GDRG CH17

“This is my brother, Xing Jun. He specially took annual leave to come and have fun with us. This is Zheng Songtao, my university classmate. This is Jason, my middle school classmate…”

Even though he was far away, he felt a phantom sensation on his arm, as if it were being tightly gripped. Scalding heat and beads of sweat gathered on his skin.

Shi Xueqing wanted to quietly hide in the crowd, but Xing Wei spoke up, “The rest, Tao Shu, Lu Yimeng, and Shi Xueqing…”

“You remember them all, right?”

His name being called, Shi Xueqing flinched.

Though there were three names, Xing Jun’s dark, beast-like eyes only looked at him, giving him a slight smile.

“Long time no see, Classmate Shi. I hear you’ve been a great help to my sister lately.”

Xing Jun extended his hand.

Shi Xueqing wanted to pretend he didn’t see it. But with Lu Yimeng and Xing Wei watching, he could only reluctantly extend his own hand and give Xing Jun’s a perfunctory shake.

His palm was squeezed very tightly.

“Sneezing again?” Lu Yimeng said, seeing Shi Xueqing shiver.

“…A little cold.”

Shi Xueqing nonchalantly pulled his hand back. Thankfully, Xing Jun didn’t stop him.

How could it be a little cold? It was very hot. It felt like being seared by a branding iron.

“So the mysterious guest you mentioned was your brother. You two made up?” Lu Yimeng obliviously gossiped with Xing Wei.

“Yeah, my brother even said he’s paying for this whole Hawaii trip… Right, bro?”

“Right. I’m here not just for fun, but also to ensure my sister’s safety on her trip… By the way, Classmate Shi, why haven’t you said anything?”

Xing Jun’s voice rang out again. Shi Xueqing’s timid back tensed up.

That “safety” was pointedly directed at someone. Besides him, who else could it be?

Xing Jun crossed his arms and looked at Shi Xueqing, his eyes full of malicious, playful interest. “Distracted? You’re not reliving the first-class flight just now, are you?”

That was before you showed up.

Under everyone’s gaze, Shi Xueqing’s reply was a bit meek.

“I was thinking… thank you for covering all the expenses.”

He said.

…

For some reason, meeting Xing Jun this time, he felt particularly tense, particularly scared, almost as if some animal instinct for seeking advantage and avoiding harm had kicked in, making him sense a hidden, immense danger.

It was probably because Xing Jun had most likely found out about him stirring up trouble between the siblings behind their backs. A scheming green tea meeting the victim who had broken the trap, feeling very guilty and afraid of retaliation.

So afraid that he didn’t even dare to stare at the fiery-colored Ferrari anymore—only occasionally stealing a glance.

Jason, meeting his goddess’s brother for the first time, enthusiastically struck up a conversation with Xing Jun. Shi Xueqing stood by, his mouth shut. He quietly put his copy of Difference and Repetition and the nine-hundred-dollar headphones back in his bag, deciding not to exude any more charm today.

Don’t show off, talk less. Let Xing Jun ignore me, to avoid being attacked and retaliated against.

Like a quail, he stood obediently and listened.

“…What a coincidence, my cousin is also in the Bay Area, working in the same field.”

Listening to Jason’s enthusiastic chat, which had a hint of networking, Xing Jun smiled and socialized, but his eyes would occasionally and discreetly flick towards Shi Xueqing.

After a nine-hour flight, Shi Xueqing’s clothes were a bit disheveled, and his face was a bit dusty. He stood there like a quiet statue.

But his waist was still very slim.

Tucked into blue-gray jeans. Because his waist was so slim, even in straight-leg jeans, it made his butt look quite perky.

Seeing Shi Xueqing’s butt reminded him of the hundreds of thousands of points he had painfully lost, and a bellyful of wicked fire rose in Xing Jun again. Just then, Xing Wei spoke up, “Let’s chat later. I’m so hungry, let’s hurry and get something to eat.”

“Alright.” Xing Jun nodded. “You ride in my car. We…”

He glanced at Shi Xueqing again, wanting to see him staring obsessively at the Ferrari—but to his surprise, Shi Xueqing was being well-behaved, his head lowered, helping Xing Wei move her luggage into the Ferrari’s trunk. The sight of his long, slender arms struggling with a 32-inch suitcase was quite a strain.

The words on the tip of his tongue suddenly changed. “How about this: me, you, and Shi Xueqing in one car.”

The rest could take the other car.

“That works too, saves squeezing into the SUV,” Xing Wei said happily. “Xiao Shi, we’re in the same car.”

Jason’s eyes, when he looked at Shi Xueqing, held more disappointment and jealous hostility. Shi Xueqing, putting down the suitcase, felt no triumph at all.

He felt cold sweat about to drip down again.

Xing Jun watched Shi Xueqing keep his head down and just give a silent nod, and suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.

With that expression, Shi Xueqing looked like a little wife who had been bullied.

Thankfully, as the last suitcase was put in the trunk, Xing Jun turned his back to walk to the driver’s seat, his eyes discreetly glancing back—in his peripheral vision, Shi Xueqing closed the trunk, and seeing no one around, secretly touched the car’s emblem.

“…”

Xing Jun’s eyes filled with cold mockery, and he let out a puff of air through his nose. Without further pause, he started the car decisively.

Still the same vain, all-pervasive gold-digger.

That’s right. That’s exactly why it’s better to keep an eye on someone like Shi Xueqing.

The closer he was, the more Shi Xueqing would expose his true colors in front of him and Xing Wei.

He must have been thinking that.

The back door opened, but no one got in for a while. As Xing Jun was wondering, Xing Wei, who had been buried in her phone, exclaimed, “Bro, why is there such a huge bouquet of roses in your back seat?”

Xing Jun: …

When leaving the rental agency, he had forgotten to throw the flowers away.

“They were a gift from the shop. I forgot to throw them out,” he said stiffly.

“Huh? The rental agency gives those out?”

Xing Jun was getting annoyed, but then he heard Shi Xueqing say obediently, “Then… I can help you throw them away, Brother Xing. The trash can isn’t far from here.”

In the rearview mirror, Shi Xueqing bent down. He picked up the bouquet, and without waiting for Xing Jun’s reply, scurried towards the trash can.

He looked like he was fleeing for his life.

Though he was being obedient, Xing Jun felt uncomfortable all over again. He had a feeling that whether Shi Xueqing threw them away or not, it would have been annoying.

Fortunately, Shi Xueqing returned quickly, empty-handed. Xing Jun caught a glimpse of him passing by the window and said, “Get in.”

“Okay, Brother Xing.”

His voice was low and obedient.

Xing Jun started the Ferrari and saw in the rearview mirror that Shi Xueqing was sitting alone in the back, his eyes vacant, acting nonchalant.

Shi Xueqing didn’t have this expression when he was stirring up trouble behind his back. He’d like to see how long he can pretend to be good.

With that thought, a car next to them changed lanes erratically. Xing Jun slammed on the brakes. Xing Wei yelped, her phone nearly flying out of her hand.

Xing Jun honked the horn in anger. He glanced at the rearview mirror—thankfully, no car behind had rear-ended them.

It was just that Shi Xueqing, sitting in the back, had also been jolted. Even with his seatbelt on, he was almost thrown into the front row.

With just that one glance, the fire in Xing Jun’s heart suddenly dropped, slowly burning down to his lower abdomen.

“Why are drivers in Hawaii so uncultured too? I thought it was just in Los Angeles,” Xing Wei complained. “That was a close call.”

“Yeah.” Xing Jun continued driving calmly.

That scene just now was indeed still in his mind.

Shi Xueqing was still wearing the collarbone chain he wore when they first met. As his upper body was thrown forward, Shi Xueqing’s hand clutched the back of the seat desperately, the silver chain dangling in the hollow of his collarbone.

It was almost as if he were being grabbed by that chain and forcefully pulled to the front.

If he were really choked and pulled over like that, Shi Xueqing would probably stick out his tongue from suffocation.

His eyes would glaze over, he’d gasp for breath, and the tip of his pink tongue would loll out. Along with glistening saliva, it would also trickle down from the corner of his lips.

All the way down to the strong hand of the person pulling him.

…

The shadow of the sudden stop faded, and Xing Wei chatted with Xing Jun along the way. Shi Xueqing sat alone in the back, as if on pins and needles.

On one hand, it was due to the shock and subsequent embarrassment and fear.

On the other hand, it was because he had never been in such a luxurious car.

The seats were genuine leather; a light scratch from a fingernail would leave a mark. He was terrified that he would accidentally scratch the seat and Xing Jun would make him pay for it.

His mind on his bank account balance, he suddenly heard Xing Wei say, “Xiao Shi?”

“Yes,” he replied subconsciously.

“We’re at the restaurant,” Xing Wei said.

Shi Xueqing: “…”

The restaurant… they were already here?

Shi Xueqing was in a daze. He looked at the bustling street outside the window, then at the luxurious interior of the Ferrari.

Half an hour.

Wasted on internal conflict.

He didn’t even get to experience the feeling of riding in a luxury car…

Shi Xueqing got out of the car with a crestfallen expression, his hand pausing on the handle before he forced himself to close the door.

The Hawaiian night was vast, filled with tourists from all over the world. He looked at the magnificent streetscape for the first time, and alone, he let out a melancholy, soft sigh.

It’s okay, this is the first time.

He could forgive himself for his poor performance.

If he got to ride in a luxury car a few more times… he would surely be able to act relaxed and brave.

Shi Xueqing was only melancholic for a moment before he managed to coax himself back into a good mood. Xing Jun watched him from afar. He had originally thought Shi Xueqing’s dejected face was due to worrying about retaliation.

Now, seeing his expression change, he felt that might not be it.

What on earth was Shi Xueqing thinking?

Following the group into the restaurant, Xing Jun suddenly grew more and more irritated.

He drank his lemonade, watching Shi Xueqing sit down with Xing Wei and the others, and order food. With him watching like a hawk, Shi Xueqing seemed to have genuinely become much more behaved. Not only did he not sit next to Xing Wei, but he also didn’t sit opposite her. Shi Xueqing clearly had the chance to do so, but he was the last to be seated, with two people between him and Xing Wei.

And two people between him and himself, as well.

During the meal, Shi Xueqing didn’t say much either. He sat on the edge of the group, just resting his cheek on his hand and listening to them chat, his expression aloof and tranquil. Even when asked a question where he could have put on his “green tea” act, he would just give a simple answer, never elaborating, never showing off, and never initiating conversation with Xing Wei or Xing Jun.

And when he spoke, he kept his eyes lowered, not looking at Xing Jun.

A bit well-behaved, a bit reverent, a bit like he was yielding.

Even when Xing Jun suddenly provoked him with “Not going to take some pictures?”, he just obediently replied, “I’m so tired from the flight today, I don’t feel like it.”

“This place is pretty famous on Instagram. Over two hundred dollars per person,” Xing Jun said again.

Being watched by him, Shi Xueqing just gave a small smile and said nothing.

…

The way Shi Xueqing was acting.

It was as if he no longer planned to be a vain green tea gold-digger. Not flirting with Xing Wei, not stirring up trouble between the siblings, not taking photos with this trendy, two-hundred-dollar-per-person restaurant. He was being so well-behaved, it was impossible to find fault.

It was as if he really was just an artistic youth on vacation in Hawaii with his classmates.

But Xing Jun knew it was all an illusion. As soon as he wasn’t around, Shi Xueqing would go back to his gold-digging ways. When that time came, Shi Xueqing would surely put on his gentle, scholarly smile, pretend to accidentally sit next to Xing Wei, and while reciting some artistic quotes, invite Xing Wei to watch a movie in an existential negative space.

Perhaps not just Xing Wei, but others too.

As long as he wasn’t there.

Like just now, hadn’t Shi Xueqing touched the car emblem when he thought he wasn’t looking?

“There’s one chicken wing left… is it extra? If no one wants it, I’ll have it,” Zheng Songtao said.

Xing Jun paid him no mind, but a clear, cool voice spoke up, “Wait, Brother Xing hasn’t had any yet.”

Xing Jun slowly turned his face.

Shi Xueqing, sitting in the corner, was looking at him. In the dim light, the fair-skinned, artistic youth gave him an ingratiating, pretty smile.

The silver stud in his ear glistened.

It was as if he were saying one thing.

Brother Xing, see how well-behaved I am.

But in response to such a smile, Xing Jun only felt the dark fire burn even more fiercely.

It spread through his veins, overwhelming everything.

“You have it,” he said to Zheng Songtao, not looking at Shi Xuege.

Instead, he took a sip of ice water.

What an act.

Xing Jun said coldly in his heart.

His emotions wavered like a flame. When they left the restaurant and he saw Shi Xueqing get a mint for Xing Wei, it reached its ignition point.

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