Chapter 52: Despicable Character
Xi Leng stood them up, didn’t go to pick up Rong Xingyi. After wandering aimlessly around the streets for a while, he returned home to find Rong Xingyi, who couldn’t reach him, waiting anxiously.
“Ge! Where did you go!?” Rong Xingyi’s dimple disappeared, his voice filled with anxiety and anger, rushing towards him like a small rocket.
Xi Leng’s sudden departure years ago had cast a long shadow, making him overly sensitive, constantly needing reassurance that Xi Leng wouldn’t leave again. Whenever Xi Leng didn’t keep his promise and came home late, he would overreact, anxiously calling and urging him.
The perceptive little animal, swaying her tail, squeezed between the two of them, and Xi Leng squatted down to pet the cat, naturally changing the subject.
“I took the school bus back.” Rong Xingyi didn’t notice anything unusual, muttering to himself, “Told you to check your phone, served you right for waiting.”
Xi Leng told the truth: “I didn’t go.”
Rong Xingyi didn’t quite believe him, thinking he was just saving face, scoffing: “Tch~”
Xi Leng silently looked at his didi, suddenly calling out seriously: “Xiao Yi.”
“…What?” Rong Xingyi exaggeratedly rubbed the non-existent goosebumps on his arms.
Xi Leng asked: “Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?”
Rong Xingyi’s changing emotions were written all over his face, his awkward laughter and evasiveness familiar.
Seeing this, Xi Leng could only say: “I’ll support you.”
Rong Xingyi muttered softly: “As if I’d believe you!”
They didn’t continue this topic. Rong Xingyi, having lived at school for a week, requested to eat out, and Xi Leng readily agreed, taking him out and even letting him choose the restaurant, completely different from his usually strict and frugal self.
“This way… living at school isn’t so bad, heehee.” Rong Xingyi, easily pleased, chuckled, then suddenly said as they walked, “Ge, I won’t be back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow night, I’ll be with Mom.”
If he lived here, he would have to tell Xi Leng whenever he came home late, he wasn’t sure he could keep the secret. His mother worked hard, leaving early and returning late, she didn’t have much time to supervise him, and she was also easier to fool than his brother.
Xi Leng readily agreed.
During dinner, Xi Leng brought up another matter: “I’m thinking of moving to another apartment, definitely not as good as this one, but at least a three-bedroom…”
Rong Xingyi immediately put down his chopsticks, staring at him intently, his eyes silently saying: You’re running away again?
Xi Leng, however, asked him: “Then, do you still want to live there? With me?”
“…Huh?” Rong Xingyi was stunned, raising his eyebrows and feigning a fierce expression. “Of course! Don’t tell me you’re planning to run away with Ban Li!?”
“No.” Xi Leng said softly. “Renting means moving frequently, I’m worried you’ll have trouble adjusting to a less luxurious place.”
“I’m not used to living in such a luxurious place…” Rong Xingyi followed closely behind his brother, saying righteously, “Well, I’ll miss Min Zhi-gege a bit, but absence makes the heart grow fonder… and also, I feel guilty every time I see him, moving is good, I’ll move with you.”
Xi Leng only remained silent.
The guilt he felt for deceiving Min Zhi, which he had deliberately ignored for so long, now came back to haunt him a hundredfold. The intense guilt washed over him like a tsunami.
Everyone said Min Zhi had a fiery temper, a walking “powder keg” in the entertainment industry, but Min Zhi treated him sincerely, incredibly tolerant, unbelievably kind.
He didn’t use to believe that people’s innate nature determined their character, he believed that if he and Rong Xingyi had grown up in a loving and warm environment, like Luo Jiayan, they would also be kind, generous, and cheerful.
However, despite growing up in the same environment, Rong Xingyi was clearly different from him.
Min Zhi made him feel that this difference, the inherent quality of character, was indeed innate.
Lost in his thoughts, Xi Leng unconsciously ran a hand through his hair, the unruly curls obstructing his vision, poking into his eyes, irritating him. He repeatedly brushed his hair back, took a few deep breaths, and finally made up his mind, taking out his phone.
Leng: 【Good evening, sorry to bother you… it’s like this, I want to terminate the lease.】
A1: 【…………】
A1: 【You signed a one-year lease, no refunds for breaking the contract】
For the Xi Leng of the past, these words would have been a fatal blow, after all, he was even reluctant to buy iodine and band-aids from the convenience store.
But now, not only had he earned quite a bit of money, but this rent, Min Zhi had already returned it, even adding extra.
Thinking that Min Zhi might not admit to being the landlord, Xi Leng didn’t mention it.
Leng: 【Mm-hmm, it’s fine. I checked, even the single-floor units downstairs cost over ten thousand per month, not getting a refund means I’ve taken advantage of you, thank you.】
Let the deception end here.
But Min Zhi was almost driven to explode with anger. Thank you? Thank you, my ass.
After taking a few puffs of his cigarette to calm down, he repeatedly checked the conversation between “A1” and “Leng,” his frown deepening.
The moment he opened his door, he suddenly calmed down.
Rushing over now would undoubtedly reveal his identity as the landlord.
But with Xi Leng’s intelligence, had he already guessed?
If he had already guessed, not only not repaying him, but even making him angry??
Min Zhi’s logic was unreasonable like that, never letting himself suffer internally.
So, Min Zhi retreated to his apartment, gently closing the door, and opening another pack of cigarettes.
Autumn had arrived, and he had switched to a new flavor, Strawberry Double Burst, with a strong fruity scent. He thought Xi Leng would like it, and his thoughts drifted, when could he let Xi Leng try it?
Xi Leng was planning to run away from his apartment.
Min Zhi’s thoughts returned to the matter at hand, replying with his A1 account: 【I’m actually also a liar】
He hadn’t told Xi Leng his real identity as the landlord, and Xi Leng hadn’t exposed him either. He didn’t know if Xi Leng would be angry about this, but what if Xi Leng wasn’t as rational and carefree as he seemed, what if he was sensitive and easily upset?
An artist being sentimental was normal.
Thinking like this, Min Zhi’s mood gradually improved, and he continued typing.
【But it wasn’t my idea】
【Continuing the deception later was out of necessity】
【Lies don’t always come from bad intentions, sometimes the truth can also cause harm】
【What do you think?】
By now, he had finished his cigarette. He leaned against the windowsill, quietly waiting for Xi Leng’s reply.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
Min Zhi controlled his restless legs, noticing the fleeting “typing…” indicator, gradually sensing something from the other party’s prolonged silence.
He sat down at his computer and checked the surveillance footage from the corridor these past few days.
Dozens of hours of footage, he fast-forwarded, then dragged the progress bar several times, finally finding what he was looking for.
Besides going out shopping and eating with his didi, Xi Leng had almost no social interactions.
The person who visited him yesterday afternoon was related to “Unlimited Escape Room,” Director Sheng Jiao, but he had brought an unfamiliar woman with him.
Min Zhi didn’t speculate, directly calling Sheng Jiao to confirm.
“Min-laoshi, so late…”
Sheng Jiao’s greeting was cut short by the other party.
“What happened to Xi Leng?”
Sheng Jiao explained about bringing Ou Huixin to visit Xi Leng’s studio, about their discussion and agreement on the exhibition, saying they got along very well, and Xi Leng even gave them paintings as gifts, there was no conflict whatsoever.
So, even giving paintings as gifts, a privilege not even given to the idol he had liked for three years.
“Not that.” Min Zhi interrupted again. “Anything else?”
Sheng Jiao searched his memory: “Well, actually, there is…”
“I was discussing something upstairs at the company, and when I went to get coffee, I looked out the window and saw him still downstairs.” Sheng Jiao said. “There was a man opposite him, quite tall but shorter than him, looked about forty or fifty, a bit of a scoundrel. They talked for a while, then Xi Leng left first.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes, that’s all. I couldn’t exactly eavesdrop from the tenth floor, could I?”
Min Zhi hung up.
Too little information, and Xi Leng was so quiet, he couldn’t piece together what happened.
But before he went next door, he suddenly remembered, two days before Xi Leng moved, when he went to that dilapidated rented apartment, he had encountered someone on the way.
Forty or fifty years old, looked like a scoundrel, holding a photo of the teenage Xi Leng on his phone, bangs covering his eyes, a gloomy expression as if he owed him eight million…
That photo, he remembered it was quite cute..
The luxurious duplex apartment was empty, just one person, and a cat.
Xi Leng sat on the carpet in the living room, hugging his knees, holding his phone, quiet and silent.
Unfortunately, no one could tell him a secret that would probably make Rong Xingyi overjoyed—this posture, his silent and troubled expression, made him look exactly like his teenage brother.
But all their similarities came from the demonic blood flowing through their veins, cold, volatile, greedy and unrestrained, inferior genes.
After staring at the silent chat window a few more times, Xi Leng lowered his hand and turned off his phone screen.
After resting enough, he prepared to go upstairs. He turned on his phone again, intending to send a message informing the other party that he would pack his things and move out as soon as possible.
He lowered his head and pressed the send button.
But a slight vibration came from the door, he froze, this was impossible in a well-soundproofed luxury apartment.
Unless someone was pressing their phone against the door, amplifying the vibration, making it audible inside.
Then came the expected knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, no rhythm, only unconcealed urgency.
Xi Leng went to open the door, cautiously opening it a crack.
But the person outside pushed the door open, forcing a confrontation.
Having successfully barged into his neighbor’s apartment, Min Zhi’s expression softened slightly, putting away the hand that was pressing against the door, calmly slipping his spare phone back into his pocket.
“…Hey.”
All his anger condensed into a single, short syllable, his dark eyes, suppressing turbulent emotions, fixed on Xi Leng’s face.
The whites of his eyes visible beneath his dark pupils, a fierce look; his deep-set eyes and the narrow double eyelids that only appeared when he looked up, also a fierce look.
However, a moment later, his eyebrows relaxed slightly, the fierce and intimidating aura instantly dissipating, a complete 180-degree change.
He even managed a smile: “Neighbor, good evening.”
“…”
Still not planning to admit his landlord identity.
Xi Leng, feeling guilty, naturally didn’t expose him, his gaze shifting to Min Zhi’s hand.
Min Zhi raised his hand generously, letting him see it clearly. Even more eye-catching than the ring tattoo on his left middle finger was the red scarf wrapped around his wrist three or four times, a casual, street-style look, very stylish.
“Your scarf.” Min Zhi even added an explanation, then asked the scarf’s owner, “Do you think it looks good?”
“…”
Xi Leng was completely in awe of the top star’s fashion sense.
Honestly, it also suited his own taste, he couldn’t help but take a few more glances.
Min Zhi then urged: “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“Mm-hmm, come in.”
Xi Leng turned and stepped aside.
He still maintained his calm and indifferent demeanor, like still water, no aggression, quiet and lonely, but if you insisted on approaching, on falling in, you couldn’t blame anyone else for drowning.
Despite this, Min Zhi hurriedly followed him to the kitchen.
Xi Leng took an unopened bottle of water for his guest: “Here, have some water, no alcohol today.”
Min Zhi, still annoyed, retorted: “Did I come here for water?”
He wasn’t planning to admit his landlord identity, but beating around the bush with Xi Leng wasn’t a solution either, so he casually found an excuse: “I heard from Jackson that you want to terminate the lease.”
“Mm-hmm.” Xi Leng nodded. “I have some savings now, I can’t keep taking advantage of others’ kindness.”
“Oh?” Min Zhi smiled, but his eyes remained cold, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. “I thought you didn’t like me as your neighbor.”
“…Min Zhi.” This time, Xi Leng actually called his name directly, then after a pause, said seriously, “I’m a liar.”
Min Zhi’s expression was also serious, but he said: “I think you’re mistaken, you’re a thief.”
“…” The serious atmosphere instantly dissipated. Xi Leng was silent for a moment, wanting to say, you’re the thief, stealing my hair tie and then my scarf.
But he couldn’t say these teasing words, his gaze averted.
“Xi Leng.” Min Zhi, relentless, stepped closer and continued, “You’re also a despicable thief.”
Xi Leng was willing to admit this, a liar was naturally despicable, what kind of family raised what kind of person.
However, Min Zhi looked at him with a smile, neither angry nor annoyed, no hint of reproach, even a playful glint in his eyes.
Xi Leng stared at him, speechless.
In the silence, he heard Min Zhi say,
“Stole my heart.”
“And refuses to take responsibility.”
