Chapter 16
Cheers erupted around him, the familiar rock music filling the air, heating up the venue.
This album had been specially selected by Jian Huaiyi; it contained a song called “Against the Current.”
His favorite lyric was:
“I know many want to sink with me, but I swim against the tide, even against God’s will.”
Holding a burning branding iron, Jian Huaiyi struggled to focus on the livehouse performance. His mind was consumed by the other man’s hand in his.
Though he’d been in relationships before, he’d never held hands, let alone on a crowded beach.
What was Liang Xun doing?
Liang Xun keenly sensed the other’s discomfort; he wasn’t as calm as he appeared.
Eighteen-year-old Liang Xun had no romantic experience. This was his first time holding hands—a memory.
It was unlike his imagined hand-holding. It wasn’t with someone he liked, nor with his future wife.
In his understanding, intimate acts like hand-holding or hugging were only for someone he liked, and Jian Huaiyi wasn’t in that category yet.
Liang Xun wasn’t stupid. Jian Huaiyi had already acted against his principles, and he hadn’t broken up with him in the past. There must be a reason.
Recently, whether it was actively trying to mend their relationship or holding hands, it was all to maintain their lover status. He couldn’t break up with Jian Huaiyi until his memory returned and he discovered the reason.
It was for himself, and for Jian Huaiyi.
During this time, he had to play the role of a qualified boyfriend.
Liang Xun pressed his lips together. But setting that aside for now, even a simple act of holding hands could make Jian Huaiyi so concerned…
Liang Xun’s fingertips grazed his palm.
Jian Huaiyi’s light-colored eyes flickered.
He instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but Liang Xun seemed to anticipate his movement, his large hand clamping down on his, making it impossible to escape.
Jian Huaiyi frowned.
Liang Xun, why was he holding his hand hostage?!
Jian Huaiyi stared up at Liang Xun, his eyes full of unspoken words.
Liang Xun lowered his gaze, sweeping across Jian Huaiyi’s face, then casually looked away, returning his attention to the stage performance.
Jian Huaiyi: ?
Ignoring him?!
Forget the hand-holding, what was with the ignoring?!
“Liang Xun.” Jian Huaiyi couldn’t help himself.
“Mm.” Liang Xun responded, his eyes remaining fixed on the stage.
Jian Huaiyi used his free hand to forcefully turn Liang Xun’s face back.
Liang Xun was “forced” to look at Jian Huaiyi.
Jian Huaiyi was wearing white overalls today, a younger look than usual, like a snow lotus bathed in sunlight, adding a touch of vitality.
Jian Huaiyi, with a cold face, asked Liang Xun: “Ignoring me?”
Liang Xun paused, then readily complied: “Sorry.”
Jian Huaiyi: …
A thousand words condensed into a single period.
You win.
Jian Huaiyi thought to himself.
During the climax of the performance, Jian Huaiyi forcefully ignored the branding iron in his hand, even silently comforting himself:
What’s wrong with holding hands with a good friend?
Didn’t many good friends hold hands going to the bathroom in school?
And they were just holding hands watching a livehouse show.
Maybe Liang Xun had this quirk, yes, a post-amnesia symptom.
Jian Huaiyi listed many possible reasons. After all, Liang Xun was a straight man, he probably thought holding hands represented friendship.
During the intermission, following the trend, the host asked the photographer to randomly select audience members to appear on screen.
The lights swept across the crowd, and Jian Huaiyi secretly prayed they wouldn’t be chosen.
If Jian Luo’s family found out, it meant his father would find out. And if his father saw him and Liang Xun at a livehouse, he would inevitably have some ulterior motives.
The last incident had already made him feel bad towards Liang Xun; if his father interfered again, it would make things even harder for him and Liang Xun.
Even brothers settle accounts clearly.
Even the best friends shouldn’t be entangled with money and interests.
“Stop!”
Following the host’s shout, the camera finally stopped on a couple in front of them.
Jian Huaiyi breathed a sigh of relief, his eyelashes drooping, then he saw his captured hand.
…
The faces of a man and a woman were magnified on the screen.
The girl was beautifully dressed. Seeing herself on the screen, she was surprised and delighted, covering her mouth, shyly hiding behind the person next to her.
The host was very good at his job, “It seems our lucky audience has appeared! A handsome man and a beautiful woman, are you a couple?”
The camera zoomed in on the man and woman. The girl, seeing the elegant man next to her, blushed.
The man gentlemanly pulled the girl behind him, smiled at the camera, and waved. “No.”
The host sighed regretfully. Seeing the girl’s shyness, he got excited.
“Does the handsome guy have a girlfriend?”
Everyone in the audience understood the host’s meaning, and cheers erupted.
The man smiled helplessly, pulling the other man into the shot. He shook his head, cupped the other man’s face, and quickly kissed him on the lips.
The scene fell silent, then erupted in loud cheers.
The host laughed, “So this handsome guy already has a boyfriend! Handsome man and handsome man, wishing you both happiness~”
After the uproar, the rock music began again, and the singer came out from backstage in a new outfit.
Jian Huaiyi subconsciously looked at Liang Xun, and sure enough, he had that uncomfortable expression again, his handsome brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line.
What was he panicking about just now?
Jian Huaiyi calmly curled his lips, his eyes turning cold. He took advantage of Liang Xun’s disgust to pull his hand free.
“Hey, did you hear? Chen Qi from the class next door dropped out!”
“That Chen Qi, the Chen family’s spoiled brat who always acted so superior?”
“Yeah.”
“Why did he suddenly drop out?”
“Oh, you guys don’t know. He went all out for his lover, or should I say his beloved, they were caught doing gay stuff by his family. His grandfather was so angry he almost died, directly arranged for him to drop out and sent him abroad.”
“Chen Qi likes men!”
Jian Huaiyi in the back seat sneered, bored, he nudged Liang Xun beside him, “Did you hear that? Chen Qi’s thing.”
Liang Xun looked up, his black eyes narrowed. “Chen Qi?”
“Yeah, the idiot who sent flowers a few days ago,” Jian Huaiyi said, leaning against the chair, his tone casual, “What do you think? Chen Qi likes men.”
Liang Xun’s brow furrowed, his tightly pressed lips trembled slightly. Though he didn’t speak, his expression clearly read two words: “Disgusting.”
From then on, Jian Huaiyi never talked about such things with Liang Xun again, not even joked about it.
Later, even when he had a boyfriend, he didn’t tell Liang Xun.
Liang Xun’s palm felt empty, and he instinctively put his hands in his pockets.
The two stood side by side, their gazes fixed on the stage, intently watching the performance.
The livehouse continued until late at night, almost two o’clock before they drove home.
Jian Huaiyi didn’t say goodbye, going straight upstairs to wash up.
Liang Xun tidied up and returned to the master bedroom, Jian Huaiyi was sitting on the bed with his arms crossed, his cold face bearing a layer of frost.
He didn’t know why he was unhappy, but he was, and seeing Liang Xun made it even worse.
Jian Huaiyi lifted his chin, pointing to Liang Xun’s light gray pillow, getting straight to the point: “You sleep outside tonight.”
Liang Xun was stunned, his dark eyes flashing with momentary confusion.
“Why?”
Jian Huaiyi blinked his eyelashes, snorting coldly.
Because I’m annoyed with you.
He looked at Liang Xun, smiling faintly: “Brother, you never used to ask me why.”
Liang Xun’s fingertips paused.
Jian Huaiyi picked up the pillow and threw it at Liang Xun. He raised an eyebrow at Liang Xun, his voice cold, “Goodnight.”
Then, he pushed him out.
Liang Xun stood outside the bedroom door holding the pillow, looking up at the closed door, realizing belatedly that he had been kicked out of the bedroom by his partner.