Chapter 170: Both Kicking the Closet Door Open
On the night of New Year’s Eve.
The bustling streets were filled with traffic and people, laughter and joy. Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere, brimming with the spirit of the New Year.
“Hey, look. Doesn’t that guy over there look like An Nanyi? The An Nanyi from the An family’s ‘civet cat for prince’ scandal?”
“He does look a bit like him. How does he still have the nerve to walk around on the street? If I had done those things, I would have been too ashamed to show my face in public.”
“What goes around comes around. He did all those wicked things, and now he’s fallen to this state. He brought it all upon himself. Serves him right!”
“The An family really raised an ungrateful wolf…”
…
Under the various probing gazes of the passersby, An Nanyi secretly clenched his fists, pulled his mask up tighter, and walked forward with his head down, quickening his pace.
Months had passed, but every time he walked on the street, people would recognize him. Those scornful and mocking looks followed him like a shadow.
The air around him was filled with laughter and joy, making him the only one who seemed out of place.
An Nanyi carried a bag of frozen dumplings back to his current residence, a small one-bedroom apartment he was renting.
He ate the boiled frozen dumplings while watching the Spring Festival Gala on TV. Tears streamed down his face. In the past, during every New Year, he would be with his parents and brothers, and it was always so happy.
Now, his place had been taken by Lin Qingyan. They must be having a joyful New Year’s Eve dinner in that big villa right now, gathered together to watch the Spring Festival Gala…
And here he was, hiding alone in this small rental apartment, too afraid to even go out. He found it hard to fall asleep every night, and even his dreams were filled with people scolding him.
These damn dumplings were so disgusting. An Nanyi forcefully threw the bowl in his hand to the ground. He wiped away his tears, picked up his phone, and started dialing the numbers in his contacts one by one.
The response was, unsurprisingly, the same cold female voice:
“The number you have dialed is busy…”
“Why, why are you doing this to me!”
An Nanyi slammed his phone onto the ground and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
The night was deep.
A high-end car stopped in front of the villa. Two people got out. An Qingyan, who had been waiting at the door, immediately rushed over. He suppressed the urge to throw himself into the man’s arms and said with a joyful smile, “Fei ge, Yuqi, Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year.” Gu Fei reached out and ruffled his little partner’s soft hair. Then he took off his overcoat and draped it over him, taking his cold hand. “It’s a bit cold outside, why didn’t you wear more?”
“I came out in a bit of a hurry.”
Lu Yuqi stood silently beside them, not knowing what to say or do for a moment. He could only watch as An Jing walked towards him through the night, step by step, and stood before him, opening his arms.
He couldn’t help but freeze.
“Not going to give your boyfriend a hug?” A bright smile touched the man’s features. He stepped forward and pulled the young man into his embrace, whispering in his ear, “Happy New Year, Qiqi.”
The Cocky King’s face turned completely red.
Qiqi? Only his mother called him that.
An Qingyan, standing nearby, watched their interaction and became visibly excited, as if the ship he was rooting for had finally become real. He excitedly tugged on Gu Fei’s sleeve. “My big brother and Yuqi, are they… a thing?!”
Gu Fei nodded in confirmation.
An Qingyan: “The little videos can finally be put to use!”
Gu Fei: “Hm?”
An Qingyan: “No, nothing…”
It was almost one in the morning, and the rest of the family had gone to their rooms to rest. The four of them walked into the house openly, only to run into An Yu, who had come out for a glass of water.
After seeing the two extra people, Second Young Master An froze for two seconds, still holding his glass. Then he spat out a mouthful of water. It was one thing for his younger brother and Gu Fei to be holding hands, but why was his big brother holding another boy’s hand?!
And he looked a little familiar?!
“You… you guys!!”
“Big brother, you, you, you… what’s going on!” Could it be that his big brother, like his younger brother, had both kicked down the closet door? No way, no way!
Lu Yuqi nodded at him awkwardly. An Jing was much calmer. He put his arm around Lu Yuqi’s shoulder and said to An Yu, “Let me introduce you. This is Lu Yuqi, my partner.”
Then, he introduced An Yu to Lu Yuqi. “This is An Yu. You can just call him Second Brother-in-law.”
Lu Yuqi: “…Second Brother-in-law?”
An Yu: “…”
Wait, was this some kind of joke!
Did the New Year have to be this full of surprises?!
His big brother had actually come out? And found him a little sister-in-law? He remembered now, wasn’t Lu Yuqi Yanyan’s friend? Didn’t he look about the same age as Yanyan?
Twenty at most.
Damn, his big brother was just like Gu Fei, an old cow eating young grass!
Damn it, that wasn’t the point! The point was that two out of the three brothers were gay! Was he the only straight one left? Was this a joke?!
An Jing patted his second brother’s shoulder and said earnestly, “You take your time to process this. We’ll head up first.”
Then, An Qingyan also patted his shoulder and smiled sheepishly, reeking of the sour stench of love. “Well, Second Brother, we’re going up too.”
And so, the two couples went home together.
Only An Yu, the single dog, was left behind, unable to even let out a bark. Why… His hand holding the water glass trembled slightly, the sorrow in his eyes about to overflow. Why did he have to endure all this alone? Why?
Was it really okay to abuse a single dog like this on New Year’s Eve?
This was too much!
He shouldn’t have come down for water! He should have just let himself die of thirst!
No, no, he had to go back and process this. He didn’t know how his parents would react if they found out. Forget it, it was better to let him bear the sorrows of this world alone.
“Cousin, what are you standing here for? Why is your hand shaking like you have late-stage Parkinson’s?” The speaker was the daughter of the An family’s uncle.
“Cousin, I’m fine, just a little cold. What are you doing down here?”
“Getting some water.”
An Yu: “Go on, go on.”
Ah, cousin, you should have come down earlier. Then you could have seen that spectacular scene just now, and your cousin wouldn’t have had to bear all this alone. Why did they have to let a big mouth like me know so many secrets!
Why!
The moment he pushed open the door to his room, An Jing suddenly remembered something. His room, well… it seemed to be a tiny bit messy. Would it be a bad impression on his new boyfriend of one hour?
Just as Lu Yuqi was about to step into the room, he pressed on his shoulders and turned him around to face the doorway. “You stay right here, don’t move.”
Lu Yuqi: “…Are you going to buy me oranges?”
No, I’m going to pick up my smelly socks.
An Jing hurriedly turned around to tidy up the room, stuffing all the clothes strewn on the bed under it, along with the smelly socks. Only then did he casually invite Lu Yuqi in.
Entering his boyfriend’s room just an hour after they got together, the pace was a bit too fast. Lu Yuqi still felt a sense of unreality. He was awkward all over, nearly walking with his arm and leg on the same side moving in unison.
“Maybe I should just go back…”
Before he could finish, his wrist was grabbed, and he fell into a warm, strong embrace. “There’s no such thing as entering the wolf’s den and getting out unscathed.”
The man chuckled softly, cupped the back of the young man’s neck, and leaned down to kiss him.
“Mmph…”
After the kiss, An Jing held the young man’s slightly flushed cheeks. “I know I said it on the phone, but I have to say it again in person.” He spoke seriously and solemnly, “Lu Yuqi, I like you.”
“Thank you for liking me for so long.”
“I am deeply honored.”
His voice was magnetic and gentle, his eyes earnest and full of affection. Lu Yuqi was a little dazed. He stared at the man’s face, so close to his own, and reached out to touch it.
His eyes couldn’t help but well up.
Seeing the young man’s reddened eyes, An Jing was a little surprised, then he couldn’t help but laugh. “This moved? Why are you crying?” He kissed the corner of his eye and coaxed in a low voice, “Don’t cry, Qiqi baby.”
Lu Yuqi turned his face away in embarrassment. “I’m not crying.”
An Jing: “Alright, alright, you’re not crying.”
Lu Yuqi: “When… when did you start to like me?”
“I thought you knew.” An Jing smiled. “If I didn’t like you, why would I let you pursue me? Do you think I’m that kind of casual person?”
Lu Yuqi: “Oh.”
“Oh? Such a cold reaction? Are you already tired of me after just one hour…”
Lu Yuqi looked up and kissed him, cutting off the rest of his words.
…
“What are you staring at your phone for? Who are you chatting with?”
“No one…”
“Just sending New Year’s greetings to my WeChat friends.” An Qingyan quickly hid his phone behind his back, but the guilty expression on his face gave him away.
“Is that so? What did you send?” Gu Fei took advantage of his distraction, leaned forward, and snatched the phone. An Qingyan was startled and immediately jumped off the sofa to grab it back. “Don’t look, don’t look!!”
But due to the height difference, Gu-ye held the phone up high, looking at the chat screen. It was with Lu Yuqi. He looked at the latest message, his expression complicated.
“So this is what you call ‘little videos’?”
An Qingyan felt like he could die right then and there.
“I… I haven’t watched them!”
He closed his eyes and shifted the blame. “It was Yuqi who asked me to find them!”
Gu Fei: “Is that so?”
An Qingyan: “Yes!”
Gu Fei: “Yanyan has become quite capable now.”
An Qingyan: “No… not as capable as you.”
“Then shall we let Yanyan see Fei ge’s capabilities now?”
Gu Fei advanced step by step, and An Qingyan retreated step by step.
“No, what if my parents find out…”
“It’s fine.”
…
At three or four in the morning, two people finally got into the car parked outside the An family’s house and headed back the way they came.
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