Ch28 - Passerby

Editor: Ghost

After getting a pair of new shoes, Wang Chao was even more eager than Xie Zhuxing to show them off. He insisted on going out to take a stroll down the streets, saying that you must go out and show off a bit when wearing new shoes. He firmly dragged Xie Zhuxing out. Their fame hadn’t reached the point where passerbys would stop them, so they could go out in public without being recognized.

When they went to the mall, Wang Chao tried on a blue t-shirt. He asked Xie Zhuxing, “Does this look good?”

“It does,” he replied.

He called out to the shop assistant. “I want two of this.”

“Why do you want two of the same shirt? You want to burn through all your money?”

Wang Chao giggled. “One for me and one for you.”

Xie Zhuxing declined his offer. “I don’t want it. Don’t get it for me.”

Wang Chao pretended he didn’t hear. He walked over and swiped his card, then chose another shirt that had the same design but in different colors and then bought two pairs of the same jeans.

Xie Zhuxing knew  he couldn’t do anything about him, so he might as well not say anything. While Wang Chao was trying on other clothes, he went to settle the bill for the shirts and the jeans.

After they walked out from the shopping mall, Wang Chao said he wanted to go for afternoon tea. Xie Zhuxing didn’t want to go. He said, “I’m not going. I’m a bit sleepy. I’m gonna go back and get some shut eye.”

Seeing that he really didn’t seem to be very energized, Wang Chao said shamelessly, “I’m also a bit sleepy. I’ll tag along and go to your place for a nap, too.”

After they returned home and laid on the bed, Wang Chao didn’t sleep. Instead, he laid on his side and started chattering away to Xie Zhuxing without end. “Your mattress isn’t comfortable at all. Let me buy you a new one. The latex mattress I’m sleeping on right now is pretty good; it also comes with two latex pillows. Also, your window shades don’t seem to cover up the sunlight. I’ll buy you a new one when I get the chance. I like blue.”

Xie Zhuxing laid on his back, not looking at him. “Why do you care about the color of my window shades?”

Wang Chao laughed and said suddenly, “I’m just hoping for us to blow up in popularity now.”

Xie Zhuxing was a bit shocked that Wang Chao said something like that. The other members all wished to become very popular, except for Wang Chao. He was the only one that didn’t seem to care much about popularity. He didn’t lack money and he was indifferent to fame. It’s not that he entered the industry to become an idol, but rather he was bored, so he came to have some fun.

He patted Xie Zhuxing on the back and said happily, “When we become popular, you’ll make a lot of money! You’ll buy a huge house and we’ll live together. I’ll pay you rent, and all the window shades, bed sheets, and duvet covers will be blue! If we have to work, then we’ll go to work together. If we don’t have work, then we’ll just stay home and play games! At night we can watch horror movies, and after we’re done, you can go with me to the bathroom! Oh right, the toilet seat has to be blue too!” The more he talked, the happier he got. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

However, Xie Zhuxing got more and more annoyed the more he listened. He was silent for a moment before he said, “By the time I can afford a house in Beijing, I’m going to live with my girlfriend. Not with you.”

Wang Chao seemed to have been splashed with a bucket of cold water. He sat up with a whoosh and said hurriedly, “What girlfriend? You’re not going to find that Yan Jiajia again, are you? Even horses don’t eat leftover grass. How come you can’t understand this logic?”

Xie Zhuxing laid there motionless. He said monotonously, “It’s not like she’s the only girl on this planet. You don’t want to date or get married, but I can’t do that. I like girls and I want to date them. I also like kids. I also want to get married in the future and be a dad. I can’t fool around with you forever.”

Wang Chao was a bit stunned. He squeezed the hand laying on the pillow. He was very upset.

“Stop chattering about such useless things. I haven’t had a good sleep in a few days. I’m really tired. If you don’t want to sleep, then go home. Stop bothering me.”

He closed his eyes and repeated everything he just said in his heart.

I like girls. I like children. I want to get married. I want to be a dad.

I don’t like Wang Chao. I don’t want to live with him. I don’t want to have blue window shades, blue bed sheets, blue duvets, and blue toilet seats. I don’t want to stay at home and play games with him. I don’t want to watch horror films with him.

I don’t want to at all.

Wang Chao was unhappy, but he understood. He had no reason to prevent Xiao Xie from getting married and having kids.

…If only Xiao Xie was a girl. He could marry Xiao Xie and logically stay together with him, and use blue toilet seats with him.

With such an idea in his mind, he looked at Xiao Xie’s face and erratically thought about what Xiao Xie would look like if he were a girl. After thinking about it for a while, he hurriedly stepped back from his thoughts. Xiao Xie wasn’t feminine at all. He looks better as a guy after all.

He wanted to leave hostilely, but then he thought he didn’t have a reason to do so. He hesitated for half a second, then laid down quietly. He looked over at Xiao Xie for a bit, his heart filled with unprecedented melancholy.

Who knows which girl was going to have such luck and merit to be able to get married to Xiao Xie. His attitude was good, his personality was good, and he was so handsome,

He had a fw malicious thoughts in his head. He hoped  all the girls Xiao Xie met in the future were going to be some variation of Yan JIajia. He hoped they would be happy for a few days then break up or divorce after getting married for a few days. He hoped  his kid….nevermind, the kid would be left for Xiao Xie. He said he likes kids.

Who in the world even invented marriage? Who the fuck was that bored?

He couldn’t sleep, so he took out his phone to play. Not having the sound on while playing games didn’t bring the same feeling as when there is sound, but he was afraid  he would wake Xiao Xie up if he did turn on the volume. And so he could only exit out of the game and log onto Weibo. He saw  Liang Xi was trending on Weibo. He had uploaded a picture of his bandaged finger, saying that he had accidentally cut himself while chopping vegetables. The comments were full of his fans giving worried remarks.

How weird, Liang Xi was exactly like him. The two of them had never been in the kitchen in their life. How could his finger have been cut while chopping vegetables?

He got up from the bed quietly and walked outside. He closed the bedroom door and dialed Liang Xi. “Bro, what happened to your finger? Why are you chopping vegetables when you don’t even know how to cook?”

Liang Xi, who had been injured, seemed to be pretty happy as he said, “You called just in time. I was just about to find you. Let me borrow one of your vacant cars for a few days. My car got hit by someone. It’s being fixed right now.

Wang Chao, “Sure, when do you need it?”

Liang Xi, “Are you busy right now? If not, then bring it over right now. I’m at home. I’ll need it tonight.”

Wang Chao thought that since Xiao Xie was sleeping anyway, there was no one to entertain him. “Alright, I’m going over right now.”

He pushed open the bedroom door to take a look. Xiao Xie’s eyes were closed. It seemed as if he was in a deep sleep. He didn’t make any noise as he left quietly.

Hearing the door outside close, Xie Zhuxing opened his eyes and sighed into the empty room.

The moment Wang Chao arrived at Liang Xi’s place, Liang Xi proudly announced that he had gotten together with Bai Tu. He bragged, “My hand was hurt by my wifey. He was so worried and nervous about me. I have to go with him to the hospital later for an IV. Give me the keys. You can leave after.”

Wang Chao, “…”

He was already a bit unhappy. He was thinking that he could hang out with Liang Xi for a bit while he delivered his car keys over to him. But who knew that the moment he arrived, he would be slapped in the face with dog food without even being given a chance to speak. He left his keys and then was kicked out.

T/N: Dog food= PDA in chinese slang

He wasn’t mad at Liang Xi, but he wasn’t happy either.

If he knew  it was going to be like this, he would’ve slept next to Xiao Xie for a while longer.

When he walked out of Liang Xi’s place and into the elevator, he was stopped in the middle as a man walked in.

Wang Chao took a glance at him and thought that he looked familiar.

“Are you Leo?” That person took the initiative and greeted him. “I’m Zhou Niansen. We met at Duan Yikun’s birthday event before.”

Wang Chao couldn’t remember who this man was. He saw so many people that day he didn’t bother to remember any of them.

“I’m Baitu’s agent,” Zhou Niansen said.

Wang Chao had no impression of him, but the moment he heard Bai Tu’s name, he let out a small smile. “Did you come to discuss work with Bai Tu?”

Zhou Niansen also returned a polite smile. “Not only about work. I’m also a close friend of his privately.”

Wang Chao didn’t know how to exchange pleasantries, he merely said, “Oh, that’s pretty nice.”

“Did you come here to find Liang Xi? I heard that your relationship with him is pretty good,” Zhou Niansen said again.

Wang Chao didn’t want to continue talking with him. He replied half-heartedly, “Hm.”

Zhou Niansen smiled at him.

When they arrived downstairs, Wang Chao suddenly remembered  he had given his keys to Liang Xi as he reached for his Porsche keys.

“What’s wrong? Did you lose your keys?” Zhou Niansen asked.

“No, I gave it to Liang-ge…” Wang Chao started saying, but then he felt that there was no need to explain to this person. He stopped and said instead, “I’m going to hail a cab. See you later.”

“Where are you going? I can send you off.”

“No need.”

Zhou Niansen had already opened the door to his passenger seat. He smiled as he said, “Come on, don’t be courteous. I’m pretty close with Liang Xi too.:

Wang Chao didn’t really want to get involved with him. He insisted, “No need to trouble you.”

Zhou Niansen continued his smile, “Why are you acting like a kid? Are you scared that I’m going to kidnap you?”

Wang Chao’s attitude was bad. With an attack like that, even if he didn’t want to impose, he had to for the sake of his pride. And so, he got into Zhou Niansen’s car.

“Where are you going?” Zhou Niansen asked him.

Wang Chao pondered for a bit, then said Xie Zhuxing’s address. He didn’t know if Xiao Xie had woken up already, if he did, then they could eat dinner together.

Zhou Niansen drove slowly as he asked a few questions relating to IceDream as a group, such as who the producer was, where the music video was shot, and if they were busy recently.

Wang Chao replied absent-mindedly as he took out his phone to send Xie Zhuxing a message, asking him if he had woken up yet. If he didn, they could go eat mala crayfish together.

Zhou Niansen asked about Wang Chao’s relationship with Liang Xi again.

Xie Zhuzing didn’t reply. Wang Chao’s attention wasn’t present and so he didn’t answer Zhou Niansen’s question. Instead, he said, “What kind of broken car is this? It’s hot and humid.”

Zhou Niansen took a glance at him and said, “The AC’s broken. I haven’t gotten the chance to fix it yet. Have some water.” He took out a bottle of water from the drink holder next to him and gave it to Wang Chao.

Wang Chao wrung open the water and drank half the bottle. He quickly put the cap back on the bottle and threw it to the side as the phone on his lap suddenly vibrated. Xie Zhuxing had replied: I just woke up. Come over.

Wang Chao’s eyebrows immediately raised in delight as he replied: Alright, wait for me. I’m going over there right now.

Zhou Niansen, “What are you happy about?”

Wang Chao’s mood had gotten better, so he answered, “I made plans with a friend for tonight.”

Zhou Niansen, “What are you guys doing? Can I tag along?”

There was no way Wang Chao was going to bring him along. “If there’s a chance in the future, then I’ll treat you to dinner as thanks for giving me a ride today.”

Zhou Niansen didn’t say anything, his smile still on his face.

Wang Chao suddenly noticed  the road they were on didn’t seem to be right. “Do you not know how to get to that neighborhood?”

Zhou Niansen continued to stay quiet.

Wang Chao, “How about you navigate and I drive.”

Zhou Niansen, “You can’t drive.”

Wang Chao, “What do you mean I can’t drive? I’m an experienced driver.”

Zhou Niansen let out an eccentric smile as he said, “My broken car is both hot and humid. You’re probably about to get heat stroke, Do you not feel dizzy?”

Wang Chao, “…Who the fuck are you? How dare you plot against me! Stop the car!”

He had felt a bit dizzy a while ago, but he had brushed it aside thinking it was because of Zhou Niansen’s driving skills since some drivers were known to be unstable drivers. Sitting in their car while playing games was an easy way to get headaches. But since Zhou Niansen had said that, he knew that something wasn’t right. If it was any other matter then he wouldn’t have been able to react so quickly, but when it came to something like this, he truly was experienced. He immediately knew  something was wrong with that bottle of water.

Since he had the balls to drug him, then there was no way he was going to stop the car.

His eyesight had already become a bit muddy; he couldn’t make clear of the road in front of him. He reached for the seatbelt but couldn’t manage to undo it after several times. Not only was his head dizzy, he also wanted to vomit. A heat rose up in his lower abdomen as black flashed before his eyes and he fainted in a trance.

Xie Zhuxing waited for about an hour at home. Wang Chao still hadn’t arrived yet. He had sent him several messages, but not one of them was replied to. When he called him, he found out  Wang Chao’s device had been shut off.

He wasn’t sleeping in the afternoon as he heard Wang Chao on the phone with Liang Xi talking about going over to his place. Xie Zhuxing thought  Wang Chao was probably having too much fun at Liang Xi’s place right now and forgot all about coming back to his place for dinner. All Wang Chao cared about was having fun – nothing else could ever compare in importance.

Maybe this was for the best, it’s not like he liked eating mala crayfish anyways.

Xie Zhuxing used the rice cooker to make some congee, then steamed some custard buns for dinner.

After dinner, he cut off the tags from the new clothes that were bought this afternoon. He placed them in the washing machine, then hanged them on the balcony.

There were two t-shirts, shirts, and jeans. Each of them swung with the wind in pairs.

These clothes had no heart; they didn’t know  they had been matched in a pair. They were just like the person who paired them together: all of them had no heart.

Since there was nothing to do anyways, he decided to sleep early. He needed to pump up all his energy so that he could continue working with full fire tomorrow.

After a while of sleep, he was awoken by banging at the door.

He shivered as he sat up. His intuition told him  Wang Chao was probably here.

As expected, he was standing outside the door when he went to open it.

Xie Zhuxing, “…What happened?”

Wang Chao’s hair was messed up and his cheeks were red. Even his eyes were a bit red. He didn’t say anything as he squeezed through the door and closed it behind him. He stood there wheezing and gasping, His eyes flew all over the place. His appearance was as if he didn’t belong here. He looked like he had just done something unspeakable.

With the bright lights illuminating in the house, Xie Zhuxing noticed a red swollen bruise on his forehead. It seemed as if he had bumped his head on something. Xie Zhuxing suspected that he had been in a car accident. He hurriedly asked, “Did you hit someone?”

But Wang Chao said, “No, I didn’t drive.”

“Then what’s with the bruise on your head?”

Wang Chao blankly rubbed his forehead, wincing from the pain.

Xie Zhuxing was a bit worried now. He grabbed his elbow and asked, “What did you do this time? Did you get into a fight with someone?”

Wang Chao was stunned by all of his questions. He said after a while, “No fights, no accidents…I’m going to take a shower first.”

Xie Zhuxing said angrily, “What are you taking a shower for? Hurry up and tell me right now: what did you do?!”

Wang Chao touched his face, not daring to look at him. He said in a quiet voice, “I didn’t do anything. I just went to have a quick fuck.”

Xie Zhuxing, “…”

He let go of the hand that was on Wang Chao’s arm. “Get out.”

Wang Chao, “…”

Xie Zhuxing opened the door with a cold face, seemingly wanting to drag him out.

There was no way he was willing to leave, but he wasn’t as physically strong as Xie Zhuxing either. There was nothing he could do but act shamelessly as he hugged Xie Zhuxing suddenly.

Xie Zhuxing was so mad that his voice was trembling. “Let go of me.”

Wang Chao, “I don’t wanna!”

Xie Zhuxing, “I’m going to hit you!”

Wang Chao felt so wronged that he started crying.

Xie Zhuxing, “…”

Wang Chao went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Xie Zhuxing stayed in the living room as he touched his shoulder that was wet from Wang Chao’s crying. He felt ashamed.

Wang Chao cried as he washed himself.

He was super unlucky. Out of nowhere he ran into Bai Tu’s freak of a manager. Who knows what grudge Zhou Niansen held against Liang Xi, but he mistakenly thought that Wang Chao was Liang Xi’s little boyfriend and so he drugged him. Zhou Niansen was going to bring him to a hotel and rape him, but thankfully he bumped into the hotel lobby desk and was sobered up a bit by the pain. He had just learned a few tricks from Xiao Xie a few days ago so he was able to bring down that stupid manager in a few moves. However, the drugs still got to his brain as he fucked that stupid manager in a hazed state. He was still a bit dazed when he finished, it was just like after a hookup. Then, he suddenly remembered  he had made plans to eat mala crayfish with Xiao Xie, so he quickly left the hotel to get a cab to Xiao Xie’s place.

He suddenly woke up on the road there, a huge “Fuck!” ringing through his head. He had just done it with a guy.

When he arrived at Xiao Xie’s place, he stayed downstairs for half an hour, letting the wind blow. He didn’t dare  go up.

He had made plans to eat mala crayfish with Xiao Xie, but now it was this late. He needed to give an explanation when he went up, but what was he going to say? “I was swindled by a guy and ended up fucking him, so I’m late?”

He had a faint feeling from before that Xiao Xie didn’t like him hooking up with girls. Xiao Xie’s attitude was so good, but he had gotten mad over this matter so many times.

If Xiao Xie knew  he had just done it with a guy, he was probably going to be even more mad.

He wasn’t happy himself either. He didn’t like guys. If he wanted to hook up with a guy then he would’ve done it with Xiao Xie ages ago. Why would he wait until this day to do it with some random passerby?

Why did he feel as if he had just lost himself even though he was the one who fucked someone else?

y’all do not fucking know how much i hate this zhou niansen guy, hes such a piece of shit i hope he rots in hell for all the things he did to wang chao and bai tu. my poor bbs.

for clarification, zhou niansen drugged and kidnapped wang chao. he bought him to a hotel in hopes of raping him because zhou niansen HATES liang xi (spoiler for bai tu/liang xi’s novel) and he thought that wang chao was liang xi’s lover. however, wang chao was stronger than he had expected and in the end zhou niansen was the one who got fucked.