Chapter 23: The Incompetent and Malicious Ex-Boyfriend (23)
“Ming Yanzhou, you underestimate my feelings for Ah Ci. It’s impossible for me to break up with him.”
After speaking, Ye Qi seemed to lose interest in smoking and stubbed out the half-finished cigarette in the ashtray. “Since we’ve laid the cards on the table, you go pack your things right now and move out tomorrow on your own.”
Ming Yanzhou’s fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the sofa, his expression unchanged. “Move out? This house belongs to Brother Shen. I live here, and since he hasn’t kicked me out, it’s not your turn to dictate things.”
Ye Qi let out a soft laugh, but his expression was exceptionally cold. “Since you put it that way, I’ll have a good talk with Ah Ci once he gets back.”
Ming Yanzhou pursed his lips, his eyes darkening. “Ye Qi, I advise you to be sensible. Five million isn’t enough? Ten million? Twenty million? As long as you’re willing to break up with Brother Shen, I can give you any amount. Don’t force me to use unpleasant methods.”
Ye Qi looked at him coldly. “Ming Yanzhou, money isn’t everything.”
“Money indeed isn’t everything, but you’re just a low-level clerk at Fengchi. With your meager monthly income of a few thousand, on what grounds do you talk about love and ideals? You shouldn’t block Brother Shen from pursuing a better life just because of yourself. I can give him everything you can’t.”
Ming Yanzhou didn’t want to make his words too harsh. After all, he himself had just been born into a good family; it wasn’t anything great. But he wanted to be with Shen Ci so badly that he didn’t know what else besides money could force Ye Qi to leave.
Ye Qi’s hand at his side tightened. A better person… If Ming Yanzhou confessed to Ah Ci, would he choose him instead? This thought was crushed by Ye Qi the moment it surfaced. Impossible. Ah Ci loves me; he won’t betray me. Otherwise, Ming Yanzhou wouldn’t have come to me to try to get me to leave him.
Ye Qi worked hard to brainwash himself. After a few seconds, he looked at Ming Yanzhou. “I won’t block him, but he loves me.”
Ming Yanzhou: “…”
Seeing that Ming Yanzhou was speechless, Ye Qi continued, “You know Ah Ci loves me, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be thinking of getting me to break up with him. Too bad for you, you have no chance to take my place, so…” Ye Qi tilted his chin. “Don’t refuse the face I’m giving you. Take your money and get lost.”
Ming Yanzhou was furious. He naturally knew Shen Ci “loved” Ye Qi. Otherwise, how could he have thought of starting with Ye Qi? It was just that he hadn’t expected Ye Qi to view money as dirt. However, this also made Ming Yanzhou look at Ye Qi with a bit more respect. At least Shen Ci’s taste wasn’t bad; Ye Qi’s love for him was indeed genuine.
Ming Yanzhou’s thoughts were in a whirlwind. Ultimately, he chose to compromise with himself. He knew how to choose between occasionally eating meat and never eating it at all. If Ye Qi wouldn’t budge, he’d have even less of a chance with Shen Ci.
He looked at Ye Qi, his tone softening into a negotiating manner. “Ye Qi, you love Brother Shen, and I love him too. Essentially, we’re on the same side. I have money; I can give you both a good life, so you and Brother Shen don’t have to work so hard…”
Ye Qi frowned, unsure what Ming Yanzhou meant by these words. “What do you mean?”
Ming Yanzhou, for a rare moment, looked a bit flushed. He awkwardly looked away. “What I mean is… I don’t mind being the third party, and you shouldn’t mind me either. I won’t destroy your relationship, but I want to join in.”
Ye Qi had never seen such a brazen person. So much so that he was stunned in place on the spot. It took several seconds for him to recover.
“Ming Yanzhou, are you sick? Being a third party and being so righteous about it—is your head unclear or do you just have no moral values at all?”
Ming Yanzhou: “…”
It was also Ming Yanzhou’s first time saying something so shameless, so he felt his cheeks burning from Ye Qi’s rebuke. “I’m negotiating with you.”
When one is speechless, one truly wants to laugh—at least, that was Ye Qi’s current thought. “Ming Yanzhou, Ah Ci and I are lovers. We’re meant to spend our lives together. This isn’t some group you can just join as you please. Give up on that idea.”
“Ye Qi, have you ever thought that Ah Ci loves you mostly because of that face? If one day that face of yours no longer attracts him, what will you use to keep him?”
Ye Qi fell silent. What Ming Yanzhou said was exactly what he’d always been worried about. He could feel Shen Ci’s detachment toward him lately. They had been together for so long, and they hadn’t even “done” it once… If Shen Ci lost interest in his face, what should he do?
Ming Yanzhou keenly captured the flicker of hesitation in Ye Qi’s eyes. His tone softened, carrying more of a persuasive intent. “You’re silent, which means you’re thinking about it too, right? I’m not trying to negate your feelings for Brother Shen. I just want to help you, and help myself.”
He moved his body forward, lowering his voice further. “Feelings are fragile by nature. How can simple liking withstand the grind of daily life? You think love is enough right now, but what if Brother Shen wants a bigger house later, or a luxury car? Or if a wealthy and handsome man pursues him… do you think he really won’t waver?”
Ming Yanzhou paused and began to sell himself. “I’m not trying to steal him; I want to love him along with you. I can make it so Brother Shen doesn’t have to worry about money. I won’t destroy your relationship; I just want to be by his side. You can be the ‘First’ and I’ll be the ‘Second’.”
“Look at Brother Shen—he’s still out socialising just to earn money. Don’t you feel any pity for him at all?”
Ye Qi looked up at Ming Yanzhou with a complex gaze. He secretly sighed that it was a pity this guy didn’t go into pyramid schemes. With that ability to enchant hearts, what couldn’t he succeed at? He knew Ming Yanzhou wanted to steal Shen Ci from him, but the man had struck at his most hidden worry. It even made him feel a trace of agreement.
That was terrifying.
After a long time, Ye Qi spoke flatly. “Ming Yanzhou, you speak well. Unfortunately, I cannot share Ah Ci with anyone. He can only be mine alone.”
Ming Yanzhou had thought Ye Qi would budge based on his look, but after all that talk, it had been for nothing… His expression turned somewhat dark. “Ye Qi, don’t force me to use dishonourable means. I just want to join. Even a dog isn’t as protective of its food as you are.”
Ye Qi let out a cold sneer. “You’re already a third party, so why do you care about being honourable or not? As for the ‘means’ you mentioned? I’m actually a bit curious now.”
After speaking, he stopped wasting words with Ming Yanzhou and went straight back to his room. Ming Yanzhou sat on the sofa for a long time before he couldn’t help but curse an expletive.
…
As for Ye Qi, after returning to his room, he sat at his desk for a long time. Eventually, a sinister smile curled his lips. One thing Ming Yanzhou said was right: how could simple liking withstand the grind of daily life? Money indeed was a good thing. One couldn’t earn much by being honest; he suddenly didn’t want to be honest anymore.
But right now, the most important thing was… he had to make Shen Ci belong to him.
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