Chapter 45: Qiao Fangyu Confessed?
“What is it?”
“If you don’t say it, Zhou Yuejun is going to be here soon!”
Yu Deng didn’t like people playing riddles in front of him. Having to guess was a waste of brainpower, and he was quite impatient.
Hearing Zhou Yuejunâs name, Qiao Fangyu steeled his heart and made up his mind, speaking in one breath.
“Itâs like this: my birthday is next week, and Iâm going to have a birthday banquet. Itâll be next Sunday evening. Can you come?”
“If itâs too late then, you don’t have to go home.”
“My house has guest rooms and new pajamas. Iâll prepare everything for youâyou just have to come.”
He had already bought the pajamas, slippers, and towelsâall according to Yu Dengâs size and choosing the best-looking and most expensive ones, fearing he might slight Yu Deng.
If Zhou Yuejun were here, forget about intimidating him with glares; he would have already thrown a punch to shatter Qiao Fangyuâs beautiful dream.
What was he thinking?
Staying at his house?
Qiao Fangyuâs invitation was filled with trepidation. After speaking, he was nervous and hopeful, not daring to take a deep breath, but his gaze was direct, like a puppyâs.
“Or, tell me when youâre free, and Iâll have it then…”
Qiao Fangyu only wanted Yu Deng to celebrate his birthday with him; any day would do, he didn’t care.
Yu Deng, however, looked troubled, feeling like scratching his head. “In the evening?”
If it were at noon, Yu Deng could still go secretly without reporting it, but if it were in the evening…
“Yes, in the evening. My family isn’t free during the day.”
At this time, the concept of a weekend break hadn’t taken deep root yet, so many people still had to work.
Qiao Fangyu saw Yu Dengâs difficulty and kept thinking.
“Actually, during the day isn’t impossible. It would just be the two of us then.”
He was thinking beautifully, but Yu Deng didn’t notice his hidden intentions. He just felt it would be unnecessary and troublesome for Qiao Fangyu.
107âs bird-like chirping voice reminded him in his mind: [You should go. Going will allow you to make more connections, which fits your vain nature.]
Qiao Fangyu was the first friend Yu Deng had made. Although he always used the mission as an excuse to say he was being insincere.
But Qiao Fangyu was good to him, and his heart was made of fleshâhe remembered it and couldn’t be unmoved.
Although Yu Deng wanted to agree, thinking of Zhou Yuejunâs reaction the last time he didn’t come home made his heart thump with anxiety.
Doing it again would surely earn him a scolding.
He avoided Qiao Fangyuâs eager gaze. “I… I have to go back and tell Zhou Yuejun. Heâs worried about me.”
But given Zhou Yuejunâs attitude toward Qiao Fangyu, it couldn’t just be called resistanceâit was practically hatred.
At worst, he would coax the man well tonight. It shouldn’t be impossible, right?
“Tell me what?”
The two were standing opposite each other, considering too deeply that they didn’t notice Zhou Yuejunâs approach at all.
The moment the voice came out, both of them shivered, clearly having a guilty conscience.
Zhou Yuejun had just stepped in and took in all of Qiao Fangyuâs postureâshy and agitatedâwhile Yu Deng looked troubled yet eager to try.
Did Qiao Fangyu confess?
They had been spending time together for over a month now; Qiao Fangyu surely couldn’t hold back anymore.
In that instant, Zhou Yuejunâs panic reached an extreme.
He didn’t know what he had to do to keep Yu Deng.
He didn’t have wealthy conditions and his education wasn’t high. In every way, he looked like a low-level person with no future who would only make Yu Deng suffer.
His heartbeat was irregular. He could only shove himself between the two, cutting off their communication.
Qiao Fangyu had been frightened the first few times he saw Zhou Yuejun, but he wasn’t anymore.
In a civilized society, if Zhou Yuejun dared to hit someone, he would end up in the police station.
Besides, if Zhou Yuejun hit him, Yu Deng would surely feel sorry for him.
For this reason, Qiao Fangyu straightened his back, unafraid of authority, and argued his point. “Dengdeng is just temporarily staying at your house. As a distant relative, what right do you have to control him?”
“Letâs go, Dengdeng.”
Zhou Yuejun firmly gripped Yu Dengâs wrist, leading him away with barbaric force.
He naturally wanted to tell Qiao Fangyu righteously that he and Yu Deng were not relativesâthey were a couple!
Every night they slept in the same bed, sometimes intimately entwined, doing the common romantic things of a couple.
At this moment, Zhou Yuejunâs eyes were bloodshot.
Even though Yu Deng was right in his hand, he felt Yu Dengâs slender wrist was like quicksandâhe couldn’t hold on at all, and it was slowly slipping away, out of his control.
He even wanted to lock Yu Deng upâlock him in the house and not let him contact anyone, so Yu Deng could only face him.
His possessiveness reached an unprecedented high, breaking through his rationality for a time.
“Zhou Yuejun, Zhou Yuejunâ”
Zhou Yuejun pulled Yu Deng a long way. Yu Deng could hardly keep up, and despite his calls, the man wouldn’t respond. He was truly tired. In a fit of anger, he gave Zhou Yuejun a kick.
Once the man realized and stopped, Yu Deng abruptly threw off his hand.
“Iâm not walking anymore!”
He let go of his hand, his temper flaring. Yu Deng acted like a bratty child, wishing he could just sit on the floor and throw a tantrum.
“What are you doing? You hurt my handâmy bones are about to break~”
Yu Dengâs grievance came extremely fast. In a second, his tone changed, carrying a sob and suppressing a rising cry.
Those dark eyes, like a star-studded nebula, trembled, spilling moist mist that gradually condensed into water.
His cherry-red, swollen lips were tightly pressed, his soft cheeks puffed out with air as he glared with faint, resentful anger.
Zhou Yuejun snapped out of it. Hearing Yu Deng cry in pain, he worriedly tried to take Yu Dengâs hand, but it was swiped away. After pushing him aside, Yu Deng took two steps back in resistance.
“Don’t touch me!”
“You wouldn’t answer when I called youâI almost fell.”
“I didn’t even provoke you, yet you gave me grief the moment you arrived. You have such a bad temper!”
Clearly, he was the one with the temper, but having caught a bit of Zhou Yuejunâs fault, he became overbearing instead.
Zhou Yuejun endured Yu Dengâs anger and apologized, but his mind was only on Yu Dengâs wrist.
“Let me see.”
He had seen it just nowâit had turned red from his grip.
Yu Dengâs flesh was tender, like soft tofu. A little rub or bump would easily leave a red or blue mark.
He had also been driven senseless by anger, thinking Qiao Fangyu was confessing and trying to snatch Yu Deng away from him.
Yu Deng hid his hand behind his back and rejected him with a cold face: “I don’t want you to see!”
After speaking, he ran off in another direction.
Zhou Yuejun could only follow behind, accompanying Yu Deng into the mall.
Zhou Yuejun thought since he had upset Yu Deng, Yu Deng would want to buy some things to vent his anger.
He felt it was fine; after all, it was his fault first. Offering gifts as an apology was only right, as long as Yu Deng could forgive him.
But Yu Deng stopped at a belt stall.
Chapter 46: A Small Villain Who’s Great at Making Empty Promises
The stall was smallâonly about one person wideâand extended outside the shop entrance. However, there were many styles of belts on the stall, for men, women, and the elderly.
The boss had just seen one customer off and turned back to greet Yu Deng and the other. “What style are you looking for? Pick whatever you like.”
Yu Deng was still sulking. He pointed casually, his snowy-white finger with a hint of pink landing on Zhou Yuejun.
Instantly, Zhou Yuejunâs pupils constricted.
Buying it for him?
“Your belt is broken. Itâs embarrassing to wear it out. You don’t even know to change into a new one.”
Yu Deng feigned disgust, but in truth, he was just being arrogant.
He hadn’t forgiven Zhou Yuejun yet.
Zhou Yuejunâs belt was leather, but the leather was torn and would sometimes drop scraps.
Generally, people who weren’t very picky would just tie a rope; as long as their pants didn’t fall, they wouldn’t be so extravagant as to buy a belt.
Zhou Yuejun was still reeling from the shock.
Even though he was being “insulted with harsh words” by Yu Deng, his heart was soft and warm. Every part of his body felt a rise in temperature, enveloping him in deep affection.
“Iâm not buying it.”
Zhou Yuejun rejected Yu Dengâs kindness.
“That one was my dad’s. Since it’s broken, so be it. I can just use a strap.”
Zhou Yuejun was frugal with himself, unwilling to spend money on his own person.
But in truth, if Yu Deng insisted on buying it for him, he could actually accept it.
After all, it was the first time Yu Deng was giving him a gift.
But Yu Deng pouted and let out a hmph through his nose, angry that Zhou Yuejun wouldn’t accept his kindness.
“If you don’t want it, forget it! I’ll buy it for Qiao Fangyu!”
Suddenly, Zhou Yuejun felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Buying it for Qiao Fangyu?
Yu Deng wasn’t buying it for him but only for Qiao Fangyuâdidn’t that indicate that in Yu Dengâs heart, Qiao Fangyu was more important than him?
Zhou Yuejunâs mood soured. After clenching his fists, the veins on his arms popped out terrifyingly, coiling around his thick, dark arms like wolf claws that had finished their hibernation and were about to tear flesh.
He knew it! Qiao Fangyu was despicable and shameless, surely coveting Yu Deng and trying to trick him.
The boss, having seen so many people, had a bit of social awareness.
He knew how to do business and say pleasant things.
“Aiyo, what kind of words are those?”
“You should get it, you should. Look how respectable this belt looks around the waist.”
“And itâs your brotherâs intentionâhe wants to buy it for you. How can you not accept his kindness?”
“Hurry up, little brother, come and pick one. If you really buy two, Iâll give you a discount.”
Zhou Yuejun didn’t want Yu Deng to buy one for Qiao Fangyu, and he was even more unwilling to let Yu Deng buy one only for Qiao Fangyu.
This made him afraid.
Favouring one while slighting the otherâhe was the one being slighted.
Yu Deng chose unconsciously, peeking at Zhou Yuejun as if spying.
He had intended to use Zhou Yuejunâs previous mistake to buy him a gift. This way, Zhou Yuejun would have no reason not to let him go to Qiao Fangyuâs birthday.
But Zhou Yuejun actually said no.
Yu Deng maintained his arrogance, his chin raised. With his slender neck held highâexquisite and fine like a piece of jadeâhe looked like an unreachable white swan.
“Do you want it or not? If not, I really won’t buy it for you anymore.”
Zhou Yuejun picked one randomly. “I want it. This one will do.”
How could he have any heart to choose? His mind was full of images of Qiao Fangyu holding Yu Deng and arrogantly telling him to get lost.
Dengdeng was going to stop living with him.
Who knew the young man would slightly knit his brows, his eyes shimmering? “This one isn’t good-looking. Pick this one instead.”
Turning around, he started picking for Qiao Fangyu again, making Zhou Yuejun so depressed his heart and lungs felt a sharp pain, as if being sliced apart piece by piece.
“Iâll give this one to Qiao Fangyu as a birthday gift. His birthday will be held in the evening; can you come and pick me up?”
Yu Deng was also using a bit of cleverness. He didn’t ask if he could go, but directly moved to having Zhou Yuejun pick him up.
If he didn’t pick him up, that would be Zhou Yuejunâs fault.
But how could Zhou Yuejun not pick him up?
The man was stunned, his expression frozen, and there was a bit of confusion. “Birthday?”
“So, Qiao Fangyu was talking to you about his birthday just now?”
Yu Deng also looked confused. “Yeah, what else?”
“His birthday is next Sunday evening. He invited me, and I said I had to go home and ask you.”
“But the way you treated me just now…”
In an instant, Yu Deng noticed the gloomy, violent aura around Zhou Yuejun dissipated, and he was no longer fierce.
“Iâll go. Iâll pick you up.”
Zhou Yuejun dispelled the gloom, stroking the belt Yu Deng had chosen for him in his hand.
It was because he hadn’t cleared up the situation and had been blindly jealous. That was why Yu Deng had decided to go to Qiao Fangyuâs birthday party in a fit of anger.
He didn’t think there was any problem with Yu Deng buying something for Qiao Fangyu anymore.
Since it was Qiao Fangyuâs birthday, Yu Deng certainly couldn’t go empty-handed; it wouldn’t be respectable.
And Yu Deng didn’t have much money, so buying for Qiao Fangyu was a must, but Yu Deng still remembered him and wanted to buy for him too.
With the misunderstanding resolved, Zhou Yuejun felt guilty and became more considerate toward Yu Deng.
Yu Deng grabbed a belt and asked the boss, “How much?”
The boss pointed and gave the prices one by one. “This one is twenty-five, this one is twenty.”
“What?!”
Yu Deng exclaimed, not expecting it to be so expensive. His finely carved face was full of astonishment.
Zhou Yuejun, however, rubbed his fingertips with secret joy.
His belt was more expensive than Qiao Fangyuâs. As expected, Yu Deng was more willing to spend money on him; Qiao Fangyu was an outsider.
Yu Deng held the belt in his hand and looked, squinting as he turned it back and forth.
He knew leather goods were relatively expensiveâa pair of decent leather shoes in the mall cost 170 or 180âbut he hadn’t expected a single belt to be this expensive.
The boss: “Look at the craftsmanship. Itâs hard leather, very good quality. It won’t easily break even if you wear it for ten or eight years. Itâs much more worth it than clothes that can only be worn for two or three years.”
“If you’re sincere about buying two, I’ll give you a discount. Iâll give you two yuan offâforty-three for both. How about it?”
Forty-three was also a huge sum for Yu Deng.
Suddenly, a hand with popping veins reached out. The knuckles were powerful, and the skin was dark, holding out the money.
“These two then.”
The boss was quick. With a response, the money was instantly in his pocket, and then he gave the change.
After walking a short distance, Yu Deng was still huffy, like a ball full of air.
“Why did you give the money so fast? I haven’t bargained yet.”
“Two belts for forty-threeâitâs practically a exorbitant profit.”
Forty-three yuanâZhou Yuejun would have to work for four days for that.
“Also, I was going to pay myself.”
Since these were gifts for Zhou Yuejun and Qiao Fangyu, how could Zhou Yuejun pay for them himself?
Facing three delinquent-looking youths, Zhou Yuejun instinctively gripped Yu Dengâs wrist, making Yu Deng walk in front of him.
“Thereâs no need to divide things so clearly between us. Isn’t mine yours?”
Zhou Yuejun actually didn’t know how to say sweet words. He was a typical rough man, but he was also attentive in his roughness, occasionally leaving Yu Deng speechless.
Yu Deng was originally pretending to be angry. With these intimate words from Zhou Yuejun, Yu Dengâs mouth curled up, and he let out a little hmph.
“Fine then. Iâll continue to save up my money and buy you something else later.”
“Iâll only buy for you, not for anyone else.”
Making empty promisesâpainting a big cake.
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