The Third Year After The Breakup, He Knelt and Begged to Get Back Together - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: But Now That Qi Mingfeng is Sick, He Won’t…

Back at He Xian’s house, Qi Mingfeng proactively went to the master bedroom to sleep.

Sleepy.

He Xian stopped him: “Eat breakfast first, then take your medicine.”

This time, Qi Mingfeng didn’t stubborn it out with He Xian; he obediently ate and took the medicine.

He had already changed into new clothes sent by someone at He Xian’s request while at the hospital, but Qi Mingfeng had sweated all night, so he took another shower before lying down on the bed.

A new phone was also delivered to He Xian’s house. As Qi Mingfeng inserted the SIM card, he felt that this year he was truly jinxed regarding phones; this was already the fifth one he had used in the past two months.

He couldn’t sleep for too long, or else he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night, which would be bad for his biological clock. Qi Mingfeng set an alarm and closed his eyes to sleep.

Seeing Qi Mingfeng go straight to sleep without saying a word to him—and even falling into a deep sleep shortly after—He Xian felt irritated.

If Qi Mingfeng came home and started doing messy things, he’d feel irritated seeing that, too.

But he couldn’t bring himself to let Qi Mingfeng go.

Now that Qi Mingfeng was physically unwell, he didn’t even have a place to vent his anger.

The phone made a sound; He Xian immediately pressed mute and went out irritably to answer the call.

The caller: Chen Su.

The child of He Xian’s maternal uncle; the two of them had argued about who was the older brother from the time they could remember.

It was because He Xian’s mother and his aunt gave birth at the same time; even the delivery times were recorded as identical down to the second. Both sides firmly believed that the nurse responsible for the other’s delivery wasn’t rigorous enough and had recorded the birth time a few minutes early.

He Xian answered the phone, and the voice on the other end said: “My mom asked me to bring some things to you. Should I go to your company or your house?”

The voice was like a snowy winter night: steady but cold.

Anyone else would have praised it as a beautiful voice, but He Xian wasn’t in the mood. He glanced at the closed bedroom door: “Let’s go out. I’ll book a private room.”

Chen Su didn’t ask further, said “okay,” and hung up.

He Xian didn’t bother sleeping; he changed clothes and drove out.

About half an hour later, he and Chen Su met in a private room at a certain club.

Chen Su was wearing a dark casual suit, tall and slender, with deep-set features. His pupils were darker than most, and even the morning sunlight falling into them looked cold.

He Xian didn’t stand on ceremony with Chen Su, plopping down on the sofa: “Why are you back in the country?”

Chen Su: “To see the progress of the domestic branch.”

Although Chen Su and He Xian were cousins, the focus of the Chen family’s industry was abroad. Later, Chen Su’s parents decided to develop domestically and moved the industry back step by step.

A few years ago, when He Xian was fighting for power in the He Corporation, Chen Su helped a lot. On one hand, they had a good relationship; on the other, he wanted to join forces with He Xian to gain a firm foothold in the country.

He Xian: “Rest assured, I’m keeping an eye on it for you. Nothing will go wrong.”

Chen Su patted a pile of gift boxes on the table: “Also, I came to wish you a happy wedding.”

He Xian was already unhappy because of Qi Mingfeng’s situation and felt that Chen Su was bringing up an awkward topic. He curled his lip and opened a bottle of wine.

Chen Su: “Arguing right after getting married?”

He Xian said sarcastically: “How would I dare argue with him? Even without arguing, he gives me a long face all day.”

Chen Su found it rare. This cousin of his had been arrogant since childhood; to think he could be bullied after getting married: “Is it that singer from before?”

He Xian: “Who else could it be.”

Chen Su poured himself a glass of wine and said casually: “You said back then that you wouldn’t marry a ‘media player’.”

The two people in the recording from two years ago were indeed He Xian and Chen Su.

As soon as He Xian heard this, he cursed: “The words we said back then were recorded by some idiot and sent to Qi Mingfeng. If it weren’t for that recording, how could we be at this point now…”

As he spoke, he didn’t know how to summarize it, so he just ended with a curse word.

Chen Su shook his head: “I advised you back then to treat him better. He wasn’t with you for your money.”

This poked He Xian’s sore spot. He slapped his hands together: “We’ve been broken up for two years! This time he came back with me, it is for my money! That non-blood-related brother of his is seriously ill. I happened to pass by the bar where he was working, and he asked me for 200,000 a month. At first, I thought he was throwing a tantrum, but it turns out he really only cares about the money.”

Chen Su: “Then you still married him?”

He Xian said righteously: “I did all this to take revenge on him!”

Chen Su was confused: “Revenge?”

He Xian: “Yes. I control everything he has now—every cent he spends, every piece of clothing he wears, every object he uses. He must eat three meals a day with me and sleep in the same bed as me. He can never dream of escaping me.”

Chen Su was silent for a few seconds, then stood up to walk out.

He Xian: “Where are you going?”

Chen Su said flatly: “Home.”

Chen Su felt He Xian was sick. If he really wanted revenge, he could sever his tendons and throw him in a cage to feed the dogs; there were plenty of legal ways to seek revenge, too.

They were together for over four years, broken up for two, and after being “tricked,” he rushed to get married, only to nag about nonsense. His brain was purely full of trash.

With this time, it would be better to go back and draw a few more blueprints.

He Xian grabbed Chen Su and pulled him back: “What do you mean?”

Chen Su: “If you like him, speak more like a human to him.”

“I like him?” He Xian acted like he’d heard a joke. “Fine, back then I might have indeed liked him a bit. But now he’s tricking me like I’m an idiot. I don’t even have enough room to hate him. If I still liked him, wouldn’t I be stupider than an idiot?”

Chen Su was expressionless, looking at He Xian calmly: “Love and hate can coexist.”

He Xian was stunned.

Chen Su continued to ask: “The simplest question: When you go home every day, do you want to see him smile, or see him cry? Do you want to see him happily welcome you home from work, or see him act as if you don’t exist in the house?”

“Isn’t that a redundant question? I’m not sick,” He Xian said without thinking, but then remembered what Qi Mingfeng had done and his current attitude toward him. He frustratedly ran a hand through his hair. “But then again…”

Given Chen Su’s personality, if anyone else had tried to talk to him about these childish emotional problems, he would have turned and left—how could such a small matter be so wordy?

But since He Xian was a cousin he had a good relationship with, he patiently added one more sentence: “What you did back then was already excessive. Do you still expect him to cheaply offer his heart up to you?”

He Xian: “Does he have nothing wrong with him? He’s the one who proposed the breakup. It’s my mercy that I didn’t find someone to teach him a lesson.”

Chen Su’s patience ran out: “Then continue your revenge.”

…

After drinking with Chen Su, He Xian estimated that Qi Mingfeng was still sleeping.

Qi Mingfeng was a light sleeper; if he went back now, he might wake him up. He checked into a hotel room to catch up on sleep.

Last night, He Xian had followed Qi Mingfeng through all the tests without closing his eyes. He thought he could sleep as soon as he lay down, but he tossed and turned, his mind filled with scenes of Qi Mingfeng’s stress reaction.

Such a stubborn person when arguing with him, yet his shoulders had curled up like a child’s, his protruding shoulder blades fluttering with the trembling, cold sweat seeping out layer by layer, unable to even make a sound.

He remembered a time in the past when Qi Mingfeng had fallen ill with a fever and went to the hospital for an IV. He rushed to the hospital after getting the news. Qi Mingfeng was muddled with the fever, but as soon as he saw him, he instinctively burrowed into his arms.

But now, when Qi Mingfeng is sick, he won’t tell him. He won’t tell him about having surgery. Even when he is so pained he’s about to lose consciousness, he only wants to stay away from him.

He Xian sat bolt upright in bed.

Then again, Qi Mingfeng was someone who couldn’t stand a grain of sand in his eye. Wasn’t the reason he broke up so resolutely because he liked him too much and was therefore too angry?

And this past month, Qi Mingfeng didn’t do it on purpose; Qi Huan’s illness was indeed serious.

As a grown man, shouldn’t he be more magnanimous? Qi Mingfeng is still a patient; if he bickers with a patient, wouldn’t that be beneath him?

Qi Mingfeng’s former unreserved reliance and his current avoidance—as if he were a poisonous snake—constantly alternated in his mind.

If Qi Mingfeng were willing to take a step back…

…

Qi Mingfeng slept for three hours. Because he had so little sleep, he didn’t really want to wake up, but he forced himself to go wash his face.

He Xian wasn’t home right now. He opened the Weibo interface, searched for the nickname Zhou Zhixi had shown him yesterday, and after confirming the profile picture was correct, he tentatively sent a private message: “zzq?”

The other side replied quickly: “Senior?”

The pair of senior and junior students taught by the same teacher—once the hottest duo in the music industry—finally, after many years, managed to add each other’s contact information with great difficulty.

From the first time Qi Mingfeng met Zhou Zhixi, he had liked this junior who was several years younger than him; he was good-looking, lively, and sweet-talked.

Moreover, they were both students of their teacher, true brothers in music with much to discuss.

Unfortunately, back then he had a fit of “love brain” and basically had no contact with him.

Zhou Zhixi: Senior, I finally waited for you to contact me. Did that man make things difficult for you when you went back yesterday?

When they first met, He Xian was called “sister-in-law,” but in a few sentences, he had devolved into “that man.”

Qi Mingfeng: It’s fine, don’t worry.

Zhou Zhixi: That’s good. He looked familiar yesterday, and only after going back did I remember it was He Xian. Isn’t he the major shareholder of your previous company? Was he the one who blacklisted you two years ago?

Qi Mingfeng: Yes.

Zhou Zhixi: …You didn’t give up the great path of study the teacher arranged for you to stay and develop in the country just for him, did you?

Qi Mingfeng smiled bitterly and continued typing: The teacher even told you about that.

Zhou Zhixi: The teacher said I’m young and can date more, otherwise, I might be easily deceived like you later.

Qi Mingfeng: …

Zhou Zhixi: …

Qi Mingfeng watched the name at the top of the chat box and the “Typing…” status switch back and forth. He took the initiative to type: Say whatever you want to say.

“Typing…” briefly turned back to the name, then switched back again.

A line appeared in the chat box: You like that type?

Cold, brief black words, but Qi Mingfeng could see the subtle lack of understanding within them.

He Xian’s attitude toward Zhou Zhixi yesterday… it was a mark of Zhou Zhixi’s upbringing that they didn’t start a physical fight.

If it weren’t for him, Zhou Zhixi wouldn’t have been subjected to such nasty words for nothing.

Qi Mingfeng: The story between He Xian and me is long. Sorry about yesterday. I’ll treat you to a meal when you have time.

Zhou Zhixi: I didn’t take it to heart. It would be great to have a meal with you, Senior, but that man seems quite hostile toward me. Is it convenient for you?

Qi Mingfeng: Don’t mind him.

Zhou Zhixi: Okay then, how about tomorrow? Tomorrow morning. Let’s meet at your villa. Singing with you yesterday was too great! I have several unreleased new songs I want to bring over for you to try.

Qi Mingfeng: Okay, then see you at the villa tomorrow morning at 9:00.

Zhou Zhixi: Great!

…

After chatting with Zhou Zhixi, Qi Mingfeng went to the study to work on the XB courses.

He had been busy with the engagement ceremony a while back, and then went to the hospital to accompany Qi Huan. Although Qi Mingfeng squeezed in time to listen to lectures, he still fell behind on some. He used the free time now to catch up; who knew what new mess would happen tomorrow.

He still wanted to go abroad.

It might not necessarily be that much better abroad, and he might not necessarily succeed after studying, but this thought had become his obsession; if he didn’t complete it, his heart would always feel blocked.

He didn’t know if He Xian would let him go, but he had to get the “ticket” to QM Academy first, so that he wouldn’t miss the opportunity if it ever arose.

However, he hadn’t been studying long when he received a call from Meng Ying near dinner time.

Meng Ying wanted to invite him to dinner.

Qi Mingfeng knew he had no personal relationship with Meng Ying. If Meng Ying was looking for him, it must be on He Xian’s orders.

Whatever He Xian wanted to do, he couldn’t hide from it anyway, so he simply went to the dinner appointment.

Meng Ying chose a restaurant near He Xian’s residential community. It was just the two of them, but he still booked a large private room that could be considered wasteful.

When Qi Mingfeng arrived, Meng Ying was already waiting. Seeing him come in, he stood up to greet him: “Teacher Qi, come, please sit. I’ve ordered a few dishes. This is the menu, see what else you’d like to add?”

Qi Mingfeng took a look. Meng Ying had ordered all the dishes he liked—five dishes and one soup, enough for two or three meals for them.

He put the menu back: “This is enough.”

The meal was exceptionally quiet. Qi Mingfeng knew Meng Ying had something to say to him. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and spoke: “Assistant Meng, what is it you wanted to talk to me about today?”