Four-Faced Buddha [To My Shore] - Chap 30
Chapter 30 Can’t Play Straight Man Games
2024-10-13 07:16 Category: Four-Faced BuddhaTurn off the lights
(Some readers couldn’t read it after it was unlocked, so I’m reposting it. If you’ve already read it, please skip to the next chapter.)
You Shulang turned over in bed, still feeling uncomfortable.
All that could be seen was darkness; not even a shadowy figure could be seen in the night.
The curtains were thick, with three layers, blocking out all light. For some reason, they seemed to suit Fan Xiao very well.
You Shulang reached around the headboard and finally grabbed the curtain remote control, pressing start and then pause.
The curtains were slowly drawn open a crack, and the moonlight, like water, instantly poured in, bathing the unfamiliar bedroom in a radiant glow.
You Shulang slept in the guest room of Fan Xiao’s house.
Half an hour ago, Fan Xiao looked at You Shulang, who was standing in the entrance hall and about to leave, with a sincere expression.
“Shulang, it’s too late now. By the time you get home, it will be dawn. Besides, you can’t drive after drinking, and it’s hard to call a taxi here.”
He had changed into his loungewear, and the light slid down the silk fabric like shimmering waves.
The last two buttons of the shirt were unbuttoned by Fan Xiao himself with great effort. He did it very slowly, his thumb occasionally sliding across his well-defined abdominal muscles. If it weren’t for the splint on his other hand, You Shulang would have defined this behavior as provocation.
“You’re sleeping in the guest room. No one has slept in the guest room since I moved in.” Fan Xiao approached, his voice slightly clingy. “I’ll have to trouble Director You to take me to work tomorrow morning. It’s hardest to get a taxi during rush hour.”
“I can pick you up by car tomorrow morning, Fan Xiao. I’m not used to staying at other people’s houses.” You Shulang refused.
“The rooms have private bathrooms, and the amenities and bedding are all new. Just treat it as a hotel stay for one night.”
You Shulang stared at Fan Xiao and noticed that his injured finger moved slightly in the splint. Remembering the doctor’s instructions, he could only reluctantly agree.
Fan Xiao pushed a glass of red wine toward You Shulang and dipped his fingers into the warm, moist air.
You Shulang had just taken a shower, his body radiating a warm, damp aura. A thin layer of red tinged his pale skin, his eyelashes were wet, and he had a soft, gentle air about him.
Wearing the same style of pajamas as Fan Xiao but in a different color, he exuded a unique charm.
The black color accentuated Fan Xiao’s deep and sophisticated demeanor, exuding a touch of elegant danger; the champagne color added a touch of softness and tenderness to You Shulang’s coldness, making Fan Xiao’s heart flutter.
You Shulang lifted the raven feathers, which were damp with moisture, and glanced at Fan Xiao: “You have an injury on your hand, so you can’t drink alcohol.”
“I know, I only poured it for you.” Fan Xiao sat down next to You Shulang, turned his head to look at him, and pondered how to take credit.
“Did you get your revenge today?” he asked.
With his heavy eyelashes drooping, You Shulang slowly took a sip of wine.
“I don’t think it was Bai Pengyu who did it.” He looked at Fan Xiao, his jaw tightening sharply. “It must have been someone else.”
“Someone else…?” Meeting You Shulang’s gaze, Fan Xiao remained calm and composed. “Weren’t you the one who tracked down Bai Pengyu through Shun Teng? Did you come to the wrong person? If it’s not Bai Pengyu, why would he admit to it?”
The dark red liquid swayed in the crystal glass, creating a beautiful rosy hue. You Shulang spoke slowly: “There are some things I don’t understand either, but… I just don’t think Bai Pengyu is the kind of person who would sexually assault someone of the same sex.”
“These rich kids have always been bisexual.”
You Shulang couldn’t say directly that it was a gay man’s intuition, so he could only nod slightly: “I know. But his expression really looked like he was against TXL.”
“But he was drunk that night. What standard can you use to judge a drunkard?”
You Shulang leaned back in his chair, tilted his head slightly, and softly uttered a helpless “That’s true.”
Fan Xiao knew how to steer the conversation, and he spoke with the concern of a true friend: “If you still have doubts, we’ll continue investigating.”
With a slurp of his Adam’s apple, You Shulang swallowed a mouthful of wine, his lips, already flushed red from the steam, now tinged with a new color, adding to his allure.
“We’ll see.” Her usually indifferent gaze softened as she looked at Fan Xiao, “Anyway, I want to thank you today, Fan Xiao.”
He lowered his eyes, smiled gently, and said with a hint of sigh and gratitude, “To be honest, no one has ever protected me like this before, from childhood to adulthood.”
Fan Xiao’s eyes suddenly darkened, a hint of regret creeping in. He, usually so eloquent, was now speechless for a long time. Following the regret was a pang of heartache; how much bitterness did that seemingly casual remark conceal?
“Are you trying to cry?” You Shulang glanced at him, laughing and cursing, “Fan Xiao, stop acting like a little girl. Do you know what the girls in our workplace are saying about you behind your back?”
Suppressing his emotions, Fan Xiao asked casually, “What are they talking about?”
“They say you’re the brooding, scheming type of male lead. If someone gets entangled with you, they’re not going to have a good ending.” You Shulang approached the handsome man with a playful expression. “What do you think they’d think if they knew you were childish, clingy, and prone to getting all emotional?”
This was the first time You Shulang had taken the initiative to approach Fan Xiao. His eyes were smiling, filled with tiny, sparkling glimmers. Fan Xiao was somewhat mesmerized by his gaze, and asked softly, “I don’t care what they think, I just want to know what you think?”
“Me?” You Shulang pulled away, downed his drink in one gulp, and patted Fan Xiao’s shoulder casually. “All I want to do right now is go to sleep.”
He got up and walked towards the guest room. As he approached the door, he turned back against the light, a hint of tenderness appearing in his usually calm eyes: “If you need anything tonight, just call me.”
Unable to sleep, You Shulang sat up against the headboard. He wanted to smoke a cigarette, but refrained from doing so out of courtesy to a guest.
He thought of Fan Xiao’s injured hand; although he had taken anti-inflammatory medication, the doctor said he might still have a fever at night.
You Shulang had experience taking care of patients since childhood and knew that high fever was common at night. He hesitated for a moment, then got up, pushed open the door, and walked towards Fan Xiao’s bedroom.
Fan Xiao’s house was pitch black, like a cold, deep cave. You Shulang used his phone for light, found a wall lamp, and turned it on. The dim yellow light penetrated the heavy darkness, driving away the uncomfortable night.
Fan Xiao’s bedroom was opposite the guest room. You Shulang walked to the door, raised his hand as if to knock, but then slowly lowered it after a moment.
With a gentle push of the fingertip, the bedroom door quietly slid open, and the dim light of the lamp slipped in, creating a small, pale yellow trapezoidal window on the floor by the doorway.
The person on the bed was buried in the quilt, and from You Shulang’s angle, only his smooth, black hair could be seen. Zhan walked to the bedside. Fan Xiao was sleeping on his back. The light was dim, and it was impossible to see if his eyelashes had moved. He seemed to be sleeping restlessly.
He gently placed his fingers on the man’s forehead, where a patch of sweat lay beneath them, and then he heard a suppressed gasp.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” You Shulang leaned down slightly, his eyes showing concern.
Fan Xiao opened his eyes. His face was hidden in the diluted darkness, his expression inscrutable yet blatantly aggressive, and his slightly raised eyes surging with an incomprehensible fervor.
“I’m very uncomfortable.” The low, hoarse voice stirred a hidden danger in the darkness. “Didn’t Director You say he could ask you for help?”
For some reason, You Shulang keenly sensed danger. He was startled and intended to quickly pull his hand away, but before the thought could form, his wrist was grabbed.
“Director You, please help me out now!”
Fan Xiao pulled his hand and quickly slid him into the blanket, passing over his firm chest and lean waist, and then stopped!
“Fan Xiao!”
You Shulang flew into a rage, gathered his strength, and broke free of the man’s sharp hand in an instant.
“You son of a bitch!” He grabbed Fan Xiao by the neck with one hand and swung his fist hard with the other! Thud! The dull sound of the fist hitting flesh shattered the ambiguity of the dark night!
Still seething with anger, he swung his fist again! But just as it was about to land, a large hand forcefully blocked it! Fan Xiao pulled You Shulang in front of him and quickly said, “My left hand isn’t working well, it’s making me uncomfortable. Please help me out. We’re both men, what’s wrong with using my hand for a moment? I can always give you my hand later!”
He shoved the person aside, propped himself up with one hand, and sat half-upright on the bed. He pulled a cigarette from the bedside table and put it in his mouth, still resentful in his voice: “If you disagree, you don’t have to hit me.” He touched the corner of his mouth and hissed in pain.
You Shulang stood by the bed, staring intently at Fan Xiao. His shock and anger gradually subsided, until finally only utter helplessness remained.
She slowly sat on the edge of the bed, her back to the man behind her.
He rubbed his face with both hands and sighed, “Give me a cigarette.”
The cigarette was thrown over after a while, along with a box of matches.
The firelight flickered and died down. You Shulang took a deep drag of his cigarette, and as the white smoke slowly melted into the night, he said, “Fan Xiao, I’m gay. I can’t play this straight man’s game with you.”
