Found Him! My 'Glass-Hearted' Ex is a Pop-Up Star - Chapter 29

When Duan Zhuyan saw the incoming video call, he nearly fumbled his phone and dropped it on the floor. On the screen, the notification read in large letters: “Ying Ruo is inviting you to a video call.”

His first instinct was not to answer. Instead, he froze for a moment before frantically switching to his camera app to check if his hair and face were still handsome. He had never had a video call with Ying Ruo. Even though he had wanted to while they were dating, Ying Ruo had never seemed interested, so he had set the idea aside. This time, his suggestion had been half-joking, and he never expected Ying Ruo to actually call.

After confirming his appearance was fine, Duan Zhuyan cleared his throat, waited a few more seconds, and answered with forced composure. The image of the youth’s small face filled the screen. Ying Ruo was surrounded by a soft, warm glow in the quiet of his small studio. He was wearing pajamas with a wide-open collar, his hair was a mess, and the lingering heat from his bath had left his cheeks slightly flushed.

The faint white noise and soft breathing coming through the screen felt incredibly clear, almost as if it carried a damp mist. A pair of beautiful, clear almond eyes looked back, showing a hint of displeasure. His lips were pursed, and his lip pearl appeared as a soft, blurry circle of light on the screen. Duan Zhuyan was stunned. He took a screenshot while pretending not to care. To hide his emotions, his expression became stiff and unnatural. He rubbed his heated neck and put on a cold front. “Something wrong?”

Ying Ruo, annoyed that it took so long for him to answer only to be questioned, frowned. “I should be asking you that.”

Duan Zhuyan felt awkward and said nothing. He stared directly at the person on the screen, wondering how someone could look so good even inside a tiny digital box. Realizing he was being a bit excessive, he looked at Ying Ruo again and said guiltily, though without much tact, “What did I do?”

Ying Ruo felt both helpless and angry at the man’s stubborn refusal to admit anything. He suddenly pulled the camera closer until his face nearly filled the screen. His snow-white skin flashed before Duan Zhuyan’s eyes, and his stern expression gave his soft features a sharp edge.

“I think we need to talk, Duan Zhuyan,” Ying Ruo said, emphasizing every word. His tone was lower than usual, sounding both soft and fierce.

Duan Zhuyan instinctively sat up straighter. The excuses he had planned died in his throat, forced back by Ying Ruo’s rare display of firmness. He awkwardly looked away. “What is there to talk about?”

Seeing this attitude, Ying Ruo’s thick eyelashes fluttered. He knitted his brows and said seriously, “Should you not look me in the eye when I am speaking?”

Duan Zhuyan had no choice but to look back.

“Do you remember how many times you sought me out today?” Ying Ruo asked once he finally had the man’s reluctant attention.

Meeting the youth’s eyes again made Duan Zhuyan’s heart race. He did not dare look away. After a silence, he forced out a few words. “Maybe five or six times.”

“And the number of effective times?” Ying Ruo asked.

Duan Zhuyan paused. “They were all pretty effective.”

“No, no, no.” Ying Ruo shook his head on the screen. He held up his hand, curling his slender fingers into a circle. “It was zero times. Not once!”

Duan Zhuyan said nothing.

“You have not even thought about what you want to say, and you have no actual information to share when we meet, yet you called me over so many times,” Ying Ruo complained, his cheeks puffing out slightly. “It is not that I am unwilling to come, but you cannot jerk me around like this. I do not think you want to discuss the case at all. You are being very mean. Your personality is terrible,” he added in one breath. He paused to catch his breath, his red, moist lips slightly parted. “I do not like it at all.”

Duan Zhuyan kept his mouth shut. He looked like a dog being scolded for doing something wrong. Even if he was not entirely convinced, his owner was unhappy, so he had to endure it in silence. When Ying Ruo noticed Duan Zhuyan was drifting out of the frame, he called him back. “Did you not say you would look at me?”

Duan Zhuyan paused and silently adjusted his phone to center himself in the picture. He maintained a blank expression, reluctantly lifting his eyes to meet Ying Ruo’s. The moment their gazes collided, he lowered his head as if he had been burned.

Ying Ruo sighed. He was not stupid; he could clearly see that Duan Zhuyan still had feelings for him. He could understand it to an extent; the breakup had been sudden, leaving many things unresolved. It was understandable that Duan Zhuyan had not moved on yet. One moment, the man pretended to be indifferent and said he did not want to see Ying Ruo; the next, he was unreasonably demanding to see him. But whether it was out of a desire to see him or a wish for revenge, he could not act so selfishly. Ying Ruo began to wonder why he had ever dated Duan Zhuyan in the first place.

On the screen, Duan Zhuyan’s expression remained cold. Half of his face was hidden in shadow, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he swallowed. Through the screen, the lines of his neck looked like they were covered in a hazy grey. Seeing that he remained silent, Ying Ruo called out, “Duan Zhuyan.”

Despite having made eye contact just seconds ago, Duan Zhuyan did not respond or look up. He had been so desperate for attention earlier, but now that he had it, he was ignoring him. Ying Ruo brought his phone closer and peered in, his round, bright eyes filling the screen as if trying to see what the man was doing. Duan Zhuyan was holding his phone quite far away, so Ying Ruo’s efforts were in vain. “Answer me. Bring the phone closer.”

Only then did Duan Zhuyan slowly move the camera closer. As if remembering to maintain his image, he casually adjusted the angle to show his handsome but sullen face. To be honest, Duan Zhuyan’s reactions were quite entertaining. Ying Ruo had never met anyone so strange and unique. He smiled, and seeing that the man was not in the mood to talk, he continued. “I have something to say.”

“What is it?” Duan Zhuyan blurted out, his voice low and reckless. “You are right. I do not want to discuss the case. If that is all you want to talk about, then do not bother.”

Ying Ruo blinked. “Oh, is that so? Then I am hanging up.” He made a move to end the call.

“Hey!” Duan Zhuyan panicked, the screen blurring with his sudden movement. If he could have, he would have reached through the screen to grab Ying Ruo’s wrist. His deep voice was filled with irritation and urgency. “I was wrong. Please do not hang up.”

“What?” Ying Ruo pretended not to hear. “What did you say? Can you say it again?”

Duan Zhuyan froze. His ears turned a visible shade of red as he stammered. Ying Ruo did not push him further. His long lashes blinked like small brushes against the man’s heart. He laughed softly. “I am just joking.”

Duan Zhuyan’s jaw was set. He looked quite unhappy and did not know where to look. To avoid eye contact, he could only stare at Ying Ruo’s soft, red lips and the glimpse of his small, white teeth. He could not help but swallow. He remained as still as a statue, his pupils as black as ink. To avoid further embarrassment, Duan Zhuyan closed his eyes and decided to cut his losses. “Is there anything else? If not, I am hanging up,” he said crossly.

Ying Ruo, not sharing his reluctance, spoke in his usual tone. “Do you want to go to the pumpkin farm on Sunday?”

A loud sound of something hitting the floor came through Ying Ruo’s phone. The image spun several times before the screen went black.

“Hello? Hello?” Ying Ruo called out. “What happened? Are you okay?”

After a moment, the screen lit up again, and Duan Zhuyan reappeared. He was no longer composed; his ears were now a bright, undeniable red. His earring reflected the light from behind him. He did not answer Ying Ruo’s question but instead asked, “Are you inviting me?”

Ying Ruo thought his reaction was a bit much, but it was fun to watch. He smiled more broadly. “Yes.”

Classes were ending this week for the reading week break, and Halloween was approaching. It would be nice to go out and relax, and he might even try to recover some of his memory. “But there are conditions,” Ying Ruo added. “You cannot keep coming to find me over the next few days. Save everything you want to say for that day. If you do not listen, we will not go.”

“Tsk.” Duan Zhuyan’s jaw tightened. He calculated how many days were left until Sunday. He lowered his brows, his eyes dark. “What do you mean ‘listen’? I am not a dog. I cannot just do everything you say. Are you my boyfriend?”

Ying Ruo thought the man was difficult to talk to, as he was being fierce again. “Fine, then forget it.”

Before he could finish, Duan Zhuyan cut him off coldly. “Forget what? Did I say I would not listen?”

Ying Ruo nodded. He was beginning to understand how to handle Duan Zhuyan, and it was surprisingly effective. “Good, then it is a date.” Ying Ruo held up his pinky finger and waved it at the screen. “Pinky swear.”

The youth’s forehead was clear, and a subtle, enticing pink glowed from his exposed skin. From the slightly high camera angle, his slender neck and delicate collarbones were visible. He looked like he would smell of bath soap and be very pleasant to touch. Duan Zhuyan pursed his lips and said coldly, “How childish.” He was annoyed that he could not actually hold Ying Ruo’s hand. Despite his words, his body was honest. He reached out his finger and mimicked the motion, hooking his finger with Ying Ruo’s on the screen.

To Ying Ruo, the negotiation was a success. “Amazing!”

Duan Zhuyan did not want to deal with him anymore. He irritably brushed his hair back but could not bring himself to end the call; he wanted to look at him a little longer. He had fantasized about video calling Ying Ruo many times, especially after hearing his voice. He imagined Ying Ruo was sitting cross-legged on the bed, his slender ankles exposed, his skin strikingly white, and his slightly pink legs and the back of his knees all looking beautiful. He wanted to hear his voice and watch him move. If Ying Ruo wanted to, he could even step on him. He wished Ying Ruo would care for him a little more, message only him, and go out only with him.

Ying Ruo continued to chatter on the other side. Duan Zhuyan found his voice pleasant but was not really processing the words. He felt as if he were losing control. He forced himself to stop his wandering thoughts and calm down. Looking back at the screen, he saw Ying Ruo had propped his phone against the headboard and was sitting on the bed with one leg up, his head tilted. Duan Zhuyan’s composure finally snapped.

“Hey, do you think,” Ying Ruo started.

Duan Zhuyan looked away and snapped irritably, “Why do you talk so much? Can you please stop talking?”

Ying Ruo stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“I did not mean it like that,” Duan Zhuyan stammered.

Ying Ruo felt offended and suddenly lost the desire to talk to him. He was so difficult to deal with. “I see. Fine then, I am going to sleep.” Despite everything, he was still polite. He picked up his phone and waved. “You should get some rest too. Goodnight.”

Before Duan Zhuyan could stop him, the video call ended. The room fell into an immediate silence. Duan Zhuyan felt terrible. He felt like a fire was burning inside him, making him want to roll on the floor or hit his head against the wall to see if he could knock some sense into his mouth. He stared at the black screen and rubbed his face, feeling like he was truly unwell. He had wanted to say that he knew his personality was bad, but if he behaved, could Ying Ruo please not dislike him? At the very least, he wished he could have said goodnight.

University Laboratory

To ensure he would be able to see Ying Ruo as planned, Duan Zhuyan stayed in the laboratory to avoid running out to find him. His constant presence brought a sense of security to everyone in the lab. The success rate of experiments rose by eighty percent. Now that the true god had returned, they no longer had to bow to the machines and beg for results.

However, Duan Zhuyan was extremely strict with the experiments, especially when it came to data processing. Since he was one of the few in the lab who could succeed on the first try, everyone followed his steps exactly, including his habit of repeatedly checking his WeChat during the experiment. Duan Zhuyan checked his phone every few minutes for messages, but it remained as lifeless as a brick.

“How is the progress?” Professor Wyatt asked, patting him on the shoulder.

Sitting at the computer, Duan Zhuyan set down his tablet. “Progress for today is nearly finished. I have optimized the protocol, adjusted the timing, and the mitochondrial function indicators are ideal.”

Wyatt nodded. “The head of the Chinese university academic exchange has just arrived. Since you are both from China, I thought you might want to meet.”

Duan Zhuyan usually had no issues with academic arrangements, but he was simply too lazy to handle the social aspect of hosting. He was about to refuse when Wyatt said, “The head says he is a friend of yours.”

Duan Zhuyan looked toward the door. A tall, handsome man stood there, leaning lazily against the frame with long legs. He smiled and gave a casual wave. “Hi. Long time no see,” Zhou Yuchi said in a nonchalant tone.

Duan Zhuyan realized he did know him, and he had already been brought to the lab. He had met Zhou Yuchi at a gathering in China, and later when Zhou Yuchi came to UCL for a project roadshow, they had discussed their related academic work and exchanged contact information. Zhou Yuchi’s research focused on biological neuroscience. It was said that his recent project combining artificial intelligence had received funding from several organizations and had high commercial value. He was likely on the verge of starting his own company.

The two went to the park across from the lab building.

“How many days is the exchange?” Duan Zhuyan asked.

“One week,” Zhou Yuchi replied. “But I plan to stay for another week.”

“Fine.” Duan Zhuyan was not in the mood for small talk. He looked at his phone, but there were still no messages. He was in a foul mood. “Do not come looking for me if you need something. I am busy.”

“Of course,” Zhou Yuchi replied politely. “I am too lazy to look for you, either.”

Duan Zhuyan tsked and checked his phone again. Still nothing. Surprisingly, Zhou Yuchi’s phone vibrated. When he saw the caller, his gaze softened immediately. He answered with a gentle, “Zaozao.”

The tone of the conversation was completely different from what Duan Zhuyan had imagined. A clear voice, sounding a bit agitated, came through the phone. Even from a distance, Duan Zhuyan could hear: “Zhou Yuchi! Are you insane?”

Zhou Yuchi did not seem to mind at all. A smile played on his lips as he spoke in a relaxed tone. “Are we starting off this passionately, Zaozao?”

“Go away! Did I not tell you not to bring those new prototype toys home anymore? Why did I find an entire cabinet full of them?”

Zhou Yuchi did not admit fault or answer the question. Instead, he immediately started with the sweet talk, leaving Duan Zhuyan stunned. Surprisingly, the person on the other end was actually calmed down.

“Alright, good. Talk to you tomorrow morning. Get some sleep,” Zhou Yuchi said into the phone. “I love you too.”

Duan Zhuyan watched in disbelief as he hung up. “Your boyfriend?” he asked with a frown.

“Yes,” Zhou Yuchi replied with a provocative raise of his eyebrow. “Do you have one?”

Duan Zhuyan said nothing. Technically, he had an ex-boyfriend. Being forced to witness such a display of affection only made his mood worse. He checked the time; Ying Ruo should have finished class by now. It was getting dark, the day was almost over, and he had not seen a trace of him. He was told not to look for him, but surely he could send a message. Should he send one now? Duan Zhuyan’s separation anxiety was kicking in, and his frown deepened. He took out his cigarette case and offered one to Zhou Yuchi.

“No thanks,” Zhou Yuchi said smoothly. “I quit.”

“You quit?”

Zhou Yuchi glanced at him and tapped his phone screen. “I have something much more addictive now,” he said pointedly.

Duan Zhuyan was speechless and felt like punching him. He put a cigarette in his mouth and said irritably, “I do not care if you smoke or not.” He watched the pigeons fly away, his dark eyes dull. The setting sun turned the cloudless sky a deep blue, and the air was damp.

“Hey.” Duan Zhuyan paused. He felt awkward but decided to ask for advice. “How did you and your boyfriend get together?”

“That,” Zhou Yuchi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then he smiled lazily. “Because of love.”

Duan Zhuyan regretted asking. He bit his cigarette and took out his lighter but decided not to light it. He was ready to leave; he had no patience for anyone but Ying Ruo.

“But you could try showing off your charm,” Zhou Yuchi said suddenly. “Seduce him, grab his attention, and try to create some physical contact. Or just go for direct seduction.”

“What are you talking about?” Duan Zhuyan asked.

“You asked me how I got my boyfriend,” Zhou Yuchi shrugged. “I am teaching you.”

Duan Zhuyan’s face darkened as he replied coldly, “Who asked for your help?” After a moment, however, he looked away, his lips pressed thin. He swallowed slowly and spoke in a low, stiff voice. “Go on. Keep talking.”