Chapter 144
As Su Bin thought carefully, he realized that Allen’s actions did have a certain logic behind them. After all, their vows stipulated that Su Bin should relinquish all decision-making power to Allen. Thus, even something as simple as making friends fell under Allen’s jurisdiction.
So, rather than questioning why Su Bin followed Allen’s decisions, it would be more pertinent to ask Allen why he felt the need to control even Su Bin’s friendships.
“What reason does your brother have for not letting you be friends with me? Does he worry that I might deceive or bully you?” William’s mood was as if a friend’s parent had banned their child from playing with him, leaving him feeling quite frustrated.
Su Bin shook his head, feeling confused himself. He recalled how he had described William to Allen: “The owner of Hua Zhi Xin, very charming, experienced, knowledgeable, and humorous. He invited me for coffee during the day, already knows about my role as ‘Su Boss,’ and even guessed that there’s someone behind ‘Su Boss,’ but I didn’t reveal your identity… He gave me a lot of advice on restaurant management and invited me to inspect a Thai restaurant…”
When Su Bin had eagerly shared this and handed over William’s business card, Allen had torn the card to pieces with a grim face and declared, “No contact.”
That reaction had felt like a bucket of cold water poured over Su Bin. Even now, he still felt chilled.
Allen’s reaction wasn’t out of jealousy, as Su Bin’s relationship with William hadn’t been ambiguous. So what was the real reason behind Allen’s suspicion? Su Bin couldn’t figure it out.
William’s visit wasn’t just about these personal questions. He had brought along some analysis and suggestions for the restaurant locations Su Bin had been considering. However, having heard Su Bin’s earlier response, he seemed a bit disheartened.
Su Bin thanked him repeatedly, feeling very apologetic. “William, thank you for all you’ve done. You’re truly a good person.”
William, receiving the “good person card,” gave a wry smile. “To me, these are just small efforts. Michael, I’m not doing this to gain anything from you. There’s a saying in Records of the Grand Historian, ‘Newly met, yet as old friends,’ which means that some people, even if they’ve known each other for a long time, feel like they’ve just met, while some people, though newly acquainted, feel like they’ve known each other forever. You feel like an old friend to me, but I didn’t expect our friendship to end like this…”
Overwhelmed by the praise, Su Bin was at a loss. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “I’ll talk to my brother again.” He still had one spot left for a friend, and if William truly felt this way, Su Bin was willing to become a genuine friend to him.
William’s eyes brightened. “Could I meet your ‘brother’ in person? He’s never met me and doesn’t know what I’m like. If we meet and talk, he might change his opinion.”
Su Bin thought this made sense and decided to discuss not only William’s situation but also Allen’s expanding “control” with him. It was inevitable that he would have to confess about his secret meetings with William.
The thought of exposing his secret so soon, after managing to keep it hidden for a while, was daunting. Su Bin felt he had already done enough to deserve William’s respect.
However, before he could admit his mistakes, something unexpected happened!
That evening, Su Bin prepared a sumptuous dinner, hoping to pamper Allen with a bath and a shoulder and leg massage before confessing, aiming to minimize any punishment.
But during dinner, Qi Xin accidentally exposed Su Bin’s secret.
It all started when Yang Chengzhe asked Qi Xin if he had been playing games recently. Qi Xin mentioned he hadn’t played in a while, and Allen casually asked if Qi Xin had been playing with Su Bin recently.
Realizing Allen’s exceptional memory, Su Bin’s heart sank. He almost forgot that Allen could remember events from even two years ago! If Qi Xin confronted him, would he have any way out?
Desperately, Su Bin tried to signal Qi Xin to cover for him, but Qi Xin, oblivious to the situation, replied, “Why do you care what I do?”
Su Bin was exasperated. “Why do I have to suffer because of you?”
His frustration was palpable.
Allen, having picked up on Su Bin’s unease, immediately sensed something was amiss. After dinner, Su Bin followed a stern-faced Allen upstairs to face the consequences.
Allen sat on a chair, his expression ominous. “Speak up. What did you do wrong?”
Su Bin’s knees felt weak, almost as if he might kneel in submission.
What was initially intended to be a voluntary confession turned into a forced revelation, and the difference in consequences was stark.
Timidly, Su Bin recounted the entire situation—from the initial meeting with William to his secret outings and his internal reflections. “Actually, I was planning to tell you today…”
“So, you met William again?” Allen’s gaze was intense, making it hard for Su Bin to read his emotions.
Su Bin replied, “I told him you didn’t approve, but he asked if he could meet you.”
Allen raised an eyebrow. “He wants to meet me?”
Su Bin nodded. “Yes, he thinks you might have a bias against him.”
Allen scoffed, “I don’t care what he thinks of me. I’m asking you: do you really want to be friends with him?”
Su Bin, who had been moved by William’s words earlier, now hesitated. After all, William’s feeling of a “deep connection” was one-sided. Su Bin saw him as a good person, but nothing more.
Allen asked, “What qualities does he have that attract you?”
Su Bin couldn’t articulate what specifically attracted him to William. He had only remembered William after learning he was the owner of Hua Zhi Xin. Although Su Bin was curious about the world and cautious about getting hurt again, he couldn’t yet pinpoint what made William stand out.
Despite his growing affection for Allen, Su Bin didn’t want to risk everything again, given his past experiences of dependence and loss.
Allen’s questions made Su Bin realize he would need to confront these issues head-on. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, and Su Bin could only hope to navigate through the storm he had inadvertently stirred up.
Su Bin hoped to expand his social circle, desiring a lively and bustling life rather than a tranquil and unchanging one. When Allen drew him close and wrapped an arm around his waist, Su Bin felt a momentary disorientation. Was Allen not angry?
Not sensing any hostility from Allen, Su Bin mustered his courage to voice his concerns: “Allen, why do you feel the need to control who I befriend? You asked me to cut off unnecessary social contacts, and I’ve taken that to heart. As for other decisions, I believe I can handle them on my own.”
Allen shook his head. “You’re too easily influenced by others. People’s actions and emotions can sway your decisions at any time. You’re like a small boat drifting in the ocean, tossed by the wind. Without someone to steer you, you’ll end up battered and bruised against the rocks.”
He frowned and placed a hand on Su Bin’s forehead, as if he could already see the wounds there.
Su Bin was deeply moved by Allen’s words, but he didn’t want to feel like a sheltered chick under Allen’s wing. He wanted to be strong, to have his own career, and one day be able to protect Allen or even surpass him in excellence.
Thinking this way, what he said was, “But I feel like this is not freedom.”
Allen grasped Su Bin’s chin, speaking in a low, intense voice, “Everything about you belongs to me. There was never any real freedom.”
Su Bin was caught off guard. “But that wasn’t how it was in the beginning.”
Allen replied, “In the beginning?”
Su Bin explained, “When we first came from D City to M City, when we were about to open the restaurant, I felt like you weren’t as strict with me.”
Allen smirked. “I remember saying that making friends was a privilege I gave you.”
Su Bin was taken aback. “Have you revoked that privilege now? Did I do something wrong?”
Allen answered, “No, you’ve been doing well up until now. I haven’t restricted your interactions with your old friends, but I have the right to decide whether you can make new friends. The ‘freedom’ you experienced at the beginning was merely a transitional period I granted you. Now, we’re in the normal phase of our relationship, and I might even be more controlling… Are you struggling to accept this now?”
Su Bin instinctively shook his head, fearing that admitting he couldn’t accept it would make Allen more angry. But he had to admit, he was frightened by Allen’s words.
Because of his deception, there was still a reckoning to be faced with Allen. However, Allen wasn’t in a rush; he didn’t impose any further punishment that night and even agreed to William’s request for a meeting.
In the days that followed, Allen was busy and instructed Su Bin to arrange a weekend meeting with William at a bar Su Bin had never heard of before.
Su Bin felt weighed down. The longer Allen’s anger was suppressed, the more uneasy he became. He also felt a sense of impending trouble for William, as if a storm was brewing on the horizon.
