My Perfect Enemy is Finally Broke Novel - Chap 57
The restaurant in this hotel was a little more special than others. It served food and beverages 24 hours a day, so even at ten o’clock in the evening, there were still tables filled with people in the restaurant.
There was only one private booth with its door closed. Ji Ran walked over without even thinking. When he opened the door, he saw He Suiran sitting on the sofa with the corners of his lips raised while he took selfies on his mobile phone.
“…” Ji Ran was about to close the door and leave.
“Don’t go.” He Suiran chuckled. “Come sit down.”
Ji Ran felt that this person had changed too much. He used to be so introverted that he suspected that the other was suffering from depression, but now, he actually pulled all sorts of tricks in front of the camera.
He sat across He Suiran and crossed his legs flamboyantly.
He Suiran shook his phone and explained, “The company has given me a task to take selfies for a week in order to keep the fans excited.”
Ji Ran was not interested in these things. He simply nodded. “Why are you looking for me?”
He Suiran smiled, “Even if there’s nothing, can’t we catch up?”
“What is there to catch up between us?” Ji Ran said.
“You are still the same as before.”
Ji Ran wasn’t pleased to hear this. Was this to say they were close with each other before?
“I never thought I’d see you as soon as I returned to China.” He Suiran said, “It seems that we are quite fated. What would you like to eat? Since you just finished swimming, you must be hungry.”
Ji Ran leaned back: “Are you still with the same club now?”
“That’s right, but my contract will expire next year.”
Ji Ran understood. “Where do you intend to transfer to?”
“Ferrari.” He Suiran said with a laugh.
Ji Ran’s finger jumped unnoticeably.
That was Chester Kennelly’s team back when he was alive.
“The new contract is already ready. I’m just waiting for the current one to end,” He Suiran said, “I went to take a look at the club and there are many of Kennelly’s autographs and equipment there, including some competition tidbits that were never shared. If you’re interested, I can bring you over for a look in the future.”
The waiter brought over the food they had ordered.
Ji Ran didn’t move. “Your old club is willing to let you go?”
“Of course not, we had a lot of compromises.” He Suiran drank a mouthful of water. “But it’s not as if they regard me as a gold-star player, I’m only there for them to break into the domestic market. If it were you… it might have been truly hard for you to leave.”
“Talk less nonsense.”
He Suiran couldn’t help but ask him, “Why aren’t you racing anymore?”
Ji Ran swept a cold glance over but He Suiran was completely unaffected and continued.
“Is it because of your family?”
This was a question that had always been on his mind.
If he couldn’t get an answer, he felt that it would be impossible for him to forget about this person in his life.
“Take your time to eat.” Ji Ran’s patience had run out. He stood up and prepared to leave.
He Suiran abruptly grabbed his hand, but Ji Ran’s reflexes were quick enough for him to snatch his hand back. “You want to die?”
“I just wanted to have a proper conversation with you,” He Suiran said, “Back then, you were so fast. Even abroad, those foreigners may not necessarily be able to beat you…”
Ji Ran was growing quite agitated.
DId the entire world conspire against him and agree to bring up his past?
“You’re wrong.” Ji Ran leaned back expressionlessly and stared at him. “Not just back then. I’m still pretty fast, even now.”
He Suiran’s eyes lit up. “Then, can we race?”
Ji Ran thought it was funny. With He Suiran’s current position, it would cost five or six figures for a race with him. There was really no need to run over to make an appointment with an old acquaintance he randomly met.
“No, if you have so much energy, why don’t you put more effort into practise so that you won’t lose too badly in the competition next month.”
He Suiran was startled. “How do you know about the competition next month…”
Ji Ran paused. “I heard it by accident.”
“This will be my last match in my current club.” He Suiran said, “It’s in Man Cheng, do you want to come? I can give you a VIP ticket.”
Ji Ran sneered. “Do I need your ticket?”
“Alright, I will wait for you on that day. I will give it my all. If you don’t mind, I would like to invite you to visit my car.”
“I’m not interested in your car.” Ji Ran said, “Daring to show your car to strangers so casually, are you not afraid I might do something to it?”
“You won’t.” He Suiran smiled, “We are not strangers either. Strictly speaking, we can even be regarded as…ex-teammates?”
He seemed to have thought of something. “By the way, I just saw you and Qin Man walking together, have you guys reconciled?”
Ji Ran replied, “We didn’t quarrel, what’s there to reconcile?”
He Suiran wanted to ask more but the phone on the table suddenly began to ring. He picked it up and glanced at it, expression changing slightly.
“Perhaps we should go.” He Suiran stood up, “Some reporters outside are secretly taking photos.”
Fuck.
Recently, Ji Ran felt that these reporters had been working together to make him unhappy.
The two quickly left the restaurant and as soon as they walked into the lobby, they heard He Suiran say, “The two on the sofa are photographing us.”
Just as Ji Ran was about to look over, He Suiran stepped in front of him and stretched out his hand to pat his shoulder.
“Keep your head down and don’t say anything.”
The distance between the two of them narrowed and the smell of cologne filled Ji Ran’s nose, causing him to frown.
Last time, in the cemetery, Qin Man did something similar. Compared to this, Qin Man’s palms were bigger and his grip was firmer. There was no such pungent smell and it didn’t make him feel awkward.
Ji Ran subconsciously broke away from his hand, “I can walk by myself.”
He Suiran smiled when he got on the elevator. “These reporters are like this, they have to shoot everything. Even though I haven’t done anything bad, it’s still annoying to be followed every day.”
Ji Ran ignored him and pressed the elevator button to his floor. After the elevator arrived, he walked out. “I’m going back.”
“Wait.” He Suiran called to him, “How long are you staying for?”
Ji Ran frowned. “What do you want?”
“I have something I have always wanted to give you, but it’s not with me now. I will ask my assistant to send it over tomorrow.” He Suiran said, “You will love it.”
What gift?
Ji Ran answered, “No thanks, you can keep it for yourself.”
“It’s just a meeting, it won’t take up too much time.” He Suiran insisted, “As for those reporters, I will go over and try my best to make them leave…”
“If you know that you are being followed by reporters every day, don’t implicate others.”
A familiar voice sounded behind him. Qin Man walked out from the corner with a small smile on his lips, but his words were not polite. “He doesn’t like to deal with these people very much, so it’s better not to meet.”
Ji Ran was surprised to see him. “…Why did you come out?”
“I got bored sitting around, so I came out for a stroll,” Qin Man said.
He Suiran continued to insist, “I will handle it well, there will be no reporters.”
“I got it.” A meeting really didn’t matter since he would be in the hotel for the next two days anyway. Ji Ran didn’t like to stand in the corridor and talk about things, so he said, “Contact me again if there’s anything. My number is…”
“I have your previous phone number.” He Suiran interrupted him, “It hasn’t changed, has it?”
When did he exchange numbers with He Suiran?
“… There’s no change.”
“Okay, I will contact you.” He Suiran smiled, ignoring Qin Man’s seemingly cold gaze, “Good night.”
As soon as Ji Ran returned to the room, he saw Qin Man’s lit up computer screen.
He casually glanced over and was immediately shocked. “Why are you looking at this… how did you find it?”
On the computer was a video of his race from a couple of years ago. The quality of the picture was terrible and Ji Ran may not even be able to recognize himself if he hadn’t seen his car.
“Searched for it.”
“Why are you looking at this all of a sudden?” Ji Ran was embarrassed when he saw a close-up of himself on the screen and wanted to turn it off.
“I wanted to see what you looked like racing in the past,” Qin Man said.
Ji Ran paused. “…what’s so good about that?”
Qin Man’s gaze sank.
Of course it’s good. Otherwise, how would others be unable to forget about him for so long?
“How was it? Did you see the person you wanted to meet?” His teammate asked over the phone.
He Suiran laughed and closed the door to the room. “I met him.”
“How was it?”
“His personality is the same as before.” He Suiran replied.
“Oh, you already know I’m not interested in his character. I just want to know how strong the racer you are always thinking about is.”
He Suiran smiled, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.
After hanging up the phone, he threw the phone on the bed. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and quietly watched the night scene outside.
Ji Ran can be regarded as the person who had the greatest impact on his life.
He came from a poor family and had always been obsessed with racing since he was a child. But his family did not support him, so he had to find a job to earn enough money to rent a car. His weekly expenses were not more than 30 yuan.
Later, he finally caught the attention of a training team through a small race and became teammates with Ji Ran.
Since then, he had never won a race.
Ji Ran was like a mountain. Every race stood firmly in front of him.
Later, before a certain race, a broker found him.
The other person asked him to race well in the competition, saying that he would buy Ji Ran over and they could make a lot of money.
He could have refused – as long as he didn’t go to the competition.
But he went anyway.
He could not resist the temptation of winning. He knew that a certain team from overseas was recruiting people from all over the world. They had recently reached Man Cheng and there was a high chance of them appearing in that competition.
As long as he could join that team, he would be able to receive greater resources and there would be a day he would finally overtake Ji Ran and become another great mountain.
In that competition, he gave his all but still lost by a slight margin to Ji Ran.
The big screen was full of Ji Ran’s figure. He Suiran stood apart from the crowd and suddenly accepted his fate.
Some people are born with a good family background and amazing talent, just like Ji Ran. When placed in the crowd, even if he doesn’t speak, he would still be the most eye-catching one.
But He Suiran couldn’t have this life.
After receiving the runner-up prize, he heard that Ji Ran had rejected the broker’s request and even reported the other party. Before the broker was arrested, he even threatened to kill Ji Ran.
At that moment, unknown emotions filled his chest.
Ji Ran had helped him to accomplish what he wanted to do but didn’t dare to do.
His pathetic jealousy had almost evaporated.
He had planned to find the coach that night and resign. He had planned to go home and study hard, find an ordinary job, and stop having such unrealistic dreams.
As a result, as soon as he entered the locker room, he heard the voices of the two people inside.
“The conditions of our club are very good and there is room for negotiation in the contract. With your strength, your current value will more than double after two years.”
“Really, how much?” The boy’s tone was arrogant.
The man gave a number, a number that He Suiran could never dream of.
“You want to sign me on for such a small amount?” Ji Ran sneered, “Forget it, let me tell you straight, I won’t sign it. I’m not interested in your club.”
The man was stunned. “Then what club are you interested in? Do you want to join Ferrari?”
“Yes.” Ji Ran smiled openly. “If Ferrari comes to invite me, I might consider it.”
That person became silent and even after some time, he couldn’t reply.
Everyone knew that Ji Ran was a talented racer and worked hard. Given time, it might really be possible.
He Suiran didn’t like eavesdropping on others in a corner. He turned around and was about to leave.
“If you really want to recruit new talents, the person who got second place today can barely be considered.” The voice inside suddenly said.
With Ji Ran here, who would pay attention to other racers?
“Second place?”
“Yeah, although he is not as fast as I am, his turns are very steady. DIdn’t you see it? It’s just that his car is a bit lousy.” Ji Ran smiled openly. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lost to me so badly.”
A few days later, He Suiran received an invitation from that club.
He Suiran had always remembered this incident. Since then, whenever others asked him which racer he liked the most, his answer would always be Ji Ran.
Others would be confused and say they hadn’t heard of this person, but he would think, it’s okay. In a few years, he will make you recognise him on the racetrack.
Unexpectedly, he waited and waited. Yet, Ji Ran hadn’t appeared. It was only later that he heard that Ji Ran no longer raced.
He Suiran narrowed his eyes and pressed the remote controlling the automatic curtains.
He suddenly remembered that when they had parted, Qin Man had stretched out his hand to hold Ji Ran’s hand and Ji Ran didn’t shy away either, as if he didn’t think there was anything wrong with this action.
Ordinary friends wouldn’t engage in such intimate actions, so the relationship between the two was obvious.
Ji Ran actually liked men? And he liked Qin Man’s type?
…When having sex, was Ji Ran on the top or bottom?
An erotic image appeared in his mind, startling He Suiran who quickly interrupted his thoughts.
He pondered for a long time before he took out his phone and sent a message to Ji Ran.
[Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow morning?]
Ji Ran was awoken by the sound of the doorbell the next morning.
Opening his eyes, he saw Qin Man get up from beside him. “I’ll go.”
Yue Wen Wen rushed in. On such a hot day, he didn’t bother to put on makeup and wore something normal.
“Ran Ran, aren’t you hungry?” Yue Wen Wen followed Qin Man in after greeting the other and sat on the bed.
From inside the blanket, Ji Ran looked sleepily at him. “Didn’t I say I’m not eating breakfast?”
“How is it still breakfast?” Yue Wen Wen exclaimed, “It’s almost one, even lunch is almost over!”
“I called your phone, but it was switched off.”
Qin Man lightly explained, “He doesn’t like to be disturbed, so I switched off my phone when sleeping.”
Ji Ran was still tired after exercising and soaking last night. Right now, his entire body still felt a little limp.
He reached out to grab his phone, only to find that it did not respond.
“It’s probably dead…” He murmured.
After turning it on, the battery displayed 85%.
He frowned, thinking it was strange, when his phone began to vibrate.
3 missed calls, 4 messages, all from the same number.
[Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow morning?]
[Are you awake?]
[I’m at the restaurant. Let me know when you’re here.]
[I didn’t see you, so I went to record my variety show. Let’s meet up at night.]
He sat up and asked the person sitting at the table. “Did you hear my phone ring this morning?”
“No.” Qin Man’s expression did not change. “What’s wrong?”
“My phone switched off for no reason.”
“Could it be that you switched it off last night? Or is there something wrong with your phone?”
“Forget it.” Ji Ran was too lazy to pursue this matter. He threw his phone aside and told Yue Wen Wen, “Go back first. I’ll call you guys once I’m done washing up.”
Yue Wen Wen had also heard the notifications. “Aren’t you going to reply?”
“What’s there to reply to?” Ji Ran asked.
“Alright. I know a popular farmhouse nearby. Shall we go there to eat?”
“Up to you.” Ji Ran got off the bed and pulled out a few clothes from his luggage on the way. “Where’s Cheng Peng?”
“There’s a problem with his room card. He said he’ll wait for us in the lobby, you were the only one left …” Yue Wen Wen paused for a moment, “Don’t your clothes look a bit big?”
Ji Ran took a glance. It was the same colour as a T-shirt he brought, but the pattern was really different.
The size was great; a little big on him but very comfortable.
Qin Man said, “It’s mine.”
“…” Ji Ran swiftly took it off and picked up his own shirt before entering the bathroom.
Yue Wen Wen said a few more words before returning to his room. When Ji Ran came out, Qin Man had already shut down the computer and changed into a new set of clothes.
He had taken off his pyjamas, and changed into the shirt Ji Ran had taken off earlier.
As soon as they arrived at the hotel lobby, they saw Cheng Peng and Chen An standing face to face. The atmosphere between them was strange.
“I already said, no.”
When they approached, they heard Cheng Peng’s cold voice.
“No to what?” Yue Wen Wen glanced at Chen An and saw that the corners of Chen An’s eyes were red. “What are you talking about, why are you crying?”
“No, nothing.” Chen An quickly forced his tears back.
Cheng Peng seemed impatient. He turned around and walked towards the parking lot.
Ji Ran glanced at Chen An.
He had not met Chen An many times before. Chen An appeared to be tender and delicate, the kind he could not get along with because he was afraid that he would make the other cry with a few words.
Fortunately, Qin Man was not such a person, otherwise…
Qin Man felt his gaze and chuckled, “Peeking at me?”
Ji Ran looked back expressionlessly and followed Cheng Peng.
Otherwise, he would let Qin Man cry ten times a day.
Due to the large expanse of land, the hotel was located in a ravine of the mountain. After leaving the hotel, it was either the mountain or sea, nothing else. Even the restaurants on the roadside were just small farm shops similar to food stalls.
The car drove along a winding road. Ji Ran held his chin and watched the tree branches slapping against the window, then asked lazily, “Who are you planning to kidnap?”
“Who can I tie up with my soft and weak body?” Yue Wen Wen praised himself flawlessly and held up his mobile phone, “This is the way according to the GPS!”
“I see it.” Cheng Peng looked at the cars in the distance
After passing through the small road, there was an open field where several large cars were parked and there seemed to be many guests.
Yue Wen Wen, “Don’t worry, I booked a private room.”
After parking the car, they walked into the restaurant together.
The restaurant was run by a family and the waiter was also the owner. He came up and enthusiastically greeted them, “Hello, how are you? Have you made a reservation? What name is your reservation under?”
Yue Wen Wen replied, “Miss Yue.”
Ji Ran, “…”
The boss assumed the person who made the reservation was absent and nodded, “Miss Yue…there it is. Your seats are ready, are you going to order now? Do you need a drink?”
No one wanted to drink alcohol in the afternoon.
Ji Ran shook his head. When he first woke up, he didn’t feel anything but he was really hungry now. “Just serve the food.”
The private room was not big, just an ordinary small house remodelled with a big round table in the middle, but it was already a luxurious private room.
Ji Ran casually found a chair to sit down on and turned to see that Qin Man was standing beside him. He first looked left and right before slowly sitting on the chair, his legs curled up uncomfortably.
“Why, is the prince not used to it?” Ji Ran sneered.
Qin Man returned with a question, “Do you often come to this kind of place?”
Yue Wen Wen put his hands on the edge of the chair. “Yeah, we often come to rural farmhouses to eat. Don’t look at how rundown it is, these are all things of nature that grew up eating and drinking amongst the mountains and seas, unlike in the city, where poultry are all full of hormones.”
Ji Ran didn’t speak. He sat for a while before he suddenly stood up. “I’m going out for a smoke.”
Qin Man got up and followed after him.
Ji Ran walked all the way to the edge of the mountain, ahead was a small cliff. From this angle, he could see the sea behind. Although the broken fishing nets on the shore were unsightly, it was still worth seeing as a whole.
He took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to Qin Man.
Qin Man shook his head. “I don’t smoke.”
“… Why did you come out then?”
Ji Ran glanced at a tree next to him and felt his heart move. “Come here.”
Qin Man stepped forward.
“Bend over.”
Qin Man looked up and immediately understood when he saw the thick branch. “You want to go up?”
“En.” Ji Ran raised an eyebrow. “Hold your hand out, let me step on it.”
Qin Man didn’t make a sound but he also did not bend down.
“You aren’t willing?”
Before he could finish, Qin Man had leaned forward. Ji Ran thought he had agreed and was intending to raise a foot, only to find an arm wrapping around his calves.
“What are you doing?” He was startled.
Qin Man easily lifted him up all the way to the branch. “It wouldn’t be steady. Hold on tight and go up slowly.”
Ji Ran sat on the tree branch.
He didn’t know what was up with this tree. It wasn’t tall, yet its branches were thick and easily supported a full-grown man. When the sea breeze blew, it felt extremely comfortable.
Ji Ran watched the sea for a while before he suddenly spoke up. “Do you still remember the sea behind our school, with several large trees?”
He paused for a moment. “Oh, I forgot that was an area out of bounds to others. How could a nerd like you know about it.”
Qin Man raised an eyebrow.
He naturally knew about it. That was his little school bully’s favourite place to go whenever he played truant. Every time he went, he would stay for an entire afternoon.
If it weren’t for him, the little school bully would have been marked as absent over 800 times.
The little bully was unaware, swinging his legs carelessly. “Go back first, I’ll sit here for a bit.”
Ji Ran suddenly heard a click, like the sound of a camera’s shutter.
Turning back, he saw the person behind holding up his phone.
He froze. “You shot me?”
“I didn’t.” Qin Man set the photo as his screensaver with a calm face. “I shot the sea.”
Ji Ran didn’t doubt him. He didn’t wait long before his phone rang. It was Yue Wen Wen calling to let him know the food was here.
Just before they returned to the private booth, Ji Ran recalled he had not accomplished the purpose of this trip.
He touched the pack of cigarettes and decided to forget about it.
On the way back, the door of the neighbouring booth abruptly opened.
A man carrying a camera came out first.
Ji Ran was already annoyed by this stuff and simply frowned when he saw another man walking out.
The man was handsome. Ji Ran knew him.
This male star, in Yue Wen Wen’s words, was a “Little Fresh Meat”, and also one of Cheng Peng’s lovers.
“Ah, ge, I really can’t do this…must I really catch a chicken?”
Several staff members came out, looking like they were shooting a reality show.
“Of course, you lost the game, you must accept your punishment!” It was a heavy male voice. “Catch a fat one, that’s our lunch! Suiran too, you lost, so quickly follow along.”
Ji Ran, “…”
He didn’t know if the show would mosaic the passers-by who accidentally entered the frame but he grabbed Qin Man’s hand without thinking, turned and walked towards the private booth while ignoring He Suiran’s burning gaze.
“Go on, what’s the matter?” Seeing He Suiran stop, the male star followed his gaze and only saw only two backs.
“Nothing.” He Suiran turned around and smiled, “Let’s go.”
Ji Ran returned to the private booth, thought for a while and said, “There are some celebrities filming variety shows next door. Be careful not to be shot.”
“Really?” Yue Wen Wen asked in surprise, “What variety show? Is it popular? Is it too late for me to go back and put on makeup?”
“Don’t be so coquettish.” Ji Ran smiled.
“Tell us, who is there?” Yue Wen Wen asked.
“He Suiran.” Ji Ran glanced at Cheng Peng. “And someone we know.”
Qin Man raised an eyebrow. “You also know the other person?”
“I don’t remember his name.” With Chen An around, this matter wasn’t suitable to speak about, so Ji Ran glossed over it.
However, Yue Wen Wen couldn’t contain his curiosity. “Who is it? Do we know anyone in the entertainment circle? I’ll go have a look…”
Before he could finish, there was a knock.
Cheng Peng replied, “Come in.”
The door opened and the cameraman entered.
Followed by that, He Suiran and the male star entered.
When the male star saw Cheng Peng, his expression suddenly changed and his cheeks flushed.
“Excuse the interruption.” He Suiran smiled naturally and explained, “We lost a game and now need to find someone to compare our strength… I wonder if I can trouble you?”
Just as Ji Ran was about to refuse, Cheng Peng suddenly spoke.
He looked at the male star and said, “Okay.”
The male star’s eyes lit up and he hurriedly nodded. He quickly went to Cheng Peng’s side. “Then I will have to trouble you!”
He turned his head, “Excuse me, can you let me through?”
Chen An blinked in confusion and it took him a long time to recover. “Okay.”
Ji Ran was preparing to watch the show when he saw He Suiran walk up to him. “Then, can we compete with each other?”
When He Suiran spoke, he looked at the camera and said to the ‘audience’, “Victory means we will have the eight treasure soup. For the sake of the team, I can only choose someone who I think I will be able to win against.”
Ji Ran didn’t want to originally, but he laughed when he heard this. “Come on then.”
He Suiran smiled internally and immediately sat on the chair with his elbows propped up on the table, the muscles on his arms flexing.
The camera quickly gave a close-up.
Ji Ran was about to stretch out his hand, but someone else took He Suiran’s palm first.
The photographer’s close-up shot was originally intended to highlight the star’s good figure.
Unexpectedly, the arm that had just entered the frame was more eye-catching than He Suiran’s. Not only were his muscles beautiful, each of his fingers could be regarded as a work of art.
The photographer could hardly resist and subconsciously moved the lens over..
The man with exquisite facial features wore a careless smile.
“I’ll do it.” Qin Man smiled and said purposefully, “I really don’t want to let you have any soup.”
