After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 38

“We’re all neighbors, aren’t we? Isn’t it perfectly normal to share a meal together?”

Xiao Lin waved his hand dismissively, his face wearing an expression of serene detachment.

“Yes, very normal. Totally normal. Boss, don’t mind me—just wishing you happiness.”

Shen Ran frowned, puzzled. “Lin Huohuo, what’s with you today? You seem… off.”

“Me? I’m fine. I only got dumped by my girlfriend of eight years, that’s all. Boss, don’t worry about me. Just let me grow old and die alone in peace!!! AHH!!!”

Just a moment ago, Xiao Lin had looked completely deflated—yet suddenly, he became wildly animated, pounding his chest and wailing like a banshee, scaring Shen Ran out of his wits.

“I love being alone! I live for loneliness! Boss, enjoy your lunch with President Cheng, and leave me to bask in the flavor of solitude! Oh right, can I get a raise?”

Shen Ran couldn’t help laughing and crying at once. So this brat had been waiting here just for that.

From the moment he opened his art gallery, Lin Huohuo had been one of his employees.

In the beginning, Lin Huohuo was diligent and full of enthusiasm. But Shen Ran’s laid-back management style dulled the spark over time. Year after year, Lin Huohuo gradually became a mirror image of his boss.

Shen Ran knew he had a girlfriend—he just didn’t expect they were already talking about marriage, only to break up. No wonder the guy was acting like he had split personalities.

What puzzled him more was Lin Huohuo’s deliberate mention of Cheng Yi inviting him to lunch. Did Lin Huohuo sense something?

In any case, Shen Ran waved his hand and gave in.

“Alright, alright, you’ve got it. I’ll even throw in a few extra days off before the New Year. Satisfied?”

One moment Lin Huohuo was pounding his chest in grief, the next he snapped to attention like a soldier. “Thank you, Boss. You’re brilliant!”

Now that he had secured a raise, Lin Huohuo perked up considerably. While Shen Ran lounged by the window in a recliner basking in the sunlight, Lin Huohuo handed him a steaming cup of coffee with great enthusiasm.

“Boss, extra-strong Americano—your favorite. Drink up.”

Shen Ran accepted the cup with leisure and took a couple of sips.

Right then, he felt like he was vacationing on the shores of Hawaii. Such peaceful moments were few and far between—truly a rare luxury.

…Hawaii.

The thought triggered a certain memory, and Shen Ran’s smile faded slightly as he unconsciously touched the ring finger of his left hand.

That time in Hawaii, Cheng Yi had slipped a ring onto his finger bone.

Cheng Yi… that man. They had already kissed—so when would he finally confess?

Shen Ran was more than ready. He had already kicked Chen Xu aside. Now, all that was left was for Cheng Yi to make the first move…

Speak of the devil.

As if on cue, a flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the corridor.

The sound stopped outside the gallery door. After a few seconds of silence, a polite knock followed.

“Ranran, are you in there? It’s me—Chen Xu. I’m here!”

Shen Ran rolled his eyes.

Could Chen Xu have shouted any louder? He might as well yell a few more times so Cheng Yi next door could hear too.

Still, at least he had enough sense to knock first instead of barging in like he usually would. That was something.

If Chen Xu had just swung open the door and charged in, with Shen Ran’s short temper, he might have picked up the David statue by the door and hurled it straight at him—

…No, no. This is a law-abiding society. He was a civilized man.

“You can keep the coffee. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

Stretching lazily, Shen Ran got up, patted himself off, and strolled out, leaving Lin Huohuo standing there blankly, holding a half-finished cup of coffee.

“President Cheng… Chen Xu… My god, the boss really knows how to play the game.”

—

Yanking open the door, Shen Ran glared impatiently. “What do you want?”

Sure enough, standing in the hallway was none other than Chen Xu.

His face was filled with urgency and remorse. Still the same face Shen Ran had once found rather handsome—but now, just looking at it made his stomach churn.

Seeing him emerge, Chen Xu lit up.

“Ranran, thank goodness you’re willing to see me! Please, let me explain, I—”

“Whoa, hold it.”

Shen Ran made a “time-out” gesture, instantly cutting off Chen Xu’s words. The man stood there, baffled and anxious, looking at him with wide eyes like a desperate puppy.

That expression—it was almost identical to the look Chen Xu had worn back when Shen Ran had been kidnapped. Guilty. Shifty. Pathetic.

In that moment, Shen Ran’s face went cold.

Those old grievances… he hadn’t forgotten.

Which was why he had no intention of being kind to Chen Xu now.

“If you want to talk, fine. But not out here. We’ll find a proper place to sit down and talk. Arguing in the hallway? That’s just embarrassing.”

He caught it clearly—when he said those words, a flash of impatience flickered across Chen Xu’s face.

But that flicker of annoyance was quickly suppressed.

Chen Xu probably had no idea why Shen Ran’s attitude had shifted so drastically.

Not long ago, he was still being led around by the nose—his mood swayed by Chen Xu’s every word. And now, here he was, giving him the cold shoulder without a hint of hesitation.

Shen Ran curled his lips into a faint smile. It was hard to tell whether he was laughing at Chen Xu, or mocking his former self.

Cheng Yi once told him he was blind—and he supposed, to some extent, that was true.

…Ah, right.

If he was going to reject Chen Xu, it would be best if Cheng Yi happened to witness it.

Cheng Yi might never admit it aloud, but that sharp-tongued man clearly cared a lot more than he let on.

With that thought in mind, Shen Ran deliberately brushed past Chen Xu and headed for the elevator.

When the doors slid open, he glanced back over his shoulder and said, “Coming or not?”

—

And so, they were back in the elevator. Together again.

As the numbers ticked downward, Shen Ran remained entirely unmoved.

He chose a teahouse across the street as their meeting spot.

The table he picked was on the second floor, right by the window facing the street—an ideal vantage point.

Perfect for looking outside. Perfect for being seen from the building across the way—perhaps by a certain someone.

Pouring himself a cup of white tea, Shen Ran took two slow sips. The rising steam blurred Chen Xu’s face from view.

“So,” Shen Ran said calmly, “whatever you wanted to tell me, say it now. Let’s end this cleanly.”

Chen Xu still couldn’t hide his urgency. “Ranran, why did you break up with me?”

“Because I don’t like you.”

Not “don’t like you anymore”—just plain “don’t like you.”

“But… why?” Chen Xu stammered, flustered. “We were doing fine, weren’t we? We…”

“Fine? Where was it fine?” Shen Ran countered. “You not contacting me for a week—that was fine? Turning me down every time I asked you out—that was fine?”

“Ranran, are you upset with me over that? If that’s the issue, I can explain! It’s because—”

“Chen Xu,” Shen Ran interrupted sharply. “Let’s get something straight. I’m not throwing a tantrum. I broke up with you because I genuinely don’t like you.”

It was Chen Xu who had been sweet to him first. It was Chen Xu who had confessed first—who said he liked him first.

Shen Ran had only fallen for the face, for the gentle demeanor. And when Chen Xu later grew distant, the contrast had been unbearable.

That was how it happened. The bait, the hook—and he fell for it.

But those days were over now.

He didn’t need an explanation from Chen Xu, because he no longer cared. He didn’t even want to hear it.

And yet, Chen Xu seemed determined to keep talking.