Editor: MinMin
Proofreader: DarkSapphire
He didn’t understand what Qi Xun was thinking. He thought he knew him all too well, but he still couldn’t keep up with that man’s brain circuit.
His eyes went wide like that of an alarmed cat.
Qi Xun found this reaction funny, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Bai Xi stopped coughing and bit his tongue instead, hoping that the pain would clear his confusion. His fingernails scratched the edge of the table.
“Why do you suggest that we date…Do you feel bad for me or do you….like me even a little?”
The last five words came out almost inaudible, like the faint steam rising from a hot cup of coffee, floating and disappearing in the winter air.
He knew that the possibility of the affection being mutual is very slim but still…
What if…
However, people always fantasize. And Qi Xun stays as honest as ever.
He answered, “It’s not sympathy, but I can’t really say yes to the last question. Bai Xi, I don’t want to lie to you.”
The pink bubbles forming in Bai Xis’ mind popped instantly.
He gave a dry “Oh” then asked nervously. “Then why? You don’t want to lose me as a friend?”
If that was the case, he should be proud. It showed how much weight he had in Qi Xun’s heart.
Qi Xun said, “I think we can give it a try. Since it will be hard for us to be friends again after today. Why not consider changing to a different relationship? You like me, and I’m familiar with you. We’re a much better match than two strangers. My parents often arranged blind dates for me recently, but I never go on dates because I hate wasting time.”
“I think I can accept it if the date is you.”
Bai Xi flew sky-high after hearing the last sentence.
He had been a friend of Qi Xun for so many years. Of course, he knew that this man came out of the closet during college, which surprised everyone. Although same-sex marriage had been legalized, it was not in the current mainstream. He was in a deadlocked state with his family for a long time before he got their approval.
Soon after accepting the fact, they began to worry about their son’s marriage like all other parents in the world. As soon as he graduated from college, they actively arranged blind dates for him, which showed how he wasn’t excused from marriage because of his sexual orientation.
It was just that Qi Xun never agreed.
In regards, Bai Xi could easily understand the meaning behind Qi Xun’s words.
He and Qi Xun can be said to be well matched. Their personalities complemented each other and both of them have the looks that can capture thousands of hearts. They knew each other well too. Qi Xun was already annoyed by his family’s urging for marriage. He happened to find that his close friend had feelings for him, so he wanted to see if he could work it out.
Since they urge him to go on blind dates, why not have this friend? After all, what is the difference between a stranger and his friend? When both had the word strange written on their foreheads?
Qi Xun looked at Bai Xi frankly. “If you like, we can date first. If everything goes well, we can also consider marriage.”
Bai Xi thought he was prepared for the next statements but was shocked that he could feel his palm sweat.
While he was still struggling, thinking over the matter of dating, the man across the table had already considered marriage!
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
If he removed all the context surrounding them, he would have thought Qi Xun was the one pursuing him!!
Lf revvfcis ofia ilxf qblrbcber ogbralcu reggbecvfv tlw jcv, ja atf rjwf alwf, agjqqfv lc j wjuclolmfca jcv lcabzlmjalcu vgfjw.
Po la kjr jcs batfg qfgrbc, tf kbeiv tjnf atbeuta atja atfs kfgf bea bo atflg wlcvr. Qjr vjalcu remt j mjreji atlcu? Jbeiv la yf frajyilrtfv bcf-rlvfvis?
Qtja lo atlr aegcr lcab gfugfa pera joafg akb vjsr?
But Qi Xun was the one who suggested this.
And he is the one who had been secretly in love for a long time.
He was helpless, like a rabbit baited with fresh fruit, hesitating whether to take a bite of that juicy meat.
Now that he thought more about it, if he dated Qi Xun, then he would greatly benefit from it, not the other.
They could give this a try. If they succeed, it would be like heaven widening its gate to shower his blessings with eternal happiness. It would make him sing a love song every morning and cross out the bitter days he spent as a secret admirer.
Even if they didn’t flourish into something more, he would just be back to his original state and accept the ending he had already anticipated for.
He pursed his lips and looked at the glowing face of his possible lover. He was blinded for a second and he almost blurted out ‘Okay’.
Before he could say that word, Qi Xun added, “You don’t have to give me the answer right now. You can think it over in the next two days.”
This sentence could easily give anyone the wrong impression as if it was Bai Xi who took the initiative.
But he knew that this was just Qi Xun being thoughtful. He nodded and took the advice.
“Okay, I-I will think more about it.”
He thought it was right to give both parties the time to consider. Maybe Qi Xun would suddenly regret it after he came to his senses and realized he actually didn’t want to proceed with his plan.
.
Bai Xi didn’t stay at Qi Xun’s house for long.
What happened this morning seems to be an illusion. Although Qi Xun is earnest about his intentions, he looked like a fugitive criminal who would run away from the scene of the crime at any chance he was given.
There weren’t any clothes in his size at Qi Xun’s house. Fortunately, there was a shop nearby. After that man’s secretary bought and dropped off the clothes, Bai Xi couldn’t wait to leave.
Qi Xun did not force him to stay, knowing that he needed some time to think about his proposal.
Bai Xi drove his car last night, but his current physical condition was obviously not suitable for driving. Qi Xun picked an off-road vehicle from his garage and said to Bai Xi, “I’ll drive you home and have my assistant drop off your car at your place soon after.”
Bai Xi fastened his seatbelt and nodded as consent.
He didn’t know why Qi Xun could do this so naturally, their skills seem to be not on par with each other.
He pretended to be asleep as soon as he got into the car. However, later on, he truly drifted to the dreamland.
After more than half an hour, he felt that someone had touched his hand.
“Wake up, we’re here.”
Bai Xi opened his eyes and got out of the car, but found himself standing in front of a hospital instead of his home.
He turned to Qi Xun in question.
Qi Xun locked the car and dragged him along. “I didn’t take safety measures yesterday and may have hurt you. So I scheduled an appointment for a doctor to examine you.”
Bai Xi turned into a tomato. The tip of his ears reddened, then it spread all over his face as if smoke would come out of his head at any moment.
He had received enough shock this morning.
He rejected the idea and tried to pull his hand away from the other’s grip. “I’m fine. There’s no need for this. I don’t need to see a doctor…”
Qi Xun looked back. Those eyes are serious, instead of being angry, he said firmly and gently, “Yes you do. You don’t want to come back after coming down with a fever.”
Bai Xi caved in under the other’s gaze and stopped his struggle, following Qi Xun forward like a good boy.
The examination process was better than Bai Xi imagined. This was a private hospital, and the head was someone Qi Xun knew. The middle-aged doctor was kind. He was not surprised at all by these crazy acts of the young people.
Qi Xun accompanied Bai Xi the whole way and answered almost all the questions in his place.
The doctor glanced at the two men a few times. He probably mistook them for a couple and even teased Bai Xi with a smile, “Young man, don’t be shy. Your boyfriend is being very kind to you.”
The corner of Bai Xi’s lips twitched and he couldn’t describe what he was feeling.
Qi Xun was such a walking contradiction. He clearly had a cold and aloof nature, yet meticulous and patient, with a strong sense of responsibility. Nothing could escape from him.
Just like now. Qi Xun might not have feelings for him, but this person felt that all this was his responsibility, so he would do his best to take care of Bai Xi.
It reminded Bai Xi of the proposal from earlier.
If he will take the risk, seize the opportunity and ask Qi Xun to marry him, Qi Xun might actually agree.
Bai Xi studied Qi Xun’s profile, feeling both love and distress. It was this contrast like tenderness that had kept him captivated for six years.
After the examination, the doctor declared no major problem. He prescribed several ointments and advised Bai Xi to apply them and rest.
Qi Xun finally drove Bai Xi home once they were out of the hospital.
But the address he went to wasn’t Bai Xi’s apartment, but his parents’ villa, which was not far from Qi Xun’s parent’s house.
Bai Xi had no objection.
He bought a high-class apartment on his own after graduation, but from time to time, he stayed at his parent’s house. The time he spent between the two locations were basically the same.
Once they arrived at the gate, he could see from a distance the hibiscus in the yard hanging beautifully on the branches.
Qi Xun didn’t enter. He stopped just outside the gate. Bai Xi put his hand on the car door and looked at him.
Qi Xun met his gaze.
The space in the car was narrow. Qi Xun’s eyes were dark and bright, like clear and deep spring, mirroring Bai Xi’s reflection.
The atmosphere became ambiguous for no reason.
Bai Xi lowered his head and fiddled the corner of his pants. Although he didn’t absolutely remember last night, there are some fragments that remain in his mind. He vaguely recalled how Qi Xun kissed and pressed him on the bed, giving him no room to escape.
He coughed his embarrassment away, then prepared to flee without pausing. But just as his hand opened the car door, he heard Qi Xun say, “Can I ask you a question?”
He froze and turned back. “What question?”
Qi Xun tilted his head slightly. “You said you started liking me in high school, so I thought long and hard. We didn’t have that much contact when you were in high school. How did you like me?”
Qi Xun asked this question very seriously.
He was not a curious person by nature. There were countless people who declared their love to him. The reasons were nothing more than the typical ones, so he never had the interest to pursue them.
But Bai Xi’s reason felt different.
He was two years ahead of Bai Xi, and they weren’t in the same grade during high school. Nor were they in the same school. So he couldn’t remember what role he played that made this young man fall for him.
The tears that landed between his neck and shoulder last night were burning hot, so much so that he couldn’t pretend like nothing had happened after he woke up the next day.
He was convinced of Bai Xi’s feelings towards him.
Bai Xi didn’t expect such a question. He stayed dumbfounded for a long time and did not reply.
When did he start liking Qi Xun?
This question seemed to become less important during these six years.
But he remembered vividly the beginning of everything. He remembered the way Qi Xun looked at him under the streetlamp on that winter night six years ago.
He really did not want to answer the question.
Maybe because of this long silence, Qi Xun didn’t push him to explain.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to answer it. Remember to rest once you’re inside.”
Bai Xi acted accordingly. “Th-then later.”
He waved at Qi Xun, pushed open the door and exited.
The gardener was trimming the flourishing plants in the yard as he passed by. When he entered the house, it didn’t look like either of his parents were home, they must be at the office. Only his younger sister was sitting in the living room and watching something on her iPad.
His sister’s name was Bai Ruo. She was his twin sister. They look alike but have distinct personalities. She was like Qi Xun, outstanding in everything since childhood and possessing a strong character.
Although the two siblings have different temperaments, they have been close since young.
Bai Ruo appeared to be happy to see him back, but when Bai Xi approached quietly, she asked in doubt, “Why are you looking a bit pale today? Did you work overtime and stay up late yesterday?”
Bai Xi certainly wouldn’t tell her the truth. After exchanging a few words, he quickly slipped away to his room upstairs.
The author has something to say:
Pine Nut Tea: I just found that Bai Nian, this name, collided with the supporting character’s name in my last novel, so I quickly changed it to ‘Bai Xi’. My apologies…Asking the readers to adapt to this change.
Translator has something to add:
Teo: So the main character’s name could mean either Bai or Bo (柏). I picked Bai because one of the many definitions is ‘surname’.
Happy Holidays. Fun fact, I was brainwashed to use Happy Holiday during school because not everyone celebrate Christmas, so it’s stuck ever since.
Went for a drink and came out pretty much having a boyfriend and being proposed to hahaha pining for years did pay off!
Thank you very much!♡♡♡♡
Thanks for the chapter 😊
From “unrequitted” love, to boyfriend, to husband… all in the span of one morning lolol
Thx for the ch and Happy rest Holiday to you too :3
Thank you for the chapter 😊
Thank u for translating!!!
Bai Xi 🥺
Thank you for the chapter ❤️
thanks for the chapter!
Feel for Bai Xi, deep crush and the reply is “you like me and I am familiar with you (also gets the parents off my back)”. I guess it’s not the electric fuzzy romance, more the I take responsibility-lets try this and I will learn to like you back. Maybe Bai Xi will meet someone who gives him fireworks at the beginning (in the next life).
Qi Xun is a considerate lover after their morning after, willing to be responsible despite not having feelings yet for Bai Xi.
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Ml is so forward and attentive ⁄(⁄⁄>⁄ω⁄<⁄⁄)⁄
qi xun definitely moves fast, lol. he’s very considerate, so i can see why bai xi fell for him.