TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 67

Chapter 65: Returning Home

Chapter 65: Returning Home

When Zhuo Huaimo entered the café, Shao Fan was already waiting by the window.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, momentarily making him look like the gentle and refined youth from their days studying abroad.

“Mo.”

Shao Fan stood up to greet him, his smile stiffening as his gaze landed on the hickeys that Zhuo Huaimo’s turtleneck couldn’t quite hide.

Zhuo Huaimo sat down directly, getting straight to the point.

“Qi Yanwang said he’s investing in your movie?”

“Yes.”

Shao Fan gave a wry smile. “But he wants me to leave you. I can’t do that.”

Zhuo Huaimo carefully observed his expression—the deep affection in those eyes still seemed genuine.

He gently pushed the file folder over. “Then what about your gambling debts?”

Shao Fan’s expression changed drastically the moment the folder slid across the table.

He quickly pressed down on the papers. “I can explain! This is just…”

“Thirty million.”

Zhuo Huaimo stared at the other man’s suddenly constricted pupils, his voice frighteningly calm. “I’ll settle them for you.”

Shao Fan’s explanation died in his throat.

He opened his mouth, then suddenly grabbed Zhuo Huaimo’s hand. “It’s not about the money! I came back to you because…”

“Xingyue Media isn’t mine.”

Zhuo Huaimo pulled his hand away. “And I don’t plan on taking it back anytime soon. That thirty million is all Qi Yanwang’s money.”

The words were like a slap in the face, and Shao Fan’s face turned deathly pale.

He stood up abruptly, knocking the coffee cup over onto the documents.

“Why?! Xingyue Media is clearly yours! How could you…”

He suddenly realized he was losing control, forcibly suppressing his anger as he sat back down.

“Sorry, I’m just too shocked.”

Zhuo Huaimo watched the brown liquid spread across the debt list, suddenly feeling a sense of irony.

He remembered when they were studying abroad, Shao Fan would frown even when he drank instant coffee, insisting on personally brewing him hand-drip coffee.

“Peter,”

He said softly, “This thirty million is out of consideration for our past.”

Shao Fan’s fingertips were trembling. “Qi Yanwang said it was fifty million.”

“Is that so?”

Zhuo Huaimo smiled. “Thirty million is what I said.”

He stood up and straightened his collar. “Your gambling debts and our past are only worth that much!”

As he walked out of the café, the sunlight stung his eyes.

Zhuo Huaimo pulled out his phone and deleted all of Shao Fan’s contact information one by one.

Just as he pressed the last delete button, a warm body suddenly pressed against his back.

“Finished talking?”

Qi Yanwang rested his chin on his shoulder, his breath carrying the scent of mint candy.

Zhuo Huaimo didn’t turn around. “You followed me?”

“No—”

Qi Yanwang raised his hands. “I was at the bookstore across the street. And I bought this—”

Like a magician, he pulled a rare collection of scripts from behind his back, a treasured edition that Zhuo Huaimo had been searching for for half a year.

Zhuo Huaimo finally turned around, the midday sun gilding Qi Yanwang with a golden edge.

This man who he had once hated to the core was now holding the script collection, smiling like a large dog begging for praise.

Zhuo Huaimo leaned against the car window, watching Qi Yanwang hum along to a song, one hand on the steering wheel.

The setting sun cast a soft glow on the man’s sharp profile, making him appear somewhat youthful.

“Saved twenty million. Teacher Zhuo is really good at managing the household.”

Qi Yanwang suddenly spoke, his fingertips tapping lightly on the steering wheel. “Why don’t you come home and be my wife!”

Zhuo Huaimo glanced at the café receding in the rearview mirror.

“The bookstore across the street and this place use the same surveillance system?”

“Cross my heart!”

Qi Yanwang raised his right hand. “I was just worried someone would throw coffee at you—”

He winked. “You just told me not to interfere, you didn’t say I couldn’t follow you. I’m not disobeying you, am I?”

When the car stopped in front of the villa, Zhuo Huaimo was about to open the door when his wrist was grabbed.

“You’re really not going to invite me in for a meal?”

Qi Yanwang leaned close to his ear. “For my sake of being your driver today?”

Zhuo Huaimo slammed the car door in response.

“Then how about a bowl of noodles? You really are the same as always, won’t acknowledge me after we’re done!”

Standing in the entryway, Zhuo Huaimo stared blankly at the empty villa.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, drawing geometric patterns on the floor. He stepped on them barefoot, the warmth spreading up from the soles of his feet.

The bedroom upstairs still held the lingering scent of last night.

He lay wearily on the sofa, thinking this should be the last time he met Shao Fan.

Those last remaining feelings and memories that he thought were pure and beautiful could also be used for exploitation.

This feeling was really terrible!

He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting away.

It had been over a year, time really flew by.

He left the country and came to the United States, originally wanting to escape everything and start over.

But now it seemed that things weren’t as simple as he thought.

He couldn’t go back to the entertainment industry. Those photos and videos, the internet’s memory would never disappear.

Even though he was the victim, the truth was often drowned out by public opinion, and more people would simply parrot others.

Qi Yanwang was managing Xingyue Media quite well, so he didn’t plan on taking it back for the time being.

But he hadn’t figured out what path he should take next.

Staying in the United States for a long time wasn’t a long-term solution, he needed a new direction.

Zhuo Huaimo stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the scenery outside.

The sunlight shone on the streets, and pedestrians hurried by, as if everyone knew their destination.

But he was like someone lost in this city, unable to find a direction to move forward.

When he left, he didn’t say goodbye to his grandmother in person. Now, more than a year had passed, and although they talked on the phone occasionally, it couldn’t replace seeing each other in person.

His grandmother was getting old, and her health wasn’t as good as before. He didn’t want to make her worry anymore.

If he was going back, should he tell that person?

Zhuo Huaimo stood up and looked at the building across the street with the lights on.

Why should he tell him? They weren’t in any kind of relationship. It was better to have less contact!

With a “shua” sound, he pulled the curtains shut again and went back to his room to pack his luggage!

As Zhuo Huaimo dragged his suitcase along the cobblestone path, he deliberately lightened his footsteps.

In the garden, where the morning mist hadn’t yet dissipated, the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa across the street were unusually covered with curtains—

That figure who ran every morning at six o’clock without fail was now completely still.

“This is for the best,”

He muttered to himself, “No need to meet, saves the awkwardness.”

He could almost imagine Qi Yanwang’s exaggerated reaction when he saw that he was going back.

It would be so noisy it would give him a headache!

“Sir, which terminal are you going to?” the driver asked.

“T3, thank you!” Zhuo Huaimo leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

He had just sat down in the VIP lounge when a flight attendant in a navy blue uniform walked over with a smile.

“Mr. Zhuo?”

Zhuo Huaimo nodded with a smile. “Yes!”

“Your flight has been temporarily adjusted, and you can board early now.”

Zhuo Huaimo frowned. “I thought the flight was at 8 o’clock?”

“Yes, but your seat has been upgraded.”

The flight attendant replied politely. “Please come with me.”

He stood up in confusion and followed the flight attendant through a special passage.

At the end of the corridor was a glass door, and a pure white private jet was parked outside.

At this point, he no longer needed to doubt who was behind this!

He shook his head helplessly, but still walked over.

The interior of the cabin was luxurious and comfortable, with leather seats, crystal wine glasses, and a faint scent of cedar—

That was Qi Yanwang’s signature cologne.

“Morning!”

Qi Yanwang’s puppy-dog eyes were particularly bright.

Zhuo Huaimo really wanted to use the phrase “haunting spirit” to describe his current behavior.

He didn’t need to ask what he wanted to do, the answer was obvious.

Zhuo Huaimo sat down directly, put on his eye mask, and went to sleep!

“Leaving without a word, you’re really heartless.”

Qi Yanwang scooted over to Zhuo Huaimo, fiddling with his seatbelt.

The overhead light in the cabin cast a delicate golden glow in those captivating eyes, like a cat that had stolen a fish.

“I didn’t say anything, but haven’t you followed me anyway?”

“That’s not the same, is it?”

Qi Yanwang’s knee pressed against his thigh. “I even applied for a route change overnight.”

“Going back is the right thing to do.”

Qi Yanwang suddenly became serious. “Jiang City just opened a new Su-style restaurant, the crab roe tofu is definitely something you’ll like…”

“Going back is none of your business!” Zhuo Huaimo turned his face away.

The porthole reflected Qi Yanwang’s instantly dimmed eyes, causing a strange pang in his heart.

“How is it none of my business?”

Qi Yanwang suddenly leaned over, his minty breath ghosting over his ear. “We were like that last night, who was it that hugged me and yelled ‘Don’t stop’? Now you’re turning your back on me…”

“Qi Yanwang!”

Zhuo Huaimo’s ears were red. “Is there anything else in your brain besides that stuff?”

Qi Yanwang didn’t get angry, but smiled, raising his eyebrows.

“When it comes to you, that’s really what I think about most!”

“Sperm reincarnated! Don’t blame others!”

Qi Yanwang grabbed his face, finding his mouth particularly annoying.

“Sometimes you’re so annoying, I would give anything to shut you up!”

“If I’m annoying, then don’t provoke me!”

Qi Yanwang teased in his ear, “Zhuo Huaimo, I’m warning you, you better be honest while I have the patience to talk to you nicely!”

Zhuo Huaimo snorted coldly. “Or what can you do?”

“Or what?”

His lips brushed against his carotid artery. “We are 30,000 feet in the air. You can’t run away. To be honest, we haven’t tried it here yet!”

His fingers had already skillfully unbuttoned two of his shirt buttons.

Zhuo Huaimo was so frightened that he quickly grabbed his hand.

“Qi Yanwang, are you crazy? This is on the plane!”

“Private plane, no surveillance!”

Zhuo Huaimo was so angry that he pinched his waist, but his wrist was grabbed and pressed onto the leather seat.

Qi Yanwang’s canines grazed his collarbone. “You asked for it, your mouth is just annoying, I’ll knock you out and you’ll be quiet!”

The plane suddenly bumped, and Qi Yanwang took the opportunity to pull him onto his lap.

While Zhuo Huaimo was struggling, he touched the control button, and the seat flattened into a bed.

Qi Yanwang chuckled. “Looks like the plane is more sensible than you!”

“You…”

Zhuo Huaimo was about to curse, but his lips were sealed.

Qi Yanwang’s palm pressed against his back, the heat transmitting through the fabric.

“Be good, sleep for a while, I’ll wake you up when we get there!”

Zhuo Huaimo was stunned.

Every time they argued in the past, Qi Yanwang always used this trick—first kiss him until he was oxygen-deprived, then coax him to sleep.

His body was more honest than his memory, and he actually felt sleepy.

“Bastard…” he muttered vaguely, his forehead resting on Qi Yanwang’s shoulder.

The man’s chest vibrated with a deep laugh, and his fingers gently smoothed the upturned ends of his hair.

In the haze, someone covered him with a blanket, and the familiar cedar scent enveloped him.

Zhuo Huaimo curled his fingers in his sleep and clutched the corner of the man’s shirt.

Outside the porthole, the sea of clouds surged, and they were crossing the twilight line, flying towards the dawn of their homeland…