69 – Movie Date Appointment

Episode 69: A Movie Date Appointment

“Idiot! You can tell just by looking at the mouth. He’s a spitting image of Wei Dongheng. He’s clearly part of Wei Dongheng’s family.”

“Now that you mention it, I heard he fought with his family back at the dorms. That’s why he’s not coming to school for the final semester of senior year. Apparently, he’s heading to the Northwest region because of his father.”

“What for, the Northwest?”

“Who knows. Anyway, his father is the commander of the Northwest Front unit. Maybe he’s dragging him there to teach him a lesson since his son keeps bringing shame to the family.”

“I doubt a brat like Wei Dongheng would follow along obediently…”

The students continued to chatter as they passed by the military jeep.

“…Second Brother.”

“Oh, you’re here.”

The officer turned around with a smirk.

Standing before him was Wei Dongheng, his face cold.

“I told you to assemble at exactly 3 o’clock, and yet? Look at you arriving at 4:15. If you were one of my soldiers, I would’ve thrown you in the mountains for a fifteen-kilometer forced march and overnight camping. Even giving you a pass because you’re my brother, ten kilometers would be mandatory.”

Wei Dongheng looked displeased.

“Don’t apply that kind of nagging to me.”

“My, my, young master. In what capacity would I dare nag such a distinguished gentleman?”

The second brother spoke with a breezy smile.

“Well, whatever. Father will nag you himself later. You’re truly blessed.”

“Don’t talk about that old man in front of me.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll shut up.”

The second brother seemed to be in a very good mood. Having stayed within the unit for so long, he seemed thrilled to finally get some fresh air. Moreover, he was at the College of Arts, where beauties gathered like clouds. He spoke to his brother with a suggestive glint in his eyes.

“Hey, listen.”

“Ugh, what now!”

Feeling nauseous at his brother’s sudden attempt at friendliness, Wei Dongheng placed a hand on his brother’s head and pushed him far away.

Regardless, the second brother winked.

“What about that pretty friend you were talking to?”

“….”

“You took this long because you were saying visit our sitegoodbye to that friend, [visit our site]weren’t you? Won’t you even show your brother unauthorized copyher face? I’m quite disappointed.”

“Don’t make me laugh! Who do you think you are?”

Flustered, Wei Dongheng huffed, ripped off his bag, and flung it straight at his second brother’s face.

The second brother finally couldn’t hold it back and burst into laughter.

“Good grief, fuck, my dear third brother. The day has finally come for you. You cried earlier, didn’t you? I can tell just by looking at your eyes. Seriously, if it’s like this, just bring that friend here. I’ll buy you a meal before you go. If you miss this chance, you won’t be back for another half a year…”

“It’s not like I’m joining the army! I’m just going through hell because of Commander Wei’s orders! Who said I’m never coming back?”

At those words, the second brother clicked his tongue.

“It is a bit worrying.”

“Get lost!”

“Are you really not going to bring that friend?”

“I said get lost!”

* * *

At the same time. In an empty multimedia classroom at Huzhou University. After wiping her tears and composing herself, Xie Xue left the classroom alone and locked the door.

Since it wasn’t a building where exams were being held, the hallway was completely deserted.

Xie Xue stood still in the hallway, watching the silver-haired man climb into the military jeep. With the roar of the engine, the jeep drove away and soon vanished at the end of the tree-lined road.

Tears she hadn’t managed to swallow rolled down again. Xie Xue looked at the new ring on her finger, trying her best to calm her heart.

It’s okay. It’s only half a year.

After spacing out for a while, Xie Xue put on her bag and headed downstairs. However, on the wide lawn in front of the lecture building, she encountered two unexpected people.

Due to her overwhelming sadness, she didn’t recognize who they were at first.

Only after a few seconds did she notice something strange.

Is that… He Yu and… Brother?

This bizarre combination yanked Xie Xue out of her sorrow of parting. She rubbed her eyes to confirm she wasn’t seeing things. Didn’t those two fight last time?

But why are they coming out of an empty classroom now? What are they bickering about?

“Move.”

“I’ll walk you.”

“I said move.”

“I will—”

“Are you not moving?”

Xie Qingcheng, who had been refusing with an expressionless face, suddenly pushed He Yu away as they reached the corner of the lawn. An icy expression, a sharp gaze, and a firm tone that left no room for negotiation.

Pushed by the rough gesture, a chill finally settled on He Yu’s face.

He stood his ground and glared at Xie Qingcheng. Xie Qingcheng left without even looking back.

“….”

When He Yu turned around after watching Xie Qingcheng disappear down the stairs of the lawn, he came face-to-face with Xie Xue, who hadn’t managed to hide.

In that moment, He Yu’s expression turned very strange. He looked like someone who had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.

“What are you doing here?”

As the saying goes, enemies meet on a narrow bridge. This was the first time they had faced each other alone since their last fight. They had encountered each other since then, but it had always been in the classroom.

Already in a bad mood, Xie Xue decided to use the beast who [Read on Read BL Novels]had [stolen content]walked right into her path as a target for her frustration. Her voice took a sharp turn.

“I think that’s my question. Why are you here without taking your exam? What were you just doing with my brother?”

“…Nothing.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

Xie Xue frowned.

“There’s no reason for my brother to come to this deserted lecture building for no reason. Did you bully my brother again?”

“Who’s bullying whom?”

He Yu let out a sigh.

“Xie Xue, do you really think I have the capacity to bully him? You saw how he acted. If anything, I was the one getting cursed at and scolded.”

Xie Xue paused at those words.

It was a strange scene, but judging by their conversation, her brother’s attitude had indeed been worse. Unlike what she had overheard in the parking lot last time, He Yu’s attitude was almost kind. He Yu, who had insulted Xie Qingcheng with harsh words in the parking lot that day, didn’t talk back once while being unilaterally cursed at by Xie Qingcheng this time.

Xie Xue’s taut nerves loosened slightly.

“Well, that may be true.”

Then she glared again.

“Still, really. You come all the way here without taking your exam?”

“The questions were too easy. I submitted it early and left.”

“….”

“Professor, is it a problem to submit early within the time limit?”

“You submitted your exam early to come meet my brother?”

Like a cat catching a scent, Xie Xue looked at He Yu with heightened suspicion.

“I was about to leave after finishing, and I happened to see him passing by outside.”

“So, you weren’t fighting?”

“…No.”

“You should’ve been like this from the start.”

Xie Xue muttered.

“You were truly trash back then. Something happened to my brother, and you sided with others to badmouth him…”

At this, He Yu spoke indifferently.

“I don’t think that incident was my fault.”

Xie Xue’s temper, which had just subsided, flared up again.

“What?”

“You saw the control tower video too. Since the doctor said those things, it’s only natural to be criticized.”

“He Yu! You haven’t changed one bit!”

Xie Xue snapped.

“Stop talking nonsense while pretending to be noble! You’ve spent so much time with him, do you still not know what kind of person my brother is? How can you not know him? How can you trust my brother so little?”

“How could I not have trusted him,” He Yu said. “At one point, he was the person I trusted most.”

He swallowed the words that followed.

I’m different from you. visit our siteYou guys are normal. You [visit our site]don’t know how much I suffered through countless experiences that you know nothing about.

The things Xie Qingcheng said might have been nothing to you.

But to me, they were words that tore through my eardrums and pierced my heart.

Moreover, those chat logs, the fake contract… since you don’t know these facts, you can believe him blindly.

I can’t do that.

“Truth is truth, what can you do?”

“Is there a law that says what you saw and heard is definitely the truth?”

Xie Xue’s voice rose.

“Only my brother knows the truth! Yes, it’s true he quit his job voluntarily. He left the hospital right after Professor Qin Ciyan died. Do you think my brother felt relieved then? When he quit the hospital and came back, my sister-in-law asked him what he was going to do. Do you know what his eyes looked like then? He Yu, those were not the eyes of someone who felt relieved! What my brother said was a lie. He didn’t run away because he was scared!”

Xie Xue’s voice cracked severely. It was a voice filled Read on Read BL Novelswith Read on Read BL Novelsgrievance and stubborn determination.

“Those eyes didn’t lie. At that time, there was only pain in my brother’s eyes. Not fear, but…”

Her voice finally mixed with tears.

It was something she had held back because she knew no one would believe her, even though she wanted to tell everyone. But the moment she faced He Yu, the dam of long-accumulated sorrow collapsed.

Xie Xue bowed her head and wiped her tears. The eyes that had been crying for Wei Dongheng just a moment ago were now shedding tears for Xie Qingcheng. Xie Xue burst into loud sobs.

“My… brother… is not some kind of deserter!”

My brother is not a deserter.

It was a cry bordering on a wail.

Not a deserter?

….

Then why did he leave?

* * *

When vacation started, He Yu went home and stayed for a few days. Whenever he was idle, Xie Xue’s desperate crying echoed in his ears.

He began to ponder once more on this issue that had plagued him for a long time.

Xie Xue’s words had certainly shaken He Yu’s heart.

Whenever he recalled the chat logs he first saw of Xie Qingcheng, he felt as if he were undergoing agonizing torture.

But as a sliver of light appeared, he dove into the fire again like a moth.

Because he wanted to reach the truth, even if he were reduced to ashes.

In this self-torture, He Yu thought and thought unauthorized copyagain. The information he had gathered so far clearly proved Xie Qingcheng’s fragility and Read on Read BL Novelsescapism; just how great of a hidden story could there be?

—Do you know what his eyes looked like then? He Yu, those were not the eyes of someone who felt relieved!

Xie Xue’s words overturned all the evidence He Yu had collected. Xie Qingcheng, having left the hospital, should have felt relieved. It was normal to be happy after escaping danger and being able to live the rest of his life in peace.

Yet, Xie Xue said Xie Qingcheng’s eyes were simply pained.

…Could she have misseen?

Could she have failed to break her old habit of blindly trusting and glorifying her brother, and been fooled by Xie Qingcheng’s facade?

He Yu could not shake that doubt.

However, Xie Xue’s words threw a stone into He Yu’s previously undisturbed inner self, creating ripples.

Suddenly, he wanted to know what situation Xie Qingcheng had been in at the time, the true context of the events.

But there was no way Xie Qingcheng would reveal his past to him now.

So, with no other choice, he chewed over his conversation with Xie Xue again and again, thinking to himself: Is Xie Qingcheng… hiding something again?

If so, would the contents be something good? Or something bad?

Just how many secrets had he hidden within that heart made of flesh and blood…

“He Yu.”

While lost in thought, a woman’s voice echoed from outside the bedroom door.

He Yu paused for a moment before realizing the voice belonged to his mother.

President Lu, who was always busy, had been staying at the Huzhou mansion lately. He Yu had dismissed her words about wanting to spend more time with him as insignificant, but contrary to his expectations, she really stayed at the Huzhou mansion and spent her time there. She even cooked for him, wanting to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her eldest son.

He Yu found this situation very uncomfortable.

Though reluctant, he opened the door and looked down at the stately noblewoman.

“Mom. What is it?”

“Well… you’ve been shut in your room for so long, I was worried.”

Lu Zishu tilted her head slightly and glanced over He Yu’s shoulder. The room was dark as the curtains were drawn tight.

He Yu quietly stepped aside, blocking the door as he spoke.

“I’ve always been like this. Don’t worry too much.”

“I’m just concerned about my son. I booked a hotel for dinner, and their braised meat is exquisite. Usually, the simpler the dish, the harder it is to make it taste good. Once it’s made well, it becomes a feast of delicacies. Tonight…”

“I have something to do, so I have to go out.”

Lu Zishu’s smile stiffened slightly. The smile that almost fell away soon clung back to her sly face. Her cheeks twitched as she pretended to be pitiful.

“He Yu, it’s already visit our sitebeen a while since Mom came stolen contentback. stolen contentWouldn’t it be nice to share some stories…”

“…Next time,” He Yu said. “I’ll definitely go next time.”

He Yu felt uncomfortable with the greasy, thick affection. He felt like a vegetarian who had unintentionally swallowed a piece of plump fat. The fat stuck in his throat was lukewarm; it didn’t feel like much, but its greasy smell induced nausea.

Leaving Lu Zishu’s complicated gaze behind, He Yu put on his coat and left the house.

He grabbed the steering wheel without a destination. Perhaps because he had been thinking of Xie Qingcheng the whole time, by the time he snapped out of it, he had already arrived near the alleys of Mowu River.

Since he was already here, He Yu parked on one side of the alley. At that moment, two people walking through the snow after leaving a nearby restaurant caught his eye.

It was Xie Xue and Xie Qingcheng.

He wanted to get out of the car and go to Xie Qingcheng’s house, but he felt it would be uncomfortable with Xie Xue there. He Yu took his phone from the car mount and sent a message to Xie Qingcheng.

What should he say? While pondering, a New Year’s movie poster posted on the street caught the edge of his vision. He lowered his eyelashes and tapped his phone, asking Xie Qingcheng if he wanted to go see a movie.

The chat window remained silent.

He Yu added another sentence.

[I parked on the street opposite your house.]

Then, a reply flew back immediately.

[I’m not home right now.]

[Then who is the person who just ate Malaxiangguo with Xie Xue at the restaurant in front of the door?]

[….]

[Come out. I’m not doing anything else, just watching a movie. Why are you avoiding me?]

[There are no other commonalities between us.]

He Yu felt a sudden surge of emotion.

[No, is every time we meet a one-night stand? Fine, if you want to do it in the theater, I’ll satisfy you however you want.]

After finishing the typing, he added one more word.

[If you don’t want to come, I can go to you. I’ll leave it to you to think about how to explain it to Xie Xue.]

He was aware that this was a worn-out and cowardly tactic, but it was a method that worked effectively on Xie Qingcheng.

A brilliant mind like Xie Qingcheng would choose the former between ‘watching a movie’ and ‘arousing Xie Xue’s suspicion.’

Sure enough, after a short while, Xie Qingcheng came outside. With a completely exhausted expression, he sat in the passenger seat and slammed the door shut, treating the fancy sports car like a taxi.

At that sight, He Yu didn’t get angry and instead smiled brightly.

“Customer, where shall I take you?”

Xie Qingcheng spoke coldly, his face devoid of any trace of a smile.

“You said let’s watch a movie.”

“Which cinema do you prefer?”

“Pick whatever the fuck you want.”

* * *

At the same time, on a small island in international waters.

The fugitive suspect, Jiang Liping, walked toward the island villa while enjoying the pleasant sunlight.

Upon reaching the entrance, she encountered an old woman sitting in a wheelchair. The old woman’s mental state seemed very poor. Her labored breathing made her look as lifeless as a withering flower.

At the sound of footsteps, the old woman opened her eyes slightly and gazed at Jiang Liping’s young and beautiful face for a moment with a look that was almost desperate.

Then, she turned her eyes toward the distant horizon.

“…Hah. There is no more time.”

Jiang Liping stopped, bowed politely to her, and spoke in a gentle voice.

“Antonian is still out there. As President Duan ordered, he will find the data records of the First Emperor. He will surely find them.”

“It’s too late.”

The old woman’s voice sounded stifled, like it was coming from an old speaker.

“The super emperor… that is nothing more than a legend. The complete simulation system data of an RN-13 user. Even if we bring it now and research it again, it’s too late to restore it.”

“…No, there is still hope. President Duan is looking for a way, so please don’t be too sad.”

At those words, the old woman chuckled.

“Sad? No. Even if there is no way to stop my death, technology to bring me back to life can be developed Read on Read BL Novelsplenty without the super [unauthorized copy]emperor’s data, so why would I be sad… However.”

Pausing for a moment, the old woman looked at Jiang Liping with eerie eyes.

“I don’t want to be brought back like that. Do you understand what I mean? I hate men.”

“….”

“Then again, what’s the point of telling you.”

The old woman stared at her for a few seconds before looking away.

“You’re nothing more than a dog licking Huang Zhilong’s boots. I honestly don’t know what you see in that old man to follow him around like this.”

At those words, Jiang Liping gave a stiff smile. The old woman continued.

“Ah, that’s right. I heard that old man Huang Zhilong is starting production on a new movie soon?”

“Yes.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“I think I’ll return home first and stay in the company’s safe house. It’s safer if I handle some of the internal affairs on my own. President Huang needs me.”

The old woman chuckled again.

“You really are a devoted sunflower.”

Jiang Liping kept her mouth shut.

The old woman then looked out at the sea.

“There are only a few weeks left… If I can’t find the super emperor’s data by then, I intend to proceed with the surgery. That boy’s corpse—it’s still fresh for now, but if we delay any further, it’ll be useless.”

“….”

“Once you return home safely, you must find that old shoemaker in Huzhou. Order a pair of red Read on Read BL Novelsstolen contenthigh heels that fit the boy’s foot size and send them here.”

The old woman said.

“In the style of those old Hong Kong movies. Yes, you know, the style you often wear. That was the trend back in my day…”

Jiang Liping lowered her eyelids.

“Yes, Madam.”