The air outside was crisp and cool, the scent of rain faint but still there, nostalgic in a bittersweet way as he sat uncomfortably on a wet bench outside of the police station.
“Fuck,” Chang Hui cursed, pacing around, “fuck, what are you going to do?”
“He’s not pressing charges,” Wu Biaoqing dutifully reminded him.
“Is that the biggest concern right now?” His friend rested his head in his hands, trying his best to think, “what the hell happened? Did Zeng Yuan really not do anything?”
The trainee shrugged, “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters,” Chang Hui glared it him, “this- this is going to fuck up your entire career.”
“You’re more worried about it then me,” Wu Biaoqing noted, “what are you, my mom?”
His friend resisted the urge to punch him, lest there be another assault case.
“But seriously, you had to do that right before the competition? In the middle of a hallway? Where anyone could see it?!” He cried, feeling helpless.
“Does it really make a difference where it happened?” He laughed, his entire body lax, as if he were lazing about at home and not outside of a police station after sustaining multiple minor injuries.
Chang Hui stared at him, noticing how vibrant and relaxed he was, and felt that perhaps violence wouldn’t be so bad.
“Wu-ge,” he said, and his voice betrayed the desperation he was trying to keep hidden, “I don’t know what to do.”
Wu Biaoqing stared at his friend, someone who stayed by his side the entire time, regardless of how other people had been reacting since the moment the fight broke out—
No, even before the fight, Chang Hui had always stood up for him.
He was simply too preoccupied to pay it much attention.
He smiled at him, and though it was small it stunned the fellow trainee who had never seen him smile before, “then don’t do anything.”
His friend frowned, heart still set on fussing over him until the very end, “even though you didn’t give an explanation to the police, you have to explain it to management. Everyone is expecting you to get kicked out, you know.”
“I know,” Wu Biaoqing replied simply, “I’m not sure that I mind it anymore.”
Chang Hui blinked at him, stupefied, “what?”
“This program just isn’t for me,” he explained, “and don’t try to downplay it, I’m not deaf. I know what people say about me.”
He turned then, staring up at the dark, cloudy sky, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“I don’t think I’ll be going back even if they ask me,” he continued, “I’ll find somewhere else. A team that cares.”
Just as Chang Hui was about to reply, the door to the station opened, and a familiar figure stepped outside.
Him, noticing the awkward air, immediately changed his words, “I’ll wait for you in the car.”
By the time he thought of a reply, his friend had already walked away.
Wu Biaoqing stared at Jiang Yu, a million different questions running through his mind.
Why didn’t you tell the truth?
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.
Did Zeng Yuan threaten you?
Were you pressured by the company?
Are you still going to honor your promise?
Jiang Yu stared everywhere but at Wu Biaoqing, and answered none of those questions that went unsaid.
Silence filled the air like a balloon, expanding until he was being suffocated with it.
Bits of rainwater had long since soaked into his clothes from the bench, and Wu Biaoqing shivered slightly.
They continued to say nothing.
He shifted his gaze from the other trainee to the dark clouds above, listening to the rumble of thunder in the distance.
“It’s going to rain,” he said at last, breaking the stifling quietness that had overtaken them, “I didn’t think to bring an umbrella.”
Jiang Yu continued to say nothing.
“It was on my shelf the other day,” he continued, “the one with the cat sewn on it that you bought me. The threads are coming loose.”
He looked down at his feet, noting that there was a small puddle of rainwater, mixed in with it some of the mud that had gotten stuck to the bottom of his expensive sneakers.
“The weather forecast said it was going to be a clear sky today,” he added, “only a ten percent chance of rain. I guess it’s a lucky day.”
Jiang Yu continued to say nothing.
“I wonder if the rest of the team remembered their umbrellas. Mo Song is always preparing for the worst, after all. Maybe he panic-packed one in his bag.”
He stared at his reflection through the puddle, all of his faux relaxedness gone, leaving only a nervous, tired man in its wake.
He was exhausted, after everything was said and done.
Fighting saps a lot of energy out of a person.
“I should’ve asked him to stay behind,” he joked, “so we could check and see. You know, he told me once that—”
Jiang Yu glared at him, “how can you be so calm?”
Wu Biaoqing titled his head to the side, confused, “what?”
“You’re so,” he took a breath, all worked up, like a wind up toy waiting to be released, “so unaffected. You just fought Zeng Yuan and you’re just… sitting here. Unfazed.”
“What else am I meant to do?” He laughed, a dry laugh that reflected more helplessness than humor, “tell me, Jiang-ge, do you really think there’s any chance I’d be able to stay in the program now?”
He sighed, fiddling with his hands as he spoke, “that’s why you lied, isn’t it?”
Jiang Yu stiffened, as if he were caught red-handed, and he paused for a moment before replying, “what other choice did I have?”
“Tell the truth?” Wu Biaoqing looked up at him then, eyes glassy, face stained with fresh fallen tears, “explain what he said? Explain why it happened?”
“I couldn’t do that,” he cut in, “you couldn’t do that either, that’s why you didn’t say anything. Quit trying to paint me like the victim!”
“I said nothing because I left the decision to you!” Wu Biaoqing exclaimed, his voice cracking ever so slightly, “because you’re always like this. You tell me one thing, but the moment someone finds out, you say the opposite. I- I don’t know what to believe, Jiang-ge. I can’t tell which version of you is the one that’s lying. I wanted you to decide whether or not to tell the truth. Clearly, you were willing to go against my word just so that no one would make assumptions about you.”
“Do you think everyone has the freedom to let people think whatever they want?” His friend scoffed, “you think we’re all like you, some bored rich asshole with too much time on his hands playing around trying to be a professional? The rest of us don’t have that, Xiao Wu, we didn’t have a perfect life guaranteed for us from the moment we were born.”
Wu Biaoqing laughed, half out of surprise and half out of disbelief, “you think my life is perfect? You think that I have everything just because I have, what, money? Do you really think that would solve every problem in the world?”
“Only you can act like that!” Jiang Yu huffed, “you’ve never had to think about money in your entire life. You don’t understand what it’s like to struggle like me, like them. We’re fighting for a chance on that team because it’s our means of survival, but who the fuck are you? Sure, you’re talented, but what’s the point when you don’t even need to be there? You could quit whenever you want, and go back to your parents and your comfortable life and never have to work a day, but if any of the other trainees get kicked they would have to work themselves to the bone just to be able to eat.”
“Of course I understand I’m better off than you all!” The other cried, “I’m not an idiot. Why the hell would I be paying for meals whenever we go out? Why would I be the one replacing peoples damaged equipment when management refuses to replace them? Why would I be leaving the fridge fully stocked despite the trainee policy stating that everyone is only supposed to eat the food that they buy? Because even if everyone there hates me, I’m not going to sit and let people suffer! So forgive me for being honest. Forgive me for being upfront, and for living my life my way instead of acting like a coward like you do.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Jiang Yu fumed, “you think you’re righteous just because you use your money on us out of pity? That’s bullshit. You’re just deflecting from the truth— you refuse to act normal. Why can’t you see that even if you don’t give a shit about what people think of you, I do? I want to stay close to you, but how can I do that if people think that I’m- that I’m like you? Do you know what that would do to my reputation? Do you know how far back that would put me? How much it’d fucking cost me to be thought of that way? You can be proud of yourself because you’re untouchable, because you can leave whenever you want. I can’t.”
Wu Biaoqing glared at him, his blood boiling, and for the second time that day he was properly angry.
“Who was it that promised to leave together?” He shot back, “who is it that lies? Switching faces with that much ease is crazy. One day, everyone is going to see through that- that you that you pretend to be, and they’re going to find out who you really are anyway. So why try so hard to conceal it? We could be ourselves together.”
“It’s always together with you, isn’t it,” the other seethed, “why are you so hung up on the idea of us?”
“Because I’m in love with you!” Wu Biaoqing snapped, shouting despite his tears, “I- I thought, for a long time, that you were too. I thought… I thought I meant something to you. Every promise, even though I knew deep down they would never work out, I still believed them anyway. You promised me always, Jiang Yu, and look where that went.”
His gaze softened, and Jiang Yu replied after a moment, “I’m sorry, Xiao Wu, but nothing lasts forever.”
“I would’ve changed that,” he replied quietly, as if it hurt to say it out loud, “for us.”
The silence between them returned, only disturbed by the sounds of Wu Biaoqing sobbing into his hands, still sitting on the bench.
The clouds in the sky had grown even darker by then, rain sprinkling down in little droplets, a sign of a stronger storm coming in due time.
As Jiang Yu spoke, lightning cracked in the distance, illuminating his face with a faint yellow glow, “let’s end this.”
Wu Biaoqing stared at him, his heart that he’d been struggling to keep together finally breaking.
Jiang Yu refused to meet his gaze, never once catching his eyes throughout the entire conversation, as if looking would break him too.
Chang Hui honked the car then, a signal for him to leave, but his legs still felt weak as he stood up.
Wu Biaoqing was the first to walk away, feet splashing against the puddles on the ground, his tears washed away by the somber spring drizzle.
—
“Fuck, the traffic this morning was killer.” Liang Enlai groaned, before being shushed by his makeup artist as she finished up the final details of his stage makeup.
“That’s why I told you to get here early,” Zheng Shun retorted, “who here didn’t listen?”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” He shrugged, grinning up at the man standing beside him innocently, before getting reprimanded once more for moving.
“Right,” the CEO nodded, “thank you for agreeing to fill in on such short notice. I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
Liang Enlai, embarrassed by his friend suddenly getting serious, blushed slightly, “don’t sweat it. You owe me one though, got it?”
“Next time, drinks are on me,” he replied with a smile, “and I solemnly swear not to reality check you regardless of whoever you decided to let take advantage of you that night.”
Finally released from his stand-still prison, his friend punched him lightly on the shoulder, “I’m not some virgin maiden in need of protecting, damn it.”
“Certainly not a virgin,” Zheng Shun shot him a glare, suppressing a shiver at the unpleasant memory that ingrained knocking before entry into his mind forever more, “but most definitely in need of protection.”
Liang Enlai rolled his eyes, “yeah right. At most, a hookup will sell the watered down story of our sexcapades to some tabloids for the cash. What’s the harm? It’s not like I’m doing drugs or hurting people.”
“I maybe not,” Zheng Shun sighed, “but you’re still trying to give your mother a heart attack.”
“Fuck, has she been calling you?” His friend gasped, “I knew I shouldn’t have given her your new phone number.”
“No, she just kept going on about how you abandoned her during our mahjong game yesterday,” he explained, “I think she might really throw your stuff out this time.”
“Come on, she knew I had two movies back to back,” he groaned, “she’s so dramatic.”
As they passed the bathrooms, someone slowly made their way out of it, slowly making their way down the hall.
“Oh yeah, you’ll wait for me after the competition ends tomorrow, right?” his friend asked offhandedly, distracting him from looking at the person passing them.
“Yeah, yeah,” Zheng Shun waved his hand, reply nonchalantly, “sure thing.”
As the continued to walk, he suddenly paused, turning around to stare at the familiar, retreating figure of the person who passed as it slowly realizing something.
“Zheng Shun? Hello?” Liang Enlai snapped his fingers, “Earth to shunshun?”
The CEO turned back around, mustering his patience, and continued walking with his friend, “my bad.”
Familiar figure Wu Biaoqing was none the wiser, hobbling his way back into the break room.
“Damn, Wu-ge, are you alright?” Men Wu took in the image of his pale complexion, frowning with worry.
“I’m- I’m fine,” he managed to gasp out.
He couldn’t afford to be unfit to play, not then, not when his team needed him the most.
He would just…
Power through it.
“Right, don’t forget your jacket!” Yan Shufen reminded him with a smile, handing it to him.
He stared at the team jacket for a beat in a daze, staring at the back of it, where isolation was printed in bold, white letters.
He took a deep breath before putting it on, the jacket sitting comfortably against him, and he thought absentmindedly that he truly had found a team that cared.
He just couldn’t help but worry about whether he deserved it or not.
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Guess who finally got the hang of dropdowns! Now the authors notes won’t be super long text blobs for anyone who doesn’t want to read it.
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I hope you enjoyed this chapter!! The next is an extra, unrelated to the current events of the novel, which will be posted later today since I’m a bit too tired to format and post both updates right this second. Feel free to check back later for chapter 12.5!! Time to go to bed… 中秋快乐！
Thank you for the chapter!! Please get some more rest and I hope you’re doing safe 💜 giving you lots of love and support!
Safe as can be, just drinking lots of tea and hoping for a speedy recovery ╮(╯▽╰)╭ Thank you for the support!! (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵)
Please get well soon and I hope you have a speedy recovery!! Cant wait for 12.5
Thanks for the Chapter!! 👍
中秋节快乐！
Thank you for the new chapter!
I can somewhat understand where JY comes from, with his fear about his reputation and it’s impact on his livelihood, but it doesn’t change that it’s not ok at all what he did to WBQ!
And also just because he has money doesn’t mean he isn’t a human being with feelings like everyone else 😭
It’s a shame that ZS didn’t get to talk to WBQ, it might have cheered him up 🥺
He grew up poor, and therefor has unreasonable suspicion & hatred for anyone better off than him. Inferiority complex who? Not to mention, while WBQ himself may not realize it, Jiang Yu knows that WBQ is better than him in every aspect, including the one thing he’d been good at throughout his life— gaming. Without his usual leverage, no matter how it happened, Jiang Yu and Wu Biaoqing were never meant to last, because Jiang Yu would never be able to feel like a true partner. He would always subconsciously feel inferior to WBQ, even though WBQ was everything he wanted.
Similarly, Wu Biaoqing would always be trying to please JY instead of truly being himself. Whether he realized it or not, he would’ve slowly hidden parts of himself that JY felt were “too much”. The relationship between them, while good while it lasted, was never meant for always (>_<)