Ch28 - Being Blind by Them

Editor: MinMin

Proofreader: DarkSapphire

A few days after the interview with Su Ye, Bai Xi’s magazine company went on a holiday break.

The Lunar New Year was getting closer and closer. Before New Year’s Eve, the duo had dinner with their friends, Liang Song and Zhong Yuqin.

It was strange to say that the four of them were indirectly friends. They had each others’ contacts but rarely sat down together for dinner.

This time, Bai Xi went to Qi Xun’s company and waited for him to get off work in the office. Then Zhong Yuqin called the working man to ask if he wanted to have a drink tonight.

At the same time, Bai Xi also received a call from Liang Song, checking to see if his schedule was clear for dinner.

When Bai Xi answered the phone, he was still in Qi Xun’s arms. His lips were slightly swollen and he spoke somewhat breathlessly.

“Now?” Bai Xi looked at the time. “I’m still…busy with something.”

While he talked, Qi Xun’s hand was still around his waist, between deliberately making things hard and unintentionally teasing. Qi Xun’s fingers tapped his body as if playing the piano, moving upward along Bai Xi’s waistline.

Qi Xun knew how to play the piano. He studied under a famous master since childhood. Therefore, he would get dragged to perform every high school’s annual New Year gathering.

Bai Xi’s waist was already very sensitive. Every time his body trembled uncontrollably, his voice followed.

Liang Song heard it and remained silent subtly. After a while, he asked, “Xixi, are you doing something inappropriate for children?”

Liang Song could tell and remained subtly silent. After a while, he asked, “Xi Xi, are you doing anything inappropriate for children?”

Bai Xi slapped away Qi Xun’s hand.

He sat upright on Qi Xun’s lap and said confidently, “What kind of garbage are you keeping in your head? Of course, I am not. I am just waiting for Qi Xun to get off work.”

Qi Xun gave a low chuckle.

Liang Song also snickered. Who was his friend trying to lie to, a three-year-old? The office was a perfect location for the duo to do someplay.

Bai Xi thought for a moment and then said, “Why don’t you wait half an hour? Zhong Yutan just called to make an appointment with Qi Xun. How about the four of us have dinner together? You know Zhong Yutan anyway.”

Bai Xi considered for a while and suggested, “Why don’t you wait for another half an hour? Zhong Yuqin called earlier to ask if he could drink with Qi Xun. Why don’t the four of us have dinner? You know Zhong Yuqin anyway.”

The two have not got together for a while,what a strange thought.

Liang Song did know Zhong Yuqin, but he and Zhong Yuqin were classmates in primary school, as he remembered.

But when Liang Song thought of Zhong Yuqin, he could only think of a gentle but sinister face, like a wily fox.

This mainly involved an issue left from the past.

One of his high school girlfriends dumped him and pursued Zhong Yuqin. She even bluntly compared him to that of a little boy. The girl told him that he was not as mature and smart as Zhong Yuqin, and that made him furious.

But now that they are adults, this adolescent conflict is not worth mentioning. Zhong Yutan is Qi Xun’s buddy, and he is Bai Xi’s buddy. Rounding up, they are half in-laws.

But they were all adults now, and this teenager conflict was not worth mentioning. Plus Zhong Yuqin was Qi Xun’s friend, while he was Bai Xi’s friend. To round off, they were particularlypart of the family.

“Okay,” Liang Song agreed magnanimously, “I am only doing it for your sake.”

Bai Xi laughed at him. “You are such a drama queen.”

After ending their call, Bai Xi did not come out of the nest he made in Qi Xun’s arms. Qi Xun finished his work like this, with his lover close to his heart. Though he had to comment after he finished work, “My work efficiency seemed to be less than usual.”

Bai Xi swung his leg and mumbled in discontentment, “Fine, then I will not come next time.”

Qi Xun did not respond, he just went for another kiss.

.

The place the four of them picked for dinner was a restaurant called ‘Mystery House’, which is downtown. It provided good privacy and was not far from anyone’s location.

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Bai Xi and Zhong Yuqin were at least familiar with each other, so there was no awkwardness when the three sat down and chatted.

Zhong Yuqin secretly observed the opposite side while he spoke.

The last time he saw Qi Xun and Bai Xi, they happened to be together not too long ago, and they had this indescribable atmosphere that gave outsiders this feeling that they could not interrupt.

He thought it was because this was Bai Xi’s first love, and being two years younger than Qi Xun, he was bound to be clingy.

But with Qi Xun’s temperament, it should not be long before he returns to his usual mild self.

But how come at this meeting, the atmosphere was still as sticky.

Why did Qi Xun’s hand just casually move to Bai Xi’s waist?

Why did the two keep looking at each other when they were talking?

Zhong Yuqing clicked his tongue in disgust and drank a mouthful of soda, then swallowed it slowly.

He felt like histitanium alloy dog eyeswere about to go blind.

.

Liang Song was the last one to arrive.

As someone who kept his appearance casual, he wore a sweater and a cap, looking like a student sitting among these well-dressed people.

Since the four were all acquaintances, there was no need to be polite. When the food arrived, they chatted while eating.

But in the middle of the meal, it was not clear who started this trail as high school became the topic of their conversation. Liang Song suddenly recalled his girlfriend who was pried away by Zhong Yuqin during that time. Old resentments poured into his heart as his face became three parts stinky.

Zhong Yuqin, on the other hand, refused to admit it.

He was still smiling and said unhurriedly, “I don’t remember much. There were quite a few girls who liked me and Qi Xun in high school, but I can’t always have an impression of them all.”

Still smiling, he said unhurriedly, “I don’t quite remember it. So many girls liked me and Qi Xun in high school, so it was impossible for me to have an impression of everyone.”

This was particularly a stab into Liang Song’s heart.

Bai Xi was afraid of them fighting.

Fortunately, Zhong Yuqin smiled and defused the situation, “But I admit I am wrong.”

He poured a glass of wine into his cup and lightly tabbed it against Liang Song’s glass. “Consider this cup as making amends for you.”

Then he finished it in a single go.

Liang Song frowned. “There is no need. No one was in the wrong. I am not that petty.”

He also poured himself a glass of wine and drank it without saying a word.

Zhong Yuqin smiled at Liang Song and praised him, “You have great alcohol tolerance.”

Liang Song was so moved that he drank another one.

Qi Xun glanced at his friend and knew that Zhong Yuqin was back to his old habit of teasing others for fun. It was a blast to tease Liang Song, who gave extreme reactions.

Luckily, they finished the meal without a problem.

Zhong Yuqin stopped himself in time and did not get Liang Song drunk.

After paying for the meal, Bai Xi and Liang Song went to a nearby antique shop, where Liang Song ordered a jade bracelet as a birthday present for hiscousin.

Qi Xun and Zhong Yuqin waited under the tree in the square, and it gave them the time to sober up.

The night breeze was chilly. Zhong Yuqin lit a cigarette and passed Qi Xun one.

Qi Xun shook his head. “No thanks. I quit already.”

Zhong Yuqin took his offer back.

He knew Bai Xi’s health was the reason ‌Qi Xun quit smoking.

At that time, Bai Xi was not Qi Xun’s boyfriend, but a certain ‘little kid’ of Qi Xun.

His earlier impression of the young man was like a small tail, always wandering around behind Qi Xun. He was quiet, well-behaved, and very adorable, but nothing too special.

However, over the past few years, this seemingly ‘nothing special’ little kid made Qi Xun quit smoking, made Qi Xun take time to travel with him, and finally became Qi Xun’s boyfriend.

He even met his friend’s parents.

Thinking of this, he asked Qi Xun, “Why did my mother say that your parents already know about you dating Bai Xi?”

“Yes, my parents know. They invited him to come for the New Year.” Qi Xun did not conceal this. “I have already met his parents.”

Zhong Yuqin was even more surprised. It seemed that Qi Xun’s parents were more than satisfied with Bai Xi.

But that was nothing too surprising since Bai Xi had always been liked by his parents.

He smiled and looked at Qi Xun. “You sure are not taking your time. You two had only been together for a few months. Dating, living together, wearing matching rings, and even meeting the parents. You checked almost everything off the list. Does that mean marriage will be next?”

He was just joking with Qi Xun but Qi Xun replied indifferently, “That is within the realm of possibility.”

Zhong Yuqin almost choked on the smoke.

He coughed a few times and gazed at Qi Xun in disbelief. “You are serious? Marriage is possible?”

Qi Xun asked, “And how is that strange?”

The voice inside Zhong Yuqin’s head saysThis was beyond strange, this was black magic.

He remembered the cheap little silver ring on Qi Xun’s finger two months ago.

Although he joked at that time, he never thought it might come true.

He asked Qi Xun with a complicated expression. “You cannot just suddenly find out that Bai Xi is your true love right? This sounded like a tribulation. Are you considering marrying just after four months?”

Qi Xun did not answer immediately.

The ‘true love’ words were too far off for him.

His parents were married for business, but they have mutual respect towards each other like any husband and wife, and their relationship was not bad. On the contrary, their feelings were much more stable than those who were dying to get married for love.

So he always felt everything would be fine as long as his partner was suitable.

If one loved too deeply, there would also be more inner demands. Once the passion faded, it would be like a sleeping volcano, where the threat of eruption would always be hanging above one’s head.

Just like Zhao Qingtong.

His eyes turned slightly colder when he remembered this name.

He countered, “What do you think true love is, like how Zhao Qingtong chased me? It was indeed in an earth-shaking way. The whole campus felt that he was dead set on me. In the end, I even felt that it was like I offended him in my past life.”

Zhong Yuqin was speechless for a moment.

When Qi Xun was dating Zhao Qingtong, he also witnessed the whole process. Zhao Qingtong’s effort to date Qi Xun at that time was so moving, even to a heart of stone. He was also moved and kindheartedly helped with the assists.

He did not expect that the end would be as magnificent.

Zhao Qingtong broke up with Qi Xun first, and immediately was caught by Qi Xun kissing another man.

The previous vows of eternal love and devotion have become jokes.

Qi Xun also remembered how ugly he acted when he broke up with Zhao Qingtong.

But he did not like to speak ill of his former boyfriend with anyone. So only Zhong Yuqin knew what happened years ago.

He concluded in a low voice, “There would be time when the seas run dry and the stones go soft. No matter how powerful a feeling is, it would always dissipate, especially with someone like me. You, of all people, should know that the biggest reason why Zhao Qingtong broke up with me is that I did not love him enough, there was no passion and I was not as madly in love as he was. But that is how I am, and I cannot change that, so I am not suitable to be with him.”

Zhong Yuqin remained silent for a moment.

He knew that his friend was right. People like them would not highly value their feelings.

So he brought up, “What about Bai Xi? Why do you think you and him can get married? What is so special about him?”

At the thought of Bai Xi, Qi Xun’s cloudy face cleared up to somewhat sunny.

In the night breeze, the outline of his side face was like a sculpture under the streetlamp. It was beautiful, but not vivid enough.

He said, “Bai Xi is different from others. He is very gentle and kind. He will never end a relationship in such an embarrassing way.”

“I do not know how much I love him. But if I want to start a family now, I will only choose Bai Xi. It does not seem bad to have the thought of living with him all my life, even after my hair turned white.”

He really thought so.

Yet Zhong Yuqin listened with a subtle expression.

Even if he had been friends with Qi Xun for so many years, there were times when he could not figure his friend out.

The strangest thing about Qi Xun was that even if he looked cold and had a serious attitude, as long as he set his mind on a certain person, he would be the most perfect and considerate lover.

In the beginning, he also felt that Qi Xun loved Zhao Qingtong deeply and was considerate and gentle in every way. However, after Zhao Qingtong mentioned breaking up, Qi Xun was depressed for only a month, and the topic was never brought up again.

This relationship disappeared in Qi Xun’s life like the water mist, it evaporated without a trace.

Now he also felt that Bai Xi seemed different to Qi Xun, but when Qi Xun was directly in front of him, he felt that he did not need to consider it with common sense.

Before he could figure it out, Bai Xi and Liang Song had finished buying the item and came back out.

Zhong Yuqin watched helplessly. The moment Bai Xi appeared in their vision, Qi Xun’s sight was fixed on the young man, and a slight smile appeared on his face.

It was as if Bai Xi was glowing in the crowd.

Zhong Yuqin: “…”

He still felt that there was something wrong with his good friend.

The translator has something to add:

Teo: Both of my editors are busy with school and I told them to not prioritize over school work so update schedule is still up in the air.