When Yang Lu arrived, Yuan Rui was standing in front of the door to the private room, facing the wall like a schoolchild who was punished to stand outside of class.
“How come you’re not going in?” Yang Lu said in surprise: “Meng Lai and Zheng QiuYang are the only ones inside?”
Yuan Rui nodded, saying: “They chased me out, probably because they wanted to curse at each other.”
Yang Lu: “…… let’s head inside.”
Yuan Rui said somewhat awkwardly: “Um.”
Yang Lu said: “If you have something to say, speak.”
Yuan Rui felt even more awkward: “We didn’t finish our phone conversation. You invited Meng Lai here and then said all those things to me just now, is it… What do you mean by that?”
He actually really wanted to ask Yang Lu ‘is it because she wanted to play matchmaker’, but then thought he was being too vain. Thus, he changed his wording.
“I originally prepared to have you guys clarify this matter yourselves after our meeting tonight.” Yang Lu said: “However, since you brought Zheng QiuYang along with you, you guys won’t be able to chat about anything. I might as well say it for him.”
Yuan Rui: “…….You and Meng Lai reconciled?”
Yang Lu said calmly: “He took a trip to Hainan and then contacted me voluntarily after he returned. It can’t be considered a reconciliation, but he’s no longer dodging me. That’s already very good.”
Yuan Rui said: “Oh.”
Yang Lu raised an eyebrow and said: “Don’t just stand there. We can talk more once we’re inside. The two of them are still waiting.”
She knocked on the door and then entered with Yuan Rui behind her.
The private room was quiet and peaceful. Zheng QiuYang and Meng Lai sat very far away from each other. No expressions were visible on their faces.
At the round table, Yang Lu and Meng Lai sat with one seat in between them. Yuan Rui returned to Zheng QiuYang’s side and sat down next to him.
The waiter came to take orders. Yang Lu flipped through the menu saying this, this, and this.
Yuan Rui turned his head, looked at Zheng QiuYang, and whispered: “What did you guys talk about?”
Zheng QiuYang, expressionlessly: “Nothing at all.”
Yuan Rui thought to himself, Aiya, not good.
Ordering food, Yang Lu asked them: “What kind of liquor do you guys want to drink?”
Neither Zheng QiuYang nor Meng Lai spoke. Drinking alcohol in this kind of situation was clearly not sensible.
Only Yuan Rui, who remembered that he was the one paying, said generously: “You can pick whatever you want.”
The blue veins on Zheng QiuYang’s forehead bulged slightly.
If it weren’t for the fact that he didn’t want to lose points in front of this mother and son pair, he would have gotten up a moment ago and left.
This was completely different from the script. Didn’t they agree to come here and flaunt PDA in front of Yang Lu? How come the result was him listening to that Meng guy rattling on and on about stale topics and dry stories? Didn’t he just meet Yuan Rui earlier? What’s so great about that? Didn’t they just date early and kiss each other once? What’s there to fcking brag about!
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.
He was practically dying of anger.
Tfr. Zffalcu fjmt batfg fjgilfg kjr lcvffv j ugfja atlcu. Dflcu Tejc Eel’r olgra ibnf kjr rbwfatlcu kbgat ygjuulcu jybea.
Xbv omxlcu vjwwla.
Ktf kjlafg ifoa klat atf wfce.
Tjcu Oe rwlifv jcv rjlv mbegafberis: “Yglulcjiis, P kjcafv ab erf atlr bqqbgaeclas ab jiibk atfrf akb biv mijrrwjafr alwf ab gfwlclrmf. P cfnfg fzqfmafv Zg. Itfcu kbeiv mbwf jr kfii.”
Not even bothering to smile, Zheng QiuYang said: “Attending a social dinner, Director Yang has even brought your son with you. I am pretty surprised as well.”
His words carried thorns. However, Yang Lu’s expression didn’t change at all: “I’m here hoping that Meng Lai would be willing to bring me if he ever went out for social dinners. Unfortunately, he always wants to do everything himself and refuses to let me help him.”
Zheng QiuYang continued to say with a wooden face: “What an ambitious youth, young and promising. Not bad.”
Yang Lu said: “A few days ago, I heard your father’s health was not so good. How is he now?”
Zheng QiuYang said with a cold voice: “I have no father.”
Yang Lu: “……”
Seeing things go awry, Yuan Rui hastily interrupted and changed the topic, saying: “Aunty Yang, because of the incident with my video, the movie missed the best promotion period. I’ve really caused trouble for you.”
However, Yang Lu replied: “If the movie didn’t need any promotion, people wouldn’t have intentionally used that video to vilify you. You have no need to feel apologetic. It’s still fine to promote right now. I’ve only invested so much anyways so there won’t be any losses. The only difference is a matter of earning more or less.”
Yuan Rui got up and carried over the bags of gifts he brought with him: “You also helped me out a lot. Here are a little of my sincere regards. I hope you won’t mind.”
Yang Lu frowned, saying: “You’re too courteous.”
“Thank you for the care you’ve given me during this period of time. In the future,” Yuan Rui stood there, took a deep breath, and said nervously: “In the future, it’s best that we don’t interact anymore.”
Not only did Yang Lu freeze. Even Meng Lai, who didn’t speak this entire time, halted in the middle of picking up a teacup.
Zheng QiuYang also didn’t expect him to say it so bluntly. Forgetting to fume silently, he started to worry that Yuan Rui’s decision might offend Yang Lu.
Yang Lu looked at Yuan Rui calmly and asked: “Don’t tell me it’s because of those things that I told you just now?”
Meng Lai turned his head to look at her.
Yuan Rui said: “No. It has nothing to do with that. I had invited you here originally because I wanted to eat a farewell dinner with you.”
Yang Lu: “…….”
To the side, Meng Lai suddenly started laughing.
Not daring to look at him directly, Yuan Rui said: “The reason why you treated me well and recognized me as your godson, it was all for the sake of your own son. Right now the two of you have buried the hatchet and settled your past, there’s no need for you to support me anymore.”
Yang Lu looked at him and said: “Yuan Rui, I treated you well not only because of Meng Lai. I really do like you very much.”
Yuan Rui said with a sincere gaze: “Thank you, however, it’s best if you don’t like me anymore.”
Yang Lu: “…….”
Yuan Rui said: “In the past, you didn’t like my boyfriend. He thought you were thinking of my well-being, so he never said anything. At that time, neither of us knew you were Meng Lai’s mom. Right now, we know. He’s not happy so I’m not happy either. Aunty Yang, no matter what your intentions were for treating me well, I no longer want to accept it.”
Yang Lu moved her lips, perhaps wanting to say something. However, Yuan Rui jumped in ahead again: “Regarding what you told me on the phone just now, I only feel very regretful. However, people live an entire lifetime. How can there be no regrets? There are a lot of things I regret. Adding this one thing, really doesn’t change much.”
Yang Lu looked at him, then she looked at Meng Lai. There seemed to be some lament in her eyes.
However, Meng Lai smiled and said: “That’s true. I also have many things I regret. Not every one of them can be salvaged.”
Yuan Rui nodded his head and said: “That’s right. It’s not salvageable anymore.”
Once the dishes were served, Yuan Rui said it’s time to go. Without saying another word, Zheng QiuYang grabbed his coat and put it on.
Yang Lu hesitated briefly, but didn’t stop them.
On the contrary, Meng Lai got up and walked them out.
Yuan Rui hid behind Zheng QiuYang and quietly said goodbye to him.
Before leaving, Zheng QiuYang went to pay the bill. Yuan Rui stood in a corner to the side, waiting and watching him from afar.
After he paid the bill and came back, he said: “1700.”
Yuan Rui said: “A lot cheaper than estimated.”
Zheng QiuYang said: “En.”
Yuan Rui said: “Where should we go?”
Zheng QiuYang said: “You decide.”
Yuan Rui thought briefly and said: “Let’s go to McDonald’s? I want to eat a McFlurry.”
Zheng QiuYang said: “Okay.”
There was one nearby, right around the corner. Zheng QiuYang parked the car in a spot by the roadside and said: “You wait here. I’ll go inside and buy it.”
Yuan Rui kind of wanted to say something, but he couldn’t get it out.
Zheng QiuYang got out of the car and walked a few steps before coming back. Opening the door, he bent down slightly and asked: “Is there an e-coupon?”
Yuan Rui immediately said happily: “Yes yes.” He gave his phone to Zheng QiuYang and said: “In WeChat. Click on the official account. The discounts and benefits are right below. Just click into the coupons tab and you’ll find it. Can you do that?”
Zheng QiuYang gave him an eyeroll, grabbed the phone, and left.
Through the window, Yuan Rui watched him enter McDonald’s, emotions fluctuating up and down. If Zheng QiuYang threw a temper and got jealous directly, that’d be fine. Yet right now, he’s so quiet and composed, what kind of trouble was he planning?
After a short while, Zheng QiuYang came out carrying a large size McDonald’s paperbag while holding a cup of McFlurry in his other hand. Three young girls, who were about to enter, all turned their heads to look at him and then started to whisper to each other excitedly.
Yuan Rui was very displeased and made a finger gun with his hand. Accompanied by the gunshot sound effects of ‘Bang! Bang! Bang’, he finished off the girls who dared to covet his boyfriend’s beauty, and then blew on his index finger.
Zheng QiuYang returned to the car and gave the McFlurry to him, saying: “Strawberry flavor.”
Yuan Rui hastily praised: “I love the taste of strawberry the most.”
He opened the lid. There was a burst of the smell of strawberry. Zheng QiuYang looked at it and said: “Give me a bite.”
Yuan Rui hastily dug out a spoonful and fed him. Seeing him eat it, Yuan Rui asked flatteringly: “Want more?”
Zheng QiuYang refused: “Too sweet.”
He took out a hamburger, took two bites, then said: “I’ll drive you home in a bit.”
Yuan Rui asked in confusion: “Where are you going then?”
Zheng QiuYang: “I’m going to have two drinks.”
Yuan Rui looked at him and said: “I want to go also.”
Zheng QiuYang said: “Don’t go. You’ll be recognized.”
Yuan Rui said: “I’m not afraid of that.”
He put down the ice cream first, then took out a hamburger from the bag, and ate it with big bites. His cheeks were stuffed round and puffy. He was already full after eating half of it. Swallowing was exceptionally challenging.
Zheng QiuYang had already finished eating his own. He took the other half from Yuan Rui’s hand and also finished that. Pulling out a wet wipe and cleaning his hands, he lowered his head and said: “Then I’m not going either. Let’s go home.”
Yuan Rui felt Zheng QiuYang looked a bit pitiful and comforted distressingly: “Don’t be unhappy. It’s not like there’s no liquor at home.”
On the way back, there was an exceptionally terrible traffic jam. It took more than an hour to get home. As soon as they entered the door, Yuan Rui hastily went to take out the liquor. However, Zheng QiuYang said: “I don’t want to drink anymore.”
Yuan Rui had no choice but to put the liquor down and ask somewhat anxiously: “Then, then you…..”
Zheng QiuYang said, looking very exhausted: “I’m going to take a shower. Tomorrow I still have to go to work. Need to sleep early.”
Yuan Rui: “…… Oh.”
Zheng QiuYang went to take a shower.
Yuan Rui sat outside by himself, feeling a bit suffocated inside.
Just what exactly did Meng Lai say to his boyfriend? Did he tell Zheng QiuYang about how, after a series of unfortunate events, they weren’t able to get together, just like what Yang Lu had told him? But that was nothing to get angry over.
What exactly was Zheng QiuYang unhappy about?
What was Zheng QiuYang unhappy about?
He was unhappy that he met Yuan Rui too late. He was unhappy that when Yuan Rui was being cruelly polished by the sandpaper of fate and facing the world alone, they weren’t able to meet each other.
Yuan Rui was the flower that he obtained while drifting directionless in life. He thought he was the beam of light that Yuan Rui received during his isolation. He thought that as Yuan Rui helped him become colorful and vibrant, simultaneously, he had also illuminated Yuan Rui’s loneliness.
But in the many years of difficulties and obscurity before this, Yuan Rui had always been alone.
Zheng QiuYang even wished slightly that Meng Lai hadn’t brushed by Yuan Rui’s life due to various reasons. Perhaps that way, Yuan Rui would have lived a smoother life and there’d be no need for him to become how he was later on— easily attached emotionally and habitually trying to please others, always giving, giving and giving, and never expressing any pain.
ZQY, I know you are unhappy but why do you have to ignore my babie and make him overthinking???
Thank you for the chapter ❤️
He was probably busy overthinking himself xD
Thank you for the chapter!!
😭😭 huhu my heart…
Aaaaah. Stop being both sad and overthinking in your corner and cuddle uwu
Thank you for the chapter 🌷
I am so proud of Yuan Rui but please dont leave him alone right now QAQ
thanks for the chapter <3
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter ❤️❤️
Suddenly I got teary eyes reading this chapter ☹