Four-Faced Buddha [To My Shore] - Chap 47
Chapter 47 is not about love.
2024-10-13 07:21 Category: Four-Faced BuddhaTurn off the lights
After eating the food prepared by You Shulang, Fan Xiao began to complain about the restaurant’s food, completely failing to understand the satisfaction that Lu Zhen, sitting opposite him, felt from eating a piece of foie gras.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, finished eating, and when he saw Lu Zhen looking over, he gave a perfunctory smile: “Not very hungry, I’m full. Take your time eating, no rush.”
Lu Zhen put down his knife and fork. He was very particular about table manners, but Fan Xiao preferred You Shulang’s impeccable manners in public and his carefree and unrestrained demeanor in private.
“Mr. Fan, the gifts you’ve given me lately have been too expensive. I can’t accept them without having done anything to deserve them.”
Fan Xiao knew what Lu Zhen wanted to hear, but was unwilling to comply: “They’re not valuable, just some trinkets.”
Lu Zhen had made thorough preparations, and then asked, “My friends keep asking me what our relationship is, and why you keep giving me things?” He showed just the right amount of confusion and shyness, “To be honest, I… don’t know how to answer them.”
“A friend asked you? Is it your boyfriend? Am I causing you trouble?” Fan Xiao leaned forward slightly, his expression serious.
“We’re just ordinary friends.” The conversation finally got back on track, and Lu Zhen said slowly, “I’ve broken up and am currently single.”
Fan Xiao raised an eyebrow, leaned back and sank into the chair, her voice tinged with interest: “Why? I heard your boyfriend is quite nice.”
Lu Zhen’s breath hitched, and a thick wave of bitterness washed over him again. You Shulang really wasn’t bad; his occasional aloofness was nothing compared to his boundless tenderness.
“Our personalities don’t match,” Lu Zhen said casually. “Mr. Fan is single now, isn’t he?”
This time, Fan Xiao was speechless; the eloquent and persuasive man was momentarily at a loss for words.
He was only luring You Shulang in with a playful attitude, so saying he was “single” wouldn’t be an exaggeration. But for some reason, he was unwilling to say it, clenching his teeth for a moment before deftly deflecting the question: “Zhenzhen, guess.”
“Mr. Fan should be single. If he had a partner, he wouldn’t let you give a gift to another person so casually.”
Lu Zhen leaned forward, his chest pressing against the table, half-sweet, half-coquettish: “So, Mr. Fan, why do you always give me gifts?”
The young woman was beautiful, with thick eyelashes that resembled pools of spring water. Fan Xiao observed that she truly deserved the description of fair skin, beautiful face, and delicate figure.
The sound of flipping a match echoed in the upscale restaurant, sounding somewhat rude. Fan Xiao was displeased, and naturally someone else suffered the consequences. He lifted his eyelashes and glanced at him: “Why? Of course, it’s because I love you.”
Lu Zhen suddenly clasped his hands together. This answer should have been expected, but it seemed too sudden because of Fan Xiao’s consistently aloof demeanor. Lu Zhen was momentarily unsure what expression to wear—shock? panic? or shyness? After adjusting his expression, he ultimately revealed the joy of having achieved his goal.
“Mr. Fan, this is too sudden.” Lu Zhen’s cheeks flushed pink, making his complexion even more beautiful.
Fan Xiao felt even more annoyed, but his expression became even gentler: “Why does it feel so sudden? Didn’t I tell you the day I asked you to be my model that I would fall in love with every life I paint?”
This was a strange statement, and Lu Zhen had to confirm it again: “Every…life?”
Fan Xiao put away the matches and elegantly took a sip of red wine: “Yes, every life, a sculpture, a bouquet of flowers, a caged bird, a dying cicada, and you, Zhenzhen.”
A blush slowly drained from Lu Zhen’s face. He sat up straight, incredulous: “Am I the same as a sculpture, a bouquet of flowers, a bird, or even a dying cicada… in your heart?”
Fan Xiao shrugged, indicating his agreement: “I love them, and I love you too.”
After a brief period of blankness and confusion, Lu Zhen began to rationally analyze Fan Xiao’s words. The things he mentioned were either inanimate objects or animals, and only he himself was different.
He overcame numerous obstacles and found a glimmer of hope for himself.
Without beating around the bush, Lu Zhen asked directly, “Mr. Fan, since you love me, are you willing to be with me as a couple?”
“What?”
Will you be my boyfriend?
Fan Xiao tilted his head slightly, looking somewhat surprised: “When I asked you to be my model, I thought I had made myself perfectly clear. This was just a brief spiritual interaction I was having with the subject of my painting in order to find inspiration.”
“It’s love, but not romantic love,” Fan Xiao asked. “Have I made myself clear this time?”
“Not love?” Lu Zhen’s voice trembled and became shrill. “Don’t tell me you don’t know how to pursue someone? Aren’t all your actions a way of pursuing me?!”
The man clicked his tongue, looking a little aggrieved: “It seems you’ve misunderstood. In my eyes, giving you a gift is no different from maintaining a sculpture, watering flowers, feeding birds, or finding a clean spot for a dying cicada.”
“No difference at all?” Fan Xiao’s words pierced Lu Zhen’s body like an ice pick. He felt as if he had been suddenly pushed into an icy lake by the man’s large hand. The icy water enveloped his body, and he sank deeper and deeper. His vision began to blur, and his chest felt bloated and painful, as if a huge rock was pressing down on him, making it impossible to breathe.
“Besides, I’m planning to change models recently.” Fan Xiao’s breath reeked of alcohol, which was both intoxicating and hurtful. “You’re no longer suitable, and I think we probably won’t see each other often in the future.”
Lu Zhen suddenly chuckled softly, the vibration of his chest causing the red wine in his glass to tremble slightly: “Fan Xiao, is it fun to play with me? Do you think I’m stupid? Do you even believe the bullshit you’re spouting?”
With his hands crossed on the table, Fan Xiao displayed a fierce and invincible demeanor in front of Lu Zhen for the first time: “I have no reason to spend money to play with someone who has no value. Lu Zhen, from the time we met until now, I have never done anything inappropriate to you, nor have I said a single arrogant word. I have never intended to seduce you, much less sleep with you. All your assumptions about me are just your own fantasies. Do you expect me to pay for your fantasies?”
“…”
Lu Zhen buried his face in his palms and gave a bitter smile: “Fan Xiao, I am of no value to you, but the fact that you would even go after someone of no value only proves that you are a pervert!”
Suddenly standing up, Lu Zhen forcefully splashed the red wine in his glass onto Fan Xiao’s face: “Go to hell, you pervert!”
Amidst the lingering aroma of wine, Lu Zhen stormed off, leaving the restaurant silent for a moment. Under the watchful eyes of many, Fan Xiao remained silent for a while before wiping the red liquid from his face with a napkin.
He left the bill and tip, got up and walked out of the restaurant, taking out his phone as he went and dialing a number.
“Mr. Sha, it’s me. Long time no see. How about we get together sometime? Nothing much, just want to hang out with friends. Oh, by the way, that model you have, yes, Lu Zhen, the one I asked you to look after before, he hasn’t been in a good mood lately. If your company has any gigs in other cities recently, could you arrange a few for him so he can get away and clear his head? The sooner the better, ideally tonight. Hmm, then I’m relieved. The advertising for our company’s new project? Of course, we’ll have to rely on you, Mr. Sha. Okay, let’s get together sometime and talk about the advertising. By the way, don’t tell Lu Zhen that I asked you to arrange it. Okay, that’s all, goodbye.”
After hanging up the phone, the fake smile in his eyes quickly faded. He opened WeChat and quickly typed a message.
“Director You, my hands are itching to draw you.”
