Chapter 128 - This Little Black Room Isn’t Up to Standard
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina
15. This Little Black Room Isn’t Up to Standard
We’re even…?
Ye Jinzhou stood in place like a stone statue, watching as Xie He brushed past him.
He had been with Bai Mu for a long time, so he knew well just how much the company meant to him. The other would frequently work overtime, deep into the night. This company was like a child he had brought up on his own. He had invested an immeasurable amount of his own blood and sweat.
However, in order to sever their relationship, Xie He had even said such words out loud. He had been so decisive and determined in letting go.
Ye Jinzhou closed his eyes, feeling powerless.
At this moment, he wished that Xie He hated him, cursed him, or hit him…he didn’t want to see Xie He play things down like this, saying he didn’t want the company and that he was letting go. He didn’t want the other to treat him like an insignificant passerby.
You say you don’t want it and you mean it…and what you don’t want includes me.
………………………………
Lin Ran was still helping Xie He pack away the rest of the belongings. When he saw that Xie He was back, he smiled and said, “What took you so long?”
Xie He cast his gaze downwards and said, “I just bumped into Ye Jinzhou.”
Lin Ran was just asking casually. He didn’t expect that he would get such an answer. He asked, nervously, “What did he want?”
Xie He broke out into a bitter smile. “He said that he wanted to return the company to me.”
Lin Ran was genuinely surprised. He didn’t know what Ye Jinzhou was scheming. He muttered under his breath for a while and then said, “Do you believe him?”
“No,” Xie He’s voice was indifferent, without any hesitation, “Moreover, even if he means it, I don’t want it. Because I don’t ever want anything to do with him again. Lin Ran…do you think that I’m being headstrong?”
Just so he could sever their relationship, he was throwing away the company he had run for many years.
Lin Ran shook his head and smiled. “You’re fine. Besides, who said you can’t be headstrong? If you had accepted, it’d only be harder on you. Isn’t it just one company? Even without it, we can still start anew.”
A smile appeared in Xie He’s eyes. His heart felt warm. This person always had a plan and could make him feel reassured.
He supported him and encouraged him with no strings attached…he could rely on him when he was at his weakest.
If he had fallen in love with this person in the beginning, how good would that have been?
Xie He looked at Lin Ran, his mood turning bright. He said with a smile, “I was thinking just that. Although we lost the company, we can still start fresh. I want to go to C City. I previously invested in the real estate over there. The area isn’t bad.”
“Then let me invest too, ba. We’ll do it together.” Lin Ran smiled back.
Xie He nodded, raising an eyebrow, “It’s fine to invest, but don’t you want to think it over first? There’s a risk, working with me.”
Lin Ran shrugged. “When I entered your company back then, you also said that there would be a risk.”
Xie He thought back to that time and couldn’t help but laugh.
Because it was really late, Xie He didn’t let Lin Ran go home. He had him stay in the guest room.
The next morning, the two of them packed up their belongings and prepared to leave. To Xie He, this home was a reminder of his heartbreak. He didn’t want to stay any longer.
Xie He and Lin Ran chatted happily as they descended. As soon as they exited the elevator, their expressions cooled. Ye Jinzhou was unexpectedly still there.
Ye Jinzhou didn’t dare to press forward too hard but he didn’t want to leave either. He had waited there all night, thinking of what he could say to Xie He. He had thought of many things but couldn’t say a single word…because he saw that Xie He was with Lin Ran.
Lin Ran had actually stayed the night…. If it was before, he would have been unable to suppress the anger and jealousy in his heart. But now, he was afraid of angering Xie He, so he could only comfort himself with the fact that Xie He had always considered Lin Ran as just a friend. There was nothing between them. Only by thinking like this was he able to stay calm.
“Where…are you going?” Ye Jinzhou looked at Xie He, voice slightly low and rough.
“None of your business,” Xie He said coldly, “Move.”
Ye Jinzhou didn’t stop him this time. He didn’t shamelessly chase after the other either. He only silently watched as Xie He left with Lin Ran.
……………………………………
Xie He settled down in C City with Lin Ran and began to busy himself with their new company. The two of them had worked in the media industry for many years. They had many connections and was thus able to start anew relatively smoothly.
【444：Host dada, Ye Jinzhou hasn’t shown up for nearly a month now. What are you going to do? How are you going to raise the Favourability Value?】
【Xie He：Hasn’t he had someone follow me all this time? For now, let’s give him some time to calm down. It’s an easy thing, wanting to make him come over. Smile.JPG】
【444：(⊙o⊙) Oh?】
【Xie He：The only reason he has been able to endure it is because I haven’t provoked him enough, that’s all. It’s time to max RanRan’s Favourability Value. ZhouZhou is such a huge vinegar jar, how could he sit still? He doesn’t know how to let go yet.】
【444：……】Once again, he witnesses Host dada’s skill at having the capture target at his beck and call…. _(:зゝ∠)_
Today, after Xie He finished his business meeting, he went out to eat with Lin Ran.
Both of them were in fairly good moods. Xie He had drunk a bit of wine and was slightly tipsy. Suddenly, he smiled at Lin Ran. “How long have you liked me?”
Lin Ran flushed. He didn’t think that Xie He would suddenly ask this. After a while, he averted his gaze and said awkwardly, “Since you were in your second year of university.”
Xie He looked surprised. His lips moved, “At that time, I was still with Lu Jianing.”
Lin Ran nodded.
Xie He looked down and chuckled quietly, rueful. “I had wondered why you became such good friends with me back then. Why did you like me…?”
When Lin Ran heard this, he seemed lost in thought, as if recalling memories from many years ago. That quiet young man with a pure smile, who always wore a white shirt and always had his books with him as he studied in the library…had entered his eyes without him realizing it. That man had made a beeline to his heart.
The closer he got to the other, the more he loved him. In the end, that love became engraved into his very being.
Lin Ran looked at Xie He and quietly said, “Perhaps it was just that you just happened to be the person I wanted to fall in love with.”
Xie He’s eyes were glassy. Who knew if it was because he was tipsy or because he was thinking of the past…. He was no longer young. He had long since lost the impulsiveness of adolescence. The way he considered emotions was no longer the same as how young people did. He would no longer chase after love with desperation.
Wasn’t a calm companion who he could share his happiness with what he had always wanted? A relationship where they would care for each other?
Right now, that kind of person stood before him. He had always been by his side and taken care of him. He would not lie to him or betray him. They could be loyal to each other. They knew each other so well, to the point where there would be no need to get used to each other anymore. It was like they had already been together for many years. They had that kind of tacit understanding between them.
This kind of person and this kind of love was being dangled right before his eyes…why shouldn’t he grab hold of them?
He should try to let go of that pointless and ridiculous infatuation and be with the person who had always loved him. That was what he should do.
Xie He suddenly said to Lin Ran, “Let’s give it a try.”
Lin Ran looked pleasantly surprised, but he still felt nervous. He had waited for so many years, and Xie He was finally agreeing to be with him…For a moment, it didn’t feel real.
Xie He smiled. “We’re just trying it out. I can’t promise that I can fall in love with you. If you don’t mind….”
Lin Ran hastily said, “I don’t mind!”
He looked frantic and excited, like a giddy young man experiencing love out of the blue. There was no sign of his usual cool-headedness or rationality.
Xie He laughed. He looked at Lin Ran…and suddenly stood up. He leaned forward and planted a kiss on Lin Ran’s lips.
Lin Ran was stupefied. For a moment, he only stared at the other in a daze and didn’t react.
Xie He’s eyes held within them a faint smile. With such a passive personality, no wonder he had been stuck a secret admirer for more than ten years. If you don’t tell me…how would I know you love me? It was so easy for you to say that you wanted to pursue me, but you still act so cautious. There’s no helping it. I guess I have to take the initiative….
Lin Ran stared at Xie He’s face that was now extremely close to his own. This was the person he had loved for more than ten years. Right now, this person had kissed him. That gentle gaze, those handsome features, that smile in his eyes…everything was beautiful like a dream.
At this moment, he no longer wanted to be rational and hold himself back. He didn’t want to pretend to be patient any longer. He only wanted to kiss the other deeply!
Lin Ran’s palm fell to the back of Xie He’s head, pressing down onto it. He kissed back hard. The infinite love that had accumulated in his heart could no longer be suppressed and it all exploded out. He loved this person. He loved him more than his own life.
【Ding, Lin Ran’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 100.】
This kiss lasted a long time before they broke apart.
Xie He wrapped his arms around Lin Ran’s neck. This was the first time he’d realized that this calm, self-controlled man actually had a passionate side. Although neither of them spoke, they could sense the other’s interest.
Only, they were at a restaurant. It wasn’t convenient to continue things here. Neither Xie He nor Lin Ran was one to act recklessly.
Xie He let go and stood up. He gave Lin Ran a meaningful glance. “Let’s go home.”
Lin Ran said, “Okay.”
Xie He drove back to his own home. When he stood at the door to his apartment, he turned to ask Lin Ran, “Are you coming in?”
Lin Ran’s eyes were pitch-black as he stared at Xie He. He didn’t hesitate to walk in. He then shut the door and pressed Xie He against the wall!
Ye Jinzhou’s car was stopped outside of Xie He’s house.
This entire time, he had someone pay attention to Xie He’s tracks. He had also come over when he had the time. He saw the information on Xie He and Lin Ran, on how they spent every day together like lovers, on how Xie He would direct a happy smile towards Lin Ran, on how they started a new business together….
Even without Ye Jinzhou…even without his company, Xie He was doing well.
He had even fallen in love with someone else and was now living the happy life he had wanted. Meanwhile, Ye Jinzhou was nothing more than an unhappy interlude in his life. He had been able to toss him to the back of his head very quickly and not think of him any longer.
Ye Jinzhou felt like he was like a pitiful stalker. He hid in the shadows, peeking out from behind dark corners as the viper that was jealousy bit into his heart.
He watched as the person he loved drifted further and further away from him….
No, he could not accept this kind of ending!
Tonight, Ye Jinzhou had followed after them the whole time. He had watched as Xie He and Lin Ran left the restaurant. He had seen Xie He’s slightly swollen lips and disheveled clothes. How could he not know what had happened…? Ye Jinzhou could not trick himself into thinking that the two of them were still just friends. Jealousy burned away the last shred of reason he had.
Right now, Lin Ran and Xie He had gone upstairs together and Lin Ran had yet to come down….Ye Jinzhou knew what the two of them were about to do.
When he thought that the person he loved was being held in the embrace of another man right now…Ye Jinzhou’s heart seized in pain. It felt like it was being torn apart. No…he would not allow it! Ye Jinzhou suddenly smashed down on the steering wheel and ran into the building towards Xie He’s door!
But the heavy door could not be opened. Ye Jinzhou scanned the area and climbed through a window in the corridor. He then made his way to Xie He’s balcony.
As soon as he landed, he could hear a charming and gentle voice come from inside the room….He was extremely familiar with that pleasant voice. That was the person he loved, who belonged to him. That person had made that kind of sound countless times beneath him! Ye Jinzhou’s eyes turned red and all his reasoning collapsed!
He kicked the door open and saw Lin Ran pressing down on Xie He’s body about to….
When the door to the room was suddenly kicked open, the two people inside turned their heads over in shock. When he realized that it was Ye Jinzhou, Xie He was furious. Why was he still around?!
Lin Ran was also enraged. Any man would be angry if interrupted at such a time. He didn’t want Ye Jinzhou to see Xie He’s naked body so he promptly covered the other with the bed sheets. He himself put on pants.
Ye Jinzhou’s fist tightened so much his knuckles were cracking. After Lin Ran put on his pants, he punched the other man!
Lin Ran had been prepared, so Ye Jinzhou’s fist did not connect. The two of them broke out in a scuffle! Xie He dressed himself and went to pull them off each other. He angrily shouted, “Ye Jinzhou! What are you doing?!”
Ye Jinzhou had been punched in the mouth by Lin Ran. He wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his lips and laughed miserably, “Yes, ah. What am I doing?”
He shut his eyes. What am I doing?
I just don’t want to see you with another man. I don’t want to see you leave me. I don’t want to see any of this…. I don’t want to see it. In any case, you won’t forgive me. You won’t love me any longer. Then you might as well hate me.
At least that way, I have a place in your heart, right? At least that way, you’ll remember me. You won’t forget me.
【Ding, the target Ye Jinzhou’s Favourability Value +2. The current Favourability Value is 97.】
Ye Jinzhou suddenly opened his eyes. His sharp eyes were filled with a cold light. He raised his foot and landed a hard kick on Lin Ran’s stomach!
Compared to Ye Jinzhou, who, at this moment, was not holding back in the least, the gentle Lin Ran was clearly disadvantaged. He was very quickly rendered unable to move as he was beaten to the floor! Ye Jinzhou grabbed Lin Ran by the hair and told Xie He, who was about to get involved, with a cold voice, “Don’t help him. If you do that, you’ll only make me want to kill him all the more.”
When Xie He saw that Ye Jinzhou seemed to have lost all reason, he grew worried that the other would hurt Lin Ran if provoked. He said quietly, “What do you want?”
“Me, ah…? Ye Jinzhou smiled and said, “Come over here, I’ll tell you.”
Xie He walked over cautiously, eyes fixed on Ye Jinzhou.
There was a strange smile on Ye Jinzhou’s lips. Even though Xie He was on guard, the other was too fast! With a chop to the back of Xie He’s neck, the other went unconscious with a surprised look on his face!
Ye Jinzhou carried Xie He in his arms. He looked at the other with a gentle, affectionate gaze. Don’t worry, I won’t let you leave me anymore.
Lin Ran struggled to get up from the ground. He stared at Ye Jinzhou with red eyes. “Where are you taking him?”
Ye Jinzhou turned his head to cast Lin Ran a cold glance. He took Xie He away without a word.
………………………………
【Xie He：Baby, I told you that ZhouZhou would come back. Smile.JPG】
【444：_(:зゝ∠)_】
When Xie He woke up, he found himself lying on a bed. He was about to get up when he felt his wrist meet with resistance. His right hand was shackled to the headboard. The cuff around his wrist was made of soft leather so that it didn’t irritate his skin…. Xie He’s expression changed instantly.
At this moment, a hand reached out and wrapped around his waist. Turns out Ye Jinzhou was sleeping next to him. He looked at Xie He lovingly and said with a soft voice, “You’re up.”
Xie He was so angry, his whole body shook, “What are you doing?”
Ye Jinzhou’s gaze flitted to the handcuffs and he smiled at Xie He. “Like this, you won’t leave me again.”
“You’re crazy!” Xie He shouted.
Ye Jinzhou turned a deaf ear. He continued to look at Xie He with a tender gaze. He held the other and said, “I love you. Why won’t you believe me?”
Xie He slapped the other. He looked at him with a frosty gaze, “Unlock it.”
Ye Jinzhou’s face had whipped to the side from the impact of the slap. After a while, he turned his head back, as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t been slapped but had been bitten by a mosquito. He continued to smile at Xie He gently, “Are you hungry? I’ll make you food.”
Ye Jinzhou left. After a while, he carried some food over. He set up a table by the bed and fawned over Xie He, “It’s your favorites.”
Xie He glanced at the table of food. Indeed, it was all of his favorites. It had been like this when they were together. This person had always made his favorite foods. When they had nothing to do, they would chat, entangled in each other’s arms. At that time, he had thought that their little world, in which they were the only two present, was beautiful. Who could have expected how terrifyingly ugly it actually was beneath that beautiful exterior once the charade fell apart.
Xie He’s fist shook. He flipped the table and said with a frigid tone, “Enough. What do you want now?”
The meal Ye Jinzhou had diligently made splattered onto the floor. Sadness flickered through his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He slowly squatted down to clean up the mess. Once it was clean, he brought a new meal in. He smiled at Xie He. “Eat a bit. You haven’t eaten all day.”
Xie He gnashed his teeth.
A few days passed like this. From beginning to end, Xie He never smiled or showed Ye Jinzhou any kind of pleasant expression. However, regardless of how he cursed or beat Ye Jinzhou, the other’s expression never changed. The other would just look at him gently and lovingly. Aside from not letting Xie He leave, the other aspects of his care were meticulous.
At night, Ye Jinzhou would hold Xie He tightly in his arms. Although he didn’t do anything—he would only hold him—it was enough to satisfy Ye Jinzhou.
Finally, he understood just how much he loved this person. He loved him so much that he could not bear to lose him.
As long as he thought that this person would grow old with someone else, as long as he thought that he would no longer have a place in this person’s life, his heart would ache badly, as if that possibility was some highly poisonous substance.
Only when Xie He was asleep did Ye Jinzhou dare to steal gentle kisses. He would gaze at the person in his arms with suffering and yearning in his eyes.
I love you but you don’t believe me.
You only want to leave me…I’m sorry, I can’t let you leave me.
【Ding, the target Ye Jinzhou’s Favourability Value +1. The current Favourability Value is 98.】
The villa Ye Jinzhou prepared was immense. In the beginning, Xie He had been confined to the bed. Later on, he was given the freedom to move about the home. However, he could not go outside. The doors and windows were all locked. Moreover, Ye Jinzhou was very careful. There was no device that could be used to communicate to the outside world inside. The villa was also out in the countryside so even if he shouted, there would be no one to hear.
Even though Ye Jinzhou’s care was meticulous, Xie He’s complexion worsened by day. Whether it was in stamina or any other aspect, he couldn’t beat Ye Jinzhou. He couldn’t beat him in a fight either. In the end, he had no options left.
Today, Ye Jinzhou held Xie He to sleep again. Xie He opened his eyes and coldly asked, “Why are you doing this?”
Ye Jinzhou said, “I love you.”
Xie He pressed his lips into a pale, straight line. He seemed furious. He asked, “How long do you plan on shutting me in here?”
Ye Jinzhou replied again with: “I love you.”
Xie He was enraged. This b*stard, this brute. He said with a frosty voice, “You think that I’ll believe your lies?”
Ye Jinzhou held the person in his arms tightly. There was a layer of deathly stillness over his eyes. Yes, you don’t believe me at all…you don’t know how afraid I am of losing you. I think that I’ve really gone insane. I can only hold on if I have you. Otherwise, I’ll go completely mad.
“You know…I’ve never regretted approaching you. If I didn’t approach you, how could I have fallen for you? How could I have found out that I could love someone like this?” Ye Jinzhou chuckled quietly, “The only thing I regret is that I didn’t realize my feelings earlier.”
I regret letting hatred blind my heart, for hurting you. If I had known that such a day would come, I would never have been willing to do that to you.
However, the cruellest entity in this world was time. For it would never stop for anyone, let alone turn back.
Even if I were to gouge out my heart right now, you would only disdain it.
……………………………………
【Xie He：Honestly, this can’t be considered an up-to-standard little black room if I don’t have a sex life. I’m a bit disappointed in ZhouZhou.】
【444：_(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：There’s nothing good about him except that he’s got a big thing and is good in bed. It’s just the worst when people don’t know how to play to their strengths. He’s going to lose my love like this. Smile.JPG】
【444：……】
【Xie He：Baby, why have you been so silent as of late? 】
【444：I haven’t O(∩_∩)O~！】
【Xie He：That’s good. Time to work. ZhouZhou needs to understand that if something isn’t meant to be, there’s no use in trying to force it.】
【Xie He：Help me investigate Mrs. Ye’s whereabouts. 】
【444：(⊙v⊙) Mn!】
Another few days passed like this.
Xie He’s mood declined with each day. He didn’t say a single word all day. He couldn’t even be bothered to look at Ye Jinzhou. Ye Jinzhou still spent a lot of time each day at Xie He’s side. It didn’t matter if Xie He didn’t pay him any attention. He could speak to himself all day.
“You always said that we should go travelling when we had the time, that we should spend some leisurely days together.” Ye Jinzhou hugged Xie He, eyes full of a warm, nostalgic light. “If you don’t try to run away, we can go out, Okay?”
“Didn’t you say that meeting me was a blessing? Actually, it’s a blessing that I got to meet you. I’m very fortunate to have met you.” Ye Jinzhou kissed Xie He softly, dark eyes full of affectionate love.
Even if he would never get a response, he was willing to continue losing himself to this.
He was willing to trap himself here….
After a while, Ye Jinzhou noticed that Xie He seemed sleepy. He carried him to the bed. Just as he was about to cover him with the blanket, the doorbell suddenly rang! This was the first time the doorbell had ever rung! Ye Jinzhou’s pupils constricted and he quickly cuffed Xie He’s wrist to the bed. He then walked out with a heavy expression.
He was in no hurry to open the door. Instead, he calmly gazed at the entrance monitor. After taking one glance, his expression changed slightly.
He hesitated for a while but Ye Jinzhou still walked over and slowly opened the door.
Outside stood a refined and poised middle-aged woman. Her hair was curled, flowing down from the back of her head. She had on light makeup and her features seemed very gentle. However, in Ye Jinzhou’s eyes, all that there was inside was disappointment!
Ye Jinzhou suppressed the surprise and shock in his heart. In a low voice, he said, “Mom, you’ve come.”
Eve: *cackles* XH basically tattled to ML’s mom.
sere: ya bro this is madness