Chương 25: THE IDIOT

"I really want to know. Who's this asshole?" Hua Zhendan persisted.

"Err... Some... Someone you don't know," Xuan Tianmei replied with a gentle smile.

Hua Zhendan quickly noticed another similarity the twins shared in that instant. They both stuttered when nervous. Unconsciously, he smiled. His smile quickly waned however, when his eyes drifted to Xuan Tianyi.

Xuan Tianyi was staring at the floor, unconcerned with him. On his neck was a red mark that was starting to turn brown.

Hua Zhendan frowned when he noticed it. "Were you hit? Who hit you?"

Hua Zhendan stared to reach out to touch the scar, but Xuan Tianyi swatted his hand. "Don't pretend you care."

Hua Zhendan frowned. If he didn't care, this idiot would probably spend the night in jail. "Let's go. I have all your stuff in my car outside."

"We can't leave now," Xuan Tianmei interjected.

"Why not?" Hua Zhendan was puzzled.

"Tan Yao brought me. I have to go with him."

"I saw him lurking around when I came over. I asked him to go home."

"Of course," Xuan Tianyi rolled his eyes. An action which was noticed by both Hua Zhendan and Xuan Tianmei.

"Huh?" Xuan Tianmei asked.

Hua Zhendan paid Xuan Tianyi no mind. "Xuan Tianyi, I'll drop you at the dorm. Xuan Tianmei, I'll have my driver drop you at home."

"Oh! We're going home together," Xuan Tianmei said.

"Oh!" Hua Zhendan said. "I'll drop you both at home then."

Xuan Tianyi wanted to refuse the ride badly. But he didn't want to stress Xuan Tianmei any more than he already had so he didn't refuse. He lazily walked beside Xuan Tianmei who was walking beside Hua Zhendan.

When the trio got to the front of the car, Hua Zhendan turned to Xuan Tianmei, gave her his car key, then said, "Please, give us a minute."

After Xuan Tianmei got into the car, Hua Zhendan turned to Xuan Tianyi and said, "Hey."

Xuan Tianyi folded his arms and diverted his gaze from Hua Zhendan's direction.

Hua Zhendan didn't say anything to this. He had arrested Xuan Tianyi. He deserved the silent treatment. "I just wanted you to know that I'm letting you off the hook. If you don't want to do the job, you don't have to do it. You don't have to quit either. I'll let you know when something better comes along. But if you also want to quit, you won't need to worry about paying the company anything, I'll terminate your contract myself."

"Why?" Xuan Tianyi's tone was angry.

"Why what?" Hua Zhendan was caught off-guard. He hadn't expected Xuan Tianyi to be angry with him. What exactly was wrong with what he said?

"Why are you confusing my feelings? Why are you so mean one minute and nice the next? Am I just a piece in your chess game which you use to entertain yourself?"

Hua Zhendan was speechless. The last thing he had expected was an outburst. Xuan Tianyi was usually calm in his presence. What was happening to him today?

"And I want the job. I was a fool for rejecting it in the first place. The person I did that for doesn't even care."

Tan Yao was the first person that came to Hua Zhendan's mind. "You really don't have to. The photoshoot is scheduled for later this night. Less than an hour from now. They already found a replacement for you."

"Please, let me do it."

"You need to get some sleep."

"Then let me do it tomorrow."

Hua Zhendan frowned. Why was Xuan Tianyi suddenly so desperate to do the photoshoot?

"It has to be today. We're sending the photographs to the editor tomorrow so he can pick the one he likes."

"Then let me model today. You can send pictures of both models so he picks the one he prefers."

That wasn't actually a bad idea. His Zhendan nodded in agreement. "Fine. Let me take you back to the office."

***

Xuan Tianyi sat in a taxi. Wistfully staring at the window. Most of the night after his release had been a blur to him. As if he merely existed in it, but didn't live in it.

When they had gotten to the company, Xuan Tianmei was asked to wait in the reception while Xuan Tianyi and Hua Zhendan had gone up to Shen Rui's office together. The photoshoot was taking place there. Apparently, the photoshoot needed to be at night and he had to pose with his back facing the glass window. That would capture the exquisite view from the city lights which would depict luxury. He would then sit in his underwear wearing an empty look and holding a red wine in his hand to depict a boy who was unwillingly waiting for his sugar daddy.

The moment he had taken off his clothes, the rep from The Men Issue had almost gone crazy. The rep thought the bruises on his body was a genius addition to the photoshoot as it depicts domestic violence. At that, Hua Zhendan had left the room. Xuan Tianyi didn't know if he upset, and frankly didn't care anymore. Hua Zhendan was a piece of work.

After the photoshoot, Xuan Tianyi had found Hua Zhendan sitting with Xuan Tianmei in the reception. He had handed him a painkiller which he took without hesitation. Then, he had silently driven to Pingjing, dropped the both of them off, then returned home.

While Xuan Tianmei had gone in, Xuan Tianyi had boarded a cab to The French Red Wine Pub. He was upset, sad and hurting all at the same time. If he had ever needed a drink before, it was this night.

When the cab came to an halt in front of the pub, Xuan Tianyi paid the driver and came down. He walked into the bar and sat on a bar stool in front of the counter. When was the last time he was here? He could barely remember.

"What are you having?" the bartender asked Xuan Tianyi.

"I'll have..." Xuan Tianyi looked to his left, then to his right, trying to see if someone was drinking something he liked. Then he saw it. On his right was a man holding a colorless liquid with three pieces of olive in it. He had said, 'I'd have whatever this man is having.' And that man was Hua Zhendan.

It all made sense now. The first time they had met in the company, Hua Zhendan had recognized him and had gotten mad because he didn't remember.

It made sense now. That hatred Hua Zhendan seemed to have for him was well-deserved. And that gentleness. Hua Zhendan was in love with him. He was every bit in love with him as he was with him.

"You'll have what?" the bartender asked Xuan Tianyi.

Xuan Tianyi looked up into the bartenders face and asked, "Why am I such an idiot?"

"Huh?" the bartender gave him a weird look.

Xuan Tianyi smiled at the bartender. "I've got to go get him."

With that, he stood up and exited the bar.

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