Chapter 47
Mi Yonghui was perceptive; he slipped away decisively, leaving the lobby quiet with only the two looking at each other speechlessly.
Seeing Duan Mingyue looking at him without speaking, brows still furrowed, Shen Yanjin thought it’s finally coming. Since the timing and setting were appropriate, he said, “Moon God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to you.” He braced himself and brought out the excuse he had thought of earlier. “I still wanted to continue playing in matches. I was momentarily obsessed, so I did those things. I really—”
Duan Mingyue sighed, raising his hand to interrupt his confession.
Shen Yanjin stopped as told, looking at the man with puzzled and nervous eyes.
“I didn’t think of holding you accountable.” Duan Mingyue’s expression softened slightly. “I’ll take you to the dorm first.”
A tumble of words instantly got stuck in Shen Yanjin’s throat, unable to come out.
He carefully examined Duan Mingyue’s face.
Duan Mingyue asked, “What’s wrong?”
Nothing much, just that you, a straight man, don’t look like you have the self-awareness of being liked by a gay man for five years at all.
Shen Yanjin moved his lips, ultimately saying nothing, shaking his head with a smile. “Okay.”
He thought, since Duan Mingyue had already paved these steps for him, he should be sensible and go down them.
So he followed behind Duan Mingyue through the scenic corridor and into the elevator, silent all the way.
Just when Shen Yanjin thought Duan Mingyue wouldn’t speak again, the elevator doors closed, and he heard the man’s voice say steadily, “If I was being sentimental on my own, then I apologize.”
Shen Yanjin didn’t react, looking blank. “What?”
Duan Mingyue pressed the floor button and turned to face him directly. “Do you like me?”
Shen Yanjin’s eyes widened, his mind going blank instantly.
He stared woodenly at Duan Mingyue, feeling his lips dry and throat tight. attempting to think, but panic prevented logic from forming.
He had thought of countless scenarios, but the only thing he hadn’t expected was for Duan Mingyue to ask this question at such a time.
Shen Yanjin saw Duan Mingyue being silent just now, treating him as if nothing happened, and thought Duan Mingyue wanted to pretend nothing happened, so he let down his guard.
This sudden attack truly caught him off guard.
His face paled. Licking his lower lip, he tried hard to find a good, passable excuse, but his blank brain just wouldn’t turn.
In his anxiety, he looked up at the elevator floor display. Heavens, only one floor up? He thought ten minutes had passed!
Seeing the person badly frightened by him, Duan Mingyue’s heart softened, and he said helplessly, “You acting like this makes it look like I’m bullying you.”
Shen Yanjin let out an “Ah,” looking at him with an expression both pitiful and puzzled.
The elevator doors opened just then. Duan Mingyue’s dorm was located at the southernmost side of the fourth floor. Due to his special status, except for the cleaning lady, no one usually came here to disturb him.
The corridor was quiet. Thick dark carpet covered the floor, soft to step on, making almost no footstep sounds.
Duan Mingyue led Shen Yanjin to his dorm door and smiled. “I mean, if you like me, we can try.”
Shen Yanjin was even more confused.
He stammered, “Moon, Moon God? What do you mean? I…” He bit his lower lip tight. “I’m a man.”
Finished, he lowered his head, not looking at Duan Mingyue, and continued on his own, “Sorry, Moon God. I know you’re not holding me accountable, but I just feel guilty in my heart; I lied to you. Whether you think I’m utilitarian or think I’m disgusting, I accept it. Just, I… I just couldn’t help it. But I can guarantee, no matter how you treat me, I will play matches with all my heart and strength, train seriously, so you don’t need to… force yourself.”
By the end, Shen Yanjin didn’t even know what he was saying. Duan Mingyue agreed to try with him, responding to his feelings; he should be happy. But with honey right in front of him, the person who had suffered bitterness for too long would rather believe it was arsenic than believe it was the sugar he had dreamt of for so long.
It could be said that if Shen Yanjin was allowed to stay quietly by Duan Mingyue’s side, he would feel very satisfied and happy. But if asked to kiss and date Duan Mingyue, he would feel fearful and uneasy, wanting to flee.
Overhead, Duan Mingyue’s laughter rang out vaguely.
He said, “If I felt forced, would I possibly do that kind of thing with you last night?”
Last night?
Various traces seen this morning resurfaced. Shen Yanjin got goosebumps all over. Could it really be as I thought?
He looked up, face flushed red. “I was drunk last night, I don’t remember anything…”
Duan Mingyue had intended to wait, wait a bit longer until there were results from XXDY and the truth was sorted out, before talking it out with Shen Yanjin.
But in the lobby, hearing the little support apologize as soon as he opened his mouth, face full of guilt, looking like he had wronged him greatly, Duan Mingyue couldn’t wait any longer.
He had done so many wrong things to Shen Yanjin, yet now the other party was apologizing to him instead. What kind of logic was this?
Besides, he had made Shen Yanjin wait too long. Even if he could wait, he was no longer willing to let Shen Yanjin continue living in unease.
Duan Mingyue raised his hand and straightened the collar of the young man before him. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. My room is right next door.”
He looked straight into Shen Yanjin’s eyes. “Want to come in?”
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