Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Ji Mian took a while to catch his breath. Although he had faked it, once his body started coughing, it became uncontrollable, and the act became real.

"Are you still feeling unwell?" Qin Yan asked with concern.

Ji Mian shook his head.

He was carefully supported by Qin Yan and sat down at a nearby table.

"That guy is Lu Ge, and he has a grudge against me, so he deliberately gave you a hard time," Qin Yan said, glancing in the direction where Lu Ge had left. The latter had taken a glass of wine from a waiter and sat down on the red sofa. The affluent crowd around seemed to be wary of something, staying clear of that spot, let alone sitting next to Lu Ge.

Qin Yan turned his gaze back to Ji Mian and said, "Try to avoid contact with him these days. He's unhinged."

"Okay."

Qin Yan glanced at his watch; it was already 8:40. "I’ve got to go get Xu Zhixia."

"..."

As soon as Xu Zhixia's name was mentioned, Ji Mian slowly lowered his eyes. Hidden beneath his long lashes, his dark eyes were filled with coldness. The moment of warmth they’d shared vanished instantly. Due to his agitation, a feverish blush appeared on his pale face, making him look even more frail and pitiful.

But Qin Yan didn’t notice any of this. He had already been delayed by Ji Mian’s discomfort for more than ten minutes, and now his mind was preoccupied with the worry of keeping Xu Zhixia waiting.

He made sure Ji Mian was comfortable and hurried off.

...

The cruise ship was scheduled to depart at exactly 10 PM. With less than ten minutes left, one tall and one short figure walked up the gangway and entered the ship’s entrance.

The shorter figure, a young man, hurried ahead, while the man behind barely kept pace with his long strides.

"Xu Zhixia, I didn’t mean to leave you waiting..." Qin Yan chased after Xu Zhixia, fumbling for words.

Xu Zhixia walked even faster, ignoring him entirely, and quickly left him far behind.

When they reached the entrance, the steward responsible for registration stopped him.

The steward hadn’t seen Xu Zhixia before, but he knew that everyone who came here was well-heeled or prominent. He politely bowed and asked, "Sir, do you have Mr. Lin’s invitation?"

Xu Zhixia tilted his head. "Invitation? No."

Upon hearing this, the steward straightened up. The guest without an invitation was dressed in casual short sleeves and long pants, looking like a college student, which was indeed different from the other guests.

The steward figured that this person might have gotten on the wrong boat or come to the wrong place. Just as he was about to advise him to leave, he caught sight of Xu Zhixia’s face, and he momentarily forgot what he was going to say.

What... what a beautiful person!

The young man in front of him seemed to have stepped out of a masterpiece by a renowned artist. His features were not as angular as most men’s but rather soft, like a Renaissance painting come to life, almost as if he belonged to another dimension. His skin was flawless and pale, and his soft black hair, blown back by the wind, revealed his smooth and full forehead, further enhancing the impact of his face.

The young man looked up at him, his pupils as clear as amber, his gaze so pure it seemed untainted by the world. He spoke, his clear youthful voice with a surprising rasp, "Can’t I enter?"

Being looked at by such eyes, the steward immediately stammered. "Th-this, I..."

"Xu Zhixia!"

Qin Yan’s voice from not far away saved the steward from his awkwardness.

He strode over and grabbed Xu Zhixia’s hand.

However, Xu Zhixia pulled his hand away and kept his gaze on the attendant, refusing to look at Qin Yan.

"Mr. Qin," the attendant said, "Is he with you?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I see," the attendant said, relieved. "Please hurry inside; the ship’s about to leave."

Xu Zhixia walked straight in without looking at him.

Seeing this, Qin Yan quickly followed and apologized, "My bad, Zhixia..."

He’d meant to explain why he was late, but now he just apologized.

"Sorry, I—"

Before Qin Yan finished, Xu Zhixia suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Brother Yan, you actually fell for it?" He curled his lips, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Qin Yan was stunned by the sudden shift.

After pulling off the prank, Xu Zhixia turned and walked towards Qin Yan, smiling as he asked, "Do I really seem that unreasonable?"

"..." Qin Yan was momentarily lost in his smile.

"Brother Yan?"

Qin Yan snapped out of it by the call.

After regaining his composure, he sighed, "Oh, you..."

He reached to brush Xu Zhixia’s wind-tousled hair, but the latter dodged.

"I’m still trying to grow taller, so don’t mess with my hair."

Qin Yan had no choice but to withdraw his hand and asked, "Want to go inside? The banquet hall and restaurant are there; it’ll be more fun."

"No. We’re at sea; going inside feels like being at home. I want to see the ocean."

Xu Zhixia looked around and then asked, "When’s the ship leaving?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the deep rumble of the engine filled their ears, and the floor beneath them slowly began to move, followed by the sound of the ship's departure announcement.

Both of them were still on the outer deck, close enough to the engine to clearly hear the deep roar, like a giant beast’s roar.

The ship had set sail.

The night sea didn’t offer much to see.

But since Xu Zhixia wanted to see the ocean, Qin Yan was more than happy to accompany him.

However, just before nodding in agreement, he suddenly remembered Xu Chiqiu, who was still waiting for them in the banquet hall, and hesitated for a moment.

He had been out for an hour, and Xu Chiqiu was probably still waiting inside.

"Let’s go, Brother Yan."

Hearing the young man’s urging voice, Qin Yan had no choice but to temporarily forget about Xu Chiqiu. There were so many people in the banquet hall, and besides, their time watching the sea wouldn’t take too long, so it’ll be okay.

He replied affectionately, "Alright, alright, let's go then."

They went to the second-floor deck.

As Qin Yan had expected, the sea at night really wasn’t much to see, except for a couple of small boats on the surface, it was just a sea of darkness. The endless blackness and the sound of the surging water strangely made one feel panicky.

But Xu Zhixia was quite satisfied, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes bright under the deck lights, quietly gazing at the sea, listening to the cold clamor of the water, like a curious creature drawn to the darkness.

Qin Yan quietly watched Xu Zhixia’s perfect profile, suddenly feeling the urge to kiss him.

He suppressed his quickened heartbeat, turned his head back, and looked again at the monotonous sea horizon.

*

Inside the banquet hall, Ji Mian’s gaze once again fell on an antique clock directly in front.

It was already half-past ten, and Qin Yan hadn’t returned yet.

He had been sitting in his original spot for nearly two hours, his back was killing him.

So tired, Ji Mian thought.

Just sitting here doing nothing was exhausting in this body.

"Let’s sit here," came a frustrated male voice beside him, followed by the scraping sound of a chair being pulled out.

Ji Mian glanced sideways.

Two strikingly attractive men took seats next to him.

One was a boyish, delicate type, judging by his attire and light makeup, probably an idol. The previous sentence was spoken by him.

The other was more polished, likely also an artist, but with a more refined face and a gentle, easy-going demeanor, quite uncommon in showbiz.

Ji Mian had no intention of eavesdropping on their conversation, but since they were at the next table, their conversation naturally drifted to him.

"Brother Yu, didn’t you say President Qin would come? It’s already half-past ten, and the ship has sailed..." The idol tugged at his decorative tie, seeming very impatient.

The man called Brother Yu replied indifferently, "I only mentioned that President Qin got the invitation, I didn’t guarantee he would definitely come."

"...Then I came here for nothing? Brother Yu, you promised you’d introduce me to President Qin."

Brother Yu rubbed his temples, trying hard to hide his impatience, "I’ll keep my promise."

"That’s good," the idol with light makeup was relieved, "After all, that night, I—"

"Enough!" Brother Yu’s voice suddenly rose several degrees.

The young idol was startled, forced a laugh, and awkwardly got up and left.

Anyway, his goal had been achieved, he held Brother Yu’s secret, knowing the other wouldn’t break his promise.

In this world, those without principles always live better.

After the young idol left, only the man called Brother Yu remained sitting alone.

He downed a hard gulp of alcohol, clenched his fingers into a fist, really wanted to flip the table with its flowers and decorations, but ultimately restrained himself for the sake of his image.

After a long time, he seemed to have calmed down, and gave a bitter smile.

Having been in this circle for so many years, he still misjudged people, thinking he had met the right one.

In the end, beneath the surface lay something truly vile.

"Mr. Wen?"

A gentle male voice snapped Wen Yu out of his emotional spiral.

He quickly regained his composure and turned to see a pale young man calling his name.

With his keen eye from years in the entertainment industry, Wen Yu instantly noticed the young man’s striking bone structure and flawless complexion, even though he was quite thin. His first impression was still one of admiration.

"Do you... know me?" He suddenly felt a bit awkward.

He wondered if the young man had overheard their earlier exchange.

"We haven’t met before," Ji Mian said with a smile. "I overheard someone call you 'Brother Yu,' and since you know Qin Yan, I recall him mentioning that he manages a rising star named Wen Yu."

"So, you’re a friend of President Qin?"

"We’ve been friends since childhood. I’m Xu Chiqiu."

At the mention of his name, Wen Yu’s eyes lit up. "I’ve heard of you, Mr. Xu. What can I do for you?"

"A friend of mine is a big fan. Would it be too forward to ask for your autograph for her?"

Wen Yu, flattered, replied, "Of course."

Even if Xu Chiqiu weren’t Qin Yan’s friend, Wen Yu would have obliged—being asked for an autograph at such an event was an honor.

Everyone here was either wealthy or influential. Networking with them could only help his career.

He signed the autograph with a black pen, but before handing it over, he politely asked, "What’s your friend’s last name?"

Ji Mian provided the surname and added, "She’s a woman."

Wen Yu paused, then added a personal message above his signature before handing it to Ji Mian.

"Thank you," Ji Mian replied.

Wen Yu hesitated, then said, "Mr. Xu, about what we discussed earlier..."

Ji Mian gave a knowing smile. "It stays between us."

"Thanks," Wen Yu said quietly.

"Brother!" A cheerful voice called from the entrance, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Every head in the room turned toward the entrance.

Even Lu Ge, who had been disinterested, glanced up toward the entrance.

It was Xu Zhixia, waving enthusiastically to Xu Chiqiu, oblivious to the stares he was attracting.

His soft black hair caught the breeze, and his vibrant energy made him stand out.

Xu Zhixia’s entrance brought a burst of life into the room, leaving everyone captivated.

Even Qin Yan, trailing just behind Xu Zhixia and usually commanding attention, went unnoticed in that moment.

Wen Yu felt that Xu Zhixia’s gaze seemed to be directed toward his position, which puzzled him. After staring at the young man’s face for a few more moments, he suddenly realized that the young man bore some resemblance to Xu Chiqiu beside him.

"Mr. Xu, is that your brother?"

"Brother," Ji Mian replied.

He was smiling, seemed really happy to see Xu Zhixia. But his dark eyes were fixed on Xu Zhixia, as if pulling him into a dark, terrifying vortex in his eyes.

He could sense the deep, intense resentment from Xu Chiqiu.

'Xu Zhixia, why do you always grab everyone’s attention so easily?'

'From the day you were born, you stole all of our parents’ attention; in school, you always made teachers and classmates laugh, while I was left in the shadows, overlooked and forgotten.'

'And now, you’re trying to take Qin Yan, the only thing I have.'

This hatred cut like sharp knives, constantly stabbing at Ji Mian’s soul, leaving him breathless.

Xu Zhixia dashed over, his black hair whipping in the wind. In half a minute, he was in front of Ji Mian, a gust of wind trailing him.

"Brother," he called out, then looked at Wen Yu beside Ji Mian, his eyes crinkling into a warm, innocent smile, "Is this a friend of yours, brother?"

Xu Chiqiu’s lashes fluttered, his breath quickening.

That smile again—the one that steals everything from him... it’s sickening.

Wen Yu was momentarily stunned by Xu Zhixia’s smile. "I only just met Mr. Xu..."

"Oh," Xu Zhixia replied dismissively, then moved closer to his brother.

Though younger, he was already taller than Ji Mian by a few centimeters. By next year, he might tower over Ji Mian by half a head.

At this moment, Qin Yan also arrived.

Xu Zhixia said, "I just went to see the sea with Brother Yan, it was very interesting. Have you been, brother?"

Xu Chiqiu shook his head, only smiling without speaking, the look in his eyes beneath his lashes extremely cold.

What’s so great about the sea right now?

Qin Yan looked a little awkward, as he had been alone with Xu Zhixia, leaving Xu Chiqiu, the patient, alone here.

He said, "Sorry, Chiqiu, for leaving you by yourself for so long."

"It’s fine."

Xu Zhixia also realized something, his expression faltering: "I... I didn’t consider that, leaving you alone here."

"Sorry, brother, I..." The young man’s face was filled with guilt, tugging at one’s heartstrings.

Qin Yan felt heartbroken.

Xu Zhixia was young, how could he consider everything so thoroughly? There was no need to blame himself like this.

"It’s nothing, I didn’t want to go to the deck, I stayed here to rest," Ji Mian said with a smile. "Besides, you’re here to have fun, always revolving around me, what’s the difference from being in the hospital?"

Seeing Xu Zhixia hanging his head like a scolded puppy, he hesitated for a moment, then reached out and ruffled the other’s fluffy black hair.

The boy whose head he was ruffling seemed to stiffen for a moment.

"The original host wouldn't make such a move," the system chimed in.

Xu Chiqiu was utterly disgusted by Xu Zhixia; no matter how much he pretended, he would never reach out to touch the protagonist shou.

Ji Mian's hand paused but didn't immediately withdraw.

"No big deal," he said.

For the first time truly impersonating someone else, he knew he couldn't be 100% like Xu Chiqiu. Occasionally, there would be minor deviations in his actions, but it didn't matter.

Besides, Xu Chiqiu always liked to display his phony affection for Xu Zhixia in front of Qin Yan to gain favor. It wasn't out of character.

Xu Zhixia's hair texture was very similar to Ji Mian's in his previous life—soft and fluffy, with a great texture.

He gave it a couple more tousles, thinking no wonder his brother always liked to touch his hair in his past life.

After satisfying his urge, Ji Mian withdrew his hand.

Xu Zhixia kept his head down, letting him have his way. Only after he finished did he slowly lift his face and smile at him.