The Long Road Ahead

Chapter 30 Let's Talk

Even though it hadn't been more than a few days since Xiao Ning had last seen Lu Yan, when he met up with him again, Xiao Ning got flooded with the sense that something really had gone wrong.

Seeing he was not seriously asking, Xiao Ning let out a sigh of relief and put on a pretence of displeasure as he replied, "Mr. Lu, you have gotten yourself so many boyfriends, so have you, yourself, ever considered me?"

Let's Talk

Not everyone could be like Shan Haiming it seems.

With his thoughts now on Shan Haiming, Xiao Ning found himself thinking all the more his conversation with Lu Yan was pointless.

Usng some juice to help wash everything down, Xiao Ning did his best to change the subject, saying, "I'm planning to head back to C-City on Labour Day to visit your folks. Do you have anything planned?"

Lu Yan wasn't planning on letting him off the hook, however, saying, "Are you just not going to listen? You have a good life, why do you need to date?"

Maybe he was amused by Xiao Ning's appearance resembling that of a small animal, because for the first time that evening Lu Yan wore a happy expression and his tone also relaxed. "What's with the rush? Did you skip lunch today?"

Lu Yan said nothing, nor did he smile. In fact, as he looked at Xiao Ning, it was almost as if there was bitterness in his eyes.

Xiao Ning spat out the juice in his mouth, the shock causing him to cough thunderously. With a frown, Lu Yan handed him a napkin, his lips sealed shut.

Those words were so lethal that it made Lu Yan mute, but Lu Yan quickly found another angle, "So what if they accepted you, would other people accept you? Will the law accept you? His family might only be saying all that because the think he's playing around. You're putting you're entire heart into this, but after he gets his fill from fooling around, he can just pat you on the ass and ditchT/n: It's used to reference someone taking no responsibility. I kept it literal for the line below. you, then you'd have gained nothing in the end."

"This way you can move back in with me." It was clear Lu Yan was now feeling better. "You're going to break up, I'm going to break up, so things can just go back to how they were before."

Xiao Ning stared at Lu Yan like he didn't recognise the person before him. Despite knowing for a long time Lu Yan had zero intention of coming out of the closet to his family, he never expected Lu Yan's thought's on the subject would be so decisive and resolute—without an ounce of hesitation.

Not everyone could be like Shan Haiming it seems.

"Have you been busier at work these days?" Xiao Ning recalled Lu Yan had taken on a new project at work recently, and had been quite busy.

The air felt stagnant, then with a smile and a frown Xiao Ning asked, "What's wrong? Did you not sleep well?"

Then, what else is there to say? Xiao Ning had nothing else he could add, and just then their food was served, so he poured all of his attention into eating his meal.

You're talking as if you're not dating yourself.

"Exceptional." Originally, Lu Yan was worthy of having such a word used to describe him, but now, for the first time in his life, Xiao Ning found Lu Yan to be disappointing.

He asked this because Lu Yan looked drained. Lu Yan did not have his usual self-confident air, and upon close inspection, a small bruise could be seen on his cheek. It looked like he was scratched by something.

Lu Yan dropped his hand, revealing an expression of refusal before he spoke. "I disapprove."

So that's what this is about...

Even though it hadn't been more than a few days since Xiao Ning had last seen Lu Yan, when he met up with him again, Xiao Ning got flooded with the sense that something really had gone wrong.

"Xiao Ning." Lu Yan expelled a long sigh. "Let's talk."

They were different.

In response, Lu Yan gave an impatient nod the placed his phone on the table.

With his thoughts now on Shan Haiming, Xiao Ning found himself thinking all the more his conversation with Lu Yan was pointless.

Lu Yan drew his lips into a hard line, quietly observing Xiao Ning's movements. "Is it because of me?"

Lu Yan wasn't planning on letting him off the hook, however, saying, "Are you just not going to listen? You have a good life, why do you need to date?"

"I like men." Even Xiao Ning was surprised by his own lack of hesitation as he said this, and once he did, his entire being felt relaxed, he felt freed. So, now, while wearing a light smile, he added, "It's true that I am different from you, because unlike you, I can only like men."

Xiao Ning hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "Sure. It's almost time so how about we have dinner."

"Are you really a man?" Lu Yan's expression was so ugly it was frightening. "Xiao Ning, you and I are not the same. It's far too easy for you to take things too seriously."

"Stop making this about me. You're scaring me, alright?" Lu Yan then worriedly and solemnly added, "I was in the wrong, too. I've been ignoring you for too long. So hurry up and break up with that boyfriend of yours and I find you a nice girl to marry."

They were in a bustling business district, so naturally, there were no shortage of places to eat at. Seeing Lu Yan had no interest in eating, Xiao Ning chose a coffee shop that served simple meals, then ordering a kiwi fruit juice and alcohol-free mojito respectively.

During their time together, Lu Yan answered the phone a few times, all the calls being work-related.

After coughing for a while, not knowing whether to laugh of cry, Xiao Ning replied, "What are even saying? I was born like this, what does it have to do with you? What you just said almost scared the life out of me."

The air felt stagnant, then with a smile and a frown Xiao Ning asked, "What's wrong? Did you not sleep well?"

Xiao Ning didn't know if he was hearing it wrong, but he felt as though everything Lu Yan said was through gritted teeth. "I not being difficult with you, I'm just being honest, that all. Besides, even if him and I break up right now, I still wouldn't be able to marry a woman because I am gay. Is there anything wrong with that?"

During their time together, Lu Yan answered the phone a few times, all the calls being work-related.

With shock and horror, Xiao Ning looked at him, his heart practically a surging storm. His decades long unrequited love had already come to an end, and in this world, apart from himself, the only one who knew was Shan Haiming, and that was enough.

"So it was you that make hm call me." Xiao Ning shook his head in frustration. "Didn't I tell you from the start that I wasn't angry abut that? Why did you make that kid apologise to me, huh? It'll just cause you guys unnecessary trouble."

Let's Talk

Xiao Ning spat out the juice in his mouth, the shock causing him to cough thunderously. With a frown, Lu Yan handed him a napkin, his lips sealed shut.

"Xiao Ning." Lu Yan expelled a long sigh. "Let's talk."

"Have you been busier at work these days?" Xiao Ning recalled Lu Yan had taken on a new project at work recently, and had been quite busy.

"Does Xia Li feel this way too?" Xiao Ning couldn't help but ask.

In response, Lu Yan gave an impatient nod the placed his phone on the table.

"Yeah, or what? I'm not in the habit of straddling two boats. Plus, I'm seriously worn out this time, and he's caused a lot of trouble for you and me both." As he spoke, the middle of Lu Yan's brows wrinkled into faint lines, but when he turned his gaze towards Xiao Ning, he smiled and added, "And I know that you're not still angry about being punched in the face, the truth is, I was really upset about it. I told him that much after the fact. But you just sad nothing and moved out. That was to show you were angry with me, right? Then when I called you, you even vented your anger on me then, which made me a bit angry in turn. What's more, you suddenly got a boyfriend and didn't even tell me. You need to understand, I was a bit mad back then, alright?"

Seeing his do this, Xiao Ning noticed that despite the phone on the table being the same model, it was a new. Turning his gaze to Lu Yan, who looked agitated but said nothing, Xiao Ning broke the awkward silence. "Did you get a new phone?"

In response, Lu Yan gave an impatient nod the placed his phone on the table.

"Haven't I been patient enough? If it was anyone else I would've already broken up with him. He's more difficult than that any of he ones before, but you wouldn't know anything about that since you never had to serve him." Lu Yan lifted his brows and looked at Xiao Ning. "Then there's you. You're upset woth me, right? It's a good thing I never brought any of the boyfriends and girlfriends I had before around you, otherwise they would've pestered me to death. Did you know that last night Xia Li told me you had dirty intentions and were plotting to make a move on me or some other foolishness."

The air felt stagnant, then with a smile and a frown Xiao Ning asked, "What's wrong? Did you not sleep well?"

Lu Yan drew his lips into a hard line, quietly observing Xiao Ning's movements. "Is it because of me?"

Then, what else is there to say? Xiao Ning had nothing else he could add, and just then their food was served, so he poured all of his attention into eating his meal.

"The original fell." After saying this, Lu Yan's phone rang again, but this time the melody was unlike the ones from earlier, instead it was one of a popular love song.

After saying this, Lu Yan seemed conflicted for a moment before saying, "You know what, forget it. I'm tired of him anyhow, so I might as well just break up."

Lu Yan cut off this call directly.

Lu Yan drew his lips into a hard line, quietly observing Xiao Ning's movements. "Is it because of me?"

Xiao Ning felt himself overwhelmed. Often times, Lu Yan was very much a bastard, but he did regard himself as a good friend, and that was genuine. It was just that his brain had a missing string that was lost forever.

"The original fell." After saying this, Lu Yan's phone rang again, but this time the melody was unlike the ones from earlier, instead it was one of a popular love song.

Xiao Ning looked at him curiously, wondering: Did something happen? Did he fight with Xia Li?

Lu Yan cut off this call directly.

Thinking about it, Xiao Ning countered, "You also have date men yourself, so when did you realise it?"

Then, what else is there to say? Xiao Ning had nothing else he could add, and just then their food was served, so he poured all of his attention into eating his meal.

Lu Yan's mood probably has something to do with this. But this was not something Xiao Ning could easily ask, so he could only act as if he knew nothing. It had been proven that the more mixed up he got in Lu Yan and Xia Li's business, the more he got mistaken.

Xiao Ning was taken aback. "You... were you not serious about Xia Li?"

"So what do you want to talk about?" Xao Ning gently initiated the conversation, it wasn't as if the two could sit there all night.

Thinking about it, Xiao Ning countered, "You also have date men yourself, so when did you realise it?"

"How could you like men?" When Lu Yan asked this question, just as before, he wore an expression revealing his lack of acceptance. "When did you realise you did?"

They were different.

But, just how they were before?

"That's not the same!" Lu Yan raised his voice.

Lu Yan closed his eyes. "You having a boyfriend, is it true?"

Lu Yan palmed his face "Are you even listening? You never acted this difficult when you were with me. Are you like this now because of your damn boyfriend?"

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xiao Ning's first thought was about one person, and he couldn't stop himself from asking, "Then what about Xia Li...?"

"Yes." Xiao Ning admitted, then asked jokingly, "Is it that surprising?"

He never had any intention of ever letting the target of those feelings being made aware of it. Was it Xia Li who said something? But from his perspective, isn't it nothing but a groundless accusation? Did he really go as far as telling Lu Yan?

"How could you like men?" When Lu Yan asked this question, just as before, he wore an expression revealing his lack of acceptance. "When did you realise you did?"

Thinking about it, Xiao Ning countered, "You also have date men yourself, so when did you realise it?"

"That's not the same!" Lu Yan raised his voice.

So for Lu Yan, everything was nothing more than fooling around? But what difference is there in fooling around with someone casually and doing it seriously?

"How could you like men?" When Lu Yan asked this question, just as before, he wore an expression revealing his lack of acceptance. "When did you realise you did?"

iana: Xia Li basically got deleted, like a file. That's harsh.

So that's what this is about...

Lu Yan cut off this call directly.

During their time together, Lu Yan answered the phone a few times, all the calls being work-related.

Taking a sip of his juice, Xiao Ning then asked curiously, "What's different about it?"

Xiao Ning looked at him curiously, wondering: Did something happen? Did he fight with Xia Li?

Pointing at his face, he continued, "He was jealous of how we brothers look better than him, he even scratched my face, you see? Haa.. Now is a good time. So when I go back I'll just beak up with him. So are you happy?"

"Have you been busier at work these days?" Xiao Ning recalled Lu Yan had taken on a new project at work recently, and had been quite busy.

Lu Yan drew his lips into a hard line, quietly observing Xiao Ning's movements. "Is it because of me?"

You're talking as if you're not dating yourself.

Xiao Ning spat out the juice in his mouth, the shock causing him to cough thunderously. With a frown, Lu Yan handed him a napkin, his lips sealed shut.

"I know you're doing this for my own good." Xiao Ning smiled calmly as he spoke. "But my boyfriend's family have already accepted me."

"Am I the one who gave you this bad idea?" Lu Yan asked.

Apart from the Spring Festival where he will make sure to go visit his family, Lu Yan usually spends any vacation time he gets going out to enjoy himself. So Xiao Ning was already preparing to say "Then, I'll deliver the things you'll send to them for you" but then he heard Lu Yan say, "No, so I'll go back with you."

"Yes." Xiao Ning admitted, then asked jokingly, "Is it that surprising?"

Lu Yan said nothing, nor did he smile. In fact, as he looked at Xiao Ning, it was almost as if there was bitterness in his eyes.

Not everyone could be like Shan Haiming it seems.

Lu Yan wasn't planning on letting him off the hook, however, saying, "Are you just not going to listen? You have a good life, why do you need to date?"

"Why are you bring him up?" Lu Yan wrinkled his brows in shock. "Are you still hung up about that time he punched you? Didn't he apologize to you?"

"Am I the one who gave you this bad idea?" Lu Yan asked.

Holding his hands, and resting them on the table, he said with an ordinary expression, "If you're going to break up, then break up. But I never said anything about wanting to break up."

Xiao Ning looked at him curiously, wondering: Did something happen? Did he fight with Xia Li?

Who was it that said it was true love, again?

Lu Yan closed his eyes. "You having a boyfriend, is it true?"

"What kind of appraising skills do I have?" At a loss, Xiao Ning added, "Do I look like some mother-in-law?"

"Xiao Ning!" Lu Yan's temper exploded. "Are you trying to piss me off? I'm dong this for your own good!"

So that's what this is about...

The air felt stagnant, then with a smile and a frown Xiao Ning asked, "What's wrong? Did you not sleep well?"

During their time together, Lu Yan answered the phone a few times, all the calls being work-related.

"Are you really a man?" Lu Yan's expression was so ugly it was frightening. "Xiao Ning, you and I are not the same. It's far too easy for you to take things too seriously."

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xiao Ning's first thought was about one person, and he couldn't stop himself from asking, "Then what about Xia Li...?"

So that's what this is about...

Then, what else is there to say? Xiao Ning had nothing else he could add, and just then their food was served, so he poured all of his attention into eating his meal.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Xao Ning gently initiated the conversation, it wasn't as if the two could sit there all night.

Xiao Ning was taken aback. "You... were you not serious about Xia Li?"

Even though it hadn't been more than a few days since Xiao Ning had last seen Lu Yan, when he met up with him again, Xiao Ning got flooded with the sense that something really had gone wrong.

"That's not the same!" Lu Yan raised his voice.

Lu Yan closed his eyes. "You having a boyfriend, is it true?"

N/A

Who was it that said it was true love, again?

So that's what this is about...

"We're taking about you, why are you dragging me into this?" Lu Yan tapped the table with his fingers. "It's impossible for a man and another man to be together, at most all they can do is date behind people backs. They can't get married and their family's will never accept them, so what future can doing that have?"

Who was it that said it was true love, again?

Thinking about it, Xiao Ning countered, "You also have date men yourself, so when did you realise it?"

Who was it that said it was true love, again?

So for Lu Yan, everything was nothing more than fooling around? But what difference is there in fooling around with someone casually and doing it seriously?

iana: Xia Li basically got deleted, like a file. That's harsh.

They were different.

Xiao Ning was taken aback. "You... were you not serious about Xia Li?"

Xiao Ning had divorced himself from this a while back and was simply listening to Lu Yan's repeated explanations, but he was now confused. "Why would the two of you breaking up have anything to do with me being happy? Am I getting a commission from your break up fee?"

"So what do you want to talk about?" Xao Ning gently initiated the conversation, it wasn't as if the two could sit there all night.

So for Lu Yan, everything was nothing more than fooling around? But what difference is there in fooling around with someone casually and doing it seriously?

This sort of change in opinion was a part of Lu Yan's cycle Xiao Ning had long been familiar with, but this time he found it especially unacceptable. "Just as you said, Xia Li is young, so can't you just be a bit more patient with him?"

Taking a sip of his juice, Xiao Ning then asked curiously, "What's different about it?"

Let's Talk

Those words revealed the degree of his scoundrel-like behaviour, and with his face stuffed with rice until his cheeks were bulging, while unable to swallow, he couldn't help but lift his head to stare down Lu Yan with condemnation.

"Does Xia Li feel this way too?" Xiao Ning couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Ning felt that things were different.

Let's Talk

They were different.

"Xia Li?" Lu Yan looked as though something that gave him a headache was mentioned. "He was talking about telling his parents about us, and was even thinking about go back with me to visit my parents too. I have no idea what he was even thinking, but he's young."

"I was just hoping he'd be a bit more sensible. He's been nothing but a headache all day and night." Lu Yan them impatiently added, "Those young ones who just entered the workforce are really high-spirited."

Lu Yan said nothing, nor did he smile. In fact, as he looked at Xiao Ning, it was almost as if there was bitterness in his eyes.

Xiao Ning said nothing.

Xiao Ning hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "Sure. It's almost time so how about we have dinner."

"Are you really a man?" Lu Yan's expression was so ugly it was frightening. "Xiao Ning, you and I are not the same. It's far too easy for you to take things too seriously."

"Exceptional." Originally, Lu Yan was worthy of having such a word used to describe him, but now, for the first time in his life, Xiao Ning found Lu Yan to be disappointing.

"Brothers are like hands and feet, other people are all just clothes. See, I'm still looking at you." Lu Yan sent him a wink. "I made a huge mistake this time and it won't be like this in the future, okay? Any partner I find, I'll let you appraise them first, and if you don't like them, I'll kick them to the curb just like that."

"Yes." Xiao Ning admitted, then asked jokingly, "Is it that surprising?"

"So what do you want to talk about?" Xao Ning gently initiated the conversation, it wasn't as if the two could sit there all night.

Xiao Ning felt that things were different.

Not everyone could be like Shan Haiming it seems.

"What kind of appraising skills do I have?" At a loss, Xiao Ning added, "Do I look like some mother-in-law?"

With his thoughts now on Shan Haiming, Xiao Ning found himself thinking all the more his conversation with Lu Yan was pointless.

So he really did say it.

You're talking as if you're not dating yourself.

Holding his hands, and resting them on the table, he said with an ordinary expression, "If you're going to break up, then break up. But I never said anything about wanting to break up."

"Are you really a man?" Lu Yan's expression was so ugly it was frightening. "Xiao Ning, you and I are not the same. It's far too easy for you to take things too seriously."

"Xiao Ning!" Lu Yan's temper exploded. "Are you trying to piss me off? I'm dong this for your own good!"

"This way you can move back in with me." It was clear Lu Yan was now feeling better. "You're going to break up, I'm going to break up, so things can just go back to how they were before."

Lu Yan closed his eyes. "You having a boyfriend, is it true?"

"Xiao Ning!" Lu Yan's temper exploded. "Are you trying to piss me off? I'm dong this for your own good!"

Lu Yan cut off this call directly.

Who was it that said it was true love, again?

Xiao Ning spat out the juice in his mouth, the shock causing him to cough thunderously. With a frown, Lu Yan handed him a napkin, his lips sealed shut.

"I know you're doing this for my own good." Xiao Ning smiled calmly as he spoke. "But my boyfriend's family have already accepted me."

"Break up?" Him saying such a thing so easily after it not being long since he opened up to Xiao Ning was such a difference of night and day that Xiao Ning was taken aback. "With Xia Li?"

After Shan Haiming gets his fill from playing around, he'll just pat me on the ass and ditch me...

That kid really is too impulsive. All he had to go on was a guess yet he went making trouble over it. Xiao Ning looked down and covered his eyes. "If I was plotting to make moves on you I would've done so a long time ago. Why would I wait for him to go tell you?"

Xiao Ning felt that things were different.

"Why are you bring him up?" Lu Yan wrinkled his brows in shock. "Are you still hung up about that time he punched you? Didn't he apologize to you?"

After Shan Haiming gets his fill from playing around, he'll just pat me on the ass and ditch me...

Imagining Shan Haiming in such a scene was really funny, so much so, Xiao Ning almost laughed out loud. "I'm not with him to gain something. Am I supposed to expect half his assets after marriage?"