Chapter 29 Wanting an Identity
Looking at the location displayed on his phone screen, Shen Beidao found the narrow alley hidden deep in the bustling city.
An inconspicuous neon sign hangs at the entrance of the alley, with messy English lettering. Looking inside from the outside, the lighting is dim, and you can vaguely see the reflection of the liquor rack behind the bar, suggesting it's a quiet bar.
He pushed open the door and went inside. Behind the door was a long corridor with walls covered in dark velvet, providing excellent soundproofing so that he could hardly hear any outside noise.
The sensor door at the end of the corridor slowly opened, and the next moment, the music suddenly became agitated.
Zhang Zexuan, who was sitting by the window, waved to him, "Professor Shen, over here! Over here!"
He stood at the entrance, his gaze sweeping across the dimly lit interior. Men huddled together in twos and threes in the booths, the air thick with the scents of alcohol and perfume.
"Brother, are you alone?" A young man in a sequined shirt approached.
"She's made an appointment," the man next to her said with a sullen purse of his lips. "She's over there."
Shen Beidao walked through the crowd and stood opposite Zhang Zexuan.
He didn't sit, but stood, looking down at the other person: "...Why did you choose this place?"
Zhang Zexuan immediately stood up and pushed a glass of mixed drink in front of him: "It's secluded here! So that no one can see us. Professor Shen, please sit down, please sit down."
"I drove here, and I don't drink."
Shen Beidao pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze lingering on Zhang Zexuan's face for a few seconds. "You... are you too?"
He hadn't expected that so many of his kind were lurking around Lin Yi.
He had long seen through Li Rui's intentions, but the boy was timid and not worth worrying about.
But this Zhang Zexuan in front of me seems to be quite cunning.
Zhang Zexuan loudly denied it: "Of course not! I'm a straight man!"
He called over a waiter, ordered five or six different flavored drinks, personally opened a bottle of sparkling water for Shen Beidao, and enthusiastically handed him a straw:
"I came here with my boss before... so I'm familiar with the owner here. Sometimes I come here to find out my boss's preferences so that I can be a more understanding assistant!"
"By the way! My current boss is Lin Yi's biological father."
Shen Beidao gestured for him to put down his drink, but didn't drink it: "Well, let's talk business."
"OK."
"I have no intention of agreeing to the letter of understanding regarding Du Xiaoman that you mentioned on the phone."
Shen Beidao seemed to be conducting a negotiation, "but it's not entirely without room for discussion."
He paused, looking directly at Zhang Zexuan: "I did come here today for a personal reason. I want to know some things about Lin Yi's past."
Zhang Zexuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately downed the wine in his glass in one gulp: "It's alright, Professor Shen, as long as there's room for maneuver! I was just worried that if you were determined to kill him, I wouldn't be able to go back and explain myself."
He wiped his mouth: "Ask me anything about my brother Yi. I'll tell you everything I know, down to the smallest detail!"
Shen Beidao looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and then slowly said, "Let's talk about his sixty-five ex-boyfriends first."
"Pfft!" Zhang Zexuan almost choked on his own saliva.
He looked up at Shen Beidao, trying to discern the seriousness of the words from that expressionless face. Then, he saw a fleeting glint of ferocity in Shen Beidao's eyes.
“Well…” Zhang Zexuan scratched his head, “It’s a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it? After all, knowing too much about your ex-boyfriend might affect your relationship.”
"It's okay, it's just his past, it won't affect our relationship."
Zhang Zexuan sighed, thinking to himself that this Professor Shen was truly a ruthless character. He clearly cared a lot, but he insisted on pretending to be nonchalant.
"Alright, let's start with the first one."
Zhang Zexuan cleared his throat. "That's his first love, Chen Zhinan. We all know her."
Before Lin Yi and Chen Zhinan went to the art class, we were all in the elite class. Lin Yi transferred to the class first to prepare for the art exam, and then Chen Zhinan followed...
Later, they often went to and from school together, and they became a couple.
He paused, observing Shen Beidao's expression.
Shen Beidao simply looked at him calmly, gesturing for him to continue.
"However, Lin Yi's mother found out about this not long afterward." Zhang Zexuan's voice lowered. "Lin Yi has never said what happened afterward..."
But I knew he went to the hospital every week in the months leading up to the college entrance exam, and once, he stayed at my house for a week to avoid his mother. I wanted to know more details at the time, but Lin Yi didn't tell me anything..."
He picked up his glass and took another sip: "Until freshman year, he suddenly wanted to treat us to dinner. When we arrived, we found out that he wanted to celebrate his parents' divorce... Isn't that a bit hard to understand?"
Shen Beidao simply frowned, listened attentively, and did not respond.
"You already know a lot about what's been happening lately."
Zhang Zexuan continued, "And those dozens of women Lin Yi dated, they were actually just chatting, and some of them ended without even meeting in person."
Some pursued him, some were from his school, some were gaming friends, etc. Actually, none of them did anything that couples do. At most, they would post some "scumbag quotes" on their social media...
He observed Shen Beidao's expression and secretly admired her. This Professor Shen was truly composed; she could remain unfazed even after hearing about her boyfriend's numerous "criminal records."
“They just chat, never meet, and there’s no real romantic relationship.” Shen Beidao suddenly spoke, his tone thoughtful. “What’s the reason for this behavior that doesn’t seem to fit the logic of a relationship?”
"Hey! You really are a professor! You've got it all figured out!"
Zhang Zexuan leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Because from his senior year of high school to his freshman year of college, his mother was constantly monitoring him and would even install software on his phone that could view his information..."
Lin Yi, however, didn't want to compromise. Rather than letting his aunt cling to a sliver of hope and try to "straighten" him out, it was better to give up entirely and abandon him as her son. It would be a relief for both of them, because he didn't want to end up like his father… a marriage of convenience.
Shen Beidao's fingertips, which had been tapping on the table, stopped.
"For a while, my aunt's condition was very serious, and she stayed in the hospital for several months. Let me think..."
She was discharged from the hospital around the end of the year before last. Since then, she's completely ignored Lin Yi; she was probably truly desperate.
Zhang Zexuan sighed, "However, for Lin Yi, it's still unclear whether this is a good thing or a bad thing."
Shen Beidao: So the reason he was reluctant to get back together with me was because of his family?
The more you want to be with me, the more afraid you are of being with me?
Come to think of it, it's been almost seven days since I last saw him after he left my house.
I send him "Good morning" every morning, and he always replies with "Good night" in the evening. We've only exchanged thirteen messages in the past seven days, so I guess I'll only get tonight's "Good night" from him.
"Huh? Professor Shen? Professor Shen?"
Zhang Zexuan waved his hand in front of him, his gossip instincts kicking in, "Excuse me, but are you with my Yi-ge...?"
Zhang Zexuan clapped his hands together three times and asked, "Do you have this one?"
Shen Beidao looked up at him.
"I'm just curious," Zhang Zexuan chuckled, "who's on top, you or Brother Yi?"
Shen Beidao said calmly, "We're not together yet."
"Not together?!" Zhang Zexuan suddenly raised his voice, but luckily the sound effects in the bar were too loud, and no one noticed them.
"Professor Shen, you'd better hurry up! My brother Yi is very popular at the Academy of Fine Arts. Even though he has the title of 'scumbag,' he is still a regular on their school's confession wall!"
Besides, his first love, Chen Zhinan, is asking us about Lin Yi every day. You'd better watch out, or you might get stolen away!
Shen Beidao had heard the name "Chen Zhinan" more than once.
He thought for a moment, then spoke in a steady voice: "I can give you a letter of understanding."
Zhang Zexuan's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Shen Beidao looked at him: "But in exchange, you have to do something for me."
*
At 5:15 p.m., the art supply store was bustling with people.
Lin Yi stood in front of the shelf, selecting different colors of paint.
He had dyed his hair a bright golden color, which almost reflected the light under the mall's bright lights.
She wore an antique-style earring with an unusual design in her left ear, and her black cotton coat was open, revealing a simple white sweater underneath. Her lower body was clad in stylish leather trousers with three silver zippers on each side, which, if fully unzipped, could extend all the way to her upper thigh.
"Auntie, these will do." He made his selections and placed a bunch of paint tubes on the counter.
"Alright, young man!" The auntie selling the goods quickly scanned the barcodes and packed the items, but her eyes were always smiling as she looked at him. "A student from the school next door, right? You're pretty handsome! Especially that hair color, not everyone can pull it off."
The saleswoman handed over a business card, saying, "Our store is close to your school. If you need art supplies next time, just let us know in advance, and we can deliver them to your door for free."
"Thank you, Auntie." Lin Yi smiled as he accepted the card, and casually said, "My boyfriend likes this hair color, so I dyed it."
"Hey! I wonder which little girl likes blond hair."
While packing the food, the aunt joked, "You still need to dye your hair black when you meet your mother-in-law, otherwise she definitely won't feel comfortable entrusting her daughter to you."
Lin Yi took the heavy bag and deliberately winked at the aunt: "To correct you, it's my boyfriend."
The aunt's smile froze for a moment.
Lin Yi smiled even more broadly, picked up the bag, and turned around: "I'm off! I wish you a prosperous business!"
He walked out of the store, and after taking only a few steps, he looked up.
At the elevator entrance, he unexpectedly saw Shen Beidao.
Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively felt a tingling sensation all over his body.
Did this person plant a surveillance camera on him? How could we run into him in this corner?
"Lin Yi." Chen Zhinan followed him out of the art supply store.
"You don't need to dye your hair just because of what I said, do you?" Chen Zhinan stepped forward and reached out to pull Lin Yi's arm, but then noticed the red rash on Lin Yi's ear and said worriedly, "I remember you are particularly prone to allergies. It looks quite serious on your ear right now. You should go to the hospital to get it checked out."
Lin Yi said that on purpose in the store, trying to provoke Chen Zhinan by saying "my boyfriend likes it".
Unexpectedly, the other party not only didn't leave, but also chased after us.
Just as he was about to respond, Shen Beidao walked over and pulled him behind him.
This is the second time we've met.
Shen Beidao's voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely oppressive. "Last time at the hospital, it was you who was following Lin Yi."
Chen Zhinan's face darkened: "I'm Lin Yi's friend, how can you say I'm stalking him?"
Lin Yi's nose bumped against Shen Beidao's trench coat. The familiar scent warmed him. He wanted to refute Chen Zhinan's words, but Shen Beidao held his wrist tightly, seemingly not intending to let him speak.
Seeing that he remained silent, Chen Zhinan pressed his advantage even further: "Mr. Chen, how long have you known each other? You don't understand Lin Yi. He just has a few temper tantrums. Between Lin Yi and me..."
Shen Beidao interrupted: "We haven't been in contact for over three years. Between those who spent every day and night with us, who do you think is more qualified to talk about 'understanding'?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
"alright!"
Lin Yi pushed Chen Beidao, finally breaking free from his large hand. "Chen Zhinan, I don't know who told you my whereabouts, but don't try to fake a chance encounter like this in the future. We already made things very clear between us at the temple last time."
He turned to leave, somewhat annoyed, but found Shen Beidao standing there menacingly. Left with no other option, he took two steps back, reached out and tugged at Shen Beidao's arm, his voice low: "Let's go..."
As Shen Beidao was being pulled along like this, the words Zhang Zexuan had said that afternoon suddenly flashed through his mind.
Regarding Lin Yi's love for his first love, regarding the reckless courage of his youth, regarding how Lin Yi still missed him even after they were forced to separate...
He suddenly realized that "reason" can be quite a hindrance at times.
He grabbed Lin Yi's wrist with a rather strong grip: "Let's go to the underground parking garage. I've already driven the car."
Lin Yi originally intended to walk back to school, as the Academy of Fine Arts was not far from here, only a ten-minute walk.
But after looking down at the heavy bag of art supplies in his hand and then at Shen Beidao's unyielding face, he finally followed silently.
The underground parking garage of the art supply market was dimly lit and even somewhat dilapidated, with the air filled with the smell of gasoline and dust.
Shen Beidao's car was parked in the innermost corner.
Lin Yi walked to the passenger door and was about to open it—
Shen Beidao suddenly reached out and pulled him back.
Then he took the bag of art supplies from Lin Yi and stuffed it all into the passenger seat.
"Sit in the back, it's spacious there," Shen Beidao said.
Lin Yi was stunned for a moment, feeling confused. It seemed that Shen Beidao was deliberately covering something up.
He stuck his rear end out, leaned his upper body into the passenger seat, and scanned the seat with his eyes, then said, "Hey? Looks like I took the wrong thing. We're missing a can of paint..."
Did someone sit in the passenger seat and leave behind some cosmetics or something, afraid he would see it?
Shen Beidao had already opened the back door of the car.
Turning around, I saw Lin Yi still lying on the passenger seat, his round buttocks sticking out, revealing an alluring curve under his leather pants.
His Adam's apple bobbed.
He walked over, grabbed Lin Yi's waist with one hand, and even roughly pulled him out of the passenger seat and quickly stuffed him into the back seat.
Then, I sat down inside as well.
"What are you doing in here? Go get the car..."
The words came to an abrupt halt.
Lin Yi looked at Shen Beidao and noticed that his face was extremely gloomy. "Forget it, I'll just walk back myself. It's quite close to my school..."
He suddenly sensed danger and reached out to press the unlock button on the car door.
The door remained motionless even when the button was pressed.
It's locked.
The dark mass of bodies had already pressed down on them.
Shen Beidao knelt on the back seat, his hands supporting Lin Yi's body on both sides, completely trapping him beneath him.
The carriage was cramped, and the two people's breathing mingled together.
Shen Beidao's faint, almost deathly voice drifted out: "You went to the temple with Chen Zhinan? When was that?"
Lin Yi, trapped below, felt inexplicably guilty: "I went there by myself and just happened to run into him."
"Like today?"
Lin Yi nodded, then, feeling it wasn't enough, immediately added, "It's true, you don't... not believe me, do you?"
Shen Beidao stared at him for a long time.
Then he laughed, but it was a cold laugh: "Believe? Why wouldn't I believe?"
He raised his hand, his fingertips pinching a strand of his golden hair: "And this? Was it also a coincidence? Because your boyfriend likes it, so even though you know you're allergic, you still dyed your hair?"
Shen Beidao's fingertips were cool as they touched Lin Yi's itchy red rash. "And... which boyfriend are you talking about?"
Lin Yi's throat tightened.
Did you say those things in the store just to get rid of Chen Zhinan?
But this explanation will only raise more questions for Professor Shen.
"I..." Lin Yi had a headache. How should he put it?
Shen Beidao: "I don't understand why you're avoiding me while letting me kiss and hug you. Lin Yi, what do you take me for? A game you can stop at any time?"
His voice seemed to be trembling.
Lin Yi was stunned.
He had never seen Shen Beidao like this before—sad, out of control, even wounded.
That always composed Professor Shen, the department head who was at ease on the podium, the man who could even lie without batting an eye.
She was pressing down on him, looking at him with an almost broken gaze.
"Lin Yi." Shen Beidao hugged him, his voice low and hoarse, "Is it really that difficult for you to have an identity?"
Lin Yi's heart melted instantly: "Don't cry, I know I was wrong..."
He hurriedly explained, speaking very quickly: "I didn't dye my hair for Chen Zhinan. I said that on purpose just now because I didn't want him to follow me..."
My hair turned out like this because my roommate opened a trendy hair coloring and perming salon, and I went to support her. The allergic reaction is due to my sensitive skin; I didn't know it would turn out like this before I dyed my hair..."
As he spoke, he patted Shen Beidao on the back, "I'm not lying to you, really."
"Then why haven't you come to see me these past few days?"
Interspersed with faint sobs.
"I'm having an allergic reaction, and I'm afraid I'll infect you. Also, I have a ring of red rashes on my neck, which looks a bit...unsightly."
Shen Beidao let go of him and pulled him to sit up. "Then take off your cotton coat, let me see."
Lin Yi: ...Huh? ? You were looking all wronged just now, how did you switch so quickly?
-----------------------
Author's note: It's all an act.
There wasn't much more angst after that; the mother had basically accepted it all.
I plan to write another one in the next few days, doing two at once, please add them to your favorites!
"Live Stream from Miao Territory: Offering Straight Men to the Village Chief"
I suddenly felt like writing this, I can't control my thoughts, I want to but I can't. It's like I'd become a tentacle monster so I could tie my head down and stop thinking about these novel tropes~ Don't worry, I won't stop updating, I love writing, I love writing so much! Goodnight! [empty bowl]
Please enjoy the idea the author came up with while using the toilet at the company restroom.
Copywriting:
Popular livestreamer Tang Xi went deep into a Miao village in Southwest China to livestream the authentic lifestyle, but unexpectedly, he was confessed to by the team's photographer. The other person's madness made this straight-up man of 25 years afraid to get close.
He only wanted to get through the one-month live-streaming contract with the Miao village peacefully, and then never have anything to do with him again.
To avoid the photographer, he targeted the village chief, Lansu Hui, the only college student in the village, an educated youth who appeared gentle and refined, and whose conversation was full of grand plans for the future of the village.
On the stilted house, Tang Xi forced a harmless smile: "Chief Lan, can I stay with you for a few days? I'm unfamiliar with this place and a little scared."
Lan Su looked up, her gaze gentle as water: "Of course, I'm very safe here."
As night fell, Tang Xi was enveloped in a powerful yet tender force during her deep sleep.
It felt as if a scalding touch landed on his neck, and calloused fingertips slowly traced his waistline, leaving an invisible mark.
When Tang Xi woke up, her whole body ached, the sheets were slightly wrinkled, but her memory was as clear as if she had just had a dream, with only a hidden sense of fatigue remaining in her body.
Did you sleep well last night?
In the early morning, Lan Su Hui draped an outer garment over him, her breath close to his ear, carrying the bitter scent of herbs, while her hand lightly pressed on the most aching area of his waist.
Tang Xi stiffened and answered dryly, "It's...it's alright."
One day, Tang Xi's survival instinct overcame his fear.
He retrieved the playback from the miniature camera hidden in the luggage compartment.
In the dead of night, under the pale moonlight, the camera is pointed at the bed.
He was fast asleep, completely tucked in his blankets.
The man, who was gentle and refined during the day, was slowly taking off his glasses and casually tossing them aside.
Stray hairs fell across his forehead, revealing his eyes, now unmasked, a deep and complex mix of emotions. Cold silver ornaments pressed against his sweaty forehead, forcefully kissing...
A deep, magnetic voice broke the silence:
"Baby, don't be afraid, relax."
"Being so obedient...do you want me to pamper you a little longer?"
"Don't worry, my Gu will make you forget everything, leaving only the memories in your body."
"When you wake up tomorrow, you'll be like a kitten again, completely unguarded around me."
At the end of the scene, the man restores everything to its original state.
Tang Xi was so frightened that he fled to the village entrance overnight.
Thick fog enveloped the area, obscuring the mountain road.
The rustling sounds came from all directions, and the dark red and black swarm of insects surrounded him layer by layer.
Lan Suhui slowly emerged from the mist, the moonlight outlining his silhouette, dangerous yet extremely aggressive.
"Qiqi," he smiled, his tone as gentle as ever, "Didn't we agree that it's safest for you to stay here with me?"
With his back against the cold, hard mountain wall, Tang Xi had nowhere to retreat: "I'm really straight, I don't like men, Lan Su Hui, please don't do this, please let me go."
The last syllable was swallowed up by the suddenly approaching, scorching body temperature.
Lan Su pinched his chin, her thumb tracing his swollen lips, her eyes swirling with a passionate love that had been torn away from his facade: "Straight man? What does that have to do with me liking you?"
Popular straight male live streamer (bottom) x sadistic and possessive Miao boy (top)
Wallpaper love, 1v1, both clean, physiological attraction, younger man/older woman.
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