LHKE Ch 3

Cheng Zhao Zhao and Lu Changting were chatting casually when Shen Li’s phone rang on the side. Seeing the caller ID, Cheng Zhao Zhao frowned, snatched the phone before Shen Li could, and answered it.

Over the years, Shen Li had not been in a relationship. Cheng Zhao Zhao had never pressured him to date or try out a relationship with a girl, but she was patient, while Shen Zhengqing was not.

Shen Zhengqing had started a company as a real estate agent. The business had been decent at first, but it had struggled in recent years. Recently, the company faced operational problems, and Shen Zhengqing had set his sights on Shen Li.

If Shen Zhengqing wanted to borrow money, Cheng Zhao Zhao might have turned a blind eye, but he wanted to use Shen Li for a business marriage, and that Cheng Zhao Zhao could not tolerate.

Shen Li had been tricked into a blind date last month, and Cheng Zhao Zhao had been waiting for the right moment to confront Shen Zhengqing. Unexpectedly, the man was still stubborn and called again.

“Shen Zhengqing, have you got Alzheimer’s? I told you not to mess with Xiao Li, and just a few days later, you’ve forgotten?”

“……”

“And didn’t you have a son too? Oh, I forgot, your son is only twelve this year, too young.”

“……”

“Then why don’t you go yourself?” Cheng Zhao Zhao said sarcastically. “Men at forty are like flowers. Mr. Shen, although you’re a bit older, you might still find someone who likes you.”

“……”

Cheng Zhao Zhao listened dispassionately to the sanctimonious voice on the other end of the line saying, “I’m doing this for Xiao Li,” her patience running out. “Save it. My son doesn’t need you to do anything for him.”

The caller insisted on speaking with Shen Li.

“Xiao Li is busy,” Cheng Zhao Zhao glanced at Lu Changting with a smile at the corner of her mouth. “He’s got a new boyfriend—tall, handsome, and wealthy. They’re on a date right now.”

Lu Changting choked on his drink and coughed a couple of times.

Shen Li apologized, “Sorry, my mom is just joking. Please don’t take it to heart.”

“It’s my dad’s call,” he explained quietly. “They divorced a long time ago.”

That’s why Cheng Zhao Zhao’s sarcasm was so sharp—she wanted to anger Shen Zhengqing into never calling again.

Shen Zhengqing said something that made Cheng Zhao Zhao’s expression darken, her eyes devoid of any warmth. “You’re the one who’s sick.”

She hung up the phone and took a sip of yogurt, her anger momentarily redirected.

At that moment, she wasn’t the graceful woman but a mother.

She embraced Shen Li, resting her head on his broad shoulder, her eyes slightly red. “Xiao Li.”

Lu Changting had no intention of prying into others’ private matters. He turned slightly to give the mother and son some privacy but still heard the mother’s voice.

“You need to find a tall, handsome boyfriend with money to make Shen Zhengqing mad.”

He thought of Jiang Chifeng.

The Fan Ning Group dealt in high-end luxury goods and was financially sound. Jiang Chifeng and Shen Li would make a good match.

He also realized that Shen Li liked men.

Shen Li didn’t know how to respond to Cheng Zhao Zhao’s comment.

He put an arm around Cheng Zhao Zhao’s shoulders, gently patting her to calm her down. “Don’t be angry. It will give you wrinkles.”

Cheng Zhao Zhao took another sip of yogurt, still upset.

By the time a few friends were about to head back to school, Cheng Zhao Zhao’s anger had subsided. She declined Shen Li’s offer to drive her home and, as she had arrived, left with a carefree attitude.

Lu Changting had had more than a few drinks by now, while Shen Li remained at the bar, one drinking and the other sipping tea. They chatted casually. 

“Is aunt a teacher?”

Shen Li shook his head. “No, they’re her classmate.”

He added, “She’s a designer. Two years ago, she took the entrance exam for graduate school at an art academy and went back to study further.”

Cheng Zhao Zhao had married Shen Zhengqing shortly after graduating from university, marrying because of pregnancy… After the divorce, she had focused on earning money to support the family. Once Shen Li graduated from university and established his own career, Cheng Zhao Zhao resumed her own plans from before.

Shen Li hoped that Cheng Zhao Zhao could regain the things she had given up for him and live the life she liked. After returning to school, Cheng Zhao Zhao made a group of young friends and her mindset became youthful again. She was happy, and Shen Li was happy for her.

After Shen Li briefly explained the complications between Cheng Zhao Zhao and Shen Zhengqing, Lu Changting clinked his glass with Shen Li’s.

He wasn’t good at comforting people, and Shen Li didn’t need comfort, so it was better to just have a drink.

Shen Li took a sip of tea and naturally changed the topic. “Why are you alone today? Did something trouble you?”

“I just took over the group and have been busy for over half a month. I came out for a drink to relax.”

In the past half month, Lu Changting had not had an easy time. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and his demeanor was colder.

Shen Li noticed and felt a pang of sadness.

After so many years, the youthful infatuation he had harbored was tightly sealed in his heart. All that came to mind were past memories. But one couldn’t dwell in the past, or one would drown in it.

As time went by, he rarely thought of Lu Changting. Occasionally, in the middle of the night, he would wonder how Lu Changting was doing on the other side of the ocean—whether he ate on time, if his stomach issues and low blood sugar still troubled him, how his studies were going… whether he had a new girlfriend…

Until Lu Changting returned to China. That day, an unexpected reunion.

He suddenly realized that no matter how much time had passed or how splendidly he had lived afterward, when he met that person again, he was still that timid, insecure self from back then. His heart still raced with the same excitement as before.

The bar was lively in the early morning, almost too much so, and Lu Changting was preparing to leave.

After finishing his drink, he stood up, slightly unsteady on his feet. Shen Li reached out to steady him. “Are you drunk?”

There was a moment of blackness in his vision, and his head felt heavy, not just from the alcohol but also something else. Lu Changting sat back down, taking a few seconds to respond, “It’s fine, just low blood sugar.”

He had dealt with low blood sugar for years, sometimes even fainting from it. This level was manageable; he just needed a moment to recover.

Shen Li frowned and pulled a piece of chocolate from his pocket.

The square shape wrapped in black foil looked familiar to Lu Changting. Before he could think further, Shen Li had already unwrapped the chocolate and held it to his mouth.

Lu Changting paused for a second, tasted the familiar sweetness, and looked at Shen Li with a complicated expression. “Where did you buy this chocolate?”

“At the supermarket.”

He lied again.

Shen Li lowered his gaze and took out another piece of chocolate for him. “Do you want more?”

After eating two pieces of chocolate, Lu Changting sat for a few minutes and felt better.

He thanked Shen Li and, while paying the bill, got a membership card. After filling out the basic information form, he stood up and prepared to say goodbye.

Shen Li picked up his coat from the side and stood up with him. “I’ll give you a ride.”

Seeing the concern in Shen Li’s eyes, Lu Changting, almost unconsciously, couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

When they got into the car, Shen Li naturally took the driver’s seat and asked Lu Changting for the car keys. Lu Changting looked disapproving. “I’ll call the driver.”

“I haven’t been drinking,” Shen Li said with a hint of amusement. “If you don’t believe me, you can smell.”

Lu Changting was somewhat tipsy; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Shen Li drive. Their relationship wasn’t close enough for this…

Before fastening his seatbelt, he leaned in to smell. Shen Li only had a faint woody fragrance, very clean.

He handed the car keys to Shen Li. “What did you drink?”

“I had tea.” Shen Li waited for him to fasten his seatbelt and then started the engine. “Where do you live?”

“Fengchun Villa, No. 11.”

He had recently returned to the country, and the house was arranged by his family. He didn’t have any other place to stay.

After providing the address, Lu Changting adjusted his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

When the car stopped in front of his villa, Lu Changting realized a problem—if Shen Li took him home, how would he get back?

It was already past two in the morning, and Fengchun Villa was on the outskirts. It would be a hassle for Shen Li to take a taxi home…

“Do you want to stay at my place for the night?”

Tipsy Lu Changting’s thoughts were disordered, and he couldn’t think of a better solution, so he simply asked Shen Li if he wanted to stay.

Shen Li was a bit surprised. He should have politely asked if it would be too much trouble, but he didn’t. He simply followed his honest thought and nodded.

Following Lu Changting inside, Shen Li was led to the guest room. Watching Lu Changting rummage for clean clothes for him, Shen Li’s expression was somewhat obscure.

The drunk Lu Changting had shed his aloofness, making Shen Li feel as if he was back to the time when he quietly followed him from a distance. He could look at him freely and let his affection grow wild.

They were so close.

Yet so far away.

He still felt that it was enough to just be able to look at him.

Shen Li gave a bittersweet smile. After all these years, he was still as hopeless as ever.

When Lu Changting woke up, Shen Li had already left.

The guest room’s bedding was neatly arranged, and a note on the door read: “The porridge is warming on low heat in the pot. I took your clothes; I’ll return them after washing. Thanks for letting me stay.” A string of numbers followed.

Living alone, Lu Changting usually dealt with meals by eating something from the company’s cafeteria or ordering takeout. His home was cold and unused, so he had no idea where Shen Li had found ingredients to make porridge for him.

Like a little snail girl.

He also thought about the chocolate Shen Li gave him.

The simple black wrapping and the milky sweet taste were familiar.

But back then, it was not Shen Li who gave him the chocolate but Tang Yao.

Lu Changting had once been in a relationship, a youthful romance during his senior year in high school.

He remembered that summer, on a scorching afternoon, he collapsed on the way to the cafeteria after playing basketball.

Skipping meals, combined with low blood sugar and heatstroke, left him lying in the infirmary with an IV drip when he opened his eyes again.

Tang Yao was sitting by the bed, smiling and asking if he wanted a piece of chocolate.

They eventually got together, and he had asked Tang Yao where she got the chocolate. He had searched in various supermarkets but never found that particular sweetness again.

When they graduated, he and Tang Yao broke up, and he went abroad. The heavy academic workload left him little time to reminisce or recall the relationship. As the years went by, he thought even less about it—until last night when he suddenly tasted that familiar flavor.

So many years had passed that he barely remembered the taste. He wondered if he might have remembered it wrong after drinking last night, his thoughts becoming a tangled mess.

He thought to himself that he should ask Shen Li for a piece of that chocolate next time they met.