Chapter 2: Xi Xingling
Settling into Han Yubai’s luxury car, Li Dong zoned out for a moment.
He thought about how he had worked hard for years and could only afford a beat-up Civic. Meanwhile, this deranged supporting character from an online novel got the winner’s package with a few flicks of the author’s wrist. Whatever he wanted, he had.
Li Dong felt a surge of jealousy wash over him.
Even intimate matters in the bedroom had people caring about them, worried he wouldn’t find an outlet. This was the real difference between people.
That’s the dif-fer-ence between people.
“Where do you want to eat?” Li Dong slanted a look at the male lead and said, “Recommend a good place. If it’s bad, I’ll hold you responsible.” Without noticing, he had already slipped into the persona’s tone. Threatening people without any hesitation
Away from Han Tianlin, Xi Xingling gradually returned to normal, though he was still a little afraid of Li Dong. He tested the waters. “What kind of cuisine does Second Young Master usually like? Japanese? Korean? Or French?” He came from a middle-class family with both parents university professors and had grown up locally, so he knew the city well.
“Chinese.”
So Xi Xingling thought hard and offered the name of a restaurant at a well-known hotel nearby. He figured Second Young Master had gone often. “I think it’s pretty good. I hope it suits your taste.
This guy was so clueless, completely unbothered by the fact that he’d just been slapped twice across the face. That vivid, shameless energy left Li Dong at a loss for words.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-three. I’m a designer, graduated from K University.”
Once he was asked, Xi Xingling kept talking on his own. His eyes never left Li Dong and even seemed to shine.
“Ever had a boyfriend?” Li Dong asked.
“No.” The male lead hurried to add, “Don’t judge me by how flirty I look. I’m actually a virgin.” He had never liked anyone his whole life, except Han Tianlin.
Too bad the other party was straight and looked down on him.
Thinking of that, Xi Xingling sighed quietly. His fate was bitter.
“A virgin?” That was rare. The author clearly had a thing for virgin protagonists.
“Yeah. I haven’t even had my first kiss. I don’t mess around,” Xi Xingling said, blinking at Li Dong. He desperately wished Second Young Master would take a liking to him so he could have more chances to see Han Tianlin.
Besides, the second young master looked so much like his older brother. Sleeping with the second young master wouldn’t be a loss.
“Do you like men or women?” Li Dong kept going.
“Men, of course. I think I used to like girls, but in college my roommate turned me. He’s a pure gay, a bottom…” Xi Xingling rattled on like beans spilling from a bamboo tube. “You know how it is. There are a lot of gays in design.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“He would watch GV in the dorm, call his boyfriend, go out and hook up…” Xi Xingling ticked off the roommate’s habits on his fingers. The concept of privacy barely existed for him. Right, someone willing to lay down his life hardly worried about privacy.“He has a boyfriend and still hooks up? Not afraid of getting AIDS?” Li Dong lifted a brow. He hated the ones who slept around. It was people like that who made the name of gay men stink. “What about you? Ever think about hooking up?”
“Of course not.” Xi Xingling shook his head, blunt as ever. “I like the Eldest Young Master…” He was afraid that would anger Second Young Master and regretted it as soon as he said it, clamping his mouth shut.
Li Dong knew, but he had asked on purpose. “Not hooking up is good. Saves you from worry and fear.” He himself had been single for thirty years without a fling because he was wary of those high-society debutantes who acted pure and played dirty.
And in a second- or third-tier city, gay men hid deep. Finding someone suitable wasn’t easy.
After just a few exchanges, Xi Xingling kept sneaking looks at him, a small probe in his gaze.
“Why are you looking at me?” Li Dong teased. “Think I’m handsome?”
He hadn’t checked a mirror yet, so he didn’t know if Han Yubai’s face was truly ravishing.
Xi Xingling smiled like a blooming flower. Since Second Young Master’s temper seemed so good, he nodded. “You’re very handsome, better looking than any celebrity.”
He did look sixty or seventy percent like Han Tianlin, with features more refined than the older brother’s rougher edges.
So when Xi Xingling faced Second Young Master Han’s appearance, he felt like he was facing Han Tianlian. He was secretly enjoying this sensation.
Li Dong had no idea. He thought Xi Xingling was just praising him.
They got out of the car, Li Dong’s arm around the fresh-faced young man, and headed for the restaurant. A hostess with a stunning face and curves to match came up at once. Clearly a familiar. “Second Young Master, you’re here~~”
One glance at Li Dong’s arm around a man and she looked ready to cry.
They had hoped to recommend themselves to Second Young Master’s bed. Who knew he was bent?
“All right, we’re here to eat.” Li Dong waved the hostess away. He was bent too and had no interest in the butterflies who just wanted to climb into bed.
Smiling with crescent eyes, Xi Xingling nestled in his hold. Just looking at Li Dong’s face made him content. Resistance didn’t even occur to him.
He only learned he looked like Han Tianlin when Li Dong went to the restroom.
“Tsk…” Thinking of Xi Xingling’s feverish enthusiasm, he felt it was the height of irony and, honestly, a little hopeless. A fine young man with a bright future, and this was where he chose to throw himself.
Before the dishes came, Li Dong stepped into the smoking area and lit up.
He didn’t smoke much. When busy, he could go a whole day without one. Only when he was upset did he crave it.
But Han Yubai’s cigarettes were very mild, basically a prop. Li Dong found them completely unsuitable. He preferred the ten-yuan Hong Shuangxi, cheap and satisfying.While he was gone, Xi Xingling sat alone.
Food arrived dish after dish, but Li Dong still hadn’t returned. He kept glancing toward the restrooms, a bit uneasy.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Li Dong passed behind him, bringing a faint whiff of smoke that Xi Xingling’s sharp nose caught.
“It’s fine. They just finished bringing the food.” Once more, Xi Xingling felt flattered. Second Young Master had such good manners. He was even gentlemanly.
Which made him think of Han Tianlin, the man who slapped him at the drop of a hat. It hurt, but Xi Xingling still felt Han Tianlin was more manly.
A man should have a bit of temper.
“When you get home, ice your face right away. That handprint is really an eyesore.” Li Dong looked at him and deliberately emphasized “handprint” to see if Xi Xingling would get upset.
“Okay. Don’t worry. The swelling will go down by tomorrow.” Xi Xingling covered his face, then gazed at Li Dong with tender eyes, as if he could see his beloved man through Li Dong. “I don’t blame Young Master for hitting me. I said the wrong thing.”
His expression was quite melancholy, but anyone could tell he was hurting and happy at once, secretly thrilled.
Li Dong had braced himself, yet still felt like coughing blood.
All right. He had now met a doormat like this in real life.
“Eat.” He picked up his chopsticks, temporarily not in the mood to look at Xi Xingling's lovestruck face.
Realizing he had overplayed it, Xi Xingling reined himself in and ate properly. “Second Young Master, are we still going to the hotel after this?” He wondered if Li Dong disliked his face and didn’t want to go anymore.
“We’ll see after we eat. Don’t bother me while I’m eating,” Li Dong said sharply.
“Oh.” Obedient as ever, Xi Xingling still couldn’t help throwing glances at him from under his lashes.
He then noticed that eating with Second Young Master felt relaxed, like eating with a friend. There was no pressure at all.
After dinner, Li Dong drove him back to his apartment.
He parked downstairs and said lazily, “Head up on your own. Remember the ice.”
“Second Young Master?” Xi Xingling was surprised. “You’re not coming up?” There was a touch of anxiety between his brows, and he didn’t get out.
“Hey, it’s late.” Li Dong checked his watch. It was already eleven. By the time he got back, it would be close to midnight. “Don’t you have work tomorrow?”
“I don’t start until ten.” Plenty of time.
Li Dong felt the other person was afraid he would run. “Go up and do what? Do you?” His tone, though, said he wasn’t interested.
Xi Xingling got even more anxious. If Second Young Master didn’t want him, he might never get another chance to appear in front of Han Tianlin.
“Young Master told me to serve you well…” His pale hand, timid but blatant, settled on Li Dong’s thigh, a clear invitation.
Li Dong glanced down and sighed. “I really don’t feel like moving. If you want to serve me, do it here.” He made a show of undoing his belt, half real, half bluff, hoping to scare him off.
Instead, the other removed his hand and took over.
The eagerness made chill creep up Li Dong’s spine. Somehow, he just couldn’t enjoy it.
Xi Xingling really had watched a lot. The only word for his posture was “hard-working,” which left Li Dong with complicated feelings.
Li Dong nearly bit his tongue. For a so-called first time, the idiot male lead was too good at this. It didn’t feel like a first time at all.
While Xi Xingling worked under his line of sight, Li Dong could only stare out the window and pretend nothing was happening, though it was a bit hard.
Then Li Dong suddenly remembered something. He hadn’t even kissed that pretty mouth and here it was already…
“That’s enough.” After a while, he tightened his hand in Xi Xingling’s hair and lifted his head.
Xi Xingling, quick on the uptake, pulled out some tissues. Not for himself, but for Li Dong.
He carefully tidied Li Dong up first, then took a tissue for himself. “Second Young Master,” he said with a fawning smile, as if asking whether the service was satisfactory.
Cold as ice after the fact, Li Dong fished out a small bottle of mineral water and tossed it to him. “Get out.”
“Thank you, Second Young Master.” Xi Xingling looked at him hopefully, wanting him to put in a good word with Han Tianlin. But Li Dong’s blank face made him hesitate, so he didn’t ask. “Can I have your number?” He was really afraid Li Dong would leave and never contact him again.
Li Dong rummaged by the console, found a business card, and flicked it over. “Contact me yourself.”
“Okay.” With the number in hand, Xi Xingling finally got out, satisfied. “Drive safely, Second Young Master. Take care.”
He stood downstairs and watched the luxury car speed off, heart hollowed out.
Like every other day, when he couldn’t see Han Tianlin, he missed him so much it ached. Empty, lonely, and cold.
Only when he was with Second Young Master did it ease a little.
Clutching Li Dong’s card, Xi Xingling immediately pulled out his phone to enter the number. He wanted to call at once, but knowing Li Dong was driving, he held back.
Li Dong’s guess was right. It was almost midnight by the time he returned to Han Yubai’s place.
This golden child lived in the very center of the city, in a mansion. Family was important to Han Tianlin, so he insisted on living with his parents and younger brother. They had never separated.
“Back this late again?” The brothers’ mother, Wang Yun, came downstairs in a silk fall robe.
Li Dong hypnotized himself. I am Han Yubai. I am Han Yubai. He repeated it a dozen times and finally managed a perfunctory, “Mom, you’re still up.”
“I already slept and woke,” Wang Yun said tartly, then looked behind him. “Where’s your brother?” The eldest was nowhere in sight.
“He’s still out entertaining clients, talking business,” Li Dong said casually, covering for Han Tianlin as usual.
In truth, right now, Han Tianlin should be enjoying his nightlife.
Before he got entangled with Xi Xingling, he was a pure hedonist. He would try anything, except men.
By contrast, Han Yubai’s private life was clean. No partying with girls, no hookups, and a steadfast devotion to his white-moonlight.
In some ways, Han Yubai and Xi Xingling were the same kind of person.
Both would walk straight into a dead end for love. Li Dong didn’t want to use a term as harsh as “idiot,” but it was hard not to.
“Business, business every day. When is he going to bring me a daughter-in-law?” Wang Yun muttered. “Just like your father. All they know is playing around with women outside.”
Li Dong sighed. A family like this was sad in its own way.
“Mom, go to bed. If you miss your beauty sleep, you’ll get wrinkles.” In truth, Wang Yun took great care of herself. Her face didn’t look anywhere near fifty.
As for the philandering husband, Wang Yun had long made peace with it. They each did their own thing now.
The difference was that Wang Yun kept hers discreet, while Han Yubai’s father flaunted his.
“You’re right. You’re grown and don’t listen. My worrying won’t help.” Even so, she felt her younger son was different tonight. He actually had the patience to stand here and talk. “What is it? Short on cash again?”
Since graduating, Han Yubai had basically done nothing for almost two years. He was twenty-four and still spent his days eating, drinking, and having fun.
When he ran out of money, he asked his brother or his parents.
Usually Han Tianlin funded him. Wang Yun would occasionally give him some as well.
“I’m fine. I’m not short on cash.”
“Then you’re eyeing a new car?” She didn’t believe her son was that simple.
“No. Stop guessing.” Li Dong finally let some of Han Yubai’s usual impatience show. “I’m going to my room. Sleep if you want.”
Wang Yun studied him. That sounded like the son she knew.
His phone buzzed on the bed. Li Dong took a hot shower, wrapped a towel around his waist, and came out.
Seeing an unfamiliar number, he immediately thought of Xi Xingling’s pretty face. He picked up. “Who is it?”
“Second Young Master, it’s me,” said Xi Xingling. He had only wanted to let Li Dong’s phone ring once but hadn’t expected him to answer so fast. “Sorry to call so late.” He was both apologetic and happy. Lying in bed, lonely and restless, he couldn’t sleep at all.
“You know it’s late and you still called?” Li Dong sat on the edge of the bed, towel-drying his hair.
“Are you busy right now?” Xi Xingling wanted to talk but was afraid of making Li Dong angry. The contradiction worked him up. “Then I won’t bother you. Good night?” Would Li Dong keep talking to him?
Li Dong ignored the idiot male lead and hung up.
“What a piece of work.” He muttered, tossed the phone on the nightstand, and went to sleep.
As a typical civil servant, Li Dong had cultivated the habit of early to bed and early to rise. His routine was so regular it scared people. Going to sleep after midnight felt downright inhuman to him.
The next day wasn’t a weekend.
Even so, he had no idea why he got up so early.
He woke to a strange world and, oddly, felt no panic, only confusion. How could this have happened?
Was his real self still out there?
“Second Young Master, your breakfast.”
The Han household, like old-fashioned families of the past, employed both a chef and a Filipina housekeeper.
“Up so early today?” Wang Yun sat across from her son, gracefully eating her beauty breakfast.
She was the general manager of Han Jewelry Design and spent about half the month at the office.
Today was a workday, so she was up earlier than usual.
“You’re going to work?” Li Dong remembered that Xi Xingling worked under Wang Yun and that she favored him as a promising newcomer.
But Wang Yun had no idea the young man she admired was her sons’ plaything.
When Li Dong asked to go to the company for a look, Wang Yun was shocked. She almost choked on her soy milk.
“You want to come with me to the office? You’re thinking of starting work?” That would be wonderful. She’d love for Han Yubai to take on some family business.
“We’ll see.” Li Dong didn’t commit. Whether he would work or not could be decided later.
“You studied finance. Why go to the design company? You should follow your brother…” Wang Yun began.
“I said I’m just having a look. Don’t act like I’ve decided to start at the design company,” Li Dong said, in exactly the tone Han Yubai usually used with her.
“Fine, fine.” Seeing her indulgence, Li Dong finally understood how the younger son had grown so arrogant. It was his mother’s and brother’s pampering.
Han Jewelry, 28th floor of Tianxing Tower.
Designers who worked there were the best of the best, or exceptionally gifted newcomers with outstanding records in school who were recruited on special terms.
Xi Xingling was the latter. He had won awards before graduating. With his striking looks and gentle temperament, he was popular with teachers, who opened quite a few doors for him.
He got into Han Jewelry’s design department through a professor’s recommendation.
That professor had some connection with Wang Yun and quickly helped secure him an interview.
After seeing Xi Xingling’s portfolio and meeting him in person, Wang Yun accepted him into her team on the spot.
“What do you want to see? Do you want me to show you around?” Wang Yun had been on leave for a few days and actually had a lot on her plate, but for her son she was willing to set it aside.
“No need. Go work. I’ll just wander.” Li Dong’s appearance quickly stirred up the design department.
He was Han’s second young master. The news raced through the company.
When Xi Xingling saw him, his coffee cup slipped from his hand and shattered at his feet. It wasn’t shock. It was joy.
“Second Young Master?” Ever since last night’s, ahem, oral sex in the car, Xi Xingling had been fixated on Second Young Master’s taste. He wished the swelling would fade fast so he could go find him and offer himself up.
“How careless.” Li Dong walked over and stopped at the mess. “Where’s the cleaning lady? Come tidy this up.”
Actually, when the cup shattered, someone had already gone to call the janitor. Not for Xi Xingling’s sake, but to make a good impression on the second young master.
At the same time, they felt sorry for Xi Xingling. Looked like he would leave a bad impression.
“Check the floor carefully. Don’t leave glass shards,” Li Dong said patiently, standing to the side and reminding the cleaner.
The sight made Xi Xingling’s little heart tremble. He couldn’t tear his eyes away, as if he were looking at Han Tianlin.
“El… Second Young Master…” He secretly pinched his palm to keep his mouth in check.
He didn’t want to show his feelings for Han Tianlin in front of Second Young Master. Even if the latter seemed good-tempered, it wasn’t appropriate.
“Standing there in a daze? Go wash your shoes in the restroom,” Li Dong said. The idiot male lead had coffee on his shoes and on his pants.
“It’s fine. I’ll wipe them with a wet tissue.” Xi Xingling didn’t care about his white sneakers. All his attention was on Li Dong. “What brings you to the company?”
And he didn’t seem surprised at all that Xi Xingling worked there. Did he already know?
His imagination ran wild. Could it be that Second Young Master had some interest in him?
Was it because he had served him well in the car?
“Do I need a reason?” Li Dong arched a brow. He had no intention of lingering to chat. A high-end place like Han Jewelry’s design department was new to him. He really was curious to look around.
Seeing him leave, Xi Xingling followed without hesitation. “Second Young Master, wait for me.”
In some ways, he was very proactive. Say the word and he would show up. One wrong line and he would be unbuttoning a man’s waistband.
Li Dong noticed him trailing along and didn’t stop him. “How long have you been here?”
“Two months. I’m still an intern.” From the left and slightly behind, Xi Xingling devoured him with his eyes. Even if the resemblance was only sixty or seventy percent, he was intoxicated and couldn’t bear to look away.
“Is money tight?” Li Dong remembered he came from a modest family. His parents lived on campus and he rented his own place.
The place from last night wasn’t in the most bustling part of town, but the rent couldn’t be cheap.
“It’s okay for now. Once I’m permanent, I’ll get a raise.” He was counting the days to his contract. Otherwise, cost of living was too high and he was dipping into his savings.
He was surprised that Second Young Master cared about his situation. It was nothing like the rumors.
“Oh.” Li Dong was just making conversation. In a glass reflection, he saw the way Xi Xingling stared fixedly at him. The intensity was annoying. “Enough. Get back to work. Stop following me.”
“I can show you around and explain…”
“No.” Li Dong rolled his eyes. “This is my family’s company. You think I need you to explain it to me?”
Color rose in Xi Xingling’s cheeks. He had only said that because colleagues whispered that Second Young Master had never come to this branch.
“You look normal today,” Li Dong said, giving him a once-over. In a design department without a strict dress code, most people dressed casual and stylish. “Not like last night, when you looked like you were for sale.”
The shirt and pants had been cut to threads, holes here and there.
Call it fashion if you were being kind. Otherwise, it was just slutty.
“I don’t dress like that for work,” Xi Xingling said, embarrassed. He had dressed that way especially for Han Tianlin on the advice of his gay roommate, who said men loved visual stimulation. Maybe, seeing him like that, Han Tianlin would pounce.
Just the thought made him itch. He dreamed of Han Tianlin pouncing on him or even himself pouncing on Han Tianlian would work.
He hadn’t pounced on Han Tianlin in the end, but he had on Second Young Master. He was regretful and thrilled all at once.
Besides, it was Han Tianlin’s order. Never mind sending him to serve another man. If Han Tianlin told him to die, he’d go.
“Why are you standing there? Move.”
Racking his brains for an excuse to stick close, Xi Xingling said, “I’ve been sitting a while. I wanted to stretch my legs around the office.”
In short, he looked glued to Li Dong.
Li Dong finally understood a little of why Han Tianlin was always so irritated.
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