Chapter 86

Chapter 86

"086"

Xiao Lancui returned to the car, and before long, Xiao Jingli's men finally showed up.

Xiao Lancui took out his glasses case, put on his glasses, and got out of the car.

The second he stepped out, a voice called out to him, "Xiao Lancui!"

Xiao Lancui ignored it and walked toward the port. Rapid footsteps approached from behind—Fu Chen jogged over, a little out of breath as he spoke, "Long time no see!"

Fu Chen smiled, but there was a hint of frustration behind it. "Why don't you reply to my messages? Too lazy to type? Even just a period would work."

Before Xiao Lancui could respond, a mocking laugh joined in. Lu Siye had also caught up, his eyes cold as ice, staring at Xiao Lancui as he said, "The man's busy being in love—why would he have time for you."

Fu Chen's smile froze. He looked at Xiao Lancui and asked hesitantly, "You got a girlfriend?"

Lu Siye piped up again, "Ha, you don't know yet? The high-and-mighty Young Master Xiao is gay—he likes men."

Fu Chen kept his eyes fixed on Xiao Lancui and asked again, "Are you really in a relationship?"

Xiao Lancui said flatly, "I don't discuss personal matters. If there's nothing else, step aside."

"What's that supposed to mean, personal matters?" Lu Siye walked up to Xiao Lancui, one hand in his pocket, looking down at him. He noticed the glasses and chuckled. "Let me remind you—Lu Ao's mother really is a psycho. Lu Ao inherited that from her..."

Smack!

The sound of a slap rang out through the parking lot. Lu Siye's face was turned to the side, a faint metallic taste in his mouth. He ran his tongue over it—blood.

Lu Siye suddenly laughed. He turned his face back, glaring at Xiao Lancui. "You hit me?"

Fu Chen was stunned. Everything had gone off the rails.

Xiao Lancui dating Lu Ao... Lu Siye's brother. And Xiao Lancui slapping Lu Siye.

He and Huo Shenan could mess around and roughhouse with Lu Siye all they wanted, but they would never touch Lu Siye's face.

Fu Chen's heart sank. He forgot his disappointment over Xiao Lancui's relationship and quickly stepped in front of him to shield him, trying to laugh it off with Lu Siye, "Haha, it was an accident..."

Xiao Lancui pushed Fu Chen aside. He calmly met Lu Siye's murderous glare. "You insulted my boyfriend. A slap is the least of what you deserve."

Fu Chen turned back in shock, looking at Xiao Lancui with a conflicted expression.

And a hint of jealousy.

So Xiao Lancui could be protective of someone too.

Lu Siye's anger burned even hotter. This was the first time he'd been slapped in the face—by the guy he liked, no less, and over Lu Ao.

Lu Siye's glare could kill. "Don't think I won't lay a hand on you."

Xiao Lancui frowned, catching the oddity in Lu Siye's words—"won't touch you." That was—

His gaze darkened. Feeling sick to his stomach, he walked around Lu Siye without another word.

Lu Siye moved to chase after him, but Fu Chen stepped in his way. The usual playful grin was gone, replaced by a serious look. "A Ye, you've got feelings for him."

Lu Siye watched Xiao Lancui walk away, irritably pulling out a cigarette case. He lit one up, took a drag, and said, "Yeah."

Xiao Lancui had already disappeared from the parking lot, but Lu Siye kept staring in that direction. "I'm serious for real this time."

"..." Fu Chen's mouth opened, then closed. He swallowed the bitterness down before forcing a smile. "Aren't you with Xiao Anfeng or something—"

"I must be out of my mind." Lu Siye took several heavy drags. "When Xiao Lancui was all obedient and followed me around, I found him annoying. After he got out of the hospital and stopped talking to me, started cursing me out, hitting me..." He pressed a finger to the spot Xiao Lancui had slapped. "I fucking find it hot."

Fu Chen, "..." He felt like he couldn't breathe, tugging at his collar. For the first time, he didn't want to talk to Lu Siye anymore.

He threw out a "You're just pathetic" and left in a bad mood.

Lu Siye smoked quietly, then quickly walked toward the port as well.

Not long after they'd left, Xiao Jingli's car pulled into the parking lot. He listened to the phone, the voice on the other end reporting, "Yes, Chairman Xiao, you were right. Xiao Liqin boarded the ship half an hour ago."

Xiao Jingli's voice turned cold. "Xiao Liqin?"

The voice quickly corrected itself, "Xiao Liqin. He boarded half an hour ago. I couldn't get on without an invitation, so I don't know where he went after boarding."

Xiao Jingli hung up. Confirming that both Xiao Liqin and Xiao Anfeng were on the ship, his suffocating rage and jealousy nearly burst out of his chest.

These so-called parties on the sea—there were too many ways to have fun, even more than on land. Two lovers spending the night together on a ship—what they'd get up to went without saying.

Xiao Jingli's face was black as thunder. He called the man following Xiao Lancui. "They're on board?"

"Yes, a while ago."

At the same time, Xiao Lancui received the parking lot video. Xiao Jingli got out of his car, slamming the door with a loud bang, and soon boarded the ship as well.

Confirming Xiao Jingli was on board, Xiao Lancui called Xiao Liqin back.

Xiao Liqin had called countless times and gotten no answer. His voice was low. "Where are you?"

"Don't rush," Xiao Lancui said calmly. "Go wait in room 608. I'll bring him by around 11. Until then, don't come out. If you show your face and scare him away, there won't be another chance."

Xiao Liqin was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Remember—if you don't bring him, you'll pay for it."

The call ended.

Xiao Lancui put his phone away. The wind was strong on the deck, but boarding required an invitation. Xiao Jingli couldn't get many on short notice, so none of his men could get on board. Xiao Lancui thought it over—Xiao Jingli was going it alone now. If he didn't spot him with his own eyes, Xiao Lancui would have to go to extra trouble.

For now, he still didn't head to the banquet hall. He found a spot where he'd be easy to spot and waited for Xiao Jingli to notice him.

Xiao Jingli wouldn't approach him directly either. First, Sun Xiao wasn't by his side now, so Xiao Jingli wouldn't risk making a move. Second, the cruise tonight was mostly filled with Xiao Jingli's acquaintances, and since Xiao Jingli was up to something shady, he wouldn't cause a scene in public.

Xiao Lancui waited a while. Xiao Jingli did show up, watching him from a distance. But someone else he hadn't expected also showed up.

Qi Ying spotted Xiao Lancui and lit up. He exchanged a few words with a friend nearby, then hurried over to Xiao Lancui. "Hey, Xiao, you came after all!"

Xiao Lancui had been about to head to the third-floor banquet hall to meet up with Lu Ao and the others, but now he stopped, casually cutting Qi Ying off. "You knew I was coming?"

"Wasn't sure, just taking a chance." Qi Ying smiled, as if the unanswered messages he'd sent Xiao Lancui had never existed. He said, "Tonight there's a painting by Xiao Zixian up for auction. The real deal."

Xiao Lancui's eyebrows rose slightly. Qi Ying continued, "I had to sweet-talk my grandfather for ages before he agreed to donate it."

Xiao Lancui's interest was piqued. "What painting?"

"A painting of the harvest." Qi Ying fell into step beside Xiao Lancui. "It was brought back from overseas. My grandfather went through a lot of trouble to get it. He was just telling me—if worst comes to worst, he might as well bid on it himself."

Qi Ying chatted with a smile, his gaze never leaving Xiao Lancui.

He felt Xiao Lancui was too enigmatic, more mysterious than the deep sea. His voice was impossibly soft, "Do you want this painting? I'll bid on it and gift it to you."

Xiao Lancui had already figured it out from the harvest scene painting.

Tonight's auction item might actually be one of his genuine works.

He had only ever painted one harvest scene.

After the siege of the border city was lifted, he and Lu Ao returned to the capital. They passed through a small town where there was a county magistrate who was, in modern terms, his fan, especially fond of his paintings.

The magistrate was well-loved by the people. The first time Xiao Lancui met him, he had just come back from the fields, his back to the sky, covered in loess. Even if it was an act, if he could commit to it that much, Xiao Lancui gave him a painting as a gift.

It depicted the magistrate and the townsfolk working busily in the fields.

Xiao Lancui replied to Qi Ying simultaneously, "My boyfriend's the one bidding."

*

Xiao Lancui walked into the banquet hall by himself.

The moment he walked in, Lu Ao came to meet him.

Xiao Lancui took the water Lu Ao had brought for him without a second thought.

The buffet table was all red wine and champagne—he had no clue where Lu Ao had scrounged up water.

After spending some time in the sea breeze, Xiao Lancui took a few sips of hot water to settle his stomach, then asked, "Did you get Sun Xiao back to his room?"

Lu Ao leaned in and nibbled on his earlobe, "The first thing you ask about is another guy—aren't you scared I'll get jealous, bro?"

Xiao Lancui shot him a sidelong glance. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Qi Ying come in and scan the room, finally spotting him and Lu Ao beside him, then veered off to another section.

He spoke, "What would you do if you got jealous?"

"Kill." Lu Ao said, then grabbed Xiao Lancui's hand again with a sunny grin, "Nah, of course not—I'm a law-abiding citizen. I'd just..." He dropped his head, his voice all wounded, "Just get over it."

He then answered Xiao Lancui's question, "Took him there. Also took the liberty of locking the door from outside."

Xiao Lancui said nothing, handed the cup back to him, and walked toward the table. "Let's go."

Lu Ao froze, sensing Xiao Lancui was a little off. Because he'd locked Sun Xiao in?

By the time they got to the table, Xiao Lancui was even more annoyed.

Seats were assigned—one table, all familiar faces.

Fu Chen and Lu Siye both stayed silent. Huo Shenan glanced at the two of them and spoke first, "Oh, the racing god is here too!"

Only the five of them were seated at this table, leaving two chairs empty. Xiao Lancui took the seat next to Fu Chen.

As soon as he sat down, Lu Ao immediately took the seat beside him.

Lu Ao remembered Huo Shenan—one of Xiao Lancui's college buddies. His eyes went cold.

Huo Shenan watched Lu Ao trail after Xiao Lancui, his temples pulsing twice, but he forced a smile and spoke first, "Long time no see, Xiao'ao, remember me?"

Lu Ao ignored him, holding his water cup and only whispering to Xiao Lancui, "Big brother, Xiao Jingli is here, at the third table on the left."

Xiao Lancui gave a soft "mm," took the cup from his hand, and had two more sips.

A champagne flute slammed heavily onto the table, the stem snapping, the bowl toppling over askew, and the champagne inside spilled out instantly.

Lu Siye's face turned grim as he called out, "Waiter!"

The waiter hurried over to clean up. Fu Chen silently picked up some unknown meat and chewed it mechanically.

Huo Shenan fell silent too.

Xiao Lancui's permission said it all.

He... was with Lu Ao now.

Huo Shenan's throat felt dry, and he suddenly spoke up, "Do you have any iced cola?"

The waiter, cleaning the table, was taken aback, "I'm not sure, I'll... go check the kitchen right away."

Just then, a voice came from the stage.

The auction had begun.

Xiao Lancui thought of that harvest scene painting and glanced at the auction stage in the center. Lu Ao noticed instantly, peeled a white shrimp, and fed it directly into Xiao Lancui's mouth, asking, "Big brother, what do you want?"

Xiao Lancui chewed the sweet shrimp meat, thought for a moment, and shook his head.

"Nothing."