Chapter 14: Called “Nova” in Latin
Shen Jixing didn’t intend to stay long.
He only wanted to confirm their safety, or perhaps privately wanted to see them.
“Don’t blame yourselves; I’ve never blamed you.”
Shen Jixing comforted them, releasing his grip.
He bent down to pick up the hat that had fallen to the ground, gently wiping off the dust with his clean cuff and putting it back on Mrs. Herbert’s head.
“Instead, I should thank you and Mr. Herbert for coming all this way for me.”
Even though the outcome wasn’t ideal.
But Shen Jixing didn’t mind.
Mrs. Herbert’s wrinkled hand gently held his, her grey eyes filled with apologetic redness, “We thought about contacting you beforehand, but I was afraid…afraid you wouldn’t want to see us, Nova.”
Shen Jixing’s slightly drooping eyelashes moved subtly.
After two seconds, he said, “I wouldn’t.”
This child still had a soft heart.
But he also kept himself locked within a hard shell.
Initially, after he returned to China, Mrs. Herbert called him every week, sending him living expenses and beautiful clothes she had recently bought for him.
He always received them gratefully.
“Thank you, Mrs. Herbert, I like them very much.”
The exquisitely beautiful black-haired young man sat opposite, even in a poorly lit, grey-white room, his refined features were undeniable.
After a pause, he said, “However, the director recently bought us new season clothes. I’m living well here. Take care of your health; you don’t have to worry too much about me.”
He didn’t mention rejection.
But every word conveyed that he didn’t need anything.
“Have you booked your return tickets? I’m free soon and can take you and Mr. Herbert to the airport.”
Shen Jixing gently tucked a strand of loose silver hair behind her ear.
Airports have the highest volume of people; Mrs. Herbert smiled warmly, “We’ve already booked. But we want to go to a calligraphy and painting shop in the ancient capital first. You know, Herbert likes those.”
Many things didn’t need to be explicitly stated.
Shen Jixing also understood that she was refusing.
They had lived together for three months, and Shen Jixing was often somewhat like her.
“Okay.”
Shen Jixing nodded, saying nothing more, “Safe travels, safe landing.”
Mrs. Herbert raised her head to kiss his cheek, “It will be.”
Shen Jixing only exchanged a few pleasantries with Mr. Herbert.
Any intimacy between men after they’ve matured becomes awkward.
He bent down to pick up the black umbrella in the corner and, as he was about to step out of the doorway, suddenly heard Mrs. Herbert’s trembling voice, “Nova…”
He paused slightly.
His grip on the black umbrella handle tightened slightly, the bones of his fingers showing a clear and delicate coldness.
He slightly turned his head and softly said, “If possible, I have a request.”
Old Mr. Herbert knew he was in a difficult situation.
He said solemnly, “Child, don’t hesitate to say it, we will do whatever it takes.”
Mrs. Herbert nodded slightly with tears in her eyes.
The rain outside blurred the glass, gathering into threads and flowing down.
Shen Jixing said calmly, “I hope that next time we meet, you two can call me by my Chinese name, Shen Jixing.”
Old Mr. Herbert froze in place.
Mrs. Herbert suddenly covered her mouth, hot tears falling.
Old Mr. Herbert couldn’t refuse; after a long silence, he slowly nodded, “Of course, we can.”
Shen Jixing smiled, “Thank you.”
He turned and calmly walked out of the rest room.
Nova, in Latin, is known as “new star,” representing a new beginning, implying brilliance and beauty.
But he no longer had a new beginning.
So he wasn’t Nova.
…
“Help me look into something.”
Shen Jixing’s gentleness and patience were rare.
More often, he was the cold, arrogant, and extremely rude person Zhou Yili described.
As if the gentleness had been exhausted in just a dozen minutes, the humid air of late summer lingered at the corners of his eyes, and his tone was imbued with a piercing coldness.
“Information about YC and Fang Siqian.”
“No restrictions.”
His voice was as flat as water, “I want all their information.”
“Okay.”
“…”
Shen Jixing turned around a corner and unexpectedly bumped into someone.
He quickly stopped to avoid contact, but the other party stumbled towards him.
Shen Jixing frowned slightly but still gently supported him.
Expensive, silky fabric brushed against his palm; he heard the other person’s lazy and casual tone.
“Ouch, watch where you’re going…”
The man’s tone paused, his eyebrows slightly raised, his pupils filled with a playful sneer, “Oh, isn’t this…someone?”
Shen Jixing: “…”
The sarcasm was too obvious.
His hasty departure this morning seemed like he was avoiding responsibility.
Shen Jixing opened his thin lips to speak, but Zhou Yili glanced at his phone screen, casually asking, “Who are you talking to?”
It was a man.
Judging by the initial assessment, he was a handsome man.
Before Zhou Yili could see the name, Shen Jixing calmly turned the screen inwards.
He said to the person on the other end of the phone: “Send it to me tonight, that’s all, I’ll hang up.”
Zhou Yili stared at him with deep black eyes.
Shen Jixing, oblivious, put away his phone, calmly raising his eyes to look at him, “How did you get here?”
Zhou Yili never took on outside activities while preparing a new album.
His presence at the YC celebration likely had only one reason—
“It’s none of your business.”
Zhou Yili listlessly withdrew his gaze, sliding his hands into his pants pockets, his silk shirt slightly askew at his collar, revealing half of his delicate and sexy collarbone.
“I have an appointment.”
Shen Jixing glanced at his sharp Adam’s apple.
Zhou Yili rarely dressed so flamboyantly.
Everyone present was either YC’s people or Fang Siqian’s people; he reached out to stop him before the other party took a step.
“Who’s the appointment with?”
Oh, look at that tone.
It sounds like I’m his lover.
Zhou Yili glanced at the hand resting on his abdomen, clean and long, the bones thin and delicate and beautiful.
He lazily curled his lips and sneered, “What’s it to you? Who am I to you, Mr. Shen, the actor?”
Shen Jixing looked at him with clear eyes.
Zhou Yili’s eyes were sharp and rebellious; several strands of blue hair on his head stood up arrogantly. He raised an eyebrow in understanding, “It’s a creditor.”
“…”
Shen Jixing seemed speechless.
The damp rain melted into his eyes, moist and beautiful like glazed water.
Zhou Yili inexplicably felt itchy.
He coldly stared at the person in front of him, suddenly gently clasping his chin with one hand, looking down at him with cold indifference and aggression.
“You better think about how you’re going to give me a reasonable explanation tonight.”
Shen Jixing was forced to take a step back, frowning slightly at him.
He coldly rebuked, “Let go, I haven’t forgotten.”
Zhou Yili didn’t use much force; the other person’s chin was thin and small in his palm.
The touch was subtly addictive; he decisively released his hand, “Fine.”
“Send it to me tonight, that’s all, I’m leaving.”
“…”
Those familiar words.
Zhou Yili walked away without hesitation; just as his abdomen was about to collide with the hand hanging in mid-air.
Shen Jixing quickly retracted it.
Only after the flamboyant figure disappeared around the corner did Shen Jixing finally come to his senses.
“Crazy.”
He raised his hand as if wiping away dirt, his fingertips lightly gliding across his cold, white chin.
Then he calmly stepped into the rain outside the corridor.
Two seconds later, the cold raindrops hit his scalp, instantly clearing his mind.
Shen Jixing lowered his eyes, expressionlessly opening his umbrella.
“…”
_____________________
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