DP Chapter 51
by VolareXiang Yiye gripped the knife handle, the blade pointing downwards, he wasn’t clear about the situation either.
Xu Chuo’s method was too extreme, easily hurting people, and he wouldn’t consider it unless absolutely necessary.
“I’m serious, it doesn’t matter if I get hurt,” Xu Chuo said, taking another half step closer, grasping the blade with one hand, drawing blood instantly.
He held the blade against his neck, “I don’t think dying by your hand would be so bad, I’m just afraid you’d be held responsible.”
“Let go, are you crazy?” Xiang Yiye saw that the blade had already cut a gash in Xu Chuo’s neck and immediately tried to retract the knife, but Xu Chuo’s grip was too tight, so he grabbed his wrist instead, forcing him to let go.
The knife fell onto the carpet with a thud. Xiang Yiye cradled the back of Xu Chuo’s neck, checking his wound.
Thankfully, it hadn’t hit an artery. He released Xu Chuo and retreated a few steps, sitting down against the base of the bed.
“Forget it, Xu Chuo, forget it…” His mind was blank, not even realizing what he was saying, only feeling a sticky sensation between his fingers, intertwined with a shocking color – Xu Chuo’s blood.
“See, even if I put the knife in front of you, you won’t use it,” Xu Chuo said, “Xiang Yiye, you are essentially the gentlest person.”
As he spoke, he walked over to Xiang Yiye and squatted down, disregarding the wound on his hand, cupping his face and kissing him.
Xu Chuo’s kiss was light, carrying a taste of blood, tentative, comforting, and flattering.
Xiang Yiye froze for a moment, then pressed the back of his head, opening his mouth and biting his lip hard.
Xu Chuo winced in pain but didn’t back away.
Xiang Yiye turned his head away, saying softly, “Xu Chuo, how could you become like this?”
He truly felt fear. If a person could hurt himself, what else wouldn’t he do?
“I’ve always been like this,” Xu Chuo’s tone revealed a sinister intent, then added a hint of regret: “…Did I scare you? I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to leave.”
“You can’t confine me forever,” Xiang Yiye said.
“Two months, I only need you for two months,” Xu Chuo said, pressing his forehead against his, licking the wound on his lips, “Five years ago, I gave you two months, now you give me two months, okay?”
Xiang Yiye raised the back of his hand, wiping the blood from his lips: “You said it. After two months, we go our separate ways.”
Xu Chuo no longer locked him up, allowing him to move freely in the villa, but the guards at the door were still there.
Xiang Yiye returned to a monotonous but regular daily life, or rather, a retired life, with three meals a day, rising with the sun and sleeping with the night. During the day, he would read books and watch movies, or kill time with the fitness equipment.
When Xu Chuo was by his side, he would turn on the stereo and play music while he sat by the window reading, classical, pop, electronic, new age, all kinds of genres.
Gradually, Xiang Yiye noticed that the music Xu Chuo played matched the style of the book in his hand. Upbeat rhythms paired with novels with dramatic plots; melodious melodies paired with soulful prose; solemn tunes paired with philosophical treatises.
Sometimes Xu Chuo would approach quietly, like a cat, and Xiang Yiye didn’t feel repulsed, but he wasn’t enthusiastic either, just indifferent.
He optimistically thought that he wouldn’t get married anyway, and with this experience, he should be better at playing emotionally detached, mismatched couples in the future, right?
Sometimes he would think of his previous life, when Xu Chuo was much gentler to him, granting almost every request except letting him go, but he still often thought of Xie Zhimin.
Not out of helplessness, he was unwilling to be kept in captivity, deprived of freedom.
Winter came again, and several camellia plants were planted in the villa’s yard. Xiang Yiye occasionally went downstairs to look at the flowers, gazing at the distant scenery in a daze.
This villa was different from the one on Little Cang Mountain, but it was still in the mountains. Even if he could get past the guards and escape, he wouldn’t find the road without a car.
If he wanted to get out early, or if Xu Chuo went back on his word and wanted to extend the two months indefinitely, the safest way was to contact the outside world.
His phone had been taken away, but Xiang Yiye knew that there was internet coverage in the villa, and he had seen Xu Chuo hold video conferences in the study.
He had thought about using the computer in the study while Xu Chuo was out. But there were surveillance cameras everywhere, and he didn’t know when Xu Chuo was monitoring him remotely.
Xiang Yiye tried to ask for electronic devices, but Xu Chuo said, “I don’t think you need those, you can live a fulfilling life every day.”
“Are you even human, Xu Chuo,” Xiang Yiye said angrily, “I can forget about work, but you should at least let me contact my family, right?”
Apart from a few phone calls in the first few days, he hadn’t seen his family for over half a month.
“My dad’s still in the hospital, what if something happens?” Xiang Yiye said.
Xu Chuo thought for a moment and said that he would return the phone to him for half an hour every few days, but he had to use it under his supervision.
“I didn’t even get this treatment in middle and high school,” Xiang Yiye said. His parents and teachers trusted him and never controlled his phone.
“Then I’ll add another half hour,” Xu Chuo said.
In the evening, Xiang Yiye had a video call with Father Xiang, with Xu Chuo sitting next to him.
Xiang Yiye originally wanted to say hello to his parents, see that they were well, and hang up, then call Tao Muya or Song An to find a way to send them a message.
But when Father Xiang saw Xu Chuo next to him, he acted like he had seen an old friend, chatting away and asking why he hadn’t heard from him in years.
“After all these years, little Xu Chuo has gotten so thin,” Father Xiang said, bringing his face closer to the screen to examine him closely.
Xiang Yiye glanced at Xu Chuo. Having spent the past few days with him, he noticed that Xu Chuo always had a poor appetite. Sometimes when he clung to him, he could feel his bones digging into him.
“I’ve been too busy with work,” Xu Chuo said.
“You still have to eat well, next time I’ll have your Auntie make some dumplings and have Xiang Yiye bring them over to you,” Father Xiang said.
Xiang Yiye watched the time next to him, a little anxious, but he couldn’t show it.
It was hard enough to wait until Father Xiang ran out of things to say. Just as he was about to wrap up the call, Qiao Sha’s voice came from over there, “Isn’t that little Xu Chuo?” She hadn’t been in the ward just now.
Then another round of almost the same topics was carried out. Xiang Yiye thought with a bit of despair that he would have to wait until next time.
Xu Chuo seemed to be chatting very happily and relaxed, and he didn’t urge him to hang up even when the time exceeded an hour.
So Xiang Yiye tried to “take an inch” and said that he wanted to call Song An again to have him send over the script that he would be taking on next so he could take a look at it in advance.
“I’ll tell him,” Xu Chuo said.
“You don’t know which one I want,” Xiang Yiye said.
“You tell me, and I’ll relay it to him,” Xu Chuo said.
“Is this how you’re going to be? I’ll still have my own work and life after this,” Xiang Yiye said.
“But you belong to me alone for these two months. I don’t want you to talk to anyone other than your parents,” Xu Chuo said.
Xiang Yiye sighed and said the name of the script.
He would be acting in a crime drama in the form of a miniseries next spring and summer. He was originally wavering between two roles: a criminal who committed murder and robbery, and a victim who was kidnapped and imprisoned.
He and Song An had already reached a consensus to take on the former villain role, but in order to send a message out, he would emphasize to Song An that he wanted the victim’s script.
Song An knew that Xiang Yiye had a good memory and was very familiar with the roles related to him, so he definitely wouldn’t misremember. They had worked together for more than four years, so they had this much understanding.
Then, when the script was brought over, Xiang Yiye would say that it was the wrong one and disguise the code as notes to send out.
Before that, he would try to find out his approximate location from the bodyguards, the housekeeper, and others.
But Xu Chuo interfered, and judging from his attitude, he would obviously not allow Xiang Yiye to bring things in and out, so this plan was unlikely to work.
He still had to start with Xu Chuo, Xiang Yiye thought. He had to find a time when the other party was off guard.
Sleeping was a good time, but Xu Chuo was a light sleeper, and he would wake up with the slightest movement, so he had to find another way.
One day, Xu Chuo returned from going out and smelled a burnt smell as soon as he entered the door. Following the scent to the kitchen, he found smoke billowing from the stove.
Xiang Yiye was washing the pot by the sink, looking a little embarrassed: “I wanted to make something myself… but it seems like I burned through the pot.”
Xu Chuo laughed, grabbed his hand to look at it: “Your hands are all black, are you hurt? Just tell me what you want to eat. I can’t do it, but I’ll have the housekeeper make it for you.”
“You’ve made so many meals for me, I’ll return the favor,” Xiang Yiye said, “And New Year’s Day is coming up in a few days…”
“You want to spend New Year’s with me?” Xu Chuo’s eyes lit up. During this time, he would always show this surprised and delighted expression because of Xiang Yiye’s slightly intimate actions.
Xiang Yiye nodded hastily, feeling complicated inside. In fact, he also wanted to say, “The housekeeper will also want to go home for the holidays,” but he swallowed the words back.
Because of this, Xu Chuo was very happy for several days in a row. On Christmas Eve, he brought back a half-person-high Christmas tree and eagerly decorated it with Xiang Yiye.
Xiang Yiye looked at the boxes stacked on the floor, thinking they were props for decorating the Christmas tree, and lifted one up, finding it a bit heavy.
“I’m making up for all the gifts I’ve missed in the past few years,” Xu Chuo said, then, feeling that it might put a burden on him, he added: “Isn’t it customary to exchange gifts on Christmas?”
Xiang Yiye put down the box in his hand and said faintly, “I don’t have a return gift for you either. You’ve locked me up here, I…”
“Just to be festive,” Xu Chuo interrupted him in a timely manner, “Your willingness to stay here is the best gift.”
Before dinner, Xiang Yiye walked to the wine cabinet and picked out a bottle of red wine to open. He planned to get Xu Chuo drunk tonight and then sneak into the study.
There was a computer in the study, and he had observed that his phone was locked in a safe in the study.
The problem was how to get Xu Chuo to drink more. Apart from socializing, he didn’t drink much now, probably because he had to handle a lot of work every day and needed to keep a clear head.
Xiang Yiye poured the wine, estimating that he would have to play the emotional card later.
Just as he was pondering how to do it without leaving a trace, Xu Chuo raised his glass, took a sip, and said first, “You have something on your mind, are you still thinking about how to get out?”
“Besides that, I’ve thought about a lot of other things,” Xiang Yiye said without changing his expression, “For example, what has your life been like abroad these past few years?”
“It can be summed up in one sentence: I didn’t learn to cook in China in more than twenty years, but I learned it after going to England,” Xu Chuo said, “There’s nothing good to talk about, why not talk about you?”
He was still the same as before, always focusing on others, but reluctant to talk about his own affairs.
As a result, Xiang Yiye, who had been with him twice in this life and the previous one, still couldn’t fully understand most of his preferences. When asked where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do, his first words were always “Whatever you want,” or “You decide.”
For most people, talking about themselves is a very pleasant thing. The feeling of being listened to and understood allows them to temporarily ignore the fact that the other person is actually shifting the focus.
Xiang Yiye would no longer just follow Xu Chuo’s rhythm. He said, “To be fair, we’ll ask each other questions, and if we don’t want to answer, we’ll drink.”
Xu Chuo raised his eyebrows, showing some interest: “You used to just eat when you ate, I didn’t expect you to play drinking games now… Aren’t you afraid that I’ll lie to avoid drinking?” He knew that his credit value with Xiang Yiye wasn’t very high.
“If you really want to lie, it’s up to you anyway, I won’t,” Xiang Yiye said, “I don’t mind if you want to leave more lies before we clear things up.”
Xiang Yiye had a kind of passionate sincerity, a frank directness that would make him move forward unswervingly and recklessly for the people or things he thought were worthwhile.
No matter how many times he felt this, Xu Chuo would be moved. His left hand, which was holding chopsticks, paused, and he said, “Then I will also abide by the rules.”