Bai Lixin was about to speak when the hand resting on his shoulder gently extended forward and covered his mouth.
A warm, rough touch pressed against his lips, and the man’s breath subtly stirred the strands of hair on top of his head.
“Don’t talk to him. This man is a strange uncle who will corrupt good kids. Let’s go.” This sentence was obviously directed at Bai Lixin. It was less noticeably less cold and even carried a hint of intimacy. The slender hand shook off the furious Zhang Xiao, then reached back to hold Bai Lixin’s wrist and lead him away under Zhang Xiao’s glare.
The conflict between the two had already attracted the attention of the surrounding people. Seeing Dijia disregard the host’s face and take the person away, the lively banquet hall fell into a brief silence for a second or two.
However, everyone was astute, and it was just a moment’s digestion. The banquet hall returned to its previous hustle and bustle, but many eyes were seemingly tracking and scrutinizing the tall man and the handsome young man he held.
Dijia and Bai Lixin moved through the banquet hall as if no one else existed. Within moments, they disappeared behind the balcony curtains.
Father Fei watched them leave with wide eyes. After hesitating for two seconds, he ultimately did not follow.
…
The bright moon hung high above. This was on the sixteenth floor and although it was a balcony, safety measures had been taken with window enclosures.
The balcony was not large, and there was no one else except them.
A beautiful metal railing stretched in front of the glass. Behind them, luxurious red velvet curtains separated the balcony from the noisy living room.
The tall man released Bai Lixin’s hand after arriving on the balcony. With a polite but somewhat distant tone, he said, “Alright, everything is fine now.”
Bai Lixin looked up at the man whose features were etched in his mind, his eyes brightening. “Mmm.”
The man was stunned for a moment, then he nervously averted his gaze. “Hide here for a while. Not many people usually come here. You’re Fei Taizong’s son, right? Wait until the banquet is about to end before leaving. I see Fei Taizong hasn’t followed, so you should give him a call or send a message to let him know you’re here.”
Bai Lixin pointed to his flat pocket. “I don’t have a phone.”
The man was stunned again. “You forgot to bring it?”
Bai Lixin smiled, his twinkling eyes forming a beautiful crescent shape. “No, the Fei family didn’t give me a phone.”
The man stared at Bai Lixin’s smiling face and was momentarily flustered before his brow slightly furrowed.
‘No phone? What did that mean?’
He had heard about the Fei family’s affairs to some extent. Fei Yino was Fei Taizong’s eldest son, and he had met him a few times.
This was the first time he was meeting this young man. He should be the son of Fei Taizong’s current wife, unrelated to Fei Taizong by blood.
But what did it mean not to have a phone?
Had the young man cut off contact with the outside world?
Even though it was someone else’s family matter, for some reason today, he, who was usually uninterested in external things, was strangely concerned about the person in front of him. Despite not knowing him, he intervened, and hearing that the young man didn’t even have a phone made him feel uncomfortable.
‘What is wrong with me?’
“Did you say I’m your person?” The young man lifted his chin gracefully and the twinkling eyes focused on him. He teased, “Do we know each other?”
Dijia looked straight ahead, and shook his head honestly. “Today is the first time we’ve met.”
Bai Lixin: “But I feel like I’ve known you forever, as if we’ve known each other for tens of thousands of years. I’m Bai Lixin. Nice to meet you, Dijia.”
“Do you know me?” Dijia’s gaze towards Bai Lixin carried a scrutinizing meaning.
Over the years, countless men and women had tried various means to get close to him—some pretended to meet by chance, some directly threw themselves at him, and some were even sent as gifts to please him.
It could be said that they went to great lengths.
Every time, he felt extremely annoyed and even had the urge to kill someone.
He had heard Bai Lixin’s opening from at least ten people’s mouths, it was a clear intention and a tacky trick.
Was this seemingly clear and pure young man the same as those men and women?
Bai Lixin: “I saw an interview article about you from more than two years ago, in a financial magazine. You were quite arrogant back then, it left a deep impression on me. Today, I finally saw the real person.”
There was a feeling that the young man’s words only revealed half the story, making Dijia heart itch uncontrollably. Without realizing it, he pressed for more, “What does it feel like to meet the real person? Compared to the photos.”
“Now, you’re more mature and composed than you were back then, and you exude a stronger presence. I won’t hide it from you, as soon as I entered the venue, the first thing I saw was you. You had your back to me and were talking to someone.” The young man paused with a smile, his eyes seemingly assessing every inch of the man, “You are much more handsome than the photos.”
The young man’s eyes seemed to carry hooks, and everywhere his gaze swept, Dijia felt like there were many ants crawling around—itchy, uncomfortable, and yet strangely pleasant.
He didn’t want the young man to look, but he also didn’t want the young man’s gaze to leave.
Dijia couldn’t help but tighten his face, staring at the young man with cold eyes. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
Bai Lixin leaned against the railing leisurely, one hand supporting his cheek as he used the corners of his charming eyes to glance at Dijia. “No, this isn’t called seduction.”
Dijia: “? Then what is it called?”
Bai Lixin: “We call this a meeting of minds. You’re interested in me too, aren’t you?”
The man’s brows furrowed, he shrugged his shoulders and silently stepped back two steps, creating distance between them. “I’ll tell Fee Taizong that you’re here. Take a rest here.”
“I’m not gay, I have no interest in men, especially not in you. I helped you just now because I couldn’t stand Zhang Xiao’s arrogant behavior, and it happened to be you today. Even if it were someone else, I would still do the same. Don’t overestimate yourself, I will never develop feelings for you.”
After the man finished speaking, he turned around, and strode out of the balcony, leaving Bai Lixin standing there with a smile.
Dijia took a few steps out of the balcony, then turned back as if recalling something. The curtain he lifted hadn’t completely settled, swaying left and right. The radiant and gorgeous smiling face of the young man looked directly at him, meeting his gaze without warning.
Dijia’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The curtain fell, blocking their line of sight, and Dijia even felt a little embarrassed as he left.
S419M sighed silently, [Ah.]
Bai Lixin: [Ah.]
S419M: [Thousands of years later, Lord God still enjoys saying things that contradict himself. Lord Host, you’re really something, you don’t even stop him.]
Bai Lixin shrugged, [What can I do? Who made me love him so much that I can’t let him feel even a little unhappy in his heart.]
S419M: […]
‘If only your eyes didn’t light up with such enthusiasm when you said that, I would believe you.
Lord God, do you know that every time you say something harsh, it will hurt even more when you slap yourself in the future.
Please be more careful. It’s been thirty thousand years, how come you still haven’t escaped from the Lord Host’s palms?’
“Ah-choo!” Dijia sneezed halfway, and the person beside him immediately approached with concern, “President Dijia, did you catch a cold?”
Dijia kept a straight face, “Maybe.”
‘Could it be that someone was cursing me?’
The person who came close was a previous project collaborator, and Dijia remembered that his last name was Li.
President Li glanced at the direction of the curtain and said mysteriously, “Heroes are not immune to the charm of a beauty. I didn’t expect the usually aloof President Dijia to stand up for a close friend. I wonder when President Dijia met Bai Lixin?”
The way President Li looked at the curtain made Dijia feel a little uncomfortable and he took a step forward to block President Li’s line of sight. “What, are you interested in my private affairs?”
“No, no.” President Li shrank his neck, then spoke mysteriously, “President Dijia, do you know the origin of this boy?”
Dijia: “I know, Fei Taizong’s youngest son, what’s the matter?”
“Well,” President Li got closer, “this boy is not as innocent as he appears. He plays around a lot; don’t be deceived by his seemingly innocent exterior. When I saw you confront Zhang Xiao of the Zhang Group for him just now, and it really wasn’t necessary. He’s not worth it. If you just want to have some fun, that’s fine, but please don’t get involved deeply. I’m speaking from the bottom of my heart, and I’m saying all this for your own good.”
Dijia frowned, “What do you mean he’s not worth it?”
Uncomfortable, he felt very uncomfortable.
President Li cautiously glanced around, ensuring no one was listening before leaning in again, “President Dijia, I’m a person with a wandering heart, as you surely know. Just like you know my character, I also understand yours. We’re not cut from the same cloth. I can play around, but you’re different. Since your business career began, there hasn’t been a hint of scandal, you’re clean and pristine. There is no need to tarnish yourself for someone like him.”
“Have you heard of the term ‘Yangzhou Thin Horse’?”
Dijia’s eyes darkened, and his voice was devoid of any fluctuation, “I’ve heard of it.”
Yangzhou Thin Horse referred to companions specially raised in ancient times for the enjoyment of aristocrats, wealthy individuals, and local gentry.
These individuals were different from traditional prostitutes; they exclusively served those of noble status.
Thin referred to their slender bodies.
Horse indicated that these people were treated as commodities, bought and sold at will, subject to abuse and humiliation, carrying a strong sense of degradation.
President Li wouldn’t bring this up without reason. Dijia recalled Zhang Xiao’s disdainful and arrogant gaze, and subconsciously glanced toward the curtain behind him, “…”
President Li grinned, “This beautiful boy Bai Lixin is the Yangzhou Thin Horse raised by Fei Taizong, exclusively for pleasure. I have tasted him and he’s indeed unforgettable. Even I couldn’t bear it, let alone you. You might not have seen many pure flowers and suddenly encountering such a captivating rose…anyway, infatuation is human nature, but there’s no need to have an unpleasant conflict with Zhang for him.”
The man’s face revealed a nostalgic expression as he spoke, “Just have some fun, Dijia. If someone with ill intentions exploits this, it will undoubtedly impact your career and image.”
“President Li, are you interested in going somewhere with me after this banquet?” President Li winked at Dijia mysteriously. “I have two clean and beautiful boys there, both adults. You’ll surely like them.”
Bai Lixin was about to speak when the hand resting on his shoulder gently extended forward and covered his mouth.
A warm, rough touch pressed against his lips, and the man’s breath subtly stirred the strands of hair on top of his head.
“Don’t talk to him. This man is a strange uncle who will corrupt good kids. Let’s go.” This sentence was obviously directed at Bai Lixin. It was less noticeably less cold and even carried a hint of intimacy. The slender hand shook off the furious Zhang Xiao, then reached back to hold Bai Lixin’s wrist and lead him away under Zhang Xiao’s glare.
The conflict between the two had already attracted the attention of the surrounding people. Seeing Dijia disregard the host’s face and take the person away, the lively banquet hall fell into a brief silence for a second or two.
However, everyone was astute, and it was just a moment’s digestion. The banquet hall returned to its previous hustle and bustle, but many eyes were seemingly tracking and scrutinizing the tall man and the handsome young man he held.
Dijia and Bai Lixin moved through the banquet hall as if no one else existed. Within moments, they disappeared behind the balcony curtains.
Father Fei watched them leave with wide eyes. After hesitating for two seconds, he ultimately did not follow.
…
The bright moon hung high above. This was on the sixteenth floor and although it was a balcony, safety measures had been taken with window enclosures.
The balcony was not large, and there was no one else except them.
A beautiful metal railing stretched in front of the glass. Behind them, luxurious red velvet curtains separated the balcony from the noisy living room.
The tall man released Bai Lixin’s hand after arriving on the balcony. With a polite but somewhat distant tone, he said, “Alright, everything is fine now.”
Bai Lixin looked up at the man whose features were etched in his mind, his eyes brightening. “Mmm.”
The man was stunned for a moment, then he nervously averted his gaze. “Hide here for a while. Not many people usually come here. You’re Fei Taizong’s son, right? Wait until the banquet is about to end before leaving. I see Fei Taizong hasn’t followed, so you should give him a call or send a message to let him know you’re here.”
Bai Lixin pointed to his flat pocket. “I don’t have a phone.”
The man was stunned again. “You forgot to bring it?”
Bai Lixin smiled, his twinkling eyes forming a beautiful crescent shape. “No, the Fei family didn’t give me a phone.”
The man stared at Bai Lixin’s smiling face and was momentarily flustered before his brow slightly furrowed.
‘No phone? What did that mean?’
He had heard about the Fei family’s affairs to some extent. Fei Yino was Fei Taizong’s eldest son, and he had met him a few times.
This was the first time he was meeting this young man. He should be the son of Fei Taizong’s current wife, unrelated to Fei Taizong by blood.
But what did it mean not to have a phone?
Had the young man cut off contact with the outside world?
Even though it was someone else’s family matter, for some reason today, he, who was usually uninterested in external things, was strangely concerned about the person in front of him. Despite not knowing him, he intervened, and hearing that the young man didn’t even have a phone made him feel uncomfortable.
‘What is wrong with me?’
“Did you say I’m your person?” The young man lifted his chin gracefully and the twinkling eyes focused on him. He teased, “Do we know each other?”
Dijia looked straight ahead, and shook his head honestly. “Today is the first time we’ve met.”
Bai Lixin: “But I feel like I’ve known you forever, as if we’ve known each other for tens of thousands of years. I’m Bai Lixin. Nice to meet you, Dijia.”
“Do you know me?” Dijia’s gaze towards Bai Lixin carried a scrutinizing meaning.
Over the years, countless men and women had tried various means to get close to him—some pretended to meet by chance, some directly threw themselves at him, and some were even sent as gifts to please him.
It could be said that they went to great lengths.
Every time, he felt extremely annoyed and even had the urge to kill someone.
He had heard Bai Lixin’s opening from at least ten people’s mouths, it was a clear intention and a tacky trick.
Was this seemingly clear and pure young man the same as those men and women?
Bai Lixin: “I saw an interview article about you from more than two years ago, in a financial magazine. You were quite arrogant back then, it left a deep impression on me. Today, I finally saw the real person.”
There was a feeling that the young man’s words only revealed half the story, making Dijia heart itch uncontrollably. Without realizing it, he pressed for more, “What does it feel like to meet the real person? Compared to the photos.”
“Now, you’re more mature and composed than you were back then, and you exude a stronger presence. I won’t hide it from you, as soon as I entered the venue, the first thing I saw was you. You had your back to me and were talking to someone.” The young man paused with a smile, his eyes seemingly assessing every inch of the man, “You are much more handsome than the photos.”
The young man’s eyes seemed to carry hooks, and everywhere his gaze swept, Dijia felt like there were many ants crawling around—itchy, uncomfortable, and yet strangely pleasant.
He didn’t want the young man to look, but he also didn’t want the young man’s gaze to leave.
Dijia couldn’t help but tighten his face, staring at the young man with cold eyes. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
Bai Lixin leaned against the railing leisurely, one hand supporting his cheek as he used the corners of his charming eyes to glance at Dijia. “No, this isn’t called seduction.”
Dijia: “? Then what is it called?”
Bai Lixin: “We call this a meeting of minds. You’re interested in me too, aren’t you?”
The man’s brows furrowed, he shrugged his shoulders and silently stepped back two steps, creating distance between them. “I’ll tell Fee Taizong that you’re here. Take a rest here.”
“I’m not gay, I have no interest in men, especially not in you. I helped you just now because I couldn’t stand Zhang Xiao’s arrogant behavior, and it happened to be you today. Even if it were someone else, I would still do the same. Don’t overestimate yourself, I will never develop feelings for you.”
After the man finished speaking, he turned around, and strode out of the balcony, leaving Bai Lixin standing there with a smile.
Dijia took a few steps out of the balcony, then turned back as if recalling something. The curtain he lifted hadn’t completely settled, swaying left and right. The radiant and gorgeous smiling face of the young man looked directly at him, meeting his gaze without warning.
Dijia’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The curtain fell, blocking their line of sight, and Dijia even felt a little embarrassed as he left.
S419M sighed silently, [Ah.]
Bai Lixin: [Ah.]
S419M: [Thousands of years later, Lord God still enjoys saying things that contradict himself. Lord Host, you’re really something, you don’t even stop him.]
Bai Lixin shrugged, [What can I do? Who made me love him so much that I can’t let him feel even a little unhappy in his heart.]
S419M: […]
‘If only your eyes didn’t light up with such enthusiasm when you said that, I would believe you.
Lord God, do you know that every time you say something harsh, it will hurt even more when you slap yourself in the future.
Please be more careful. It’s been thirty thousand years, how come you still haven’t escaped from the Lord Host’s palms?’
“Ah-choo!” Dijia sneezed halfway, and the person beside him immediately approached with concern, “President Dijia, did you catch a cold?”
Dijia kept a straight face, “Maybe.”
‘Could it be that someone was cursing me?’
The person who came close was a previous project collaborator, and Dijia remembered that his last name was Li.
President Li glanced at the direction of the curtain and said mysteriously, “Heroes are not immune to the charm of a beauty. I didn’t expect the usually aloof President Dijia to stand up for a close friend. I wonder when President Dijia met Bai Lixin?”
The way President Li looked at the curtain made Dijia feel a little uncomfortable and he took a step forward to block President Li’s line of sight. “What, are you interested in my private affairs?”
“No, no.” President Li shrank his neck, then spoke mysteriously, “President Dijia, do you know the origin of this boy?”
Dijia: “I know, Fei Taizong’s youngest son, what’s the matter?”
“Well,” President Li got closer, “this boy is not as innocent as he appears. He plays around a lot; don’t be deceived by his seemingly innocent exterior. When I saw you confront Zhang Xiao of the Zhang Group for him just now, and it really wasn’t necessary. He’s not worth it. If you just want to have some fun, that’s fine, but please don’t get involved deeply. I’m speaking from the bottom of my heart, and I’m saying all this for your own good.”
Dijia frowned, “What do you mean he’s not worth it?”
Uncomfortable, he felt very uncomfortable.
President Li cautiously glanced around, ensuring no one was listening before leaning in again, “President Dijia, I’m a person with a wandering heart, as you surely know. Just like you know my character, I also understand yours. We’re not cut from the same cloth. I can play around, but you’re different. Since your business career began, there hasn’t been a hint of scandal, you’re clean and pristine. There is no need to tarnish yourself for someone like him.”
“Have you heard of the term ‘Yangzhou Thin Horse’?”
Dijia’s eyes darkened, and his voice was devoid of any fluctuation, “I’ve heard of it.”
Yangzhou Thin Horse referred to companions specially raised in ancient times for the enjoyment of aristocrats, wealthy individuals, and local gentry.
These individuals were different from traditional prostitutes; they exclusively served those of noble status.
Thin referred to their slender bodies.
Horse indicated that these people were treated as commodities, bought and sold at will, subject to abuse and humiliation, carrying a strong sense of degradation.
President Li wouldn’t bring this up without reason. Dijia recalled Zhang Xiao’s disdainful and arrogant gaze, and subconsciously glanced toward the curtain behind him, “…”
President Li grinned, “This beautiful boy Bai Lixin is the Yangzhou Thin Horse raised by Fei Taizong, exclusively for pleasure. I have tasted him and he’s indeed unforgettable. Even I couldn’t bear it, let alone you. You might not have seen many pure flowers and suddenly encountering such a captivating rose…anyway, infatuation is human nature, but there’s no need to have an unpleasant conflict with Zhang for him.”
The man’s face revealed a nostalgic expression as he spoke, “Just have some fun, Dijia. If someone with ill intentions exploits this, it will undoubtedly impact your career and image.”
“President Li, are you interested in going somewhere with me after this banquet?” President Li winked at Dijia mysteriously. “I have two clean and beautiful boys there, both adults. You’ll surely like them.”
