Chapter 11: Does Luo Xing Want to Kiss Him?

Luo Xing shoved the phone into Shen Que’s hand, closed her eyes and rambled at the ceiling, “I don’t want this phone anymore. You sent it, you sent it, not me.”

Shen Que: ...

Grandma glanced at the chat history in Shen Que’s hand and read it aloud, word by word, “Little Xing Xing? Happy birthday to—Shi Yan baby? Wishing you lots of joy every day... Oh, these old bones of mine can’t take all this sweetness.”

The wrinkles on Grandma’s face deepened as she turned to Luo Xing. “Little Xing Xing, what does this mean at the end?” She took Luo Xing’s hand. “Are you in love? Who is Shi Yan baby?”

Shen Que frowned, a shiver running up his spine.

Luo Xing looked at Grandma as if her soul had left her body, lips quivering, tears in her eyes. “Grandma... you even read it out loud!”

Grandma patted Luo Xing’s head. “What’s the big deal? He replied to you, didn’t he? Look, he said thank you.”

Shen Que let out a cold laugh. “She sent a whole string of messages, and in the end, it was just—Luo Xing, thank you.”

Shen Que drew out the last syllable, and looked at Luo Xing, repeating, “Thank you. He didn’t even call you Xing Xing. Just Luo Xing, thank you. Nothing else—just a period.”

Luo Xing glared at Shen Que, gritting her teeth. “You sent it.”

Shen Que: ...

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll just say you sent it as a prank. Serves you right for always laughing at me.”

“Do you think he’ll believe that?”

Grandma watched their bickering with a smile. “Alright, enough now, nothing serious. Let’s go eat.”

Luo Xing hugged Grandma. “Grandma, I’ve lost my appetite!”

“I’ve made some flatbread for you.”

“Eat!”

—

Gu Shi Yan returned to the hotel. He hadn’t replied to Li Zhao’s message last night, and figured Li Zhao was probably at the hospital now, likely aware that he had hired an auntie. He couldn’t be bothered to explain.

Gu Liang had sent another address, the venue for his birthday banquet. They called it a birthday banquet, but really it was a business affair.

Lying on the bed, Gu Shi Yan stared at the bright white ceiling, the same cold glow as the screen last night. He recalled the scene on his phone screen: hearts... cake, roses, and...

A gentle kiss.

Did Luo Xing want to kiss him?

Gu Shi Yan unconsciously pressed his fingertips to his lips. The cool touch of his lips against his finger, of course, sparked nothing.

Images flashed through his mind: Luo Xing clinging to his arm, pouting and chattering endlessly.

Gu Shi Yan’s tongue flicked out, moistening his dry lips.

—

Realizing what he was doing, he abruptly sat up, lips pressed tight. He opened his phone, copied the address Gu Liang sent, pulled up QQ, composed the message, and sent it to everyone. All messages went through successfully.

Except... Luo Xing’s showed a red exclamation mark.

Gu Shi Yan stared at the line below: “Failed to send. Please add the recipient as a friend first.”

???

He took a screenshot, exited QQ, and opened WeChat.

The interface still displayed the message he sent days ago. He selected the photo album and sent the screenshot.

—Xing Xing has enabled friend verification. You are not yet their friend. Please send a friend request, and after verification, you can chat.

He waited a while...

“Heh...”

“Hehe.”

Gu Shi Yan’s jaw tensed, phone clutched so tightly his fingertips turned white. Usually calm and unruffled, his chest now heaved with agitation.

Only one thought filled his mind—

Luo Xing had deleted him!

Not just QQ, but WeChat too.

He knew about QQ, probably happened after he replied last night. As for WeChat? He had no clue when that happened. Like a fool, he’d been staring at the empty chat box every day!

So damn stupid!

Who knows how long he stood on the sun-drenched balcony, cursing in his head.

The call from Gu Liang finally startled him—the sweat soaking his clothes was obvious.

He hung up.

At the sink, he scrubbed his face with such force it was as if he wanted to rub it raw.

Only when his face turned red did he stop.

In the mirror, the scab on his cheek had cracked and bled again.

He seemed oblivious to the pain, pressing a tissue to the wound.

—

Gu Liang’s message was still on his phone screen.

Gu Shi Yan flipped his phone over, refusing to look. He took a cold shower, changed into clean clothes, and left the room.

Shen Que was reading Gu Shi Yan’s message.

[Star City, Mingming Avenue, No. 166, Xingxing Restaurant. You are invited to the birthday banquet.]

Luo Xing held the phone to her ear, with a bag slung over her shoulder, a freshly filled water cup dangling from her wrist, the base of the cup bumping against her leg with each step.

“Hello? Ah? Got it, Mingming Avenue, right? Okay, you guys have fun, Shen Que and I will take two stops on the subway and be there soon.”

She hung up and glanced at Shen Que, who was still dazed.

“Come on, why aren’t you changing your shoes yet?” Luo Xing swung her bag and water cup.

“Did you block him on every chat app?” Shen Que asked.

Luo Xing paused, “Yeah.”

Shen Que handed her the phone.

Luo Xing saw the birthday invitation, pressed her pink lips together. “When did you get his contact info?”

“If he hadn’t sent this message today, I wouldn’t even remember adding him. I’m a class rep; he barely comes to class once a month. The counselor asked me to check in, so I added him from the class group.”

Luo Xing replied indifferently, “He probably sent it to everyone. You don’t need to respond.”

“So now he knows you blocked him.”

“So what? Is he going to come hit me?” Luo Xing nudged Shen Que’s back. “Hey, could you stop talking about him? Let’s go, Ming An and the others are waiting.”

They had agreed to play tennis today.

Ming An and the others had arrived early, waiting only for Shen Que and Luo Xing.

Shen Que slung the tennis bag over his shoulder, took Luo Xing’s bag. “Let me help—you’ve got water, a bag, like a kid going out. Such a hassle.”

“Is my drinking water bothering you? Thanks.” Luo Xing let go of her bag, cradled her phone, and started scrolling photos of Qi Zhi. “Ah, so handsome.”

Shen Que glanced at her but said nothing.

Xingxing Restaurant.

The grand hall was gilded and dazzling, crowded with guests in suits and elegant dresses, glasses of champagne and red wine in hand.

The door opened, and a young man entered wearing a plain black t-shirt. The simple style had no embellishments, yet up close, the sturdy fabric outlined the contours of his muscles.

His shoulders and neck were pale and cool, unable to hide the thick veins, leading up to a sharp Adam’s apple, chiseled jaw, and thin lips.

Gu Liang looked over and smiled at the person opposite him. “Look, we just mentioned him and here he is.”

A man about Gu Liang’s age raised his wine glass. The young woman in a long dress beside him smiled at Gu Shi Yan. “Dad, I’m going to find Gu Shi Yan to play now, okay?”