Chapter 63 Part 2

Slap!

Chang Ming suddenly swatted his hand away, his tone hostile. “Don’t touch me!”

Good intentions met with outright antagonism. Old Zhang’s temper was steady by nature, but even he couldn’t help but change his expression after inexplicably taking a slap.

“…”

Xi Zhui watched the scene unfold, and his impression of Chang Ming plummeted into the negatives in an instant.

Wen Chaosheng knew all too well the deep-seated inferiority complex buried in Chang Ming’s bones—and the toxic traits it bred. He had no choice but to apologize on his behalf. “Sorry about that, Master Zhang. I’ll help him up myself.”

Though his own frame was slender, Wen Chaosheng deftly supported Chang Ming’s arm, helping him to his feet before heaving him into the car with effort.

It took only a few seconds, all in one smooth motion.

As if he’d performed the action thousands of times before.

Xi Zhui’s gaze deepened as it lingered on Wen Chaosheng, a pang of inexplicable heartache rising in his chest. He had to take deep breaths to suppress his surging emotions.

“…”

Wen Chaosheng quickly settled Chang Ming, then turned to fold the wheelchair. But this time, Xi Zhui immediately stopped him. “Old Zhang, put the wheelchair in the trunk.”

Old Zhang complied. “Got it.”

Wen Chaosheng reminded him gently, “There’s a button underneath to fold it. Thanks for the trouble.”

Old Zhang acknowledged him and wheeled it to the trunk.

Now, only Xi Zhui and Wen Chaosheng remained outside the car, their eyes inevitably meeting.

Wen Chaosheng looked at Xi Zhui, who was so close, words hovering on the tip of his tongue but never quite emerging.

The thoughts he’d finally sorted out had turned into a tangled mess again with Chang Ming’s unexpected arrival.

Xi Zhui read the silence in the man before him. With Chang Ming still in the car, he wasn’t in a rush. “Get in the car first.”

“Mm.”

…

The vehicle sped along the road.

No one in the car spoke. The atmosphere grew so oppressively heavy it was suffocating, but thankfully, Chang Ming’s hotel wasn’t far—just a ten-minute drive.

The driver pulled up steadily at the hotel’s main entrance. “Director Wen, your friend’s hotel is here.”

Chang Ming spoke up at once, demanding as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Brother Wen, it’s not convenient for me to go alone. Walk me to my room.”

With that, he scooted closer to Wen Chaosheng’s side and unbuckled his seatbelt for him. “Let’s go.”

“…”

Xi Zhui, seated in the passenger seat, turned around and caught sight of their intimate proximity.

In that instant, his mind flashed to the photos from the private investigator years ago. That once-blurry young face now had a perfect match—

So, the person who had stayed by Wen Chaosheng’s side back then, the one who acted like his boyfriend… was Chang Ming?!

“…”

Wen Chaosheng had no idea what kind of storm was raging in Xi Zhui’s heart, but he was mindful of the man’s public status. It wouldn’t do for him to appear in the hotel lobby.

Wen Chaosheng hesitated. “Xi Zhui, I… I’ll take Chang Ming up first. You stay in the car.”

Xi Zhui tamped down his reluctance and gave a slight nod. “Alright.”

He had no clue what exactly the relationship was between Wen Chaosheng and Chang Ming, or what had transpired between them. Selfishly, he recoiled at the thought of any contact between the two.

Yet he refused to put Wen Chaosheng in a difficult spot.

Three minutes later, Wen Chaosheng and Chang Ming entered the hotel lobby together.

Only then did the driver, Old Zhang, ask from the side, “Mr. Xi, do we head back now, or wait a bit longer?”

Xi Zhui retracted his dark, brooding gaze. The lingering panic and unease in his heart flared up again. “No, we’re not leaving. Find a parking spot and wait.”

…

Beep.

The electronic keycard unlocked the door to the luxury suite.

Wen Chaosheng wheeled Chang Ming inside, already turning to leave without lingering. “Rest well. I’m heading out. I’ll get in touch with Aunt Chang…”

Chang Ming maneuvered his wheelchair to cut him off. “Brother Wen, you even attended tonight’s wrap-up banquet. With Jian Jinzhao and the others handling the film’s promotion, you don’t need to worry about it anymore, right?”

He inched closer to Wen Chaosheng, his possessiveness seeping out bit by bit. “When are you planning to come back to Italy with me? Want me to book your flight?”

Wen Chaosheng’s hands at his sides clenched into fists. For the first time, he stated his refusal clearly. “Chang Ming, I’m not going back. I want to stay in Hua Country—in Haishi City.”

He had intended to have this talk with Chang Ming at some point anyway. He just hadn’t expected the other man to return to the country first.

“…”

The smile faded from Chang Ming’s face, a sinister glint emerging in his eyes. “What did you say?”

Only a single spotlight illuminated the room.

The dim yellow light cast shadows over Chang Ming’s long fringe, making his features look increasingly like those of a horrifying male ghost.

Wen Chaosheng caught the eerie obsession in Chang Ming’s gaze and instinctively took half a step back, fear gripping him. “It’s been almost six years. I just want to live my own life for once.”

His tone wasn’t a negotiation—it was a near-powerless plea.

“You know better than anyone that life abroad isn’t what I want. I want…”

Chang Ming cut him off with a cold laugh. “You don’t get to want!”

He seized Wen Chaosheng’s wrist with sudden ferocity, yanking him down close with surprising strength.

“Brother Wen, don’t forget! You promised you’d always stay with me!”

“Oof—”

Wen Chaosheng had drunk a bit that evening. His balance gave out, and he tumbled forward. Even with the thick carpet, his knee throbbed with pain.

Chang Ming’s cloying gaze slid over Wen Chaosheng’s face as he murmured darkly, “You promised me. Once the film’s wrapped, you’d come back to me. How can you go back on your word now?”

“Brother Wen, who’s filling your head with these ideas? That Xi Zhui guy?”

“Oh, right—he’s your ex, isn’t he? Now he’s the Film Emperor, huh? Tsk, having a healthy body really makes it easy to climb the ladder. Don’t you think?”

Wen Chaosheng realized Chang Ming’s intent and panicked. “It has nothing to do with him! Chang Ming, this is between us. Don’t drag innocent people into it!”

Chang Ming took in his reaction, jealousy burning like hellfire in his chest.

He restrained the twisted murderous impulse in his heart and let out a few ambiguous chuckles instead. “Oh, so Xi Zhui’s just some irrelevant person? I thought you two had gotten back together.”

“…”

Back together?

That insidious question shattered Wen Chaosheng’s mental defenses. “No… no…”

His body betrayed him, trembling uncontrollably, as if drowning in an endless whirlpool—dizzy, vision blurring, breath coming in gasps.

Chang Ming leaned in slightly, scrutinizing the crumbling expression on Wen Chaosheng’s face. Then, abruptly, he pulled him into an embrace, as if offering heartfelt comfort.

“Brother Wen, don’t be scared. I’m here. I’ll stay with you.”

“…”

Wen Chaosheng wrenched himself free from the cold hug a beat later and scrambled to his feet, stumbling back. “D-don’t touch me!”

“Fine, I admit showing up tonight was too sudden. I should’ve discussed it with you more.” Chang Ming hid his triumphant right hand under the blanket, adopting a picture of perfect reasonableness.

“How about this? I’ll give you ten days, half a month. Handle whatever loose ends you have left, then come back to Italy with me.”

He leaned back slightly, his upturned eyes gleaming with certainty. “You’ll obey like a good boy, won’t you, Wen Chaosheng?”

“…”

Wen Chaosheng didn’t answer. He bolted for the door, fleeing this living hell in terror.

Ding!

The elevator reached the first floor and slid open.

Wen Chaosheng stumbled out, his unfocused gaze barely locking onto the public restroom down the hall. He rushed inside.

“Urp—”

The emotional turmoil had wreaked havoc on his stomach, compounded by all the alcohol from the wrap-up banquet. Wen Chaosheng retched violently into the toilet, feeling like he might collapse at any moment.

A passing hotel concierge heard the commotion and hurried in. “Sir? Sir, are you alright?”

Wen Chaosheng turned on the faucet with shaking hands, rinsing away the filth. He waved weakly. “Sorry… for the trouble.”

The concierge patted his back. “Too much to drink? Shall I get you some hot water?”

Wen Chaosheng started to refuse, but the man was already moving. Two minutes later, he returned with a cup of perfectly warm water. “Here, sir, have some.”

“Need me to call your family or a friend? I remember you came in with the guest from Room 1218.”

“No!”

Wen Chaosheng stopped him hastily. “I’ll be leaving soon.”

The concierge noticed the fear in his eyes and paused for a second before handing over the water. “Then how about I take you to the lounge to sit?”

Wen Chaosheng took the cup. “Thanks. I’ll just recover here for a bit and head out. Go ahead with your work—no need to mind me.”

The concierge respected his wishes. “Alright then. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mm.”

Wen Chaosheng downed the hot water in one go, finally easing the nausea in his stomach.

A long while later, he shuffled out of the restroom in a daze, crossed the lobby like a puppet stripped of its will, his expression utterly numb.

He passed through the revolving doors into the lobby, where a biting cold wind hit him full force.

Wen Chaosheng shivered, a sliver of reason returning. He instinctively pulled his overcoat tighter around himself, his eyes scanning the surroundings without thought—

Where was Xi Zhui?

He wanted to see Xi Zhui so badly.

The impulse flickered for mere seconds before Wen Chaosheng forced it down.

No, he couldn’t!

Chang Ming had already noticed. He couldn’t drag Xi Zhui into this!

Torn between emotion urging him forward and reason pulling him back, Wen Chaosheng was at an impasse when a familiar license plate pulled up before him.

The rear door opened slowly.

Powerful warm air spilled from inside the car, scattering the chill in the air.

Wen Chaosheng made out the figure within, and his eyes instantly burned.

Xi Zhui, who had originally been sitting in the passenger seat, had already shifted to the back seat. He raised a hand and beckoned to him. “It’s cold outside. Hurry and get in—I’ve been waiting for you forever.”