Chapter 8
Qin Yiming noticed Lin Zhiyan’s attitude, and his heart sank. He said, “You told me yesterday you had plans with someone. Was it with Lu Ze?”
Lin Zhiyan nodded. “Yes.”
Qin Yiming’s hand, hanging by his side, tightened. He asked again, “The person who came back with you that night, was it also Lu Ze?”
Lin Zhiyan’s expression was cold. “This shouldn’t have anything to do with Senior Qin, right?”
“How does it not have anything to do with me?” Qin Yiming took two steps forward in agitation, his eyes burning as he looked at him. “Zhiyan, you’re so smart. I don’t believe you can’t see it. I like you. I’ve always liked you!”
A flicker of surprise passed through Lin Zhiyan’s heart, but he quickly regained his usual calmness, his face showing no emotion. He only said, “Sorry, Senior Qin.”
Qin Yiming seemed to have expected this outcome, yet he was unwilling to accept it. He took a deep breath and said, “Is it because of Lu Ze?”
Lin Zhiyan frowned. “What does it have to do with Lu Ze?”
He said, “I don’t want to be in a relationship, and I don’t have those kinds of feelings for you. It’s my own problem. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
“Nothing to do with him?” Qin Yiming sneered. “If it has nothing to do with him, why did you let him take you home time and again? If it has nothing to do with him, why did you go to watch his game and have dinner with him? If it has nothing to do with him, why did you let him touch your head?”
Qin Yiming stepped forward, wanting to grab his shoulders, his eyes red. “Zhiyan, I was here first! How long have you known him? Do you really know him?”
Lin Zhiyan took two steps back, frowning at him. “You’re overthinking it. We’re just friends.”
“You see him as a friend, but he might not see you as one!” Qin Yiming said excitedly. “Zhiyan, do you know who Lu Ze is? He’s the young master of the Lu Corporation! What kind of entity is the Lu Corporation? How could they possibly allow Lu Ze to be gay? Zhiyan, he’s just playing with you. There will be no good end for you two!”
“Qin Yiming.” Lin Zhiyan’s face rarely darkened, but now, his usually cool eyes held a sharp glint. “What he thinks of me has nothing to do with you. How long he and I will last has even less to do with you.”
He looked at Qin Yiming coldly. “Mind your own business.”
Qin Yiming met his icy gaze, and his chest felt as if it were suffocating. Lin Zhiyan had always been aloof and distant. He had known him for over a year and had never seen him show any other expression. Qin Yiming had thought that was just his personality. He never imagined that one day he would display such vivid emotions.
And it was to defend someone else.
Qin Yiming’s fists, hanging by his sides, were clenched tightly, and his breathing slowly quickened. “It has nothing to do with me?”
He questioned, “Zhiyan, do you know what kind of person Lu Ze is? Do you know him? Ask around in our circle. Who doesn’t know that he’s just a good-for-nothing playboy? His favorite pastimes are drinking and racing with his friends, and clubbing at night. He hangs out in those kinds of places all day. Who knows how many men and women he’s played with? Friends? Why would he befriend someone like you for no reason? Zhiyan, don’t be fooled by him!”
Lin Zhiyan looked up at him and asked calmly, “Someone like me?”
Qin Yiming blurted out, “He’s the young master of the Lu family, who only knows how to eat, drink, and be merry all day. You’re an illegitimate son. You’re not from the same world at all—”
Qin Yiming’s voice came to an abrupt halt.
Lin Zhiyan stood in the distance, looking at him coldly.
Qin Yiming swallowed hard. “Zhiyan, that’s not what I meant!”
“I meant to say, you have excellent grades, the professor values you, and you have a promising future. But Lu Ze is a good-for-nothing…”
“Senior Qin.” Lin Zhiyan interrupted him, his expression extremely calm. “No need to explain. I understand what you mean.”
Before Qin Yiming could breathe a sigh of relief, Lin Zhiyan said, “Senior Qin is right. I am, after all, an illegitimate son, not fit for high society. To associate with someone like me would truly be a disgrace to your family.”
“So,”
Qin Yiming’s heart trembled. Lin Zhiyan’s eyes slowly lifted, his pupils dark and lifeless. “Senior Qin should stay away from me in the future. Otherwise, if others find out, it would be bad to attract unnecessary trouble.”
After he finished speaking, he turned to leave. Qin Yiming panicked and rushed forward to grab his wrist. “Zhiyan!”
A flash of disgust crossed Lin Zhiyan’s eyes. “Let go.”
Qin Yiming shook his head, saying frantically, “I didn’t mean to look down on you, I just—”
Before he could finish, a strong force was suddenly applied to the back of his hand. The five fingers clutching Lin Zhiyan’s wrist were pried open, and then he was thrown away like a piece of trash.
Qin Yiming staggered back two steps, stunned. He looked up and saw Lu Ze standing behind Lin Zhiyan, one arm around his waist, the other holding his wrist, slowly rubbing it as if there were something dirty on it, his eyes dark.
Qin Yiming gritted his teeth. “Lu Ze?!”
Lu Ze looked up at him, his gaze cold. “Senior Qin, didn’t you hear him tell you to let go?”
“We’re in public. Senior Qin should pay attention to propriety.”
Hearing this, Qin Yiming subconsciously looked around. There were quite a few people coming and going. When their gazes fell on them, they would quickly look away.
Qin Yiming took a deep breath and looked at Lu Ze. “Lu Ze, who do you think you are? What business is it of yours when I’m talking to Zhiyan?”
“Who am I?” Lu Ze’s arm around his waist tightened slightly, and Lin Zhiyan leaned against him obediently and naturally. He looked down. “Senior, what do you say our relationship is?”
Lin Zhiyan hadn’t expected Lu Ze to come back. The surprise that had surged in his heart was quickly replaced by worry. His mind was in a mess, and he didn’t even hear what he said clearly. He just looked up at him blankly.
But in Qin Yiming’s eyes, this scene was of the two of them embracing intimately, with Lin Zhiyan looking gentle and dependent, undoubtedly confirming their relationship. A fire of anger immediately flared up in Qin Yiming’s heart. He glanced at Lu Ze and said to Lin Zhiyan in a rough voice, “Lin Zhiyan, think carefully. He’s nice to you now, but how long can this last? He plays around so much outside. To him, you’re just a passing fancy!”
Lu Ze said, “Our business is none of Senior Qin’s concern. If you have time, you should worry more about yourself… I heard that young lady from the Sun family doesn’t tolerate any nonsense. But it doesn’t matter. The Qin family has many descendants. Miss Sun can take her time and find a suitable one.”
Qin Yiming’s face changed. “Are you threatening me?”
Lu Ze smiled. “What are you talking about, Senior Qin? I’m just stating a fact.”
Qin Yiming forced himself to suppress his anger. “Lu Ze, do you think you’re any better than me? When the time comes, won’t you have to accept an arranged marriage too? How could the Lu family possibly accept a man, and an illegitimate son at that, into their family?”
“Only useless trash would use arranged marriages to improve their status. The Lu family may not be talented, but we can still guarantee our children’s freedom to marry.” Lu Ze looked at Qin Yiming and smiled lightly. “But Senior Qin’s words have reminded me. I heard from my brother that the Lu and Qin families have some project collaborations recently. I suppose for that reason… Old Master Qin would be willing to give me some face.”
Qin Yiming’s breath hitched. “What do you mean by that?”
Lu Ze’s gaze swept over him, his tone icy with a heavy warning. “I mean, Senior Qin should stay away from Zhiyan in the future. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what Old Master Qin will hear.”
“You!” Qin Yiming was furious, but he really had to be wary of his words.
Lu Ze was the young master of the Lu family, doted on by his parents and protected by his older brother. He could do whatever he wanted without fear. But he was different. The Qin family had many descendants, and he was not indispensable. The old master’s attitude towards him was also lukewarm. If Lu Ze really said a few words, he was afraid there would be no place for him in the Qin family anymore.
Lu Ze only said, “Scram.”
Qin Yiming looked at Lu Ze, then at the silent Lin Zhiyan in his arms. His hands were trembling with anger, but he didn’t dare to defy his words. In the end, he could only turn and leave.
The surroundings instantly became much quieter.
But many of the students coming and going still cast their gazes on the intimately embracing pair.
Lu Ze looked around, his brows slightly furrowed. He pulled the person to a corner of the dormitory wall.
Lin Zhiyan followed him obediently.
The light was dim. Through the faint treetops, only a blurry outline of the person in front of him could be seen. Lin Zhiyan blinked, his dry lips pursed slightly, and he said with some difficulty, “When… did you come?”
Lu Ze was silent for a moment, then answered honestly, “I came back shortly after I left.”
Lin Zhiyan’s eyelashes trembled, and he heard Lu Ze continue, “I didn’t mean to listen to your conversation. I just saw that it seemed to be Senior’s private matter, and it didn’t seem right for me to interfere.” He paused, his voice slowly getting softer. “But then he kept pulling and touching you, and I saw that Senior didn’t like it, so I came out.”
He looked at him carefully. “Senior doesn’t think I’m being nosy, do you?”
Lin Zhiyan looked at him for a long time, then slowly shook his head.
He wanted to say that wasn’t what he wanted to ask. He wanted to ask, you were here for so long, did you hear what Qin Yiming said? And what do you think?
Lin Zhiyan thought he was already used to it. The pointing fingers of his childhood, the strange looks from adults, the taunts of his classmates, and the friends who left him one after another. His birth seemed to be an untouchable landmine, exploding at the slightest touch. So for so many years, Lin Zhiyan had gotten used to not caring. He was alone, and what the outside world said had nothing to do with him.
But Lu Ze, Lu Ze…
Lu Ze was different.
He was really happy when he was with Lu Ze, so he couldn’t imagine what he would do if Lu Ze knew the truth, if he minded and disliked him.
This was his only friend in so many years.
In his heart, Lin Zhiyan didn’t want to lose him.
He looked up at Lu Ze and saw his careful and worried expression, as if he were afraid of offending him. His lips opened and closed, but in the end, he didn’t ask the question in his heart. He only said, “It’s fine.”
He said, “Why did you suddenly come back?”
Lu Ze breathed a sigh of relief and pointed to the clothes on him. “I hadn’t walked far when I suddenly remembered my jacket was still with you, so I came back.”
As soon as Lu Ze said this, Lin Zhiyan also had a sudden realization. He quickly took off the jacket, looking a little embarrassed. “I forgot…”
As he spoke, he was about to hand the clothes to him, but then he suddenly remembered something and paused.
Lu Ze held out his hand and looked at him in confusion. “Senior?”
Lin Zhiyan pursed his lips and took back the jacket in his hand. His eyelids lowered slightly. “Your jacket was originally clean. I’ve already worn it once. I’ll wash it before I give it back to you.”
Lu Ze was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “No need. Senior only wore it for a little while. It’s not dirty.”
“It’s necessary.” Lin Zhiyan was very insistent. He lowered his head and straightened the clothes. “There’s a dryer in the dorm. I’ll wash it and dry it, and I can give it to you tomorrow morning. It won’t delay your use.”
Lu Ze wanted to say that wasn’t what he meant, but seeing Lin Zhiyan’s insistent attitude, he didn’t refuse again. He only said, “Then I’ll have to trouble Senior.”
Lin Zhiyan shook his head. “No trouble.”
Lu Ze nodded. Before leaving, he thought for a moment and said, “If Qin Yiming comes to you again in the future, just tell me.”
In the past, Lin Zhiyan would not have troubled others with his own affairs, but now, he just nodded obediently.
Only then did Lu Ze feel relieved. He took two steps back and said, “It’s getting late, so I’ll head back now.”
Lin Zhiyan looked up at him. The young man’s face was shrouded in darkness, with only the faint streetlight behind him filtering through the gaps in the branches, casting a faint halo of light around him.
Lin Zhiyan smiled lightly and, for the first time, took the initiative to say, “Goodnight.”
Lu Ze was inevitably surprised, then broke into a smile. “Goodnight, Senior.”
It was only after his figure finally disappeared that Lin Zhiyan lowered his eyes and caressed the clothes in his arms.
He didn’t know if Lu Ze had heard those words, nor did he know if he really didn’t care or was just pretending to be calm while secretly despising him, and would never interact with him again.
That was why he had offered to wash the clothes and return them. No matter what, he could at least see him one more time tomorrow.
This was Lin Zhiyan’s initiative, and also his persistence in this friendship.
