Chapter 74 - Model Substitute of the Year
Translated by Eve
Edited by Kara
5. Model Substitute of the Year
Yi Ze looked at the person in his arms and couldn’t help but kiss him again.
He had never kissed Xie He before. He had always just been a plaything who he had bought. He had no interest in playing lovers, doing such gentle actions. Only, he didn’t know why, but he didn’t quite want to let go of the person in his arms today.
Yi Ze pinched Xie He’s chin and gazed at his face. The young man’s face was flushed from shyness. His eyes were watery, and his curled lashes batted. The other softly said, “Shixiong….”
With his beautiful eyes, he looked at Yi Ze with a deep love and single-minded devotion.
Yi Ze’s eyes immediately darkened.
……………………………………………
This time, Yi Ze did not kick Xie He out right away. Xie He also didn’t move and obediently let himself be held. His eyes were half-opened. He didn’t move.
It was just another way of calling him, that’s all…It didn’t matter, ne…so long as Yi Ze was happy….
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
If you cry, Yi Ze will get angry…Don’t make him angry….
Thinking like this, he really didn’t cry.
Actually, so long as he let his mind go blank and didn’t think about anything, pretending that he was an obedient wooden doll, he wouldn’t feel sad at all.
After satiating his lust, Yi Ze’s moodiness from having been rejected by Jian Zihan became a lot better. For once, his tone was soft, “As long as you’re this well-behaved, I will not treat you badly.”
Xie He hummed quietly. His expression was calm.
Yi Ze felt like he should reward Xie He. After all, he had made him happy. Thus, he said, “If you need my assistance, tell my secretary. I will arrange things for you.”
Sadness appeared for a split second within Xie He’s eyes. He shut his eyes in agony.
In Yi Ze’s mind, everything Xie He did was for the sake of money. However, what could he say? They originally had had that kind of relationship.
Xie He was silent for a while before whispering, “Thank you, Yi ge.”
Yi Ze hadn’t noticed the other’s pain at all. He stood up and said, “You can leave now.”
………………………………………
Xie He drove back. Before he had left earlier, he had given the director a call. The director was one of the few who knew that Xie He was being kept, so he very straightforwardly agreed to shoot others’ scenes tomorrow. Even if Xie He couldn’t come back right away, it was fine.
When Xie He returned to the set, it was already noon.
Jian Zihan had been a bit absent-minded since yesterday. Xie He was the only thing on his mind. Why didn’t Xie He come back at night? It couldn’t be that he stayed over at the other’s place? What was their relationship? Since they were so intimate, why did Xie He say that the other didn’t like him?
All sorts of wild thoughts circled within his mind until Xie He returned. However, only anger surged when he saw him!
When Jian Zihan saw Xie He’s neck and the corner of his lips…he understood just what had happened last night!
Xie He also saw Jian Zihan in the corridor. He averted his gaze, ashamed, walking into his room with his head down. However, before he could shut the door, Jian Zihan forced his way in.
Xie He instantly turned nervous and said, “W-what’s up?”
Jian Zihan stared at his neck. It was not easy for him to restrain his jealousy. He calmly said, “You went to see that person, right?”
Xie He didn’t dare to meet with Jian Zihan’s eyes. He pursed his lips and didn’t speak.
Jian Zihan was rather angry and said in a low voice, “Did you tell him that you like him?”
Xie He shook his head, a sliver of grief appearing in his eyes. What happened last night flashed in his mind. How could he confess under those circumstances? He looked up at Jian Zihan. Just as expected, the other’s eyes were warm and caring. Faced with such a person, he couldn’t even conjure up any jealousy. All he felt was admiration…and disdain for himself. Xie He pressed his lips together into a straight line and didn’t respond.
Jian Zihan understood. He suddenly reached out and pressed against the corner of Xie He’s lips with his thumb, speaking in a quiet voice, “I didn’t ask what your relationship with that person was before because I didn’t think that it was important. However, I now realized that I was wrong. It’s very important. Tell me, what is your relationship?”
The colour in Xie He’s face drained away as if the other had caught hold of incriminating information about him. He pushed Jian Zihan away and gave him a cold look, “This doesn’t concern you. I want to rest. Would you please leave?”
Jian Zihan didn’t leave this time, however. He looked at Xie He’s expression and slowly said, “You’re sleeping together.”
These words were like a slap in the face to Xie He. Yi Ze had f*cked him all night, pretending that he was the person in front of him! Now, he had to face said person’s questioning the next day?! He finally could no longer maintain his facade of indifference. His tone became rather sharp, “Yes. Is there a problem?”
Jian Zihan looked at the pain and sorrow in Xie He’s eyes. The other was like a hedgehog, spikes all puffing up. His heart softened, and he eased his tone, “I didn’t mean anything. I just want to help you.”
Xie He shook his head, expression cold, “You can’t help me. You should go, ba.”
Jian Zihan turned around and locked the door. He then took large steps until he had reached Xie He. He looked at him. “I didn’t want to step in before, because this was your choice, and I respect your choice. However…I really don’t think that you loving that person is worth it.”
Xie He was rather angry, “I just said that you shouldn’t meddle in my affairs.”
Jian Zihan pushed him against the wall, hand slamming against the wall by Xie He’s ear. He lowered his head, closing in on Xie He. “You said that the person you like likes someone else. He likes someone else but still sleeps with you, keeping you hanging. This kind of person…what’s worth liking about him?”
Xie He bit his lips, staring at the other. “I’m happy. I’m willing.”
Jian Zihan narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, “Is it because of his money?”
These words immediately upset Xie He. Everyone thought that he was only with Yi Ze because of his money! Why did even Jian Zihan think this!? He glared and said, “No!”
Jian Zihan nodded, not suspecting him in the least, and said, “Since it’s like that, then you must really love him for him.”
Xie He earnestly said, “Yes.”
Jian Zihan said, “If you liked him for his money, I would leave without saying anything more. But if you truly love him, then I think that this person isn’t worthy of your love. You deserve someone better, someone who cares about you, not someone who will sleep with you even though he doesn’t like you. This kind of person has no idea what love is nor will they respect love. You will not be happy with him.”
Xie He looked up at Jian Zihan and retorted, tone not allowing for any rebuttals, “You don’t know anything. No one is more worthy of my love than him in my heart.”
Yi Ze didn’t have to love him, but he would never let anyone slander Yi Ze.
Without Yi Ze, he wouldn’t have had the money for his mother’s treatment. He wouldn’t have been able to send her off peacefully in her last years. He would have ended up like the other boys who had started with him—he would have fallen into an extremely dirty place, humiliated by others. Without Yi Ze, his hard work would have amounted to nothing but a joke, because no one had been willing to give him the chance to stand out…Everything he had today…was in part due to Yi Ze.
His life had changed completely because of Yi Ze. He was willing to spend the rest of his life loving this one person.
Jian Zihan paused. He realized that he would not be able to persuade Xie He. He could only change his words and said, “OK. If he is really worthy of your love, why didn’t you tell him how you felt yesterday?”
Xie He choked.
Jian Zihan sighed, “I just can’t bear to continue watching you waste your time like this. Nothing will happen if you’re like this. Since you like him, you should do your best. Only then will you have no regrets. If there’s no hope, you can give up…It couldn’t be that you really plan on maintaining such an obscure relationship with this person for the rest of your life? Haven’t you given any thought about your own future?”
Xie He didn’t speak and just looked down.
Seeing this, Jian Zihan couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He was filled with anger. How could there be someone so stubborn, so unwilling to get the point!? He didn’t want to endure any longer. He didn’t want to see him squander away his time on this unworthy scum. He wanted to steal him away! Jian Zihan sucked in a deep breath. Only then was he able to suppress the impulse in his heart. He stressed, “The things I said to you today, I said them because I really wish that you will be happy.”
Xie He didn’t dare to look at Jian Zihan. This kind of Jian Zihan made him feel even more despicable. Xie He stared at Jian Zihan enviously from a dark corner whereas Jian Zihan only wished for him to be happy.
There…was one situation in which he would be willing to leave Yi Ze. That was if Yi Ze no longer needed him, a substitute, any longer. Xie He suddenly parted his lips and asked, “You…do you have anyone that you like?”
Jian Zihan looked at Xie He and unhesitatingly said, “I have someone that I like.”
Xie He looked nervous and asked, “W-Who?”
Jian Zihan smiled abruptly. He lowered his head and gently spoke in Xie He’s ear, “That’s a secret. When the time comes, I’ll tell you.”
When he finished speaking, he let go of Xie He. Before leaving, he said, “I hope that you’ll consider my words.”
Xie He was in a daze as he watched Jian Zihan leave. It seemed like he was still puzzling over just who Jian Zihan liked.
【Xie He：Baby, I’m really starting to like my HanHan more and more. He’s so considerate and gentle, ne. Smile.JPG】
【444：……】
【Xie He：It’s just a pity that we’re not suited for each other. Sigh.JPG】
【444：Why’s that? Haven’t you always been interested in him?】
【Xie He：Baby, you should know that sometimes, fondness is just fondness. Two people may not be good together.】
【444：？？？】
【Xie He：Because, I’m not the kind of person who would give up an entire forest for a single tree. Our three views aren’t the same, so how could we date? 🙂 】
【444：…Then, why do you want to raise his Favourability Value?】
【Xie He：8000 experience points.】
【444：……】You and President Yi suit each other the most, thank you very much! _(:зゝ∠)_
……………………………………
After that day, Jian Zihan continued to interact with Xie He as if nothing had happened. Yi Ze also stopped calling Jian Zihan. In the end, Xie He was still more obedient. Therefore, he would call him over once a week.
Yi Ze seemed to have fallen for this kind of roleplay. He always made Xie He call him Shixiong while in bed. He treated Xie He better and better, and he would even be willing to dote on him a bit every now and then. Like this, the Favourability Value slowly rose by another 5 points. Right now, it was already at 70.
Xie He thought that the timing was just about right. Jian Zihan had been constantly encouraging him to confess to Yi Ze. He had already dragged things on for a long time. With Si Minghui’s personality, he should have done something by now. After all, he’d been secretly in love with Yi Ze for so many years, so confessing was really tempting to do…Even those who love without expecting anything in return are still likely to hold a laughable, vain hope. It was humanity’s instinct to never give up until death.
Without letting his heart shatter to pieces on the ground, how could he possibly wake up?
Therefore, after doing it again, this time, Xie He did not leave obediently as he always had. Instead, he looked at Yi Ze and stammered, “Yi ge…I—I have something to tell you.”
Yi Ze’s mood was not bad. His hand was still trailing over Xie He’s body. He said absentmindedly, “What?”
Xie He pursed his lips and gathered up his courage to say, “I…I’ve actually liked you all this time….”
Yi Ze casually hummed in response and then said, “What do you want?”
Xie He’s eyes grew dark, but he still repeated himself, “I like you.”
Yi Ze’s movements paused. He finally looked at Xie He, smiling derisively at his hopeful expression. “You like me?”
XIe He nodded, body rigid from nervousness.
Yi Ze laughed and gave him a profound look, “So what you wanted was me.”
Xie He stuttered, “N-no…I just….”
“Truly a greedy little fellow…” Yi Ze pinched his chin, eyes cold, “Even if you really like me…what about it?”
Xie He paled. He had expected this to happen, but his heart still hurt so much that he wanted to die when he heard it for himself.
Yi Ze stood up from the bed, his dangerous gaze falling on Xie He. He patted his face, “Don’t forget your identity and think that you’re irreplaceable just because I treat you a little better. Especially don’t…try and play this kind of trick on me.”
Xie He stared at him fixedly. If it had been him from the past, he would have shrunk back. But today, he didn’t want to let this go just like that…because, he would likely never again have the courage to say this again in the future.
Xie He stared at Yi Ze’s face with a deep gaze, eyes full of earnest love. He said softly, “Yi ge…I’m not tricking you. I just wanted to tell you…I love you. I don’t want anything…I just want you to know this, that’s all.”
Yi Ze’s gaze gradually turned ice-cold. His guts were truly getting bigger and bigger to actually dare to talk back to him. Did he think that he could trick him with such laughable words and get more out of him?
The corner of Yi Ze’s lips raised. “Since you don’t want anything, why did you have to tell me?”
Xie He was startled.
“You dare say that you don’t want anything? Someone like you…” Yi Ze pinched Xie He’s chin, eyes frosty, tone full of contempt, “Is not worthy of saying the word ‘love’.”
Xie He looked at him, shocked, lips trembling.
Yi Ze didn’t want to bother with him anymore and left.
Xie He stared at his departing figure…It was like all the energy had drained from his body. This was the answer he had been waiting for.
He finally knew what the answer was.
He hadn’t actually hoped for much…He had just wanted Yi Ze to believe in his feelings for him, just a bit. To care for him, just a bit. With that, he could continue to hold on.
However, his love that he had put his heart and soul into was only given the two words, “not worthy,” in return.
………………………………
【Xie He：My Family’s ZeZe is so impressive. I suddenly like him a little more. I really appreciate his cleverness. Smile.JPG 】
【444：You said you also really like Jian Zihan, ne. Your taste is very wide, oh. O(∩_∩)O~】
【Xie He：Baby, did you only realize this today?】
【444：……】
When Xie He had returned to the shooting location, Jian Zihan could see the abnormality in his eyes. He was clearly dazed. He had made many mistakes during the shooting, not at all as skilled as he usually was. In the end, the director got a little angry and was forced to pause the shooting.
Xie He didn’t care. He left silently.
Jian Zihan promptly followed after him. He could probably already guess why he was like this, but he wanted to confirm his guess, “He rejected you?”
Xie He looked at him, a distraught look in his eyes.
Jian Zihan felt extremely anguished for him. However, there was a bit of faint anticipation as well…He thought that he actually wasn’t as admirable and selfless as previously thought. He actually wished for Xie He to face reality a little sooner. The sooner he could free himself from this hopeless love, the sooner he would be able to pursue him openly.
If they could be together…it would certainly be very happy and blissful.
Jian Zihan pulled Xie He over to one side. They were currently at a temporarily built shooting location. Because the construction was not yet complete, and the location was rather remote, there was basically no one else around.
Xie He looked at Jian Zihan, eyes full of sorrow that he just couldn’t restrain. His lips were pale. Because he was so aggrieved, he couldn’t curb his desire to just spit it all out. Therefore, he stammered, “He will never like me…I already knew this…I already knew this….”
The author has something to say:
Satisfying you all! White Moonlight, flirt, flirt, flirt! Quickly come give this silly author some love, muah muah. (*/ω╲*)