TLLKTBD CH 34

Chapter 34: Bambi, Do You Not Like Simba?

The only ones left in the booth were Lu Qian and Jin Lang. Jin Lang remained silent.

“What are you thinking about?” Lu Qian picked up his White Russian, taking a sip of the smooth blend of coffee liqueur and cream. The sweetness lingered pleasantly on his tongue.

Jin Lang moved slightly, as if he wanted to turn his head to look at Lu Qian, but he forced himself to stop.

“Hmm?” Lu Qian’s voice was gentle. “You’ve been quiet all night. Are you upset?”

“No.” Jin Lang kept his head down, his voice muffled.

He didn’t know how to describe how he felt tonight—everything felt chaotic.

His emotions were chaotic.

He didn’t like the way the waiter and Xu Yang got too close to Lu Qian. He didn’t like anyone touching Lu Qian.

He didn’t like hearing people say Lu Qian was a couple with someone else. He didn’t even like that he felt this way.

He didn’t even know why he felt this way.

And he was confused about his own identity.

What right did he have to dislike it? What right did he have to interfere with who touched Lu Qian? Who Lu Qian was with?

Who was he to Lu Qian?

Friends’ little brother? That was just an excuse to fool others. Did he really believe it himself?

He was just someone being kept.

For the past three months, under Lu Qian’s protection, Jin Lang had almost forgotten his real identity. If Xiao Qi hadn’t brought it up tonight by accident, he would’ve completely forgotten that he was once a host.

No—not once. He still was. He was Lu Qian’s kept host.

And not just any host, but a worthless one, a loser who couldn’t even fulfill the “duties” of a shàoyé.

More than three months had passed, and the reality was clear—Lu Qian didn’t want him.

Lu Qian watched as Jin Lang’s expression grew darker and darker. With a helpless smile, he reached out and ruffled Jin Lang’s hair. “Next week, I’ll give you a day off. You don’t have to cook at home, you don’t have to keep me company. You can go out and have fun with your friends for the whole day. How about that?”

“Oh.” Jin Lang responded but didn’t say anything else.

Lu Qian was about to say more when Jin Lang suddenly spoke again. “No need for a day off. It’s not like I do much work anyway.” His tone carried a hint of defiance.

“…”

Was he angry?

Lu Qian still wanted to encourage him to go out. “You young people should spend more time with friends. Look, hanging out with us old guys tonight must’ve been boring, right? Your face was so stiff the whole time.” He teased.

“I wasn’t bored,” Jin Lang replied. “And I don’t really have any friends.”

“What about a girlfriend then? You should at least take some time to go on a date.” Lu Qian blurted out. But the moment he said it, he regretted it. That was Jin Lang’s personal business, and with the awkward and ambiguous relationship they had, he really had no place to ask. It even felt like he was prying.

Jin Lang widened his eyes at Lu Qian, looking surprised. After a moment of silence, he said, “With my status, having a girlfriend wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Lu Qian immediately regretted even bringing it up. Why did I have to say that? Given their current awkward situation, it was the last thing he should’ve mentioned.

After thinking for a moment, he made up his mind and said, “Next Wednesday is your birthday. If you don’t mind, why don’t I, as your roommate, celebrate with you? Of course, you can also take the day off like I suggested earlier and do whatever you want.”

“My birthday? How do you know my birthday?” Jin Lang was surprised that Lu Qian actually knew. He had completely forgotten about it.

Ever since his father passed away, he had never celebrated his birthday again.

No one had ever remembered his birthday, let alone celebrated it. Over time, even he had forgotten about it. To him, it was just another date on his ID card.

Yet, this man in front of him actually remembered his birthday—and even wanted to celebrate it with him. A warmth spread from deep within his heart.

“Uh, from your last medical report.” Lu Qian looked a little embarrassed. His face turned red, as if he didn’t want Jin Lang to know he had seriously studied his health report.

Seeing Lu Qian’s sudden blush, Jin Lang’s mood unexpectedly lifted.

“Alright! Let’s celebrate together. I haven’t celebrated my birthday in a long time.”

“Then it’s settled.” Lu Qian felt relieved as he watched Jin Lang finally regain a bit of his smile.

Jin Lang’s tense emotions gradually eased. He even took a sip of the Gin Tonic that Xu Yang had ordered but left untouched. With three different cocktails mixed in his stomach, he seemed to have developed a slight interest in drinking. Seeing this, Lu Qian ordered a bottle of Hennessy Cognac, and the two of them continued drinking.

Mostly, it was Jin Lang drinking while Lu Qian simply watched.

Slowly, the hazy warmth of slight intoxication wrapped around Jin Lang. It was a little dizzying, but also strangely comfortable.

“What exactly was wrong with you earlier?” Lu Qian, noticing that Jin Lang was already somewhat tipsy, took the chance to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind all night.

“…I don’t know. I just suddenly felt uncomfortable,” Jin Lang frowned. His head was light, floating, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.

“Because… that waiter?” Lu Qian asked casually, though a faint blush dusted his face. “You didn’t like him getting too close to me?”

“And Xu Yang. He put his arm around you,” Jin Lang’s voice suddenly carried a trace of sorrow. “You don’t like being touched by others, but you let him hold you.”

“…”

Lu Qian turned his head, staring at Jin Lang in shock.

Through the drunken haze, Jin Lang suddenly felt like he was looking at a beautiful deer, its large eyes shimmering as it gazed back at him.

A wave of grievance surged in his chest.

Grabbing Lu Qian’s collar, he pulled him closer.

“Bambi… do you not like Simba?”

(To be continued…)