TLLKTBD CH 46

Chapter 46: Why Do You Still Think He’s Straight?

“Are you really afraid of heights?” Once Xu Yang’s face regained some color, Lu Qian asked, “If you’re afraid of heights, why did you suggest coming to Le Bao? Most of the rides here are known for their thrilling heights.”

Xu Yang shook his head. “I’m not afraid of heights. I’m just afraid of Ferris wheels.”

“…?” Lu Qian found that oddly specific. “What kind of phobia is that?”

“When I was a kid, I rode a Ferris wheel alone because I was being stubborn. That day, there weren’t many people around, so the staff allowed it. But when I reached the highest point, the Ferris wheel suddenly broke down, and everyone got stuck in their cabins. It was scorching hot, and I was about to pass out from the heat. I kept drinking water, but when I ran out, I really had to pee—but I couldn’t get down! My parents were in the next cabin, close yet unreachable. I was just a kid, scared out of my mind, dehydrated, overheated, and desperately holding it in for a full two and a half hours. By the time we were finally rescued, I had held it in so long that I couldn’t even pee anymore. My dad had to help me relax for ages before I could finally go, and it hurt like hell,” Xu Yang recounted with lingering dread.

“And yet, you still insisted on getting on the Ferris wheel just now?” Lu Qian was trying hard not to laugh.

“I wasn’t insisting. I just… completely forgot about it,” Xu Yang said helplessly. “It wasn’t until the ride started moving that I suddenly remembered. After that incident, I never rode a Ferris wheel again. I didn’t realize my body would remember it so vividly.”

Lu Qian chuckled and shook his head.

“Ugh, now that brat is going to tease me about this for ages,” Xu Yang grumbled.

Lu Qian laughed for a while before asking, “So how are things going between you two? Is it comfortable having Xiao Qi living with you?”

“I don’t really mind,” Xu Yang tilted his head thoughtfully. “But he seems a little uneasy. He spends most nights locked up in his room—I have no idea what he’s up to.”

“He’s probably on a sweet, lovey-dovey call with Mr. Ye!” Lu Qian rolled his eyes. “Who knows, those two might be getting all hot and heavy right now! Speaking of which, why were you so fixated on Mr. Ye that night at Basement? Don’t tell me you’re interested in Xiao Qi again?” He looked at Xu Yang with blatant disdain.

“As if,” Xu Yang frowned and shook his head. “I just can’t stand that guy, Ye. He’s not a good person.”

Thinking about what he’d uncovered during his investigation made Xu Yang feel inexplicably irritated. He wanted to warn Qi Shaobai, but he had no grounds to do so and didn’t know how to bring it up. If he wasn’t careful, it might even seem like he had feelings for Qi Shaobai. These past few days, he had secretly been keeping an eye on him. Fortunately, Xiao Qi had been obediently staying home and hadn’t been lured away by that scumbag.

“And how do you know he’s not a good person?” Lu Qian asked.

“…” Xu Yang obviously couldn’t say he had looked into him. “Just look at him—beady eyes, shifty face, that disgusting smirk. Can’t you tell?”

“…” Lu Qian gave him a surprised look. “I really don’t see that. Mr. Ye might not be as strikingly handsome and dashing as you, but calling him beady-eyed and shifty is a bit much. You’re just being biased. What’s wrong? You just can’t stand seeing Xiao Qi in a relationship?”

“I already said that’s not it,” Xu Yang’s face turned slightly red, as if annoyed into anger.

Lu Qian chuckled again. Xu Yang glared at him. “You seem to be in a good mood. So, after that sweet birthday with your little Lang, how are things progressing?”

Lu Qian’s smile faded instantly.

“There’s no progress at all,” Lu Qian said, looking toward the Flying Submarine ride. “He and I aren’t the same kind of people. Don’t go stirring things up.”

“You’re still calling him straight?” Xu Yang looked puzzled. “I’ve been in the circle for so long—don’t you think I’d be able to tell? No straight guy looks at another man like that.”

“And what kind of look is that?”

“Possessive. Aggressive,” Xu Yang recalled Jin Lang’s behavior at the bar. Other than that moment when he suddenly became dazed for some unknown reason, before that, when facing that waiter who tried to seduce Lu Qian, Jin Lang had exuded nothing but dominance, as if he couldn’t wait to declare, This man is mine.

“Good thing I’ve already let go of my feelings for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stood a chance against him,” Xu Yang sighed. Just thinking about it made him feel that the younger generation was truly formidable. He had chased after Lu Qian for three years but had never been as bold and straightforward as Jin Lang.

Lu Qian, however, didn’t find Xu Yang’s teasing funny at all.

Xu Yang didn’t know the truth about him and Jin Lang.

What they had was a transaction. Jin Lang had come with a purpose. He had accepted the money and was simply playing the role of a devoted lover.

For the past few days, ever since leaving the rooftop, Lu Qian had been repeating this to himself—convincing himself of this.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to handle that searing kiss, those affectionate eyes, or the dangerous longing stirring within himself.

Only he knew how wildly his heart pounded even as he coldly avoided Jin Lang.

Xu Yang noticed that Lu Qian had suddenly fallen silent, his ears turning red, his fingers unconsciously brushing his lips. He seemed lost in thought. Instinctively, Xu Yang felt that something must have happened between them. Out of nowhere, he asked, “Did he force a kiss on you?”

“How do you know?” Lu Qian blurted out in shock. The moment he saw Xu Yang’s amused smirk, he inwardly cursed at himself for falling into his trap. “No, he didn’t force a kiss on me. Don’t go making things up,” he quickly denied, but the more he tried to cover it up, the more suspicious it sounded.

Xu Yang nodded knowingly. “Mm, yeah, doesn’t seem like a forced kiss. Otherwise, you would’ve given him a black eye.” He casually rubbed the area around his own left eye—one that had once been bruised. “So, it was a mutual kiss, huh?”

“You—!” Lu Qian was on the verge of exploding. He was already frustrated enough as it was, desperately trying to pull back before it was too late, but his reins were slipping. And yet, these people just wouldn’t stop provoking him. Did he really have to crash and burn before they’d leave him alone?

But he couldn’t get mad—after all, the one holding the reins was himself. He had no one else to blame.

Looking at Xu Yang’s grin, Lu Qian knew that, just like Jin Xiaomi, he was only concerned about him. To put it bluntly, he was just nosy. Letting out a sigh, Lu Qian slumped into his seat. “It was just a kiss. He was probably just curious. It didn’t mean anything. It’s normal for a kid to be curious about these things. No need to make a big deal out of it.”

“Curious?” Now it was Xu Yang’s turn to be shocked. “What kind of man just casually gets curious about kissing another man? If he’s really the straight guy you claim he is, at his age, shouldn’t he be curious about women instead? Why are you so dead set on believing he’s straight?”

“He’s had a girlfriend before,” Lu Qian replied.

“And?” Xu Yang pressed.

“What do you mean and? He’s dated women before, so obviously, he’s straight!” Lu Qian insisted.

Xu Yang was dumbfounded.

That’s it? Just like that? A simple binary conclusion—date a woman once, and that automatically makes you straight?

He seriously wanted to crack open Lu Qian’s skull and see just how much water had seeped into his brain.

“Who told you that having a girlfriend means you have to be straight?” Xu Yang said, determined to enlighten this stubborn fool. “I’ve had a girlfriend too. Hell, I’ve even slept with women.”

Xu Yang… had slept with women…?

Lu Qian’s brain short-circuited for a second.

(To be continued…)