The Long Road Ahead: C45
Like Wind
This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)
People of a certain age, whether it be Lu Anguo or Chen Shuyun, don't possess the kind of temperament which would outwardly express their shock, but that was not to say the atmosphere around the table didn't inevitably turn awkward, as neither of these two elders said anything further.
"Lu Yan, this friendship of ours has lasted for many years, and the last thing I want to have a falling out with you," Xiao Ning's smile as he said this, faded after saying this, his face now warped into one that was extremely grave, "So I hope you won't ever say such disparaging things about my lover again. You do not know him, you don't know the kind of person he is, so it is highly irresponsible of you to be saying these kinds of things."
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
The words he wanted to say, the ones resting at the tip of his tongue, slid back down his gullet as if the very act of voicing them was unbearable. LuYan knew the answer to his question without having to ask it, after all, was there anyone who understood Xiao Ning's illness better than him?
If it were just him, compromising—giving in—for Xiao Ning would be something he could do with ease, because he would've been all alone, with one beside him. So as long as he made the only people who treated him well happy, there was no compromise he was unwilling to do.
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
Thinking the atmosphere was unsuitable for him to stay there any longer, Xiao Ning silently helped Chen Shuyun tidy the table before politely wishing them farewell.
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
The two then stood in front of the elevator. Xiao Ning felt as though Lu Yan had something to say, but he honestly was in no mood, nor did he possess the strength, to be the one to ask him first. So all he did was pull out an envelope and say, "I just remembered I forgot to give this back inside, so I'll have to trouble you to pass this on to Uncle and Aunty for me."
"Mom, I'll go see Xiao Ning out." Lu Yan then unexpectedly turned and ran off, leaving his mother, who was just about to speak, standing there as she watched him follow Xiao Ning out the door.
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
Lu Yan was punching the button to the elevator door at this point, which had quickly opened its door before its button had gotten smashed. Xiao Ning was then pushed inside in the midst of his confusion, staggering as he turned to look at Lu Yan with no reaction.
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
"Mom, I'll go see Xiao Ning out." Lu Yan then unexpectedly turned and ran off, leaving his mother, who was just about to speak, standing there as she watched him follow Xiao Ning out the door.
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
"Mom, I'll go see Xiao Ning out." Lu Yan then unexpectedly turned and ran off, leaving his mother, who was just about to speak, standing there as she watched him follow Xiao Ning out the door.
He forced down a few breaths, squinting as if he couldn't recognise the Xiao Ning before him. "You... you with Shan Haiming..."
For a long time after Xiao Ning left, Lu Yan stood in front of that shut elevator door. What was it he was thinking at that moment? Even he had no idea. And like this, he had remained there until he angrily rubbed his nose then turned and left.
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
What good does a man even have? Lu Yan soon forgot what it was he had even found so good in men to begin with. Now staring out of the window, with its curtains undrawn, from the depths of the darkness he saw a rising dawn. Then, in a haze, a forgotten memory was suddenly recalled.
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
The two then stood in front of the elevator. Xiao Ning felt as though Lu Yan had something to say, but he honestly was in no mood, nor did he possess the strength, to be the one to ask him first. So all he did was pull out an envelope and say, "I just remembered I forgot to give this back inside, so I'll have to trouble you to pass this on to Uncle and Aunty for me."
Lu Yan chewed on the meaning of his words, unsure of what he, himself could say. "Xiao Ning..."
His head was spinning, "Fine, alright. I'll go on the blind date tomorrow. Are you going to let the thing about Xiao Ning go now? You more than know the kind of person he is, the kind of character he has, you and Dad both watched him grow up. Do you really think he's the type that goes fooling around?"
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
"Lu Yan, this friendship of ours has lasted for many years, and the last thing I want to have a falling out with you," Xiao Ning's smile as he said this, faded after saying this, his face now warped into one that was extremely grave, "So I hope you won't ever say such disparaging things about my lover again. You do not know him, you don't know the kind of person he is, so it is highly irresponsible of you to be saying these kinds of things."
But despite his words, Lu Yan rushed out these words before the doors closed before him: "Oi, sooner or later, you guys are gonna split, so what's with all the fuss, huh? Tsk!"
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
But something this "outside the norm" was impossible for Chen Shuyun to accept all at once. But the son of others wasn't something she really had no right interfering with, but fortunately, her own son was not influenced... right?
So in the end, this was all Xiao Ning could say.
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
He had never realised with such clarity that the actions of a Xiao Ning treating someone from the bottom of his heart, almost seemed to be guided, like a person who just went with the flow.
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
So without a word, Lu Yan accepted the gift, and the elevator had arrived and opened right then. Xiao Ning moved to step inside, but Lu Yan held him back, stopping him instead. Xiao Ning turned to look at Lu Yan, the door behind closing before the elevator rose to another floor.
Chen Shuyun sighed, doing such a thing, making such a cruel decision was something she couldn't do. Her expression now turned from complex to resolute. "Fine then, Xiao Ning's matter is nothing for me to be concerned over, so I should be concerned about you, yes? You're not allowed to fool around with him. And tomorrow you'll be going on that blind date. Do you understand?"
With a calm tone, Xiao Ning then spoke to ask him, "What is it now?"
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
"Don't worry, alright? I'll go explain everything to my parents later and everything will be fine." Lu Yan's words were like a person shooting themselves in the foot, he spoke as if he was a child making a complaint, one who felt satisfied after saying their peace, only to get upset once more when he saw Xiao Ning was dead in the face. As a result, he then begrudgingly added, "I'll just act as if I was joking—like it was just a joke and nothing more."
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
"What does it mean?" Lu Yan pulled down his arm. "It means exactly what it means."
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
What's so good about men, anyway!
Lu Yan was quite earnest as he spoke, and Xiao Ning then responded.
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
"Why would it not be possible?" LuYan sat himself up now, "Mom, what exactly is such a big deal about this, huh? Is it really necessary to keep talking about this?"
Since he, himself, lacked the courage to rip off that band-aid, whether it was due to Lu Yan's blowing up at him, or because of that man's act of retaliation, in the end, it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
But Chen Shuyun looked him over, still very much in shock, and then continued speaking, "Xiao Ning likes men, so won't you be influenced? When did he even start? Oh god..."
But something this "outside the norm" was impossible for Chen Shuyun to accept all at once. But the son of others wasn't something she really had no right interfering with, but fortunately, her own son was not influenced... right?
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
At the words: what about this is a big deal, Chen Shuyun's expression was filled with doubt. "A man with another man being together is..."
Since he, himself, lacked the courage to rip off that band-aid, whether it was due to Lu Yan's blowing up at him, or because of that man's act of retaliation, in the end, it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Lu Yan threw himself back on his bed in anger. It wasn't that it was impossible for him to like girls, but hearing these words right then had made his entire being want to explode. "I'm not going."
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
It was then that Lu Yan thought that this friend of his was wonderful, but that Xiao Ning had always been especially great.
"But—" Chen Shuyun's brows knitted tightly, "A man? The one dating Xiao Ning is a man? How... how is that even possible?"
Like Wind
With a calm tone, Xiao Ning then spoke to ask him, "What is it now?"
Lu Yan chewed on the meaning of his words, unsure of what he, himself could say. "Xiao Ning..."
That's that.
Right then, Xiao Ning completely realised, that never in this life would there be a good word passed between Lu Yan and Shan Haiming.
People of a certain age, whether it be Lu Anguo or Chen Shuyun, don't possess the kind of temperament which would outwardly express their shock, but that was not to say the atmosphere around the table didn't inevitably turn awkward, as neither of these two elders said anything further.
Chen Shuyun eyed Lu Yan suspiciously, "Just so you know, your father's face is pot-bottom black. What the heck was that, huh? Haa... what a good kid you are, huh? Such a good kid you're so dumb when it comes to things like this. Anyhow, this was all too sudden. I'll find the right time later to talk to him, alright?"
So in the end, this was all Xiao Ning could say.
Since he, himself, lacked the courage to rip off that band-aid, whether it was due to Lu Yan's blowing up at him, or because of that man's act of retaliation, in the end, it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
So in the end, this was all Xiao Ning could say.
At the words: what about this is a big deal, Chen Shuyun's expression was filled with doubt. "A man with another man being together is..."
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
Afterwards, he then had the idea, that men were better than women and compared to them weren't difficult to deal with.
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
What's so good about men, anyway!
Lu Yan was quite earnest as he spoke, and Xiao Ning then responded.
He had never realised with such clarity that the actions of a Xiao Ning treating someone from the bottom of his heart, almost seemed to be guided, like a person who just went with the flow.
Lu Yan then thought some more until he finally fell asleep.
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
"Lu Yan, this friendship of ours has lasted for many years, and the last thing I want to have a falling out with you," Xiao Ning's smile as he said this, faded after saying this, his face now warped into one that was extremely grave, "So I hope you won't ever say such disparaging things about my lover again. You do not know him, you don't know the kind of person he is, so it is highly irresponsible of you to be saying these kinds of things."
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
He forced down a few breaths, squinting as if he couldn't recognise the Xiao Ning before him. "You... you with Shan Haiming..."
The words he wanted to say, the ones resting at the tip of his tongue, slid back down his gullet as if the very act of voicing them was unbearable. LuYan knew the answer to his question without having to ask it, after all, was there anyone who understood Xiao Ning's illness better than him?
Thinking the atmosphere was unsuitable for him to stay there any longer, Xiao Ning silently helped Chen Shuyun tidy the table before politely wishing them farewell.
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
Lu Yan was punching the button to the elevator door at this point, which had quickly opened its door before its button had gotten smashed. Xiao Ning was then pushed inside in the midst of his confusion, staggering as he turned to look at Lu Yan with no reaction.
It was then that Lu Yan thought that this friend of his was wonderful, but that Xiao Ning had always been especially great.
Lu Yan gasped momentarily, looking at Xiao Ning utterly gobsmacked as if he couldn't believe those were words the man before him would ever say. If it were any other situation, the expression on his face might have made Xiao Ning chuckle, but now was neither the time nor the place.
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
iana: Lu Yan is a slap upside the head. He's a butt, but he's not all bad. To sort out my feelings towards the guy and other questionable characters, I made up a scale for frustrating characters, from side-eye (1) to disembowelment (7). Yes, this is the nonsense my mind thinks about when I translate, enjoy:)[]1. side-eye: annoying; 2. forehead flick: mildly frustrating; 3. slap upside the head: frustrating, but not a bad person; 4. kick in the shin: extremely frustrating, and has questionable morality; 5. kick in the nuts: a-hole, a grade A one; 6. bullet to the head: committed unspeakable and unforgivable acts; 7. disembowelment: committed such unforgivable horrors that a quick death seems like too good of a punishment *cough* Liu Wei *cough*[]For how small my pool of translated works is, there are far too many 5s, 6s and 7s... []Anyhow, the old folks took it better than expected, and Xiao Ning is still Xiao Ning.
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
"My parents will never accept this. Do you... you really think something like this is worth it?" Lu Yan's expression was rather strange as he spoke, seeming as though he was on the brink of exploding in laughter, yet it was quite the opposite when taking a closer look. It was as though the thin mask he had always worn was suddenly ripped off, leaving him with an expression that showed a complete and total loss.
Lu Yan then thought some more until he finally fell asleep.
Xiao Ning was unsure how to answer him, as it wasn't that the Lu's hadn't meant a lot to Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning was able to become the person he is today because their existence undoubtedly played a very significant role in helping him along the way.
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
N/A
"That's not what I said." Xiao Ning let out a laugh, that was half mocking himself, while the rest was pure melancholy. "Aunty and Uncle's feelings are very important to me, but for this... for this matter, I won't go against my heart, because this isn't just about me alone."
Xiao Ning was unsure how to answer him, as it wasn't that the Lu's hadn't meant a lot to Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning was able to become the person he is today because their existence undoubtedly played a very significant role in helping him along the way.
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
"Mom, I'll go see Xiao Ning out." Lu Yan then unexpectedly turned and ran off, leaving his mother, who was just about to speak, standing there as she watched him follow Xiao Ning out the door.
If it were just him, compromising—giving in—for Xiao Ning would be something he could do with ease, because he would've been all alone, with one beside him. So as long as he made the only people who treated him well happy, there was no compromise he was unwilling to do.
For a long time after Xiao Ning left, Lu Yan stood in front of that shut elevator door. What was it he was thinking at that moment? Even he had no idea. And like this, he had remained there until he angrily rubbed his nose then turned and left.
Lu Yan pulled out the red envelope Xiao Ning had prepared for them.
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
But now, this was no longer the case, as he now had a line—a line he refused to cross over, and that line was Shan Haiming.
Even after vomiting, he didn't feel one bit better, he stayed just like this, growing like a mushroom on that sidewalk, until Xiao Ning jumped the wall at his dormitory and searched every bar one by one until he found him, then took that mushroom he was to a hotel. That night Lu Yan had tossed around so much that he couldn't remember a thing clearly, it was not a habit of his to lose his memories after passing out drunk. But all his muddled mind recalled from that night was himself yelling about feeling uncomfortable, then thirsty, then hot; and Xiao Ning taking care of him without bearing a grudge. He kept asking him where he felt uncomfortable, and, as though he was afraid of causing him any more discomfort, Xiao Ning's voice, like his movements, was low, gentle and soft.
"...fine." Still clearly upset, Lu Yan nonetheless released Xiao Ning's hand. But upon seeing Xiao Ning's dazed expression, he unexpectedly moved to pat Xiao Ning's arm, holding it there for a while before plucking himself up to say, "You can head back first, alright? I'll talk to my folks here on your behalf. Tsk, ah... you really are something, always making trouble for me and such."
"No." A bitter smile twisted Xiao Ning's lips. "Of course, I hope that Aunty and Uncle can... oh, that's also impossible, isn't it?"
N/A
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
After that...
"Why would it not be possible?" LuYan sat himself up now, "Mom, what exactly is such a big deal about this, huh? Is it really necessary to keep talking about this?"
Lu Yan chewed on the meaning of his words, unsure of what he, himself could say. "Xiao Ning..."
And to Lu Yan, this Xiao Ning currently before him was more familiar, than the Xiao Ning Lu Yan had always seen. But at those times in the past, the cause of those ever-embarrassed and hard-pressed expressions of Xiao Ning's had been solely caused by him.
"That's not what I said." Xiao Ning let out a laugh, that was half mocking himself, while the rest was pure melancholy. "Aunty and Uncle's feelings are very important to me, but for this... for this matter, I won't go against my heart, because this isn't just about me alone."
"That's not what I said." Xiao Ning let out a laugh, that was half mocking himself, while the rest was pure melancholy. "Aunty and Uncle's feelings are very important to me, but for this... for this matter, I won't go against my heart, because this isn't just about me alone."
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
He forced down a few breaths, squinting as if he couldn't recognise the Xiao Ning before him. "You... you with Shan Haiming..."
Xiao Ning knitted his brows playfully at Lu Yan's jest. "Can you stop cursing me already?"
Afterwards, he then had the idea, that men were better than women and compared to them weren't difficult to deal with.
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
Whatever they were fighting about was something he had long forgotten, but the gist of it was there were words said and the campus beauty slapped him clear across. She then grabbed her purse and walked out, and afterwards, the guys around LuYan talked him down. Lu Yan couldn't lose his temper in front of so many people, so his only recourse was to drown his anger in drink after drink after drink, and when he looked around, only he was left. Lu Yan drank so much he was hunched over at the door of the bar, unable to walk a step. His head was spinning like mad, and his phone rang incessantly. For a long time, he remained like this until he managed to answer the call in a daze. He heard Xiao Ning, he said: "Xiao Ning, I'm not feeling too good." Then afterwards he spilled everything in his guts.
"Why would it not be possible?" LuYan sat himself up now, "Mom, what exactly is such a big deal about this, huh? Is it really necessary to keep talking about this?"
The words he wanted to say, the ones resting at the tip of his tongue, slid back down his gullet as if the very act of voicing them was unbearable. LuYan knew the answer to his question without having to ask it, after all, was there anyone who understood Xiao Ning's illness better than him?
It was then that Lu Yan thought that this friend of his was wonderful, but that Xiao Ning had always been especially great.
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
Afterwards, he then had the idea, that men were better than women and compared to them weren't difficult to deal with.
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
Thinking the atmosphere was unsuitable for him to stay there any longer, Xiao Ning silently helped Chen Shuyun tidy the table before politely wishing them farewell.
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
That's that.
He had never realised with such clarity that the actions of a Xiao Ning treating someone from the bottom of his heart, almost seemed to be guided, like a person who just went with the flow.
There were simply too many, all blowing against him like a distant wind, all roaring past him so swiftly he couldn't hold on to any of them.
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
At the words: what about this is a big deal, Chen Shuyun's expression was filled with doubt. "A man with another man being together is..."
His head was spinning, "Fine, alright. I'll go on the blind date tomorrow. Are you going to let the thing about Xiao Ning go now? You more than know the kind of person he is, the kind of character he has, you and Dad both watched him grow up. Do you really think he's the type that goes fooling around?"
iana: Lu Yan is a slap upside the head. He's a butt, but he's not all bad. To sort out my feelings towards the guy and other questionable characters, I made up a scale for frustrating characters, from side-eye (1) to disembowelment (7). Yes, this is the nonsense my mind thinks about when I translate, enjoy:)[]1. side-eye: annoying; 2. forehead flick: mildly frustrating; 3. slap upside the head: frustrating, but not a bad person; 4. kick in the shin: extremely frustrating, and has questionable morality; 5. kick in the nuts: a-hole, a grade A one; 6. bullet to the head: committed unspeakable and unforgivable acts; 7. disembowelment: committed such unforgivable horrors that a quick death seems like too good of a punishment *cough* Liu Wei *cough*[]For how small my pool of translated works is, there are far too many 5s, 6s and 7s... []Anyhow, the old folks took it better than expected, and Xiao Ning is still Xiao Ning.
Lu Yan chewed on the meaning of his words, unsure of what he, himself could say. "Xiao Ning..."
"Yeah," Lu Yan grumbled in reply, then dragged himself to his bedroom before rolling onto his bed. A short while later, Chen Shuyun came in after him and said, "Lu Yan, I need to ask you about something."
While lying on his back, Lu Yan felt so depressed it seemed as though there was no new height such a feeling could reach. He huffed as he thought in anger: What the hell is so good about that man, anyhow? Isn't he just a playboy? I can't even imagine just how much Xiao Ning's going suffer under him given his personality, would he hurt him?
Lu Yan threw himself back on his bed in anger. It wasn't that it was impossible for him to like girls, but hearing these words right then had made his entire being want to explode. "I'm not going."
"No." A bitter smile twisted Xiao Ning's lips. "Of course, I hope that Aunty and Uncle can... oh, that's also impossible, isn't it?"
Like Wind
And to Lu Yan, this Xiao Ning currently before him was more familiar, than the Xiao Ning Lu Yan had always seen. But at those times in the past, the cause of those ever-embarrassed and hard-pressed expressions of Xiao Ning's had been solely caused by him.
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
"But—" Chen Shuyun's brows knitted tightly, "A man? The one dating Xiao Ning is a man? How... how is that even possible?"
Chen Shuyun sighed, doing such a thing, making such a cruel decision was something she couldn't do. Her expression now turned from complex to resolute. "Fine then, Xiao Ning's matter is nothing for me to be concerned over, so I should be concerned about you, yes? You're not allowed to fool around with him. And tomorrow you'll be going on that blind date. Do you understand?"
Like Wind
An embarrassed look now marred his face, as though he was put in a tight spot. But even when Xiao Ning was embarrassed like this, he still made others feel kind and warm. It was the kind of temperament that a person didn't know just how to describe.
What good does a man even have? Lu Yan soon forgot what it was he had even found so good in men to begin with. Now staring out of the window, with its curtains undrawn, from the depths of the darkness he saw a rising dawn. Then, in a haze, a forgotten memory was suddenly recalled.
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
Right then, Xiao Ning completely realised, that never in this life would there be a good word passed between Lu Yan and Shan Haiming.
But something this "outside the norm" was impossible for Chen Shuyun to accept all at once. But the son of others wasn't something she really had no right interfering with, but fortunately, her own son was not influenced... right?
N/A
And to Lu Yan, this Xiao Ning currently before him was more familiar, than the Xiao Ning Lu Yan had always seen. But at those times in the past, the cause of those ever-embarrassed and hard-pressed expressions of Xiao Ning's had been solely caused by him.
If it were just him, compromising—giving in—for Xiao Ning would be something he could do with ease, because he would've been all alone, with one beside him. So as long as he made the only people who treated him well happy, there was no compromise he was unwilling to do.
Lu Yan was amazed at all these things he had once taken for granted were now especially clear. They were all things that weren't of any special significance, so they were discarded without thought at the time, but now when he sees them, they had strangely become ever the more distinct.
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
It was then that Lu Yan thought that this friend of his was wonderful, but that Xiao Ning had always been especially great.
There were simply too many, all blowing against him like a distant wind, all roaring past him so swiftly he couldn't hold on to any of them.
But despite his words, Lu Yan rushed out these words before the doors closed before him: "Oi, sooner or later, you guys are gonna split, so what's with all the fuss, huh? Tsk!"
"...fine." Still clearly upset, Lu Yan nonetheless released Xiao Ning's hand. But upon seeing Xiao Ning's dazed expression, he unexpectedly moved to pat Xiao Ning's arm, holding it there for a while before plucking himself up to say, "You can head back first, alright? I'll talk to my folks here on your behalf. Tsk, ah... you really are something, always making trouble for me and such."
Whatever they were fighting about was something he had long forgotten, but the gist of it was there were words said and the campus beauty slapped him clear across. She then grabbed her purse and walked out, and afterwards, the guys around LuYan talked him down. Lu Yan couldn't lose his temper in front of so many people, so his only recourse was to drown his anger in drink after drink after drink, and when he looked around, only he was left. Lu Yan drank so much he was hunched over at the door of the bar, unable to walk a step. His head was spinning like mad, and his phone rang incessantly. For a long time, he remained like this until he managed to answer the call in a daze. He heard Xiao Ning, he said: "Xiao Ning, I'm not feeling too good." Then afterwards he spilled everything in his guts.
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
Lu Yan felt like digging a hole and burying himself. "I'm normal. Xiao Ning is normal. He just likes people who aren't women, what about that is wrong? Is it a crime? Do the police care about it? So why does it matter so much to you? Look, here's the red envelope he left for you guys again to show his filial piety."
Xiao Ning was unsure how to answer him, as it wasn't that the Lu's hadn't meant a lot to Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning was able to become the person he is today because their existence undoubtedly played a very significant role in helping him along the way.
It was his first year at university, and the new school beauty had chased after him, so of course a golden boy like him and a beauty like her had become a golden couple by falling in love. But people like them, who were not only beautiful but popular too, were naturally spoiled a bunch while growing up. So while holding back their tempers, for the first few days, things were sweet as can be. But, in the end, all good things come to an end, and two had their first falling out in a bar at a party.
Xiao Ning was unsure how to answer him, as it wasn't that the Lu's hadn't meant a lot to Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning was able to become the person he is today because their existence undoubtedly played a very significant role in helping him along the way.
He forced down a few breaths, squinting as if he couldn't recognise the Xiao Ning before him. "You... you with Shan Haiming..."
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
With a calm tone, Xiao Ning then spoke to ask him, "What is it now?"
Lu Yan was punching the button to the elevator door at this point, which had quickly opened its door before its button had gotten smashed. Xiao Ning was then pushed inside in the midst of his confusion, staggering as he turned to look at Lu Yan with no reaction.
After that...
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
Lu Yan was amazed at all these things he had once taken for granted were now especially clear. They were all things that weren't of any special significance, so they were discarded without thought at the time, but now when he sees them, they had strangely become ever the more distinct.
Lu Yan threw himself back on his bed in anger. It wasn't that it was impossible for him to like girls, but hearing these words right then had made his entire being want to explode. "I'm not going."
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
There were simply too many, all blowing against him like a distant wind, all roaring past him so swiftly he couldn't hold on to any of them.
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
Lu Yan was punching the button to the elevator door at this point, which had quickly opened its door before its button had gotten smashed. Xiao Ning was then pushed inside in the midst of his confusion, staggering as he turned to look at Lu Yan with no reaction.
What good does a man even have? Lu Yan soon forgot what it was he had even found so good in men to begin with. Now staring out of the window, with its curtains undrawn, from the depths of the darkness he saw a rising dawn. Then, in a haze, a forgotten memory was suddenly recalled.
But Chen Shuyun looked him over, still very much in shock, and then continued speaking, "Xiao Ning likes men, so won't you be influenced? When did he even start? Oh god..."
His head was spinning, "Fine, alright. I'll go on the blind date tomorrow. Are you going to let the thing about Xiao Ning go now? You more than know the kind of person he is, the kind of character he has, you and Dad both watched him grow up. Do you really think he's the type that goes fooling around?"
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
Xiao Ning knitted his brows playfully at Lu Yan's jest. "Can you stop cursing me already?"
◈◇◈
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
Even after vomiting, he didn't feel one bit better, he stayed just like this, growing like a mushroom on that sidewalk, until Xiao Ning jumped the wall at his dormitory and searched every bar one by one until he found him, then took that mushroom he was to a hotel. That night Lu Yan had tossed around so much that he couldn't remember a thing clearly, it was not a habit of his to lose his memories after passing out drunk. But all his muddled mind recalled from that night was himself yelling about feeling uncomfortable, then thirsty, then hot; and Xiao Ning taking care of him without bearing a grudge. He kept asking him where he felt uncomfortable, and, as though he was afraid of causing him any more discomfort, Xiao Ning's voice, like his movements, was low, gentle and soft.
But despite his words, Lu Yan rushed out these words before the doors closed before him: "Oi, sooner or later, you guys are gonna split, so what's with all the fuss, huh? Tsk!"
"What does it mean?" Lu Yan pulled down his arm. "It means exactly what it means."
Like Wind
So in the end, this was all Xiao Ning could say.
"Why don't you want to go, Lu Yan? Why have you been in A-City all this time without even looking for a girlfriend? I've set you up with so many girls before, but every single time all you'd say is that you don't like them." The more Chen Shuyun spoke, the more doubtful she grew. "Lu Yan, you... you can't also..."
After that...
Right then, Xiao Ning completely realised, that never in this life would there be a good word passed between Lu Yan and Shan Haiming.
"My parents will never accept this. Do you... you really think something like this is worth it?" Lu Yan's expression was rather strange as he spoke, seeming as though he was on the brink of exploding in laughter, yet it was quite the opposite when taking a closer look. It was as though the thin mask he had always worn was suddenly ripped off, leaving him with an expression that showed a complete and total loss.
"...fine." Still clearly upset, Lu Yan nonetheless released Xiao Ning's hand. But upon seeing Xiao Ning's dazed expression, he unexpectedly moved to pat Xiao Ning's arm, holding it there for a while before plucking himself up to say, "You can head back first, alright? I'll talk to my folks here on your behalf. Tsk, ah... you really are something, always making trouble for me and such."
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
◈◇◈
For a long time after Xiao Ning left, Lu Yan stood in front of that shut elevator door. What was it he was thinking at that moment? Even he had no idea. And like this, he had remained there until he angrily rubbed his nose then turned and left.
"Why don't you want to go, Lu Yan? Why have you been in A-City all this time without even looking for a girlfriend? I've set you up with so many girls before, but every single time all you'd say is that you don't like them." The more Chen Shuyun spoke, the more doubtful she grew. "Lu Yan, you... you can't also..."
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
So without a word, Lu Yan accepted the gift, and the elevator had arrived and opened right then. Xiao Ning moved to step inside, but Lu Yan held him back, stopping him instead. Xiao Ning turned to look at Lu Yan, the door behind closing before the elevator rose to another floor.
Chen Shuyun eyed Lu Yan suspiciously, "Just so you know, your father's face is pot-bottom black. What the heck was that, huh? Haa... what a good kid you are, huh? Such a good kid you're so dumb when it comes to things like this. Anyhow, this was all too sudden. I'll find the right time later to talk to him, alright?"
N/A
"Why would it not be possible?" LuYan sat himself up now, "Mom, what exactly is such a big deal about this, huh? Is it really necessary to keep talking about this?"
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
Lu Yan gasped momentarily, looking at Xiao Ning utterly gobsmacked as if he couldn't believe those were words the man before him would ever say. If it were any other situation, the expression on his face might have made Xiao Ning chuckle, but now was neither the time nor the place.
"My parents will never accept this. Do you... you really think something like this is worth it?" Lu Yan's expression was rather strange as he spoke, seeming as though he was on the brink of exploding in laughter, yet it was quite the opposite when taking a closer look. It was as though the thin mask he had always worn was suddenly ripped off, leaving him with an expression that showed a complete and total loss.
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
Chen Shuyun sighed, doing such a thing, making such a cruel decision was something she couldn't do. Her expression now turned from complex to resolute. "Fine then, Xiao Ning's matter is nothing for me to be concerned over, so I should be concerned about you, yes? You're not allowed to fool around with him. And tomorrow you'll be going on that blind date. Do you understand?"
"Lu Yan, this friendship of ours has lasted for many years, and the last thing I want to have a falling out with you," Xiao Ning's smile as he said this, faded after saying this, his face now warped into one that was extremely grave, "So I hope you won't ever say such disparaging things about my lover again. You do not know him, you don't know the kind of person he is, so it is highly irresponsible of you to be saying these kinds of things."
Like Wind
"Yeah," Lu Yan grumbled in reply, then dragged himself to his bedroom before rolling onto his bed. A short while later, Chen Shuyun came in after him and said, "Lu Yan, I need to ask you about something."
iana: Lu Yan is a slap upside the head. He's a butt, but he's not all bad. To sort out my feelings towards the guy and other questionable characters, I made up a scale for frustrating characters, from side-eye (1) to disembowelment (7). Yes, this is the nonsense my mind thinks about when I translate, enjoy:)[]1. side-eye: annoying; 2. forehead flick: mildly frustrating; 3. slap upside the head: frustrating, but not a bad person; 4. kick in the shin: extremely frustrating, and has questionable morality; 5. kick in the nuts: a-hole, a grade A one; 6. bullet to the head: committed unspeakable and unforgivable acts; 7. disembowelment: committed such unforgivable horrors that a quick death seems like too good of a punishment *cough* Liu Wei *cough*[]For how small my pool of translated works is, there are far too many 5s, 6s and 7s... []Anyhow, the old folks took it better than expected, and Xiao Ning is still Xiao Ning.
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
Even after vomiting, he didn't feel one bit better, he stayed just like this, growing like a mushroom on that sidewalk, until Xiao Ning jumped the wall at his dormitory and searched every bar one by one until he found him, then took that mushroom he was to a hotel. That night Lu Yan had tossed around so much that he couldn't remember a thing clearly, it was not a habit of his to lose his memories after passing out drunk. But all his muddled mind recalled from that night was himself yelling about feeling uncomfortable, then thirsty, then hot; and Xiao Ning taking care of him without bearing a grudge. He kept asking him where he felt uncomfortable, and, as though he was afraid of causing him any more discomfort, Xiao Ning's voice, like his movements, was low, gentle and soft.
That's that.
Lu Yan felt like digging a hole and burying himself. "I'm normal. Xiao Ning is normal. He just likes people who aren't women, what about that is wrong? Is it a crime? Do the police care about it? So why does it matter so much to you? Look, here's the red envelope he left for you guys again to show his filial piety."
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
"Don't worry, alright? I'll go explain everything to my parents later and everything will be fine." Lu Yan's words were like a person shooting themselves in the foot, he spoke as if he was a child making a complaint, one who felt satisfied after saying their peace, only to get upset once more when he saw Xiao Ning was dead in the face. As a result, he then begrudgingly added, "I'll just act as if I was joking—like it was just a joke and nothing more."
Lu Yan gasped momentarily, looking at Xiao Ning utterly gobsmacked as if he couldn't believe those were words the man before him would ever say. If it were any other situation, the expression on his face might have made Xiao Ning chuckle, but now was neither the time nor the place.
But something this "outside the norm" was impossible for Chen Shuyun to accept all at once. But the son of others wasn't something she really had no right interfering with, but fortunately, her own son was not influenced... right?
Lu Yan threw himself back on his bed in anger. It wasn't that it was impossible for him to like girls, but hearing these words right then had made his entire being want to explode. "I'm not going."
Lu Yan gasped momentarily, looking at Xiao Ning utterly gobsmacked as if he couldn't believe those were words the man before him would ever say. If it were any other situation, the expression on his face might have made Xiao Ning chuckle, but now was neither the time nor the place.
He had never realised with such clarity that the actions of a Xiao Ning treating someone from the bottom of his heart, almost seemed to be guided, like a person who just went with the flow.
"Don't worry, alright? I'll go explain everything to my parents later and everything will be fine." Lu Yan's words were like a person shooting themselves in the foot, he spoke as if he was a child making a complaint, one who felt satisfied after saying their peace, only to get upset once more when he saw Xiao Ning was dead in the face. As a result, he then begrudgingly added, "I'll just act as if I was joking—like it was just a joke and nothing more."
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
But Chen Shuyun looked him over, still very much in shock, and then continued speaking, "Xiao Ning likes men, so won't you be influenced? When did he even start? Oh god..."
"What does it mean?" Lu Yan pulled down his arm. "It means exactly what it means."
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
"But—" Chen Shuyun's brows knitted tightly, "A man? The one dating Xiao Ning is a man? How... how is that even possible?"
People of a certain age, whether it be Lu Anguo or Chen Shuyun, don't possess the kind of temperament which would outwardly express their shock, but that was not to say the atmosphere around the table didn't inevitably turn awkward, as neither of these two elders said anything further.
"Why would it not be possible?" LuYan sat himself up now, "Mom, what exactly is such a big deal about this, huh? Is it really necessary to keep talking about this?"
His head was spinning, "Fine, alright. I'll go on the blind date tomorrow. Are you going to let the thing about Xiao Ning go now? You more than know the kind of person he is, the kind of character he has, you and Dad both watched him grow up. Do you really think he's the type that goes fooling around?"
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
Lu Yan was amazed at all these things he had once taken for granted were now especially clear. They were all things that weren't of any special significance, so they were discarded without thought at the time, but now when he sees them, they had strangely become ever the more distinct.
"Yeah," Lu Yan grumbled in reply, then dragged himself to his bedroom before rolling onto his bed. A short while later, Chen Shuyun came in after him and said, "Lu Yan, I need to ask you about something."
An embarrassed look now marred his face, as though he was put in a tight spot. But even when Xiao Ning was embarrassed like this, he still made others feel kind and warm. It was the kind of temperament that a person didn't know just how to describe.
At the words: what about this is a big deal, Chen Shuyun's expression was filled with doubt. "A man with another man being together is..."
Lu Yan was quite earnest as he spoke, and Xiao Ning then responded.
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
With a calm tone, Xiao Ning then spoke to ask him, "What is it now?"
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
An embarrassed look now marred his face, as though he was put in a tight spot. But even when Xiao Ning was embarrassed like this, he still made others feel kind and warm. It was the kind of temperament that a person didn't know just how to describe.
Even after vomiting, he didn't feel one bit better, he stayed just like this, growing like a mushroom on that sidewalk, until Xiao Ning jumped the wall at his dormitory and searched every bar one by one until he found him, then took that mushroom he was to a hotel. That night Lu Yan had tossed around so much that he couldn't remember a thing clearly, it was not a habit of his to lose his memories after passing out drunk. But all his muddled mind recalled from that night was himself yelling about feeling uncomfortable, then thirsty, then hot; and Xiao Ning taking care of him without bearing a grudge. He kept asking him where he felt uncomfortable, and, as though he was afraid of causing him any more discomfort, Xiao Ning's voice, like his movements, was low, gentle and soft.
What's so good about men, anyway!
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
Chen Shuyun eyed Lu Yan suspiciously, "Just so you know, your father's face is pot-bottom black. What the heck was that, huh? Haa... what a good kid you are, huh? Such a good kid you're so dumb when it comes to things like this. Anyhow, this was all too sudden. I'll find the right time later to talk to him, alright?"
After that...
So without a word, Lu Yan accepted the gift, and the elevator had arrived and opened right then. Xiao Ning moved to step inside, but Lu Yan held him back, stopping him instead. Xiao Ning turned to look at Lu Yan, the door behind closing before the elevator rose to another floor.
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
The two then stood in front of the elevator. Xiao Ning felt as though Lu Yan had something to say, but he honestly was in no mood, nor did he possess the strength, to be the one to ask him first. So all he did was pull out an envelope and say, "I just remembered I forgot to give this back inside, so I'll have to trouble you to pass this on to Uncle and Aunty for me."
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
Thinking the atmosphere was unsuitable for him to stay there any longer, Xiao Ning silently helped Chen Shuyun tidy the table before politely wishing them farewell.
"...fine." Still clearly upset, Lu Yan nonetheless released Xiao Ning's hand. But upon seeing Xiao Ning's dazed expression, he unexpectedly moved to pat Xiao Ning's arm, holding it there for a while before plucking himself up to say, "You can head back first, alright? I'll talk to my folks here on your behalf. Tsk, ah... you really are something, always making trouble for me and such."
Chen Shuyun sighed, doing such a thing, making such a cruel decision was something she couldn't do. Her expression now turned from complex to resolute. "Fine then, Xiao Ning's matter is nothing for me to be concerned over, so I should be concerned about you, yes? You're not allowed to fool around with him. And tomorrow you'll be going on that blind date. Do you understand?"
Lu Yan threw himself back on his bed in anger. It wasn't that it was impossible for him to like girls, but hearing these words right then had made his entire being want to explode. "I'm not going."
N/A
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
The two then stood in front of the elevator. Xiao Ning felt as though Lu Yan had something to say, but he honestly was in no mood, nor did he possess the strength, to be the one to ask him first. So all he did was pull out an envelope and say, "I just remembered I forgot to give this back inside, so I'll have to trouble you to pass this on to Uncle and Aunty for me."
Lu Yan was amazed at all these things he had once taken for granted were now especially clear. They were all things that weren't of any special significance, so they were discarded without thought at the time, but now when he sees them, they had strangely become ever the more distinct.
"We'll talk again later, you just get some sleep first. I want you in high spirits when you go see that girl tomorrow, you hear?" Although Xiao Ning was the child she and her husband were very fond of, in the end, her own son's marriage was her highest priority. So Chen Shuyun did nothing more to disturb her son and left his room right after that.
"Why don't you want to go, Lu Yan? Why have you been in A-City all this time without even looking for a girlfriend? I've set you up with so many girls before, but every single time all you'd say is that you don't like them." The more Chen Shuyun spoke, the more doubtful she grew. "Lu Yan, you... you can't also..."
"...fine." Still clearly upset, Lu Yan nonetheless released Xiao Ning's hand. But upon seeing Xiao Ning's dazed expression, he unexpectedly moved to pat Xiao Ning's arm, holding it there for a while before plucking himself up to say, "You can head back first, alright? I'll talk to my folks here on your behalf. Tsk, ah... you really are something, always making trouble for me and such."
"What does it mean?" Lu Yan pulled down his arm. "It means exactly what it means."
This point of his was very persuasive, as when it came to having a good character, apart from her son (who was good at everything), Xiao Ning was the person she had acknowledged the most. He was a good kid, he was obedient and sensible to the point there was no complaint you could make, to them, he was as good as their son.
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
"That's not what I said." Xiao Ning let out a laugh, that was half mocking himself, while the rest was pure melancholy. "Aunty and Uncle's feelings are very important to me, but for this... for this matter, I won't go against my heart, because this isn't just about me alone."
"Don't worry, alright? I'll go explain everything to my parents later and everything will be fine." Lu Yan's words were like a person shooting themselves in the foot, he spoke as if he was a child making a complaint, one who felt satisfied after saying their peace, only to get upset once more when he saw Xiao Ning was dead in the face. As a result, he then begrudgingly added, "I'll just act as if I was joking—like it was just a joke and nothing more."
While lying on his back, Lu Yan felt so depressed it seemed as though there was no new height such a feeling could reach. He huffed as he thought in anger: What the hell is so good about that man, anyhow? Isn't he just a playboy? I can't even imagine just how much Xiao Ning's going suffer under him given his personality, would he hurt him?
But Chen Shuyun looked him over, still very much in shock, and then continued speaking, "Xiao Ning likes men, so won't you be influenced? When did he even start? Oh god..."
An embarrassed look now marred his face, as though he was put in a tight spot. But even when Xiao Ning was embarrassed like this, he still made others feel kind and warm. It was the kind of temperament that a person didn't know just how to describe.
He had never realised with such clarity that the actions of a Xiao Ning treating someone from the bottom of his heart, almost seemed to be guided, like a person who just went with the flow.
Lu Yan looked at him as well from outside the elevator, then went on to say, "Xiao Ning, if there comes a time you regret it, and you come running to me in tears, it'll serve you right, you know."
Lu Yan felt like digging a hole and burying himself. "I'm normal. Xiao Ning is normal. He just likes people who aren't women, what about that is wrong? Is it a crime? Do the police care about it? So why does it matter so much to you? Look, here's the red envelope he left for you guys again to show his filial piety."
"No." A bitter smile twisted Xiao Ning's lips. "Of course, I hope that Aunty and Uncle can... oh, that's also impossible, isn't it?"
Thinking the atmosphere was unsuitable for him to stay there any longer, Xiao Ning silently helped Chen Shuyun tidy the table before politely wishing them farewell.
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
"That's not what I said." Xiao Ning let out a laugh, that was half mocking himself, while the rest was pure melancholy. "Aunty and Uncle's feelings are very important to me, but for this... for this matter, I won't go against my heart, because this isn't just about me alone."
"That's not what I said." Xiao Ning let out a laugh, that was half mocking himself, while the rest was pure melancholy. "Aunty and Uncle's feelings are very important to me, but for this... for this matter, I won't go against my heart, because this isn't just about me alone."
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
He forced down a few breaths, squinting as if he couldn't recognise the Xiao Ning before him. "You... you with Shan Haiming..."
Lu Yan pulled out the red envelope Xiao Ning had prepared for them.
This point of his was very persuasive, as when it came to having a good character, apart from her son (who was good at everything), Xiao Ning was the person she had acknowledged the most. He was a good kid, he was obedient and sensible to the point there was no complaint you could make, to them, he was as good as their son.
Upon seeing it, Chen Shuyun's expression got quite complex, as it was true that Xiao Ning's relationship with the Lu's was quite close. They had often received these red envelopes from Xiao Ning, and would just as often ask LuYan to secretly make up for it, so with the money circling between them, it wasn't like any of it or anyone was at a loss, so their relationship was good. But if they had refused to receive it this time, it would be too obvious it was deliberate, along with the reason behind it.
"But—" Chen Shuyun's brows knitted tightly, "A man? The one dating Xiao Ning is a man? How... how is that even possible?"
Chen Shuyun sighed, doing such a thing, making such a cruel decision was something she couldn't do. Her expression now turned from complex to resolute. "Fine then, Xiao Ning's matter is nothing for me to be concerned over, so I should be concerned about you, yes? You're not allowed to fool around with him. And tomorrow you'll be going on that blind date. Do you understand?"
"Yeah," Lu Yan grumbled in reply, then dragged himself to his bedroom before rolling onto his bed. A short while later, Chen Shuyun came in after him and said, "Lu Yan, I need to ask you about something."
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
Lu Anguo had already gone to bed when he got back, and in the living room, only Chen Shuyun had remained. "Did Xiao Ning leave?"
If it were just him, compromising—giving in—for Xiao Ning would be something he could do with ease, because he would've been all alone, with one beside him. So as long as he made the only people who treated him well happy, there was no compromise he was unwilling to do.
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
That's that.
For a long time after Xiao Ning left, Lu Yan stood in front of that shut elevator door. What was it he was thinking at that moment? Even he had no idea. And like this, he had remained there until he angrily rubbed his nose then turned and left.
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
"Why don't you want to go, Lu Yan? Why have you been in A-City all this time without even looking for a girlfriend? I've set you up with so many girls before, but every single time all you'd say is that you don't like them." The more Chen Shuyun spoke, the more doubtful she grew. "Lu Yan, you... you can't also..."
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
But now, this was no longer the case, as he now had a line—a line he refused to cross over, and that line was Shan Haiming.
"...fine." Still clearly upset, Lu Yan nonetheless released Xiao Ning's hand. But upon seeing Xiao Ning's dazed expression, he unexpectedly moved to pat Xiao Ning's arm, holding it there for a while before plucking himself up to say, "You can head back first, alright? I'll talk to my folks here on your behalf. Tsk, ah... you really are something, always making trouble for me and such."
His head was spinning, "Fine, alright. I'll go on the blind date tomorrow. Are you going to let the thing about Xiao Ning go now? You more than know the kind of person he is, the kind of character he has, you and Dad both watched him grow up. Do you really think he's the type that goes fooling around?"
The two then stood in front of the elevator. Xiao Ning felt as though Lu Yan had something to say, but he honestly was in no mood, nor did he possess the strength, to be the one to ask him first. So all he did was pull out an envelope and say, "I just remembered I forgot to give this back inside, so I'll have to trouble you to pass this on to Uncle and Aunty for me."
Xiao Ning knitted his brows playfully at Lu Yan's jest. "Can you stop cursing me already?"
It was rare for Chen Shuyun to be so strict with Lu Yan, which caused his heart to leap. "Mom—"
Afterwards, he then had the idea, that men were better than women and compared to them weren't difficult to deal with.
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
People of a certain age, whether it be Lu Anguo or Chen Shuyun, don't possess the kind of temperament which would outwardly express their shock, but that was not to say the atmosphere around the table didn't inevitably turn awkward, as neither of these two elders said anything further.
This point of his was very persuasive, as when it came to having a good character, apart from her son (who was good at everything), Xiao Ning was the person she had acknowledged the most. He was a good kid, he was obedient and sensible to the point there was no complaint you could make, to them, he was as good as their son.
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
◈◇◈
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
For a long time after Xiao Ning left, Lu Yan stood in front of that shut elevator door. What was it he was thinking at that moment? Even he had no idea. And like this, he had remained there until he angrily rubbed his nose then turned and left.
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
But something this "outside the norm" was impossible for Chen Shuyun to accept all at once. But the son of others wasn't something she really had no right interfering with, but fortunately, her own son was not influenced... right?
He forced down a few breaths, squinting as if he couldn't recognise the Xiao Ning before him. "You... you with Shan Haiming..."
"It's just normal, very normal even. There are many men like that these days, besides, with the number of women to men being so small, those guys who can't find a girl can just find a guy. It's not strange at all."
Lu Yan threw himself back on his bed in anger. It wasn't that it was impossible for him to like girls, but hearing these words right then had made his entire being want to explode. "I'm not going."
Thinking the atmosphere was unsuitable for him to stay there any longer, Xiao Ning silently helped Chen Shuyun tidy the table before politely wishing them farewell.
While lying on his back, Lu Yan felt so depressed it seemed as though there was no new height such a feeling could reach. He huffed as he thought in anger: What the hell is so good about that man, anyhow? Isn't he just a playboy? I can't even imagine just how much Xiao Ning's going suffer under him given his personality, would he hurt him?
Chen Shuyun eyed Lu Yan suspiciously, "Just so you know, your father's face is pot-bottom black. What the heck was that, huh? Haa... what a good kid you are, huh? Such a good kid you're so dumb when it comes to things like this. Anyhow, this was all too sudden. I'll find the right time later to talk to him, alright?"
So without a word, Lu Yan accepted the gift, and the elevator had arrived and opened right then. Xiao Ning moved to step inside, but Lu Yan held him back, stopping him instead. Xiao Ning turned to look at Lu Yan, the door behind closing before the elevator rose to another floor.
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
But despite his words, Lu Yan rushed out these words before the doors closed before him: "Oi, sooner or later, you guys are gonna split, so what's with all the fuss, huh? Tsk!"
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
Chen Shuyun's jaw slightly dropped at her son's response, shock clear in her tone as spoke. "Lu Yan, tomorrow, I help arrange a date with a nice girl for you in the afternoon, so go see her, alright? And make sure you put your heart into it this time."
The words he wanted to say, the ones resting at the tip of his tongue, slid back down his gullet as if the very act of voicing them was unbearable. LuYan knew the answer to his question without having to ask it, after all, was there anyone who understood Xiao Ning's illness better than him?
"We'll talk again later, you just get some sleep first. I want you in high spirits when you go see that girl tomorrow, you hear?" Although Xiao Ning was the child she and her husband were very fond of, in the end, her own son's marriage was her highest priority. So Chen Shuyun did nothing more to disturb her son and left his room right after that.
So in the end, this was all Xiao Ning could say.
"Don't worry, alright? I'll go explain everything to my parents later and everything will be fine." Lu Yan's words were like a person shooting themselves in the foot, he spoke as if he was a child making a complaint, one who felt satisfied after saying their peace, only to get upset once more when he saw Xiao Ning was dead in the face. As a result, he then begrudgingly added, "I'll just act as if I was joking—like it was just a joke and nothing more."
Lu Yan was lying with an arm across his eyes, his voice uninterested and drawn out. "It's already the middle of the night, Mom—what do you wanna ask now?"
"My parents will never accept this. Do you... you really think something like this is worth it?" Lu Yan's expression was rather strange as he spoke, seeming as though he was on the brink of exploding in laughter, yet it was quite the opposite when taking a closer look. It was as though the thin mask he had always worn was suddenly ripped off, leaving him with an expression that showed a complete and total loss.
iana: Lu Yan is a slap upside the head. He's a butt, but he's not all bad. To sort out my feelings towards the guy and other questionable characters, I made up a scale for frustrating characters, from side-eye (1) to disembowelment (7). Yes, this is the nonsense my mind thinks about when I translate, enjoy:)[]1. side-eye: annoying; 2. forehead flick: mildly frustrating; 3. slap upside the head: frustrating, but not a bad person; 4. kick in the shin: extremely frustrating, and has questionable morality; 5. kick in the nuts: a-hole, a grade A one; 6. bullet to the head: committed unspeakable and unforgivable acts; 7. disembowelment: committed such unforgivable horrors that a quick death seems like too good of a punishment *cough* Liu Wei *cough*[]For how small my pool of translated works is, there are far too many 5s, 6s and 7s... []Anyhow, the old folks took it better than expected, and Xiao Ning is still Xiao Ning.
◈◇◈
Lu Yan then thought some more until he finally fell asleep.
While lying on his back, Lu Yan felt so depressed it seemed as though there was no new height such a feeling could reach. He huffed as he thought in anger: What the hell is so good about that man, anyhow? Isn't he just a playboy? I can't even imagine just how much Xiao Ning's going suffer under him given his personality, would he hurt him?
Lu Yan pulled out the red envelope Xiao Ning had prepared for them.
Afterwards, he then had the idea, that men were better than women and compared to them weren't difficult to deal with.
But now, this was no longer the case, as he now had a line—a line he refused to cross over, and that line was Shan Haiming.
There were simply too many, all blowing against him like a distant wind, all roaring past him so swiftly he couldn't hold on to any of them.
Like Wind
So in the end, this was all Xiao Ning could say.
"Lu Yan, this friendship of ours has lasted for many years, and the last thing I want to have a falling out with you," Xiao Ning's smile as he said this, faded after saying this, his face now warped into one that was extremely grave, "So I hope you won't ever say such disparaging things about my lover again. You do not know him, you don't know the kind of person he is, so it is highly irresponsible of you to be saying these kinds of things."
What's so good about men, anyway!
But now, this was no longer the case, as he now had a line—a line he refused to cross over, and that line was Shan Haiming.
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
If it were just him, compromising—giving in—for Xiao Ning would be something he could do with ease, because he would've been all alone, with one beside him. So as long as he made the only people who treated him well happy, there was no compromise he was unwilling to do.
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
Whatever they were fighting about was something he had long forgotten, but the gist of it was there were words said and the campus beauty slapped him clear across. She then grabbed her purse and walked out, and afterwards, the guys around LuYan talked him down. Lu Yan couldn't lose his temper in front of so many people, so his only recourse was to drown his anger in drink after drink after drink, and when he looked around, only he was left. Lu Yan drank so much he was hunched over at the door of the bar, unable to walk a step. His head was spinning like mad, and his phone rang incessantly. For a long time, he remained like this until he managed to answer the call in a daze. He heard Xiao Ning, he said: "Xiao Ning, I'm not feeling too good." Then afterwards he spilled everything in his guts.
What good does a man even have? Lu Yan soon forgot what it was he had even found so good in men to begin with. Now staring out of the window, with its curtains undrawn, from the depths of the darkness he saw a rising dawn. Then, in a haze, a forgotten memory was suddenly recalled.
The words he wanted to say, the ones resting at the tip of his tongue, slid back down his gullet as if the very act of voicing them was unbearable. LuYan knew the answer to his question without having to ask it, after all, was there anyone who understood Xiao Ning's illness better than him?
It was his first year at university, and the new school beauty had chased after him, so of course a golden boy like him and a beauty like her had become a golden couple by falling in love. But people like them, who were not only beautiful but popular too, were naturally spoiled a bunch while growing up. So while holding back their tempers, for the first few days, things were sweet as can be. But, in the end, all good things come to an end, and two had their first falling out in a bar at a party.
"Mom, I'll go see Xiao Ning out." Lu Yan then unexpectedly turned and ran off, leaving his mother, who was just about to speak, standing there as she watched him follow Xiao Ning out the door.
It was his first year at university, and the new school beauty had chased after him, so of course a golden boy like him and a beauty like her had become a golden couple by falling in love. But people like them, who were not only beautiful but popular too, were naturally spoiled a bunch while growing up. So while holding back their tempers, for the first few days, things were sweet as can be. But, in the end, all good things come to an end, and two had their first falling out in a bar at a party.
"But—" Chen Shuyun's brows knitted tightly, "A man? The one dating Xiao Ning is a man? How... how is that even possible?"
That's that.
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
N/A
An embarrassed look now marred his face, as though he was put in a tight spot. But even when Xiao Ning was embarrassed like this, he still made others feel kind and warm. It was the kind of temperament that a person didn't know just how to describe.
Whatever they were fighting about was something he had long forgotten, but the gist of it was there were words said and the campus beauty slapped him clear across. She then grabbed her purse and walked out, and afterwards, the guys around LuYan talked him down. Lu Yan couldn't lose his temper in front of so many people, so his only recourse was to drown his anger in drink after drink after drink, and when he looked around, only he was left. Lu Yan drank so much he was hunched over at the door of the bar, unable to walk a step. His head was spinning like mad, and his phone rang incessantly. For a long time, he remained like this until he managed to answer the call in a daze. He heard Xiao Ning, he said: "Xiao Ning, I'm not feeling too good." Then afterwards he spilled everything in his guts.
But that guy only then went on to impatiently press the elevator button after saying what he said and clicking his tongue, so now there was only the clicks from his poking. "Who do you think we are to each other, huh? My business is yours and your business is mine. Anyway, I already let everything slip, so saying a few more words should be alright, yeah? Just don't blame me, alright? Anyhow, I still hate that Shan Haiming guy, but you can just go do whatever you want, and whatever. Urgh, why the f-ck isn't this thing here already!"
There were simply too many, all blowing against him like a distant wind, all roaring past him so swiftly he couldn't hold on to any of them.
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
Even after vomiting, he didn't feel one bit better, he stayed just like this, growing like a mushroom on that sidewalk, until Xiao Ning jumped the wall at his dormitory and searched every bar one by one until he found him, then took that mushroom he was to a hotel. That night Lu Yan had tossed around so much that he couldn't remember a thing clearly, it was not a habit of his to lose his memories after passing out drunk. But all his muddled mind recalled from that night was himself yelling about feeling uncomfortable, then thirsty, then hot; and Xiao Ning taking care of him without bearing a grudge. He kept asking him where he felt uncomfortable, and, as though he was afraid of causing him any more discomfort, Xiao Ning's voice, like his movements, was low, gentle and soft.
Lu Yan frowned, the strength in his grasp increasing. "Why won't you listen to me? Xiao Ning, I know that Shan Haiming guy. He's just some irresponsible playboy of a young master who went overseas to gain prestige only to come back and play around with his parent's money. Now he's got his hooks in you, so no matter what he's telling you, a leopard will never change its spots. And when his true nature gets revealed, the one who's going to suffer the most from it when that happens is just you!"
It was then that Lu Yan thought that this friend of his was wonderful, but that Xiao Ning had always been especially great.
Lu Yan was amazed at all these things he had once taken for granted were now especially clear. They were all things that weren't of any special significance, so they were discarded without thought at the time, but now when he sees them, they had strangely become ever the more distinct.
Lu Yan didn't need to ask what was in the envelope to know what was in it. Before, after Xiao Ning had paid off the money his family had given to sponsor him, that guy had been gifting the Lu's a red envelope every time he visited. It wasn't much, just a couple thousand yuan or three, the intention behind it being to show his filial piety and nothing more. If it was like before, he would've just left it at their house secretly, but the day's unforeseen events had made such a thing currently impossible.
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
"It's not..." Chen Shuyun hesitantly stood at her son's bedside. "Um, tonight at dinner, you said Xiao Ning's girlfriend... was a man, yes? What does that mean? What did you mean by that?"
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
Afterwards, he then had the idea, that men were better than women and compared to them weren't difficult to deal with.
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." Xiao Ning thought for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, "Since you already told them, then that's that."
But Chen Shuyun looked him over, still very much in shock, and then continued speaking, "Xiao Ning likes men, so won't you be influenced? When did he even start? Oh god..."
"So even if my parents cut ties with you from now on, will that not matter to you either?"
After that...
Upon seeing it, Chen Shuyun's expression got quite complex, as it was true that Xiao Ning's relationship with the Lu's was quite close. They had often received these red envelopes from Xiao Ning, and would just as often ask LuYan to secretly make up for it, so with the money circling between them, it wasn't like any of it or anyone was at a loss, so their relationship was good. But if they had refused to receive it this time, it would be too obvious it was deliberate, along with the reason behind it.
What happened after that again? After that, he tried going out with a boy who looked like a girl, and that was it...
"We'll talk again later, you just get some sleep first. I want you in high spirits when you go see that girl tomorrow, you hear?" Although Xiao Ning was the child she and her husband were very fond of, in the end, her own son's marriage was her highest priority. So Chen Shuyun did nothing more to disturb her son and left his room right after that.
"Why don't you want to go, Lu Yan? Why have you been in A-City all this time without even looking for a girlfriend? I've set you up with so many girls before, but every single time all you'd say is that you don't like them." The more Chen Shuyun spoke, the more doubtful she grew. "Lu Yan, you... you can't also..."
For a long time after Xiao Ning left, Lu Yan stood in front of that shut elevator door. What was it he was thinking at that moment? Even he had no idea. And like this, he had remained there until he angrily rubbed his nose then turned and left.
"No." A bitter smile twisted Xiao Ning's lips. "Of course, I hope that Aunty and Uncle can... oh, that's also impossible, isn't it?"
While lying on his back, Lu Yan felt so depressed it seemed as though there was no new height such a feeling could reach. He huffed as he thought in anger: What the hell is so good about that man, anyhow? Isn't he just a playboy? I can't even imagine just how much Xiao Ning's going suffer under him given his personality, would he hurt him?
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
"My parents will never accept this. Do you... you really think something like this is worth it?" Lu Yan's expression was rather strange as he spoke, seeming as though he was on the brink of exploding in laughter, yet it was quite the opposite when taking a closer look. It was as though the thin mask he had always worn was suddenly ripped off, leaving him with an expression that showed a complete and total loss.
Lu Yan then thought some more until he finally fell asleep.
What's so good about men, anyway!
Talk, talk about what? Lu Yan grew even more annoyed. "I already said I'll go on the blind date, so can I please get some sleep now? Oh, and can you also go talk to Dad?"
"What?" Lu Yan saying all this had left Xiao Ning shocked.
Xiao Ning knitted his brows playfully at Lu Yan's jest. "Can you stop cursing me already?"
Xiao Ning knitted his brows playfully at Lu Yan's jest. "Can you stop cursing me already?"
iana: Lu Yan is a slap upside the head. He's a butt, but he's not all bad. To sort out my feelings towards the guy and other questionable characters, I made up a scale for frustrating characters, from side-eye (1) to disembowelment (7). Yes, this is the nonsense my mind thinks about when I translate, enjoy:)[]1. side-eye: annoying; 2. forehead flick: mildly frustrating; 3. slap upside the head: frustrating, but not a bad person; 4. kick in the shin: extremely frustrating, and has questionable morality; 5. kick in the nuts: a-hole, a grade A one; 6. bullet to the head: committed unspeakable and unforgivable acts; 7. disembowelment: committed such unforgivable horrors that a quick death seems like too good of a punishment *cough* Liu Wei *cough*[]For how small my pool of translated works is, there are far too many 5s, 6s and 7s... []Anyhow, the old folks took it better than expected, and Xiao Ning is still Xiao Ning.
"Mom!" Lu Yan roared, flying off the bed, unable to stand it any longer. "Why are you doing all this? Why? Can you just quit being so paranoid already?"
Author's Note:
Notes:
1. side-eye: annoying; 2. forehead flick: mildly frustrating; 3. slap upside the head: frustrating, but not a bad person; 4. kick in the shin: extremely frustrating, and has questionable morality; 5. kick in the nuts: a-hole, a grade A one; 6. bullet to the head: committed unspeakable and unforgivable acts; 7. disembowelment: committed such unforgivable horrors that a quick death seems like too good of a punishment *cough* Liu Wei *cough*
For how small my pool of translated works is, there are far too many 5s, 6s and 7s...
Anyhow, the old folks took it better than expected, and Xiao Ning is still {Xiao} Ning.
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