Lack of Love

 

When Lian Sijiao was pulled by Li Qi outside the café, he only then realized what was happening. He immediately let go of Li Qi’s hand and walked towards the alley. “What are you doing?”

Li Qi caught up with him, his expression not looking too good, and his tone naturally not pleasant. “Are you trying to steal a man from Zhong Qiran?”

Lian Sijiao was stunned for a while before understanding the meaning of the sentence. Li Qi didn’t know they were just pretending, so naturally, he heard what Lian Sijiao had just said. But what surprised him even more was that he had no idea that Li Qi and Zhong Qiran knew each other. Now thinking back carefully, Zhong Qiran had mentioned studying in M country and had recently graduated and returned. It happened to coincide with Li Qi’s return to the country. Their majors were also related, so it wasn’t difficult to speculate why they would know each other.

Lian Sijiao didn’t understand why all this coincidence happened. Although he was the one who initiated the breakup, they had no relationship now, and he didn’t think Li Qi had the right to question him. “It’s none of your business.”

Li Qi’s expression became even uglier upon hearing this. “Yan Hao is not good for you. You can’t like him.”

Lian Sijiao deliberately approached him. “Why can’t I like him?”

“He is already married. They just reconciled after so much difficulty. You can’t… be a third party.”

Upon hearing the last sentence, Lian Sijiao suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at Li Qi coldly. “So, this is how you see me? Even when we were together before, you never trusted me, did you?”

“That’s not what I mean.” Li Qi’s words were a result of being provoked. Lian Sijiao had always enjoyed getting him agitated, and that hadn’t changed even now.

Lian Sijiao snorted coldly, no longer paying attention to him, and turned around to leave.

Li Qi quickly grabbed him. “Where are you going?”Lian Sijiao didn’t even turn his head. “Somewhere far away from you, anywhere is fine.”

Li Qi sighed. “Do we have to be like this? Can’t we have a proper conversation?”

It was you who started being rude. Lian Sijiao held back the words that were about to slip out and said instead, “I think we don’t have much to talk about. Everything that needed to be said was said two years ago.”

When they broke up, they had a big argument, and neither of them was willing to back down. When Li Qi heard him mention breaking up, he was angry for two days and refused to answer his calls. By the time he wanted to have a proper discussion, Lian Sijiao had started playing the disappearing act. He was leaving the next day, and his plane ticket was already booked. He had considered staying a few more days to chase after him. But to be honest, he was disappointed with Lian Sijiao’s reaction. He had thought that the other person would understand his pursuit of his career dreams, but in the end, he was thrown a bucket of cold water. Perhaps, as Lian Sijiao said, two years was too long, and no one could predict what changes would occur. They were both practical people, and no one could blame anyone for reaching that point. So even if he managed to win him back, what would be the point?

Thus, the breakup transitioned from being fake to real.

The reason he pursued Zhong Qiran in the first place was partly because he felt a similarity between them. But initially, he thought he simply happened to like that type . It wasn’t until their trip and encountering an avalanche that he realized he might… still not be able to forget Lian Sijiao.

And now, the person was right in front of him. Li Qi knew that if he missed this chance, there might truly be no possibility between them anymore. He asked himself if he would regret it later if he let go now.

Lian Sijiao waited for Li Qi’s response for a long time, then turned his head to look at him. And it was this glance that gave Li Qi his answer.

He suddenly grabbed Lian Sijiao’s shoulder, lowered his head, and kissed his lips.

Inside the café, Zhong Qiran covered his face, still not fully recovered from the situation just now. The place where he was hit didn’t hurt, but Lian Sijiao’s shout caused quite a stir. He wasn’t dumb, and quickly understood Lian Sijiao’s intention. However, Li Qi’s sudden appearance caught him completely off guard, leaving him with no psychological preparation.

He really wanted to go after them and ask what was going on between the two of them. But at the thought of the possibility of his mother’s surveillance outside, he obediently stayed in his seat, playing the role of a pitiful legitimate partner.

Zhong Qiran took the afternoon off and didn’t go home with Yan Hao. His facial skin was relatively delicate, so there were still some faint red marks left.

After returning home, it seemed that Yan Hao’s mother had already received the news. She kept looking at his face intentionally or unintentionally, her gaze carrying a sense of satisfaction and mockery. Yan Hao had a strong reaction, lifting Zhong Qiran’s chin and asking, “What happened?”

Zhong Qiran wanted to explain, but Yan Hao’s mother was present, so he had to continue pretending. His hesitant response wasn’t entirely fake. He wasn’t someone who liked to scheme, but since Lian Sijiao had given him this opportunity, he wouldn’t waste his efforts.

Zhong Qiran didn’t answer, which only made Yan Hao’s mother more confident, with a hint of mockery in her words. “Perhaps he was scratched by some little kitty.”

Yan Hao’s mother seemed to be accustomed to using animal metaphors for certain people, like calling Zhong Qiran a fox spirit and Lian Sijiao a little kitty.

Yan Hao was her son, so naturally, he understood. He wanted to inquire further, but Zhong Qiran discreetly pulled on the hem of his clothes, indicating for him to stop.

And so, during that dinner, Yan Hao appeared unhappy. He finished his meal quickly and silently walked to the study.

In Yan Hao’s mother’s eyes, Zhong Qiran looked like someone who had been neglected. She had recently become obsessed with all the drama, where three thousand beauties in the harem fought each other for favor. She immersed herself in it and imagined herself in the drama. Zhong Qiran’s expression was exactly like those concubines who had been banished to a cold palace.

Yan’s mother was pleased with her imagination, perhaps thinking that the day Zhong Qiran would be kicked out of the house was not far away.

Zhong Qiran didn’t bother her and, after finishing the meal and tidying up the dishes, went to the study. Just as he closed the door, Yan Hao pinned him against it and asked, “What’s going on?”

Yan Hao’s expression slowly recovered at a very slow pace. It wasn’t very noticeable, but there was some progress, especially when it came to matters concerning him.

Zhong Qiran gave him a reassuring kiss before slowly recounting what had happened that afternoon. He avoided mentioning Li Qi and Lian Sijiao’s involvement and instead focused on the opportunity that Lian Sijiao had given him. If Yan Hao had shown even the slightest hint of objection,  he would probably give up. He understood better than anyone how awful it felt to be manipulated. 

Yan Hao only said, “I understand,” and didn’t say anything more.

Zhong Qiran just looked up at him and gave him another kiss.