DMPSA CH 8

Chapter 8: Foolishness

Su Qing felt dizzy and wobbly for a moment, but Yue Qi quickly steadied him. When Qin Yang entered, from his angle, it looked like Su Qing was nestled in Yue Qi’s arms, the two appearing intimate and affectionate.

He had just returned to the teahouse and noticed the lights were still on even though it wasn’t closing time yet. However, the sign on the door already displayed “Closed” which gave him an uneasy feeling.

Sure enough, as soon as he stepped inside, he saw the two of them practically entwined.

Qin Yang was so furious he couldn’t speak, while Jiang Manling, standing beside him, fanned the flames.

“Sorry for interrupting. The door wasn’t locked,” she said with an innocent and apologetic expression. “Did we come back at a bad time?”

Jiang Manling turned to Qin Yang with a tone of mild reproach. “I told you to inform the landlord before coming back. Now look at this awkward situation…”

Qin Yang pursed his lips and said nothing. His face darkened as he headed directly toward the kitchen. Opening a hidden door next to it, he went upstairs. It was only then that Yue Qi realized the door led to a staircase connecting to the second-floor living quarters—where Su Qing and Qin Yang likely lived.

Su Qing, noticing Qin Yang’s return, hadn’t even had a chance to greet him before Jiang Manling’s remarks left him completely baffled.

Landlord? Interrupting what? Why bother locking the door?

Although Jiang Manling’s words were polite and courteous, they were deliberately ambiguous and suggestive. Su Qing didn’t react at first but quickly caught on. The realization felt like swallowing a fly—utterly revolting.

“Sorry, she misunderstood,” Su Qing explained as he turned to Yue Qi to apologize. “She’s Xiao Yang’s manager, Ms. Jiang Manling.”

Yue Qi politely but coldly nodded toward Ms. Jiang.

Su Qing had never liked Jiang Manling much. He felt she was all talk and no substance, enticing the naive Qin Yang into the glitzy, exhausting entertainment industry. If she had worked diligently, perhaps he could overlook it. But she often resorted to shortcuts and dubious schemes, and her earlier suggestive remarks only made Su Qing more displeased.

“Thank you for bringing Xiao Yang back. It’s already quite late, and I wouldn’t want to keep you from resting. We won’t trouble you for tea,” he said coldly. “Excuse me, I need to check on Xiao Yang.”

Su Qing turned, about to apologize to Yue Qi again, but before he could, Jiang Manling spoke up.

“Oh, I’m in no rush,” she said leisurely, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. “I’ll wait for Yangyang to come down. He’s quick at packing.” Jiang Manling smiled with satisfaction and waved at Dahuang. The cat, however, merely turned its head lazily and licked its tail.

With just a few words, Jiang Manling managed to stoke the tension. She brought up “the landlord” and called Qin Yang “Yangyang,” deliberately hinting at varying degrees of intimacy and familiarity.

But Su Qing had no time for her petty games.

“Packing?” Su Qing turned to Jiang Manling in astonishment. “Why would he need to pack?” He didn’t wait for her answer and dashed upstairs, leaving behind an unbothered Yue Qi and a smirking Jiang Manling.

“Xiao Yang, what are you doing?” Su Qing found Qin Yang’s room door ajar. As soon as he rushed upstairs, he saw Qin Yang by the bed, packing his luggage.

Taking long strides into the room, Su Qing reached out to grab Qin Yang’s bag. “Why are you packing for no reason?”

Qin Yang didn’t reply, tugging the bag back from Su Qing.

Since their minor fallout on Valentine’s Day, Su Qing had quickly moved past it. But Qin Yang remained stubborn, seemingly avoiding Su Qing on purpose. He left early and came home late, sometimes not even returning at all. When he did come home, he’d claim exhaustion and head straight to his room to sleep. Su Qing had wanted to have a proper talk with him but couldn’t find the chance.

Finally, Qin Yang came home earlier than usual today, only for Su Qing to find him packing. This was something Su Qing couldn’t accept.

Qin Yang was the only family Su Qing had left all these years. Seeing him silently packing his belongings, head bowed, Su Qing couldn’t hold back and shouted at him, “Say something!”

Qin Yang, startled by Su Qing’s outburst, snapped back, “What were you just doing? I’ve been out there training hard, and you’re here, cozying up to someone at the teahouse!” He yanked the bag back with a huff. “Fine, I’ll leave. It’ll make room for you two anyway.”

Su Qing took a deep breath and explained patiently, “I just felt a little dizzy earlier. He was only steadying me. We weren’t cozying up.”

“Oh, how convenient. You only feel dizzy when he’s around? Are you trying to seduce him?” Qin Yang scoffed bitterly. “Ever since this Alpha showed up, you’ve been distracted. Whenever he comes around, you’re always so happy. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Qin Yang rarely addressed Su Qing by name, but today he was utterly furious. He glared at Su Qing with malice and spat, “Or maybe, do you think he’d even want you?”

“I didn’t.” Su Qing’s face turned cold, but his ears were flushed red with anger. “I didn’t try to seduce anyone, and I never thought of such a thing. Everything you’re accusing me of is what you think, not what I think.” His rebuttal was like a tongue twister. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he added, “Stop trying to change the subject. Why are you packing? Where are you planning to go?”

“Where I’m going is none of your business. Who are you to control me?” Qin Yang growled in defiance. “And what are you to me, anyway?”

“I’m your boyfriend.” Su Qing’s tone softened, seeing Qin Yang’s defensive stance. “You’re the most important family I have. Xiao Yang, didn’t we agree to always stay together?”

“Stay together?” Qin Yang echoed mockingly. “The ‘stay together’ I want—does it even mean the same thing to you?” He tossed a piece of clothing that couldn’t fit into his bag harshly onto the bed. “Look at how other people date, and look at how you treat our relationship. Do you think just because I’m younger, I don’t understand? How dare you even call yourself my ‘boyfriend’?”

“Let me ask you this: last time, you told me you needed time to adjust. It’s been months. How’s that adjustment going?”

A few months ago, Qin Yang had expressed his desire to share a bed with Su Qing for the first time. Now, furious and frustrated, he was demanding an answer.

In the past, Qin Yang’s advances—stealing a touch here or sneaking a kiss there—were clumsy and fraught with obstacles. Sometimes, he’d meticulously set up a romantic atmosphere, only for Su Qing to back out at the last moment. Qin Yang might hold the title of Su Qing’s boyfriend, but the relationship was one of barriers and limitations, leaving Qin Yang simmering with pent-up frustration.

But the Qin Yang standing before Su Qing now was no longer the same as the boy from months ago. The once-dependent Qin Yang had entered a dazzling, money-fueled world where admirers flocked to him. How could he still accept being rejected repeatedly by Su Qing?

“Xiao Yang, you… you know I’m… abnormal…” Su Qing sighed, seeing Qin Yang so worked up. “You’ve always known this. I… I just can’t do it.”

“Can’t do it?” Qin Yang sat heavily on the bed, glaring at Su Qing. “You just don’t want to try! You keep saying you’re abnormal or defective. Are you afraid I’ll look down on you? I don’t care about your so-called defects!”

Su Qing knew Qin Yang didn’t care.

In fact, he knew that deep down, Qin Yang might even hope he had defects.

Su Qing fell silent for a few seconds before sitting down as well. Carefully choosing his words, he began, “Xiao Yang, you’ve been living with me since you were fifteen. For the past seven years, we’ve depended on each other, and it’s been a hard journey to get where we are. But have you ever considered that the feelings between us might just be the reliance between siblings? What we have might be familial affection, not love.”

“Heh, here we go again. Stop using this excuse to shut me down every time. I’m tired of hearing it. You always talk about being siblings, family. If being your ‘little brother’ means taking away my chance to be your man, then I’d rather not be this damn little brother.” Qin Yang snapped, his words biting. “I don’t care about being your family.”

The words struck Su Qing like a slap.

He had cared for Qin Yang for seven long years. While he hadn’t raised him from the cradle, he had extended his hand to help when Qin Yang was alone and helpless. He had provided for him, supported his schooling, made sure he had enough to eat, helped him with his studies, and stood by him through the difficult, rebellious years of adolescence.

Seven years of mutual companionship.

And now, he was met with the words, “I don’t care about being your family.”

Seeing Su Qing’s pale face, Qin Yang suddenly realized that he might have gone too far. His anger didn’t allow him to back down, but he softened his words, trying to disguise his stubbornness with a hint of grievance. “And you’re not me, so how do you know I don’t love you? Who are you to decide that for me? I don’t care. I want you, whether you give it or not.”

Su Qing sighed deeply.

How could he know it wasn’t love? How could he decide for him?

It was precisely because of that selfish “I don’t care.” It was because of that childish possessiveness.

This wasn’t love. How could love disregard the other person’s will like that?

Su Qing massaged his forehead, troubled. The boy before him was the one he had watched grow up, the one he had loved like family. In the past, he had tried his best to meet Qin Yang’s needs within his capabilities.

But this time… he realized he was wrong.

He had mistaken familial love for romantic love and had indulged Qin Yang’s childish behavior for far too long.

(To Be Continued…)

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