedly shook his head. “I don’t mind, really, I… It was just a casual question. Don’t worry about it, brother.”

The man’s lips curled into a smirk, and he seemed like he wanted to grab the earnest-looking kid in front of him and give him a good spanking. But in the end, he only said, half-smiling, “But your husband minds, so no more contact with that important friend. Understand?”

Fan Xing couldn’t understand why this man’s mood changed so quickly. Just moments ago, he had been laughing, but now he was smiling in a way that sent shivers down his spine.

However, Fan Xing didn’t think He Qingmo’s request was unreasonable. Although they would eventually divorce, at the moment of their marriage, he shouldn’t do anything that would betray He Qingmo.

In fact, he had already decided not to contact Eric anymore. To prevent himself from impulsively reaching out to him, he had even deleted Eric’s contact information. That’s why he didn’t recognize Eric’s call today.

He hadn’t expected Eric to contact him again, and the situation seemed not so good.

Fan Xing looked at He Qingmo, his clear eyes filled with caution. His voice was soft and gentle as he said, “Yes, I promise not to contact him. But, can I send him a message now or give him a call? I… I’m a bit worried.”

After saying this, Fan Xing felt apologetic and lowered his head, his voice barely audible as he added, “I’m a bit… anxious.”

Fan Xing had spoken, but he didn’t dare to look up, afraid that his insistence might anger the man. If it were before, he might not have been able to imagine what He Qingmo’s anger would look like, but witnessing how he treated Luo Chi yesterday had left him deeply uneasy.

Ultimately, Fan Xing clutched his hands together, tense, and waited for a response, which seemed to take a long time.

He nervously bit his lip and cautiously raised his head to look at He Qingmo. Their eyes met, and He Qingmo’s gaze, unwavering, seemed to hide something deep within.

Fan Xing instinctively wanted to say something, but the man suddenly reached back and took Fan Xing’s phone. He then handed it back to Fan Xing and said coolly, “Just this once, no more after this.”

Fan Xing didn’t know why this man’s emotions had shifted so quickly. Just moments ago, he had been laughing, but now he seemed to have a menacing smile.

Nevertheless, Fan Xing didn’t think He Qingmo’s request was unreasonable. Although they would eventually divorce, at the moment of their marriage, he shouldn’t do anything that would betray He Qingmo.

In fact, he had already decided not to contact Eric anymore. To prevent himself from impulsively reaching out to him, he had even deleted Eric’s contact information. That’s why he didn’t recognize Eric’s call today.

He hadn’t expected Eric to contact him again, and the situation seemed not so good.

Fan Xing looked at He Qingmo, his clear eyes filled with caution. His voice was soft and gentle as he said, “Yes, I promise not to contact him. But, can I send him a message now or give him a call? I… I’m a bit worried.”

After saying this, Fan Xing felt apologetic and lowered his head, his voice barely audible as he added, “I’m a bit… anxious.”

Fan Xing had spoken, but he didn’t dare to look up, afraid that his insistence might anger the man. If it were before, he might not have been able to imagine what He Qingmo’s anger would look like, but witnessing how he treated Luo Chi yesterday had left him deeply uneasy.

Ultimately, Fan Xing clutched his hands together, tense, and waited for a response, which seemed to take a long time.

He nervously bit his lip and cautiously raised his head to look at He Qingmo. Their eyes met, and He Qingmo’s gaze, unwavering, seemed to hide something deep within.

Fan Xing instinctively wanted to say something, but the man suddenly reached back and took Fan Xing’s phone. He then handed it back to Fan Xing and said coolly, “Just this once, no more after this.”

Fan Xing felt a rush of happiness and quickly grabbed the phone. He edited a message to Eric, which was short and simple. He asked what had happened and if Eric was sick and needed to see a doctor.

However, after composing the message, he hesitated.

Fan Xing hesitated for a while over the send button, then deleted each character of the message one by one and placed the phone back in his bag.

He Qingmo, who had been ignoring him for a while, glanced at him now. His voice was still cold and detached as he asked, “Why didn’t you send it?”

Fan Xing shook his head lightly. “Forget it. We’re both adults; you can take care of yourself without my worry. Besides…”

Fan Xing’s voice gradually trailed off, and he stopped talking, just gazing out the window.

He Qingmo turned to look at him, and finally, his tone softened. He asked quietly, “Do you hate me?”

Fan Xing looked at him in surprise. “What?”

“Do you hate me?” The man kept his eyes on the road while driving. “Because of me, you…”

“What does that have to do with my brother?” Fan Xing interrupted him, finally understanding what he was getting at.

The man glanced at him but didn’t speak.

Fan Xing was worried that he wouldn’t believe him, so he continued, “Really, I’ve never blamed anyone for this. It was my choice, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. Besides, the current situation is much better than I expected. My brother is nothing like what’s been rumored outside; he’s much better than that.”

By this time, they had arrived home, and the man parked the car in the garage but didn’t hurry to get out. Instead, he looked at Fan Xing with genuine interest. “Oh? How much better?”

“Actually,” Fan Xing was about to answer, and there were many things he could say, such as how his brother had agreed to let him attend university or how he patiently taught him how to write, and so on. However, when he faced the man’s smiling and expectant eyes, he seemed to short-circuit in his brain. He blurted out, “For example, my brother is exceptionally good-looking, the most handsome person I’ve ever seen.”

Oops!

Fan Xing wanted to bite his tongue off, especially when he saw the teasing glint in the man’s eyes upon hearing his words. His cheeks instantly turned crimson, and he wished he could find a hole to hide in.

But clearly, there was no hole for him to hide in. So he quickly said, “I’m getting off now,” and hastily opened the car door and ran out.

In the car, the man rubbed his nose and gradually let his amused smile fade away, feeling somewhat triumphant.

What important friend? First, make sure you look as good as me!

This kid has pretty good taste after all!

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