After Jing Sui returned to the banquet, he mingled for a while, only to find that Ji Ling hadn’t come back. He waved for his servant and frowned, asking: "Where is Ji Ling?"
The servant immediately replied: “Young Master Ji Ling retired early."
Jing Sui gave a look of surprise. Ji Ling had looked like he was very much hoping for a chance to get together with his friends before. Why did he go back by himself so early then? Jing Sui was a little worried, so he left the banquet and walked back to his residence.
Although he had been very happy today to present his beloved boy in public, he had, after all… Cough, what he’d done to Ji Ling in front of Brandon just now could’ve angered the boy out of embarrassment. That little guy was really too shy. It was just being seen kissing. What was the big deal about that? Jing Sui sighed inside.
Even so, he still had to go coax the boy.
Jing Sui returned to his palace with these thoughts in mind. He saw the lights in Ji Ling's room were on, and his heart couldn't help but melt with honey at the thought that he could see his boy. However, as soon as he approached, he heard the sound of something being broken coming from inside the room.
Jing Sui’s expression changed immediately. When he flung open the door, he saw Ji Ling viciously sweep down the plates and cups on the table. His eyes were red, and his chest was heaving up and down, as if he was extremely angry.
Jing Sui was both surprised and distressed. He hadn’t expected Ji Ling would be so angry about this matter.
Jing Sui went over and reached out, wanting to hug Ji Ling and comfort him. As a result, Ji Ling suddenly dodged away to avoid him this time. Looking up at him with cold and pained eyes, the boy bit his lip grudgingly and said nothing.
Jing Sui's expression froze as he finally realized something was wrong. Slowly, he said: "What's wrong? Who angered you?”
This couldn’t be because of his behavior before. Although Ji Ling left in embarrassment at the time, he hadn’t appeared furious like this.
Ji Ling's chest heaved up and down violently. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and said in a very faint and weak voice full of sorrow: "Brother Jing Sui, do you really like me?"
Jing Sui frowned. He hadn’t expected Ji Ling to bring this up time and time again. However, he still said patiently: "Of course I really like you. I’ve told you this many times. I have nothing to do with Ning Y..."
But for the first time, Ji Ling interrupted him without listening to him finish. With tears in his eyes, Ji Ling said sharply: "It has nothing to do with Ning Yu!"
Doubts sprouted in Jing Sui’s heart. With a slightly serious expression, he pressed: "Then why are you asking me this?"
Ji Ling stared at him intently, appearing very distressed. His eyes were hollow and dazed as he said: "You never liked me before. I actually did know… I knew that you didn't like me, but I just deluded myself into thinking that maybe you’d like me one day and look back at me. Then, one day out of the blue, you really did say that you liked me. I was so happy I thought I was dreaming. I’m always wary and afraid that one day, I’ll wake up from this dream…”
The more Jing Sui heard, the worse his premonition got. In a deep voice, he said: “You’re not dreaming.”
Tears glistened in Ji Ling's eyes as he muttered, "Really? Then why did you suddenly like me when you had never liked me before?"
He looked Jing Sui in the eye, and said slowly, voice cracking: "The answer is actually very simple. In the end, you don't really like me. You’re just putting on a show like this to win my father’s support…to obtain the advantages you’re after. That’s why you didn’t hesitate to have people kidnap me, and have them deliberately give out Uncle Carlos' name, just to smear him… Everything was part of your calculations, and all your love is fake! You are just using me! "
Carlos…
Icy murderous intent surged in Jing Sui's chest. He closed his eyes momentarily. His gaze was slightly cold when he suddenly said in a frosty tone: "Who told you this?”
Ji Ling raised his chin stubbornly: "I thought of it myself!"
Oh? You thought of it yourself? How could that be possible... You didn’t think this before or after, but you suddenly thought of it now of all times?
Jing Sui was beside himself with anger. When he stepped forward and approached Ji Ling, his eyes were as sharp as knives: "Carlos told you this, didn’t he?”
A trace of panic flashed across Ji Ling's eyes, as if the nail had been hit on the head, but he refused to sell Carlos out. Gnashing his teeth, he said: "No! I thought of this myself. It has nothing to do with Uncle Carlos."
Jing Sui had already seen through the truth. This child was still helping Carlos conceal himself without even knowing that his expression had made everything clear as day.
He was furious at Carlos for provoking him. However, dealing with Carlos was something for later. Now, he had to appease Ji Ling first.
Jing Sui took a deep breath, pressing down his anger forcefully. In a serious tone, he said to Ji Ling: "I truly love you, and have never lied to you. Things are not as you said.”
Ji Ling appeared as if he didn’t believe any of it, and couldn’t accept it. He said hoarsely: “Then how do you explain Gabriel kidnapping me, deliberately giving out Carlos' name and then releasing me? Plus, you showed up at just the right time.”
He looked at Jing Sui grudgingly, as if his heart was being broken to pieces. Tears flowed from his eyes as he said: "You’re lying. You’ve been using me the whole time!”
Jing Sui was so angry he almost laughed. The rage he had pressed down with much difficulty surged up again. He almost wanted to say, ‘What worth do you have that I would use you?’ But in the end, he just pulled his face taut, and slowly spit out two letters: "No."
Ji Ling saw how furious Jing Sui looked, and was actually a little scared. What if the man lost control of his emotions for a second and killed his foolish ass? But in order to escape from this place, he had to go all in. He absolutely could not back down here!
Without avoiding or dodging Jing Sui’s line of sight, he held onto this line without letting go: "Then tell me… Why did you suddenly like me, when you’ve never liked me before?”
A hint of pain finally appeared in Jing Sui's eyes. This was Carlos’ sharpest weapon against him. He could never explain the real reason behind his affections to Ji Ling.
He could never ever tell Ji Ling the things from last life.
Carlos also assumed that he wouldn’t be able to say them out.
Sudden deep affection after all the pain inflicted previously to the boy from his indifference… couldn’t possibly withstand careful scrutiny. A fragile relationship made from forcibly repaired feelings could easily become an opportunity for others to attack. Any small doubt was enough to make him speechless to respond.
Ji Ling saw how terrifying Jing Sui's looked. He knew that he’d really angered Jing Sui this time, but in order to break out of this situation, he could only put all his eggs in this basket.
He absolutely couldn’t back down.
Ji Ling put on a disappointed expression and turned to leave.
At the moment he passed by Jing Sui, a strong force grabbed his wrist, and he was sharply pulled into Jing Sui's embrace. Looking up in panic, he met Jing Sui’s sharp and cold golden eyes. Then, the back of his head was locked in by a large hand, and the man kissed him hard!
Ji Ling felt Jing Sui’s extremely fierce kiss, like he was being bitten, and shivered all the way to his toes. At this moment, all the past grievances he’d endured during this period broke out. Why do I have to get kissed?! I don’t like it at all!
Ji Ling plucked up an unprecedented amount of courage. With his eyes red, he bit down mercilessly.
The taste of blood pervaded his mouth.
Then, with the last of his strength, he fiercely pushed Jing Sui away, raised his hand and wiped his mouth angrily. Facing Jing Sui’s bewildered expression, he said in a very cold voice: "Don’t - touch - me."