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The Devoted Second Male Lead Decided to Favor Someone Else Chapter 16.2
Genius Artist - Replacement of the White Moonlight for the Rich CEO
“Fuck.” Lu Shijin cursed in a low voice, picking up his jeans from the ground. They were wrinkled and stained, unable to be worn, “It’s all your fault, my perfectly fine pair of pants . . .”
Huo Lian randomly threw a pair of lounge pants to Lu Shijin, “These will do just fine.”
Lu Shijin looked at the wide legs of the lounge pants, which would completely cover up the shape of his legs if he wore them. He had reason to believe that Huo Lian did that just to get him to change his pants.
By the time he finally finished dressing up again and hurried to the agreed upon restaurant, it was exactly six thirty.
Huo Lian didn’t go back on his word and brought Lu Shijin to the restaurant.
Lu Shijin opened the door and got out of the car. “I’ll return by myself later, you don’t have to pick me up.”
“Let’s wait and see.” Huo Lian waited for him to shut the door and stepped on the gas before even rolling the window back up.
Lu Shijin was left in the exhaust fumes and he cursed. “Shit, so ruthless, leaving as soon as we arrived.”
In the restaurant, Huo Qi was already waiting in the seats by the window.
Lu Shijin skillfully put on an impeccable smile and sat in front of Huo Qi.
“Sorry, you waited long. There was a traffic jam on the way, and the driver didn’t know the route, so I was late.”
“Don’t worry, I also just arrived.” Huo Qi lightly smiled, passing the menu over. “What do you want to eat?”
It was a high-end Western restaurant, so a single steak was very expensive. Lu Shijin naturally didn’t act polite and ordered air-transported Wagyu steak before returning the menu to the waiter.
The steak was soon done and Lu Shijin busied himself with cutting and eating, not taking the initiative to talk to Huo Qi.
Huo Qi didn’t have much of an appetite and only ate two bites before placing his utensils down.
In the past couple of days, he had to deal with the issues within the company as well as the troubles Ruan Siheng gave him, becoming very frazzled.
It was rare for him to be able to eat a meal so calmly.
In front of him, Lu Shijin buried himself in eating. His mouth was full of steak, his cheeks puffed up like a cute little hamster.
His attitude of not caring even if the sky fell down infected Huo Qi.
Huo Qi suddenly realized all the good points about Lu Shijin. He didn’t have demands, wouldn’t make him annoyed, obediently listened to him and followed his words.
“Is it good?” Huo Qi only spoke after Lu Shijin finished eating.
Lu Shijin wiped at the good residue on the corners of his lips, nodding. “Yes, why didn’t you eat?”
“I don’t have much of an appetite, it’s fine.” Huo Qi suddenly asked, “Shijin, how long has it been since we last met?”
Lu Shijin didn’t even have to think. “Ninety six days and twenty one hours.”
Huo Qi was a bit surprised at how clearly Lu Shijin remembered, then smiled. “Since you even remember the hours, it would appear that you really miss me.”
Lu Shijin also smiled. “Yeah, I’ve missed you a lot.” Not at all, it’s more like I wished you were dead.
Huo Qi was slightly moved, the gaze he directed at Lu Shijin becoming gentler.
After many days of separation, Lu Shijin seemed to have lost the immaturity of a student, his features beginning to display the charm of a maturing man. Even walking down the road would definitely attract the attention of many.
Before, Huo Qi had always thought that Lu Shijin was too green, whether in appearance or character. He was utterly incomparable to Ruan Siheng.
But now, being young has its own benefits.
At least Lu Shijin wouldn’t ignore him when he tried his best to please him.
Nor would he act like a madman when he has no inspiration, yelling and screaming at him, as if everything was his fault.
No matter how deep the obsession and infatuation was, after so many fights, it would naturally change.
It wasn’t that Huo Qi didn’t love Ruan Siheng anymore, but rather, he would sometimes feel annoyed by his temper as an artist.
So he found Lu Shijin very agreeable right now.
“Right, I brought the paintings.” Lu Shijin pushed the plate to the side, taking out artwork from his bag. “There’s nine in total, all done in the past half a year. I haven’t shown them anywhere.”
Huo Qi took them and threw them onto the seat beside him without looking at them.
Seeing the way Huo Qi treated the art, Lu Shijin sneered in his heart.
He claimed that he loved Ruan Siheng, but Huo Qi didn’t understand or even enjoy art.
What he loved was nothing but the image of Ruan Siheng’s artistic temperament he had in his head. Could two people with no common language really love each other?”
Lu Shijin pretended to be unhappy. “Why don’t you open them and see?”
“It’s too much work to open them and then put them back. I’ll look at them when I go back.”
“I don’t really mind what you do with the others, but the one on the top is for you. You can’t give it to anyone else.”
Huo Qi grew interested and opened the artwork. “For me? Which one?”
Lu Shijin pointed at《Walking by the Sea》, “This one, look, this is you and this is me.”
Huo Qi glanced over it, frowning in confusion. “But I don’t think we’ve ever been to the sea?”
Lu Shijin supported his chin, staring resentfully at Huo Qi as he said aggrievedly, “Of course I know you’ve never brought me to the sea, or anywhere at that. It’s a scene from my dream and I painted it when I woke up.”
There was a strange ripple in Huo Qi’s heart, his gaze fluctuating.
This is how much Shijin loves me, to the extent of dreaming of me.
It was a shame that he couldn’t live up to this affection.
However, maybe he could leave him with a good memory before officially breaking up?
Huo Qi carefully put the painting away, thinking to himself that Ruan Siheng would probably immerse himself in painting for the next bit and won’t have the time to see him.
So Huo Qi clasped Lu Shijin’s hand and said affectionately, “Since you want to go with me to the sea, and I just happen to be going on a business trip to Hawaii the day after tomorrow, why don’t we go together?”
“Huh?” Lu Shijin choked for a moment, not expecting this turn of events.
Huo Qi wanted to have a tryst behind Ruan Siheng’s back? Is he out of his mind?