Chapter 80

“His WeChat… didn’t it have a fruit as the profile picture…” Jing Huan heard himself ask.

“Ah?” Lu Hang thought for a moment, “Oh, right, he does have a small account. He created it after his main account got hacked. You can add that one instead.”

Jing Huan: “…”

Seeing that he remained silent, Lu Hang opened his WeChat scan feature and said, “Forget it, let’s add each other first. Open your QR code, I’ll add you.”

Jing Huan stared blankly, looking at Lu Hang helplessly.

What should I do.

What to do what to do what to do what to do.

Lu Hang raised his eyebrows and asked, “What’s wrong…”

Bang—

The phone slipped from Jing Huan’s hand, crashed heavily to the ground, hit the edge of a stone, and let out a sharp clattering sound.

Jing Huan didn’t even glance at the phone on the ground and said expressionlessly, “My phone is broken. I might not be able to add you.”

Lu Hang: “…”

Didn’t you just grip it tightly?

How could you drop it like that?

“It’s okay, maybe it’s not broken. Pick it up and check.” After saying that, he bent down halfway.

Before he could even touch the phone, Jing Huan suddenly raised his foot and stomped hard on it.

Lu Hang: “…”

Jing Huan: “Oops, I accidentally stepped on it.”

Lu Hang: “…”

Lu Hang looked at him with a complicated expression: “Huanhuan, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why would anything be wrong?” Jing Huan glanced down at the phone, his voice devoid of emotion. “You should head back first. I’ll clean up here.”

“…” Lu Hang’s gaze shifted back and forth between the phone and Jing Huan’s face several times. “Alright… then I’ll head back first. You should hurry up too.”

Lu Hang’s footsteps were especially distinct in this narrow path.

Only when the sound completely faded did Jing Huan slowly lift his foot and bend down to pick up the battered phone.

He lowered his head to look at it.

Luckily, only the screen protector was damaged.

Jing Huan pulled out a tissue, wet it with water, and gently wiped his phone.

He wiped it once, twice, three times… countless times.

Until the phone lit up, displaying the message automatically on the screen.

Xiang: Or honey, as you wish, let’s worship the Fox Immortal Cave together.

Shit!

Shit shit shit shit!!!

Good my ass!! Good my foot!!!

Jing Huan picked up his phone and tapped it against his forehead a few times, his composure from a moment ago vanishing without a trace.

No way!

How could Xiang Huaizhi possibly be Heart’s Desire?!

I don’t believe it!!!!!

It must be a mistake made by Lu Hang.

He stole Lu Tiaotiao’s WeChat account.

Xiang Huaizhi and the person he yearns for can’t be the same person.

It’s just that their names are somewhat similar.

The voice sounds somewhat similar too.

The way of speaking is also a bit alike.

What does that prove? It proves absolutely nothing!!!

Jing Huan crouched by the roadside, gripping his phone while practicing self-hypnosis.

Oh right!

How could Xiang Huaizhi be in an online relationship! He clearly has a girlfriend now!!!

Didn’t he even get her pregnant…

Jing Huan’s expression froze.

And then slowly, slowly lowered his head to glance at his flat abdomen. ????

Fuck me.

It definitely can’t be what I’m thinking.

Two minutes later, Jing Huan completely sank into self-isolation.

Even if he had thought they seemed similar before, he had never imagined that Xiang Huaizhi and the person he admired online could be the same person.

The person you married online is actually your senior right beside you! Nine Heroes isn’t even divided by region—how could such a coincidence happen?!

And Xiang Huaizhi, such a cold and detached person, actually likes loli voices!!!

Is this even reasonable???

Who would believe it if I told them?!!!

Jing Huan denied this fact hundreds of times in his mind before finally facing reality.

What if Xiang Huaizhi and Heart’s Desire are actually the same person?

………

He buried his entire face in his arms.

………

It seems the only option left is to die.

Lu Hang returned to the boat, and Huai Zhi glanced behind him: “Where is he?”

“Still over there,” Lu Hang sat down and said, “He accidentally dropped his phone.”

“Well, that’s perfect. He was just talking about wanting to get a new phone the other day,” Lu Wenhao raised his hand and called out to the waiter below the boat, “Bring us two dozen beers here!”

The aroma of the fish stew had already wafted three miles away by the time the wine arrived.

Xiang Huaizhi glanced at the still-empty seat beside him and stood up. “I’ll go find him.”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Lu Wenhao quickly jumped up, gesturing for him to sit back down. “Let me go. I need to wash my hands anyway—I accidentally got soy sauce all over them.”

Lu Wenhao hummed a tune as he walked toward the restroom. The path was dimly lit by a single streetlamp, barely illuminating the way.

“Don’t pick the wildflowers by the roadside… Holy shit!!!”

Instead of seeing any roadside wildflowers, Lu Wenhao was startled by a dark figure by the road, feeling his entire body of chubby flesh tremble slightly.

Jing Huan remained crouched, slowly looking up with an impatient expression: “What the hell are you screaming for?”

“Damn, it’s just you?” Recognizing the person, Lu Wenhao calmed his breathing. “I thought I’d run into a ghost.”

“You’re scaring even the ghosts away,” Jing Huan said before burying his head again.

Lu Wenhao looked baffled. “What… what are you doing crouching here?”

“I like it here, mind your own business. Go use the bathroom if you need to.”

“I came to wash my hands—got soy sauce on them,” Lu Wenhao said. “Aren’t you coming back? The food’s already served.”

Jing Huan: “Not going back, not eating, no appetite.”

Shit.

I can’t face anyone tonight.

Especially not Xiang Huaizhi.

“Oh, then just squat there. I can’t convince you anyway,” Lu Wenhao walked inside. “If Brother Xiang gets impatient waiting, he’ll come find you himself. He was about to come just now, but I stopped him.”

Jing Huan tensed up whenever he heard the word “Xiang” these days: “What does he want with me?!”

“You’re the birthday boy. If you’re not here, who’d dare to pick up their chopsticks first?”

“……”

After Lu Wenhao finished washing his hands and returned, he found Jing Huan standing by the roadside, punching his own legs.

Lu Wenhao laughed: “Why do I get the feeling you’re kinda scared of Brother Xiang? You jumped up the moment his name was mentioned.”

More than just afraid.

Right now, I feel like giving him my life to make up for it.

But he couldn’t hide forever—he had to eat, and they’d be sharing the same car ride back soon.

Jing Huan said weakly, “Eat more later and talk less.”

“I refuse.” Lu Wenhao, as if deliberately poking at a sore spot, asked with a gossipy expression, “By the way, Xiang Huaizhi just mentioned his girlfriend is pregnant—true or not? You two were together all afternoon, did he say anything to you…”

Halfway through his sentence, Lu Wenhao suddenly shut his mouth.

He sensed a murderous aura.

Jing Huan stared straight ahead, mentally reminding himself that birthdays are no time for bloodshed.

Moreover, he didn’t have time to deal with Lu Wenhao right now.

Because they had already reached the boat, and now just by lifting his head, he could see Xiang Huai’s shoulder.

Lu Wenhao had just stepped onto the stairs when Jing Huan grabbed the hem of his shirt from behind.

“Use your common sense. Don’t you dare bring up anything about pregnancy again later.”

Lu Wenhao gave an OK sign with his hand: “Got it.”

Jing Huan had originally thought he had already calmed down.

But the moment his gaze met Xiang Huaizhi’s, he felt like a firecracker with its fuse lit—ready to explode on the spot.

He quickly averted his eyes and returned to his seat with a distracted expression.

Xiang Huaizhi looked at his reddened ears and asked, “Did you drop your phone?”

Jing Huan didn’t turn his head, his voice hoarse as he replied, “Just the screen cracked… it’s fine.”

Please stop talking to me.

Otherwise, I’ll immediately perform a men’s high dive for you.

Lu Wenhao put a crab in his bowl.

“Huanhuan, this crab is super plump, full of roe. Try it.”

This was the first decent thing Lu Wenhao had done all day.

As long as I keep my head down and eat, no one can strike up a conversation with me!

Not even Xiang Huaizhi!!!

Jing Huan immediately entered a state of total absorption, burying himself in attacking the crabs.

Just as he started, he pricked his finger on the crab shell’s thorn, making him gasp in pain.

Day after day.

Isn’t today supposed to be my birthday?

Why is everything going so wrong today!!!

Jing Huan was like a balloon on the verge of bursting, only to be punctured by a crab shell.

Just as he was about to sigh, his index finger was gently taken by the person beside him.

Xiang Huai Zhi held his hand, brought it close to examine it carefully, and even pressed lightly with his thumb to confirm there was no bleeding before letting go.

He took the crab from Jing Huan’s bowl: “Stop peeling it.”

Jing Huan could still feel the residual warmth on his fingertips. His mouth hung open, but no words came out. A tingling sensation spread from his fingers to his chest, then up to his neck.

“Then eat the fish, no need to peel…” Lu Wenhao turned his head and froze. “Holy shit, Huanhuan, why is your face so red?”

Everyone at the table looked over, including Xiang Huaizhi.

Though he couldn’t see the person beside him, Jing Huan felt completely enveloped by Xiang Huaizhi’s gaze.

The gentle night breeze did little to cool the heat on his face; instead, it seemed to intensify.

Jing Huan muttered vaguely, “I’m drunk, really feeling it.”

Lu Wenhao blinked and said, “But you haven’t had any alcohol.”

Jing Huan casually picked up the glass in front of him and downed it in one gulp. “Well, I’ve had some now!”

Lu Wenhao gave him a strange look before finally saying, “If you want to drink, just drink. There are so many glasses right in front of you—why did you have to snatch Brother Xiang’s?”

Jing Huan: “…”

Xiang Huaizhi chuckled lightly, “It’s fine.”

Jing Huan: “…”

I’m not fine.

My heart’s about to fucking leap out of my throat—call me an ambulance, save me if you can, forget it if you can’t.

Jing Huan stared at the unopened liquor bottles on the floor, thinking he might as well get himself drunk. Maybe when he opened his eyes again, he’d be back at school.

Yet he was afraid he might slip up while drunk and lose his life for nothing.

After much hesitation, he gave up in the end.

Xiang Huaizhi listened absentmindedly to the chatter at the table, his gaze dropping to the person beside him.

Since returning from the restroom, Jing Huan had seemed rather listless and was now playing with a crab shell.

He held two chopsticks, absentmindedly poking at the crab shell that had just pricked him, his mind wandering who knows where.

Xiang Huaizhi picked up the bowl and placed it in front of him.

Jing Huan gave a slight tremble and looked up at him with fearful eyes.

“……”

Xiang Huaizhi frowned, trying to recall what he had done today to elicit such an expression.

He pushed the bowl forward: “Eat.”

Jing Huan suddenly snapped back to reality and quickly lowered his gaze.

The bowl was filled to the brim with snowy-white, tender crab meat.

Lu Wenhao was good at nothing except eating. He spotted the bowl of crab meat at a glance and reached out with his chopsticks lightning-fast: “Damn, that’s a lot. Let me have a taste.”

Jing Huan was quick to react, tapping his hand with the back of a chopstick: “Let go.”

“What’s the big deal? Don’t be stingy.”

“These were given to me, not meant for you.”

“I know, Senior Xiang peeled them—he’d definitely want me to have some.”

“It was me who wouldn’t let you eat.” Jing Huan rapped again, “Who said you could touch the birthday person’s food?”

Jing Huan gloomily finished the bowl of crab meat.

With drinks and food consumed to satisfaction, Gao Zixiang stood up and raised his glass: “Come on, before we leave, let’s toast to Huanhuan—may you enjoy this day every year and this moment every age!”

Lu Wenhao: “May your happiness be as vast as the East Sea! May your longevity rival the Southern Mountain!”

Jing Huan weakly clinked glasses with them: “I thank you all.”

Just as he was about to withdraw his cup, Xiang Huaizhi reached out and clinked with him alone, then tilted his head back to finish the drink.

He was naturally superior, even the lines of his Adam’s apple were more attractive than others’.

Lu Wenhao nudged his shoulder: “What are you looking at? Trying to get away with it?”

Jing Huan couldn’t speak to Lu Wenhao any longer; if he did, he could barely restrain the urge to use the knife in his hand.

He hastily averted his gaze and downed the drink before Xiang Huaizhi could glance over.

After paying the bill, the group walked out of the farmhouse. Lu Hang went to bring the car over, while Lu Wenhao and Gao Zixiang followed. Just as Jing Huan was about to move, Gao Zixiang held him firmly in place.

“Birthday boy, stand still and wait here for us to pick you up,” Gao Zixiang said. “Senior Xiang, you wait here for a moment, we’ll be right there.”

Xiang Huaizhi nodded. “Mm.”

The birthday boy had ten thousand curses he wanted to say.

But the birthday boy didn’t dare to say them.

The birthday boy now doesn’t even dare to breathe heavily.

The countryside at night is exceptionally quiet. Jing Huan fidgets uneasily, counting seconds in his heart.

Twenty seconds have passed. Why hasn’t Lu Hang arrived yet?

“Jing Huan.” Xiang Huaizhi’s voice cuts through the silence.

Jing Huan lowered his head and kicked a pebble: “Uh… huh?”

A box was handed to him.

“Happy birthday,” Xiang Huaizhi said.

Staring at the box, Jing Huan asked hoarsely, “Where… did this come from?”

“You went back to the car to get it while I was in the bathroom.”

Jing Huan took it, swallowing nervously. “Thank you.”

Standing there awkwardly, he asked, “Can I open it?”

“Mm.”

Jing Huan opened the box to find a scarf inside—black and gray interwoven, simple and versatile.

“I didn’t know you didn’t like scarves before, so I bought one,” Xiang Huaizhi said. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”

When did he ever say he didn’t like scarves?

Jing Huan was momentarily stunned before it slowly dawned on him that Lu Wenhao had mentioned in the car how he had turned down a girl who tried to give him a scarf.

He said, “No, this is different from them… I actually like it. Thanks, bro.”

Xiang Huaizhi said, actually there isn’t much difference.

He was just about to speak when the phone in his hand suddenly vibrated. Opening it, he saw it was the child-rearing guide he had asked someone to look up earlier.

Normally, he would have silently forwarded it to the person beside him. But at this moment, whether it was the alcohol or something else, as he pressed forward, he suddenly said to the person next to him:

“I’m sending a message to my wife.”

Jing Huan’s mind went blank for a moment.

Why are you telling me about messaging your wife?

“Ding~”

A crisp WeChat notification tone rang from Jing Huan’s pocket.

The notification sound was like a fully automatic submachine gun, relentlessly strafing across the already turbulent lake surface.

Shit.

Damn it.

Isn’t his wife me???

The notification instantly escalated the awkward tension between them to its peak—Jing Huan had already thought of a hundred ways to dig himself out of this situation.

Xiang Huaizhi asked, “Not going to check your messages?”

“…” Jing Huan gritted his teeth, forcing the words out one by one, “Probably just birthday wishes. I’ll check them when I get back.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a pair of headlights shone in the distance.

Like divine light.

The car came to a stop, and Jing Huan scrambled onto it as if fleeing for his life.

Lu Wenhao sighed from the passenger seat: “Ah, the countryside at night is so peaceful. If possible, I’d quite like to stay here overnight.”

Jing Huan weakly gazed out the window.

This lake looks good too—maybe I’ll just jump in right here and rest in peace.

Once and for all.

No more troubles.