Chapter 119: Chu Xiaoran’s Confession
Chu Xiaoran didn’t know who was coming to see him.
When he saw Lin Huaizhi, he froze for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile. He practically scrambled to the window and picked up the intercom.
“Huaizhi!”
“Huaizhi, are you here to save me?”
The man who was once high and mighty was now shedding two lines of tears upon seeing Lin Huaizhi. He even affectionately called Lin Huaizhi by the last two characters of his name.
As if doing so could bridge the distance between them and strengthen Lin Huaizhi’s desire to rescue him.
Unfortunately, it only ignited Lin Huaizhi’s desire to watch a show.
The young man sat cross-legged with a composed expression, a smile on his face. His gaze swept up and down Chu Xiaoran three times before he unhurriedly picked up the intercom.
“Oh, isn’t this our great star, Chu?”
“How did you end up in prison?”
Chu Xiaoran completely failed to hear the mockery in Lin Huaizhi’s words—or perhaps he did hear it.
But he didn’t care.
He gripped the receiver tightly, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lin Huaizhi, as he began to pour out his bitterness.
“It’s all that bitch Fang Mo’s fault!”
“He said he liked me, said he was as pure as ice and clean as jade, but behind my back, who knows how ‘wild’ he played! I became like this all because of him and his lovers!”
“That wretch! If I can get out of here, I definitely won’t let him off!”
Chu Xiaoran’s cursing was quite foul.
Lin Huaizhi frowned as he listened to several derogatory terms involving anatomy. “As far as I know, he accepted the ‘hidden rules’ for your sake, and you were the one who made the first move?”
Chu Xiaoran spat.
“Pah!”
“What do you mean ‘for my sake’! I think he’s wanted to accept them all along! He just cared too much about his reputation and wanted to maintain his persona, so he was always being coy!”
“Otherwise, how could he have hooked up with Yun Ziliao so quickly, and then after Yun Ziliao dumped him, found countless new lovers so fast?”
Lin Huaizhi only offered a prompt, and Chu Xiaoran couldn’t stop his tirade.
Presumably to curry favor with Lin Huaizhi and get him to help him out of prison, Chu Xiaoran even peppered his belittling of Fang Mo with several compliments for Lin Huaizhi.
The vocabulary he used had probably racked his brain to its limit.
Especially that fawning appearance—it truly lacked even a shred of the arrogance and self-importance he displayed during the romance variety show.
Lin Huaizhi listened with great interest.
Who doesn’t like hearing nice things? Especially when they are compliments designed specifically to praise oneself.
Chu Xiaoran babbled until his lips were dry and his throat felt like it was smoking. Only then did he stop, offering a fawning smile to Lin Huaizhi. “Anyway, you are just so much better than him. I was really blind back then to think he was better than you.”
Lin Huaizhi’s eyes turned deep.
“I previously felt I didn’t have many merits. Hearing you say that, I seem to be quite impressive.”
“You’re more than impressive!”
Chu Xiaoran hurriedly followed up.
“You are the best person in the world! Being able to meet you back then, enter Huaimeng, and be promoted by you—I must have done countless good deeds in my past life!”
“It’s just a pity…”
“I didn’t see people clearly. I fell out with you like this over a Fang Mo. If time could be turned back, I would definitely not choose Fang Mo!”
Chu Xiaoran put on a heartbroken expression.
“Back then, I couldn’t see my own heart clearly. It wasn’t until now that I realized that for you… I actually fell for you a long time ago.”
Lin Huaizhi: “…”
Lin Huaizhi: “?”
Translator’s Note: “Pure as ice and clean as jade” (冰清玉潔 – bīng qīng yù jié) is a four-character idiom often used to describe someone’s stainless reputation or chastity.
Chapter 120: “I’ve Come to Take You Home.” (Final)
Lin Huaizhi’s silence was thunderous.
He held it in for two seconds, but in the end, he couldn’t restrain himself. He uncrossed his legs and covered his mouth. “Sorry, ugh—I’m feeling a bit nauseous, hurrk—”
The sounds of his dry-heaving were equally thunderous.
Chu Xiaoran’s face turned dark, but he no longer dared to challenge Lin Huaizhi. He could only endure it, forcing out a smile. “Everything I said is true! Huaizhi, don’t distrust me!”
“Stop right there!”
Lin Huaizhi raised a hand to interrupt Chu Xiaoran.
“Being disgusted once is enough. If you say a few more words, the meal I ate today will be wasted. That was porridge Huo Chen cooked for me; I don’t want it to be defiled by you.”
At the mention of Huo Chen, a thick sense of hatred appeared in Chu Xiaoran’s eyes.
He and Lin Huaizhi were supposed to be fine! One willing to hit and the other willing to endure! If Huo Chen hadn’t appeared, Lin Huaizhi and he would never have reached this point!
He wouldn’t have been involved with Fang Mo either!
He would still be that big star! With many fans!
“Lin Huaizhi! Where are you going!!”
Chu Xiaoran had dazed off for a moment. When he looked up, he found that the person sitting across the glass had stood up at some point, prepared to hang up the intercom and walk out.
Lin Huaizhi looked up at him.
“To have lunch at home with Huo Chen, of course. It’s almost twelve o’clock; I can’t let the person I love most wait too long.”
The prison life during this period had tortured Chu Xiaoran into absolute misery. He couldn’t stand by and watch Lin Huaizhi walk away. He blurted out, “Then what about me! Lin Huaizhi! What about me!”
Lin Huaizhi covered his mouth, feigning a shocked expression. “No way… you didn’t actually think I came here to save you, did you?”
The young man suddenly burst into laughter.
“Wake up, Chu Xiaoran. I’m here to laugh at you!”
“I wish you could live in here for the rest of your life. Why would I help you?” As he spoke, Lin Huaizhi laughed again. “It seems you still haven’t given up. Not only have you failed to recognize your own faults, you actually wanted to find someone to bail you out.”
With that, he suddenly raised his hand and looked at the officer standing behind Chu Xiaoran. “Officer! He wants to escape!!”
After shouting, Lin Huaizhi turned and left.
He perfectly embodied the saying: Once the task is done, he brushes off his clothes and leaves, hiding his fame and deeds.
Chu Xiaoran wasn’t triggered by the words, but he was triggered by the sight of that retreating back. He began to bang on the glass and shout, “Lin Huaizhi, come back! I know I was wrong! I won’t go against you again! Come back! Save me! I beg you!”
His violent reaction drew the officer behind him. When he refused to settle down after a warning, Chu Xiaoran successfully received the business end of an electric baton.
He was then dragged back like a dead pig.
The freedom he begged for would not be realized that day. As for the sins he committed, on the day he is released three years later, he will be greeted by Fang Mo’s fatal knife.
This so-called “true love” had once ruined Lin Huaizhi; now, it would also ruin themselves.
And Lin Huaizhi had already embraced a new life.
…
Lin Huaizhi walked out of the prison.
The rain that had persisted for several days in Long City had passed. The sun peeked out from the thick clouds, and warm sunlight scattered down to the world from the heavens.
Lin Huaizhi opened his arms.
Every deep breath tasted of freedom.
He was about to leave when he looked up and saw the man who was supposed to be waiting for him at home standing not far ahead.
“Why are you here?”
Huo Chen offered the young man a smile and reached out his hand toward him.
“I’ve come to take you home.”
Lin Huaizhi stepped forward quickly and grabbed the man’s hand. Together, the two walked forward.
What they left behind…
Were the shackles that had fallen from their bodies and souls.
Translator’s Note: And that’s a wrap! What an ending! Lin Huaizhi calling the guard on Chu Xiaoran was the petty energy I live for. The line about “hiding his fame and deeds” is a reference to Li Bai’s famous poem, “The Gallant” (俠客行 – xiá kè xíng), describing a hero who does his work and disappears. It’s a perfect fit for Lin Huaizhi’s “revenge” arc. Thank you all for following this journey of face-slapping and sweet romance. Our power couple is finally home!
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