Chapter 25: On the Definition of Heartbreak

Ming Ying truly cracked.

He didn’t dare reply to any more messages.

Ming Ying tossed his phone away like a hot potato, inwardly let out a string of creative curses, then hauled himself up, opened his laptop, and started reading papers (proper papers) and working on diagrams.

Generally speaking, extreme shock and speechlessness makes people become taciturn. But Ming Ying was different—he became passionate about studying.

Studying was truly the best method for escaping this damn reality. Because every time we study, we feel full of confidence that the future holds promise.

Just like that, Ming Ying furrowed his brow and concentrated, finishing all the weekly assignments Thomas had given him. By all logic, he should be full of confidence for the future.

But Ming Ying still held a pessimistic view of what lay ahead. He attributed this to not having studied enough.

What else was there to study?

Ah, right. The two classes he’d missed today.

Thinking of this, Ming Ying’s hand on the mouse froze.

Damn it. He really didn’t want to open that inbox!

Better wait for Bruce, then…

And so, Ming Ying casually gave up on his future just like that.

Ming Ying slapped his laptop shut, then stretched and went to the living room. It was already dusk, and the twilight filtering through the blinds relaxed him slightly. He rubbed his hair, collapsed onto the sofa, grabbed the remote, and casually tuned to a channel.

Listening to the authentic London-accented dialogue of a British drama, Ming Ying felt himself getting better again.

Ah, sure enough, sappy chicken soup for the soul still had its uses. Put down the electronics, and everything became acceptable.

Just then, Mark, hearing the noise, poked his head out of his room. “Oh, Ming. You didn’t go to class today. Why?”

Ming Ying facepalmed. “It’s a very, very long story. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

Mark expressed his understanding. “Can I guess, then? Does it have something to do with that hot Girl of yours?”

Ming Ying: “…”

Mark raised both hands to the heavens. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. But weren’t you two about to meet in real life? Did the big reveal fail?”

Ming Ying: “…”

Mark crossed himself on his chest. “Oh damn, I’m really sorry. Please trust me, I didn’t mean it. I think failure is okay, it doesn’t diminish you, Ming. Let me guess again—did you not like them, or did they not like you? Surely it wasn’t the first option—”

Ming Ying interrupted. “Why couldn’t it be the first option?”

“Oh. Good question.” Mark sat down next to Ming Ying. “Ming, knowing you, unless the other party was a man or a transsexual, you wouldn’t have this ‘questioning life’ expression plastered on your face.”

Ming Ying: …?!

Ming Ying’s eyes shot wide in alarm.

WTF. Mark, this guy, was terrifying. So all his talent points weren’t in academics; they were put into this!

“See? I guessed right?” Mark clapped for himself, celebrating who-knows-what. “So, Ming, was it a man or a transsexual?”

Ming Ying, amidst his shock, felt like he was being mocked. Unwilling to back down, he shot back, “It was your professor, Mark!”

This time, it was Mark’s turn to widen his eyes. He thought of his fifty-something, balding instructors and remarked, “Ming, your tastes are even scarier than I imagined.”

Ming Ying said flatly, “Mark, move. You’re blocking the football match.”

The TV screen had switched to the Premier League.

Mark glanced at the TV, then looked at Ming Ying slumped on the sofa, and suddenly let out a sly chuckle.

Ming Ying frowned and scooted away a bit.

Mark said, “Ming, such a good reason like heartbreak, why waste life here? There are plenty of places to watch a match. Are you sure you want to bury yourself at home?”

Ming Ying could figure out with his toes the “good places” Mark was talking about—none other than the entire row of bars on the street outside.

Ming Ying laughed. “Mark, I genuinely have no money. You know, I’m a broke student. You’re luring me into a crime.”

Mark seemed disappointed by this answer. He pouted, then suddenly said, “Oh, right, Ming! I came out just now to tell you something else!”

Ming Ying raised an eyebrow. “What? I don’t bet on matches either. No money.”

Mark pulled out his phone. “Today, Aston took a male student out of your class. I saw the sneaky photo someone posted, and it kinda looks like you. Don’t you think it’s funny? If it weren’t for seeing you didn’t go to class, I’d really think it was you.”

Ming Ying: ????

What the hell. This speed… who says Westerners just drag their feet?

Ming Ying coughed and sat up. “Let me see.”

Ming Ying quickly glanced at the sneaky photo.

Bad news: there was a sneaky photo.

Good news: he was just incidentally in it.

Because he was just an extra, the focus was on Aston. Ming Ying was blurry, and since he’d had his head down the entire time Aston led him out, his face was unclear, and his features weren’t distinct. So even Mark couldn’t say with 100% certainty.

Guiltily, Ming Ying said, “Your eyes… must be playing tricks. Where does that look like me?”

Mark’s gossip radar started whirring to life. “Then hurry up and ask your classmates who the person taken was, and what the deal is!”

Ming Ying pulled a long face and said, “Maybe later.”

Fortunately, Mark didn’t question his apathetic attitude, chalking it up to the normal emotional state of a heartbroken straight man.

“Ming, you really look like a lovesick drunk right now.” Mark shook his head in assessment. “A poor lovesick drunk.”

“…”

Ming Ying instinctively wanted to retort, but the moment he opened his mouth, no words came out.

Damn it—how was this not heartbreak?

A whole, living person. Gone. And on top of being gone, turned into—a man!!!

Who on earth could instantly accept that?

Despairing, Ming Ying felt even less like talking.

And so, it went until the evening. Ming Ying, full of despair, didn’t look at his phone at all, and he got half a day of peace.

However, after he had washed up for the night, just as he turned on the screen, a message from Sophie ruthlessly shattered that peace.

Sophie: Ming, I’ll be there to pick you up at 8 AM sharp tomorrow! Don’t forget!

Ming Ying looked at this message. It took a full five seconds before he remembered—he still had that tutoring job for Benjamin on Wednesdays and Sundays!

Damn it. Damn it.

This was absolutely him digging his own grave!

Ming Ying paced in circles around the room, hands behind his back, head bowed. In the end, he still sent Sophie a message declining.

Silas received Catherine’s message while he was on the treadmill. Catherine said Ming Ying didn’t want to continue tutoring Benjamin anymore. Silas hit the treadmill’s stop button. “Did he give a reason?”

Catherine paused. “He said he wants to go out and have fun tomorrow.”

Silas laughed. “Alright, I understand.”

After hanging up, Silas returned to his study. He dealt with some work, then picked up his phone.

Ming Ying received the message while he was reading a book. The moment that custom ringtone buzzed, he flinched. He did two minutes of mental preparation before picking it up to look.

He opened it—indeed, it was that familiar campus scenery profile picture.

XI: Ming, I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, to Hong Kong. Anything you want me to bring back to eat?

Business trip?

Ming Ying’s first reaction wasn’t about the person asking what food he wanted—it was that he was going on a business trip.

So then… could he go earn that thousand-plus dollars?

No, no. A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall. That was his house. What if he went in and couldn’t get out?

But… a thousand-plus bucks was really tempting.

Ming Ying mused wistfully. One morning of work and he could go gallivanting with Mark at a “good place.”

He’d saved up that money for meeting XI in real life. Now the real-life meeting had happened, but it was worse than if it never happened. That money was just sitting there—might as well spend it on enjoying himself.

So after a moment of hesitation and deliberation, Ming Ying replied with two words embodying the Great Way Simplifies All.

Mingo: No.

Two minutes later. Buzz.

XI: Mm.

XI: Cold tomorrow. Dress warmly.

Ming Ying’s goosebumps erupted again. He bit his fingertip, thinking: Aston shouldn’t be lying to him, right…

And besides… Ming Ying scrolled up through the chat history. His earlier message said he’d come find him after the speech on Sunday. That implied he really wouldn’t be here on Wednesday, right…

Ming Ying’s fingers traversed the phone screen, up and down, as if trying to deduce Mr. Aston’s activity itinerary from this.

But after looking for ages, he couldn’t figure out a thing.

On the other end, Silas watched the “typing…” notification repeatedly jumping on the screen above. He frowned slightly.

The next second, a message with the white puppy avatar popped up.

Mingo: Received [Salute]

Silas glanced at it and laughed out loud.

…

The next day, Sophie’s car stopped downstairs. Ming Ying dawdled for five minutes before getting in.

After he got in, he still tried to fish for information from Sophie. “Sophie, can I ask, will it just be Ben today?”

Sophie turned back to look at him. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

Ming Ying smiled and waved his hand. “No problem, no problem.”

Sophie, however, frowned, looking him over. “Ming, did you not rest well last night?”

“Huh?” Ming Ying froze.

Sophie said, “Your dark circles.”

Ming Ying subconsciously touched his face.

“If you didn’t rest well, you can rest a bit at Ben’s place.”

“No, no, no. No need.” Hearing this, Ming Ying felt even less like resting. “I’m fine.”

But Sophie clearly didn’t believe him. “Ming, your face is telling the opposite story.”

Ming Ying pinched the bridge of his nose and randomly threw out a line: “I’m really fine. Just heartbroken, is all.”

Upon hearing this, Sophie let out an “Oh” and smiled. “So that’s it. I was wondering what was up. If it’s not too rude of me to ask—were you the one dumped, or…?”

Such an impolite question. Ming Ying’s mouth twitched. “Of course, I dumped him!”

“Oh, what was the reason?” Sophie inquired with concern. “Did the other party cuckold you?”

Ming Ying covered his face. That would be better than this.

Sophie, seeing his demeanor, immediately assumed she’d hit the nail on the head. She consoled him. “Good kid. Good-looking as you are, the next romance will start very soon. In New York, it’s not hard.”

Ming Ying waved his hand weakly.

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

They got out of the car, went up the elevator, and entered the apartment. Everything went very smoothly.

Until—when Ming Ying stepped inside, he saw a pair of thin-soled black leather shoes in the entrance hall.

“…”

Ming Ying froze right there.

In an instant, he felt all the blood in his body rush to his head.

Aston had actually lied to him!!!

Just as he’d thought—a bastard!

“Ming?” Sophie tapped his shoulder.

Although his heart was experiencing a tsunami, Ming Ying maintained his composure outwardly.

He secretly took a deep breath and asked softly, “Sophie, isn’t only Ben supposed to be home today?”

Sophie looked at him. “Only Ben. Where’s the problem?”

Ming Ying pointed at the leather shoes. “Then what are these about?”

As he spoke, he even held the door, which was about to close, as if ready to bolt.

Sophie was very confused but still said, “Ming, are you talking about Mr. Aston? He left for the airport this morning, heading to Hong Kong on a business trip. As for the shoes… Ming, this is his house.”

…Ha.

Ming Ying froze again.

Right. There were the man’s shoes in the man’s house. Where was the problem…

Ming Ying coughed, withdrew his foot that was halfway out the door, and smiled. “Sorry, Sophie. Really sorry.”

He was paranoid.

Sophie glanced at him again. “Ming, are you sure you don’t need to rest?”

“No need.” Ming Ying walked in with a smile. “I missed Ben so much!”

As soon as little Ben heard Ming Ying’s voice, he came pattering out of his room. “Ming! You’re here!”

Ming Ying bent down to scoop up the little boy. Just as he was about to release his nature and go wild with Ben in the living room, he suddenly remembered—this house had surveillance cameras!

So Ming Ying dejectedly put Ben down and led him towards the living room.

They sat down, and after reading a Chinese book with Ben for a while, Ming Ying suddenly remembered something and asked quietly, “Ben, you said before that Cherry is your sister?”

Ben’s big eyes were wide. “That bad guy? She is indeed my sister.”

It was true. Ming Ying scratched his head.

“Little Teacher Ming, did that bad guy almost make you stop coming?” Ben asked.

“Huh?” Ming Ying paused.

Ben reached out and hugged Ming Ying. “It’s okay, Little Teacher Ming! My dad and Silas already disciplined that bad guy for you. She’s locked in her room on house arrest now. Hahahaha…”

Silas… Ming Ying remembered the name Aston had signed in his notebook yesterday.

Just then, the door clicked open.

It was actually a very small sound, but Ming Ying was extremely sensitive to it—after all, he himself had experience trying to sneak out of this house.

But before Ming Ying could even react, Ben in front of him was already frowning his little brows. “Oh shit! It’s Silas!”

“…”

Then Ming Ying watched as Ben scrambled up nimbly and circled around to hide behind him.

He heard Ben say over his shoulder, “Silas, I’m going back to my room to study. If there’s nothing else, please don’t bother me! Thanks!”

“Mm.”

Hearing that voice, Ming Ying ground his back teeth.

Damn it. He just knew it!!!

What now? Trying to run probably wasn’t an option either.

Steeling his heart, Ming Ying stood up and turned around.

He saw the man had already changed his shoes, his suit jacket was draped over his arm, and he was tilting his chin up, loosening his necktie as he walked over.

Silas’s expression was completely natural. Seeing Ming Ying, he even arched an eyebrow. “Ming?”

Ming, my ass.

Ming Ying forced a smile. “Mr. Aston, I’m also going back to my room—no, accompanying Ben back to his room to study. If there’s nothing else, please don’t bother me. Thanks!”

After speaking, he bent down to pick up the book on the rug, ready to turn around.

But in the time it took to say one sentence, Silas had already walked up behind him and pressed a hand onto his shoulder. “Where are you running? Just study here.”

“…”

“What am I supposed to study?”

“Don’t you have things to study?”

“No.”

Ming Ying’s expression was very ugly.

Silas sat down on the sofa opposite him. “Ming, are you angry?”

Obviously. Got lied to and you’re telling him not to be angry?

“The flight this morning was canceled.”

Ming Ying paused.

What was this? Was he explaining to him…

“Need me to show you the ticket?”

“…”

Ugh. Ming Ying stood rooted to the spot, unmoving.

The next second, a shadow fell over him, completely engulfing him.

And then he saw Silas’s phone screen. It was a photo sent by his contact Catherine. The photo showed that due to heavy fog, the direct flight from New York to Hong Kong was canceled, rescheduled to the afternoon.

Ming Ying: “…”

Did this mean Heaven itself was against him, wanting to mess with him???

Silas asked, “Do you believe me now?”

Ming Ying coughed. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Mm.” Silas then asked, “So what did you mean?”

Ha?

Ming Ying looked up.

“Just… what a coincidence, isn’t it…”

“I’d call this a chance encounter.”

…God damn “chance encounter.”

A chance encounter in your living room.

“Uh…” Ming Ying said. “You know what, I don’t think this is a good place for chance encounters. I should head back first, come again later.”

“Stay for lunch.” Silas said it lightly, but his tone carried an indisputable finality.

“Uh, no need, really…” Ming Ying mumbled, “I can just go back and eat…”

“Ming.” Silas suddenly frowned. “You think I’d let a student who comes to my house leave hungry?”

…What do you mean ‘a student who comes to your house’?

How many students came to your house?

Ming Ying recited that line again. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

Right at that moment, the doorbell rang with a ding-dong.

Ming Ying looked up as if he’d found a savior. Indeed, it was Sophie!

As soon as Sophie came in, she smiled and said, “Good morning, Mr. Aston. Ben messaged me saying he wanted to leave early.”

“Mm.” Silas said. “He’s in his room.”

“Alright.”

Sophie led Ben out of his room. Ming Ying’s gaze was nailed onto them, as if saying: Can you save me? Can you save me?

Ming Ying heard a soft laugh from above him.

Sophie had clearly sensed Ming Ying’s gaze as well, and she stopped.

Ming Ying’s eyes instantly widened. Had it worked… Sophie, if you took me with you, you’d be the—The words “Statue of Liberty” hadn’t finished shouting in his mind.

When Ming Ying heard Sophie say: “Mr. Aston, Ming has been heartbroken. The other party even cheated on him. It’s hit this kid pretty hard. Look at those dark circles. Please, let him rest too.”