🌻Chapter 6: Dinner

 

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They had called it breakfast, but Bian Xu had woken up so late that it was practically lunchtime.

By now, he’d finished his fried dough sticks and soy milk and was about eighty percent full. Looking toward the kitchen where Wen Xun was still busy cooking, he called out,

“I left some porridge for you. Don’t forget to eat it later.”

“Okay,” Wen Xun replied from inside.

Across the table, Zhou Zhao was holding half a fried dough stick that Bian Xu had torn apart.

“You’re very concerned about him.”

He lifted his eyes toward Bian Xu before leisurely biting into one end of the dough stick.

Watching him chew, Bian Xu had the strange feeling that Zhou Zhao wished he were biting something else.

“He’s just my roommate,” Bian Xu replied.

Zhou Zhao sighed.

He set down the dough stick, pulled out a napkin, and slowly wiped his hands. Looking at the grease stain left behind, he clicked his tongue and frowned.

“How about moving in with me?”

The apartment Zhou Zhao had recently rented was right next door.

If this had been before, Bian Xu probably would have agreed.

But now…

He had noticed Zhou Zhao’s feelings.

And after hearing the old Daoist’s warning, he couldn’t relax around him anymore.

Sorry, Zhou Zhao…

Perhaps sensing his hesitation, Zhou Zhao spoke again.

“You don’t have to move in.”

“But why won’t you even have a meal with me anymore?”

His voice sounded genuinely aggrieved.

His brows drooped slightly, and when he looked at Bian Xu, there were even tears gathering in his eyes.

Bian Xu had always been soft-hearted.

Grinding his teeth, he said,

“Stop pretending…”

“I’ll have dinner with you, okay?”

Zhou Zhao narrowed his eyes and smiled.

The smile carried a deeper meaning.

He reached out and pinched Bian Xu’s cheek before slowly leaning closer.

Startled, Bian Xu instinctively leaned back.

The next second—

Crash!

His chair tipped over, sending him sprawling onto the floor.

His eyes widened.

“Zhou Zhao?”

Resting his chin on one hand, Zhou Zhao leisurely watched him lying there.

He made no attempt to help.

“Who was it that said moving out doesn’t mean cutting ties?”

“Then why are you trying so hard to avoid me now?”

His gaze shifted toward the kitchen.

“Or…”

“Has our Xiao Xu made some new good friends?”

He emphasized the words good friends heavily.

Bian Xu could practically taste the jealousy hidden underneath.

Using the chair for support, he climbed back to his feet.

“Stop talking like that.”

Zhou Zhao merely snorted and ignored him.

In the end, Zhou Zhao never told him when they would eat or where they would be going.

Before leaving, however, he suddenly snatched Bian Xu’s phone.

Then, right in front of him, he opened WeChat.

“Did you block me?”

As he spoke, he tapped into his own profile.

His brows furrowed slightly when he saw the contact note.

Then he chuckled.

His fingers tapped rapidly across the screen before he returned the phone.

“You promised you’d have dinner with me.”

As he spoke, he pinched Bian Xu’s earlobe.

Bian Xu immediately shrank his neck.

His ears were incredibly ticklish—his most sensitive spot.

Slapping Zhou Zhao’s hand away, he said,

“Since when have I ever broken a promise?”

Zhou Zhao said nothing.

He simply stared at him.

The gaze made Bian Xu increasingly uncomfortable.

Words rose to his lips several times before he swallowed them back down.

Nothing seemed appropriate to say.

“Bian Xu.”

Wen Xun’s voice suddenly came from the kitchen.

Instinctively, Bian Xu turned around.

At the same moment, Zhou Zhao hooked an arm around his neck.

Forehead pressed against Bian Xu’s head, Zhou Zhao’s warm breath brushed across his face, making him itch.

“Xiao Xu.”

“You’d better not break your promise.”

Leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, Wen Xun watched the stunned Bian Xu.

Then he whistled.

Bian Xu jumped and looked over blankly.

“Nothing.”

“Just helping your soul return to your body.”

There was laughter in Wen Xun’s voice.

Bian Xu’s face immediately reddened.

“What do you mean return my soul?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Wen Xun let him off the hook.

His dark eyes lingered on Bian Xu for a moment before he reached out and patted his right cheek.

“Bian Xu.”

“Sometimes…”

“Don’t follow your heart too blindly.”

“Huh?”

Bian Xu didn’t understand what he meant.

But instinctively, he felt that Wen Xun was telling him to stay away from Zhou Zhao.

He pressed a hand against the left side of his chest.

His heart was pounding wildly, completely out of control.

As if he’d taken some kind of stimulant.

It wasn’t normal.

Standing there, he frowned deeply.

Three days later, Zhou Zhao called.

Bian Xu was in the middle of eating when his phone began ringing nonstop.

It rang so relentlessly that it felt as though the world might end if he didn’t answer.

“Go answer it.”

Wen Xun rubbed his temples.

The noise was clearly getting on his nerves.

Bian Xu apologized with a smile and hurried onto the balcony with his phone.

The moment the ringtone finally stopped, peace returned to the world.

Unfortunately, it lasted less than a second.

Because Zhou Zhao’s voice came through immediately.

“Xiao Xu.”

“Come downstairs.”

“I’m taking you out to eat.”

Looking down from the balcony, Bian Xu met Zhou Zhao’s gaze.

The man was standing below, waving at him.

Bian Xu glanced back toward the apartment and tried to resist.

But Zhou Zhao only needed one sentence to block every avenue of escape.

“Don’t break your promise.”

In the end, Bian Xu could only sigh and agree.

“Where are you going?”

When Bian Xu returned from the balcony, he’d only finished half his meal.

Now he’d changed into different clothes and looked ready to leave.

His eyes drifted toward the braised pork on the table, then to the nearly empty bowl of rice in front of him.

“Zhou Zhao wants to take me out for dinner.”

Unexpectedly, Wen Xun merely smiled and nodded.

He stood up and slipped something into Bian Xu’s pocket.

“Be careful.”

Bian Xu was about to ask what he should be careful of when Zhou Zhao called again.

Left with no time to question it, he hurriedly changed shoes, stuffed his keys into his pocket, and headed out.

In Bian Xu’s memory, Zhou Zhao had always been playful and mischievous, but fundamentally steady and reliable.

So when he saw the flashy red supercar waiting downstairs, his mouth twitched.

Then he stared directly at Zhou Zhao.

Zhou Zhao seemed to enjoy the reaction immensely.

He reached over and touched Bian Xu’s face.

“What’s wrong with our Xiao Xu?”

“Did I scare you?”

How does changing cars make it feel like you’ve become a different person?

Bian Xu silently complained.

Outwardly, however, he remained calm.

Raising an eyebrow, he said,

“Young Master Zhou?”

Zhou Zhao looked genuinely surprised.

Then amused.

His hands immediately began wandering all over Bian Xu’s face again.

Growing annoyed, Bian Xu slapped them away.

“Where are we eating?”

Zhou Zhao only smiled.

He opened the car door and gestured for him to get in.

Something felt strange.

Bian Xu carefully glanced inside the car.

Then noticed an unfamiliar person sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Hm?”

He pointed at the driver and looked at Zhou Zhao.

“Our family chauffeur.”

Seeing that Bian Xu had no intention of moving, Zhou Zhao simply shoved him.

Caught off guard, Bian Xu stumbled and nearly fell.

A hand wrapped around his waist and caught him.

The next moment, Zhou Zhao actually picked him up and tossed him into the car.

Before Bian Xu could explode, Zhou Zhao climbed in after him and calmly addressed the driver.

“Uncle Li.”

“We can go now.”

It didn’t take long for Bian Xu to discover where they were headed.

Staring at the massive estate before him, he read the two characters engraved on the entrance:

Zhou Residence.

For perhaps the first time in his life, Bian Xu felt genuine envy of the rich.

He glared at Zhou Zhao.

“You really are a rich young master.”

Back in university, he’d heard plenty of rumors about Zhou Zhao.

He’d always believed seeing was believing.

Now it seemed the rumors hadn’t all been false.

At the very least, Zhou Zhao being some wealthy heir was absolutely true.

Ignoring the sarcasm, Zhou Zhao seriously took Bian Xu’s hand and led him inside.

The gesture felt uncomfortable.

Bian Xu tried to pull away.

But the moment Zhou Zhao sensed the attempt, he tightened his grip even more.

By the time he finally let go, a red mark had formed around Bian Xu’s wrist.

Zhou Zhao stared at the mark, muttering something under his breath.

Bian Xu didn’t bother listening.

Because he’d noticed something else.

The staff treated him strangely.

Far too respectfully.

Whenever he frowned, they immediately looked frightened.

Many of them kept sneaking glances toward Zhou Zhao.

And whenever they confirmed he wasn’t paying attention, they visibly relaxed.

It was odd.

As though he were Zhou Zhao’s most treasured possession.

Bian Xu didn’t like it at all.

“My parents came back today.”

“They wanted to meet you, so I brought you over for dinner.”

As he spoke, Zhou Zhao gently rubbed the mark on Bian Xu’s wrist.

Excitement practically radiated from his voice.

“Later I’ll take you to get a tattoo.”

“We can make this permanent.”

Bian Xu glared at him.

“I’m not getting a tattoo.”

Zhou Zhao snorted.

Whether he’d heard him or not was unclear.

So Bian Xu repeated himself.

“I said I’m not getting a tattoo.”

A cold smile appeared on Zhou Zhao’s face.

“That’s not your choice.”

Bian Xu stared at him.

The feeling that Zhou Zhao had become a completely different person grew stronger.

Or maybe…

This was who he’d always been beneath the surface.

Suddenly, Bian Xu stepped backward.

Zhou Zhao immediately seized his wrist.

His eyes were frightening.

Predatory.

As if he wanted to swallow Bian Xu whole.

A small smile curved his lips.

“Be good.”

“And don’t make me angry again today.”

“Again?”

Bian Xu caught the word immediately.

But Zhou Zhao didn’t answer.

Instead, he dragged him inside.

It was Bian Xu’s first time meeting Zhou Zhao’s parents.

Naturally, he felt nervous.

Forcing a smile, he greeted them.

“Hello, Uncle Zhou. Aunt Zhou.”

Neither responded.

Instead, they openly examined him.

Like merchants assessing merchandise.

The scrutiny made Bian Xu deeply uncomfortable.

“Dad.”

“Mom.”

“This is my boyfriend, Bian Xu.”

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he raised their clasped hands.

At the same time, he shot a provocative look toward his father.

Bian Xu was utterly stunned.

He turned to Zhou Zhao.

Not a single word came out.

“Sit down first.”

Father Zhou’s voice was deep and commanding, carrying the unquestionable authority of someone accustomed to power.

With drooping brows, Bian Xu allowed himself to be led to the table.

By the end of the meal, he felt completely exhausted.

Leaving aside Aunt Zhou’s interrogation, which resembled a household registration check, the fact that he’d somehow become Zhou Zhao’s boyfriend without his knowledge was enough to drain all his energy.

After dinner, things only got worse.

He wasn’t allowed to leave.

Instead, he was assigned a guest room next to Zhou Zhao’s bedroom.

“Mr. Bian.”

“If you need anything, just tell Auntie.”

“We’ll do our best to accommodate you.”

Aunt Zhou patted his shoulder.

Her smile never reached her eyes.

Bian Xu returned a fake smile.

“Thank you.”

The moment she left, he shut the door.

He immediately sent Wen Xun a message.

[Xu]: I’m not coming back tonight.

[Wen Xun]: Mm.

[Xu]: You knew that too?

[Wen Xun]: …No.

Bian Xu stared at the screen.

“Robot.”

That was his evaluation.

He tossed the phone onto the bed and threw himself down after it.

What a ridiculous day.

Raising an arm, he covered his eyes against the harsh ceiling light.

Yet tears still slipped out unconsciously.

So annoying.

Restlessly, he rolled back and forth across the bed.

Just as he was considering marching over to settle accounts with Zhou Zhao—

A knock sounded at the door.

Knock. Knock.

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TRANSLATOR NOTE

I will be posting two chapters every Tuesday and Friday.

(My translation is far from perfect, so if you see any mistakes please let me know in the comments)

 

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