Chapter 28: “I Just Love Your Cold Look, It’s Super Cool…”
Liang Xun’s hands rested on his knees, palms upturned, like a commoner awaiting judgment. He watched Jian Huaiyi, a subtle tension rising within him.
Jian Huaiyi propped his chin on one hand, his bright eyes meeting Liang Xun’s. He spoke at a steady, unhurried pace, “Happy birthday, Liang Xun.”
Then, he passed over a pre-prepared gift—a seed from a newly cultivated rose species.
A dense, tingling itch spread from Liang Xun’s fingertips across his entire palm.
Oh, it’s my birthday.
He lowered his gaze to the gift box wrapped with a blue ribbon, his eyes pausing for a moment. “Thank you.”
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I do,” Liang Xun said.
Jian Huaiyi gave him an odd look as a ridiculous guess formed in his mind. “Did you want a ring, too?”
Liang Xun didn’t answer.
Jian Huaiyi: “…”
I should have prepared a second gift.
The air was quiet for a few seconds. Liang Xun buttoned his cuff, belatedly realizing his reaction had been a real mood-killer.
This is not conducive to cultivating a relationship with my partner.
He paused his movements, immediately leaned forward, picked up the gift box, and tore it open. The ribbon fell to the floor, revealing a transparent glass sphere inside.
Under the light, the glass orb glowed, a single flower seed resting in its center.
“It’s a rose seed.” Jian Huaiyi’s fingers, tucked in his pocket, shifted against his warm skin. “It’s a new species just cultivated at the research base. If you don’t like it, I’ll get you a ring next time.”
“I love it.” Liang Xun latched onto the important words, his pure black eyes fixed on Jian Huaiyi. “You didn’t come home last night because you were getting me a birthday present?”
His gaze was direct, almost tangible, and carried a searing heat.
Jian Huaiyi pressed his lips together, turning his face away as he mumbled, “Something like that.”
A slow smile dawned on Liang Xun’s face. It felt as if a feather had brushed against the inside of his chest, scattering the heavy gloom and leaving behind an indescribable softness.
The atmosphere felt off.
Jian Huaiyi lowered his brow and asked in a faint voice, “Besides a ring, is there anything else you want?”
Liang Xun’s jawline tensed. After a slight pause, he repeated, “Anything else?”
“Yeah.”
Jian Huaiyi looked up and saw Liang Xun’s composed expression. His own lips gradually flattened into a line.
He felt like he was constantly being led by the nose—whether it was the offer of shares that day, or tracing it all the way back to the beginning, to every touch Liang Xun initiated out of a sense of duty, against his own will.
The feeling of being out of control washed over him in waves. He was like a scarecrow fixed to the shore, unable to move, at the mercy of Liang Xun’s whims. Whenever Liang Xun felt like it, the tide would surge and swallow him whole.
He was being manipulated by Liang Xun.
This realization made Jian Huaiyi lower his lashes. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and said, “I’ll get it for you for your next birthday.” His pupils, visible beneath his lashes, were light, and a flicker of playful interest entered his eyes. “Have you thought about what you really want?”
Liang Xun’s mind raced. In a few short seconds, he retrieved a suitable response from the literature he had studied.
“Anything is fine,” Liang Xun said, then added after careful consideration, “I’ll like anything you give me.” His tone was solemn, as if he was afraid Jian Huaiyi would think he was being dismissive.
Jian Huaiyi’s palm curled into a fist, and he bit his lip, a gesture of his unease.
Although he had prepared himself to be hit by one of Liang Xun’s bombshells, he had clearly underestimated the impact.
Is this really something a man who’s been single for over twenty years, is homophobic, and identifies as straight, would come up with?
Jian Huaiyi’s expression grew serious as he voiced his doubt. “Liang Xun, have you really never been in a relationship before?”
Liang Xun sat up straight, his long legs hidden within his wide-legged trousers, his chest broad. He enunciated each word with gravity, “You’re the only one I’ve ever dated.”
Jian Huaiyi fell silent.
After a long moment, he said flatly, “I don’t believe you.”
Liang Xun: “…”
“Before your amnesia, you would never say things like this to me,” Jian Huaiyi said faintly.
Liang Xun: “…”
Jian Huaiyi tilted his head, looking at Liang Xun. A brilliant idea on how to handle all this suddenly popped into his mind, and his eyes lit up.
Liang Xun: ?
“Do you want to know how we used to interact before you lost your memory?”
“Tell me.”
Jian Huaiyi’s voice was clear and smooth as he unhurriedly wove a tale that was both absurd and strangely logical.
“Before your amnesia, we were always mutually respectful, like honored guests. You said your idol was Plato and that you wanted to learn from him. So, we’ve always had a Platonic love, without much physical contact. Compared to such superficial touches, we focused more on… our intellectual connection.”
The more Liang Xun listened, the deeper his frown became. The phrase “Platonic love” in particular made his heart tighten just hearing it.
Jian Huaiyi propped his chin on his hand and watched him, his almond-shaped eyes sparkling, the corners tilted slightly upward.
He was a genius.
This way, he wouldn’t provoke Liang Xun, avoiding any further damage to his fragile psyche, while also preventing any touches that could harm their brotherly bond.
Now, Liang Xun should finally be able to let go of his “responsibility” as a boyfriend, right?
Subconsciously, Liang Xun felt there was something wrong with Jian Huaiyi’s story. A vein throbbed at his temple. “Then our first time…” He looked up at Jian Huaiyi, momentarily lost in a daze.
Jian Huaiyi’s mind worked fast. His tone was a mixture of truth and lies. “That was an accident. And the experience… well, it wasn’t very good. We never did it again after that.”
The experience… wasn’t very good.
Liang Xun’s lips pressed into a firm line. He felt as if a part of his body had been stabbed, and his vision blurred with a momentary confusion.
A partner who was cold, inconsiderate, frequently away on business trips, and also bad in bed…
No wonder Jian Huaiyi was disappointed in him.
As a partner, he was truly terrible.
Liang Xun’s conscience was pricked by Jian Huaiyi’s slightly pale expression. He secretly resolved to change everything.
The sooner, the better.
“I’m sorry… it’s my fault,” Liang Xun said, his voice hoarse.
A few strands of black hair fell across his brow, casting a fleeting shadow of dejection over his face before it vanished.
Jian Huaiyi frowned. Something didn’t feel right.
The next second, Liang Xun’s expression became resolute. “I will try to correct it.”
Jian Huaiyi: ?
“No,” Jian Huaiyi quickly tried to backtrack, his glistening eyes bright. “Darling, I just love how you were before—cold and indifferent towards me. It’s super cool.”
Afraid Liang Xun wouldn’t believe him, he added more fuel to the fire.
“Liang Xun, don’t overthink it. I’m completely willing, really.”
Liang Xun, naturally, didn’t believe him. He recalled the treatment methods for avoidant attachment personality he had researched. Verbal assurances wouldn’t help someone with this disorder; in fact, they would only make them feel more insecure.
Liang Xun decided to play along with Jian Huaiyi for now. “Okay,” he said against his true intentions, “I understand. I’ll do my best to go back to how I was before the amnesia.”
Hearing Liang Xun’s guarantee, Jian Huaiyi breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, it’s solved.
The stone that had been weighing on his heart shattered into dust. He gave Liang Xun a genuine smile, a small dimple appearing on his porcelain-white cheek.
“I believe in you, darling.”
A warmth spread through Liang Xun’s chest. In the end, all he could manage was a restrained, “Mm.”
With a major worry off his mind, Jian Huaiyi was in an excellent mood all day.
Outside, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and the wind howled, but the room was as warm as spring.
Jian Huaiyi stood by the French windows with a cup of hot water, his silhouette favored by the light, which formed a circular halo at his feet.
His phone rang.
“Hello, is this Mr. Jian Huaiyi?” a man’s voice asked from the other end.
“Speaking.”
“Hello, Mr. Jian. This is the A-City Police Department. We received a report of a lewd gathering at your property in the southern district. Please come to the station immediately upon receiving this message. We need to ask you some questions.”
After hanging up, Jian Huaiyi’s expression darkened. His property in the southern district—that could only be the villa he had given to Lu Yang.
Lu Yang. A lewd gathering.
The moment the thought surfaced, Jian Huaiyi massaged his throbbing temples.
Liang Xun came out of the study and saw Jian Huaiyi putting on his coat. He glanced at the blizzard raging outside and asked in a deep voice, “You’re going out?”
“Yeah.” Jian Huaiyi didn’t explain, keeping it brief. “Something came up. Don’t wait up for me.”
With that, he grabbed his car keys and left.
The visibility was poor at night, and with the continuous snowfall, Jian Huaiyi didn’t dare to drive too fast.
It took him about half an hour to reach the police station.
The officer on duty seemed to recognize him at once. He stood up. “Are you Mr. Jian?”
Jian Huaiyi gave a slight nod. “I am.”
“Okay, please come with me.”
Led by a female officer, Jian Huaiyi entered an interrogation room. Over a dozen people were crammed into the small space.
His eyes swept over them. Most were from Lu Yang’s racing team—and Lu Yang was there, too.
He hadn’t seen him in days. Lu Yang looked much more haggard, with a messy stubble shadowing his chin.
His eyes, which had always been full of untamed spirit, were now veiled in a gloomy haze, completely devoid of the vibrant energy he had when he raced on the track.
Jian Huaiyi’s gaze didn’t linger on him for long. He felt no particular sympathy as he sat down opposite the male officer conducting the questioning.
The moment he had walked in, Lu Yang had spotted him, his eyes locking onto him.
Jian Huaiyi still had that same lofty air, as if nothing in the world could move him.
The police had already done a preliminary investigation. Jian Huaiyi hadn’t been to the villa in about six months and had no prior knowledge of the incident. Thus, they only asked him a few questions about Lu Yang before letting him go. It was merely a formality.
As Jian Huaiyi was walking down the hallway, holding his wool scarf, Lu Yang grabbed his arm.
“Jian Huaiyi.”
Lu Yang’s back was hunched. He looked up, his eyes turbulent as he stared at Jian Huaiyi. His lips moved for a long time before he finally managed to utter a few words. “…I’m sorry.”
Jian Huaiyi had one hand in his pocket, the other held by Lu Yang. It was impossible to say he felt nothing after hearing that Lu Yang had participated in something like this.
He looked down at Lu Yang and found he could no longer reconcile this face with the person in his memory.
He even began to doubt if he had the right person. How could the boy who, because of a casual promise, had starved himself to save enough money to buy him that Eustoma necklace, turn into this?
When they broke up, he had been in a self-destructive state of mind. He left the apartment to Lu Yang because if they were breaking up, he wanted it to be a clean break. He didn’t want to see anything that reminded him of Lu Yang, nor did he want any connection to him.
Every object in that apartment was a reminder that things had changed. The person in his memory would forever remain just that—a memory.
Lu Yang’s throat was dry. Seeing Jian Huaiyi unmoved, he pulled a faded necklace from his pocket. A corner of the Eustoma pendant was chipped.
“Here… take this back.”
Jian Huaiyi didn’t reach for it. He lifted his gaze to meet Lu Yang’s clouded eyes.
Lu Yang’s hand clenched tightly. He stared into Jian Huaiyi’s clear eyes, craving a momentary warmth, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say what he wanted to.
He knew it was impossible between them now, but he was determined to make Jian Huaiyi remember him for the rest of his life. Even if Jian Huaiyi ended up with someone else, there had to be a piece of his heart that would always belong to him.
Even if it was a place he had wrongfully stolen.
I’ll make you remember me, Lu Yang thought fiercely as he let go and watched Jian Huaiyi’s departing back.
In the end, Jian Huaiyi didn’t take the necklace. He no longer loved Lu Yang; there was no need for such a superfluous gesture.
It was still snowing outside. Jian Huaiyi didn’t have an umbrella, and his beige trench coat was covered in snowflakes. Under the streetlights, it looked as if it were encrusted with crushed diamonds, glittering as he walked toward the other side of the street.
The villa was brightly lit.
Liang Xun kept watch in the living room. He was wearing a dark gray sweater that made him look even colder and more severe. A laptop rested on his thighs. Outside, the wind howled. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his gaze fixed on the increasingly heavy snow through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
It had been exactly one hour and forty-three minutes since Jian Huaiyi had left.
Recommended Reads
![[ABO] President Shou Is Not a Total Shou](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/the-shou-is-not-a-total-shou-214x300.jpg)
![[Esports] I Started an Online Romance with a Big Shot After Retiring](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/esports.jpg)
