PBMM CH25

Anyone with half a brain could hear the malice in Zhao He’s words. Feng Xinyang abruptly stood up and shouted sternly, “Zhao He!”

“Is that not the case?” Zhao He’s playful gaze swept over Yan Xizhi, who was staring blankly, lost in his own thoughts. “Don’t tell me Xizhi doesn’t want him?”

Feng Xinyang froze. He looked at Yan Xizhi, and sure enough, he saw the beautiful man cough lightly with an unnatural expression. Squeezing out a smile to cover it up, he said, “We’re all brothers here. If we fall out, it won’t look good for anyone. If you ask me, let’s all take a step back and look at the bigger picture.”

“Hezi, don’t hurt A-Qing. Let’s just do things the old way, everyone relies on their own methods.”

Not hurt him? Zhao He slightly lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips curling up. The man’s low, velvety tone dragged out, “Alright.” But deep beneath his lowered eyelashes, an icy chill gathered.

How could I not hurt him?

The pain I’ve endured these past years, how could I not make him suffer through it as well?

Zhao He agreed, but Feng Xinyang didn’t want to. He had to admit that his heart had been moved by He Qing. He was completely different from those toys they used to toss aside at will in the past. Not to mention how utterly unprincipled Yan Xizhi was, just taking Zhao He alone—even if he promised not to hurt A-Qing, given his methods and temperament, who knew what kind of torment A-Qing would face?

Determination flashed in his eyes, but before he could speak, it was noticed by Yan Xizhi. The beautiful man raised his eyebrows high, his face still maintaining a grinning smile, yet his words sent chills straight to the bone: “Xinyang, if you refuse again, I won’t hold back anymore.”

He was extremely good-looking, his radiant facial features beautifully androgynous when he smiled. Yet, those autumn-water-like eyes were completely empty, devoid of a single drop of emotion. “If A-He and I join forces, we might not be able to touch your Feng family, but we can definitely push up that bastard brother of yours who suddenly popped out of nowhere. Don’t force our hands.”

Having been arrogant and domineering for half his life, Feng Xinyang looked at his best friend in disbelief, only to see him still smiling. Only at this moment did he truly realize exactly what kind of friends he had made.

————

[It should be about time…] He Qing calculated the time. [Little Cutie Xinyang must have compromised by now. Is it time for me to make my appearance?]

System: [The original world does not contain the content you mentioned.]

[Of course not.] He Qing cherishingly looked down at his fair hands resting on his lap. [The original Feng Xinyang didn’t even like He Qing, how could he possibly turn against his brothers for him? Naturally, they reached an agreement with ease.]

His pink nails were almost transparent under the sunlight, displaying an exquisite beauty. He Qing couldn’t help but touch them. [In this world, Feng Xinyang’s favorability has already reached ‘like’. Of course he has to fight for it. Sigh, I really am a good person, letting him experience what true plastic brotherhood means ahead of time. Poor Little Cutie Xinyang. Out of the playboy trio, he’s the only genuine playboy.] The others were all pretending to be pigs to eat the tiger.

[Oh.] The system read flatly. [Host is so amazing. Applauding and scattering flowers for Host.]

He Qing shuddered in disgust at its attempt at acting cute, completely unsuited to its tone. [Alright, alright, step down.]

He leaned against the wall, watching his phone light up on the desk.

——

The call connected. Holding his phone, Feng Xinyang heard a slightly hoarse voice from the other end, brimming with exhaustion, “Xinyang…”

Feng Xinyang felt bitter inside, but he had to act as if nothing was wrong on the surface: “A-Qing, come out for dinner tonight to celebrate Zhao He’s return.”

Upon hearing Zhao He’s name, even the voice of the person on the other end of the line began to tremble. After quite a while, the voice finally sounded again, trying hard to suppress its crying tone: “I… I’m not feeling well, I won’t go.”

As if terrified that Feng Xinyang would force him to go, he stuttered, hurriedly adding through his sobs: “Um, I have to work overtime tonight, I really can’t go. I’m hanging up now.”

This was the first time He Qing had hung up on Feng Xinyang. As he put his phone down, alongside the bitterness, a surge of sour jealousy welled up in his heart. If A-Qing really didn’t care about Zhao He, why was he so terrified of meeting him?

Yan Xizhi dressed up specially, coming downstairs looking like a colorful peacock, unable to contain the smile on his face. Twirling his car keys, he saw the dazed Feng Xinyang and teased him playfully as usual, “Xinyang, where’s your soul?”

Feng Xinyang snapped back to reality and glared at him, just like before, “Eaten by you!”

“I don’t have that kind of ability. I’m ready, let’s go.”

Zhao He was already waiting outside. When the two arrived, the trio piled into one car and headed out, just like old times.

The car stopped downstairs in a very ordinary residential complex. When the flashy red convertible pulled up, it attracted quite a few curious, peering eyes. Yan Xizhi completely ignored them, taking out a small mirror to gleefully admire his reflection. After thinking for a moment, he sprayed a little perfume on the inside of his wrists, then finally got out of the car with satisfaction.

It wasn’t him bragging, but the two guys behind him couldn’t compare to him. Once A-Qing saw him, his gaze would definitely stick to him and never leave.

Behind him, Zhao He couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. Since when did Yan Xizhi become so effeminate, actually carrying a mirror with him everywhere.

He Qing lived on the top floor, and the narrow staircase could only fit one person at a time. Yan Xizhi deliberately ran to the very front, leaving the two guys behind him. He climbed seven flights of stairs and finally arrived. After straightening his clothes and nervously checking his complexion in the mirror one last time, making absolutely sure he looked flawless, the beautiful man knocked on the door.

—The door opened.

When the youth with slightly red and swollen eyes saw clearly who the visitors were, he looked in disbelief past him at Feng Xinyang behind him, and… Zhao He…

Why… why were they here!

Zhao He scrutinized the youth carefully. Eight years had passed, and his appearance hadn’t changed much. His aura was still gentle and mild, only those usually watery eyes were slightly red and swollen right now. It didn’t make him look pathetic, but instead made one want to… make him cry!

That touch of red at the corners of his eyes made him want to ravage and toy with him even more. His hands, hanging by his sides, trembled slightly, almost unable to restrain himself. Feng Xinyang noticed his gaze deadlocked on the youth. His heart sank, and he pushed past Yan Xizhi, who was standing at the top of the stairs, reaching out a hand to pull his lover’s hand.

He Qing’s body stiffened. Under Zhao He’s gaze, almost as a conditioned reflex, he hid his hands behind his back, refusing to let the man touch them.

Feng Xinyang’s hand hung in mid-air. He froze for a moment, slowly lowered it, and revealed a gentle smile once again, “A-Qing, aren’t you going to invite us in for a bit?”

“Oh… okay…” He Qing didn’t even dare to lift his head, walking into the room almost stiffly, moving his same-side arm and leg together.

Feng Xinyang walked in first, with Zhao He following closely behind, leaving Yan Xizhi standing at the doorway, his eyes full of unwillingness.

A-Qing clearly saw me first…

Yet, except for the instant he opened the door, up until now, the youth’s gaze has constantly been on those two, refusing to spare even a single glance for me!

What’s so great about them? Is it really that hard to just look at me for one second?

His grip on the mirror tightened more and more until a tiny crack sounded. The beautiful man abruptly snapped back to reality, only then realizing his hand had been cut by the broken glass. It was a very small cut, but it made his face darken instantly.

He Qing brought out water in a daze, only to realize that one person still hadn’t come inside. “Xizhi? Why are you standing at the door instead of coming in?”

He looked awkwardly around his home. “Is it because my place is too shabby…”

“No!” Yan Xizhi looked up, a completely unclouded smile on his face. He slightly curved his eyes, “A-Qing’s home is so well-kept. It’s just that I accidentally cut my hand just now.”

“You cut your hand?” The youth’s expression instantly turned anxious. He looked down and indeed saw a red line of fresh blood on Yan Xizhi’s left hand. He hurriedly pulled the man into the room, grabbed a band-aid from the entryway cabinet, and carefully applied it for him.

Because his head was lowered, He Qing’s soft bangs lightly brushed against the beautiful man’s palm, making his heart itch unbearably. He stopped caring about being ‘neglected’ earlier, the corners of his mouth turning up in a fox-stealing-a-chicken smile. With zero sincerity, he said, “It’s nothing, just a tiny cut.”

“A hand injury is no small matter.” He Qing carefully pressed down the edges of the band-aid and let out a sigh of relief. Only then did he look up at Yan Xizhi and say, “Hands are very important. Take me, for instance, I’m a doctor. If my hands are ruined, my whole life is over.”

Yan Xizhi didn’t take his words to heart, simply looking at the mild-mannered man with his gentle tone and smiling. This is how it should be. Only looking at me, only talking to me.

Before he could be happy for more than a few seconds, Feng Xinyang, who had been sitting on the sofa watching their eye contact uncomfortably, stood up. He walked over to He Qing’s side, wrapped an arm around the youth’s somewhat slender waist, and, as if declaring his sovereignty, whispered intimately into his ear. Yan Xizhi’s eyes darkened, but he kept the smile on his face, teasing seemingly playfully, “What are you whispering about? Do you really have to stand so close?”

“Come here, A-Qing, I also have something to tell you…” He smiled and reached out to pull He Qing’s hand, but was awkwardly dodged. Yan Xizhi’s expression instantly became rather unsightly.

Feng Xinyang acted as if he hadn’t seen a thing, simply declaring openly, “It’s nothing. Just that Hezi had a little misunderstanding with A-Qing in the past. Since we’re all on the same side, we’re going to put this matter behind us today.”

He looked down at the youth, whose face had instantly turned deathly pale, and said with a hint of apology, “A-Qing, Zhao He said that if you apologize to him, he will forgive you. If it wasn’t your fault back then, tell me, and I’ll stand up for you.”

He Qing kept his head firmly lowered. Hearing his words, his body jolted. He looked up at him, hope shining in his gentle eyes, and asked carefully, “If I apologize, A-He… he will forgive me?”

Hearing this intimate form of address, a blockage formed in the man’s heart, but he still nodded. “Yes, if you apologize, he will forgive you.”

————

The balcony in He Qing’s house was very small. Zhao He was currently out there smoking a cigarette. He exhaled a smoke ring, watching it slowly dissipate in the air, his expression blank. Behind him, the balcony door opened and closed again. He didn’t turn around, but uncontrollably lightened his breathing to listen.

That person’s footsteps were very light and very slow, always overly cautious, as if terrified of disturbing anyone. He stopped, and a familiar, gentle voice sounded timidly from behind: “A-He…”

Zhao He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and turned around to look at the youth. “He Qing.”

“I… I’m sorry… It was my fault back then, please forgive me!” The youth lowered his head, seeming extremely ashamed, utterly humiliated.

So you feel ashamed too, huh? Then why did you do it back then?

Zhao He’s heart was overflowing with mockery and hatred, but his face remained calm as he said softly, “It’s fine, I forgive you.”

Under the youth’s pleasantly surprised gaze, which looked as if he had just found salvation, his voice was tender, “Since you are Xinyang’s boyfriend now, let’s all have dinner together tonight. Consider it… your apology meal to me.”