Chapter 73: Reality: Rivalry

Chapter 73: Reality: Rivalry

Yan Qiling unexpectedly allowed the other party to use the bathroom in his home. On what grounds? He had never proposed such an absurd reason!

Hearing footsteps approaching the living room, Lin Yongjian's suppressed anger and curiosity converged within him.

His professional advantage enabled him to maintain composure in a short period, appearing calm as he lifted his gaze towards the entrance, sipping tea as if he were the host, effortlessly exuding an air of superiority.

A particularly tall young man entered through the foyer.

The man was estimated to be over six feet tall, with unusually silver hair and eyelashes. His mixed-race features lent him a chiseled visage reminiscent of a Greek statue, a strikingly handsome appearance accompanied by an assertive hormonal aura.

Lin Yongjian's pupils, veiled by the mist of tea, narrowed slightly.

He recognized the other person.

—It was the amateur who had replaced him in the photo with Yan Qiling back then!

Seemingly, the other party also recognized him.

It was as if two competing males had encountered each other on the same territory, sizing each other up with mutual intolerance.

The young man with silver hair disdainfully glanced at him, grabbed the towel draped over his shoulder to wipe his damp face, and a detached smile curved his plump lips.

Why did Teacher Yan invite someone who doesn't keep their appointments to their home? Is life too comfortable that they need some obstacles to spice it up?

Lin Yongjian remained composed. He assumed his usual persona and spoke calmly:

There was some misunderstanding during the studio photoshoot, but Professor Yan and I have since cleared the air. Professor Yan, don't you think you should introduce this person?

"No need."

The young man strolled over casually, but he didn't step on the patterned carpet. Instead, he stood at its edge and held out his hand to Ming Yiyang.

"Nice to meet you, Ming Yiyang."

Of course, Lin Yongjian had no intention of approaching to shake this person's hand; it would make him seem inferior. However, Yan Qiling, observing the situation, didn't want to give the impression of being unfriendly. Thus, he gracefully rose from his seat and calmly shook the offered hand.

"Lin Yongjian."

Without knowing who initiated it, the moment their hands clasped, a contest of strength began.

Lin Yongjian, confident in his physique from regular workouts, exerted more force, only to find the other's fingers as solid as steel, unyielding to his effort.

Suddenly, the stranger increased the pressure dramatically, applying a terrifying force as if to crush Lin Yongjian's bones!

Instantly, Lin Yongjian felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, and then the grip loosened.

Not that Ming Yiyang wanted to let go, but upon sensing the situation wasn't right, Yan Qiling approached and gently grabbed his arm, whispering:

"Go take a shower."

Ming Yiyang wasn't too pleased with this suggestion. He shot a couple of expressionless glances at Lin Yongjian before finally grabbing the towel and turning towards the guest room.

Lin Yongjian examined his reddened hand, which had been held tightly. He dropped his domineering facade and said pitifully,

"Teacher Yan, is he your friend? I heard he was with you for the last endorsement shoot... Does he dislike me? My hand really hurts."

Yan Qiling: "."

Yan Qiling, known for his radiant smile, replied, "They happened to be there, so the brand suggested giving it a try."

"Oh, okay then."

Lin Yongjian didn't seem too concerned about the reason. Instead, he held out his hand pitifully, hinting at the need for attention.

To his surprise, the man refilled his teacup without picking up on the cue, placing it gently in his hands:

"Cloud Mist tea has a fresh aroma. Best to drink it while it's hot."

Lin Yongjian couldn't find any words to say. He sat back down and sipped the tea, pretending to appreciate it:

"He looks quite good. Is he a new signing by Ding Tai?"

"He isn't fond of this industry," Yan Qiling stated frankly.

"I agreed to take those photos out of friendship, as a last resort," Lin Yongjian sighed softly. "If only I hadn't fainted that day. Seeing him like that did make me worry about being overshadowed. But fortunately, Teacher Yan isn't someone who judges solely by appearance."

Time ticked by in silence.

Yan Qiling propped his cheek on one hand, his elbow resting on the armrest of the sofa. He asked, "You don't think so?"

Lin Yongjian shook his head, a hint of sincerity in his expression. "Not at all. In fact... you're very kind. You're good to everyone, regardless of who they are. If the industry is considered a pot of dye, you're the lotus that remains untainted."

"That's too kind of you to say."

The man's face didn't betray any pleasure at the compliment; though he maintained his smile, Lin Yongjian sensed that it wasn't genuine.

Yan Qiling pointed to the pomegranate flowers outside the floor-to-ceiling glass door, their crimson petals drenched by the rain:

"Pomegranate trees bloom thrice a year—in February, May, and October. But only those in May bear fruit. The blossoms in February and October may also open, but their blooming period is fleeting; they wither the very next day after reaching full bloom."

"The flowers at this time are called 'false flowers,' " the man spoke softly.

Lin Yongjian understood his meaning and leaned forward, his expression serious: "I understand that Teacher Yan treats me differently from others. I can distinguish between true flowers and false ones, and I'm willing to wait for the right moment, to guard this flower until it fully blooms."

Yan Qiling averted his gaze, staring silently at the rain outside the window.

He knew that further words would be futile.

The young man, having dried off and changed into fresh clothes, had been standing behind the sofa with his arms crossed, listening in openly. He chuckled mockingly.

Yan Qiling was a man of subtle hints and veiled allusions. To those who only saw his superficial charm, his implications were like playing a harp to a cow.

He looked down at the two of them with an air of superiority, not mentioning his thoughts on the false flower, but instead casually asked:

"Teacher Yan, it's almost noon. What would you like to eat? Pan Hu and I can cook together."

Yan Qiling was slightly surprised, then he smiled with interest:

"You can cook?"

"I can."

The young man rolled up his sleeves, walked in front of him, and lowered his long eyelashes:

"Any food allergies?"

Yan Qiling shook his head. Unexpectedly, Ming Yiyang turned to Lin Yongjian and politely asked:

"And Mr. Lin?"

Lin Yongjian was annoyed that the person had blocked his view, so he answered without thinking, "I don't eat spicy food."

Ming Yiyang, upon learning this, merely lifted his chin slightly and walked into the kitchen.

It dawned on Lin Yongjian belatedly that the other person's question hadn't been sincere; it was a display of his dominance as the owner of the place.

Like an animal marking its territory, he was asserting his sovereignty to all the creatures around him.

...How did such a person appear in Yan Qiling's life?

Yan Qiling had kept himself away from troubles and maintained his integrity over the past two years. Lin Yongjian was certain that with this man's pure and benevolent heart, he wouldn't tolerate anyone approaching him casually.

Yet, this man named Ming Yiyang was just too much of a hindrance.

His eyes darkened into an abyssal hue.

Lin Yongjian thought to himself, It doesn't matter. Their relationship seems to be nothing more than friendship. There's no such thing as priority in feelings. Even if there were, it was him who came first.

They only appeared close, but this person knew nothing about Yan Qiling's past with him. Convincing him to back off wouldn't be difficult; all he needed was for him to see the special connection between Yan Qiling and himself.

When they finally sat down to eat, everyone was speechless at the sight of the fiery red dishes.

Ming Yiyang had prepared three, all spicy, while Pan Hu took care of the others, which were relatively normal.

Lin Yongjian chuckled.

"I mentioned to Mr. Ming before that I don't eat spicy food."

Ming Yiyang gave a cryptic laugh.

"Teacher Yan doesn't have that restriction."

With those words, he picked up a piece of diced chili fish head with his chopsticks and placed it on Yan Qiling's plate.

"I haven't touched the chopsticks, they're clean. Give it a try."

Yan Qiling gazed at the meat for a while before slowly picking up a piece and putting it in his mouth.

"Not bad."

The man nodded in approval.

Does Yan Qiling actually like spicy food?

Lin Yongjian hesitated for a moment, only to witness Ming Yiyang also picking up a piece of fish, hinting indirectly:

"I was worried that it might be too bland earlier. As expected, Teacher Yan shares my taste; the spiciness is just right."

Then, the young man lifted his head, his silver hair rebelliously radiant under the indoor light:

"Mr. Lin, I'm only skilled in making spicy dishes. My apologies. Pan Hu's few stir-fried dishes are quite decent; you should give them a try."

As if it's a big deal, just a few dishes – who hasn't tried them before? So childish.

Lin Yongjian hadn't experienced such frustration in a long time, but he still managed his expression with composure:

"It's true that home-cooked meals are great, but it's also nice to dine out occasionally. There's a new upscale restaurant called Skywestern Tulania in Guang City. It's owned by the proprietor of the Xumi Building, and they have an excellent chef. Usually, it's only open to friends, but fortunately, we've collaborated before. If Teacher Yan would like to switch things up, we could go together."

Yan Qiling smiled politely:

"Maybe it depends on the specific time. I've been quite busy with recent engagements."

Ming Yiyang stabbed at the meat in his bowl nonchalantly:

"What kind of cuisine would Teacher Yan prefer? I know quite a few people who run restaurants, some of them with long-established reputations. No need for reservations, we can just show up and eat. If it's not good, you can hit me."

Lin Yongjian looked down, speaking softly:

"It wouldn't be appropriate to invite Teacher Yan to a hawker stall. He likes cleanliness."

Ming Yiyang thought this person had a screw loose:

"So if someone likes cleanliness, they don't eat anymore? Whether a place is a hawker stall or not has nothing to do with taste. If it's well-made, it'll smell delicious even in a toilet. If it's poorly made, it'll taste bad no matter how it's presented on a golden tray."

Lin Yongjian found this person's speech too candid for the occasion.

"This is at the dining table."

"Anyone with eyes can see that."

The young man wore an expression that seemed to say, "So what if it is?"

"I don't need your reminder," he retorted.

Finally, Lin Yongjian's composure began to crack, and the air grew tense.

Beneath their silence, a simmering tension was concealed, bringing some tranquility back to the dining table.

Suddenly, Lin Yongjian started to choke.

The flush on his face spread like wildfire from his throat to his neck. As they spoke, he started to desperately drink water.

Ming Yiyang had been watching the commotion, but seeing how serious Lin Yongjian's condition appeared, Yan Qiling couldn't help but get up and circle the table to check on him. Pan Hu, standing by, assisted by serving tea and pouring water.

Ming Yiyang's mood soured instantly.

However, he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he took over the task of serving tea and water, giving the person a deathly stare as if they were a corpse.

The meal was hurried, and before they could finish, Lin Yongjian, having accidentally consumed chili, triggered a gastric issue.