Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Fu Jingbie didn’t spell it out explicitly, but none of the three present were truly foolish—especially Shen Yue, who was exceptionally perceptive and instantly grasped the unspoken implications.

...Yield to the world’s will?

Even after parting ways with the two, Shen Yue continued to mull over the story of Yang Guifei that Fu Jingbie had told him.

Wei Jinchuan was waiting for him outside the cake shop. Seeing Shen Yue walk out looking distracted and troubled, he frowned and asked, “What’s wrong?”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help glancing inside the shop.

Strangely enough, even though he had been keeping watch the entire time, he hadn’t seen Fu Jingbie and Meng Shishu leave. It was as if the two had vanished without a trace, leaving no sign of their presence.

Shen Yue was brought back to reality, his thoughts interrupted by Wei Jinchuan’s voice. Listlessly, he replied, “It’s nothing.”

Despite his words, neither his appearance nor his tone suggested that everything was fine. Wei Jinchuan grew concerned. Shen Yue paused, composed himself, and casually changed the subject. “What about you? How long are you staying in Jiangcheng?”

“Unsure. The conference ends tomorrow, but I don’t know if there’ll be other commitments afterward.” Wei Jinchuan looked at him, uncertain what answer Shen Yue was hoping for.

He hesitated, his tone slightly unnatural. “What about you? When are you planning to go back?”

Shen Yue shot him a sidelong glance. “When do you want me to go back?”

“Whenever you want,” Wei Jinchuan replied, his mood dampened by the question. Especially since that day, Shen Yue hadn’t said anything pleasant to him. “You can go back whenever you like. There’s plenty to do in Jiangcheng anyway. If you want to stay a few more days, we can go back together—it’d be nice to have company.”

Shen Yue detected the subtext: Wei Jinchuan wanted him to wait so they could return together, but he was too shy to be direct.

How strange. Since when did he care about saving face?

If it were before—even just before stepping into that cake shop—Shen Yue would never have entertained such suggestions from Wei Jinchuan. But after his conversation with Fu Jingbie and learning about the behavior of the “will of the world,” Shen Yue’s outlook had changed drastically, and he began to entertain other thoughts.

If surrendering, following the storyline, and sticking to the script until his death were the only ways to free himself from the world’s control and reclaim his freedom, then death itself didn’t seem so unacceptable anymore.

So be it. Even a phoenix must rise from the ashes to be reborn.

The only pity was that the dream had occurred a while ago, and even when he first woke up, it had been blurry. Shen Yue couldn’t recall many details. Fortunately, the main storyline was clear enough. After a moment of reflection, he had an epiphany.

—The will of the world wanted him to be Wei Jinchuan’s lapdog.

Shen Yue swore under his breath. Beside him, Wei Jinchuan noticed his bad mood and assumed Shen Yue had been bothered by Meng Shishu again. “Earlier, you…”

He measured his words, trying to sound tactful and avoid reminding Shen Yue of that unpleasant event from years ago. “Meng Shishu… didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

Shen Yue cocked his head. “What could he possibly do to me?”

“Like before… Didn’t you come here with Zhao Lian and the others…”

As Wei Jinchuan spoke, he drifted off into memory. Shen Yue fell silent, stopping in his tracks and raising his eyes to fix his gaze on Wei Jinchuan. His eyes seemed to brim with unspoken feelings.

Wei Jinchuan spoke a few more sentences before noticing Shen Yue’s silence. Suddenly realizing something, he abruptly shut his mouth.

Shen Yue stood to the side, leaning lazily against a pillar.

His posture was relaxed, his expression indifferent. With a faint, ambiguous smile, he met Wei Jinchuan’s panicked gaze. Though he didn’t utter a word, an unspoken pressure hung heavily in the air.

Wei Jinchuan laughed awkwardly. “I…”

“—Shhhh.”

Shen Yue raised a finger to his lips. “Are you hungry? Should we grab something to eat first?”

Wei Jinchuan eyed him suspiciously. Given Shen Yue’s personality, he had expected to be interrogated thoroughly. Yet, to his surprise, Shen Yue let it slide without further questioning—completely unlike his usual self.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Shen Yue’s voice sounded again. “Reserve a nice restaurant with a pleasant ambiance. We can talk while we eat.”

He paused, then called out meaningfully, “Wei Jinchuan.”

Though it was just an ordinary address, no different from usual, Wei Jinchuan felt a jolt in his chest, as if every syllable Shen Yue uttered carried significant weight, leaving him unable to ignore it.

A strong, inexplicable flutter surged in Wei Jinchuan’s chest. He sat up seriously. “Hmm?”

Shen Yue’s gaze was icy as he offered an empty smile. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

His tone sounded more like an accusation than a question. Wei Jinchuan suddenly felt as if he had been exposed. Though he had no intention of deceiving Shen Yue, an unexplained guilt crept over him.

“Why would I lie to you?” He shook his head, composing himself and trying to dispel the strange unease. “What makes you think that?”

Shen Yue merely smiled without answering.

Considering they needed to talk, even though it was just the two of them dining, Wei Jinchuan booked a private room.

The room was spacious and could fit over a dozen people under normal circumstances. With just the two of them occupying a small corner, it felt excessively empty.

After ordering, Shen Yue asked the server to leave. Wei Jinchuan didn’t know what Shen Yue intended to discuss, but his mind was still preoccupied with his earlier slip of the tongue. Anxious, he had already mentally prepared several responses on the way over.

Once the dishes were served and the door to the private room closed softly, Wei Jinchuan naturally poured water and served rice for Shen Yue while simultaneously rehearsing how to answer the questions he anticipated. Suddenly, a voice tinged with amusement sounded beside him. “Wei Jinchuan.”

Lately, Shen Yue had taken to calling him by his full name—not the overly familiar “Jin Chuan” he had used while pursuing him before. Yet, somehow, it felt even more intimate than those two shorter syllables. Whether spoken with laughter or anger, it carried a unique charm that made Wei Jinchuan's heart race.

Wei Jinchuan quickly suppressed his inner restlessness, not wanting Shen Yue to notice anything amiss. His movements as he served the rice were stiff with forced composure. “What is it?”

Shen Yue propped his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers and resting his chin on them. “What do you think of Meng Shishu?”

“Why are you asking about him?” Wei Jinchuan’s tone was thick with annoyance at the mere mention of the name.

He didn’t know why Shen Yue had met with Meng Shishu, but that person had bothered Shen Yue long ago and still lingered like a stubborn ghost. Given Shen Yue’s personality, even if he was mindful of being in Jiangcheng, he shouldn’t have been so passive. Yet today, he had been unusually amiable, even going out of his way to meet the man.

Something was off.

Zhong Yuan’s face inexplicably flashed through Wei Jinchuan’s mind. Meng Shishu was somewhat similar to Zhong Yuan—both appearing gentle and refined at first glance.

...Could it be that Shen Yue had a thing for that type?

Alarm bells rang loudly in Wei Jinchuan’s head. Pressing his lips together, he replied, “Not much.”

“I actually think he’s quite nice,” Shen Yue said with a smile, his peach blossom eyes sparkling with amusement. “Good personality, good looks. When he heard I’d be staying in Jiangcheng for a few more days, he even offered to be my tour guide.”

“You agreed?” Wei Jinchuan ignored Shen Yue’s mention of staying longer and exclaimed agitatedly, “How could you agree? Don’t you remember how he drugged you before? You…”

“I.”

Shen Yue cut in, meeting Wei Jinchuan’s startled gaze with a curved lip. “What about me?”

Wei Jinchuan’s lips twitched, the faint sound he had been about to make vanishing into the silent air.

Shen Yue continued, “I’ve been meaning to ask since earlier—how did you know about what happened to me four years ago?”

So he had asked after all.

He couldn't quite describe what he was feeling; Wei Jinchuan had prepared himself, yet he still felt a void in his heart. At the same time, a sense of relief welled up in his rapidly beating chest. He had concocted many excuses in his mind earlier, but now he couldn't utter a single one. Just meeting Shen Yue's eyes made it impossible for him to keep lying.

Shen Yue had expected him not to be entirely honest and didn't give him a chance to deceive, speaking in a tone that was both threatening and coaxing: "You just said you wouldn't lie to me, that you'd tell me the truth."

He gave a light laugh that didn't reach his eyes and held no warmth: "Wei Jinchuan, you said you like me, right?"

Since the will of the world was interfering, refusing to let him escape his fate, and he was just an ordinary person unable to resist, he had no choice but to yield.

But he might as well seize this opportunity to gain something for himself—otherwise, wouldn't all that time "simping" for Wei Jinchuan have been for nothing?

Wei Jinchuan didn't know how the topic had veered back to this, but he could see Shen Yue's serious expression. After considering carefully, he still couldn't bring himself to say anything insincere: "Yes."

"Alright then," Shen Yue took a sip of the water Wei Jinchuan had poured for him as a reward, "I want to hear the truth. If what I hear satisfies me, you won't regret it later."

That dream hadn't been entirely useless after all; at the very least, it gave him some leverage in today's negotiation with Wei Jinchuan. Otherwise, he'd probably still be affectionately calling him "Jin Chuan" and only realize his mistake after losing both the man and his assets.

Hearing how serious Shen Yue sounded, Wei Jinchuan unconsciously swallowed: "Ask away."

Shen Yue: "How did you know about Meng Shishu?"

Shen Yue was somewhat surprised.

Wei Jinchuan spoke slowly, partly from recollection and partly out of embarrassment: "I had just finished the college entrance exam back then, you know, no homework, so I went out with some buddies for a trip. As it happened..."

When he said "as it happened," he glanced guiltily at Shen Yue, whose deep gaze seemed to see right through him. Wei Jinchuan didn't dare lie: "Well, actually, one of your group was close with my brother. I told him I didn't know where to go, and he gave me your itinerary as a reference."

"..." Shen Yue laughed lightly: "You're quite clever."

Wei Jinchuan knew this wasn't a compliment and didn't respond.

"And then?" Shen Yue stared at him unblinkingly, his voice calm as if he weren't asking about his own past: "You say you like me, but the things you did, the words you said, and back when I was pursuing you... honestly, it felt less like you liked me and more like I'd killed your whole family."

This was the part he couldn't understand the most. Wei Jinchuan's words sounded reasonable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they were full of holes. He claimed to like him, but who shows affection like that? Yet if he didn't like him, why wouldn't he let things return to normal after Shen Yue had let go?

Wei Jinchuan paused, his voice barely audible: "My friend taught me."

Shen Yue had considered many possibilities, but never this one: "What?"

"The friend I traveled with after the college entrance exam," Wei Jinchuan's voice grew softer, "I'd never been in a relationship before, had no experience. He taught me everything."

"..." Shen Yue listened silently. Wei Jinchuan's story was both absurd and melodramatic. It wasn't that he didn't want to believe it, but as an adult with his own way of handling things, he found it hard to accept.

But he also knew that precisely because it sounded so unbelievable, it was more likely to be true.

The answer was so unexpected that Shen Yue wasn't sure how to respond: "Your friend?"

Are you sure he's a friend? Not an enemy?

Wei Jinchuan explained: "After high school, he went to Germany to study. He usually only comes back once a year for New Year's, so it's normal you don't know him."

Germany? Shen Yue suddenly understood—this must be Wei Jinchuan's so-called "white moonlight."

Wei Jinchuan was embarrassed to admit he needed someone to teach him how to date, but he continued: "He told me you'd seen too many people, and if I acted like everyone else, you wouldn't like me. So he told me to avoid talking to you as much as possible, to make you think I didn't like you."

"..." Shen Yue thought this was utter nonsense, but then he remembered how he'd rejected all the attractive, well-behaved, and physically fit suitors, only to stubbornly fixate on Wei Jinchuan. He had to admit there was some truth to it.

Although his initial attraction to Wei Jinchuan was purely superficial, he'd been drawn to many good-looking people before. Yet Wei Jinchuan was the only one he'd pursued so seriously. Thinking back, if Wei Jinchuan had come running at his beck and call like everyone else, would it have sparked his competitive drive and kept him invested for so long?

He probably would've kicked him to the curb after a fling.

Shen Yue felt relieved, in every sense.

If before this, he'd still harbored some anger over being mistreated, after hearing Wei Jinchuan's rough outline of his romantic views and "dating" history, that last bit of resentment vanished without a trace.

With the truth revealed, Shen Yue finally made peace with himself and decided to devote himself to the great cause of resisting the world's will.

"Wei Jinchuan," his voice noticeably lighter, as if resolving a long-standing wish, "let's give it a try."