Ch5 - Childhood Friend

Editor: MinMin

Proofreader: DarkSapphire 

Because of this kiss, Bai Xi didn’t get a good night’s sleep that evening. He tossed, turned, smiled, and giggled when he thought of Qi Xun.

He recalled the feathery touch on his eyelashes when Qi Xun gazed down at him after the kiss. When they went their separate ways in the underground parking lot, Qi Xun hugged him. His heart was extremely restless, like a jumping fawn. It was as if he returned to being an innocent youth overnight.

 

 

Thanks to the fact that he stayed in his own apartment today, no one could hear his hysterical laughter.

He felt that his agony in the past two days was practically for nothing. It was clear that this relationship with Qi Xun was like a big meat pie, only fools would toss it out. 

The next day, he woke up with two dark circles under his eyes, which he covered with some makeup. Although he didn’t get enough sleep, he was still in good spirits from that happy event, and thus, his guise appeared lively.

 

.

Becoming Qi Xun’s boyfriend was ten thousand times better than Bai Xi had imagined.

In the beginning, before he attained this new identity, he always maintained the friendship boundary and didn’t dare act rashly. But in the next several days, Qi Xun came to pick him up from work. When dating, they held hands like a normal couple, and the older man would kiss and hug him, saying goodnight every night. Because of this, Bai Xi’s brain was prone to short circuit, but it slowly processed the information being taken in.

 

During the lunch break, he also engaged and messaged Qi Xun on his phone. They would chat about anything and everything, most were without content. If he was his former self, he would never disturb Qi Xun. Because friends shouldn’t go askew close to the ambiguous border, this he knew.

But now, Qi Xun patiently replied to his messages and took pictures of the newly potted plants on the table at his request. 

Bai Xi’s lips curved into a smile uncontrollably. When he went to the break room to pour himself a cup of coffee, he couldn’t stop smiling. His colleagues nearby had long suspected that he had gone on a date recently. Now, looking at his complacent appearance, they knew that was very likely the case, and joked while smiling, “Mr. Bai, why are you in such a good mood? Are you seeing someone?”

Bai Xi didn’t mind the question. He touched his face. “Was I that obvious?” 

The colleague took a sip of coffee and teased, “It’s written all over your face.”

Bai Xi didn’t retort either. He leaned against the table. “It’s very recent. It’s someone I liked for a long time.”

She showed a subtle smile but didn’t ask more questions. She knew this well. To be able to date one’s sweetheart would make anyone feel intoxicated. 

“Congratulations.” She lifted her mug as she congratulated him. 

After refilling his coffee, Bai Xi returned to his office. His phone rang while he was reading a manuscript.

His childhood friend’s name displayed on the caller ID: Liang Song.

Bai Xi saw the two words pop on his screen and remembered that he was so immersed in his relationship with Qi Xun these days that he completely forgot his closest childhood friend. 

What a crime he had committed.  

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Unlike Qi Xun, who he became friends with in college, Liang Song and he were genuine playmates. They were destined to be friends just like their parents, interacting even before they grew out of diapers. As they studied together from primary school to college, their friendship could be valued as a diamond. 

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They usually would get together every three to five days, and play games from time to time. Now, he hadn’t contacted Liang Song for almost eight to nine days.  

When he answered the call, he heard Liang Song ask on the other side, “Hello, Xi Xi, what have you been doing lately? I haven’t heard from you for days. Why don’t we go out to eat barbecue tonight?”

Liang Song’s voice was slightly hoarse. It sounded like he just got up. As a painter, his working hours and social life were extremely flexible. 

Bai Xi held up his phone and didn’t know whether to tell the truth. 

He hadn’t told anyone about he and Qi Xun being in a relationship, including his twin sister and his friends. He didn’t deliberately sweep this under the carpet. Even after a few days into his relationship, he was far from reaching a stable period, as the risk of consistency hung on top of his head, making him too scared to announce it. It would only cause trouble if he broke up with Qi Xun later.  

But Liang Song was different. Apart from being the witness of his long-term admiration, Liang Song was also his closest friend. They never kept secrets from each other. 

There was just one small problem—Liang Song didn’t like Qi Xun very much.

“Something did come up.” Bai Xi hesitated. “I’ve been very busy these two days.”

Liang Song believed his words, thinking it was work-related.  

“Then are you free today? Let’s go have dinner,” Liang Song chirped. “I’ll introduce you to a friend. “He is my cousin’s classmate. He is two years older than you, very handsome if I can say so myself. Around one hundred eighty-five cm tall. A designer with a good temper. Very earnest overall.”

Bai Xi knew the hidden message behind it immediately. 

Liang Song was quite dissatisfied with him being hung up on Qi Xun. He could barely restrain himself in the first two years. And after he watched his friend’s love life going nowhere for years, realizing this man will keep this up until the end of time, he became anxious. 

To uphold the old love like a lifeline, it must mean the new love potential his friend had met wasn’t good enough. He began to be enthusiastic about matchmaking Bai Xi to handsome individuals, hoping that his friend would fall for another and smoothly shift the feelings. 

Bai Xi started to feel an oncoming headache. “No need, Song-ge. You don’t need to work on introducing me to people. We can have dinner with just the two of us. Let’s not bring an outsider.”

Liang Song wasn’t pleased. “What’s the matter with you? I’m not forcing you into a relationship. Bai Xi, let me tell you. You have too little love experience, that’s why…”

Hearing Liang Song beating the dead horse again, Bai Xi blocked the next words out of his friend’s mouth.

“It’s no need really. These days I actually found myself a partner.” 

He was still slightly uncomfortable saying this. The fountain pen rotated from the flicker of his finger and fell on the table with a clank. 

The other end of the line went silent for a few seconds before Liang Song roared out in shock. 

 

“Who? Holy fuck, which brave man! You serious, Bai Xi?”

The sudden increase in tone beat against Bai Xi’s eardrums, he instinctively moved his phone away.  

Liang Song was obviously thrilled. “Do I know this person? Bai Xi, I can’t believe you. Why didn’t you show him to me yet? Go make haste and bring him out!”

Bai Xi found this funny. He knew that Liang Song was genuinely happy for him from the bottom of his heart, but if Liang Song learned who his partner was, there would be no more laughter. 

“He is also very busy. I can’t take him out to meet you yet, but we can still have dinner tonight. There is something I need to talk to you about too. Oh, and you better not bring that designer.”

Liang Song promised, “If you have a partner already, why don’t you just say so. I won’t pull on your string anymore. Then that’s a deal. I’ll see you at that barbecue place by our university at seven tonight.” 

Then Liang Song ended the call.

Bai Xi continued to work and review the manuscript. He knew that he would be severely interrogated by Liang Song in the evening. 

When he was about to get off work, he called Qi Xun and informed him that he was meeting Liang Song for dinner.

Qi Xun and Liang Song also knew each other. Although their relationship was average, they were all in the same circle and met occasionally. Though Long Song had a problem with Qi Xun because of Bai Xi, Qi Xun could only describe his relationship with Liang Song in two words—not familiar. 

But he knew that Bai Xi had a good relationship with Liang Song. 

“Okay, you have a good time. Do you want me to pick you up when you’re done?”

“No need,” Bai Xi smiled. “I won’t drink so I can drive myself home.”

After struggling for two seconds, he said to Qi Xun, “I might tell Liang Song about our relationship. Do you have any objections? I won’t say it if you do.” 

He knew that Qi Xun hadn’t publicized their relationship to the people around him yet. 

When people like them changed their status from friends to lovers, and once their relationship came out, because of how overlapping their social groups were, it wouldn’t take long for everyone around them to know. 

Qi Xun was still working, so Bai Xi could hear over the phone the sound of keyboard typing, which mixed in with the non-fluctuating voice, “Why would I mind? Isn’t he your friend?”

He was right. Bai Xi was at a loss for words for a split second. 

“I just thought you might not want our relationship to be publicly known. The more people know, the more inconvenient things would be.” Bai Xi said that, but the happiness inside said otherwise. “But Liang Song is really not a gossiping type of person.”

“We are not in a sinful relationship, why shouldn’t it be seen by the light?” Qi Xun’s voice was very calm. He even asked, “Am I not enough for you to tell your friends about?”

 

“You’re wrong.” Bai Xi chuckled. “If you are not presentable, then there is no one in the world who is. You’re very good.”

The last four words were said sincerely. There was also a hint of sweetness in his voice, soft like cotton candy as if he was acting coquettishly. 

The fingers that were clicking on the keyboard stopped. Qi Xun actually liked this side of Bai Xi.

He just now realized how reserved Bai Xi had been towards him in the past. The younger man obviously had a coquettish and clingy nature, but he firmly forced himself to act mature and steadfast. He avoided bothering others and always proceeded with caution. 

After chatting briefly, Bai Xi ended the call, packed up his things and went to meet Liang Song.

The dinner location was this barbecue place they often visited during their university years, which was on the food vendor street next to their alma mater.  

Liang Song arrived first. He sat by the window dressed in a thin down jacket and wearing a cap. He had a pretty face and thin figure, which was completely opposite to his explosive personality. 

Bai Xi sat down opposite of him. 

As soon as Liang Song saw him entering, he beamed, just like how a farmer lovingly looks at the cabbage he grew and harvested. 

“I’ve already ordered, but you’re welcome to order more.” Liang Song pushed the menu and the order slip to his friend.  

Bai Xi glanced and thought it should be enough for both of them. “This is fine for now, no need to order more.”

He unbuttoned two buttons near his neckline, opened a bottle of ice cola, and poured it into his glass. The indoor air conditioning was high. He felt it was slightly too warm. 

Liang Song couldn’t hold it anymore. Once Bai Xi took two gulps, the questions flew out of his mouth as if they were escaping before it was too late. “How could you be in a relationship just like that? Who is it? Do you have a picture? What is his name? Age? Height?” It was like a police interrogation. 

Bai Xi was not in the rush to answer. He slowly put down his drink after enjoying more than half of the coke. 

He met Liang Song’s eyes and said earnestly, “My friend, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I was afraid that you won’t accept it. You actually know my boyfriend.”

Liang Song didn’t pick up the seriousness of the matter in his friend’s voice and was still happy. “Oh, I know him? Who? It couldn’t be Pan Wenyu right?”

The friend he was talking about was one of the few guys they knew who was gay.

“That can’t be. Little Comrade Pan is okay looking, but I think his status might not fit with yours,” Liang Song frowned anxiously. “Are you going to be 1 during lovemaking?” 

What kind of this and that was this? 

Bai Xi was speechless. He cleared his throat and stopped keeping Liang Song on tenterhooks. “I’m going out with Qi Xun. I’m being serious. We’ve been dating for six days.”

 

Liang Song made soft chuckles, totally not taking this seriously. “Oh, that can’t be. You’re joking with me. There is no way for your boyfriend to be Qi Xun…I’m also being serious. Stop fooling around. Are you really in a relationship?”

Bai Xi expected this to be his friend’s reaction.  

He had to emphasize again. “I’m not lying. It’s really Qi Xun. We are together.”

He looked at Liang Song seriously directly. 

Ten seconds later, the smile on Liang Song’s face gradually disappeared. He looked at Bai Xi incredulously. When he realized his friend wasn’t joking, he blurted out in a thundering voice, “Holy fuck!”

Smacking the table, he shouted, “You might as well date Pan Wenyu!” 

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