Winner Takes All

“Uncle Li.” Zhao Jinxin chased him up, “What, are you angry?”

Li Shuo turned around and smiled calmly: “Angry? Why should I be angry?”

Zhao Jinxin was taken aback. He raised his eyebrows and smiled: “I think so too, there’s nothing for you to be angry about. Then what are you doing rushing to get away?”

“Don’t you see that Feiye is embarrassed?”

“Oh…” Zhao Jinxin deliberately lengthened the end of his ‘oh’. “You care about him being embarrassed. In fact, I also feel embarrassed. I didn’t think that we would have someone we both knew. Regarding that person and I…”

“You don’t need to explain.” Li Shuo put his hands in his pockets, smiling coolly and lightly, “I already said that that is your freedom.”

Zhao Jinxin nodded: “I can rest assured that you are so enlightened.”

“Well, don’t worry, I won’t be Philip Cheung. But I think Feiye’s accusation of you may not be groundless.”

Zhao Jinxin lifted his chin slightly: “What do you mean by that?”

Li Shuo spread his hands: “In this world, not everyone is the same as you, with your ‘enlightenment’, so if you have never planned to ‘date’ anyone, just say it out clearly. Acting as if you like people so much, is it fun to tease others?” He can almost imagine how Zhao Jinxin gets along with the Philip Cheung who only hears of his name but never sees him. It should be a copy of him, acting like a coquettish, grinning, and kind. Changed, turned people around and took it seriously without knowing it, and finally found that it was just a game. Of course, his experience was more fun than a game, and it was a premeditated scam.

He always thought that during the good time between the two of them, despite the shadow of Shao Qun behind them, Zhao Jinxin liked him to some extent. Those sweet moments are meaningful to him. This is also the biggest reason why he was willing to maintain the current relationship. As a result, he figures out that he might be wrong after all.

Zhao Jinxin never want to ‘date’ anyone.

It’s all just fucking games to that guy.

Fortunately, he is not Philip Cheung. He is not just anyone. He is Li Shuo. He can like someone if he wants to or not like them if he doesn’t want to. In a relationship, no one should be in control of him.

Zhao Jinxin’s smile turned a bit cold: “Your Feiye said a few words casually, you already believe him. I said it all clearly from the beginning, it was that guy who ‘crossed the line’ and began to pester me. Is it my fault?”

Li Shuo began to feel distressed: “I won’t comment on who’s right or wrong. I am neither the party involved, nor does this matter have anything to do with me. I will head back first.” He can’t even look at Zhao Jinxin’s face for a second now. He feels like he’s going to be really angry so he turned around with the intention to leave.

“Wait a minute.” Zhao Jinxin said: “I have a reason to find you today.”

Li Shuo paused on his tracks but he did not turn around: “what reason?.”

“My dad still hopes that you will be in charge of the audit work. He agrees to your plan. He has already signed the contract and it is in my car. I will give it to you.”

Li Shuo closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were already clear from the previous anger. He turned around and looked at Jinxin like nothing is wrong: “Okay, great.”

Zhao Jinxin took a deep look at the man in front of him before leading him to his car. He took out a file from the co-pilot’s seat and handed it to Li Shuo.

Li Shuo took it in his hands.

They are only less than a meter apart and the two of them only looked at each other for a moment like that and neither of them spoke a word.

In Li Shuo’s mind, the memory of Zhao Jinxin, who appeared on the day of the explosion, when he was most desperate, scared, and at a loss, emerged suddenly. It was the image of the two of them looking at each other in the chaos and panic as they are also looking at one another now. At that time, his heart was full of gratitude and redemption but now, his heart is filled with…despair.

The lethality of the phrase “I have never dated anyone” unexpectedly overshadowed the fact that Shao Qun is indeed Zhao Jinxin’s cousin. Zhao Jinxin has always hidden himself too deeply, all his thoughts and actions have to be guessed. He keeps thinking that the man will inevitably be preconceived and passionate. He should be grateful that he heard this sentence today, otherwise, given his personality, he will have a quick showdown soon, asking what Zhao Jinxin thinks of him, and guessing about the answer that he will get, he will be embarrassed for himself.

He did not win this game, but fortunately he also did not lose it.

Zhao Jinxin took two steps backwards, then turned back into his car, closed the door with a slam, and left the vicinity.

Li Shuo stared at the car disappearing from the road ahead of him. This is the first time that Zhao Jinxin has not come to act like a baby or pretend to be pitiful. He is really unaccustomed to this…

He touched his forehead, raised his neck slightly, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down in distress.

If this continues, he will not be able to see Zhao Jinxin clearly, even himself. It is because he thinks too much. If he was a sex partner as agreed at the beginning, and didn’t think about it, he would not be as confused now.

Zhao Jinxin’s behavior has crossed the line, and his heart has also crossed the line.

He should just stop everything here.

When he got home, Li Shuo went through the entire contract again, then signed and stamped it. Then he called Brother Xiang and said that he had signed both contracts and will send them back tomorrow.

Xiang Ning said: “I’m about to call you too, tehre’s news about Li Chengxiu.”

Li Shuo’s heart tightened: “What news? Did you find him?”

“Last time we found the account that Li Chengxiu would use to make a fixed payment. Just today, a thousand yuan was transferred into this account from Yangcheng, and the sender was Li Chengxiu.”

Li Shuo sighed heavily, his excited voice trembling: “Great, great, he is fine.” This news is simply the only good news he has received in the recent period! He said: “Hurry up and send someone to investigate.”

“I have already started to send people to check it out, but you have to be prepared. Since we have got the news, Shao Qun must have got the news too.”

Li Shuo pondered: “Try to get to Chengxiu quicker than him.”

“Will do.”

“Brother Xiang, please be careful. If you find Li Chengxiu first, you must hide him away. My dad is in stable condition these days. I will take the time to go back to China.”

“No problem.”

After hanging up the phone, Li Shuo was a little restless. It is of course a good thing to have news of Li Chengxiu, but Shao Qun is likely to find people one step ahead of him, isn’t it all back to the original point? Thinking of this level, how could he stay? When his father recovers, he must go back immediately.

Li Shuo took a look at the time and called Han Feiye to apologize. The two meetings were interrupted because of Zhao Jinxin, which was really rude on his side.

Han Feiye’s voice sounded dull: “You don’t need to apologize, it’s not your fault.”

Li Shuo heard the dullness in his words and sighed: “Fei Ye, is the person you talking about a good friend of yours?”

“Well, he is my former colleague and is also a friend of mine for many years. He has shown me a picture of Zhao Jinxin, and I have also heard of this person. Philip has been depressed for a long time because of this incident, Little Shuo, I know that I shouldn’t have said this, but Zhao Jinxin’s credibility is too low, and I don’t want you to be hurt too.”

Li Shuo smiled: “Feiye, don’t underestimate me, don’t worry, to me, he is just a little kid.”

Han Feiye paused: “Little Shuo, we are all old enough to settle down, do you still want to play around?”

Li Shuo felt a little embarrassed: “Look at fate, you can’t force it, are you right.”

Han Feiye pondered for a moment: “Yes, fate.” He changed into a relaxed tone, “I have always wanted to have a good chat with you, but I didn’t have much chance twice.”

“I think so too. Find a time between these two days and I will invite you to dinner.” Li Shuo smiled lightly, “I promise I won’t be interrupted again.”

Until the night when he went to sleep, what lingered in Li Shuo’s mind was all the things related to Zhao Jinxin that happened during this period. The more he thinks about it, the more wronged he feels. Zhao Jinxin completely disrupted the pace of the man who had a sense of restraint and ease in love. He calmed down and thought carefully before he realized that he had done a lot of unwise things.

How could he become less and less like himself.

He tossed and turned on the bed, scratching his heart and lungs. It is only until three or four o’clock in the morning that he finally felt sleepy.

The cell phone ringing in the quiet night woke him up. He opened his eyes suddenly, got down in a cold sweat, and grabbed the phone. The backlight of the phone stabbed him so that he could not open his eyes. He directly picked up the phone and said dumbly: “Hello?”

“Uncle Li.” Zhao Jinxin’s soft voice came over the phone.

“You…” Li Shuo woke up all of a sudden, calling at this time, nothing happened to Zhao Jinxin, right? He quickly asked: “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Jinxin said feeling aggrieved: “I quarreled with you, I can’t sleep.”

Li Shuo was stunned, fell back to the bed heavily, and said helplessly: “When did we quarrel?”

“I know you are angry.”

“You misunderstood, I’m not angry.”

“You’re angry.”

“…Well, then why do you think I am angry?”

“Because I disturbed your date?”

Li Shuo was silent for a while, and didn’t intend to refute. He just takes it as it is.

“But I won’t apologize.”

Li Shuo chuckled, his eyes full of sadness that he couldn’t even notice: “Do whatever you want, just go to sleep, I…”

“I want to see you now.”

“Stop making trouble, I’m tired.” Li Shuo actually do feel tired from the inside and out.

“So I came to you, I’m right downstairs.”

Li Shuo got up from the bed and opened the curtains. Outside the courtyard wall of his house, he can really see Zhao Jinxin’s car parked there. The black body of the car seemed to melt into the darkness, reflecting the paleness of the people next to the car. “What are you so nervous about all night?”

“Uncle Li, I’m so cold.” As soon as Zhao Jinxin finished speaking, he sneezed accordingly.

“…You go back home.” Zhao Jinxin is the person he least wants to see now, and it will mess up his heart.

“I’m about to catch a cold, come down and hug me.”

Li Shuo’s palm was slapped on his forehead: “You are really…” He has no way of handling this person.

“It’s cold, are you coming down? How many seconds before I can see you?”

“30 seconds.” Li Shuo ‘tch’ to himself, jumped out of the bed, grabbed the bathrobe and put it on him.

“30, 29, 28, 27…” Zhao Jinxin actually counted down the seconds.

“You slow down a bit.”

“Oh, 21, 21.5, 20…”

Li Shuo took a shawl from the cabinet, opened the door gently, and tiptoed downstairs.

“Uncle Li…”

“Add another 10 seconds.”

“Then you have to kiss me 10 times.”

“…” Li Shuo opened the door, and a gust of wind made him shiver. Although it has entered summer, the temperature has cooled a bit these days, especially the night wind, which can easily make people catch cold. Li Shuo quickened his pace and walked out.

A dark figure rushed over and hugged him all at once.

Li Shuo’s heart trembles, the taste is sour and unspeakable.

Zhao Jinxin hugged him for several kisses, and then vaguely asked: “How many times? I said 10 times.” After saying that, Li Shuo didn’t reply, and Jinxin kissed him lingeringly on his forehead, corner of his eyes and tip of nose, cheeks, finally blocked his lips heavily, and kissed passionately.

Li Shuo was full of powerlessness, why would anyone be able to affect his emotions so easily? Even he knew clearly that this would not work, but he was helpless.

Zhao Jinxin kissed him enough, then put his head in Li Shuo’s neck and rubbed it, and muttered, “You take me home.”

“What if my parents see you? You should go back.”

“I don’t want to go back, I can hide in your room and won’t come out.”

“No, what will it looks like?”

Zhao Jinxin hugged Li Shuo and didn’t let go: “I’m going to your room.” He paused, “Han Feiye has been there.”

Li Shuo’s eyes sank. He hated Zhao Jinxin’s tasteful appearance. It was fun if this is between lovers and teasing among friends.

But obviously he doesn’t care that deep, so why does he had to pretend to care?

Zhao Jinxin didn’t notice the change in Li Shuo’s expression, but just wanted to enter the door reluctantly.

Li Shuo was so crushed by him that he had no choice but to secretly lead him into the house. When the two returned to the room, Li Shuo whispered: “Tomorrow you must not go out casually, and wait for me to take you out.”

Zhao Jinxin has already leaped on the bed: “I see.” He patted the position beside him, and blinked ambiguously: “Come on.”

Li Shuo yawned, he was really sleepy, and he climbed into bed.

Zhao Jinxin got into the quilt and hugged him from behind, getting closer and closer. Finally, his body was stuck to Li Shuo, and his hands also crept into Li Shuo’s clothes.

Li Shuo grabbed his hand, his voice sounds tired and indifferent: “I don’t want to do it.”

Zhao Jinxin blew into his ear, bewildered: “Really don’t want to?”

“Sorry, I’m tired, let’s just go to sleep.” Li Shuo moved his body forward and separated a safe distance between him and Zhao Jinxin.

Zhao Jinxin’s breathing was stagnant, and then his hands withdrew. He did not speak any more, but gently stroked Li Shuo’s arm, humming softly.

Maybe it was because he was too sleepy, Li Shuo felt that the sound was very hypnotic, and after a while, he was already drowsy.

Zhao Jinxin opened his eyes until he heard Li Shuo breathing evenly in his sleep, then quietly turned over, picked up Li Shuo’s mobile phone on the bedside table, turned to look for Han Feiye’s phone number, and silently memorized it.

???

*Translator’s note: ‘Little Shuo’ or ‘Xiao Shuo’ in Chinese. The title ‘Xiao’ is normally used to show affection. I’m sorry but I feel my translation kinda bad this time. Probably because I’m not in a good state of mind so hope you guys go easy on me. I didn’t proofread. Please point out any spelling mistakes or whatever. Thanks. -K