Chapter 79: Huai Dan’s Perspective part 2 [Extra]
His phone had just been turned on and hadn’t fully loaded yet. A moment later, “L”‘s profile picture reverted to the WeChat default, and the nickname changed to “WeChat User No Longer in Use.”
“…”
Huai Dan looked at the chat window, suddenly wanting to pull the person behind this account out of the screen and give them a good shake.
He understood why Luo Jing did this.
His trip abroad was practically a clear indication that he knew who was behind this account.
After realizing this, it was within his expectations that Luo Jing would feel awkward for a while.
He hadn’t expected Luo Jing to actually believe his clumsy deception for so long.
One dared to act, the other dared to play along, and Luo Jing even dared to believe he didn’t know.
So this absurd relationship had somehow lasted for so many years.
Until now.
Huai Dan sighed softly, thinking it was good that it ended.
But the sentence “I’ve met someone I like more in real life” was particularly jarring.
He stared at these words for a moment, then closed the chat window with the deactivated account.
He had been too presumptuous, not even asking Luo Jing if he had anyone he liked.
Thinking of this possibility, Huai Dan lowered his eyes.
He switched to Luo Jing’s main account. The last message was the boy asking him to let him know when he arrived.
Huai Dan opened the chat window, edited his message several times, then finally replied: [Arrived.]
H: [Take care.]
He didn’t send the “Come back soon” message, deleting it instead, and put his phone back in his pocket.
Luo Jing’s awkward phase seemed to be lasting a bit too long.
Perhaps because he was busy, or perhaps because of his deliberate distancing after the “breakup,” their communication frequency reached a new low.
In his office, Huai Dan looked at the message Luo Jing had finally replied to after more than ten hours, was silent for a moment, put down his phone, and rubbed his temples.
Ye Lin was currently sitting on the sofa in his office, reading a book—he had now come to terms with the fact that his friend had fallen for Luo Feng’s younger brother and even tried to offer advice on how to pursue him.
Although Huai Dan wasn’t very willing to share his relationship status.
But Ye Lin had an unusual curiosity and persistent inquisitiveness.
Plus, he had been quite free recently, so watching Huai Dan’s drama had become one of his pastimes.
They had grown up together, and this was Ye Lin’s first time seeing Huai Dan like someone.
He had once thought his friend would end up alone, spending his old age with his endless bank account balance, a cold and lonely existence filled only with the scent of money.
And the person he liked was actually someone he had always seen as a younger brother, someone he had practically watched grow up.
Ye Lin really wanted to know how this brotherly bond had changed, but Huai Dan didn’t seem to want to share.
But Huai Dan had actually gone abroad for more than a week to see Luo Jing during the busiest time of the year for the company.
It didn’t fit his calm and collected persona.
Seeing Huai Dan’s actions, he closed his book, a gossipy look on his face: “What’s wrong, what’s wrong?”
Huai Dan didn’t intend to answer.
So Ye Lin started guessing: “Luo Jing isn’t replying to you?”
Huai Dan: “…”
Seeing his expression, Ye Lin knew he had guessed correctly.
It was rare to see Huai Dan at a disadvantage, but he was even more curious about how things had turned out this way.
In his impression, Luo Jing had always been the more clingy one in their relationship.
And he was also quite lively, a very lovable child.
The complete opposite of his friend.
He didn’t seem like the type to give his friend the cold shoulder.
“What did you do to him?” Ye Lin asked after thinking for a moment, his expression serious.
Huai Dan: “…”
This state lasted until Luo Jing’s graduation.
To be honest, it was a bit unbearable.
A few days after Luo Jing’s graduation ceremony, Luo Feng suddenly sent him a message.
Luo Feng: [Luo Jing is coming back, do you want to pick him up?]
She then told him the date.
Luo Feng: [He probably told you, right?]
Huai Dan stared at the message, silent for at least half a minute, then opened Luo Jing’s chat window again, confirming he hadn’t missed any messages.
He hadn’t mentioned when he was coming back.
Huai Dan messaged him again.
H: [When are you planning to come back?]
So this was his so-called “in a while.”
A mixture of helplessness and amusement rose in Huai Dan’s heart.
H: [I have something to do that day, it’s not very convenient.]
Luo Feng: [Okay, then you two can arrange it yourselves.]
Huai Dan calmly turned off his phone and waited until the day Luo Jing was supposed to arrive.
He started waiting from the day Luo Jing landed, but their communication remained the same, everything seemed normal, except that he didn’t seem to have any intention of telling him he was already back.
Huai Dan felt a bit helpless.
After patiently waiting for more than a week, he finally couldn’t take it anymore.
He had no doubt that if he didn’t ask, Luo Jing would probably never tell him.
A seemingly suspicious boy was sitting in an inconspicuous corner of the company lobby.
He was wearing a baseball cap and a mask, his head lowered as he looked at his phone.
…This behavior was too obvious. Huai Dan recognized him almost instantly.
Such a clumsy disguise, just like when Luo Jing pretended to be his “second sister.”
As for who he was avoiding, it was obvious.
But Huai Dan wasn’t going to let him have his way this time.
He paused slightly, then walked towards him, under the curious and scrutinizing gazes of the employees.
After sitting down on the sofa, Huai Dan looked at the boy playing on his phone, waiting to see how long it would take him to react.
After a moment, Luo Jing finally noticed him.
He first glanced up at him, his eyes widening in recognition, then quickly looked away.
Just as Huai Dan was about to say something, Luo Jing suddenly turned his head and looked out the window.
Then he raised his phone and started taking pictures.
Huai Dan: “…”
Seeing the boy’s sudden awkwardness and stiffness, Huai Dan found it amusing.
“Done taking pictures?” He asked after patiently waiting for a while.
Although it was a bit sudden, the meeting went smoothly, and the long-standing issue between them was resolved.
After sending the person away, Huai Dan returned to his office and continued working.
After a while, he put down the documents, unlocked his phone, and found Luo Feng’s chat window.
H: [Are you and Luo Jing free for dinner after work?]
This meeting was too rushed and brief.
He still had many things he wanted to know.
And he wanted to see Luo Jing again.
Luo Feng: [Sure, see you tonight.]
Luo Feng: [By the way, he said he’s going to intern at your company?]
H: [He can come if he wants.]
Luo Feng replied quickly: [He’s dying to come. I was just worried about him being unsupervised at the company, so I’ll leave him to you.]
Luo Feng: [Then you can just take him with you today. It’s quite a hassle for him to commute from my place to your company every day.]
Luo Feng: [Is anyone at your place?]
H: [No.]
At the dinner table, Luo Feng casually asked Luo Jing if he had dated anyone abroad.
Because of a small incident, this topic should have been dropped.
It wasn’t an important or serious question, just casual conversation.
But Huai Dan asked again just as it was about to be forgotten.
Then he saw the slight panic in Luo Jing’s eyes.
When Luo Jing met his gaze, he suddenly felt that the answer wasn’t that important anymore.
Because the boy’s eyes were too expressive, and Luo Jing, just like when he was younger, had all his thoughts written on his face, easily readable.
Huai Dan got the answer he wanted.
And it seemed he got something even more desirable.
But to his surprise, Luo Jing actually asked him the same question after answering.
“What about you?”
The boy looked at him, unable to hide his nervousness.
Yet also trying to appear calm.
Huai Dan looked at him for a moment, suddenly wanting to hug him.
After Luo Jing left the table, the other three continued chatting.
Huai Dan quietly ate his food, and the two friends beside him, as they chatted, suddenly turned the topic to him.
They had known each other for a long time and understood each other’s personalities to some extent. Luo Feng took a sip of tea, looked at Huai Dan, and said teasingly, “Mr. Huai seems to be in a good mood today. Did something good happen?”
“Did you finally acquire that land you were talking about?” Luo Feng asked after thinking for a moment.
Ye Lin, who had been happily eating, paused, then looked back and forth between them, ready to watch the drama unfold.
“Do I?” Huai Dan calmly put down his chopsticks, paused, then said ambiguously, “Perhaps it’s because I haven’t seen Luo Jing in a long time.”
Luo Feng suddenly understood: “So that’s it, it makes sense, after all, you two are so close.”
Huai Dan nodded, and Ye Lin rolled his eyes.
“Speaking of which,” Luo Feng, oblivious to the undercurrent, looked at the empty seat beside Huai Dan and asked, puzzled, “Has Luo Jing been gone a bit too long? Don’t tell me he got lost in the restaurant.”
She was about to take out her phone and message her brother.
“I’ll go check,” Huai Dan said, putting down his chopsticks and standing up, to Luo Feng’s surprise.
“Okay,” so she put down her phone.
He hadn’t expected to see Luo Jing standing with that young celebrity in the hallway.
At this moment, they were the only two people there.
The hallway was brightly lit. Xie You was handing something to Luo Jing, his expression nervous, practically all his thoughts written on his face.
Perhaps because Luo Jing was oblivious or simply dense, he took it without any hesitation.
Huai Dan didn’t know whether to be relieved or exasperated.
The way they stood together made Huai Dan instinctively frown, so he paused and walked towards them.
Xie You had been about to say something, but seeing him, he stopped, greeted him, and then tactfully left.
Luo Jing was still looking at his retreating figure.
Having successfully arranged for him to be by his side, and even living together, they had a lot of time now.
Huai Dan had originally planned to take things slow.
But seeing that trending topic on the high-speed train, he admitted he couldn’t help himself.
So when he saw Luo Jing at home, he had asked, not so calmly, where the flower was.
The moment he asked this question, it was like opening a floodgate, and all his suppressed emotions poured out in front of this person.
After speaking, he realized he had been a bit too reckless.
But it was too late, his words had already been spoken.
Luo Jing, having just woken up, was dazed at first, then, thinking about his words, quickly realized something.
Then he asked him several almost straightforward questions.
So, for once, it was Huai Dan who was flustered.
He had never found Luo Jing so difficult to handle.
He was usually so oblivious, why was he suddenly so sharp?
Huai Dan felt a bit helpless.
But seeing his bright eyes and happy expression, Huai Dan could only sigh inwardly.
Forget it, let him know if he wanted to know.
He would find out eventually anyway.
The catalyst for his confession was the reception at Luo Jing’s house.
For convenience, Luo Jing had been picked up by his family the night before, so he was alone in the huge house that entire night.
Huai Dan rarely felt so unaccustomed to it.
He leaned against the headboard, thinking that a certain matter should be brought forward.
The next day, seeing Luo Jing at the reception, he finally felt a bit of relief.
Luo Jing was wearing a white suit today, accented with what looked like expensive dark green gemstones, clearly carefully chosen.
His hair was styled with a slight curl, making him look even more refined. He wasn’t wearing much makeup, just a bit of lipstick.
Standing under the lights of the banquet hall, Luo Jing looked elegant and noble, no less striking than the other artists present.
He was the center of attention just by standing there.
But being too attractive wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
Huai Dan thought this after seeing a young artist approach Luo Jing while he was away and say some very inappropriate things.
After sending the person away, he sat down next to Luo Jing.
Luo Jing asked him what he was thinking.
He didn’t hesitate and answered truthfully, his expression unchanged.
At this moment, he didn’t want to worry about whether his words would make Luo Jing overthink or even become scared.
He only had one thought.
“Let’s go,” Huai Dan said to Luo Jing. “Let’s go home.”
On the way home, Luo Jing suddenly started sulking.
As soon as they arrived, he went straight to his room and closed the door, not even sparing a glance for Plastic Bag.
Not long after, he saw the light in Luo Jing’s room turn off.
He seemed to be resting.
In this situation, it didn’t seem easy to talk to him.
Huai Dan sat on the sofa in the living room, silently.
Plastic Bag, seeing that he was alone in the living room, came over and rubbed against his legs, seeking attention.
Huai Dan patted its head.
He was the type of person who would carry out any decision he made.
After playing with Plastic Bag for half a minute, Huai Dan stood up and left the living room, went to the study, took out the coin, and returned to the sofa.
Then, after a while, the door behind him opened.
He had waited for Luo Jing.
