Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âWho told you?â asked Li Zexuan in surprise. âThat big-mouthed Li Zexin!
What else did he tell you?â
âThat doesnât matter. Get to the point. Celebrities like you value privacy because anything you say or do is made into a big deal in the media. You wonât usually share such personal things with others. I guess you donât really have anyone else you can talk to about such things. That is probably why you are telling me.â
Li Zexuan sighed. âYouâre right. She is very timid. Sometimes, it feels like she is scared of me. Do I look creepy?â Li Zexuan forced out a friendly smile.
âYou do look creepy with such a fake smile,â said Xiao Yi. âAre you talking about the girl who keeps pestering you? Whatâs her name? Something⦠Wenqian.â
âLi Zexin even told you the names? That scum!â Li Zexuan had only mentioned
Lu Wenqian twice. He hadnât expected Li Zexin to remember the names.
âDonât worry. I havenât told anyone. I promise I wonât tell anyone.â
âI even tried asking her out on a meal, but she refused,â said Li Zexuan. He even told him about the library incident.
âI donât really pay attention to celebrity gossip, but even I know that it can be quite complicated. You always end up trending on Twitter. You know, girls who are good at their academics are focused on their goals. They want to do well and get into a good university. They are definitely wary of being associated with celebrities, especially in high school.â Xiao Yi patted Li Zexuan on the shoulder. âIsnât there a year left before graduation?â
âTwo years, including this one.â
âMy suggestion is to not rush into things. Itâs annoying when people pester you when all you want to do is study well so that you can make it into a good university.â Xiao Yi understood the struggle. âWhen I was a top student in high school, I was always annoyed when people hovered around me all the time. Whenever I wanted to study seriously, a few people would interrupt me. It was very annoying.â
Li Zexuanâs face darkened. âGreat! So, she is ignoring me because I am annoying and not because I am a celebrity,â he said dejectedly.
âWell⦠not necessarily,â said Xiao Yi. âBut if you really like her, you shouldnât rush things. If she is a top student and an introvert like you said, she might need more time. Maybe she doesnât want to fall in love in hizh school. Two years is not that long. Just give her time and space.â
âThat makes sense,â said Li Zexuan. âAre you sure you donât have anyone you like? Why do you sound like you have a lot of experience with these things?â
âI guess I have a lot of theoretical knowledge from books,â said Xiao Yi. âI am good at studying and researching, even if I am not good at other things.â
Xiao Yi read a lot of books. He read about everything. It was true that he didnât have anyone he liked yet. He had put all his time and energy into studying in high school. There was simply no space for relationships. When he got into his chosen university, he realized his friends already had girlfriends. He was the only one among them who was still single. But he didnât feel a need for a relationship. He was comfortable with his books and games. Besides, he hadnât met anyone he liked yet.
Meanwhile, in the face of his friendsâ complaints, Li Zexin put the cards down. âI donât want to play anymore!â
Big Mouth pouted. âWe are guests in your house, you know.â
âWell, my most esteemed guests, do you want to come with me to find the Wind God? I was the one who invited him, but I havenât even talked to him since morning!â
âI canât take this anymore,â said Preserved Egg. âFine! You can go. The three of us will continue playing.â
Li Zexin saw Xiao Yi and Li Zexuan whispering to each other in the garden. He walked over to them with his hands behind his back. âBrother, why are you hogging my most distinguished guest all to yourself instead of inviting your own people?â
Xiao Yi and Li Zexuan both rolled their eyes.
âI was entertaining your âmost distinguished guestâ as you left him all alone. Instead of thanking me, you have the audacity to poke fun at me. Fine! You donât need to thank me. I am going to go look for Ms. Lin,â said Li Zexuan as he got up from the chair. He glanced at Xiao Yi. âDo not tell anyone what we talked about.â
Xiao Yi nodded. âI promise. You must remember what I told you.â
âOoh⦠What are these secrets that others must not hear?â Li Zexin pulled a chair to sit on.
âItâs an adult business. Werenât you playing games with your friends?â Xiao Yi tried to change the topic.
Li Zexin beamed with joy. âSo, you were paying attention to me! Were you wondering why I didnât come and talk to you sooner?â
âGod, you really can spend so much time flattering yourself.â
Li Zexin walked behind Xiao Yi and massaged his shoulders. âWind God, I didnât attend the third episode of the variety show. It looks like you have gotten close to my brother now. I am just your humble disciple.â
Xiao Yi jumped up. The chess board on the table shook. He crawled under the table and emerged on the other side. âDonât. Stand there and donât move!â
âAlright, I wonât.â Letâs go. I will show you my collection of new keyboards.
They are very smooth and shiny.â When they had moved from Royal Water Bay villa to this place, Li Zexin had packed only a few clothes, but he had moved all his keyboards and monitor over.
Xiao Yi also loved collecting keyboards. âFine⦠letâs go,â he said and followed Li Zexin.
All their extra toys and miscellaneous things were stored in a room in the basement. There was a wall dedicated to different types of keyboards. There were small toy cars and shoes. Everything was stacked neatly.
Li Zexin first told him about his younger brotherâs toy cars. Then, he introduced his elder brotherâs shoe collection. Most of the shoes were for playing basketball. He finally pointed at his collection of keyboards.
âCan I see them?â asked Xiao Yi.
âOf course!â said Li Zexin. âIf you like any of them, you can take it home, too.â
Li Zexinâs collection was more than his own. There were so many newer models that Xiao Yi hadnât yet seen. However, he knew that Li Zexin loved them all the same. It wasnât good to take something someone else loved when they were kind enough to show you their collection.
Xiao Yi picked up a folding keyboard. âThis feels pretty good.â âIf you like it, I can give it to you.â
âNo need for that. Where did you get them?â asked Xiao Yi.
âI spend my pocket money mostly on gaming gadgets,â said Li Zexin. âMost of them are second-hand. Some are gifts from Big Mouth.â
The two of them were talking non-stop about keyboards when Auntie Huang finally came down to inform them that they had to leave soon to the hotel because it was already 11 a.m.
The hotel had done a good job at decorating. The hotelâs professional planner hadnât expected a request for a maple forest-themed hall. Even with the pinkish decorations, the hotel managed to look dignified and grand.
At the entrance, there were photographers waiting to take photos of everyone. At first glance, the place looked like a wedding venue.
There were several large tables filled with cakes and pastries.
The guests lined up to take photos. The employees of Chenxin were sitting on the west side. They discussed their boss and his wife.
Even the higher-ups admired Li Yanchen.
There was one person who was jealous about all this. She had never seen a man like Li Yanchen anywhere. She was even willing to be his mistress if he wanted.
Liu Lan smiled to herself at the thought.. Who would reject a woman as beautiful as her if she willingly came to his door?