Full Cup of Water - Chap 14
Su Zhong obeyed Xin Qianyu’s words and confessed his sexuality to Lilith without warning. When Lilith heard such explosive information, it would be false to say that she was not shocked. It took her several days to digest the news. However, Lilith was obviously the kind of person with strong digestive ability. She quickly accepted this assertion and thought, Since an attractive gay man can bend a straight man, then why can’t a beautiful woman like me bend a gay man?
Lilith strongly believed in her charm, and she was not afraid of difficult challenges.
Therefore, she did not give up on Su Zhong. The colleagues around Su Zhong also saw some signs, and they said to Su Zhong, “Is Lilith pursuing you?”
Su Zhong was a person who did not go in circles. When he heard others say that, he asked Lilith seriously, “Are you pursuing me?”
Lilith laughed when she heard the words, patted Su Zhong on the shoulder and said, “What the hell are you talking about? You’re gay! I’m just treating you as a “gay bff“!”
If Lilith behaved unnaturally, it would cause Su Zhong to distance himself. But Lilith reacted too naturally, and Su Zhong was not suspicious.
Lilith’s wave of operation was really high-end, and Xin Qianyu, who was far away on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, had frequent heart attacks.
Lilith could grasp this aspect very accurately. Every behaviour that got her close to Su Zhong had good reason and did not cross the boundary, so Su Zhong never felt there was anything wrong. And Xin Qianyu, who noticed something was wrong, could not make trouble, so as not to appear unreasonable. Long-distance relationships were most afraid of quarrels. Xin Qianyu did not dare to take this risk, so he could only swallow his anger.
Xin Qianyu paid more and more attention to Lilith, and every time he called Su Zhong, he would ask about Lilith. It was okay if you did not inquire about these things. The more you inquired, the more you minded, and the more you minded, the more you inquired. It became a knot stuck in Xin Qianyu’s chest, and he was so frustrated it made him sick at heart again and again.
Su Zhong joined the company in the second half of the year, which meant that he would be able to experience the Christmas holiday not long after he took the job. He could take nearly half a month of paid leave. Lilith proposed that a few of them who were closer to each other travel to Las Vegas together.
Xin Qianyu, who learned of this, became even angrier, and said, “You don’t like gambling…”
Su Zhong said, “I don’t hate it either, after all, it can be calculated. For example, using the appropriate algorithm to play blackjack in the casino will greatly improve the winning rate…”
Xin Qianyu understood that it was also a good move for Lilith to take Su Zhong to Las Vegas. Lilith had probably also seen that Su Zhong liked to count before bringing him to this place. Because going to other places for travelling and entertainment may not be able to arouse Su Zhong’s interest.
Xin Qianyu became more and more jealous of Lilith as an “opponent”.
Previously, even if it was “battling” with An Su, an “amateur”, Xin Qianyu did not dare to take it lightly. When An Su accompanied Su Zhong on a business trip, Xin Qianyu had followed. Now that the “difficulty of the battle” had increased, Xin Qianyu was even more unstable. After learning that Su Zhong was going to Las Vegas with Lilith, Xin Qianyu immediately bought a ticket to Las Vegas.
Of course, buying a plane ticket was a trivial matter. The main issue was that Xin Qianyu had to take more than a week off. The reason for a leave request could not be “travelling across the ocean to beat up a mistress”. He even posted on the Internet to ask, “What are the reasons for taking a week off?”
Netizens replied, “My parents are sick… going back to hometown to visit relatives…accompany my parents…”
Xin Qianyu frowned when he saw a bunch of reasons for “parents” and “relatives” and replied, “Using parents and relatives as an excuse is not possible. My mother is a director, and my grandfather is the board chairman.”
Netizens replied, “Then what the hell are you worried about? The rich second generation should not come to flaunt their wealth.”
Xin Qianyu was not “flaunting his wealth”. He was really worried.
He could not use any reasons that ordinary people could use such as falling ill, parents falling ill, or grandfather falling ill.
In the end, he decided to honestly write that he wanted to travel.
The application for leave was sent to the personnel department, and of course, Zhu Pu would grant him leave. However, Xin Mu, who was always paying attention to Xin Qianyu’s movements, immediately took the leave form to look for Xin Qianyu and asked him seriously, “Is it for Su Zhong again?”
Xin Qianyu did not want to lie but did not want to plead guilty feebly, so he said impatiently, “What do you mean, ‘again’?”
“Didn’t you just ask for leave to accompany him on a business trip the last time?” Xin Mu had a good memory. Her pair of wise eyes stared at Xin Qianyu’s face. “Now you’re asking for leave to accompany him to Las Vegas? Why are you always revolving around him? Have you forgotten that you are not a househusband and have your career to work for?”
“How am I a househusband?” Xin Qianyu muttered. “I’m just taking a week off. What’s the matter with that? It just so happens that he’s on Christmas vacation over there, so I’ll accompany him. What’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter with accompanying him?” Xin Mu’s voice rose, and it became a little harsh. “The last time you delayed starting at your job, I pulled you back. What about this time? This time, it’s the end of the year and time to count teaching materials and purchase new books. You’re still going to sneak out?”
“I’m the boss. Do you still want me to go to the factory and warehouse to count the inventory and purchases?” Xin Qianyu said indifferently. “There’s no harm in me leaving for a week.”
Xin Mu’s shapely eyebrows rose. “This inventory and procurement are trivial matters. It’s really not worth you as the boss to run the errands personally. But the people below you are so busy and sweating profusely while the eldest son Xin runs off to Las Vegas. Is that proper?”
Xin Qianyu was feeling quite guilty. He knew by being this way, he was not conscientious, but he just could not let go of Su Zhong. Embarrassed, he softened his tone, knowing that he was in the wrong, and he did not dare to argue.
He lowered his eyelids, revealing his long-lost fragility. Xin Qianyu, who had been stubborn since he was a child, often worked against Xin Mu and did a great job. Xin Mu was also a tough nut, and sparks and lightning would ignite when the mother and son quarrelled. But this mother and son had the same temperament and yielded to reason, not force. Xin Qianyu was bullheaded. Xin Mu could be a hundred times more bullheaded than him. Wanting Xin Qianyu to yield, Xin Mu’s heart also yielded immediately.
Seeing Xin Qianyu’s rare show of weakness, Xin Mu’s head hurt even more. She sighed heavily and said, “I will ask Lao Zhu to tell them to proceed with the procurement and inventory a week in advance. You can go to the United States after you finish this.”
Xin Qianyu raised his head in surprise when he heard Xin Mu say this. “Mom!”
This sentence of “mom” was very emotional, and Xin Mu did not know how long it had been since Xin Qianyu called her this. She had no choice. “I really don’t know how to deal with you…”
Xin Qianyu saw the helplessness and exhaustion in Xin Mu’s eyes, and Xin Qianyu was worried again. Oh, it’s really unreasonable for me to be like this.
Xin Qianyu lowered his head and put one hand against his forehead. “Mom, actually I…”
Actually I……
Actually I……
Actually I what?
Xin Qianyu could not go on and did not know how to go on, so he clenched his fists.
Xin Mu patted Xin Qianyu on the shoulder and said, “I originally thought you were pretending to be a punching bag in front of Su Zhong. At that time, I didn’t worry much. Now I’m really worried. Do you know what I’m worried about?”
Xin Qianyu raised his head and looked at his mother.
Xin Mu continued speaking. “While pretending, you became an actual punching bag.”
Became an actual one……
Xin Qianyu’s heart seemed to have a clock ringing, which resonated through his skull and vibrated every one of his heartstrings.
Before, he always felt that he was pretending to be a little white flower who had no ego, did not know how to complain, and was obedient in front of Su Zhong. But in fact? Was it really just “pretending”?
After Xin Mu directed the “scene of a disguised identity exposed”, Xin Qianyu did not need to continue to act as a little white flower. But the reality was that the mode of getting along between Xin Qianyu and Su Zhong had not changed. Xin Qianyu did not become himself because his “disguised identity was exposed”.
On the contrary, he was getting farther and farther away from himself. He seemed to be really integrated into the character from the inside out. He became the little white flower who had no ego and only knew how to obey his fate.
He faintly felt that this was dangerous, but his feelings rushed forward with increasing potential energy like a rolling wheel, crushing his sanity into a pulp.
The work of purchasing new textbooks was completed quickly. They were piled up in the warehouse and corresponded with the inventory, and they could be delivered to the various branches soon. Although each of its schools could purchase its own teaching materials, the official teaching materials for international examinations had to be ordered from foreign examination associations, and issues such as authorized exam locations needed to be communicated, so they were generally centrally purchased by the headquarters and distributed to its international high schools.
In fact, this matter was very simple, and it really did not need to bother a “boss” like Xin Qianyu to personally pick it up. But because this was the first project that Xin Qianyu encountered after joining the Department of Education and Research, he had to keep an eye on it. It was really not good to be running away to the United States like this.
The person in charge of this procurement inventory was Director Chen, who was experienced in handling affairs. He had been doing this for many years, and essentially, nothing would go wrong. Director Chen probably understood in his heart that Xin Qianyu was in a hurry to finish it, so he hurriedly finished processing it a few days early, sent the documents to Xin Qianyu’s desk, and reported emotionally.
Xin Qianyu looked at the big bags under Director Chen’s eyes but was actually quite embarrassed, so he signed the documents and said, “Thank you, Director Chen.”
Director Chen smiled and said, “It’s not difficult, just very fragmented work.”
Xin Qianyu said again, “It was completed so many days earlier. Director Chen has done a very good job.”
Director Chen smiled and said, “You’re the one who leads well.”
Seeing this uncle who was 30 years older flattering him so doggedly, Xin Qianyu was a little uncomfortable, and could only pretend to smile calmly without saying a word.
After completing this, Xin Qianyu could leave the big stone in his heart behind and immediately sent a message to Su Zhong to confirm the flight time with him. Su Zhong replied: “Okay.”
Xin Qianyu knew that Su Zhong comprehended and that Su Zhong’s tone of voice was like this, so he felt helpless.
Who knew, Su Zhong sent a “(。･㉨･。)ノ♡” expression.
After Xin Qianyu saw this emoticon, he was so shocked that his soul was about to levitate. What was happening? Why would Zhong Ge send emoticons?
The “eager-for-love husband” Xin Qianyu immediately made an international call to Su Zhong to confirm his safety.
The call was quickly connected, and Su Zhong’s voice was calm. “What’s the matter?”
Xin Qianyu was shocked. “Was it really you who just sent the emoticon?”
“It was me.” Su Zhong replied.
Xin Qianyu panicked even more. Oh, my God, so it turned out that Zhong Ge’s account wasn’t hacked? Then he was abducted by aliens?
Probably seeing Xin Qianyu’s doubts, Su Zhong replied, “Lilith said that my messaging style is too cold, so she suggested that I send more emoticons.”
Xin Qianyu choked on a mouthful of blood in his throat. He wanted to swear but did not dare. He could only hold his breath and slowly spit out, “She wants to manage even this? And you’re willing to listen to her too?” After these two sentences, even Xin Qianyu could smell the sour smell coming from himself. And this was said after desperately suppressing himself. If he had spoken freely, the fragrance of his mouth would have filled the garden.
Probably since it was too far away, Su Zhong did not smell the sourness, so he just replied flatly, “Yes.”
Su Zhong had always been very weak socially, and he knew it too. The popular Lilith used this as the entry point, and had more interactions with Su Zhong, even imprinting onto Su Zhong’s life, such as this sudden emoticon.
She suggested to Su Zhong, “The way you talk is too cold. It’s fine if it’s towards your colleagues. But if it’s a very close friend, such as your boyfriend, it’s better to be softer.”
Su Zhong heard Lilith saying this and also noticed that Xin Qianyu would send some emoticons when messaging him. In sudden realisation, Su Zhong followed Lilith’s suggestion and sent an emoticon to Xin Qianyu to express familiarity and affection. He believed that Xin Qianyu would like it.
And Lilith’s relationship advice to Su Zhong in this way made it even clearer that Lilith was “unselfish” and had no affection for Su Zhong. Thanks to this suggestion, Lilith believed Su Zhong would think of her whenever he sent an emoticon. Wasn’t that wonderful?
Lilith felt that she was really a witty little bitch.
After Su Zhong arrived in Las Vegas, he also sent photos to Xin Qianyu every few hours to show his concern for Xin Qianyu.
Xin Qianyu believed it was impossible for Su Zhong, who had always been so straightforward, to have such an awareness. With a heightened sense of vigilance, Xin Qianyu asked, “Did Lilith ask you to send it? ”
“Yes.” Su Zhong replied. “↖(^ω^)↗”
Xin Qianyu had a heart attack. “Actually, I don’t like emoticons.”
Su Zhong was puzzled. “But you often send them.”
Xin Qianyu: “I like to send them, but I don’t like others to send them. Just like durian, it’s fragrant when I’m eating it, but I find it smelly when others eat it. Do you understand?”
Su Zhong said, “I understand. I will not send emoticons or eat durian from now on.”
Xin Qianyu swiped through a few pictures with his fingers and found that every picture sent by Su Zhong had traces of Lilith. For example, a lady’s windbreaker was hanging next to the chair where Su Zhong was sitting or a female bag. Sometimes, Lilith would even appear and smilingly take a photo with Su Zhong.
With Xin Qianyu’s temper, it was about to spiral into the sky.
However, he could not. He had to be a “model empress”. If he really got angry, he would be flattering this little bitch who could not even be called a “mistress”.
Xin Qianyu pretended to send a message calmly. “Awesome. Tell Lilith I’m coming tomorrow and I’m looking forward to meeting her!”
