Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Chen Mo didn't know about Xi Siyan's habit. After getting into the car, Chen Mo finally had the chance to ask, "Why did you come?"

"If I hadn't come, what were you planning to do today?" Xi Siyan replied.

Chen Mo knew what he was asking about. After thinking for a few seconds, he said, "Then I would likely have wronged your... red-haired friend. That Qin guy isn't very smart; I doubt I could have held back."

Xi Siyan focused on the first part of the sentence, "Not a red-haired friend."

"Didn't you say you've known each other since childhood? She's liked you since middle school."

Xi Siyan leaned against the seat and calmly said, "It's true we've known each other for a long time. The Liao family has only this one daughter, and they raised her very carefully, but they couldn't escape their strong desire to control her. Compared to Sun Xiaoya, who acts without thinking, she is much more sensitive. In middle school, because of her outstanding looks, she received a lot of attention and harassment. Back then, Qi Lin and I were afraid something might happen, so we took turns escorting her home. I guess she saw me as her savior, but unfortunately, I'm not."

In essence, Xi Siyan is actually a cold person.

He is thorough in his actions and excels in various aspects, making him the type that easily wins over young girls' hearts. At the same time, his rationality always dominates, and he isn't one to act on impulse.

If there were any exceptions to this nature, most of them involved Chen Mo.

For example, when Chen Mo first moved into the dorms and fought with Li Rui, Xi Siyan even spoke of using power to suppress others.

Or when he learned about Chen Mo's situation and used the connections left by the old man.

Or when he hinted at coming out to his parents and kissed him for the first time.

Many details reveal that Xi Siyan has made many irrational decisions regarding Chen Mo.

Looking at Chen Mo now,

he was lazily leaning back, stretching his long legs wrapped in jeans, trying to find a comfortable position. This relaxed demeanor showed that Chen Mo felt safe around him.

Whether it was Chen Mo's initial state of seeming indifferent or his boldness when facing everything, Xi Siyan could clearly sense the underlying caution and distance beneath these appearances.

Xi Siyan had speculated about the reasons: his upbringing, the sudden revelation of his background, which seemed reasonable yet also unreasonable. Regardless, as Chen Mo gradually integrated into society and got closer to him, even reaching this point, Xi Siyan could hear the clear thumping of his heart and feel the tremors of his soul when kissing him.

Liking someone is a feeling that can't be faked.

He understood himself well, so he was more cautious, taking every step carefully.

"Have you decided where to go?" Xi Siyan brought up the topic again.

Chen Mo looked out the window.

Sui City, after being washed by the heavy rain, had a renewed freshness.

Chen Mo had lived in this city for many years, occupying about a third of his short twenty-eight years. He would likely continue living here for the rest of his life.

Chen Mo whispered, "I want to go back and take a look."

"What?" Xi Siyan didn't quite hear him and leaned closer.

Being right behind Chen Mo, when he turned around, they almost bumped heads. However, Chen Mo didn't dwell on it. Looking at Xi Siyan, he said, "Yuhuai Village, I plan to go back and see it."

Xi Siyan remained silent.

But Chen Mo could tell from his expression that he disapproved.

Chen Mo smiled, allowing their closeness, and said, "Why so serious? Actually, Yuhuai Village isn't all bad memories. The media exaggerated the negative parts, making it seem like there's nothing redeeming about the place besides its backwardness. But that's not true."

Xi Siyan hummed in acknowledgment, indicating he was listening, and patted Chen Mo's shoulder, signaling him to lie down.

Chen Mo had stood for a long time at the party and stayed up late last night working on the project plan with Old K. So he didn't hesitate.

He laid his head on Xi Siyan's knees, finding a comfortable position and sighed.

Then, looking at the ceiling, he continued, "Have you seen the countryside at night? There are so many stars, brighter than anything I've seen in Sui City. At night, you can always hear dogs barking and insects chirping in the fields. The neighbors aren't as cold as in the city, where you might live next door for half a year without knowing if your neighbor is male or female. Next to the Chen family lived a kid, let's call him Xiaohei, because he gets very dark under the sun and is skinny. When he was eight, he went to the city with his parents. Do you know what his dream is?"

"What is it?" Xi Siyan gently stroked his hair.

Chen Mo: "To become a barber. Because he thinks those who go out to work at a young age and return during the New Year with colorful hair are really cool."

Chen Mo laughed, not because he thought the dream was insignificant, but with a light-hearted laugh.

Xi Siyan looked down at him, thoughtful, "Do you envy him?"

"Yes," Chen Mo admitted without hesitation, smiling, "Having a dream makes anyone remarkable. That word was too luxurious for me in the past, so I want to go back and see, return to the beginning, perhaps to gain clarity on the path ahead."

Chen Mo wasn't a person with dreams.

Before the age of seventeen, he only sought survival. Later, ambition dominated everything.

When Lao Gou mentioned his summer vacations in the countryside a few days ago, Chen Mo had a vague idea. Now that Xi Siyan brought up travel plans, Chen Mo shared his thoughts.

Xi Siyan pondered for two seconds and then said, "Alright, I'll go with you."

Chen Mo smiled, his lips curling upward.

In his previous life, his connection to Yuhuai Village ended at seventeen, and he never returned. He had imagined going back, especially during times of betrayal and conflict with the Yang family. But those thoughts always implied an end to his life.

Born there, he would die there, unnoticed and unneeded.

However, that pessimistic outcome never came to pass.

He died in Sui City, at the base of an unfinished building, and from then on, he knew nothing of what followed, nor could he know.

He never imagined he would actually return, and not alone.

Someone said, "I'll go with you."

Chen Mo fell asleep in the back seat of the car as it drove smoothly.

He didn't know that during the short journey while he was asleep, Xi Siyan had been watching him for a long time.

Finally, he asked Uncle Lin, the driver, a question.

He said, "Uncle Lin, when he talks about his past life, it's as if he has already let go. It's only been a year; I admit I couldn't do that. Could you, Uncle Lin?"

Uncle Lin glanced at the person sleeping on the tall youth's lap and shook his head. "Putting myself in his shoes, I couldn't either." Uncle Lin then summarized, "So he is very strong. Siyan, your grandfather won't easily agree to let you stay. Are you really not reconsidering?"

Xi Siyan remained silent, and Uncle Lin sensed his unspoken refusal. Indeed, Xi Siyan said, "If I had decided to leave, I wouldn't have gotten involved with him from the start."

Uncle Lin shook his head and did not try to persuade him further.

The people one meets in one's youth are the most precious and also the most regrettable.

In the end, Uncle Lin actually liked Chen Mo too. When young love is at its peak, separated by an ocean, the future seems almost invisible.

Old Man Xi once said that Siyan was too proud.

Uncle Lin thought he was too calculating, always so since childhood. Once he made a decision, it was almost impossible to change.

Chen Mo was unaware of this incident. This summer vacation was particularly special and fulfilling for him. He began to participate in and understand some of Su Qianran's core investment projects. Since she was just starting out, their relationship was more collaborative. Moreover, Chen Mo still had his studies, various self-study courses, and there was Xi Siyan. Time flew by, and it felt like there wasn't enough of it.

Xi Siyan was also busy and often not seen for a day or two.

However, they frequently talked on the phone, mostly about trivial matters.

Finally, the day Chen Mo and Xi Siyan had agreed to depart arrived.

But something happened the night before.

It wasn't anyone else but Qi Lin.

When Chen Mo received a message from Xi Siyan and took a taxi to rush over, he experienced the feeling of being disoriented for the first time.

"Is he... okay?" Chen Mo asked.

On the deserted road late at night.

There was no one around.

Qi Lin was shirtless, wearing only a pair of boxers, without even shoes. He hugged himself and crouched motionlessly next to a stone pillar on the roadside.

It was hard to imagine what he had gone through these days.

Xi Siyan leaned against a sports car parked by the roadside, looking at Qi Lin, and replied to Chen Mo, "He's fine. If anything were wrong, could he still be alive here?"

"I'm not fine!" No one expected Qi Lin to suddenly burst out, raising his head and shouting, "I fucking have problems!! Damn it! Fucking hell!!!"

He ranted and raved at the air, looking somewhat deranged.

Chen Mo looked around and suggested tentatively, "Why don't you put on some clothes first? Although there's no one around here, cars still pass by. I don't want us to be mistaken for perverts."

Xi Siyan poured cold water, sneering, "His clothes were stripped off long ago."

"Who stripped his clothes?"

Xi Siyan nodded toward Qi Lin, "His girlfriend."

Chen Mo: "Ah?"

The truth was indeed surreal.

Qi Lin's online girlfriend, whom he had chatted with for half a year, met him on a stormy night.

Then, the girlfriend who opened the door turned out to be a muscular man with dark skin.

Qi Lin was deeply shocked by the fact that his busty girlfriend was actually a busty man. Plus, he had been upset by his family that night and ended up staying overnight in a daze.

According to Qi Lin's description, he beat up the muscular man, but the man cooked him a bowl of noodles with two poached eggs that night.

Qi Lin was bewitched by the bowl of noodles, thinking the man wasn't that bad, especially since he kept apologizing, saying he had registered a female account out of boredom and hadn't dared to confess as they chatted deeper. According to the man's story, Qi Lin believed he had a tragic background, a difficult life, a kind heart, and was shy, blushing often.

Qi Lin was bewitched.

Naturally, he lost everything.

Chen Mo was speechless at this twist of events. Looking at Qi Lin, he hesitantly asked Xi Siyan, "Was he... violated?"

Qi Lin gave him a resentful look from a distance.

Xi Siyan rubbed his forehead, seemingly exasperated, and after a few seconds, said, "He violated someone else."

Chen Mo was at a loss for words.

Thinking of something, he said, "Qi Lin is still a minor, right? Can we press charges? The other party is an adult."

"What charges?" Xi Siyan looked at him, "For being lustful? Or for being stupid? Besides, he's legally an adult according to his ID."

Qi Lin slept with someone, reportedly more than once...

The price was waking up in the wilderness, cash and watch gone, stripped naked. Fortunately, it was summer; otherwise, he might have frozen to death.

The other party vanished without a trace.

Xi Siyan investigated and found that the man wasn't from this city. Most of his background was true, except for this point, nothing else was honest.

What about liking Qi Lin and being attracted to his personality? Only Qi Lin believed it.

When they finally found a place to buy clothes a kilometer away, Qi Lin got into the car.

Chen Mo finally recalled the legend about him that later spread in Sui City.

He guessed it was mostly related to this incident.

Comforting him: "It's okay. Although I don't know why you could go for someone of the same sex, it's not too late to turn back now."

Qi Lin huddled by the car door, looking as if his soul had left his body.

"It's too late. I'm already tainted." Just as Chen Mo was about to remind him that there was something wrong with what he said, Qi Lin suddenly lashed out, snarling angrily: "That bastard better not cross my path again; I'll make him regret ever being born!"

Chen Mo reminded him: "You offered yourself up. Who else would they take advantage of?"

Xi Siyan added fuel to the fire.

"If you had any sense, you should have stepped back when you first saw them, instead of rushing forward and ending up in bed with them."

Qi Lin broke down.

Snarling back: "Fuck! Didn't you two end up in bed together?! How dare you say that to me!"

Xi Siyan sneered: "No, we didn't. Idiot."

Qi Lin was stunned for a moment before tears started streaming down his face, and he completely broke down.