Chapter 46

“I don’t want to go.” Xia Xiqing bluntly refused Xia Xiuze, who was begging him on the phone.

Xia Xiuze had been bombarding his WeChat with messages since he was still in Shanghai, each one with similar content, begging him to come back and celebrate his birthday with him.

“Who else is coming to this dinner besides you?”

Xia Xiuze’s hesitant voice came through the headphones. Xia Xiqing walked toward the elevator. “You know they’re going, yet you still insist on making me come. Aren’t you just looking for trouble?”

As the elevator ascended, Xia Xiuze’s voice grew louder, alternating between whining and tantrums, causing Xia Xiqing’s brows to furrow.

“It’s just a birthday. We can just celebrate it alone.” The golden elevator doors slowly opened. “Just the two of us, or you can bring your classmates along. I’ll cover the cost no matter how many people there are…”

Before he could finish speaking, Xia Xiqing, who had just stepped out of the elevator, was pushed back inside.

“Damn it…” Realizing what had happened, he saw that the person pressing him against the elevator wall was Zhou Ziheng.

Xia Xiuze was screaming nonstop on the other side, like a little chicken that had been severely startled.

[Brother, what’s wrong? Brother! Brother!]

It was too loud. Xia Xiqing took off one earbud, reached out, and gently rubbed Zhou Ziheng’s chin with his index finger, silently forming the words with his mouth.

[What’s the matter?]

Xia Xiqing asked this solely because of Zhou Ziheng’s outfit. He wore black-rimmed glasses, a dark gray casual tracksuit, a hood that completely covered his face, and a black mask. It was unclear whether he was going to class or work. In any case, his casual wear was student-style, and most male students on campus dressed similarly.

Fashion depends on one’s appearance.

He leaned close to Xia Xiqing’s ear, which wasn’t wearing headphones, and deliberately lowered his voice. The youthful scent of perfume immediately filled Xia Xiqing’s nostrils.

“Can I kiss you?”

If he had said, “I want to kiss you,” or “I want to kiss you,” Xia Xiqing would have pounced on him without hesitation, but this guy actually used a request, his tone like a child begging for a gift on Christmas Eve, impossible to refuse.

Xia Xiuze was still anxiously asking questions on the other end, making Xia Xiqing’s heart race.

The child who didn’t wait for permission decided to take the gift himself. Zhou Ziheng reached out and ruffled Xia Xiqing’s hair, then pressed a kiss on his lips through the mask. The only part of his face visible was his eyes, curved into two crescent moons, brimming with the joy of having gotten his way.

Such a pure-hearted approach was actually Xia Xiqing’s weakness as an experienced player.

Zhou Ziheng picked up the earphone that Xia Xiqing had taken off, held the small microphone close to his mouth, and spoke with a smile in his voice.

“Happy birthday, Xiao Ze.”

The voice on the other end fell silent, stuttering. Xia Xiqing took the earpiece from Zhou Ziheng’s hand. “Who else could it be? Your older brother, Ziheng.”

Although it was a teasing tone, the moment those four words came out, Zhou Ziheng couldn’t help but feel happy, his lips curling upward wildly beneath his mask. When he was happy, he wanted others to be happy too.

“Wait a moment.” Zhou Ziheng reached into his coat pockets with both hands, and there was a rustling sound. Xia Xiqing was puzzled, but then Zhou Ziheng pulled out a handful of candies and stuffed them into Xia Xiqing’s hand.

“What’s this for?”

“Here, have some candy.” Zhou Ziheng’s tone was cheerful, even though it was muffled by his mask.

He always carried some candy with him when he worked, so he could replenish his energy when he didn’t have time to eat. However, he felt that he was already full of energy today and didn’t need the candy.

“Childish.” Xia Xiqing looked at his smiling eyes, snorted, stuffed the candy into his pocket, and turned away with a cold expression. Just as he reached the door, he took out a piece, tore open the wrapper, and popped it into his mouth.

Orange-flavored milk candy, sweet and delicious. Just like Zhou Ziheng himself.

Xia Xiuze’s call was still connected, and he was pleading on the other end, his voice growing increasingly pitiful, almost on the verge of tears. Xia Xiqing walked to the end of the living room and swiftly opened all the curtains. The sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, enveloping him like sweet syrup embracing the orange segments in a can.

The weather was gradually getting hotter, and it was about to be Xia Xiqing’s most hated season. But for some reason, he became abnormal.

For a moment, he really wanted to try spending the summer with Zhou Ziheng.

“Okay. Let’s have a meal together.” Xia Xiqing was so soft-hearted that he agreed. Indeed, sweets can affect a person’s mood. “Don’t cry, I’m warning you.”

Xia Xiqing had long wanted to hold his own art exhibition in China, but lately, the things he drew didn’t feel right. The疯狂阴郁的colors had softened, becoming soft and sticky, and the brushstrokes had lost their characteristic sharpness, reminding one of melted glass shards. This made him feel uneasy. Change always made him feel uneasy.

He remembered the magazine he had shot with Zhou Ziheng last time. It seemed to have already been released. He thought about ordering a copy, but when he went on Weibo, he found that the magazine’s official Weibo account had already posted a celebratory post about breaking the pre-sale record. It sold 100,000 copies in 1 second and 150,000 copies in 6 seconds.

It was terrifying… Xia Xiqing casually clicked on the comments, which were all filled with celebrations from self-study girls.

Recently, a very sad incident occurred in a middle school in a small southern city, where a boy with gender dysphoria was bullied and eventually chose to commit suicide. The controversy surrounding this incident refuses to die down. Some are discussing equality for minorities, while others are condemning the perpetrators of school violence.

For some reason, the video from the magazine interview where Zhou Ziheng questioned the concept of “normalcy” has resurfaced on marketing blogs, sparking a new round of heated discussions among netizens, especially within the LGBT community.

[everything21: I’m not a Zhou fan, but his words really shook me. It feels like there are so few celebrities with such strong opinions nowadays. Many can’t even read properly and show their ignorance the moment they open their mouths. Zhou Ziheng truly lives up to his reputation as a top student at P University. I suddenly want to become a fan.]

[I don’t eat watermelon, I eat you: Zhou Ziheng’s questions are so well-posed that I couldn’t think of an answer right away. What exactly is normal and what isn’t? No one has the right to define it, let alone use the excuse of “you’re not normal” to punish others.]

[Hengheng Two Meters Five: Zhou Ziheng is a rare celebrity who is willing to think about social and humanistic issues. Although he is young, he lives more deeply than many people. He could easily rely on his good looks to star in idol dramas, but he insists on making the transmission of beliefs his mission as an actor. This kind of young man is truly a treasure.]

[Who says I’m a fool: When I heard about the color blindness paradox, I knew that the person sitting here was a king.]

[Xi Xi Fu Xi Xi: To be honest, I bet a lot of celebrities don’t even know what a paradox is…]

[Wennie Xi: The last sentence is so touching. We are born to be ourselves.]

[3443122: There are so many stereotypes in this world. Boys who dress up a little get called sissies, and those with long hair have to worry about what others think. Though I’m not a fan of those young heartthrobs, some people’s insults are just too harsh. Their styles are part of their jobs—why judge someone based on their appearance? Compared to that, Zhou Ziheng really deserves respect.]

[Zi Xi is getting married today: Zhou Ziheng has always had very sound values. I heard from a friend at P University that he took a philosophy elective in his first year, and the topic of his final presentation was “What is a good moral system?” I remember there was a video recorded by a classmate on Bilibili. I highly recommend it to everyone. When he gave his presentation, he was truly charismatic.]

What is a good moral system…

Xia Xiqing suddenly became interested and wanted to see what Zhou Ziheng was like back then. He opened his computer, searched for the keywords, and finally found this video from two years ago. The person who filmed it was probably a classmate sitting in the first or second row, and the upward angle made Zhou Ziheng’s legs look excessively long. The screen was filled with comments about his amazingly long legs.

Zhou Ziheng’s presentation lasted only forty minutes, delivered entirely in English without notes, with a simple PowerPoint presentation that strictly adhered to the Occam’s Razor principle of a typical science and engineering major. He wore a slightly formal white shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his forearms, his hair a bit shorter than it is now. Standing under the large projection screen, he occasionally paced with his long legs. When answering questions from the audience, his head would instinctively tilt slightly to the left, with a faint smile on his face. Even the poor video quality couldn’t hide his good looks.

He understood what the netizen meant—he was truly charismatic. But who would have thought that the man discussing [universal moral rationality and moral autonomy] on stage had just moments ago childishly shoved a handful of candy into his hand?

Zhou Ziheng’s charm lies in the blend of two completely contrasting qualities: youthful innocence and mature masculinity. The only common thread is gentleness.

Childish gentleness, or steady gentleness.

Unable to resist, he drew another picture of him. In the upper right corner was a glowing projection screen, and in the center of the picture, he was leaning on the podium with one hand, smiling slightly. Xia Xiqing simply added some watercolor and posted the picture on Weibo. His Weibo quickly exploded, surrounded by a large group of fans.

[My idol is the entertainment industry’s younger-than-me dominant type: Holy crap, the goddess is drawing live!]

[I want some sugar: @Zhou Ziheng invites you to answer the question “What’s it like to date an artist?” on Zhihu.]

[Hengheng is the best: Is this the scene from Zhou Ziheng’s presentation? I was just watching it! The painting is so beautiful! 5555]

[Today I’m studying too: What are you calling her? This is Zhou’s wife.]

[Studying girl charging ahead: Hahaha, Zhou’s wife.]

[Maybe you’re doing self-study? Hahahaha, Mrs. Zhou is amazing!]

The tone of the comments was getting more and more off-topic, and Xia Xiqing was getting annoyed.

These young girls are so naive, deciding who’s the top and who’s the bottom based solely on height and appearance. As the sun set, Xia Xiuze’s urgent messages kept coming in one after another. Xia Xiqing knew he couldn’t avoid it, so he changed into a dark blue shirt, put the latest AR game console from Xia Zhixu Company that he had already bought for him in the trunk, and drove to the location he shared on WeChat.

The restaurant was a private dining establishment specializing in Huaiyang cuisine. Though somewhat remote, its location offered an unparalleled environment in the bustling capital. Upon entering, there was a courtyard with flowing streams and a traditional, elegant ambiance. They had visited once before for Xu Qichen’s birthday.

Before getting out of the car, Xia Xiqing lit a cigarette inside. After all, it was his younger brother’s birthday, and he didn’t want to make a scene.

Who knew that as soon as he parked the car and took a few steps toward the entrance, he spotted Xia Xiuze. His school uniform jacket was tied around his waist, and he waved his hands and shouted “Brother!” from a distance. Seeing his excitement, Xia Xiqing let go of some of his resentment and walked over, tossing the gift in his hand into Xia Xiuze’s arms.

“Take it, it’s the latest model.”

Xia Xiuze was overjoyed, “I asked Xia Zhixu for it before, but he wouldn’t give it to me.”

“You won’t call him brother, what’s with all this Xia Zhixu Xia Zhixu stuff?” Xia Xiqing smiled and put out his cigarette. “Who are you calling that?”

“But that’s what you always call him, you even call him your nephew.” Xia Xiuze’s voice trailed off, and sure enough, he was smacked on the head by his older brother.

“I’m me, and you’re you. How can we be the same?”

The private room they had reserved was the most expensive one in the entire hotel, called “Shuiyunjian.” It was separated from the other banquet halls by a small bamboo grove. Shuiyunjian had only two wings, east and west, and the Xia family had reserved the east wing.

Upon opening the private room door, Xia Xiqing saw Xia Yunkai seated at the head of the table. He didn’t seem to have changed much—just a bit older and thinner. The last time they had seen each other was two years ago during Christmas when Xia Yunkai returned to China, also at a high-end hotel where they happened to meet by chance, without exchanging a single word.

“You’re here. Sit down,” Xia Yunkai said with a smile on his face, as if he were a proper, loving father. However, the older he grew, the more Xia Xiqing noticed that he had become less aggressive, like an old dog defeated by time, waiting for the day when he could only cling to life. Thinking about it, Xia Xiqing found it amusing, not tragic.

After returning to the country, he didn’t even discuss it before dividing a quarter of the company’s shares to Xia Xiqing. He had become one of the major shareholders out of the blue, and Xia Xiqing had no idea what the old man was thinking. Did he really expect him to take care of him in his old age?

Xia Xiqing sat down expressionlessly, facing Yu Fangyue. She had dressed up in jewels and makeup, but no amount of jewelry or makeup could hide the vulgarity in her bones. Yu Fangyue valued her reputation, so even if she couldn’t stand Xia Xiqing, she had to put on a show. “Oh, it’s been ages since I last saw Xiqing. You came back to the country but didn’t even come home for a meal. Your father misses you so much.” He sighed, picked up the cup of tea on the table, and blew on it. “I have a friend who does plastic surgery. Should I ask him to give you a facelift?”

Yu Fangyue feared nothing more than the passage of time and the inevitable signs of aging. Xia Xiqing’s words cut deep, leaving her both angry and speechless, unable to find the words to rebuke him.

Xia Xiqing had a lot more harsh words for her, but in front of Xia Xiuze, he didn’t bother to say them. At the dinner table, only Xia Xiuze kept talking, as if he feared that if he didn’t speak, the others would start arguing.

“Xiqing, when you have some free time, you should come to the company.” Xia Yunkai picked up a pair of chopsticks and placed some food in her bowl.

Xia Xiqing looked at the food in his bowl and lost his appetite. He couldn’t stand it when people acted pretentious toward her.

“Go to the company? What, do you think you won’t live to see your younger son inherit the family business?”

The words were harsh, and Yu Fangyue was about to speak when Xia Yunkai reached out to stop her. He didn’t seem angry, just said calmly, “With such a large family and business, you can’t rely on your younger brother alone in the future.” He paused, “I know your mother gave you the art museum and gallery she owned, so you won’t have to worry about your future…”

“Why are you bringing her up?” Yu Fangyue finally couldn’t help but snap back, her voice filled with resentment.

“Is this the time for an outsider like you to speak?” Xia Xiqing tapped the edge of the colored porcelain bowl lightly with his finger, his eyes fixed on Yu Fangyue, but his instructions were directed at Xia Xiuze. “Xiao Ze, I’ve ordered a cake for you. Go outside and ask about it.”

Xia Xiuze nodded obediently and stood up, but then heard his mother’s sharp voice stop him, “Stop! You’re going out just because she told you to?” He froze in place until Xia Xiqing, sitting beside him, gently patted his leg, and he then walked out of the private room without hesitation.

“You! Come back here!”

Xia Xiqing feigned a sympathetic expression, “What a pity. Your son only listens to me. This family’s assets are mine, and even the son you carried for ten months is mine.”

This statement was Yu Fangyue’s greatest concern. She was so angry that she trembled, pointing at Xia Xiqing and shouting, “You’re just like your mother, a lunatic…”

Before he could finish the last word, Xia Xiqing splashed a cup of hot tea in his face, soaking his hair and leaving him looking utterly disheveled.

“I’ve been wanting to offer you this cup of tea for a long time. It’s always inconvenient with Xia Xiuze around.” Xia Xiqing played with the teacup in his hand, speaking in a gentle and slow tone, “I gave him face, but that doesn’t mean I treat you like a human being.”

“Forget it, Xiqing.” Xia Yunkai tried to mediate between them, but it only made Xia Xiqing laugh.

Xia Xiqing looked up at him, the corners of his mouth curving upward. “What are you playing at, being the good father? When you beat me into the hospital, why didn’t you say ‘never mind’ and spare my life?”

“It was the father’s fault back then. I was young and headstrong, always…”

“Don’t make excuses.” Xia Xiqing looked down at his fingers, which were stained with red paint, like blood spots, “A scumbag is a scumbag, even when he’s old.”

After saying that, he looked up and smiled, “I’m talking about myself, don’t take it to heart.”

Xia Xiuze returned, carrying a cake. Seeing Xia Xiqing still in the private room, he smiled sweetly and adorably, “Brother, you didn’t leave?”

“I didn’t leave. I was waiting for you.” After Xia Xiuze sat down, Xia Xiqing reached out and patted his shoulder. “You’re another year older. Don’t act like a child anymore.”

“Then I’m a child compared to you.” Xia Xiuze happily lit the candles, not even noticing the water stains on his mother’s face that she couldn’t wipe off. Seeing Xia Xiuze so happy, Xia Xiqing suddenly felt a pang of sadness. In this dysfunctional family, only Xia Xiuze was pure and kind-hearted, which was ironic in itself.

“I’m going out for a smoke.”

“Brother…”

“I’ll be back soon. Save me a piece of cake.” Xia Xiqing pulled open the door and stepped out. At the same time, someone else seemed to be coming out of another private room, and they made eye contact. The man was dressed in designer clothes, looked decent enough, but had an overly slick demeanor, walking with the air of a spoiled young master.

The other person stared at him for a moment. In the past, Xia Xiqing would have felt puzzled, but now that the show had aired, he was often stared at when walking on the street and had long since gotten used to it.

Walking to the other end of the bamboo grove, Xia Xiqing took out a cigarette, but the night wind had picked up, and it took him a while to light it, making him even more irritable.

The leaves of the bamboo grove swayed in the wind, and through the gaps, Xia Xiqing seemed to see a familiar figure standing by the Zhu Ge Long Corridor. The aura was particularly reminiscent of Xu Qichen.

He couldn’t help but turn his head to look, and it was indeed Xu Qichen, standing by the railing of the corridor.

“Qichen.”

Xu Qichen turned his head and smiled the moment he saw Xia Xiqing. “Hey, what are you doing here? What a coincidence.”

Seeing Xu Qichen was always a joyful occasion. Xia Xiqing walked over and stood outside the corridor, leaning his elbows on the vermilion railing. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, it’s just a social gathering. It just ended.”

“Waiting for someone?” Xia Xiqing looked up at Xu Qichen. “Didn’t Xia Zhixu come to pick you up?”

Xu Qichen felt a bit embarrassed. “I told him not to come, but he insisted on coming. He should be here soon.”

“Hmm…” Xia Xiqing poked Xu Qichen’s waist. “Such a clingy guy.”

Xu Qichen, afraid of being tickled, grabbed his hand and dodged, laughing like a child. The more he did this, the more Xia Xiqing wanted to tease him. “Don’t dodge me.”

“What are you two doing?”

The hood covered most of Zhou Ziheng’s face, making his expression unclear. Xia Xiqing was about to explain, but Xu Qichen beat him to it, “You two are so familiar with each other, there’s no need for me to introduce you.”

“Who’s familiar with him?” Xia Xiqing leaned against the railing with a slacker attitude, but quickly picked up on the hidden meaning in Xu Qichen’s words. “Wait, you’re introducing us? So you were having dinner with him just now?”

“Yeah,” Xu Qichen smiled. “We were talking about the script.”

“Are you going to have him act in the novel you wrote again?” Xia Xiqing noticed a loose thread on Xu Qichen’s sleeve and reached out to pull it, intending to cut it with a lighter.

“No, this time it’s an original script.”

Zhou Ziheng cleared his throat, and Xu Qichen smiled politely, “Well, someone is waiting for me. I have to go. You two continue chatting.”

“Ah…” Xia Xiqing couldn’t pull him back in time, and Xu Qichen left without looking back. He frowned and turned his head to look at Zhou Ziheng, “Are you trying to ruin the mood? I’ve only just started talking.”

Zhou Ziheng leaned against the railing and reached out to take the limited edition lighter from Xia Xiqing’s hand. “I didn’t realize you were so thoughtful.”

Xia Xiqing knew he was referring to the thread he had just pulled for Xu Qichen. He found it amusing. “The thread came loose, so I just burned it off.”

“Flirt with him?” Zhou Ziheng raised an eyebrow.

Xia Xiqing pinched Zhou Ziheng’s chin. “They say you follow your idol’s lead, but I feel like your mouth is following mine more and more.”

Zhou Ziheng grabbed his wrist seriously. “Kissing is contagious.”

“Get lost.” Just saying it wasn’t enough. You couldn’t just kiss anyone outside. Xia Xiqing found it pointless, let go of his chin, and jumped over the railing.

Fearing he might fall, Zhou Ziheng reached out to steady his waist, but before he could touch him, Xia Xiqing swiftly grabbed his wrist, a smile on his face, “Don’t touch me.” Zhou Ziheng suddenly remembered that there was a scar on his waist, and he hadn’t realized his wound had already been exposed.

“Where are we going next?” Xia Xiqing asked.

“Home.”

Xia Xiqing hooked his ankle with his foot, “Take me with you, handsome.”

Zhou Ziheng reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “Aren’t you going back to celebrate your brother’s birthday?”

Xia Xiqing gently stepped on Zhou Ziheng’s sneakers and lowered his eyes. “I’ve wanted to escape for a long time. It’s disgusting.”

Zhou Ziheng grabbed his wrist, and Xia Xiqing looked up at him. The cold moonlight slipped past the edge of his hat and fell into his deep, intense eyes, like a moon shadow falling into the lake, and he was dragged forward like this.

“Where are we going?”

“Eloping.”

Author’s Note: Little Brother: I want to leave some cake for my brother.

Chu Chu: Your brother ran off with your brother Ziheng.

Little Brother: You’re leaving.jpg

Chu Chu: The Jiangnan Leather Factory has closed down, and Zhou Ziheng has run off with your brother! [Runs away quickly]

Younger Brother: Wailing and crying.jpg

These two are sweeter than a couple in love, it’s terrifying.