ASSHKHME Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Everyone is on Their Way

A single dim yellow night light was on in the living room, giving rise to loneliness.

Ling Xu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at Jiangbei City shrouded in the night, gently swirling the red wine in his hand.

A hunter with a rifle enters the jungle, but the moment the bullets run out, he becomes prey.

Ling Xu tilted his head back and drank the red wine in one gulp, the mellow wine spreading a bitter taste on the root of his tongue. Uncontrollable emotions surged like waves, crushing his heart.

Below, the densely packed high-rise buildings flickered with neon lights. The floor-to-ceiling window reflected the melancholy and helplessness between Ling Xu’s brows. He sighed and murmured, “Xu Qingyou, you’re a bit difficult to deal with.”

Ling Xu took the wine glass to the kitchen, rinsed it clean, and placed it in the glass rack. He turned off the living room light and walked towards the master bedroom, intending to rest.

Suddenly, the phone rang in the silence.

Ling Xu didn’t think too much about it. He was used to the late-night disturbances from patients who lacked a sense of boundaries.

Although he occasionally found it annoying, he never silenced his phone. The patients he dealt with in this profession generally had deep psychological problems. Perhaps a late-night phone call could save a precious life.

Ling Xu sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the vibrating phone, and was stunned to see the note on the screen: [Xu Qingyou].

Joy sprouted like a small bud from the icy soil covered in snow. The man, who prided himself on being mature and steady, was actually a little nervous.

The ringtone lasted for a full twenty seconds. Just as Xu Qingyou thought the other party would no longer answer his call, a clear and gentle voice came from the receiver: “Hello, Mr. Xu? Is there something you need so late?”

Xu Qingyou slowly opened his mouth, “Dr. Ling, you said you liked me, but what you actually liked was the me who is adored by Xiaozhuo, right?”

Ling Xu chuckled softly, “Mr. Xu, the focus of this message has never been about Chen Zhuo, but about you, your conversation, aura, personality, and… well, you’re very handsome. What my heart is moved by is these qualities combined in you.”

Xu Qingyou, who was very reserved in expressing his emotions, was surprised by Ling Xu’s frank and straightforward answer, and said seriously, “But Dr. Ling, you have to know that emotions cannot be replicated. The feelings I have for Xiaozhuo cannot be perfectly replicated for you.”

Ling Xu found his rigorous attitude very interesting. He leaned back on the headboard and smiled, “Mr. Xu, I’m already thirty-two years old, not a young man in his early twenties who must be the ‘only one’.”

“Before I met you, I already had two relationships. Although the ending wasn’t very good, we were sincere with each other when we were in love, and that’s enough. I can’t perfectly replicate the naivety of my first love for you either.”

“Mr. Xu, the scenery passed along the way, no matter how beautiful, is just the past. What’s important is the person traveling with you at this moment.”

“Whether you and I have the opportunity to travel together, I want to say that the different stages of you in the past make up the you of now. The value of life lies in experiencing it. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Do you have emotional cleanliness? Would you like Dr. Ling to treat it for you?”

Hearing this, Xu Qingyou smiled silently, his cold eyes softening instantly, “Does Dr. Ling have occupational disease?”

Not saying anything to take it a step further seemed to be a waste of the current atmosphere. Ling Xu said, “Mr. Xu, how about starting with being friends first? I’m actually a pretty good person, give me a chance.”

Xu Qingyou was silent for a while. Just as Ling Xu thought he was going to be ignored again, he said, “Okay.”

Ling Xu sat up straight instantly, and then said, “Then you can’t hide anymore. Tomorrow is the weekend, do you have time? Good friend.”

Xu Qingyou opened his schedule for tomorrow and said, “I have to work overtime tomorrow.”

Ling Xu was a little disappointed, he didn’t want to go back to square one. Just as he was about to say something else, he heard Xu Qingyou say again, “There are some problems with the project, I have to have a meeting, I’m a little busy. Is it okay after work?”

A smile climbed onto Ling Xu’s face, “Okay, then call me when you’re done.”

—

As in previous years, Chen Zhuo went back to the Xu family for the New Year as usual, and spent the rest of the time with Xie Yu.

Xie Yu went to work at the company, and Chen Zhuo drew pictures at home for part-time work. Compared with last year, this year’s manuscript prices had tripled. He didn’t have to rush to take on jobs to earn living expenses, and could take a proper rest and do some things he liked.

After the final exams at Jiangbei University, Chen Zhuo and Xie Yu went out for a meal with Zhao Jiashu and Li Ang.

Although they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, their friendship hadn’t faded. They chatted noisily, as if they had returned to the beginning of their freshman year when the four of them went to eat Korean BBQ.

Time waits for no one, and young people are all on their way in a hurry.

Chen Zhuo tentatively asked about Zhao Jiashu and Jiang Song’s situation.

Zhao Jiashu drank some wine, and said with complicated emotions: “Xiaozhuo, I really am, I am really straight. I can’t accept men. Jiang Song, I admit he looks good, but… I can’t, you understand? It’s like you facing a beautiful girl, but you don’t have any physiological reactions. You understand what I mean, right? I’m really different from Yu-ge…”

Hearing his name, Xie Yu leaned over to listen: “What? What’s different from me?”

Zhao Jiashu’s face turned red from drinking, and he said seriously: “I’m really straight, don’t say I can’t be gay, even if I could, I would never be gay. My parents are busy with work, and I was raised by my grandpa. He’s almost ninety years old, and he’s waiting to see me get married. Why do you always want to match me with Jiang Song? I’m straight!”

“Who matched you up? We’re just asking,” Xie Yu exchanged a glance with Chen Zhuo, and put his arm around Zhao Jiashu’s shoulder, “Marry, marry, marry, how about Yu-ge giving you a Benz as a wedding gift when you get married?”

Zhao Jiashu rubbed his nose and said reservedly, “That won’t work, it’s too valuable, I can’t accept it.”

Xie Yu laughed and said, “Why are you being so polite with your godfather? And Lizi, your godfather will also give you a car when you get married, a Changan Benben.”

Li Ang laughed: “Damn! He gets a Benz and I get a Benben? You’re biased!”

The topic was diverted, Chen Zhuo took a sip of cold beer, feeling a myriad of emotions in his heart.

Just like Jiang Song used to advise him, falling in love with a straight man seems to be a compulsory course for every gay.

He was just lucky that Xie Yu wasn’t that straight, and that Xie Yu’s parents were exceptionally open-minded.

Both of them were his good friends. While Chen Zhuo felt sorry for Jiang Song, he also felt fortunate for Zhao Jiashu.

Given Zhao Jiashu’s family environment, it was fortunate that he was straight, otherwise he would definitely suffer a lot.

The four of them drank a lot of wine, and Chen Zhuo insisted on going back to the dormitory to sleep.

Xie Yu couldn’t handle him, so he had to go back to the dormitory.

He hurriedly made the bed, and was worried for a long time, fearing that this guy would go crazy from drinking and pester him for sex, but fortunately nothing happened.

The two of them squeezed into the narrow bed, Chen Zhuo lying on Xie Yu, listening to his heartbeat, and sleeping soundly.

The winter vacation ended quickly.

Xie Yu sent Chen Zhuo to the airport.

This time, they seemed to be more comfortable facing farewell.

Probably because they both knew that separation was for a better reunion, and that they would see each other soon.