Chapter 48: Another Kiss
The calico cat, having been a stray for so long, had some skin issues and needed daily medication. Also, being timid and easily frightened, if allowed to roam freely, it would hide in corners, requiring both brothers to search for it.
Having a pet naturally came with its troubles, but the joy and fulfillment outweighed them.
The calico cat, a five-month-old female, was named Ban Li (Chestnut) by Rong Xingyi, a simple and easy name based on her coloring.
From then on, they had a new member in their family.
However, Rong Xingyi, claiming to be going to tutoring classes, was out all day. Xi Leng was primarily responsible for taking care of Ban Li, and the kitten naturally became more attached to him, making Rong Xingyi jealous, but it still couldn’t stop his determined steps towards the tutoring center.
Heh.
Xi Leng saw through him but didn’t say anything, continuing to play with the cat.
School was starting in a week, and Xi Leng wasted no time completing the transfer procedures for Rong Xingyi. The tutoring classes finally ended, and Rong Xingyi started making excuses to go out, now claiming to be visiting their mother, not even coming home at night.
But in reality, at eight o’clock in the evening, Rong Xingyi was still practicing diligently in the dance studio, preparing the audition video for the boy group survival show “Shining Boys.”
A few days ago, the program team officially announced the global auditions, forcefully trending at number one. The internet was flooded with rumors and promotional posts. He casually glanced through them, seeing various small-time internet celebrities, experienced auditionees, and even professionally trained trainees from overseas…
The more popular the show became, the more nervous Rong Xingyi felt. No one was forcing him, yet he pushed himself relentlessly.
He was completely different from the Rong Xingyi who went to school and studied, like a different person.
Even his brother, Xi Leng, probably couldn’t imagine this teenager, sweating and completely immersed in his practice, as his rebellious younger brother.
Speaking of Xi Leng…
How could he hide the audition from him? Rong Xingyi tried not to think about it, but he couldn’t help it, his scalp tingling, cold sweat breaking out every time he did.
If it were like before, they would live their own separate lives, Xi Leng wasn’t interested in interfering with him, and he didn’t want to be controlled. But Rong Xingyi really didn’t want to go back to the past, bearing so much conflict and anxiety at the age of 15.
He remembered Xi Leng promising to forgive him for one reckless act… For this, he hadn’t contacted his friends who were into extreme sports for a long time.
“Rong Xingyi!”
“Ah!!” Rong Xingyi was startled, abruptly turning his head, a drop of sweat rolling into his eye. He blinked his sore eyes and let out a slow breath. “It’s you…”
His bespectacled friend trotted over, a silly grin on his face, presenting his offering like Doraemon: “Look what I bought!”
Rong Xingyi glanced at the takeout bags, smelling the fragrant food, then wrinkled his nose and took a step back: “Fried chicken? I can’t eat this kind of food now.”
“You burn so many calories every day, you won’t gain weight.” His friend pushed the food towards him. “It’s the second episode of ‘Unlimited Escape Room’ tonight, we can eat while watching your brother, a combination of work and rest.”
That was true.
Rong Xingyi had practiced to the point of forgetting the time, he hadn’t eaten dinner yet, and after the intense dance practice, he was starving. The moment he smelled the fried chicken, his mouth started watering.
Rong Xingyi decided to follow his instincts, sitting on the floor with his friend, enjoying the fried chicken without any pretense of elegance.
His friend had brought a tablet, placing it on a chair and opening “Unlimited Escape Room.”
The two chatted while watching, the barrage comments also turned on, the quiet dance studio becoming lively, the fatigue from practice forgotten.
Initially, the comments were normal, fans of different guests introducing their favorites, seriously discussing and speculating about the plot. Gradually, the comments changed, filled with two familiar names: Xi Leng and Min Zhi.
And also… Air Conditioner CP? Opening a new world for Rong Xingyi.
His friend, far more knowledgeable than him, explained: “Your brother and Min-shen have quite a few CP fans now, they even have a super topic, because of air conditioners cooling, it’s called Air Conditioner CP. I think it’s quite fitting, they’re both the cold and aloof type, I also want to go for that kind of image in the future…”
“What image are you going for?” Rong Xingyi rolled his eyes. “You want to become a celebrity too?”
“Actually, a quiz show contacted me recently.” His friend said with a simple, honest smile. “I didn’t even have to apply, but I think I should prioritize my studies, so I didn’t agree.”
Rong Xingyi ignored him, his brows furrowed as he stared at the tablet, his expression serious, frozen for a long time, the fried chicken in his hand almost cold.
Some of the comments praised his brother from perspectives he could never have imagined.
【Xi Leng is so rational and mature, with a hint of unintentional gentleness, the program team’s casting is truly amazing!】
【I was hesitant because of the amateur guests, but this is much more interesting than an all-celebrity cast, Xi Leng is so handsome and charismatic aaaaaah】
【Cried through two packs of tissues watching an escape room show 1551】
【My mom is also a cleaning lady, I relate to this so much…】
【Is Leng Leng really his real name? He should be called Nuannuan (warmth) haha】
Rong Xingyi repeatedly suppressed his smile.
And then there were comments like these, testing his nerves one after another:
【Last time, Min-shen and Xiao Leng were forced together because of the shackles, this time they’re perfectly fine, yet they’re still inseparable??】
【Seriously… Min-ge… why are you always staring at him… Don’t be too obvious with your love】
【A seven-year fan can’t bear to look (covering face)】
【Who would have thought that an escape room show would have more sugar than the dating show next door】
【Sapiosexuality finally has a face… Air Conditioner CP is the best】
【This sense of shared hardship and destiny, who understands】
【Strong CP yyds!!!】
Objectively speaking, both of them were physically and mentally capable, among the top two of the five guests, but for some reason, they were inseparable from beginning to end.
The only time they were forcibly separated by the masked man, Min Zhi immediately snuck away to find Xi Leng. In the edited episode, they weren’t apart for more than five minutes.
Even his bespectacled friend asked: “Why is Min-shen always clinging to your ge?”
Even an outsider could see it. Rong Xingyi, as the younger brother of one party and a diehard fan of the other, knew it even better, but he just didn’t dare to admit it.
But his friend’s blunt words made it impossible for him to continue deceiving himself.
Rong Xingyi hesitated. He never imagined, when he naively agreed to keep Xi Leng’s secret, that a small lie would snowball into such an uncontrollable mess.
Min Zhi probably hadn’t treated his interactions with Xi Leng as fan service for a long time now, he genuinely enjoyed partnering with Xi Leng, their chemistry undeniable. There wasn’t a trace of acting, which was why CP fans were so invested.
But his blatant favoritism towards Xi Leng seemed bizarre and absurd to fans.
If Min Zhi discovered that his brother was a fake fan… Rong Xingyi gulped, they would really be screwed, wouldn’t they?
He could switch to another idol if his pursuit failed, but his brother, facing the storm directly… he suspected that with Min Zhi’s vindictive personality, a beating would be the least of their worries.
Rong Xingyi, distraught and lost in his thoughts, the first half of the second episode was almost over.
In the last five minutes, Xi Leng and Min Zhi arrived at 209, the autistic little boy’s room.
Rong Xingyi hadn’t expected the show to mention him.
Xi Leng’s voice came: “Initially, to communicate with him, I tried drawing. Then I found I quite enjoyed it, so I kept drawing.”
His bespectacled friend’s gaze immediately shifted to Rong Xingyi, his mouth dropping open in surprise: “Wow, your brother actually learned to draw because of you? I saw his Weibo, his paintings are amazing.”
Immersed in his own world, not noticing Rong Xingyi’s unusual daze, he couldn’t help but add: “It’s so nice to have an older brother, I also want one, but I don’t even have any cousins… I envy you so much.”
Rong Xingyi himself learned about the reason behind Xi Leng learning to draw even later than the thousands of viewers.
Xi Leng never told him.
That period of self-imposed isolation had become a faded and blurry memory, he couldn’t quite remember it, didn’t remember if he didn’t speak, if he didn’t respond when his name was called.
Because as long as his brother was there, there were no insurmountable difficulties. His memories were half terrifying but blurry shadows, half a bright and clear image of his ge.
But when he was eleven, his ge suddenly ran away from home without saying goodbye.
Sadness, pain, and the hatred of betrayal, the turbulent emotions almost destroyed the fragile boy. He locked himself in their room day and night, until Rong Haigao, losing his patience, dragged him out by the scruff of his neck and beat him until he couldn’t cry anymore.
Without his brother to share the burden, Rong Haigao’s anger was directed entirely at him and their mother, the frequency of his beatings increasing dramatically. It wasn’t until then that Ye Nan, who had endured a lifetime of abuse, for her son’s safety, finally mustered the courage to take him and leave, filing for a restraining order and a divorce.
“What’s wrong?”
His friend looked at him, noticing that he had lowered his head and was hugging his knees, inexplicably sensing a hint of helplessness and vulnerability from the tall teenager.
Rong Xingyi buried his face in his arms, his emotions unclear, his voice slightly muffled, “I’m not crying.”
Bespectacled friend: “…” I didn’t ask if you were crying.
On the other hand, regarding the identity of the mysterious landlord “A1,” Xi Leng’s only suspect was his neighbor, Min Zhi.
“A,” the first letter of the alphabet, “1,” the first Arabic numeral. A casually chosen username could also reveal one’s personality.
Moreover, buying an entire floor of an apartment building was very much in line with the style of a protagonist gong in a Jinjiang novel, a walking ATM. He wasn’t sure what role Qiao Yusen played in this rental situation, one possibility being that he acted on his own accord, mistakenly assuming there was something between him and Min Zhi, so he rented Min Zhi’s apartment to him.
Absurd, but plausible.
When he rented the apartment, he had only met Min Zhi a few times, they had just exchanged contact information a few days prior, how could such a ridiculous misunderstanding just be brushed aside? Min Zhi not only didn’t question him or ask him to leave, but that “thirty-six thousand” out of the one hundred and thirty-six thousand for the painting might be Min Zhi returning his rent.
Since he couldn’t get any information out of Qiao Yusen, to verify his suspicions, Xi Leng called Sheng Jiao instead.
“Ah… you’re asking about that painting, ‘Ophelia in the Woods’?” Sheng Jiao paused for a few seconds, he wasn’t as tight-lipped as Qiao Yusen, and blurted out, “Sorry, that painting isn’t with me anymore, someone bought it… you don’t mind, do you? I’ll buy it back if you do.”
Although Sheng Jiao’s tone seemed strangely eager, Xi Leng had already gotten the information he wanted and said it was fine.
He hung up the phone, soothed Ban Li who was rubbing against his leg, and left the empty apartment, going next door.
Ding—
As he hesitated, the elevator behind him opened.
Emerging from the elevator, with a surprised look on his face, was Min Zhi.
“What are you doing?”
Xi Leng’s suspicious lurking was caught red-handed, a rare look of awkwardness appearing on his usually calm face. His hazel eyes flickered before he answered: “I need to talk to you about something.”
Although he had mostly confirmed Min Zhi’s landlord identity, he still wanted to hear it from him directly.
“Hm?” Min Zhi raised an eyebrow, opening the door as he spoke, “Come in.”
He was now completely different from the aloof and distant top star he remembered.
Xi Leng didn’t expect to be invited in, but since he was the one who initiated the visit, he could only follow him inside and change his shoes.
“This seems to be my first time at your place.”
Although he said that, he didn’t seem particularly curious, his gaze respectfully restrained, not looking around the god of fortune’s apartment.
Min Zhi was quite welcoming, “Make yourself at home, do you want a tour?”
Xi Leng looked up, about to decline, when he suddenly stopped, noticing the familiar painting on the wall.
Rather than a portrait, it was more like a landscape painting, the scenery being the main focus, the two small figures from behind adding a touch of life.
Xi Leng frowned, murmuring: “This…”
Min Zhi was silent for a few seconds, perhaps having forgotten himself in his pride, only now remembering the “evidence” displayed so prominently. He could only say: “It’s your painting.”
“…” Xi Leng was silent, he could naturally tell.
“I bought it.” Min Zhi regained his composure, saying casually, “Didn’t I say I wanted to pre-order your painting on the bus last time?”
Xi Leng couldn’t find the words to respond.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
“Right,” Xi Leng suddenly changed the subject, “Are you working overtime today?”
It was already ten o’clock at night.
“No.” Min Zhi, in a playful mood, said, “Even if I’m working, it doesn’t count as overtime, only Lao Zhu’s work counts as overtime.”
That was true, he was his own boss, he didn’t work for anyone else.
Finding a topic to ease the awkwardness was already difficult for Xi Leng, and Min Zhi, easily pleased, didn’t need him to rack his brains, voluntarily sharing his whereabouts: “I went to the hospital, for a checkup. There are fewer people at night, I always go at night if it’s not urgent.”
So that was it.
Going at night because it wasn’t urgent, it didn’t sound serious, but going to the hospital was still concerning.
Xi Leng frowned unconsciously.
Min Zhi was the protagonist of this world, unless it was necessary for the plot, there was no reason for him to suffer any illness. Come to think of it, that time at his apartment, playing games, Min Zhi’s sudden headache, and later in the loft, clutching his chest, the pain so intense he needed painkillers, it was incredibly illogical…
Thinking of this, the memory of that drunken, confusing kiss invaded his mind again.
Dealing with this unexpected event was even more difficult than dealing with his painful past.
Min Zhi, not receiving a response, continued speaking, like a kindergarten teacher trying to coax a child to speak, “Guess what I went to the hospital for?”
Xi Leng was taken aback: “…Can that even be guessed?”
Min Zhi smiled, a playful glint in his eyes, joking: “Like, my sexual orientation?”
Xi Leng understood, feeling even more helpless: “That’s not an illness… going to the hospital is pointless.”
To put it bluntly, you’re the protagonist gong, you’re destined to be gay.
“You seem to know a lot.” Min Zhi, however, interpreted his words with his own logic, deliberately drawing out his words, asking, “Did you go to the hospital for your sexual orientation?”
Xi Leng simply replied with a “no,” not bothering to lie and claim he was straight, finding it unnecessary.
“Actually, it’s this.” Min Zhi raised his hand and placed it on his chest, directly addressing the incident Xi Leng was trying to forget. “When I kissed you last time, it hurt a lot. But the doctor said there’s nothing wrong with me, perfectly healthy.”
Xi Leng’s shock was evident in his prolonged silence.
Min Zhi pondered for a moment, then continued nonchalantly: “Although I don’t know why, but a little pain doesn’t matter, as long as I don’t die.”
“Right,” Min Zhi changed the subject again, “I’m going to get something, wait here, don’t leave.”
Xi Leng’s mind was in turmoil, frozen in place, as if not really processing anything.
If he hadn’t known the novel’s plot, hadn’t experienced this scientifically unexplainable rebirth, this would indeed sound strange.
He didn’t know if Min Zhi’s music was a curse, but Min Zhi, defying fate and kissing him, might have been punished by the will of this world.
The pain of that punishment even manifested in his heart, cruel, yet also reasonable.
Xi Leng, overwhelmed by his confused thoughts, hesitated, then considered whether he should tell Min Zhi this absurd reason.
He could imagine Min Zhi’s reaction, still indifferent, casually saying “so what.” Just like his song “Rebellious Bones,” defying fate’s arrangements.
Would that cause an even greater deviation from the plot?
Just then, his phone rang.
Xi Leng snapped out of his daze, answering his didi’s call.
“Ge!!” Rong Xingyi’s loud voice was filled with urgency. “Where are you!?”
“…What’s wrong?” Xi Leng was startled by his intense reaction, then realized, “You’re back? You didn’t go to Mom’s?”
“Mm-hmm, I’m back. Where are you? Where did you go? Are you alright?” Even just by his voice, one could imagine Rong Xingyi’s animated expression, practically jumping through the phone. “You didn’t turn off the lights! Wasting electricity! And you left Ban Li alone at home!”
Xi Leng was speechless: “…”
A simple “I’m at Min Zhi’s next door” could explain everything, but he couldn’t say it, a strange guilt holding him back.
He ruffled his hair, not having brought a hair tie, could only brush it back from his forehead, revealing his eyes and brows.
On the phone, Rong Xingyi’s tone gradually softened, his voice filled with a heart-wrenching anticipation as he asked: “Did something happen? Ge, when are you coming back?”
“Nothing, soon.” Xi Leng finally spoke, asking keenly, “Did something happen to you?”
“Nothing much…” Rong Xingyi muttered, then after a pause, changed the subject. “Oh, right, there is one thing, I watched ‘Unlimited Escape Room,’ I’ve never seen Min Zhi-gege treat anyone else like he treats you, and so many people are shipping you two!”
Xi Leng had naturally also seen it, but this wasn’t something he could stop on his own.
Rong Xingyi was anxious: “Be careful, don’t let him find out you lied to him…”
“Or just give in… become an even bigger fan from now on? He might forgive you then?”
“Or can’t you use a honey trap or something… he’s never had any dating rumors with female celebrities, maybe he likes men? Many fans think so…”
His suggestions became increasingly absurd.
“Who’s calling?”
Two voices came one after another, one rambling, the other concise, one from the phone, the other from nearby.
Xi Leng’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately hung up.
He turned around and said calmly: “It’s Xiao Yi, asking when I’m coming home.”
Min Zhi hummed in acknowledgment, not suspecting anything, his hand turning over, drawing Xi Leng’s attention to a small black circle in his palm.
…It was Xi Leng’s missing hair tie.
“Did you want it back?”
A hair tie worth a few cents, stealing it and then returning it with such fanfare, seemed a bit much.
But Min Zhi seemed amused, the earrings and rings adorning his ears like gleaming eyes, staring intently at Xi Leng, like a pack of predators fixated on their prey.
“No.” Xi Leng lowered his eyes, looking at the hair tie. “It’s very old, you can throw it away.”
Min Zhi stared at him for a long while, then said something unexpected: “You’re not wearing your hair up today.”
Xi Leng instinctively brushed the hair by his ear, saying, “Mm-hmm, I just washed it, it’s still drying.”
“I’ve practiced a lot, my hair-tying skills.” Min Zhi, seizing the opportunity, offered, “I’ll tie it for you.”
“…”
This suggestion was too sudden, and strangely suggestive.
If it weren’t for Rong Xingyi’s call just now, Xi Leng might still be trapped in this comfortable illusion, gradually becoming numb, losing his vigilance against the potential crisis.
He almost forgot that everything he had now was based on his deception, the fake fan identity.
He felt guilty, so when Min Zhi made this seemingly insignificant request, he opened his mouth then immediately closed it, unable to refuse.
Min Zhi’s satisfaction was evident in his raised eyebrows and the corners of his eyes, his expression bright as he walked around behind Xi Leng, rubbing his hands together, “Let me try…”
They were about the same height, so Xi Leng didn’t have to bend down. A hand grabbed his hair, and he froze, his neck stiffening.
Saying his hair was long was only in comparison to Min Zhi’s short hair, it was actually medium-length. The hair at the back of his head was layered, varying in length, shorter on the outside, longer on the inside, the longest part reaching his collarbone.
The so-called wolf cut.
Min Zhi showed great interest in Xi Leng’s hairstyle and natural curls, his fingers slowly and patiently running through his hair from root to tip.
These natural curls, unlike the ones he styled with hair gel, were soft, fluffy, and incredibly pleasant to the touch.
So soft, yet springing back every time he pressed down on them.
Leaning closer, he could smell a strong mint fragrance, it seemed his shampoo was also mint-scented.
After playing with his hair for a while, like petting a cat, Xi Leng couldn’t help but remind him tactfully: “Just tie it casually.”
“Mm-hmm.”
A very perfunctory response.
But Xi Leng had no choice but to let the idol do as he pleased.
When tying someone else’s hair, it was hard to control the force. Min Zhi’s movements were overly cautious, and with the layered haircut, he tried again and again, always a few strands escaping.
To gather all the lower layers of hair, his fingertips inevitably brushed against the back of Xi Leng’s neck repeatedly.
Xi Leng spoke again: “You can just tie the upper half, a half-ponytail.”
“I know.” This time, Min Zhi’s reply was longer, his tone slightly forceful. “I’ve learned.”
Meaning, stop giving instructions.
Fine.
After some effort, Xi Leng finally felt his hair being gently pulled and gathered into the hair tie.
Perhaps afraid of tying it too tightly, Min Zhi only loosely wrapped it twice, it would probably come undone with a slight movement.
But Xi Leng didn’t say anything more, only hoping this hair-tying activity would end soon.
“Done.”
Xi Leng felt as if he had been granted amnesty.
However, Min Zhi continued holding onto his half-ponytail, not letting go, like a childish elementary school student.
And the mischievous person pulling his hair tie, not satisfied, grabbed Xi Leng’s chin and turned his face towards him.
They were suddenly face to face.
“I want to try again, see if it still hurts, my pain tolerance is very high.”
Xi Leng had just met those dark eyes, about to discern the myriad emotions hidden within,
when soft lips pressed against his, interrupting his thoughts.
