Chapter 19: Fu Chenzhan Came to Pick Him Up

Chapter 19: Fu Chenzhan Comes to Pick Him Up

Chi Xingcun wasn't asleep. Feeling the movement behind him, he turned around.

"What are you doing?"

Qin Liyi had intended to act like nothing was the matter, but after a moment's thought, he said, "Got chewed out."

"..." Chi Xingcun was silent for a moment. "Did you hit him for my sake?"

Even though he asked, he knew it was true—Qin Liyi knew he was gay, after all, while Qin Liyi himself was straight.

A smile tugged at Qin Liyi's lips as his arms wrapped around Chi Xingcun's waist, his solid body pressing against Chi Xingcun's side.

Chi Xingcun pressed his hand against Qin Liyi's arm, trying to push him away with some effort, but it was completely useless.

"I did it 'cause I can't stand the guy. He deliberately said that in front of us—wasn't he just begging for a beating? So I guess I did him a favor."

Chi Xingcun pressed his lips together. "But he wasn't talking about you. I'm the only gay one here."

Qin Liyi paused. "Then how would he know I'm not?"

Before Chi Xingcun could respond, he continued, "And if I wasn't there, and you heard someone say that, what would you do?"

Back then, Chi Xingcun would've definitely shouted back, and might even have gotten into a fight.

But now, he wasn't sure what he would do.

Sure enough, Chi Xingcun went quiet.

When he didn't speak, Qin Liyi didn't press further. He just smiled. "See? Who'd dare say that about you now? My 'kill the chicken to scare the monkey' move wasn't half bad, was it?"

When he was surrounded by all those people, that's exactly what was going through Qin Liyi's mind—if he didn't do something, someone else would definitely pull that crap on Chi Xingcun at school again.

Chi Xingcun thought he was joking and laughed at him. "Alright, but don't do that again, or your parents will grill you again... Thanks for stepping in."

"Thank me?" Qin Liyi's heart skipped a beat and his eyes went wide. When he snapped out of it, he felt something weird—his heart actually hurt. "Well, look at the young master being all polite. Guess I gotta say you're welcome."

He couldn't help but reach out and pinch Chi Xingcun's cheek, but Chi Xingcun dodged and buried his face in the blanket, leaving only his big eyes blinking at Qin Liyi.

He was embarrassed.

Qin Liyi's heart did a somersault. He was overheating—it was too cute.

Then he dove under the blanket too, grinning, and hugged Chi Xingcun tight as they fell asleep.

"I... I should probably head home and sleep tonight," Chi Xingcun said.

"Why?" Qin Liyi was suddenly wide awake.

"My parents get back tomorrow."

"Then just go back after they get home. It's not like they're coming back tonight." Qin Liyi's arms tightened around him, not letting go one bit.

Chi Xingcun laughed. Qin Liyi was so clingy... but he didn't hate it. He didn't feel so alone anymore.

Honestly, having someone care about him this much made him feel happy and lucky.

"My family and yours are fighting over a piece of land right now. Would your parents be pissed if they found out I was sleeping over?" Chi Xingcun asked cautiously.

"Why would they?" Qin Liyi said with certainty. "They'd wish you were their kid."

"..." Chi Xingcun lowered his eyes. The adults who used to like him had avoided him like the plague once his identity came out.

But honestly, it wasn't just because of who he was—it was mainly because he'd acted like a total lunatic back then, insufferable and completely lacking self-awareness.

In this life, if he was smarter and more sensible, even if he wasn't the True Young Master, he probably wouldn't end up hated by everyone like last time.

"What're you thinking about?"

The room was dark, but Qin Liyi had good eyes and could still see the look on Chi Xingcun's face.

"Nothing."

They napped for a bit, then Qin Liyi got up to cook. He made two bowls of curry udon, two mini burgers, two fried eggs, and a fruit salad.

When Chi Xingcun woke up, he washed his hands and sat down to eat.

That night, he stayed at Qin Liyi's again—mostly because he didn't want to sleep alone in the villa.

He'd feel lonely and scared.

When he was with Qin Liyi, he didn't have time to think about all that bad stuff.

Qin Liyi would do homework with him, watch online classes, play games, and watch movies with him.

After all that, Chi Xingcun passed out the second he hit the bed.

......

Chi Xingcun woke up in the middle of the night. It was pitch black outside. He grabbed his phone and saw it was 3 a.m.

There was a new message. He tapped it open, and his sleepiness faded a bit. It was from his parents—well, his adoptive parents:

Chi's mother: "Baby, we're home. Text us when you wake up tomorrow, and I'll have the driver come get you."

Chi's father: "We got you a gift. Come back too late and it's gone."

They'd sent it at 2 a.m.

Chi Xingcun stared at it for a few seconds, then put the phone down and burrowed back under the covers.

But his body suddenly went cold, and he was wide awake.

But it was so dark he didn't have the guts to get up.

He just lay there, half-asleep, half-awake, until morning.

Since he hadn't slept well, he slept in until 10 a.m.

When he woke up, Fu Chenzhan was sitting in Qin Liyi's living room.

He slowed down on the stairs, but Fu Chenzhan still saw him.

Fu Chenzhan put his book away and grabbed the schoolbag Chi Xingcun had left in the living room. He walked over to Chi Xingcun and said, "Time to go. Auntie asked me to come get you."

Qin Liyi, who'd been sitting across from Fu Chenzhan, stood up and walked over to Chi Xingcun. "I already told you, there's no need. I'll take him."

Chi Xingcun's eyes dropped, then he looked up at Qin Liyi and smiled. "I'll go with him. No need to put you out."

And with that, he followed Fu Chenzhan out.

As Fu Chenzhan turned, the look he shot Qin Liyi was equal parts warning and provocation, with a hint of smugness he could barely hide.

Chi Xingcun went with Fu Chenzhan because his mom had said Fu Chenzhan was coming over for dinner anyway, so since they'd see each other, they might as well ride back together.

In the car, Chi Xingcun kept his eyes glued to the window, avoiding Fu Chenzhan's gaze entirely.

Fu Chenzhan's eyes darkened beneath his black hair.

"You've been spending quite a lot of time with Qin Liyi lately," he spoke up.

Chi Xingcun still didn't look at him, just hummed a low "Mm."

Fu Chenzhan's fingertips tapped lightly on his knee, feeling a wave of irritation building up inside him.

"Do you need something from him?" he asked again.

"No..." Chi Xingcun was trying to figure out how to break things off with Fu Chenzhan.

Could he just tell both families he wanted to call off the engagement?

They'd probably think it was weird, right?

But maybe they'd accept it.

...No, the simplest solution would be to have the True Young Master's identity revealed publicly, and then the engagement would automatically be dissolved.