Chapter 5: Chi Xingcun Has Changed So Much

Chapter 5: Chi Xingcun Has Changed a Lot

After class, Chi Xingcun went to eat with some classmates from that class.

They were so enthusiastic that Chi Xingcun found it hard to decline.

During the meal, Chi Xingcun took the opportunity to ask around about Xie Yean.

After all, the book was too short—many details and side stories weren't written in it.

And his system managed many books at once, occasionally had meetings, and didn't appear very often.

A few of them sat at a street-side eatery and ordered several dishes. Chi Xingcun exchanged WeChat contacts with them.

He thought this was great—it gave him more chances to learn about Xie Yean's situation.

Suddenly, a Panamera pulled up across the street from the shop.

The window rolled down, sunglasses came off, revealing Qin Liyi's head.

Qin Liyi had a fiercely striking face—handsome and flamboyant, wild and unrestrained, with a spiky haircut that added extra edge.

He blinked, realized it really was Chi Xingcun, and smiled.

Chi Xingcun was eating when an arm pressed down on his shoulder, accompanied by a faint scent of cold cedarwood. He turned his head and saw Qin Liyi.

"Master, a whole month ignoring us—have you been spending all your time with those USTC classmates? Since when did you get so close with them?"

Qin Liyi's voice rang out above his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone at the table.

Without any hesitation, Qin Liyi pulled up a chair and sat down beside him.

"Hello everyone, I'm his friend. You don't mind adding another pair of chopsticks, do you?"

A face carved like an angel had already stunned them enough, and now another one appeared—the two of them together in the same frame was even more breathtaking.

"Of course not, of course not. Take a look and see if you want to order anything else." Chen Yudong handed him the menu.

Chi Xingcun had been silent since he arrived, and only when Qin Liyi actually started writing down dishes did he grab the guy and pull him up.

"You all go ahead and eat."

Under everyone's gaze, he dragged him to a deserted alley entrance.

Then he kicked Qin Liyi in the shin.

"Ouch." Qin Liyi bent over, clutching his shin, putting on a pained expression, and said innocently, "Master, what did I do wrong this time?"

Everyone in their circle called him Master.

In the past, Chi Xingcun thought it was just a term of address between friends, but later he realized that behind the title was nothing but mockery of him.

Qin Liyi was one of the few people in the circle who had a good relationship with both him and Fu Chenzhan.

Growing up, every time Chi Xingcun felt disappointed in Fu Chenzhan, lost confidence, and thought they weren't suited to be together, Qin Liyi would tell him that he and Fu Chenzhan were a perfect match, destined to be together.

Then Chi Xingcun would listen to his coaxing, cheer up again, and start chasing after Fu Chenzhan once more.

But Qin Liyi was different from those who looked down on him after his identity was exposed and his engagement to Fu Chenzhan was called off.

After he was kicked out of Fu Chenzhan's house and threatened with kidnapping by his adoptive parents, the Chi family, he felt his days were bleak and hopeless. He no longer even wanted to live. It was Qin Liyi who found him, stood in front of him, and told him to come stay with him.

Chi Xingcun was pressured into leaving the city, so Qin Liyi took him to a neighboring city for a trip to clear his mind, keeping him company for a whole month.

But then one day, Qin Liyi vanished. When Chi Xingcun tried to contact him, he found he'd been blocked.

Chi Xingcun was left stranded alone in the hotel.

He never managed to reach him again.

Once his money ran out, he went back to his biological parents' place.

Chi Xingcun guessed that Qin Liyi had probably been hauled back by his own parents—they surely wouldn't like their son hanging around with a fake young master like him.

But it was also possible that Qin Liyi just didn't want to keep him company anymore. After all, even though he was a fake young master, he had the temperament of a real one... He couldn't do anything right and had no redeeming qualities.

But Chi Xingcun still thought the second possibility was unlikely, because if he hated him, why would he have spent a whole month with him? And he'd never heard Qin Liyi badmouth him behind his back.

"You played me!" Chi Xingcun said indignantly.

He was clearly angry, but his voice was soft, and his demeanor was too gentle and obedient—it sounded like he was playfully whining.

Nobody could ever be mad at him for scolding them.

Qin Liyi froze for a moment, then snapped out of it and asked hurriedly, "I played you? Master, are you dreaming again?"

"..." Chi Xingcun was speechless for a moment. He used to stir up trouble for no reason, but—"Fu Chenzhan and I are completely wrong for each other, and you kept telling me we were perfect together. Isn't that messing with me?!"

Qin Liyi was stunned for what felt like an eternity before he finally snapped out of it: "...What did you say?"

Chi Xingcun looked like he had completely let go, as if he didn't like Fu Chenzhan anymore.

In the past, he would occasionally come running to him and say he didn't like Fu Chenzhan anymore, but he always looked reluctant and torn—never as at peace with it as he did now.

Qin Liyi figured he must be misreading the situation, and quickly said, "I wouldn't dare mess with you. I meant what I said, Master. I wouldn't dare lie to you."

He looked totally submissive.

Chi Xingcun huffed coldly and turned away: "Anyway, don't say things like that anymore. Just don't bring him up again!"

And with that, he turned and walked away.

Qin Liyi followed him, leaning in to study his expression. Seeing Chi Xingcun's expression completely unreadable, he knew he was serious this time.

Wow—after all these years, this was the first time Chi Xingcun was willing to let go of Fu Chenzhan.

Qin Liyi quirked a smile, but then felt a bit uneasy. Was the Master truly willing to let go, or was he holding it in, secretly heartbroken?

He reached out, grabbed Chi Xingcun's wrist, pulled him close, and leaned in close to that face, which was cute even when angry:

"Alright, I get it. It's been a month now—shouldn't the Master come hang out with us too? If you're mad at Fu Chenzhan, just don't see him. But why cut us off as well? No, forget it—even if you don't want to see anyone else, what about me? I haven't done anything wrong, right? Shouldn't the Master at least make time for me?"

Chi Xingcun held his gaze for a moment, then looked away: "As long as you don't bring him up again, I can still hang out with you..."

"Got it. That good-for-nothing bastard—we won't talk about him anymore." He tugged Chi Xingcun toward his Porsche.

Chi Xingcun caught on and pulled his hand back: "Hey, where are we going? I'm not done eating yet."

Qin Liyi: "I'll have the driver settle the bill. First, tell me how you know them. I thought our Master didn't like eating at dives like this?"

Chi Xingcun was extremely picky—he never set foot in street-side joints where the hygiene and ingredients were questionable. He was also a germaphobe and would never share a table with so many people unless every dish came with its own serving chopsticks.

So when Qin Liyi saw him sitting in that little shop with all those people earlier, he was genuinely taken aback.

A strange feeling stirred in his chest—how could Chi Xingcun have changed so much in such a short time?