05
Qi Xiu Yuan found a local gay bar online. Although, the city was considered to be a second-tier city, but because of the open-minded atmosphere, there were four to five well-known locations.
After secretly noting down the addresses, Qi Xiu Yuan got ready to explore each location, one by one. He was not prepared to go with Xiao Li yet, mainly due to the fact that there were mixtures of people (characters) there. Therefore, if Xiao Li were to go and notice that the people there were questionable, and the environment was poor, Qi Xiu Yuan feared he will refuse to go out with him the next time.
On the first day, he went to a nightclub near the station. When he entered, he immediately discovered that it was a low-level place where people were only there for sexual pleasure. In the dim light, there were exposed women and men, flirtatious yet pretty-looking transvestites, secretive exchange of drugs, waiters with ill-intents and many more. All of that made him rather uncomfortable, and he quickly left after less than five minutes.
The second day, the place had very stylish decors but there were many MB (Money boy) lingering around. Qi Xiu Yuan had only sat in front of the bar for less than half an hour, and already, five individuals had immediately come to him to ask if he wanted to do it...someone had even placed their hand directly on him, touching him here and there; with just a step forward, that person's body would have pressed against his. Qi Xiu Yuan instantly avoided him and fled out of there at the speed of light.
The third day, the placed had a much formal atmosphere. The lighting was comfortable, the environment was elegant, the waiters were quite qualified, and the guests that came in were very polite and kind. Qi Xiu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. After having ordered some drinks, he chatted with the bartender for a couple of minutes and asked some questions about the bar. Then he refused the bartender's kind intention of introducing a good man to him.
"I have a boyfriend," he said with a smile.
"Then how much you are alone? Is it only to drink?" The bartender looked at him meaningfully.
"Why do you doubt me like that, huh?" Qi Xiu Yuan answered, exposing a bright smile. "Then I'll bring him tomorrow, and you will know."
06
On the first day, Qi Xiu Yuan said his colleagues will be holding a formal dinner which will cause him to return late, so Xiao Li ate alone.
That day, he actually did not come back too late which made Xiao Li became keenly aware that something was wrong.
He had spent more than ten years in the underworld—and for one third of the time—he spent it helping Han Jia in at his venue (ex. Jin Ting). He was very familiar with details of nearly every entertainment place. He could practically sense everything that had to do with those kinds of places...the smell of the environment, the lighting, music, charming laughter, and taste of high-grade alcohol mixed in together on Qi Xiu Yuan's body.
"Where did you guys go for dinner?" He hesitated for a moment but still asked.
"Ah, we went to eat hot pot." Qi Xiu Yuan quickly answered; a bit too quickly. Then he moved close to Xiao Li's side and settled the account (of the things that were sold at their stationery ship today). "Xiao Li, your characters are really beautiful. Have you practiced before?"
"When I was a kid, a desolate painter lived near my house. I learned to write with him." Xiao Li replied.
"No wonder," Qi Xiu Yuan said then kissed Xiao Li's hand that was holding the pen.
Xiao Li couldn't help but to smile spontaneously.
Even if everything is suspicious...this man is trustworthy. He thought.
On the second day, Qi Xiu Yuan said that his colleagues would like to treat him to dinner, so Xiao Li ate alone again. When he came back somewhat later that day, the smell of 'that kind of place' was even stronger on his body. Just as he went to take a bath, Xiao Li took his jacket and was about to put it in the hamper when he found golden powders shimmering on it.
Xiao Li has seen that kind of powder before. When Han Jia was younger, he would put it on his cheeks and collarbone before he went on the stage to seduce men.
Feeling strange, Xiao Li's brows wrinkled into a frown. He threw the jacket to the side, walked toward front of the bathroom door and knocked. Then he directly asked, "Qi Xiu Yuan, what did you eat this evening?"
"Just a simple home-cooked meal at my colleague's house," Qi Xiu Yuan answered with just that as his voice mixed in with the sound of the running water.
Xiao Li leaned against the wall outside the bathroom without saying anything else.
On the third day, when Xiao Li had his back to the door and was putting away a box of paint brushes on the mantle next to the check-out, the sounds of a high heels meeting the ground, 'ta-ta-ta', came from behind him.
"Excuse me, err, is Li Xiao here?" A clear voice sounded.Xiao Li leaned to the side and saw a tall, thin, young person with bright and sexy clothes on, standing behind him. The person was wearing high heels, had a scarf around his neck and his voice did not differentiate male from female. If the person were to walk down the street, the majority of people would undeniably think that he was a fashionable young girl.
Those people do not include Xiao Li.
He just glanced at that person and said faintly said, "What?"
In just seconds, the visitor was irritated by his indifference which caused his voice to also become cold and full of anger. "I'm looking for Li Xiao. Hey, he gave me this business card, so I came here to find him." He looked around and revealed Da disdainful expression, "Oh, the card says it a cultural stationery company, but it's actually just a small broken place."
Xiao Li frowned, turned around and approached him, "What business card?"
When the visitor saw him clearly beneath the sunlight, both his eyes brightened up as he stared at him without looking away. He didn't even care when Xiao Li took the business card from him. Xiao Li looked at the business card and remembered—when the small stationery shop opened its door for the first time—Qi Xiu Yuan had sold a large number of stationeries to his cram school for the sake of conveniently contacting Xiao Li. He also specially assisted Xiao Li in printing a very deceptive business card.
"He told you that his name was Li Xiao?" Xiao Li lifted his eyes to ask.
"Aiya! Since the card was given to me, how can it be fake?" The visitor grumbled, and then added with dissatisfaction, "I even thought I was a dependable man and eagerly came here but really!! Making that kind of card but as it turns out, they're just pretending to be a boss, trying to fish someone!"
He stomped his feet and turned around to leave but hesitated for a moment before turning back to look at Xiao Li and smiled. "Umm, hey handsome, you know we've also been brought together by fate. Do you have a business card to give me?"
Xiao Li had been staring at him the entire time, and suddenly approached him when he saw him turn around. He reached out to rub the side of the person's collar then pulled his hand back for a look. His index and middle finger were covered with a trace of light golden shimmering powder.
Flushed with excitement by his action, the visitor took a step closer to him with brightened eyes.
Xiao Li stretched his hand to grab his chin, slightly frowned and carefully observed the person's face with a complicated and meaningful gaze.
Having him looking at him like that, the young man staring, could feel his own feet softening. He slowly closed his eyes and leaned toward Xiao Li.
A second later, the hand on the chin was tightened and he was forcefully pushed away, taking a few stumbling steps back before he could stand properly.
"Hey! You—" he shouted, unable to accept the result.
"I don't have a business card. You can go." Xiao Li said coldly.
The young man wanted to say something else but was completely shut down by the callousness in Xiao Li's eyes. He mumbled a few curse words to himself then angrily left.
Xiao Li looked at his back, lost in his own thoughts.
Before dinner, he received a call from Qi Xiu Yuan just as he had expected.
"I have to return the hospitality toward the colleague that invited me yesterday. I'll be home later. Don't forget to eat."
Xiao Li went silent for two seconds then said, "Okay."
He hung up the call and stared at the phone for a moment, feeling as if there was some sort of emotion riling in his chest.
He was very familiar with that kind of emotion. When Zhang Juan Juan had first met him and told him that she was Du Yan San Ge's granddaughter, his chest was also filled with such emotions.
Anger, the kind of anger he never felt before...it was the feeling that he has been betrayed and deceived by the most unlikely of person.
At that time, he held that kind of anger and disbelief in him as he went to find Qi Xiu Yuan...and used his fist and gun to teach him a lesson by beating him black and blue.
He did not realize back then; how angry and violent he had been. It was because Qi Xiu Yuan was very important to him at that time.
Qi Xiu Yuan, Qi Xiu Yuan, Qi Xiu Yuan.
Xiao Li silently repeated that name, feeling like he has never ever been so distressed and annoyed since he was born.
The last time was because you had difficulties, what is it this time?
—
QXY looked what you did!! Your bae is extremely jealous but he doesn't even know it and replacing it with anger instead since he doesn't know what being sour is!!! Fix it, please :))
Vote: Do you want Part 8 split up?
It's really really really long and will definitely take longer than a week (if it's not split) I swear I need a break afterward T.T my brain has been hurting a lot, too much translating.