Chapter 54: Lies
In an instant, Ruan Zhimian’s heart throbbed with a dull pain.
Shi He had done this on purpose—deliberately resting in the living room, deliberately giving him space, deliberately… watching his choice.
Or rather, Shi He was waiting to be abandoned by him yet again.
Ruan Zhimian lowered his head like a little kitten, first drawing close to nudge against his lips, only knowing how to press against them for a gentle kiss.
He kissed several times, yet he still hadn’t learned how to properly kiss someone.
His beautiful, pure eyes half-drooped, his wet eyelashes curling upward, the corners of his eyes still rimmed with red. He tugged at Shi He’s cuff, his voice tiny and very obedient. “Shi He, I’m right here in front of you.”
However, the knocking outside the door was very urgent.
Ruan Zhimian hadn’t contacted his family for a whole day, let alone left Huajiang as agreed; his whereabouts were a complete mystery.
“Can you tell my brother that I’m staying with you?”
“I just don’t want them to worry.”
Along with the clinking sound of the chain, the black-haired, black-eyed Alpha pulled the boy onto the sofa. Bracing his arms, his well-defined fingers clamped around his chin with enough force to crush bone, looking down at Ruan Zhimian from above.
“Ruan Zhimian, why should I agree to your request?”
“I only like you, yet you don’t want my affection.”
There was no emotion whatsoever within those pitch-black, gloomy eyes. Looking at the louder and louder knocking, his thin lips even curved up into a gentle smile. “The initiative is in my hands now.”
“I know you want to leave very badly. There’s no need to say these kinds of things to me just to put on an act.”
It was as if he were absolutely certain that everything was a lie.
Ruan Zhimian’s lies had only brought him abandonment.
It didn’t matter; over all these years, he had been abandoned more than once.
Having just woken up from a nightmare, Shi He seemed to no longer care about anything. A chilling coldness emanated from his entire body. “Let them smash the door open and take you away.”
He had absolutely no credibility left; it was only natural for Shi He to think this way.
However, he didn’t want Shi He to face his grandfather and the “judgment” of those people. No matter who came in and saw this scene, they would only think that Shi He was abnormal.
This must absolutely not happen.
“You don’t have to believe me, nor do you have to listen to me speak.”
Ruan Zhimian grabbed one of Shi He’s hands and pressed it against his own neck.
Beneath that slender, translucent neck was his fragile breath.
“You can throttle me and hang up the phone.”
Ruan Zhimian’s eyes were very sore and painful, his eye sockets gradually filling with tears as his heart throbbed in waves. “If they come in… do you really want to see them come in?”
Given the level of protection the Ruan family provided to Ruan Zhimian, once Ruan Xubai saw this scene, Shi He would never get to see Ruan Zhimian again for the rest of his life.
Time ticked away second by second. Torrents of rain poured outside the window, and voices continued to ring outside the door. Ruan Zhimian lacked the strength to communicate with the people outside, let alone the fact that such a rash action would affect Shi He’s emotional state.
The Alpha lowered his head closer to his neck, his long, cold, white fingers tightening slightly. He faintly lifted his eyelids, took the phone on the sofa, and switched on the screen.
The call to Ruan Xubai was dialed out. Ruan Xubai was currently standing outside the door, telling the assistant behind him, “Find someone to dismantle the door.”
What? Dismantle the door?
“Are you certain the young master is inside?”
Right right at this moment, Ruan Xubai answered the call.
Ruan Zhimian’s soft, warm voice came from the phone. “Brother, I’m fine. I’m with Shi He. I was just sleeping earlier and forgot to call you today.”
Ruan Xubai knitted his brows slightly. “Mianmian, I’m right outside the door. Let me see you.”
The young master’s voice was laced with petulance as he acted spoiled. “There’s no need. I don’t want to see that person next to you. He scolded me mercilessly last time; I hate him.”
Old Master Shi was so furious his mustache twitched and his eyes widened. “How on earth do you raise children!”
“No need for you to worry.”
Ruan Xubai retorted in a flat, indifferent tone. He didn’t completely believe it, leaving one person to keep watch outside the apartment. “Mianmian, come home for lunch today, and bring Shi He along too.”
Ruan Zhimian’s voice paused for a moment. “I’ll ask him.”
Unexpectedly, Shi He nodded his head and took the phone over. “President Ruan, I will bring Mianmian back at noon.”
Until the call was hung up, he didn’t pay a single bit of attention to Old Master Shi.
It gradually quieted down outside the door. Shi He was used to being abandoned and used to being loathed. Ruan Zhimian was different; he possessed the affection of many people and was a bright, warm person.
Ruan Zhimian could never possibly stay with him forever.
Let alone the fact that Ruan Zhimian didn’t want to stay with him.
Placing the phone on the coffee table, Shi He stood up to pour some water.
He had only taken a few steps when he saw Ruan Zhimian following behind him. The maximum length of the chain only reached the kitchen bar counter where water was poured; the chain at his ankle was stretched nearly straight, and the uncomfortable texture of the fabric sewn inside the cuff had chafed a deep red mark.
Ruan Zhimian didn’t perceive the pain at all. Grabbing Shi He’s arm, he asked, “Why did you agree to go back with me?”
“No reason. Do you still want to hear me say I like you?”
Half a day ago, Shi He might have still wanted to understand Ruan Zhimian’s life, but the current Shi He was merely waiting for Ruan Zhimian to abandon him.
Shi He’s change was far too drastic. What kind of dream had Shi He just had?
“Did you just have a nightmare?”
“It wasn’t a nightmare. It was my memory.”
Although, ordinary people wouldn’t have memories identical to nightmares.
Some people might want to try and grasp the faint light in their lives, but Shi He was completely the opposite. He had been abandoned far too many times—the Shi family, his parents, these key figures who occupied his twenty years of life had cast him aside and utilized him time and again.
Now, Ruan Zhimian was added to the list.
Ruan Zhimian would leave as well.
Perhaps in the future, he would dream of Ruan Zhimian too.
Putting down his water glass, Shi He leaned down and scooped Ruan Zhimian up. A chill drifted within his ink-dense, cold eyes, with only a profound, deep love hidden in the depths of his gaze. “Have you rested enough?”
“If you’ve rested enough, let’s continue.”
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