YMW CH 51

Meeting the Wrong Person

Xie Guilan initially only planned to give a quick kiss, but once his lips met Cen Wu’s soft cheek, he found it hard to pull away.

Cen Wu reached for the blanket, but Xie Guilan leaned over him. As Cen Wu raised his hand, he nearly wrapped his arms around Xie Guilan’s neck.

“Master,” Xie Guilan murmured in a hoarse voice.

Cen Wu’s long, thick eyelashes fluttered. Interrupted from sleep, he frowned in slight annoyance.

Xie Guilan kissed his cheek again, his sharp nose pressing softly against the tender flesh of Cen Wu’s face.

In the quiet of the night, Xie Guilan hunched over him, like a dog, his body weight pressing down on Cen Wu. His breath was shallow and restrained, veins standing out on his pale neck. Sweat trickled down from his collarbones and the muscles of his abdomen, but each kiss he placed on Cen Wu’s face was gentle.

He was so cautious, so careful, that Cen Wu couldn’t fall back asleep, growing more annoyed and kicking his legs out in irritation.

Cen Wu’s dark hair fell around his face, making his lips seem even redder and his skin even paler. The moonlight illuminated his features, casting soft shadows.

He didn’t recognize that the person on top of him was Xie Guilan and mistook him for one of the male actors who sometimes climbed into his bed. He didn’t offer any warmth, and even though he was nearly asleep, his expression was unlike his usual one.

Cen Wu had a kind of detached beauty, not like moonlight that anyone could gather from the water, but one that hung high in the sky, aloof and unreachable.

Xie Guilan wasn’t upset when Cen Wu kicked him, still holding onto him, kissing the reddened ear that was pressed against the pillow, before attempting to take off his pants.

It was cold that night, and Cen Wu’s pants were a bit thick, making it uncomfortable to sleep like this.

Cen Wu didn’t resist, but when the other kissed him, the scorching warmth of his lips brushed against his cheek and ear, and his hands were still unbuttoning his pants. Anyone would start to think too much in this situation.

Cen Wu’s pale legs were exposed, and a shiver ran through him. The alcohol made it hard for him to resist, and in the drowsy night, he could only tell that the person above him was a tall, young man.

The dark, almond-shaped eyes that had been cold and distant now softened slightly, but that softness couldn’t suppress the greed and lust burning in them.

The young man’s large, bony hand gripped his chin, and his thumb rubbed over Cen Wu’s lips, which carried the scent of alcohol. His fingers traced into his mouth, pulling out a soft, wet sound.

Cen Wu’s breathing grew heavier, his body heating up. Who was this, trying to seduce him in the middle of the night? Xie Guilan’s firm abdomen pressed against him, and his knee brushed against Cen Wu’s.

Xie Guilan couldn’t take it anymore and grabbed Cen Wu’s knee, trying to push his leg down. His willpower was on the verge of breaking.

Cen Wu misinterpreted his action and opened his eyes just slightly, his eyelashes fluttering. His gaze was unfocused, still cold, but full of confusion.

Xie Guilan kissed his lips, his tongue drawing out a mix of saliva, but his tone was colder than before. He pulled Cen Wu closer by his collar, his voice low and commanding, “Remember to wear a condom.”

“….”

Xie Guilan realized that Cen Wu wasn’t stammering anymore. When Cen Wu wasn’t stammering, he didn’t seem like himself, but still, he had never spoken to him like this before.

He looked down at Cen Wu, leaned in to kiss his ear, and hoarsely murmured, “Then hold me.”

Cen Wu didn’t want to hold him, thinking, who was this person, asking for so much, and now even wanting him to comfort him? He’d only ever comforted Xie Guilan.

Xie Guilan pinched his cheek, the calluses on his fingers rubbing up, their bodies pressed against each other through the thin fabric, feeling the changes in Cen Wu. Xie Guilan’s throat bobbed as he softly called out, “Master, let me help you, okay?”

Cen Wu’s body didn’t resist, and Xie Guilan took his wrist, forcing Cen Wu to hold him tighter. In the moonlight, Xie Guilan reached out and touched Cen Wu.

A shudder passed through both of them.

It seemed like the others were just leaving, with the sounds of classmates laughing in the hallway. Cen Wu’s head was spinning, and suddenly he felt something was wrong, but Xie Guilan pulled him deeper into the tide.

Cen Wu could only cling to Xie Guilan’s shoulder, his toes pressing into the bedsheet, curling up and relaxing, his eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears.

Xie Guilan held him tightly, never loosening his grip, until Cen Wu was drenched in sweat, gasping for air, pushing at him several times before he finally let go.

Cen Wu’s head was dizzy, but the alcohol buzz was starting to fade. His blurred eyes looked up at Xie Guilan’s face, still glistening with sweat, and he froze.

Cen Wu: “…”

Cen Wu: !!!

Cen Wu was suddenly shocked awake. His lips were pale, and he trembled, saying, “Xie… Xie Guilan?”

“….” Xie Guilan immediately understood the situation, the desire fading from his cold, handsome face. He looked displeased as he said, “Who did you think it was?”

Cen Wu hadn’t thought about it at all, and seeing the wet marks on Xie Guilan’s hands, he quickly got up to leave.

Cen Wu, dazed, could feel that Xie Guilan was angry. He hurriedly reached out to stop him, pulling him to sit at the edge of the bed and not letting go.

“Who did you think it was?” Xie Guilan’s dark eyes narrowed, his voice cold as he interrogated.

Cen Wu genuinely didn’t know. The familiarity of the man’s breath made him feel at ease, and after being seduced, he lost control.

But he finally realized what had angered Xie Guilan. He crawled over a few steps, leaned in to look at Xie Guilan’s face, and said anxiously, “I… I was drunk. I didn’t take you for… someone else.”

Xie Guilan’s face was still not pleasant, but Cen Wu was blushing. He grabbed Xie Guilan’s hand, wiping it clean.

“I was wrong,” Cen Wu said, regretful. He hadn’t meant to do this with Xie Guilan, and he hadn’t expected Xie Guilan would be willing to help him like this. He apologized, “Please… don’t be mad.”

Xie Guilan was a man of dignity, and he was good.

But Cen Wu had lusted after him, and that was bad.

Xie Guilan sat with a grim face at the edge of the bed for a few minutes before getting into bed. Cen Wu moved closer, gently shaking Xie Guilan, resting his chin on his shoulder.

“I don’t feel like talking to you right now,” Xie Guilan said, his eyes dark, staring at him. “I’ll deal with you the day after tomorrow.”

He wanted Cen Wu to love only him, but it seemed difficult for Cen Wu. Xie Guilan swallowed the bitter taste of blood in his throat.

Cen Wu: “…”

“Blame me,” Cen Wu muttered, his forehead leaning against Xie Guilan’s shoulder. He shook him, never having begged anyone like this before. He was embarrassed, his ears turning red as he softly said, “It’s all my… my fault. Can you please… talk to me now?”

“Can’t blame the young master,” Xie Guilan’s lips curled up in a half-smile, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I can only blame myself for meeting the wrong person.”

Cen Wu: “…”

Was that how you used that expression?

Cen Wu felt the sarcasm, but didn’t dare respond. He curled up next to Xie Guilan, his head down, only his dark hair showing, unsure whether Xie Guilan would find him disgusting.

He had always been this kind of person.

Lying there, Cen Wu cautiously reached out and touched Xie Guilan’s hand hanging at his side, hooking his pinky finger. Suddenly, Xie Guilan tightened his grip, and Cen Wu froze, looking up.

Xie Guilan said calmly, “I want to hold you while we sleep.”

“…”

Cen Wu paused.

Back at Cen’s house, Xie Guilan used to hold him through the blanket, but it was clear now that Xie Guilan didn’t want that kind of hold.

He struggled a little, but when he saw the cold, dark look in Xie Guilan’s eyes again, he quickly crawled into Xie Guilan’s blanket, wrapping his arms around his waist. “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, I didn’t… didn’t say I wouldn’t hug you.”

Xie Guilan pulled him into his embrace, and the anger in his heart eased slightly.

When Cen Wu didn’t recognize him, he acted so cold, but after recognizing him, he started to coax him again. Cen Wu still loved him, he was the most important to him.

Cen Wu obediently let himself be held for a while, but eventually couldn’t resist. His face flushed red, and his lashes trembled as he softly called Xie Guilan, “Ge, can I… can I put on my underwear first?”

What was even happening?

His underwear was still hanging around his ankles, as if he had kicked them off himself. He couldn’t blame Xie Guilan for it. Cen Wu felt like he wanted to die right then and there. If he was going to be eaten by sharks tonight, that would be fine too.

He would rather die in Xie Guilan’s hands.

Xie Guilan reached over to help him put it on. Cen Wu felt like a doll being played with, not daring to resist.

He thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, but absurdly enough, he had already given up on himself and ended up falling asleep in Xie Guilan’s arms.

The next morning, Cen Wu woke up before dawn, and then, with suffocating clarity, realized he hadn’t forgotten a thing.

He even remembered some details, like how Xie Guilan’s palms were rough, much more comfortable than his own hands.

How could he be like this?

He was bad!

Xie Guilan had woken up earlier than him, already washed and dressed. When Cen Wu lifted his head and met Xie Guilan’s eyes, he knew that Xie Guilan hadn’t forgotten either.

His pale cheeks flushed, and he scrambled to the bathroom to wash up. After struggling for a while, he couldn’t think of any suitable way to die, so he hesitated and finally went out to meet Xie Guilan.

“Young Master,” Xie Guilan said with his usual expression, as if nothing had happened the previous night, holding his phone. “The class leader said they’re going up the mountain to watch the sunrise. He asked if you want to join.”

Last night, the class had stayed up until one or two in the morning, and they didn’t have time to climb the mountain, but they could take the cable car.

“Go… go ahead,” Cen Wu replied.

At this point, he was willing to do anything, as long as it meant not being alone with Xie Guilan in that room.

Cen Wu didn’t have breakfast, so Xie Guilan brought him some bread and milk to eat on the cable car.

At four or five in the morning, it was cold at the mountaintop, and they all wore down jackets. Cen Wu even wore the scarf that Guan Xingxue had given him earlier. He gestured for Xie Guilan to lower his head.

“You wear… wear this,” Cen Wu said, helping him with the scarf.

Xie Guilan stared at him, his gaze intense, as if he had an urge to kiss him. Little liar, how could he be so heartless? Maybe a good beating would make him behave.

Cen Wu didn’t know what Xie Guilan was thinking. After tying the scarf, he awkwardly let go of him.

The light fog from the sunrise enveloped the mountaintop, and the golden light shone through the thick mist. Cen Wu’s hands turned red from the cold, and Xie Guilan took his hand and stuffed it into the pocket of his down jacket.

“Xie… Xie Guilan,” Cen Wu called, tilting his head up to get closer to his ear and whispered, “Do you like it?”

Xie Guilan knew that Cen Wu was asking if he liked the autumn outing, the mountains and the sunrise. These things didn’t change him, but they gradually erased the ashes in his heart.

No one had ever done this before, enduring their own fear just to take him to so many places, hoping to make him a little happier.

Song Lingwei was having surgery, and Xie Guilan had taken three days off from Blue Night. Today was the last day.

Cen Wu, summoning his courage, dragged Xie Guilan to a hot spring. They went in the daytime when there weren’t many people. After soaking, they strolled around the resort. After dinner in the evening, they left early.

Lu Wang had the driver take them back to the city. He Yao had also wanted to get in the car, unwilling to let Cen Wu be alone with Xie Guilan. However, Lu Wang held his leg tightly, so He Yao could only watch as the car drove away.

He Yao: “…”

As night fell, the driver first dropped Xie Guilan off at the back gate of the First High School, then took Cen Wu home.

Xie Guilan wasn’t going to Blue Night tonight; he had to go back to the apartment to pack. Cen Wu didn’t go with him, but just a few hundred meters ahead, he suddenly received a message from A Ling.

【A Ling: Second Young Master, is Xie Guilan with you?】

Cen Wu still sent money as usual, and A Ling had been keeping an eye on things.

To help with Song Lingwei’s illness, last year Xie Guilan borrowed 30,000 yuan from a gangster connected to Blue Night. He had repaid it in time, but the gangster had kept bothering him, trying to get more money.

The gangsters had been arrested for gambling, spent a few months in jail, and had only just been released a few days ago. Tonight, they came to Blue Night.

【A Ling: They must be here for the money. Second Young Master, tell him to lay low. There’s no need to clash with these people.】

Cen Wu immediately told the driver, “Stop… stop the car!”

The black Bentley stopped at the side of the road. Cen Wu got out, told the driver not to wait for him, and ran to find Xie Guilan.

In the dark alley, Xie Guilan had a backpack slung over his shoulder. As he walked forward, he heard footsteps following him, but when he raised his head, his cold, fierce gaze was swallowed by the darkness.

He kept walking calmly, his steps steady, while the footsteps behind him grew increasingly erratic. Xie Guilan turned a corner into another alley.

Unnoticed, he led the pursuer into the devil’s lair, finally stopping next to an abandoned construction site.

Xie Guilan hooked the strap of his backpack and bent down to pick up a steel pipe. His movements were slow and deliberate, as if he was enjoying this deadly pursuit, not afraid of being ambushed.

Just as he picked up the pipe, someone behind him panicked and called out, “Wait… wait a moment!”

Xie Guilan paused and turned, surprised.

Cen Wu had already covered his head, though it was more of a psychological comfort. Xie Guilan, at seventeen or eighteen, had hands that carried terrifying strength. If he wanted to kill Chen Weiguo, he wouldn’t need half a year to plan. A few seconds would be enough to snap Chen Weiguo’s neck with his bare hands. How much easier would it be to deal with this little dog?

“Young Master,” Xie Guilan furrowed his brow and walked over, pulling Cen Wu’s hands from his head. “What are you doing following me?”

Cen Wu purposely stomped his feet louder, hoping not to be recognized.

“You… you, you,” Cen Wu’s eyelashes trembled, looking somewhat fearful. He opened his mouth and said, “It’s too… too dangerous for you to walk alone at night, take… take me with you.”

He really was a little scared. If Xie Guilan suddenly made a move, wouldn’t he die at seventeen? In total, he would have lived for just over thirty years—how tragic would that be?

At first, he was worried Xie Guilan wouldn’t want him to follow, especially since the apartment Xie Guilan rented was in poor condition. As a teenager, he was probably more sensitive about his dignity than anyone else, and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

He just wanted to quietly follow along, as long as he could make sure Xie Guilan made it home safely.

Xie Guilan: “…”

Xie Guilan reached out and pulled him into his arms. Cen Wu’s body stiffened for a moment. Xie Guilan pursed his thin lips, thinking that Cen Wu was scared of him.

He wasn’t surprised, but just as he was about to let go, Cen Wu leaned closer and urged him, “Hurry… hurry up.”

Tonight, Cen Wu was determined to see Xie Guilan home. His parents had passed away, the debts at home were still unpaid, and people were always causing him trouble, often blocking his doorstep or the school gate.

He was somewhat experienced at dodging debts.

This abandoned construction site was dark and frightening. Cen Wu felt even more scared, so he moved closer to Xie Guilan, as if seeking protection from the devil.

Xie Guilan couldn’t help but raise the corner of his lips, lifting Cen Wu’s bag for him. Cen Wu lowered his head to reply to A Ling’s message, casually asking about the gangsters.

Xie Guilan had added A Ling on WeChat for work purposes. When he lowered his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the familiar profile picture.

Cen Wu was typing with his head down, not paying much attention to the road. It was Xie Guilan who reached out to stop him.

Xie Guilan’s pale, handsome face seemed to have a layer of frost on it.

Cen Wu looked up in confusion.

“What’s wrong now, Ge?”

Xie Guilan swallowed and lifted his cold eyelids to ask him, “Do you think I’m the kind of person who is generous and magnanimous?”

Cen Wu was even more confused.

The night was deep, and the moonlight faintly illuminated the path ahead, reflecting the dazed look in Cen Wu’s eyes.

Xie Guilan paused for a moment, his dark peach blossom eyes fixed directly on him, so straightforward, before continuing, “Do you think I can just watch the person I like be with someone else and remain indifferent?”