Don’t Ignite It chapter 50

Woody Fragrance

Xu Zhan stared at Xia Yu absentmindedly.

He didn’t hypocritically tell Xia Yu that they could stay married because he knew better than anyone else that his marriage to Xia Yu had come to an end.

Yet as he looked at Xia Yu, he couldn’t help but recall the scene from three years ago when he had walked down the aisle hand in hand with Xia Yu. At that time, Xia Yu had appeared fragile and pale, like a white rose nearing the end of its bloom.

Now, Xia Yu was still beautiful, but he was no longer the kind of person who needed to be protected inside a glass case. He had regained his confidence and pride.

Tears welled up in Xu Zhan’s eyes, and they trickled down his cheeks uncontrollably.

In the end, he said, “Alright.”

They sat on the edge of the square, watching the entire fountain performance, and then they sat on the bench for a long time.

The mulled wine had long gone cold, and the scent of the fruits had dissipated into the air. Xia Yu and Xu Zhan continued to hold hands, as if they were still a loving couple. A young couple walked by them and greeted them friendly, saying that they looked good together.

Xia Yu smiled and thanked them.

Then he turned to Xu Zhan and said, “You see, everyone thinks we’re a great match.”

During their three years together, they had received countless compliments, praising their compatibility and Xu Zhan’s tenderness. They said Xia Yu always looked so loving when he gazed at Xu Zhan.

They truly were a happy couple, even though they were on the verge of divorce.

Xu Zhan held Xia Yu’s hand tightly, and since agreeing to divorce Xia Yu, he had remained silent.

Xia Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t be like this, If you can’t bear to part with me, I might start thinking you’ve fallen in love with me. That wouldn’t be good, and Ruan Sen might get jealous.”

He said it lightly, and Xu Zhan couldn’t help but lift the corner of his mouth in response.

Suddenly, Xia Yu became curious. “By the way, I haven’t met Ruan Sen yet. When are you going to introduce me to him? I’m really curious.”

Xia Yu had seen photos of Ruan Sen, but they were always taken from behind, and he couldn’t see his face.

Xu Zhan thought for a moment. “He’s out of town at the moment, and he hasn’t returned yet…”

Just as he was saying this, his phone rang. Xu Zhan lowered his head to check and saw that it was a call from Ruan Sen.

He looked apologetically at Xia Yu. “I need to take this call.”

Xia Yu had already seen the name on Xu Zhan’s phone and smiled. He was actually looking forward to meeting Ruan Sen, so he didn’t mind.

He couldn’t hear the specifics of the phone call, only Xu Zhan mentioning the location, and a few minutes later, the call ended. Xu Zhan looked dazed.

“What’s wrong?” Xia Yu asked.

Xu Zhan was a bit overwhelmed. “Ruan Sen said he’s already in Chuan City and he’s coming over to find me.”

He hadn’t been prepared for Ruan Sen and Xia Yu to meet yet! What should he do?

How could he introduce them like this?

“Xu Zhan,” Xia Yu said as he noticed Xu Zhan’s anxiety, “don’t you want to introduce me to him?”

“What should I say? Hello, this is my partner, and we’re about to divorce.”

Xia Yu was taken aback but burst into laughter quickly, finding the situation amusing. It was like falling asleep and having a pillow delivered; he had been wanting to meet Ruan Sen, and now the opportunity presented itself.

Seeing Xu Zhan’s flustered expression, Xia Yu comforted him by patting his shoulder. “It’s okay; he doesn’t know who I am. Just introduce me as your friend.”

Xia Yu thought for a moment, then pulled his hat down and zipped up his coat, covering most of his face with the furry collar. He became unrecognizable.

Xia Yu grinned. “See, this way, it’s fine. He won’t even recognize me, and he won’t guess our relationship.”

Xu Zhan was still quite anxious.

He stared at Xia Yu, seriously considering whether he should ask Xia Yu to hide or, better yet, if he should slip away and wait for Ruan Sen outside the square.

With pleading eyes, Xia Yu looked at Xu Zhan. “You wouldn’t be so cruel, would you? You have a new partner, but you won’t even let me take a look? I’m already your ex-husband. Please don’t refuse my small request.”

Xu Zhan: …

After a few seconds, Xu Zhan gave in. Xia Yu was too good at coaxing him, and he couldn’t resist.

“Alright, but just a quick look,” Xu Zhan said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Xia Yu immediately perked up and gave an okay gesture.

Ruan Sen’s location was actually quite close to the square, so he arrived shortly after.

He had returned to their apartment earlier with excitement, intending to surprise Xu Zhan. However, when he entered the dark and cold apartment, he found that Xu Zhan wasn’t there.

Feeling a bit frustrated, his temper flared up, and he decided he had to see Xu Zhan today. So, he quickly made his way to the square.

Now that he was in the square, he spotted Xu Zhan right away. Xu Zhan was as handsome as ever, always standing out in a crowd.

Ruan Sen had also noticed the person beside Xu Zhan, who was bundled up tightly in winter clothing. He was curious for a moment.

“Xu Zhan,” he called out.

Xu Zhan didn’t react at first, but the person next to him turned his head and stared at Ruan Sen with sharp eyes.

Ruan Sen: ?

Xia Yu used his flashlight-like gaze to thoroughly inspect Ruan Sen. The young man who had walked over was indeed very young and looked like a student from Xu Zhan’s school. He had sharp facial features, jet-black slightly curled hair, fair skin even in the middle of winter, and a tall, robust physique. Despite wearing only a thin, long gray coat, he exuded an imposing presence.

However, his eyes were quite beautiful, like amorous peach blossom eyes, shimmering with a silent expression of affection.

Taking advantage of the fact that Ruan Sen couldn’t see his face, Xia Yu playfully poked Xu Zhan and whispered, “Your taste isn’t bad.”

Xia Yu speculated that if he hadn’t fallen for Lu Zhao, he might have been interested in someone like Ruan Sen if they had met in college. But he never expected that Xu Zhan would be attracted to someone so different from himself.

Xia Yu couldn’t help but glance teasingly at Xu Zhan.

Xu Zhan blushed slightly and coughed awkwardly, standing up and introducing Xia Yu to Ruan Sen. “This is my friend…”

Xia Yu smiled and extended his hand to Ruan Sen. “Hello.”

Ruan Sen wasn’t particularly interested in Xia Yu and shook his hand without much warmth.

He put his arm around Xu Zhan’s waist and showed a hint of possessiveness by leaning in and kissing Xu Zhan’s cheek.

For some reason, seeing Xia Yu holding hands with Xu Zhan made Ruan Sen a bit unhappy. He felt like this mysterious person, whose face he couldn’t see, was getting too close to Xu Zhan.

He politely smiled at Xia Yu but with little warmth. “I came to pick up Xu Zhan; is it convenient for you to let me take him home?”

Xia Yu stifled a laugh from within his furry hat.

He heard the underlying tone of hostility in Ruan Sen’s words.

“No problem at all,” he replied in a muffled voice. “Xu Zhan had a few drinks and can’t drive, so it’s perfect that you’re here to pick him up.”

Ruan Sen immediately lowered his head and asked Xu Zhan, “Have you been drinking? How much?”

“Not too much, just one or two drinks,” Xu Zhan honestly replied. Then he turned to Xia Yu. “And what about you? You’ve had a drink too; you can’t drive either.”

Xia Yu, however, shook his head.

No way. He wasn’t going to be a third wheel.

“I want to sit for a while longer. I’ll get a designated driver later to go home since your apartment isn’t in my direction,” Xia Yu said, dismissing Xu Zhan’s concern.

Xu Zhan had wanted to persuade him further, but Xia Yu sat back on the bench, smiling and waving him off.

Ruan Sen, who hadn’t wanted Xia Yu to come along, felt a bit relieved seeing Xia Yu’s understanding attitude. He wrapped his arm around Xu Zhan. “Let’s go.”

Xu Zhan was still hesitating, but then Xia Yu spoke up. “You should go. I’ve got someone picking me up.”

Xu Zhan was taken aback. He had an instinctual urge to ask who it was—Lu Zhao? But considering Ruan Sen was right there, he refrained.

Nonetheless, someone picking him up was better than no one, so he glanced at Xia Yu, resigned. “Alright, I’ll go. If you need anything, just give me a call.”

Xia Yu watched as Xu Zhan and the young man named Ruan Sen walked away. Although he appreciated Ruan Sen’s handsome face, he found Ruan Sen’s demeanor to be a bit too aggressive, reminiscent of Lu Zhao but lacking Lu Zhao’s depth and seriousness.

He felt somewhat cautious, as if Xu Zhan might not be able to handle someone like Ruan Sen.

But as he watched the two of them together, with Xu Zhan looking at Ruan Sen with a smile full of happiness, he couldn’t help but think that it might not be a bad thing after all.

Regardless of who Ruan Sen was or what he did for a living, he could make Xu Zhan genuinely happy.

A happiness that Xia Yu couldn’t provide.

He was just Xu Zhan’s friend, incapable of being a lover, and Xu Zhan treated him as such.

Xia Yu leaned back on the bench.

He had lied to Xu Zhan earlier; he hadn’t arranged for Lu Zhao to pick him up. He simply wanted some time alone.

Today, he had achieved his goal of meeting Xu Zhan, who had agreed to their divorce. They were both about to embark on new chapters in their lives.

But Xu Zhan’s path was clear, with Ruan Sen waiting for him. Xia Yu, on the other hand, had no idea what awaited him.

Lu Zhao?

Xia Yu chuckled softly, thinking that would be the worst possible choice.

He sat on the bench for a long time, took out the sapphire ring from his pocket, looked at it for a while, attempted to put it on his finger but stopped halfway, and then returned it to his pocket.

Suddenly, he felt very cold.

When Xu Zhan had been beside him, he had felt secure. Even though he knew they were about to part ways, with Xu Zhan by his side, he felt like a reed with deep roots, swaying with the flow of the water but always held by Xu Zhan.

But now, Xu Zhan had left with Ruan Sen.

A profound sense of loneliness washed over him in an instant, and the word “divorce” suddenly felt heavy and real.

Xia Yu covered his face with his hand, and his heart felt as empty as if he could hear an echo.

He didn’t regret proposing a divorce to Xu Zhan, but he realized that he might need a long time to adjust.

At this moment, he even found himself missing Lu Zhao. At least Lu Zhao’s embrace was warm.

His face, hidden behind his hand, was wet with tears, but he let out a soft laugh.

He thought that anyone who appeared before him right now, he would fall in love with them in an instant.

He was just that fragile and naive, always needing someone to hold his hand when he was lonely.

Xia Yu let out a soft sigh.

Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. He couldn’t stay here any longer; the winter rain was bone-chilling, and getting soaked would surely lead to a fever.

He wiped away the tears on his face, picked up his bag, and prepared to leave. But perhaps due to the cold wind or fatigue, when he stood up, everything spun around him, and his vision turned black for a moment. His knees went weak, and he was about to collapse onto the ground.

Not good.

Xia Yu watched helplessly as he got closer and closer to the ground, closing his eyes and preparing for the pain.

But it never came.

A hand reached out from an angle and caught him, a large and dry palm supporting his waist, pulling him into a warm embrace.

Xia Yu smelled a familiar woody fragrance, with a hint of smokiness, warm and comforting in the winter rain.

The person holding him was tall, with broad shoulders, easily encircling him in their arms.

Slowly, he raised his head.

In the drizzling winter rain, under the cold halo of the streetlamp, he saw Lu Zhao’s face.

Like a bizarre theatrical performance, the last person who should have appeared had suddenly appeared before him.