What should have been a simple meal for five people turned into a seating arrangement that left Qin Yu speechless.
Lin Ke, of course, sat close to his little darling. Despite cuckolding that guy called Xie Cen, the scene before them showed true love between Lin Ke and his boyfriend.
Under the tablecloth, Lin Ke secretly held his boyfriend’s hand. As luck would have it, Qin Yu, seated in the middle, caught sight of this. They showed no regard for the feelings of the cuckolded brother at all.
That Chu fellow, who came with Xie Cen, sat close to him since they were acquainted.
For some inexplicable reason, all four of them sat far away from Qin Yu, leaving conspicuous empty spaces on both his sides.
It felt like being isolated by the whole world. How lovely.
But Qin Yu was currently focused on his meal, only occasionally looking up to listen to the juicy gossip in their conversation. When his turn came, he’d offer a word or two of explanation. Otherwise, Qin Yu was more like a bystander eating melon seeds at the scene.
It was his first time experiencing immersive melon-eating.
As the conversation progressed, Qin Yu gradually pieced together that this Brother Chu had quite a connection with him. He was the one mentioned when Lin Hai went to that high-end restaurant.
Haha, an unwanted connection is just bad karma. He also shared some bad karma with this brother called Xie Cen.
“So, he’s your… rented boyfriend?” The man Lin Ke called Chu-dage played the role of a kind, mediating elder at the table.
Who? Everyone knew without saying, silently turning their heads in the same direction.
With a half-cooked steak in his mouth, Qin Yu looked at them bewildered.
?!!
“Yes, I saw some netizens recommending it online, so I tried it out of curiosity,” Lin Ke said, growing increasingly guilty, his head almost dipping under the table.
“I really just filled in random information at the time. After all, in my mind, I never imagined there would be a bottom around 180cm tall,” Lin Ke looked innocently at Qin Yu.
No, brother, you’ve got it all wrong. Is that the point? Hearing Lin Ke’s explanation focus on such an irrelevant detail, Qin Yu nearly fainted.
“I’m not a bottom,” Qin Yu said, already past the point of no return. Since full payment was out of the question, he might as well try to clear his name as much as possible.
But his explanation now seemed so weak and unconvincing. No one would believe it if he said it.
Across half the table, Xie Cen’s eyes met Qin Yu’s, but only for a brief moment before he looked away.
Only the steady Brother Chu heard Qin Yu’s feeble defense.
“If you’re not a bottom, then doesn’t that mean our Ah Cen…” Brother Chu might have felt that saying more would hurt the two young men’s pride, so he cut himself off mid-sentence.
Haha, doesn’t that mean he chatted with another top for a whole week? Except for kissing, this week of online dating was practically indistinguishable from a real relationship.
Qin Yu remained silent at this moment, arms crossed, waiting for what would come next.
It wasn’t that he was impatient with the current situation, but he had realized from the start that this brother called Xie Cen was very clever, positioning himself as an unknowing victim. No matter how awkward things got, people would feel sorry for him.
He just couldn’t get used to this person.
Impressive, truly impressive.
“Ahem,” Brother Chu coughed twice, breaking the awkward atmosphere. Clearly, pursuing this topic further would risk reopening wounds, so he abruptly changed the subject.
“So, Lin Ke, you’re saying you want me to speak to Mr.1老爷子 (lǎo yé zi) – my (your etc) old father / polite appellation for an elderly male Lin on your behalf, to help you unilaterally break off the engagement?”
Lin Ke nodded, unconsciously tightening his grip on his lover’s hand.
“Although this marriage arrangement came about in a bizarre way, you should still ask for Ah Cen’s opinion. There are countless methods; you shouldn’t have resorted to deception,” Brother Chu said, rubbing his temples in frustration.
Oh ho, the melon-eating Qin Yu on the sidelines got kicked again.
Given the current situation, following this line of thought, Qin Yu might end up being seen as an accomplice or even the mastermind in an online scam.
Qin Yu: Haha.
“Moreover, Ah Cen just returned from abroad after seven years. You two grew up together, there’s sentiment there. You should at least meet each other properly,” Brother Chu added.
“I’ll go back home and talk to the elders about your situation. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time those old men made outrageous claims while drinking. Out of respect for the older generation, we should maintain some of the dignity of the former head of the family,” Brother Chu said as he stood up, reaching for the black jacket draped over his chair back. He continued advising as he adjusted his clothes.
“I have some other business in C City, so I’ll be going now. Call me if there’s any urgent matter.”
“Also,” the understanding Brother Chu patted both Xie Cen and Qin Yu on the shoulder before leaving. Standing in the aisle between them, it wasn’t crowded at all.
They both looked up at him simultaneously. Xie Cen’s face was expressionless, making it hard to discern any emotion, while Qin Yu wore his feelings on his face, still looking somewhat confused after hearing all the gossip.
“Well, you two sort out your own matters. You’re young; it’s okay to make mistakes. When I was your age, I made all sorts of mistakes.”
“Misunderstandings can be cleared up. Have a good talk, alright? Don’t ruin the harmony between you.”
Brother Chu was indeed a man who had navigated society for many years. His words were smooth and impeccable, providing both parties with a graceful way out before he left.
As his last foot stepped out of the private room, followed by the muffled sound of the closing door, the four remaining people seemed to lose their anchor, sinking back into an endless awkwardness.
“Um, Cen-ge, we’ll be going now,” Lin Ke said, rising from his seat. He still didn’t dare to look at Xie Cen, but his hand was firmly interlocked with his darling’s, showing their deep affection.
“Mm, be careful on your way,” Xie Cen said in a deep voice.
After the couple left, an even more awkward moment arrived. Now only Qin Yu and Xie Cen remained in the room, wanting to have a proper talk but not knowing how to begin.
First, the issue of how to address each other became a problem.
Online, Qin Yu was used to calling him “bro,” but that was just casual. Thinking about it now, they had chatted for a week, yet their messages never included any form of address.
He couldn’t call him “bro” offline now, given their online dating experience. It would be too awkward.
After much contemplation, Qin Yu finally found a suitable form of address in his mind.
“Hello, Mr. Xie2先生 (xiān sheng) – teacher / gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) / husband. My surname is Qin, given name Yu. The Qin of Qin State, the Yu of Xun Yu3荀彧 (Xún Yù) – Xun Yu (163-212), brilliant strategist, advisor of Cao Cao in Three Kingdoms.”
The other party, perhaps copying his standard answer, replied similarly.
“Hello, Mr. Qin. My name is Xie Cen. The Cen meaning ‘yì tái tóng cén.4异苔同岑 (yì tái tóng cén) – Different mosses grow on the same hill, a Chinese idiom, meaning different kinds of moss grow on the same hill; a metaphor for friends with similar aspirations.‘”
Qin Yu: I hate pretentious people the most.
TL Notes
- 1老爷子 (lǎo yé zi) – my (your etc) old father / polite appellation for an elderly male
- 2先生 (xiān sheng) – teacher / gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) / husband
- 3荀彧 (Xún Yù) – Xun Yu (163-212), brilliant strategist, advisor of Cao Cao in Three Kingdoms
- 4异苔同岑 (yì tái tóng cén) – Different mosses grow on the same hill, a Chinese idiom, meaning different kinds of moss grow on the same hill; a metaphor for friends with similar aspirations.
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