Unremovable scars

When Chu Sinian returned home, he was exhausted. He disgustedly took off his clothes, which were covered in the smell of alcohol, and walked barefoot into the bathroom.

It was past 1 a.m. when he came out.

He dried his hair and intended to go to sleep, but since he had taken a nap in the morning, sleepiness would come later.

Chu Sinian simply put on his coat and went out onto the balcony.

Standing in front of the high-rise apartment, with the city lights of Beijing reflected like a dragon in the night, he listlessly blew in the chilly north wind, his thoughts drifting away.

Meeting Chen Chi when they were young was an unexpected and chaotic accident, and they never expected it to be the same when they grew up. There were always unexpected coincidences and clashes between them.

He originally thought it was just a reminder letter that would prevent them from getting involved again, but accidents happen too often in life, and he underestimated himself.

From initial curiosity to eventual break-up, how far have we gone?

Chu Sinian didn't know, and he didn't want to know anymore.

I thought that the past scribbling was all a lie.

Chen Chi has changed, changed too much.

He is now more sharp, more silent, and less patient. A few words can easily provoke him, and indifference has become his most normal state.

To Chen Chi, Chu Sinian was a thorn in his side.

Those bitter shards of glass, mixed with his own bitterness, became his shadow, piercing Chen Chi's life.

It was as if Chen Chi could never escape the nightmare of his childhood whenever he was around.

Chu Sinian smiled and suddenly felt that time was passing too fast and the world was changing too fast. Those bizarre memories were diluted and washed away, and peace was embellished.

Actually, nothing has changed.

Chen Chi still loathed him; all talk of wiping the slate clean was a lie.

Yes, but the scars are indelible.

—

The next day, Ning Zicheng woke up with a throbbing headache because she had drunk too much the night before.

He had someone bring him honey water, drank it, and slept until noon. When he woke up, he was no longer feeling groggy or confused.

After taking a shower in the afternoon, Ning Zicheng called Chu Sinian as soon as she came out of the bathroom, asking, "Are you awake yet?"

"woke up."

Ning Zicheng sniffed and wiped the moisture from her face. "Come eat with me."

"Look at the time! You want me to have lunch with you at 2 PM?"

"Fine, fine, I'll eat it myself."

Ning Zicheng threw the tissue into the trash can and sat down on the sofa. "Xiao Yu found out from my dad that I'm in Beijing, and he invited me to a gathering with them this afternoon. You have to come too."

Without hesitation, the person on the other end said, "I'm not going."

Xiao Yu was the son of his father's friend. They played together very well when they were young, but after moving to Dong'an, they hadn't seen each other much.

Once, he took Chu Sinian and Xiao Yu's group to Switzerland for a while. After that, Xiao Yu often subtly invited Chu Sinian to come and visit.

Unfortunately, compared to his enthusiasm, Chu Sinian was somewhat indifferent, and the two remained in a half-baked relationship. He knew that Chu Sinian had declined countless invitations.

Chu Sinian had an undisguised indifference towards Xiao Yu.

Ning Zicheng was, after all, a friend of both of them. Although he sided with Chu Sinian, he still hoped that everyone would be well.

"Come on, come on, it's been so long since we've seen each other, let's get together."

Chu Sinian was drinking coffee at home when he heard the purpose of the call and slowly asked, "Do you want me to go or Xiao Yu?"

Ning Zicheng choked for a moment, "I have everything, just come and have some fun, consider it as going through the motions with me."

Chu Sinian lowered his eyes and asked casually, "When?"

"Damn, you actually said yes!"

"Then I'll take it back?"

"No, no, I've already agreed, I can't go back on my word." Ning Zicheng said hurriedly, "They'll pick me up from the hotel around 3 p.m., do you want to come and wait with me?"

hotel…

Chu Sinian paused as he held the coffee cup, an image of a closed door and a pair of indistinct eyes involuntarily popping into his mind.

He paused for a few seconds, then said, "No need, just send me your location, I'll drive there directly."

At 3 p.m., the long-unused horse farm in the grand manor was opened for the first time ever.

One by one, fine horses were led into the enclosure, while outside the fence stood a group of beautiful young women, dressed very energetically, with exceptionally friendly smiles.

A man rode his horse to the fence and stopped. He looked at the sweet-looking girl standing obediently to the side, raised his chin, and said, "Come in with me."

The girl nodded, wanting to follow behind the horse, but he kicked her arm, saying, "Go ahead."

The girl wiped her arm discreetly and obediently walked ahead.

"Why are you always so disobedient? Among that group of women, you're the only one who's as dull as a wooden stake," Xiao Yu said as he rode his horse.

The girl glanced at him timidly, then shrank back. "I...I didn't disobey. Xiao...Brother Xiao, do whatever you want." Her flattery was somewhat stiff, which was quite obvious to Xiao Yu, who was used to being fawned over.

He said nonchalantly, "Then you'll stay with me tonight."

The girl suddenly stopped in her tracks, her face turning pale.

Xiao Yu laughed loudly, "Just kidding."

He wanted to let go of the rope and run, but suddenly his name was called from afar.

Xiao Yu turned around and saw Ning Zicheng, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, being surrounded by a group of people. Ning Zicheng had a particularly displeased expression on her face. "Xiao Yu!"

"You didn't come to pick me up as promised, that's so unfair of you!"

"So fast?" Xiao Yu was a little surprised. He dismounted and ran to him. "It's no big deal. Guo Yutao and the others are here to pick you up."

Guo Yutao also put on a stern face, "Ning Zicheng, what do you mean? Can't I pick you up?"

Xiao Yu put his arm around his shoulder. "Maybe I'm more important."

Su Shu scoffed, "I, this young lady, will personally pick you up. What are you still complaining about?"

"Wow, Ning Zicheng, winning an award really changes things, he's putting on airs now."

"Haha, alright, stop teasing him."

Ning Zicheng rolled her eyes as she listened to the group's nonsense. "I can't be bothered to argue with you."

As he spoke, he led out a horse and mounted it. "Want to race with me?" Ning Zicheng lazily held the whip, while the horse's legs paced restlessly beneath him.

"If you don't familiarize yourself with the place first, you'll be in big trouble if you fall down. This isn't a lawn with soft mats," Guo Yutao joked.

Ning Zicheng's expression changed. "Are you looking for trouble?"

Xiao Yu walked over and patted Ning Zicheng's leg. "That's just his personality. He's outspoken and doesn't hold it against you. Don't take it personally."

Ning Zicheng's already bad mood worsened further. He regretted agreeing to the appointment, glanced at Guo Yutao, spurred his horse, and galloped forward at full speed.

Su Shu's eyes widened. "Why are you running so fast! You still haven't told me where Chu Sinian went!"

Ning Zicheng pretended not to hear, gripped the whip, and charged forward.

Su Shu stomped her foot in anger, randomly picked a horse, mounted it, and chased after Ning Zicheng, who was running for his life, yelling, "Damn it, why are you hiding?"

Guo Yutao, who was left behind, looked at Xiao Yu, then at the girl next to him, and asked, "Have you changed your mind now? Do you like playing at the horse farm now?"

The girl's face turned pale instantly. Xiao Yu smiled and took the water handed to him by another girl, took a sip, and said, "None of the people who came today liked that kind of environment. If they found out, they'd break off all ties with me."

"Haha...breaking up, that's hilarious."

Xiao Yu threw the water over and said to Guo Yutao, "There's nothing I can do, they're all moral exemplars."

He looked at the girl, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, "Yi Rou, you are also a moral exemplar."

Yi Rou's lips trembled slightly as she replied, "No, it's not."

The girl who had just handed her the water glanced at her, then leaned softly against Xiao Yu's shoulder, pushing Yi Rou aside. "If Brother Xiao likes moral exemplars, then I am one; if Brother Xiao doesn't, then I'm not."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu felt much better. He touched the girl's waist and said, "Come on, let's go horseback riding."

As Yi Rou watched the girl being taken away, her worried expression was impossible to hide. She hesitated for a moment, about to step forward and follow, but before she could take a step, the girl turned around and gave Yi Rou a look.

Yi Rou then stopped moving.

After finishing the race, Ning Zicheng dismounted, drenched in sweat. He opened his phone and saw a message from Chu Sinian that he had arrived at the gate.

Ning Zicheng trotted out of the horse farm, followed by Su Shu. "Can you stop running? Where are you going! Why do you ignore me when I ask Chu Sinian!"

Ning Zicheng wiped her sweat, running and looking back, "Miss, he's not interested in you. He likes Yu Shi, and he likes men, do you understand?"

"What nonsense! He doesn't like Yu Shi at all. If he liked a guy, I'd be an idiot!"

Ning Zicheng was speechless and slowed down. Rumors of Chu Sinian's unrequited love for Su Shu were flying around the circle, and he really didn't know how Su Shu dared to say such a thing.

Are you mentally challenged?

Su Shu snorted, "You are the one."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Sinian walked in from the door. Upon seeing the two of them, he greeted Su Shu first, "Long time no see, you look beautiful today."

Su Shu's face turned red instantly.

"Don't praise her."

Chu Sinian looked at Ning Zicheng, "So you look handsome today too?"

"What the heck? How come it's a question when it comes to me?!"

Su Shu covered her mouth and laughed at him, "You're not exactly good-looking to begin with!"

"screw you."

Ning Zicheng and Su Shu led Chu Sinian to the dressing room. Su Shu would glance at Chu Sinian every few steps, and the adoration in her eyes was so clear that it gave Ning Zicheng goosebumps.

Su Shu asked, "How is Brother Sinian doing in Dong'an?"

Chu Sinian said, "It's fine, everything is as usual."

"I was thinking of going to Dong'an to visit you, but I've been too busy with my studies lately." Su Shu looked at the tender green grass under her feet and felt a strange sense of nervousness.

“Su Shu…” Chu Sinian’s tone was tinged with emotion, and Su Shu immediately interrupted him, “Brother Sinian, you should go change your clothes quickly. It’s been a long time since I raced horses with you.”

Just as they arrived at the changing room, Chu Sinian nodded and went inside, leaving Ning Zicheng and Su Shu behind.

Su Shu's mood didn't improve when she saw Chu Sinian; in fact, it worsened. This mysterious change left Ning Zicheng completely bewildered.

Why are you making that face?

"What's it to you?"

"Can't I just ask? That's so rude."

"I'm rude? You have no emotional intelligence either. No wonder Sister Xiaobai ignores you."

These casual words struck a nerve with Ning Zicheng, and his eyes widened. "You, you, you, you're getting angry because nobody likes you, huh!"

Su Shu glared back defiantly, "You, you, you, are you introducing yourself? At least Si Nian and I are friends, but you and Xiao Bai are nothing to each other!"

Ning Zicheng gritted her teeth and plopped down in anger, "Damn it, so what if I'm nothing? What can I do about it!"

Seeing his dejected expression, Su Shu opened her mouth wide, "It can't be that bad, can it? I just said..."

Her tone froze for a moment, "Well, it's not like that. Sister Xiaobai even went on a date with you, so... she shouldn't be completely without feelings for you."

Ning Zicheng stood up abruptly. "Really?"

"Really, really, if we girls really didn't like you, how could we possibly agree to go on a date with you?"

Ning Zicheng gradually became excited, raised her hand and shook Su Shu, "If what you said is true, then I still have hope!"

Su Shu tried to push him away, but her hands became sticky and sweaty as soon as they touched her skin. "Ahhh!"

Su Shu screamed and squatted down in panic, wiping her sweat on the grass. "I give up, it's disgusting."

Ning Zicheng was stunned by her undisguised disgust. "Damn it, you touched it yourself and you're disgusted by it?"

Su Shu was on the verge of tears and, in a state of utter despair, asked the staff for wet wipes to wipe his hands. "No wonder Xiao Bai doesn't like you. It's all because you sweat so much."

"What the hell does my sweating have to do with whether she likes me or not? Are you crazy?"

While the argument raged on one side, the other side finally changed into riding gear and came over.

Because of the cool weather in Beijing, Chu Sinian changed into a long black coat with a medieval style. The middle few buttons on the two rows of metal buttons immediately showed off his narrow and slender waist. He wore a white shirt underneath and white skinny jeans. His legs were of even thickness and incredibly long, disappearing into his white boots.

His equestrian attire perfectly captured his inherent aloofness, while the way his eyes swept over him, with the upturned corners, blended his contradictory nature into a captivating and alluring charm.

It makes you want to get close, yet you can't avoid it.