Chapter 67 - Was It Like, or a Desire to Cause Mischief
Later, Ji Liao packed his textbooks and saw the youth waiting for him outside his cla.s.sroom. He grabbed his schoolbag, threw it onto his shoulder and ran out. He Cheng Ming was leaning on the railing when he saw Ji Liao come out and unconsciously lifted the corner of his lips.
They had been together for some time but his enthusiasm had not changed at all.
While going down the stairs, Ji Liao turned to ask him, “Did you leave home because of me?” He really didn’t know what the situation was with the other boy and had been having wild thoughts all afternoon, getting more afraid the more he thought about it.
He Cheng Ming stuffed both hands into his pants pocket and without much of an expression, replied, “Not entirely.”
He paused and they exited the staircase with a turn. At that time, the glow of the setting sun was warm on their bodies. When the follow-up didn’t come after a long time, Ji Liao turned his head to look at the person beside him only to see He Cheng Ming looking into the distance, his pursed lips moving slightly.
“My parents are too rational and only want power, not a son.”
They only gave him material satisfaction without any feelings and spirit, just to cultivate a standard successor.
He Cheng Ming carefully thought about his past seventeen years. Before he met Ji Liao, he had never noticed the problem and lived accordingly to Zhao Mei Lan’s careful plans. It wasn’t until his heart had beat intensely did he realise that every day could be meaningful.
He began to look forward to going to the construction site with Zhao Mei Lan, gazing at Ji Liao, watching his brilliant smile in the dazzling sunlight and his white legs swinging on the rock he sat on.
He had a shameful reaction and became even more involved. If it wasn’t for the subsequent incident and Zhao Mei Lan forcing him to be ruthless, he might not have consciously planned his revolt step by step until today, with the boy in his heart.
A few words summarised that he wasn’t happy in that family.
Although Ji Liao didn’t know what had happened, he was acutely aware that the other boy didn’t want to talk about it further, showing that it wasn’t anything good.
He suddenly reached out to grab He Cheng Ming’s sleeve, stopping to look at him. “Then do you still have money?”
Since the other boy had left home, it meant that he must have had a fierce disagreement with his family. He Yue Jin and Zhao Mei Lan both looked like they were not to be trifled with. Would they have cut off his card?
After all, that was the way it always happened on television. If a rich family member was out of line, they would have to accept the punishment of card suspension.
Ji Liao fished in his pockets and found over ten yuan of change. There was some more money at home. He blinked at He Cheng Ming and looked a little embarra.s.sed. The money was too little to take out.
“Why, do you want to take care of me?” He Cheng Ming raised his eyebrows and laughed silently.
His darling really loved him dearly.
“Was your money really cut off?” Ji Liao couldn’t imagine it. His mouth was slightly open, thinking that television shows were just dramatized!
He Cheng Ming saw his shocked expression and found it amusing. He liked that Ji Liao was worried about him and took care of him.
“Yes, so I’m very poor now,” He Cheng Ming said with distress and reached out to lift Ji Liao’s chin, closing his mouth.
Then he tried to sell his misery. “Please treat me to dinner, baby. I’ve already been eating instant noodles for a few days.”
It was true that he had been eating instant noodles for a few days but because he had been too lazy to cook.
This made Ji Liao’s heart ache but looking at his palm, he only had some money which couldn’t really buy any good food.
“Why don’t you come home with me?” He said tentatively.
This unexpected surprise caught He Cheng Ming off guard.
His mind spun. Meng Yuan probably had not yet reported to the He group today so the lies would not const.i.tute a danger.
He hesitated, then asked, “Wouldn’t your mom say something?”
Actually, Ji Liao wasn’t sure. He told him to wait for a moment, then went aside to call Xu Ai Wen. When she answered, he only said that he was bringing a friend back and asked her to cook more rice.
Xu Ai Wen knew something wasn’t right when she heard, and asked sharply, “Which friend?” Ever since he started dating, she didn’t know Ji Liao had made any new friends.
“Boy, boyfriend.”
Ji Liao stammered and felt embarra.s.sed but added, “He came out from his house without money.” Xu Ai Wen was silent for a while, then answered, “Okay.”
She hung up the phone and thought to herself, that was said very tactfully. What did coming out of his house mean? Wasn’t that just being chased out? If that wasn’t it, then he had left home.
There had probably been a huge argument.
Xu Ai Wen had all along disagreed with Ji Liao being with He Cheng Ming and always felt that they were just playing around but they were very serious. Like now, what was the advantage of falling out with his family? None at all. He couldn’t even afford to eat.
But she wasn’t willing to force Ji Liao to break up. In any case, she loved him dearly and wanted to express that.
Meng Yao Yao was the first to come back. After putting her schoolbag in the room, she ran to the kitchen to see what Xu Ai Wen had cooked. As soon as she entered, she could smell the fragrance making her salivate.
Xu Ai Wen had made a pot of stewed duck in beer. Seeing Meng Yao Yao staring at it, she picked up a piece and put it into her mouth to try.
Meng Yao Yao chewed twice and her eyes brightened. She nodded vigorously and said, “This is delicious!” She couldn’t help but sigh and felt that her dad had a really good eye. He had found her a stepmother with not just graceful manners but also great culinary skills!
Xu Ai Wen smiled happily and scratched the girl’s nose affectionately. “Such a sweet-talker!”
She had gotten a daughter for no reason, found that a daughter was still better and knew how to make her happy. Her son was stiff and had no joys in life.
After a while, Ji Liao came back with He Cheng Ming.
Meng Yao Yao gave an exclamation of surprise and said jokingly, “No wonder Auntie Xu has made stewed duck in beer today. The son-in-law is here.”
Ji Liao glared at her and turned to ask He Cheng Ming, “Do you want to watch television? We wouldn’t be eating so early.”
He Cheng Ming first went to the kitchen to greet Xu Ai Wen and said, “Auntie, sorry to trouble you.” Then he went to sit on the sofa.
Ji Liao turned on the television for him and Meng Yao Yao joined them.
When Xu Ai Wen brought out the dishes of food, it felt vaguely like she had three children, all about the same age!
Shortly after, Meng Yuan also came back. He was surprised to see He Cheng Ming when he came in.
He Cheng Ming called out to him, “Uncle Meng.”
Meng Yuan nodded and thinking of the He group’s invitation still lying in his inbox, decided to talk to Xu Ai Wen about it that night.
Dinner was sumptuous and He Cheng Ming sang praises, eating two bowls in a row. Ji Liao thought that he must have been starving and was worried and anxious. He thought about what to do in the future and how the other boy would survive.
After dinner, Ji Liao went to his room, took his savings and hid them in his pocket.
When he came out, he found He Cheng Ming apologizing to Xu Ai Wen and Meng Yuan, and that their termination was because of him.
Having just found out about this matter, Xu Ai Wen looked at Meng Yuan angrily. It scared Meng Yuan into explaining hurriedly, “I planned to talk to you about it tonight.” Seeing this, Ji Liao walked over quickly and stood beside He Cheng Ming, wanting to bear the burden with him.
Xu Ai Wen looked at the two children waiting to be scolded and her temper evaporated at once. She looked searchingly at He Cheng Ming and felt slightly moved. This was He Yue Jin’s son and would surely become a top-notch figure in the future. Now, for her son, he couldn’t even afford to eat. Was it worth it?
She didn’t think it was worth it but the other boy did.
Maybe it was due to youth and ignorance, or maybe true love was invincible…
Who knows.
The situation had already reached this point so Xu Ai Wen didn’t say anything and just let Ji Liao send him downstairs.
Ji Liao sent He Cheng Ming to the gate of the community then gave him the money that was in his pocket. He Cheng Ming was stunned and about to explain when Ji Liao spoke first. “If you don’t take it, I won’t bring you breakfast tomorrow.”
Being brought breakfast was a privilege, so he swallowed the truth, feeling moved and guilty at the same time while he bent over to kiss him.
Ji Liao was very cooperative and opened his mouth slightly. His agile tongue slipped in and tangled with the other boy’s ceaselessly.
After a long time, He Cheng Ming parted from Ji Liao’s moist lips and held him in his arms.
“Baby.” His voice was a little hoa.r.s.e and he wanted to keep holding him like this.
But Ji Liao kept thinking about his homework and urged, “You should go.”
He Cheng Ming bit his mouth again making Ji Liao laugh. He broke away from him and asked him to go off quickly.
At night, Ji Liao lay on the bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
He wasn’t someone who took things as they came. He would think and consider a lot. Even now, he had begun to worry about He Cheng Ming’s future school fees. If both of them worked, could they afford it?
How about food? And other things?
Ji Liao felt like his brain was about to explode and he didn’t sleep well that night.
For the next few days, he brought breakfast for He Cheng Ming and ate lunch with him. The other boy enjoyed it overtly and was completely immersed in the lie that he had weaved. Until Meng Yuan went to work at the He group and came back to jokingly ask Ji Liao to inquire about which stock He Cheng Ming had bought recently.
Ji Liao hissed, “He doesn’t have the money.”
Previously, the other boy had mentioned stock speculation. He remembered during the new year last year, He Cheng Ming had attempted to give him a card. That had probably been a personal card which had not been frozen. But he still had no money so Ji Liao had naturally a.s.sumed that he had lost it during stock speculation.
After all, it was Ji Liao’s impression that the term was often accompanied by bad things such as jumping off buildings and unemployment.
Meng Yuan looked at him in a manner one would employ to look at a silly child. “He didn’t tell you he’s now a millionaire?”
After Meng Yuan joined the He group, he became He Mu Sheng’s competent right-hand man. In addition, he had started to manage the account which had been specially opened for He Cheng Ming to speculate in stocks. The numbers in the account made him, a man who was almost forty, feel ashamed.
Ji Liao was confused and his face turned serious.
Only then did Meng Yuan realise that something was wrong. Feeling that he had revealed some secret, he walked away quietly.
“Uncle Meng, so he’s very rich?”
Meng Yuan stopped. It seemed that it was too late to take it back so he just nodded.
Ji Liao’s expression froze. He felt like a fool, not knowing that he had been duped.
He was angry but couldn’t find a place to vent. His eyes were red with anger and he felt more aggrieved the more he thought about it. He couldn’t sleep well and it was all because of something he had said. In the end, it was a lie.
Was he being respected?
Was it like, or a desire to cause mischief?
He was confused. His phone kept ringing and the other boy sent him countless messages.
Ji Liao looked coldly at the words jumping out at him but he didn’t know which words were true and which were false.
He turned off his phone. What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over.