Chapter 33

Chapter 33

◎Don't Force Me Anymore, Okay?◎

Ren Suiyi was taken aback for a moment, then a faint amusement glimmered in his beautiful eyes, quickly reaching the corners of his mouth and lifting them.

He shook his head at Meng Qi with that smile, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness but more like wordless indulgence. "This habit of yours, always competing with Bai Xi over everything, seems impossible to change. I've told you so many times—you are you, he is he—yet you never remember."

Although Meng Qi deeply felt his question was really dumb, and he regretted asking it in a moment of stupidity, Ren Suiyi's implication that he simply couldn't compare to Jiang Baixi—as if competing with Jiang Baixi was like an egg striking a rock—tsk, tsk, tsk, this dodgy, non-committal attitude annoyed Meng Qi even more.

Meng Qi pouted and said to Ren Suiyi emphatically, "Don't worry, I'll definitely remember this time."

"You've said that at least fifty, if not a hundred times. When have you ever truly remembered?" Ren Suiyi reached out to tidy the strands of hair that had fallen in front of Meng Qi's eyes, partially blocking his vision. Then, his hand slid down to Meng Qi's neck, firmly encircling it. As if reminiscing or looking toward some future point, his mind wandered for a second. "Actually, it's fine if you don't remember. I'll always clean up the mess for you."

That statement was far too ambiguous, and the action even more so. Meng Qi, a perpetually single guy, couldn't handle it at all. While quickly shaking off a full-body shiver, he scooted backward, then assured Ren Suiyi with lingering fear, "I really will remember this time. If I don't, I'm a puppy."

"Oh, so I'll have to raise another puppy then?" Ren Suiyi looked at Meng Qi skeptically, the smile on his lips growing more pronounced.

Meng Qi: ...

Although Ren Suiyi looked incredibly handsome when he smiled—more so than any celebrity Meng Qi had ever seen on TV—Meng Qi didn't deny that.

But to be honest, what had just happened before his eyes felt genuinely greasy to Meng Qi. Help! For a moment, he felt his ears were clogged with oil, as if sealed in a vacuum bag, nearly cutting off all external sound. At the same time, his throat felt as if tiny insects were crawling inside, itching unbearably.

Just two days ago, he was still playing the aloof, unapproachable CEO with his nose in the air. How had he turned into this after just one day apart? Meng Qi truly, truly didn't understand and wasn't used to it.

He wanted to escape.

At that moment, Ren Suiyi stood up before Meng Qi could and extended his right hand toward him, clearly meaning to pull Meng Qi up from the sofa. But Meng Qi was sitting quite comfortably and had no desire to move. So, he furrowed his brows and asked Ren Suiyi, the refusal clear in his eyes, "What are you doing?"

"With so many people here today, let me introduce you to a few friends."

Throughout his speech, Ren Suiyi's right hand remained outstretched, persistently held out toward Meng Qi. Seeing Meng Qi remain unmoved, he leaned forward slightly, seized Meng Qi's left hand, and with a slight tug, pulled Meng Qi to his feet. Then, without letting go or stopping, he dragged Meng Qi along by the hand toward the crowd not far away.

"Why?" Meng Qi couldn't make sense of Ren Suiyi's logic. Stumbling forward as he was pulled along, he couldn't help but ask.

Ren Suiyi glanced back at him and replied with a smile, "To help you better integrate into my social circle, of course. Isn't that something people in a relationship must do?"

Meng Qi: ...

This is really giving me a headache...

Who exactly are the "people in a relationship" Ren Suiyi is talking about?

If memory serves, he had explicitly rejected Ren Suiyi more than once, right?!

Is this guy deaf? Did he even listen to what I said?!

Finally getting a taste of the 'domineering CEO's forced love' trope, Meng Qi felt his whole body go numb. He tried to wrench Ren Suiyi's hand free while pulling back forcefully, constantly reminding him, "Wait a minute, didn't I say I chose to die alone? You can't force someone against their will, can you?"

Even if he couldn't refuse Ren Suiyi, Meng Qi didn't dare let Ren Suiyi drag him to meet his friends.

Given that he and Ren Suiyi were currently "on the outs," his occasional "abnormal" or "willful" behavior in front of Ren Suiyi—resulting from inconsistencies between his actions before and after transmigrating—might seem normal to others. Thus, they wouldn't wonder why his personality had suddenly changed and wouldn't delve into the authenticity of the "Meng Qi" from the book. But if he were pushed into a crowd and had to face so many people at once, he might slip up due to nervousness. Moreover, with so many eyes and mouths around, any one of them could ask a question that might expose his true identity.

The moment his survival was on the line, Meng Qi was terrified. He redoubled his efforts to break free from Ren Suiyi's grip, using every ounce of strength he had.

Ren Suiyi had no choice but to stop with a sigh and look at him, asking in a low, muffled voice, "You're the one who wanted it, and now you're the one who doesn't. Why are you so good at tormenting people?"

Who's tormenting whom? Meng Qi was left speechless by Ren Suiyi's words. "Brother, time flows like a river, day and night without cease. The past is the past, the present is the present. I've truly decided I don't want it anymore. Don't force me anymore, okay?"

After hearing this, Ren Suiyi's expression froze for an instant, but he quickly regained his usual composure. Then, lowering his voice, he asked Meng Qi, "Are you sure you've really thought it through? Not acting on impulse? Not playing hard to get?"

Meng Qi met Ren Suiyi's gaze and nodded.

A shadow crossed Ren Suiyi's eyes as he reminded Meng Qi, "You know I've never been a patient person. I'm not one to constantly humble myself to coax others."

After a pause, he added, "Coaxing you twice is already my limit."

Somehow, after hearing Ren Suiyi's words, Meng Qi should have been overjoyed, but instead, he didn't feel particularly happy. Instead, his heart felt heavy, as if weighed down by a lump of lead.

He attributed this reaction to the subconscious influence of the "Meng Qi" from the book. So, while apologizing inwardly to that "Meng Qi," he took a deep breath and said to Ren Suiyi with unwavering determination, "I'm sure. Absolutely sure."

"In the past, I was immature, always thinking that what was snatched away was more fun. But now I understand—what's taken by force remains just that. If you're unwilling and I'm reluctant, we really can't go far."

"Brother Yiyi, let's stop here. Let's forget what needs to be forgotten. I'll still think of you as an older brother, but let's leave it at that."

After saying this, Meng Qi nervously watched Ren Suiyi, waiting for an answer. Fearing the domineering CEO might suddenly enter a rage mode, he secretly gathered strength in his right leg, preparing to flee at any moment.

At that moment, Ren Suiyi's eyes were colder than when Meng Qi had first arrived in this book. Standing opposite him, Meng Qi felt that if he got any closer, even the air he exhaled would instantly freeze.

Thinking this, Meng Qi instinctively took half a step back.

Ren Suiyi closed his eyes and reopened them. The chill in his pupils vanished instantly. Not only that, he even managed to curl his lips into a smile for Meng Qi. "It's great that you think this way. I won't have to bear such heavy pressure anymore."

Meng Qi's heart tightened, and he stared even more intently at Ren Suiyi.

"Just as you said, let's forget what needs to be forgotten. You let go, and I'll let go. Let's end this farce here."

The farce had finally reached its conclusion.

The stone in his heart finally landed. His little life was probably safe now.

Meng Qi finally smiled from the bottom of his heart, then said to Ren Suiyi with curved eyes and a light tone, "Good! Then it's settled between us! From now on, neither of us is allowed to go back on our word!"

Ren Suiyi lifted the left corner of his mouth, seemingly smiling as well. "Good, no going back."

Feeling the crisis had been successfully averted, Meng Qi bravely met Ren Suiyi's gaze. He even tried to look at him with the eyes of a younger brother looking up to an older brother, his joy overflowing, his tone exceptionally sincere. "Thank you, Brother Yiyi, for taking care of 'me' in the past. In the future... I've grown up. I'll try my best not to cause you any more trouble. The road is long and the mountains are high—let's meet again someday."

With that, Meng Qi turned and walked away, already fantasizing about a happy life far from Ren Suiyi and Jiang Baixi.

Jiang Baixi, holding a square slice of pink strawberry cake, blocked his path. He glanced at Meng Qi, then looked past him, before angrily demanding, "Did you argue with Brother Sui again?"

Meng Qi inwardly cried injustice, waving both hands in the air to defend himself. "I didn't argue with him! Wait, no—we actually had a good talk. Neither of us argued with the other."

To prove his point, Meng Qi even turned to Ren Suiyi for confirmation. "We didn't argue, right?"

Ren Suiyi curved his lips into a smile. "No argument."

Meng Qi immediately beamed at Jiang Baixi.

But Jiang Baixi snorted coldly at him, taunting, "No argument, then no argument. What are you so smug about?"

Meng Qi instinctively touched his face, quickly reining in his expression. He was annoyed at himself for getting carried away—he had almost exposed himself right under the noses of the book's protagonist and his White Moonlight.

The "Meng Qi" from the book had liked Ren Suiyi for so many years. No matter how hard-hearted Ren Suiyi was, he couldn't have been completely unaware—otherwise, he wouldn't have said "trying to accept his feelings" earlier. And here he was, overjoyed right after breaking up with his secret crush. Was that reasonable?!

That was practically asking to be exposed!

Meng Qi mentally scolded himself into a shrinking quail, deciding to keep a low profile. In the blink of an eye, he was enveloped in sorrow, looking utterly pitiful.

Jiang Baixi, seeing him like this, his eyes went wide with alarm and he backed away half a yard, while also turning to look at Ren Suiyi not far away, shouting, "Brother Sui, you saw that, right? I didn't provoke him—he started crying on his own."

Ren Suiyi, standing in the distance, massaged his temples like he had a headache. Instead of answering Jiang Baixi first, he asked Meng Qi, "Having second thoughts?"

What the hell?!

Second thoughts?!

Of course not!

Meng Qi wished he could shake his head like a bobblehead, his expression even more alarmed than Jiang Baixi's. "No, I'm not. I'm dead set on it."

Confused by Meng Qi's reaction, Jiang Baixi couldn't help but ask them, "Second thoughts about what? Set on what?"

After exchanging a glance with Ren Suiyi, Meng Qi guiltily rubbed the tip of his nose and then replied to Jiang Baixi with feigned calm, "Oh, just a little secret—not your concern."

Jiang Baixi's face darkened, and he immediately shot Meng Qi a dirty look. "So lame."

It is pretty lame, so from now on, you two have fun—count me out. Meng Qi waved as he backed away, bidding farewell to Ren Suiyi and Jiang Baixi once again. "I'm off now. See you around."

"What's wrong with him now?" came Jiang Baixi's muttering from behind.

Meng Qi couldn't help but think to himself: I'm not losing it—I just won't have to act crazy anymore. How wonderful.

"Author's Note"

There are so many happy people in the world—what's wrong with adding one more like me...

Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!