Chapter 70

Bai Ying decided to go on a trip.

After carefully reflecting on his past life, he realized that he had either been studying or working nonstop. After starting work, there had been few idle moments. During his student days, although he had winter and summer vacations, he either stayed at the orphanage to care for the younger children or went out to work part-time. Various practical factors had always forced him to stay busy.

After quitting his job, although he felt a bit lost about the future, he mostly felt a sense of relief. Bai Ying bought a large map and circled spots on his phone. This city supposedly had lots of great food and fun things—circled. That mountain had beautiful scenery—circled. A seaside town perfect for city workers to lie low—circled too.

In the end, Bai Ying connected all those circles into a line, planning out his year-long travel route.

This was his belated gap year.

He could travel without any burdens, and he had to thank Qin Juanshu for that. If his resignation letter hadn’t ended up in Qin Juanshu’s hands back then, and if he had quit voluntarily, Bai Ying wouldn’t have gotten a single cent in compensation. Qin Juanshu had taken charge and fired him, making a decision that betrayed the company by shouldering all the blame himself. In the end, Bai Ying walked away with a 2N severance package. Because of Qin Chi’s excessive remarks, Qin Juanshu had even given extra compensation. Suddenly, Bai Ying’s savings swelled to over a hundred thousand, making him wealthy overnight.

Although it didn’t seem like much without a job… it was more than enough for a year of travel!

The night before his departure, Qin Juanshu called him. Bai Ying answered, and Qin Juanshu’s somewhat surprised voice came from the other end. “I thought you wouldn’t pick up.”

“I’m not mad at you,” Bai Ying laughed.

Although he super disliked Qin Chi, Qin Juanshu was innocent. The magnanimous little snake wouldn’t hold guilt by association. He had just felt a bit aggrieved, heartbroken, and unable to accept that Qin Juanshu liked him… so he had ignored him for a little while.

“What are you doing over there? I hear a lot of noise,” Qin Juanshu said.

There was creaking and squeaking—who knew what he was up to.

“I’m—trying—to—stuff—the clothes—in!” Because he was forcefully cramming clothes into his suitcase, Bai Ying paused between every two words. Finally, after shoving them in, he let out a long breath. “The suitcase seems too small.”

His suitcase was only 24 inches because he usually only used it for business trips, so he hadn’t bought a big one. But now he would be traveling long-term, possibly not returning to Shen City for months. He wanted to bring this and that, and soon the suitcase was packed to the brim. Bai Ying struggled to zip it up, praying it wouldn’t burst open during the trip.

“Are you going somewhere far?” Qin Juanshu asked.

“Yeah, I really want to see the central and western regions. My business trips were mostly to southeastern cities, and I’m tired of staying around here!” On Bai Ying’s map, the red circles were mostly in the west—even a few spots in the desert.

“What about your place in Shen City?” Qin Juanshu asked again.

“I asked Tan Ming—my neighbor—to watch it for me.” Bai Ying wasn’t sure if he’d return to Shen City to work. After living there so long, he was reluctant to leave, and he had too many personal belongings to sort out quickly with nowhere to store them, so he hadn’t canceled the lease. If Qin Juanshu visited Bai Ying’s home now, he would see that the main furniture was covered with dust nets. Bai Ying had also asked Tan Ming to check in every month or so—Tan Ming knew the door code anyway.

Qin Juanshu actually wanted to help, but clearly, there were already plenty of people eager to assist Bai Ying.

Besides… he might not be suitable. After all, Bai Ying might return to Shen City someday, but he himself wasn’t so sure.

“Then I wish you a smooth trip,” Qin Juanshu said with a smile. He had a plane ticket to the Capital City in hand. Qin Xian was already waiting there for him. If everything went smoothly, in one or two months, he would buy a one-way ticket back to Berlin. “You sound really happy now. I’m relieved.”

“Thank you, Qin Juanshu.” Bai Ying held the phone to his ear, his voice softening as he looked down at his shoe tips.

“I should thank you too,” Qin Juanshu said warmly. “Meeting you has been the luckiest thing since I came back here.”

The next day, Bai Ying boarded a plane to a major city in the southwest. His travel order wasn’t from near to far; instead, he went to the places he longed for first, then explored nearby spots if they seemed fun. This made his planned route look like a tangled mess on the map.

Just after landing, Tan Ming—who was concerned for his safety—called. While waiting for his luggage, Bai Ying mentioned it, and Tan Ming couldn’t help asking, “So, why is this your most anticipated city?”

Bai Ying’s eyes lit up. “Because the Sichuan cuisine is amazing!”

The little snake wanted to taste the authentic stuff!

Cough. “I thought it was because the vibe there is super gay, and you wanted to explore your own orientation…” Tan Ming coughed lightly. The impure human grew quieter out of guilt.

“It’s not!” The little snake defended his innocence.

He was clearly just thinking about food!

Not long after hanging up with Tan Ming, Yun Ze called.

“I saw your Moments post after landing and wanted to ask if you’re adjusting okay… The temperature there has been high lately,” Yun Ze said hesitantly. “Be careful not to get heatstroke.”

This was the first time Yun Ze had called Bai Ying since his feelings were exposed. He hadn’t called before not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t dare. As a childhood friend who had lived with Bai Ying for a time, Yun Ze knew his personality well. If little Ying didn’t want to deal with someone, he would crouch in the corner facing the wall, cover his ears if they spoke, cover his eyes if they sent something. That was little Bai Ying’s way as a kid; as an adult, if he ignored someone, he would probably block them across all platforms…

So Yun Ze hadn’t dared to call or message during this time, afraid of finding himself blocked. But now that he had finally mustered the courage, the call connected smoothly.

“It’s a bit hot, but I’m still in the airport with the AC on.” As he spoke, Bai Ying spotted his luggage. He couldn’t lift it with one hand at first and had to steady it with his phone hand before succeeding.

He had really stuffed so much stuff in there…

“Little Ying…” Yun Ze fell silent for a long time.

Bai Ying dragged his suitcase outward, waiting patiently.

“I’m sorry,” Yun Ze finally said. “I know you only see me as a brother. I couldn’t control myself.”

“No need to apologize. It’s not your fault,” Bai Ying could even joke now. “Can’t help it. I might just be too likable.”

Yun Ze couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, it’s hard not to like you… So, little Ying, can you give me a chance?”

Yun Ze waited nervously for Bai Ying’s answer.

But this time, it was Bai Ying who apologized. “Sorry, little Xun.”

Yun Ze gave a bitter smile. “Do I have zero chance?”

The truth was too harsh, so Bai Ying softened it. “Sorry, I… I don’t think I can have feelings for someone else while liking one person…”

He was just a little snake with a tiny brain and a tiny heart. Once he settled on someone, he wouldn’t waver.

Yun Ze understood.

If Bai Ying was just hesitating, unsure how to handle his feelings, then even a rejection left room for hope. But if Bai Ying meant he already had someone in his heart, then with the little snake’s character, he would never betray them.

Yun Ze even thought he knew who it was.

“Are you together now?” Yun Ze asked bitterly.

“Not yet…” Bai Ying whispered. “I’m still observing him.”

Even the big snake was still on his blacklist.

For the little snake to even consider “observing,” things were already pretty much set—it was just that his mindset was a bit twisted, dragging out the ambiguous phase. Yun Ze didn’t want to congratulate him—that would be indirectly blessing that infuriatingly lucky guy. He could only suppress his frustration and say to Bai Ying, “If he bullies you, I’ll take you and run away. No matter what, I’m still your brother.”

This identity could never go further.

“Got it, little Xun ge.” Bai Ying said, hanging up first because the ride-share driver called.

Having stayed in too many hotels on business trips, Bai Ying carefully selected a homestay surrounded by Sichuan restaurants. He wanted something different! The homestay was a bit far from the airport—half an hour drive. In the ride-share, phone in hand, he pondered and finally unblocked Lu Changjun and Xie Jin from his blacklist.

Apology: [Sorry, my behavior before was too childish.]

[Cat kowtowing.jpg]

Directly blocking people was really childish on second thought! The little snake twisted in embarrassment like a hemp rope. Taking advantage of being in human form with no tail to wag, Bai Ying quickly released them from the blacklist.

Then he typed rapidly, replying separately. They seemed to be guarding their phones because messages came instantly after unblocking.

Xie Jin: [It was my fault. I was too abrupt. Sorry for offending you then.]

Kissing without consent wasn’t great. Bai Ying nodded in agreement. Considering the movie star’s good attitude in admitting fault, the little snake decided to forgive him.

Bai Ying: [I forgive you!]

Xie Jin: [So, do I still have my snake?]

Bai Ying: [Uh, that…]

The snake was definitely gone—it was going to someone else. Bai Ying fell into a dilemma. How should he reply nicely?

Before he figured it out, Xie Jin’s next message hit like a bolt from the blue, stunning Bai Ying.

Xie Jin: [Bai Ying, that little snake was actually you, right?]

Bai Ying’s hand shook. How did Xie Jin know?!

He didn’t know how to reply for a long time, and silence often meant affirmation. On the other end, Xie Jin sighed and pulled up his notes app to type, preparing to teach Bai Ying how to hide privacy-revealing background details in photos.

Bai Ying, still dazed, first replied to Lu Changjun.

Lu Changjun: [Predecessor [sobbing][sobbing]]

Lu Changjun: [Sorry, I was too impulsive before and caused you a lot of trouble. Can you forgive me?]

Bai Ying typed: [It wasn’t much trouble… Just remember to apologize to Xie Jin about the set incident.]

Lu Changjun: [I will.]

Lu Changjun: [Honest banana.jpg]

Lu Changjun: [So after I apologize, predecessor, will you still want me? [pitiful][pitiful]]

Bai Ying… Bai Ying didn’t know how to reply again.

The others were older, speaking more steadily and reservedly, but Xiao Lu was like a charging big dog, his enthusiasm often leaving Bai Ying at a loss.

Bai Ying finally typed apologetically: [Sorry, Xiao Lu. I prefer guys older than me.]

This was a rejection Lu Changjun couldn’t counter—there were no time machines in the world.

Lu Changjun wailed inwardly: [What’s wrong with younger guys? The others are all heading toward thirty. Men past thirty aren’t the same anymore, really, predecessor believe me—boyfriends are better young!]

Xiao Lu’s not-so-innocent subtext scared Bai Ying into exiting the chat.

He opened settings and found his blacklist. Right now, it only held one entry: a big snake far past thirty, heading toward a thousand.

Should he release him today?

Lately, Bai Ying had been unblocking and reblocking Liu Qingzhang unpredictably. Liu Qingzhang couldn’t find a pattern and could only sweetly suffer through this blacklist game with the little snake. No pattern was normal—the little snake’s reasons for managing the blacklist were bizarre.

Today the water feels so good, so I unblocked you. Big snake, you should soak too—we snakes need to soak in summer!

Today the little snake forgave you a bit more—now at 30%! When it hits 100%, the little snake will pardon you! But to keep you from getting cocky, back into blacklist for cooling off!

Why didn’t you say you like me today? Because I blocked you after you said it yesterday? Whatever, the little snake isn’t reasonable—the little snake wants to block you now!

As for now, Bai Ying also had a reason not to release Liu Qingzhang from the blacklist.

Everyone else had already been released, but not you yet… because you were special in the little snake’s heart, he decided to keep you locked in just a bit longer.