Hate The Bright Moon Chapter 10

Chapter 12

Friday should be the happiest time for every office worker, but Chen Shilü was seething with frustration.

Bai Shengguang had called him over that afternoon, arranging for them to meet at an Exclusive Clubhouse. He had two strong masseurs give Chen Shilü a massage, saying he had worked hard all week and needed to relax.

Chen Shilü knew Bai Shengguang’s goal was still to persuade him to switch jobs, but he really didn’t want to complicate their relationship further.

Turning Bai Shengguang into a client was already somewhat against his usual way of doing things; he absolutely did not want to turn him into a boss.

So, he used the opportunity to speak frankly, stating that he was very busy and didn’t have time to stay there for a massage with Bai Shengguang.

Bai Shengguang immediately frowned and asked him, “Is this how you treat your major client?”

Chen Shilü replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “If this kind of invitation came from a client, I would have refused it over the phone. I came here out of respect for you, Brother Sheng.” With that, he left Bai Shengguang behind and walked out.

Chen Shilü had a smooth side to his personality, but he valued rules and boundaries even more. In the complex adult world where emotion, desire, and profit intertwined, he had always been clean and decisive, never running into serious trouble. Because of this, he had a minor reputation within their small circle, and many people sought him out. Bai Shengguang was initially one of them.

First, a friend tried to connect them, saying a “big shot” wanted to meet him. Being under thirty, Chen Shilü wasn’t interested in a man nearing forty and flatly refused.

Bai Shengguang didn’t give up and came to Chen Shilü himself.

He was different from what Chen Shilü had imagined. More than physical signs of aging, time had endowed this kind of man with a mature and reserved temperament, along with the low-key confidence that comes with immense wealth—all of which gave Chen Shilü a favorable impression.

What was rare was that this successful man didn’t choose the simple, crude method of throwing money around. If he had, Chen Shilü would have told him to get lost immediately. Instead, Bai Shengguang adopted the posture of a very humble suitor.

Now, Chen Shilü knew, of course, that Bai Shengguang was not without the arrogance and conceit of a superior, but simply adopted different strategies for different people.

But that didn’t matter. Being a lover or partner might require more virtues, but for just sleeping together, all that was needed was that brief humility in bed.

He didn’t deny Bai Shengguang’s later care in his career; thanks to Qisheng Group’s business, he became a regional director two years ahead of schedule. But this didn’t make Chen Shilü value Bai Shengguang exceptionally, nor would he agree to his every request.

Perhaps it was because he had seen too many people undress. Whether it was a ten-yuan T-shirt from a street stall or a hundred-thousand-yuan haute couture gown, when a person shed their clothes, they also shed their poverty or wealth, and the contempt or halo imposed by the outside world and society, revealing their original appearance. And everyone’s original appearance was roughly the same, without any inherent superiority or inferiority.

Already in a bad mood, Chen Shilü rejected all weekend invitations from others, wanting only to go home and rest.

As he got out of his car, a motorcycle carrying Chi Huang roared up to him like a beast, stopping just an inch before running over his foot, giving him a fright.

He clearly sensed Chi Huang’s displeasure and immediately knew why.

He hadn’t replied to Chi Huang’s messages for days, and he had silenced the voice calls, letting them automatically hang up. Then, while deleting a stupid client, he had casually deleted Chi Huang as well.

He didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. It was just a one-night stand, and it was perfectly reasonable not to want further contact. But was his meaning not obvious enough for Chi Huang? He was clearly pretending to be dense on purpose.

Chen Shilü was also annoyed. “Why are you here?”

“A chance encounter.” Chi Huang didn’t show any displeasure on his face, only smiled at Chen Shilü. “We must have great fate, right?”

Chen Shilü frowned.

“…Alright, I admit I waited here specifically for you.”

Chen Shilü regretted letting Chi Huang drive him home that night, exposing his home address, but he hadn’t expected the other party to stake him out. To test if Chi Huang knew more of his private information, he asked, “How did you know I’d be home at this time?”

“Office workers usually get off work between five and six, spending anywhere from half an hour to two hours commuting. As long as you didn’t have a date tonight, I could wait for you from five to eight.” Chi Huang glanced at his watch. “It’s almost seven now.”

The more he spoke, the worse Chen Shilü’s expression became.

Chi Huang propped one leg on the ground, hands resting on the motorcycle handlebars, and reassured him, “Don’t be nervous, I don’t mean you any harm.” He smiled again, his posture and expression highly provocative. “Aren’t you curious why I came to find you?”

What else could they possibly do?

Chen Shilü refused outright. “Sorry, I’m not interested today. You should go back.”

“Which day are you interested?”

“I’m not interested any day.”

“Huh?” Chi Huang looked surprised and innocent. “Why?”

“Being interested requires a reason, not being interested doesn’t, does it?” Chen Shilü thought he was being utterly boring, discussing why he wouldn’t sleep with someone anymore on the side of the road.

He bypassed the motorcycle in front of him and walked toward the Residential Complex. But Chi Huang swerved his bike and blocked him again. “There must be a reason, tell me. Are you still mad because I didn’t do what you told me last time?” Chi Huang reached out and tugged at the edge of his shirt. “Don’t be angry, I’ll listen to you this time.”

Chen Shilü laughed in anger. “Do you think everyone falls for that act?”

“Didn’t you?”

Yes, last time, seeing Chi Huang’s youth, he had let down his guard and believed this bastard’s feigned innocence, only to end up being thoroughly devoured.

A person shouldn’t fall into the same trap twice, and Chen Shilü certainly wouldn’t. Now, he only felt the arrogant and foolish sense of superiority that the other party had developed from always being treated kindly.

He said coldly, “I think you’re too casual. I don’t want to risk my health. Is that reason sufficient?”

“…Too casual? That reason is truly surprising.” Chi Huang raised an eyebrow, leaned close to Chen Shilü, and stared into his eyes. “First, I’m healthy. Second, you also slept with someone you met for the second time. Isn’t that a double standard?”

“For me, that was an accident. For you, it must be routine. There’s a big difference,” Chen Shilü stated righteously.

He knew he was being a bit excessive, even bordering on personal insult. But Chi Huang was being so tactless and self-important, acting as if the whole world had to accommodate him.

“Can you move now?”

Chi Huang moved the motorcycle blocking him and made a gesture to invite him forward.

Chen Shilü stepped into the complex, hearing the gradually fading roar of the engine behind him, and suddenly felt a pang of regret.

It wasn’t regret about not continuing the relationship with Chi Huang, but regret that he had spoken too harshly. How much of his anger was actually sourced elsewhere, only to be dumped entirely onto Chi Huang after being provoked?

Indulging in sharp words and saying hurtful things was so unlike him, or rather, it didn’t align with the self he aspired to be. He could have refused politely; there was no need to wound the other person’s self-esteem. After all, Chi Huang was just a young man in his twenties. Thinking of the young people working under him, people mature later now, and they are practically still kids. There was no need to be so harsh.

Back home, Chen Shilü felt guilty every time he thought of Chi Huang’s face. Recognizing his mistake, Chen Shilü wasn’t averse to apologizing. But he had already deleted Chi Huang. Being unable to contact him was one thing, but even if he added him back and apologized, what then? Everything would become more complicated.

He decided to leave things as they were. Regardless of the ugly period drawn, it was a complete end. All he needed to do was stop thinking about it and stop the internal struggle.

He still thought about it occasionally over the weekend, but once the work week started and he got busy, all thoughts of Chi Huang vanished. All that remained was lack of sleep and staggering exhaustion.

Busy times always flew by, and soon it was Friday again—time for a breather.

Near the end of the workday, Chen Shilü received a call from Bai Shengguang, inviting him to dinner that night, just the two of them, with no talk of business.

The last time Bai Shengguang tried to pressure him using his “major client” status, Chen Shilü hadn’t responded to him all week. Since the other party was extending such a warm invitation again, Chen Shilü wanted to see what other tricks Bai Shengguang had up his sleeve, so he agreed to the dinner.

It was at a Japanese Private Yakiniku. In the private tatami room, after the food was served, Bai Shengguang dismissed the staff providing “kneeling service” for grilling.

With the door closed and only the two of them in the room, Bai Shengguang personally took charge. While skillfully grilling the wagyu, dipping it in sauce, and rolling it into easy-to-eat pieces for Chen Shilü’s plate, he sighed helplessly.

“Xiao Lü, I really don’t know what to do with you. Why aren’t you willing to come to my company? I wouldn’t treat you poorly.”

He had politely refused this matter repeatedly, but Bai Shengguang kept pressing, so he had to be blunt. “If I work under you during the day and sleep with you at night, won’t I become your slave?”

“You phrase things so harshly.”

“Isn’t it you who thinks too much?”

“I’m not asking you to work for free. I would give you a life you could never achieve on your own, don’t you understand?” Bai Shengguang even fed a meat roll into his mouth. “Eat more.”

Chen Shilü was the only person Bai Shengguang met who would privately and comfortably boss him around, naturally accepting his service, allowing the older man to fully express his need to care for someone due to his age. This was what Bai Shengguang liked most about him.

“That’s not what I want. I prefer more freedom. Besides, the happiness material things bring is limited; you should know that better than I do.” Chen Shilü wiped his mouth. “There are plenty of people willing to make that exchange with you. You don’t need to waste your breath on me.”

“I only want you.”

“Not necessarily. I just triggered your desire for conquest. You treat me as your unfinished ‘project.’ We’re both men, I understand. But there’s no need; it’s quite boring this way.”

“…”

“Let’s drop this topic, or I really won’t be able to eat anymore.”

“Fine, fine, I won’t mention it again.”

After eating their fill, Bai Shengguang started planning where they should go next, but Chen Shilü said, “Take me home.”

“You’re going home?”

“Yes, I only agreed to have dinner with you tonight, didn’t I?”

Bai Shengguang was extremely displeased, but he had no choice but to drive him back.

This was why Chen Shilü was so adamant about not going to Qisheng Group. He had the freedom to say “no” at any time, and he could maintain his complete self. He had already sacrificed a great deal of time and energy for money, and the physical pleasure between people—he hoped that would remain the purest bodily enjoyment, without any other entanglement, even the slightest emotional connection.

When they arrived downstairs at his Residential Complex, Bai Shengguang crossed his arms and grumbled, “You definitely won’t invite me up to your place.”

His sulky tone made Chen Shilü laugh. “Next time, if you say something I like to hear, maybe you’ll get a chance.”

Chen Shilü opened the car door to get out. Behind him, Bai Shengguang said through gritted teeth, “Chen Shilü, sometimes I truly love and hate you.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” Chen Shilü leaned back into the car window and kissed Bai Shengguang. “See you next week.”

He felt he had made himself clear this time, and Bai Shengguang probably wouldn’t pressure him again. Chen Shilü walked into the complex in a reasonably good mood.

He reached the entrance of his building and was about to step inside when suddenly, a tall figure darted out of the shadow of the streetlamp, giving him a huge shock.

Chi Huang scratched a mosquito bite on his arm and asked in a highly irritating tone, “Is the old man in the car just now your father?”