May 30, 2023 by Wyrd
Even if one tried to disguise themselves, their height and body shape could not be changed. Moreover, Ruan Qing didn’t disguise himself at all.
Furthermore, there was a bandage on his neck, which was a very conspicuous sign. He could be recognized at a glance.
The best way was to avoid each other and not collide. Ruan Qing lowered his gaze, hiding his emotions beneath his eyes.
“Ah.” The young boy seemed unfamiliar with crowded places, so he was nervous and accidentally tripped on the first step of the stairs.
The doctor reacted quickly and caught Ruan Qing by the waist the moment he fell, pulling him into his arms and preventing him from hitting the ground.
The young boy’s body trembled slightly, and he buried his face in the doctor’s chest, seemingly frightened.
With one hand holding the slender waist of the young boy, the doctor gently patted his back to comfort him, saying, “It’s okay. How could you be so careless?”
The angle at which the young boy buried his head completely concealed the wound on his neck. From behind, he appeared as a slender young boy.
Therefore, Ji Yan casually walked downstairs, not even glancing at the three people at the staircase, and went straight ahead.
However, Wen Li glanced sideways and gave the other a fleeting look.
After hearing the footsteps growing distant, Ruan Qing felt embarrassed and withdrew himself from the doctor’s embrace, his eyes showing a trace of fear. “I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t pay attention to my footing. Thank you, Doctor.”
After Ruan Qing moved away, Wen Li, the gentleman, retracted his hand with a smile. “Since we’ve come this far, there’s no need to call me ‘Doctor’ anymore. My name is Wen Li. I’m a few years older than you, so you can call me ‘Brother Wen Li’.”
Without giving Ruan Qing a chance to refuse, Wen Li immediately asked, “By the way, I don’t know your name yet.”
Timidly, Ruan Qing spoke, “Ye Qing.”
The doctor smiled, “Ye Qing, it’s a beautiful name and suits you well.”
Ruan Qing felt a bit shy and happy from the praise. He glanced at the person in front of him and softly said, “The doctor’s name is also very nice.”
Wen Li graciously accepted the compliment. “Thank you for your praise.”
After a moment, he continued, “I’m glad you said that.”
When Wen Li spoke this sentence, he lowered his voice slightly, his deep and hoarse voice carrying an inexplicable allure, even with a noticeable hint of laughter, as if it could penetrate into the depths of one’s heart, making it impossible for people to resist getting immersed in it.
It was like a male peacock spreading its feathers, carrying a seductive charm.
The young boy had a moment of trance when he heard the voice, and his face once again blushed. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask, so others didn’t notice it.
Meanwhile, the audience in the live broadcast room was infuriated to the point of being half-dead.
[He’s really shameless! Rejecting my wife’s confession on one hand, while constantly tempting my wife!]
[Being a whore, yet still pretending to be virtuous! Qingqing, don’t you see through his intentions?]
[Liking someone through hypnosis can’t be called true affection! It’s just self-deception!]
This time, there was no unexpected incident. The two of them safely arrived on the second floor and entered a private room.
The room had good sound insulation, and they could hardly hear any noise from the outside.
The waiter served the dishes very quickly, almost as soon as the two of them sat down, the dishes started coming, without even a moment for ordering.
It seemed as if it had been pre-arranged.
There were many dishes served, almost filling the table. Wen Li first picked up some food for Ruan Qing and placed it in front of him. “The taste of the food here is pretty good. Give it a try, see if there’s something you like.”
Ruan Qing wasn’t particularly tolerant of dirtiness. Given the option, he didn’t like dirty things or things that others had touched, such as someone serving him food.
But Ruan Qing still lowered his head, picked up the dish that Wen Li had served him, took a bite, and his eyes brightened. “It’s delicious.”
“If you like it, have some more.” Wen Li once again picked up some food for Ruan Qing. “By the way, it feels a bit unfamiliar to call you Ye Qing. Can I call you Ah Qing?”
Blushing, Ruan Qing nodded. “Y-Yes, you can.”
Wen Li smiled and once again picked up some food for Ruan Qing, but he didn’t eat any himself.
The two of them ate with one person feeding the other, creating a harmonious atmosphere and seemingly bringing them closer together.
Wen Li peeled a shrimp and handed it to Ruan Qing, as if wanting to feed him. “Ah Qing, try this. It’s delicious too.”
Ruan Qing paused for a moment, looking somewhat embarrassed, and glanced at Wen Li. “Brother Wen Li, don’t mind me. You should eat too.”
“You try it first.” Wen Li smiled and offered once again, almost reaching Ruan Qing’s lips.
Ruan Qing looked at the shrimp in front of him, his eyes shimmering. With a flushed face, he slightly opened his mouth and took a bite of the shrimp.
Wen Li watched as Ruan Qing obediently bit into the shrimp, revealing his pearly white teeth and pink tongue when his mouth opened.
The young boy’s eating manners were very elegant. He had already taken off his mask upon entering the private room, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face with long eyelashes framing a pair of large, lively eyes that seemed to speak.
The shrimp was quite large, and Ruan Qing’s face bulged as he tried to fit it all in. Suddenly, he resembled a cute hamster, irresistibly adorable.
Wen Li stared at the boy’s lips, his gaze darkening. He leaned in slightly, drawing closer.
He reached out and lifted the boy’s chin, exerting a gentle force to make him face him.
Ruan Qing’s head was suddenly turned towards him, looking confused. “What’s wrong?”
“You have something on your face.” Wen Li smiled and reached out, gently wiping near the boy’s lips.
Ruan Qing widened his eyes and quickly grabbed a tissue from the table, wiping his face. Blushing, he softly said, “Thank you, Brother Wen Li.”
Although they had only met this morning, the atmosphere between them was already filled with ambiguous tension. It didn’t seem like an ordinary relationship, but rather like that of newly established lovers.
In fact, since Ruan Qing started eating, Wen Li’s gaze had never left him. It even held a hint of aggression, as if his eyes wanted to strip the boy’s clothes off.
However, when the boy looked up at him, Wen Li reverted to a gentle expression, concealing his intentions.
The door to the private room was not fully closed, designed in a folding screen style. Just as Wen Li’s gaze became increasingly audacious, someone suddenly walked into the room from outside the door.
A man walked in and looked at the harmonious atmosphere between the two people. He spoke softly, “It seems I came at an inconvenient time.”
Upon hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Ruan Qing paused for a moment, but quickly resumed eating without looking up.
The man who entered was Gu Zhaoxi. Ruan Qing wasn’t too alarmed since he hadn’t really offended him yet.
Although it was said to be a loan, he hadn’t provided any bank card or transfer method from start to finish, so naturally, the loan didn’t go through.
Strictly speaking, Ruan Qing had no real connection with Gu Zhaoxi.
Moreover, even if he was a killer from the horror livestream room, with Wen Li present, he couldn’t just act right away.
So Ruan Qing completely ignored the person who entered and continued eating.
Wen Li also didn’t raise his head and continued to pick up food for Ruan Qing. However, he did respond to Gu Zhaoxi’s words in his usual gentle tone, “Indeed, it is an inconvenience.”
Gu Zhaoxi gracefully pulled a chair next to Ruan Qing, placed his clothes on it, and sat down. Then, he looked up at Wen Li on the other side of Ruan Qing and said, “Dr. Wen, do you mind if I join as well?”
Although Gu Zhaoxi’s words seemed like a question, in reality, it was just a notification. He didn’t actually wait for Wen Li’s agreement.
This conversation clearly indicated that the two men knew each other. Ruan Qing glanced sideways at Wen Li and found it to be quite a coincidence.
Jiang Sinian knew him, and Gu Zhaoxi knew him too.
Wen Li smiled and shook his head. “Of course, I don’t mind.”
After Wen Li finished speaking, Gu Zhaoxi looked at the young boy, whose head was lowered, and asked, “Do you still need the money?”
Ruan Qing’s eating came to a halt, and he quickly glanced at Wen Li, seeing that he didn’t show any negative expression. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, only then did he shake his head quietly towards Gu Zhaoxi and softly replied, “No need, thank you.”
Being asked if he needed money in front of someone he liked could indeed be quite awkward.
However, Gu Zhaoxi seemed unable to understand the young boy’s embarrassment. He spoke with great concern, “Do you still have money? Don’t try to be strong. If you need money, you can tell me anytime.”
Ruan Qing became even more embarrassed. Mist seemed to swirl in his eyes, and his hand holding the chopsticks turned somewhat pale. “I don’t need it.”
Gu Zhaoxi seemed oblivious to the atmosphere and thought for a moment before continuing, “Then how do you plan to handle the online matters?”
This time, the young boy’s hand not only turned pale but his previously blushing face also lost some color, making him appear quite pitiful.
Indeed, he was pitiful. If his dark side was revealed in front of someone he liked, that person would undoubtedly look at him with disgust.
Not to mention pursuing him, he probably wouldn’t even receive the current gentleness.
The young boy probably understood this, as his face turned even paler, and he couldn’t even hold the chopsticks steadily.
Wen Li noticed the young boy stopping his chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. “What online matters?”
Ruan Qing put down the chopsticks, lowered his head, and bit his lip. However, feeling somewhat embarrassed, his voice carried a hint of a sob. “It’s... nothing.”
Gu Zhaoxi was about to speak, but suddenly felt a tug on his clothes.
It was the young boy’s hand under the table, currently pulling on the corner of Gu Zhaoxi’s clothes without letting go.
Gu Zhaoxi glanced sideways at the young boy, who had red eyes and was looking at him. The slightly reddened thin lips were pursed, and his delicate face was filled with grievance and pleading.
He was pleading with Gu Zhaoxi not to say anything further.
Gu Zhaoxi raised an eyebrow and remained silent.
However, he took hold of the young boy’s slender hand, using the tablecloth as a cover.
As his hand was held by someone, Ruan Qing widened his eyes and instinctively wanted to pull back.
The young boy’s hand wasn’t large, but it was slender and long, with a smooth and fair complexion. The knuckles were clearly defined, suggesting a somewhat bony appearance, but when touched, it felt soft, making it difficult to let go.
So when the young boy struggled and tried to retract his hand, Gu Zhaoxi did not grant his wish. Instead, he went a step further, rubbing the back of the young boy’s hand with his thumb, creating an ambiguous and unclear atmosphere.
The young boy struggled harder, trying to pull his hand back.
Gu Zhaoxi chuckled lightly and turned to Wen Li, speaking in a calm and unhurried manner, “Dr. Wen, don’t you know? There has been some recent controversy online...”
The young boy’s eyes widened upon hearing Gu Zhaoxi’s words. He immediately stopped struggling and sat stiffly in the chair.
Sensing the young boy’s rigidity, Gu Zhaoxi let out a faint laugh and continued, “There’s been a scandal involving a popular celebrity recently, and it happens to be the favorite celebrity of Ye Qing. So, I was just casually asking.”
Wen Li looked at Ruan Qing and asked, “Is that true?”
“Yes, it is,” the young boy replied. He seemed to be bad at lying, keeping his head down nervously and avoiding eye contact with Wen Li.
No longer daring to struggle, he was afraid of what the person beside him might say.
Gu Zhaoxi carefully played with the young boy’s hand, from the palm to the rounded fingertips and then the soft finger pads.
The young boy seemed to have never done any strenuous work; his finger pads were delicate and soft, easily sinking with a slight pressure. It felt very comfortable to the touch.
Because of the tablecloth, not only Wen Li couldn’t see Gu Zhaoxi’s actions, but even the livestream couldn’t capture his movements.
So apart from the parties involved, no one else noticed Gu Zhaoxi’s actions. However, they could sense that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.
Wen Li didn’t delve deeper into the celebrity Gu Zhaoxi mentioned; he seemed uninterested in such matters. He looked at Ruan Qing and gently asked, “Ah Qing, are you full?”
Ruan Qing pursed his lips and replied softly, “I’m full, Brother Wen Li, you eat.”
Ruan Qing didn’t eat much, but it wasn’t too little either. It was acceptable to say he was full.
Wen Li fed Ruan Qing throughout the meal, barely eating himself. So, after Ruan Qing said he was full, Wen Li picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly.
Silence fell, and the atmosphere became somewhat eerie.
Gu Zhaoxi suddenly seemed to remember something and looked up at Wen Li with a smile. He spoke in a pleasant tone, “Dr. Wen, do you have something to do this afternoon?”
Wen Li paused, feeling somewhat bothered by Gu Zhaoxi’s smile. He politely smiled back and replied, “Not too busy. Why do you ask?”
“No particular reason. I was thinking if Dr. Wen is busy, I can take Qingqing home later,” Gu Zhaoxi said, looking at Ruan Qing. “I happen to have something to discuss with him.”
“No need to trouble yourself. I have enough time, and I already promised Ah Qing to take him home.” Wen Li smiled and looked gently at Ruan Qing. “Right, Ah Qing?”
Just as Ruan Qing was about to shyly nod, the person holding his hand squeezed it slightly, a hint of warning in his grip.
Ruan Qing widened his eyes and looked at Gu Zhaoxi in a slightly panicked manner.
When Ruan Qing looked over, Gu Zhaoxi tilted his head and gave him a radiant smile.
But even with that bright smile, it couldn’t hide the underlying threat and warning.
It was as if Gu Zhaoxi would say something he shouldn’t in front of Wen Li if Ruan Qing didn’t go along with his words.
Ruan Qing’s eyes welled up with tears, his long eyelashes trembling like feathers, his grievances and sadness almost making him cry.
However, at this moment, he had to lower his head and quietly speak in accordance with Gu Zhaoxi’s intention, “I won’t trouble Brother Wen Li. I-I can go back by myself.”
“This place is so far from where you live,” Gu Zhaoxi disagreed. “Let me take you home. You know I work at night, and I don’t have much to do during the day.”
Gu Zhaoxi appeared very considerate, as if he was looking out for the young boy’s well-being. But under the table, his hand continued to play with the boy’s fingers, completely contradicting his gentlemanly demeanor.
Tears filled Ruan Qing’s eyes, probably out of fear of being discovered. He lowered his head even further and said softly, “Thank you, Mr. Gu.”
Wen Li’s smile faded. He put down his chopsticks and took a tissue to wipe his mouth. “Taking Ah Qing home is not a trouble for me. Besides, Mr. Gu has a unique job, and I don’t dare to leave Ah Qing in your hands. Let me take him home.”
Gu Zhaoxi’s smile also faded. “Dr. Wen is joking. Your words make it seem like I’m a bad person.”
Wen Li smiled and said, “Not all people who go to bars are necessarily bad kids, but generally good kids wouldn’t go to bars.”
“Moreover, Mr. Gu’s bar is not just an ordinary bar. If Ah Qing learned something bad or picked up some bad habits from you, that wouldn’t be good.”
Gu Zhaoxi glanced at Wen Li faintly and calmly replied, “A bar is just an entertainment venue. Dr. Wen, please don’t carry any biases. Besides, I am a law-abiding citizen. How could I corrupt Qingqing?”
Although both of them had a smiling appearance, there was a tense atmosphere. There was a sense of confrontation between the two, making Ruan Qing feel somewhat uneasy.
“Mr. Gu, you don’t really think that a bar is a legitimate entertainment venue, do you?” Wen Li couldn’t help but laugh, his smile carrying a faint hint of sarcasm, yet still gentle upon closer inspection.
Gu Zhaoxi said innocently, “Isn’t it? A bar is indeed a legitimate entertainment venue. I even have a business license.”
Wen Li’s smile remained unchanged. “Ordinary bars don’t usually have a boss who intrudes uninvited and shamelessly offers to send people home. Mr. Gu, it’s better to keep your distance from Ah Qing. After all, Ah Qing and Mr. Gu are not from the same world. Your presence will only bring him trouble.”
Gu Zhaoxi curled his lips, revealing a fake smile that couldn’t be more insincere, “Dr. Wen, aren’t you also not from the same world as Qingqing? Yet you get along just fine.”
Wen Li smiled and shook his head. “I’m different from you. I have a legitimate profession, and I don’t go to dubious places.”
Gu Zhaoxi smiled and hinted, “Having a legitimate profession doesn’t mean anything. After all, appearances can be deceiving. Some people may look clean on the outside but were filthy inside.”
“Then Mr. Gu doesn’t need to worry. Those who are familiar with me understand the kind of person I am.”
“A doctor’s profession is busy, and ordinary people probably don’t have a chance to understand. The only ones who get to know you are your patients. It’s better not to disturb those who are not sick.”
“Not busy at all, and besides, how could it be a disturbance to spend time with Ah Qing? After all, we are friends.”
“But you only just met today. How can that be considered friends?”
They exchanged words with hidden meanings, the smiles on their faces were completely fake.
And Ruan Qing, on the side, tried to minimize his presence, not even daring to lift his head.
“Whether someone is a friend or not is not determined by the length of time. As long as Ah Qing feels that we are friends, that’s all that matters.” Wen Li gracefully poured a cup of tea and handed it to Ruan Qing. “Ah Qing, don’t you agree?”
Ruan Qing: “...Yes, yes.”
After Ruan Qing finished speaking, someone forcefully squeezed his hand, seemingly dissatisfied with his response.
Nervous and uneasy, Ruan Qing shrunk back and didn’t dare say anything further.
Gu Zhaoxi glanced at the pitiful young boy beside him and smiled faintly. “Just friends, nothing more. It’s not a special relationship.”
Wen Li smiled gently, “It’s more than just a friendship. After all, Ah Qing has confessed to me just earlier.”
Although Wen Li’s tone remained unchanged, it sounded like he was bragging to others.
Gu Zhaoxi smirked, “Dr. Wen might have misunderstood. Qingqing is still young and doesn’t know what it means to like someone.”
“Isn’t that right, Qingqing?”
The young boy suddenly widened his eyes and sat frozen, not daring to move.
From an angle invisible to everyone, a sharp object pressed against the young boy’s waist.
It seemed to be a knife, and Gu Zhaoxi’s dining knife was mysteriously missing.
When Ruan Qing looked over, Gu Zhaoxi revealed a brilliant smile.
Ruan Qing opened his mouth, his fear and terror causing cold sweat to stream down his face. A hint of struggle appeared in his expression, but he finally gritted his teeth and trembled as he spoke, “No... it’s not.”
The young boy’s voice was barely audible, and Gu Zhaoxi didn’t hear clearly. “What?”
With teary eyes, Ruan Qing, despite his trembling from fear, stubbornly spoke again, his voice slightly louder than before. “It’s not...”
Wen Li chuckled upon hearing the young boy’s retort, “Ah Qing is indeed young, but he’s not a fool, as Mr. Gu seems to think.”
Meanwhile, Gu Zhaoxi’s gaze turned cold for a moment before returning to normal, and he even released his grip on the young boy’s hand.
Ruan Qing quickly pulled his hand back.
Just as he sighed with relief, something suddenly touched his thigh. He instinctively leaned to the side, avoiding it.
But immediately, that thing touched him again.
It was... a hand.
Ruan Qing widened his eyes, his pupils shrinking slightly. He looked up at Gu Zhaoxi with a hint of disbelief.
Gu Zhaoxi maintained a calm expression and continued conversing with Wen Li as if nothing had happened.
The three of them were sitting relatively close, and if their movements were too obvious, it would surely attract attention.
So Ruan Qing could only keep his head down and let someone act recklessly.
However, that person seemed completely unaware of restraint. Just as they became even more presumptuous, Ruan Qing stood up unexpectedly.
Both people beside him looked at Ruan Qing.
Ruan Qing’s face paled slightly, and he stuttered, “I... I need to go to the restroom.”
There was a restroom in the private room, but the young boy seemed oblivious and rushed out of the room without hesitation.
After leaving the room, Ruan Qing put on his mask and followed the guidance of the waiter to the public restroom.
Since there was a restroom in the private room, the public restroom was relatively empty.
Ruan Qing stood in front of the urinal, his movements slow and absent-minded.
In fact, he didn’t want to refute Gu Zhaoxi just now, but if he continued with Gu Zhaoxi’s words, it would mean denying his feelings for the doctor.
This contradicted the content of the hypnosis. He couldn’t resist the power of hypnosis, so his brain, one step ahead of his rationality, refuted it.
Was this what it meant to love someone to the point of being willing to die?
Ruan Qing lowered his gaze, realizing that even in the face of death, he couldn’t go against the content of the hypnosis, even if he had his rationality.
Lost in his thoughts, Ruan Qing didn’t notice or perhaps didn’t care when someone approached him.
After all, this is the men’s restroom, so it wouldn’t be too awkward to use it together.
However, Ruan Qing, who was immersed in his own thoughts, suddenly felt a strong gaze.
Ruan Qing glanced lightly at the person next to him, and in an instant, his body stiffened, and his hair stood on end.
It was Ji Yan! How was he here!?
What’s even more terrifying was that Ji Yan was also using his peripheral vision to look at him, but he’s not looking at his face. Instead, he’s looking at the position of his hand as he’s about to unzip his pants.
It seemed like he’s waiting for his next movement.
May 30, 2023 by Wyrd
Even if one tried to disguise themselves, their height and body shape could not be changed. Moreover, Ruan Qing didn’t disguise himself at all.
Furthermore, there was a bandage on his neck, which was a very conspicuous sign. He could be recognized at a glance.
The best way was to avoid each other and not collide. Ruan Qing lowered his gaze, hiding his emotions beneath his eyes.
“Ah.” The young boy seemed unfamiliar with crowded places, so he was nervous and accidentally tripped on the first step of the stairs.
The doctor reacted quickly and caught Ruan Qing by the waist the moment he fell, pulling him into his arms and preventing him from hitting the ground.
The young boy’s body trembled slightly, and he buried his face in the doctor’s chest, seemingly frightened.
With one hand holding the slender waist of the young boy, the doctor gently patted his back to comfort him, saying, “It’s okay. How could you be so careless?”
The angle at which the young boy buried his head completely concealed the wound on his neck. From behind, he appeared as a slender young boy.
Therefore, Ji Yan casually walked downstairs, not even glancing at the three people at the staircase, and went straight ahead.
However, Wen Li glanced sideways and gave the other a fleeting look.
After hearing the footsteps growing distant, Ruan Qing felt embarrassed and withdrew himself from the doctor’s embrace, his eyes showing a trace of fear. “I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t pay attention to my footing. Thank you, Doctor.”
After Ruan Qing moved away, Wen Li, the gentleman, retracted his hand with a smile. “Since we’ve come this far, there’s no need to call me ‘Doctor’ anymore. My name is Wen Li. I’m a few years older than you, so you can call me ‘Brother Wen Li’.”
Without giving Ruan Qing a chance to refuse, Wen Li immediately asked, “By the way, I don’t know your name yet.”
Timidly, Ruan Qing spoke, “Ye Qing.”
The doctor smiled, “Ye Qing, it’s a beautiful name and suits you well.”
Ruan Qing felt a bit shy and happy from the praise. He glanced at the person in front of him and softly said, “The doctor’s name is also very nice.”
Wen Li graciously accepted the compliment. “Thank you for your praise.”
After a moment, he continued, “I’m glad you said that.”
When Wen Li spoke this sentence, he lowered his voice slightly, his deep and hoarse voice carrying an inexplicable allure, even with a noticeable hint of laughter, as if it could penetrate into the depths of one’s heart, making it impossible for people to resist getting immersed in it.
It was like a male peacock spreading its feathers, carrying a seductive charm.
The young boy had a moment of trance when he heard the voice, and his face once again blushed. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask, so others didn’t notice it.
Meanwhile, the audience in the live broadcast room was infuriated to the point of being half-dead.
[He’s really shameless! Rejecting my wife’s confession on one hand, while constantly tempting my wife!]
[Being a whore, yet still pretending to be virtuous! Qingqing, don’t you see through his intentions?]
[Liking someone through hypnosis can’t be called true affection! It’s just self-deception!]
This time, there was no unexpected incident. The two of them safely arrived on the second floor and entered a private room.
The room had good sound insulation, and they could hardly hear any noise from the outside.
The waiter served the dishes very quickly, almost as soon as the two of them sat down, the dishes started coming, without even a moment for ordering.
It seemed as if it had been pre-arranged.
There were many dishes served, almost filling the table. Wen Li first picked up some food for Ruan Qing and placed it in front of him. “The taste of the food here is pretty good. Give it a try, see if there’s something you like.”
Ruan Qing wasn’t particularly tolerant of dirtiness. Given the option, he didn’t like dirty things or things that others had touched, such as someone serving him food.
But Ruan Qing still lowered his head, picked up the dish that Wen Li had served him, took a bite, and his eyes brightened. “It’s delicious.”
“If you like it, have some more.” Wen Li once again picked up some food for Ruan Qing. “By the way, it feels a bit unfamiliar to call you Ye Qing. Can I call you Ah Qing?”
Blushing, Ruan Qing nodded. “Y-Yes, you can.”
Wen Li smiled and once again picked up some food for Ruan Qing, but he didn’t eat any himself.
The two of them ate with one person feeding the other, creating a harmonious atmosphere and seemingly bringing them closer together.
Wen Li peeled a shrimp and handed it to Ruan Qing, as if wanting to feed him. “Ah Qing, try this. It’s delicious too.”
Ruan Qing paused for a moment, looking somewhat embarrassed, and glanced at Wen Li. “Brother Wen Li, don’t mind me. You should eat too.”
“You try it first.” Wen Li smiled and offered once again, almost reaching Ruan Qing’s lips.
Ruan Qing looked at the shrimp in front of him, his eyes shimmering. With a flushed face, he slightly opened his mouth and took a bite of the shrimp.
Wen Li watched as Ruan Qing obediently bit into the shrimp, revealing his pearly white teeth and pink tongue when his mouth opened.
The young boy’s eating manners were very elegant. He had already taken off his mask upon entering the private room, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face with long eyelashes framing a pair of large, lively eyes that seemed to speak.
The shrimp was quite large, and Ruan Qing’s face bulged as he tried to fit it all in. Suddenly, he resembled a cute hamster, irresistibly adorable.
Wen Li stared at the boy’s lips, his gaze darkening. He leaned in slightly, drawing closer.
He reached out and lifted the boy’s chin, exerting a gentle force to make him face him.
Ruan Qing’s head was suddenly turned towards him, looking confused. “What’s wrong?”
“You have something on your face.” Wen Li smiled and reached out, gently wiping near the boy’s lips.
Ruan Qing widened his eyes and quickly grabbed a tissue from the table, wiping his face. Blushing, he softly said, “Thank you, Brother Wen Li.”
Although they had only met this morning, the atmosphere between them was already filled with ambiguous tension. It didn’t seem like an ordinary relationship, but rather like that of newly established lovers.
In fact, since Ruan Qing started eating, Wen Li’s gaze had never left him. It even held a hint of aggression, as if his eyes wanted to strip the boy’s clothes off.
However, when the boy looked up at him, Wen Li reverted to a gentle expression, concealing his intentions.
The door to the private room was not fully closed, designed in a folding screen style. Just as Wen Li’s gaze became increasingly audacious, someone suddenly walked into the room from outside the door.
A man walked in and looked at the harmonious atmosphere between the two people. He spoke softly, “It seems I came at an inconvenient time.”
Upon hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Ruan Qing paused for a moment, but quickly resumed eating without looking up.
The man who entered was Gu Zhaoxi. Ruan Qing wasn’t too alarmed since he hadn’t really offended him yet.
Although it was said to be a loan, he hadn’t provided any bank card or transfer method from start to finish, so naturally, the loan didn’t go through.
Strictly speaking, Ruan Qing had no real connection with Gu Zhaoxi.
Moreover, even if he was a killer from the horror livestream room, with Wen Li present, he couldn’t just act right away.
So Ruan Qing completely ignored the person who entered and continued eating.
Wen Li also didn’t raise his head and continued to pick up food for Ruan Qing. However, he did respond to Gu Zhaoxi’s words in his usual gentle tone, “Indeed, it is an inconvenience.”
Gu Zhaoxi gracefully pulled a chair next to Ruan Qing, placed his clothes on it, and sat down. Then, he looked up at Wen Li on the other side of Ruan Qing and said, “Dr. Wen, do you mind if I join as well?”
Although Gu Zhaoxi’s words seemed like a question, in reality, it was just a notification. He didn’t actually wait for Wen Li’s agreement.
This conversation clearly indicated that the two men knew each other. Ruan Qing glanced sideways at Wen Li and found it to be quite a coincidence.
Jiang Sinian knew him, and Gu Zhaoxi knew him too.
Wen Li smiled and shook his head. “Of course, I don’t mind.”
After Wen Li finished speaking, Gu Zhaoxi looked at the young boy, whose head was lowered, and asked, “Do you still need the money?”
Ruan Qing’s eating came to a halt, and he quickly glanced at Wen Li, seeing that he didn’t show any negative expression. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, only then did he shake his head quietly towards Gu Zhaoxi and softly replied, “No need, thank you.”
Being asked if he needed money in front of someone he liked could indeed be quite awkward.
However, Gu Zhaoxi seemed unable to understand the young boy’s embarrassment. He spoke with great concern, “Do you still have money? Don’t try to be strong. If you need money, you can tell me anytime.”
Ruan Qing became even more embarrassed. Mist seemed to swirl in his eyes, and his hand holding the chopsticks turned somewhat pale. “I don’t need it.”
Gu Zhaoxi seemed oblivious to the atmosphere and thought for a moment before continuing, “Then how do you plan to handle the online matters?”
This time, the young boy’s hand not only turned pale but his previously blushing face also lost some color, making him appear quite pitiful.
Indeed, he was pitiful. If his dark side was revealed in front of someone he liked, that person would undoubtedly look at him with disgust.
Not to mention pursuing him, he probably wouldn’t even receive the current gentleness.
The young boy probably understood this, as his face turned even paler, and he couldn’t even hold the chopsticks steadily.
Wen Li noticed the young boy stopping his chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. “What online matters?”
Ruan Qing put down the chopsticks, lowered his head, and bit his lip. However, feeling somewhat embarrassed, his voice carried a hint of a sob. “It’s... nothing.”
Gu Zhaoxi was about to speak, but suddenly felt a tug on his clothes.
It was the young boy’s hand under the table, currently pulling on the corner of Gu Zhaoxi’s clothes without letting go.
Gu Zhaoxi glanced sideways at the young boy, who had red eyes and was looking at him. The slightly reddened thin lips were pursed, and his delicate face was filled with grievance and pleading.
He was pleading with Gu Zhaoxi not to say anything further.
Gu Zhaoxi raised an eyebrow and remained silent.
However, he took hold of the young boy’s slender hand, using the tablecloth as a cover.
As his hand was held by someone, Ruan Qing widened his eyes and instinctively wanted to pull back.
The young boy’s hand wasn’t large, but it was slender and long, with a smooth and fair complexion. The knuckles were clearly defined, suggesting a somewhat bony appearance, but when touched, it felt soft, making it difficult to let go.
So when the young boy struggled and tried to retract his hand, Gu Zhaoxi did not grant his wish. Instead, he went a step further, rubbing the back of the young boy’s hand with his thumb, creating an ambiguous and unclear atmosphere.
The young boy struggled harder, trying to pull his hand back.
Gu Zhaoxi chuckled lightly and turned to Wen Li, speaking in a calm and unhurried manner, “Dr. Wen, don’t you know? There has been some recent controversy online...”
The young boy’s eyes widened upon hearing Gu Zhaoxi’s words. He immediately stopped struggling and sat stiffly in the chair.
Sensing the young boy’s rigidity, Gu Zhaoxi let out a faint laugh and continued, “There’s been a scandal involving a popular celebrity recently, and it happens to be the favorite celebrity of Ye Qing. So, I was just casually asking.”
Wen Li looked at Ruan Qing and asked, “Is that true?”
“Yes, it is,” the young boy replied. He seemed to be bad at lying, keeping his head down nervously and avoiding eye contact with Wen Li.
No longer daring to struggle, he was afraid of what the person beside him might say.
Gu Zhaoxi carefully played with the young boy’s hand, from the palm to the rounded fingertips and then the soft finger pads.
The young boy seemed to have never done any strenuous work; his finger pads were delicate and soft, easily sinking with a slight pressure. It felt very comfortable to the touch.
Because of the tablecloth, not only Wen Li couldn’t see Gu Zhaoxi’s actions, but even the livestream couldn’t capture his movements.
So apart from the parties involved, no one else noticed Gu Zhaoxi’s actions. However, they could sense that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.
Wen Li didn’t delve deeper into the celebrity Gu Zhaoxi mentioned; he seemed uninterested in such matters. He looked at Ruan Qing and gently asked, “Ah Qing, are you full?”
Ruan Qing pursed his lips and replied softly, “I’m full, Brother Wen Li, you eat.”
Ruan Qing didn’t eat much, but it wasn’t too little either. It was acceptable to say he was full.
Wen Li fed Ruan Qing throughout the meal, barely eating himself. So, after Ruan Qing said he was full, Wen Li picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly.
Silence fell, and the atmosphere became somewhat eerie.
Gu Zhaoxi suddenly seemed to remember something and looked up at Wen Li with a smile. He spoke in a pleasant tone, “Dr. Wen, do you have something to do this afternoon?”
Wen Li paused, feeling somewhat bothered by Gu Zhaoxi’s smile. He politely smiled back and replied, “Not too busy. Why do you ask?”
“No particular reason. I was thinking if Dr. Wen is busy, I can take Qingqing home later,” Gu Zhaoxi said, looking at Ruan Qing. “I happen to have something to discuss with him.”
“No need to trouble yourself. I have enough time, and I already promised Ah Qing to take him home.” Wen Li smiled and looked gently at Ruan Qing. “Right, Ah Qing?”
Just as Ruan Qing was about to shyly nod, the person holding his hand squeezed it slightly, a hint of warning in his grip.
Ruan Qing widened his eyes and looked at Gu Zhaoxi in a slightly panicked manner.
When Ruan Qing looked over, Gu Zhaoxi tilted his head and gave him a radiant smile.
But even with that bright smile, it couldn’t hide the underlying threat and warning.
It was as if Gu Zhaoxi would say something he shouldn’t in front of Wen Li if Ruan Qing didn’t go along with his words.
Ruan Qing’s eyes welled up with tears, his long eyelashes trembling like feathers, his grievances and sadness almost making him cry.
However, at this moment, he had to lower his head and quietly speak in accordance with Gu Zhaoxi’s intention, “I won’t trouble Brother Wen Li. I-I can go back by myself.”
“This place is so far from where you live,” Gu Zhaoxi disagreed. “Let me take you home. You know I work at night, and I don’t have much to do during the day.”
Gu Zhaoxi appeared very considerate, as if he was looking out for the young boy’s well-being. But under the table, his hand continued to play with the boy’s fingers, completely contradicting his gentlemanly demeanor.
Tears filled Ruan Qing’s eyes, probably out of fear of being discovered. He lowered his head even further and said softly, “Thank you, Mr. Gu.”
Wen Li’s smile faded. He put down his chopsticks and took a tissue to wipe his mouth. “Taking Ah Qing home is not a trouble for me. Besides, Mr. Gu has a unique job, and I don’t dare to leave Ah Qing in your hands. Let me take him home.”
Gu Zhaoxi’s smile also faded. “Dr. Wen is joking. Your words make it seem like I’m a bad person.”
Wen Li smiled and said, “Not all people who go to bars are necessarily bad kids, but generally good kids wouldn’t go to bars.”
“Moreover, Mr. Gu’s bar is not just an ordinary bar. If Ah Qing learned something bad or picked up some bad habits from you, that wouldn’t be good.”
Gu Zhaoxi glanced at Wen Li faintly and calmly replied, “A bar is just an entertainment venue. Dr. Wen, please don’t carry any biases. Besides, I am a law-abiding citizen. How could I corrupt Qingqing?”
Although both of them had a smiling appearance, there was a tense atmosphere. There was a sense of confrontation between the two, making Ruan Qing feel somewhat uneasy.
“Mr. Gu, you don’t really think that a bar is a legitimate entertainment venue, do you?” Wen Li couldn’t help but laugh, his smile carrying a faint hint of sarcasm, yet still gentle upon closer inspection.
Gu Zhaoxi said innocently, “Isn’t it? A bar is indeed a legitimate entertainment venue. I even have a business license.”
Wen Li’s smile remained unchanged. “Ordinary bars don’t usually have a boss who intrudes uninvited and shamelessly offers to send people home. Mr. Gu, it’s better to keep your distance from Ah Qing. After all, Ah Qing and Mr. Gu are not from the same world. Your presence will only bring him trouble.”
Gu Zhaoxi curled his lips, revealing a fake smile that couldn’t be more insincere, “Dr. Wen, aren’t you also not from the same world as Qingqing? Yet you get along just fine.”
Wen Li smiled and shook his head. “I’m different from you. I have a legitimate profession, and I don’t go to dubious places.”
Gu Zhaoxi smiled and hinted, “Having a legitimate profession doesn’t mean anything. After all, appearances can be deceiving. Some people may look clean on the outside but were filthy inside.”
“Then Mr. Gu doesn’t need to worry. Those who are familiar with me understand the kind of person I am.”
“A doctor’s profession is busy, and ordinary people probably don’t have a chance to understand. The only ones who get to know you are your patients. It’s better not to disturb those who are not sick.”
“Not busy at all, and besides, how could it be a disturbance to spend time with Ah Qing? After all, we are friends.”
“But you only just met today. How can that be considered friends?”
They exchanged words with hidden meanings, the smiles on their faces were completely fake.
And Ruan Qing, on the side, tried to minimize his presence, not even daring to lift his head.
“Whether someone is a friend or not is not determined by the length of time. As long as Ah Qing feels that we are friends, that’s all that matters.” Wen Li gracefully poured a cup of tea and handed it to Ruan Qing. “Ah Qing, don’t you agree?”
Ruan Qing: “...Yes, yes.”
After Ruan Qing finished speaking, someone forcefully squeezed his hand, seemingly dissatisfied with his response.
Nervous and uneasy, Ruan Qing shrunk back and didn’t dare say anything further.
Gu Zhaoxi glanced at the pitiful young boy beside him and smiled faintly. “Just friends, nothing more. It’s not a special relationship.”
Wen Li smiled gently, “It’s more than just a friendship. After all, Ah Qing has confessed to me just earlier.”
Although Wen Li’s tone remained unchanged, it sounded like he was bragging to others.
Gu Zhaoxi smirked, “Dr. Wen might have misunderstood. Qingqing is still young and doesn’t know what it means to like someone.”
“Isn’t that right, Qingqing?”
The young boy suddenly widened his eyes and sat frozen, not daring to move.
From an angle invisible to everyone, a sharp object pressed against the young boy’s waist.
It seemed to be a knife, and Gu Zhaoxi’s dining knife was mysteriously missing.
When Ruan Qing looked over, Gu Zhaoxi revealed a brilliant smile.
Ruan Qing opened his mouth, his fear and terror causing cold sweat to stream down his face. A hint of struggle appeared in his expression, but he finally gritted his teeth and trembled as he spoke, “No... it’s not.”
The young boy’s voice was barely audible, and Gu Zhaoxi didn’t hear clearly. “What?”
With teary eyes, Ruan Qing, despite his trembling from fear, stubbornly spoke again, his voice slightly louder than before. “It’s not...”
Wen Li chuckled upon hearing the young boy’s retort, “Ah Qing is indeed young, but he’s not a fool, as Mr. Gu seems to think.”
Meanwhile, Gu Zhaoxi’s gaze turned cold for a moment before returning to normal, and he even released his grip on the young boy’s hand.
Ruan Qing quickly pulled his hand back.
Just as he sighed with relief, something suddenly touched his thigh. He instinctively leaned to the side, avoiding it.
But immediately, that thing touched him again.
It was... a hand.
Ruan Qing widened his eyes, his pupils shrinking slightly. He looked up at Gu Zhaoxi with a hint of disbelief.
Gu Zhaoxi maintained a calm expression and continued conversing with Wen Li as if nothing had happened.
The three of them were sitting relatively close, and if their movements were too obvious, it would surely attract attention.
So Ruan Qing could only keep his head down and let someone act recklessly.
However, that person seemed completely unaware of restraint. Just as they became even more presumptuous, Ruan Qing stood up unexpectedly.
Both people beside him looked at Ruan Qing.
Ruan Qing’s face paled slightly, and he stuttered, “I... I need to go to the restroom.”
There was a restroom in the private room, but the young boy seemed oblivious and rushed out of the room without hesitation.
After leaving the room, Ruan Qing put on his mask and followed the guidance of the waiter to the public restroom.
Since there was a restroom in the private room, the public restroom was relatively empty.
Ruan Qing stood in front of the urinal, his movements slow and absent-minded.
In fact, he didn’t want to refute Gu Zhaoxi just now, but if he continued with Gu Zhaoxi’s words, it would mean denying his feelings for the doctor.
This contradicted the content of the hypnosis. He couldn’t resist the power of hypnosis, so his brain, one step ahead of his rationality, refuted it.
Was this what it meant to love someone to the point of being willing to die?
Ruan Qing lowered his gaze, realizing that even in the face of death, he couldn’t go against the content of the hypnosis, even if he had his rationality.
Lost in his thoughts, Ruan Qing didn’t notice or perhaps didn’t care when someone approached him.
After all, this is the men’s restroom, so it wouldn’t be too awkward to use it together.
However, Ruan Qing, who was immersed in his own thoughts, suddenly felt a strong gaze.
Ruan Qing glanced lightly at the person next to him, and in an instant, his body stiffened, and his hair stood on end.
It was Ji Yan! How was he here!?
What’s even more terrifying was that Ji Yan was also using his peripheral vision to look at him, but he’s not looking at his face. Instead, he’s looking at the position of his hand as he’s about to unzip his pants.
It seemed like he’s waiting for his next movement.
