Don’t Ignite It chapter 88

Difficult to Escape Blame – Xu Zhan × Ruan Sen (17)

Xu Zhan never expected that their divorce would be initiated by Xia Yu. He had prepared for the divorce, but upon learning about Xia Yu’s affair, especially with Lu Zhao, the person who had hurt Xia Yu deeply three years ago, he hesitated for a long time. He was unsure whether proposing a divorce at this moment was the right thing to do.

However, in the end, it was Xia Yu who invited him to the fountain, the same place where he had proposed to Xia Yu. There, Xia Yu proposed the idea of divorce. Xia Yu had found Xu Zhan’s divorce agreement – a clear and concise document aiming for an amicable separation.

This young man, whom Xu Zhan had treated like a little brother and spent three years together as partners and confidants, remained calm and composed about the divorce.

Xia Yu said, “I saw the divorce agreement in the study, but even if I hadn’t, I would still suggest a divorce. We’ve supported each other, been partners, and confidants. You provided me with a safe harbor for three years, which is truly enough. Now that you’ve found your true love, you should marry the one you love and embrace a different life.”

Xia Yu continued, “Please, let’s get a divorce.”

The fountain’s lights illuminated Xia Yu’s profile. His eyes were moist, and there was a faint smile on his lips, making him look innocent and adorable, much like when they had just gotten married. Xu Zhan couldn’t explain why, but he felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

He had chosen to walk hand in hand with Xia Yu three years ago, truly believing he could take care of Xia Yu for a lifetime. However, in the end, he couldn’t keep his promise.

Yet, he didn’t pretend to suggest they shouldn’t divorce. He simply gave Xia Yu a gentle hug, held his hand, and watched a fountain performance together.

Xia Yu had been his legal partner for three years, and during those years, they had been very happy. But now, it was time for their paths to diverge.

After the fountain performance, Xu Zhan let go of Xia Yu’s hand. Ruan Sen called to say he was coming to pick him up, and Xu Zhan agreed.

However, Xia Yu was quite cooperative. Knowing that Xu Zhan might find it difficult to explain their relationship, he zipped up his coat, put on his hat, and completely covered his face, pretending to be an unknown passerby.

Xu Zhan couldn’t help but smile.

From a distance, he saw Ruan Sen approaching them. It was the first time Xia Yu had seen Ruan Sen, while Xu Zhan was still his legal partner.

After clearly seeing Ruan Sen’s face, Xia Yu let out a small “wow” and quietly complimented Ruan Sen on his handsomeness.

Xu Zhan, with a smile, glanced at Xia Yu but didn’t say anything.

They parted ways with Xia Yu as they had done countless times on business trips. Xia Yu waved goodbye, his face hidden beneath the oversized furry hat, looking carefree.

But Xu Zhan knew that something had changed.

With Ruan Sen, he arrived at his car. Because he had consumed a bit of hot wine earlier with Xia Yu, Ruan Sen drove them back.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xu Zhan couldn’t take his eyes off Ruan Sen. Perhaps the slight influence of the alcohol was making him feel warm. He felt his cheeks flush.

He gazed intensely, and Ruan Sen couldn’t help but notice.

“What are you looking at?” Ruan Sen smiled and asked, “Is there something on my face?”

Xu Zhan shook his head, his voice soft, “I just want to look at you.”

Although parting from Xia Yu had made him sad, there was an unprecedented sense of relief in his heart. When he faced Ruan Sen, he no longer felt the burden of secrecy.

He and Xia Yu would part amicably, and in a little while, they would proceed with the divorce proceedings as quickly as possible. He would then openly and honestly pursue a romantic relationship with Ruan Sen.

Even though they had already referred to each other as boyfriends, Xu Zhan wanted to make things more official. He planned to organize a special ceremony to solemnly declare his love for Ruan Sen. And one day in the future, he would introduce Ruan Sen to his family.

He knew it might not be easy, but he was willing to try. In any case, he wouldn’t give up on Ruan Sen. The luckiest thing that ever happened to him in his life was stumbling upon his beloved five months ago when he walked into a nightclub in Xiangshi.

As Xu Zhan thought about it, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter, as if he had gained a tremendous advantage. He had made a lot of preparations, but he would wait a bit longer, let the dust settle, and then tell Ruan Sen everything about his marriage, seeking his understanding.

Ruan Sen glanced at Xu Zhan again, wondering why he was laughing so happily. He turned the steering wheel and parked in the underground garage of a luxury apartment building.

A few days ago, he had already moved out of the seaside villa in Xiangshi and into this high-end apartment in Chuan city that Xu Zhan had purchased independently. In reality, if he had wanted to, he could have investigated Xu Zhan’s family background thoroughly, but after some consideration, he decided to wait for Xu Zhan to reveal it himself.

They went up to the apartment together, which was on the seventeenth floor and offered a view of the city center.

For some reason, on this day, Xu Zhan was exceptionally cooperative, behaving extremely well, willing to do anything Ruan Sen asked of him. Ruan Sen found himself heatedly aroused and began kissing Xu Zhan’s neck, his voice low and husky.

“Xu Zhan, have you done something to wrong me? Why are you being so obedient?” Xu Zhan bit his lip, glanced up at Ruan Sen, his eyes watery and clear, devoid of any harm.

“No,” he replied hoarsely, his voice filled with sincerity. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”

Ruan Sen chuckled, not taking it too seriously. He lowered his head and kissed Xu Zhan again.

For the next two weeks, up until New Year’s Eve, Xu Zhan enjoyed the happiest days of his life.

Every evening when he returned from work, he would see Ruan Sen waiting for him at their shared apartment. Sometimes in the evening, they would take a walk together in the nearby park.

On the day before New Year’s Eve, the 29th of the twelfth month, Xu Zhan drove Ruan Sen to the airport again. People bustled about in the airport. Ruan Sen was about to leave to be with his family and celebrate the New Year. Compared to last time, Xu Zhan no longer felt empty and uncertain. He had gifted Ruan Sen an emerald bracelet, which still adorned Ruan Sen’s wrist. Ruan Sen wore a short black jacket and a matching couple’s scarf around his neck, just like Xu Zhan.

“I’m leaving,” Ruan Sen looked at Xu Zhan with sparkling eyes. “When I come back, I want…”

To talk to you about something.

Something regarding my family, and also about me.

But he felt a bit embarrassed. He had played the role of a reckless young man from a pitiable background named Ruan Sen in front of Xu Zhan, which was far from the truth. He was hesitant to reveal the truth.

He thought to himself that when he returned this time, he would probably need to tell his mother about his relationship with Xu Zhan and maybe even give Xu Zhan an antique watch or something as a token of their love to show his sincerity. That’s why he ultimately didn’t say it and just gently kissed Xu Zhan on the cheek.

He picked up his suitcase and walked away, urging Xu Zhan to leave quickly. Only after he ensured that Xu Zhan had driven away did he change direction and head to another terminal. He put on his earphones, and his luggage was handled by dedicated personnel. He hummed along to some songs, feeling in a very good mood.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhan, driving back home, still had a smile on his face. Little did anyone know that these were the last peaceful days between them.

On the last night of the New Year, New Year’s Eve, Xu Zhan confessed the fact of his divorce to his older sister. It was on this day that Xu Zhan finally learned the truth: the person he had been with for over five months, the one who had playfully called himself Ruan Sen at the nightclub, was not someone with a pitiable background. Not even his name was real.

He wasn’t Ruan Sen; he was Qin Sheng, the heir of the TROY Group, a conglomerate that owned several luxury brands. He was the beloved grandson of the group’s leader, Qin Rongxin. His father’s name was Qin Wenyu, and his mother, also from an affluent family, was Ruan Xiaoxiao. He had been born into a life of immense privilege and had recently become engaged to the daughter of an Italian tycoon.

Xu Zhan gazed at the photo for a long time. The person he had been inseparable from, the one he had intimately kissed in the depths of the night just a few days ago, was seen in the picture holding another girl’s hand. Qin Sheng, dressed in a black suit, looked mature and composed compared to when he was with Xu Zhan. Even through the photo, one could feel the aura of luxury and aloofness that surrounded him.

The girl beside him was also very beautiful, tall and lively, even in the blurry photo.

They had been childhood sweethearts, and their engagement was seen as a natural and blessed union. While they kept it low-key, a few articles had still circulated in the media, eventually reaching Xu Zhan’s sister, who handed them to him.

He heard his sister, Xu Ping, asking him, “Is this the person you want to divorce for? Xu Zhan, we’ve raised you for so many years, not to turn you into this foolish and naive person. You don’t even know who he really is, and you let others manipulate you. But you still confidently tell me that you love him. Whom do you love? Has the person you love ever existed?”

Has the person you love ever existed?

This question was like a sharp hammer, pounding in Xu Zhan’s mind. He stared at Xu Ping, his gaze vacant but also resembling someone suddenly awakened from a dream, forced to face a bitter reality, looking particularly pitiable.

Xu Ping’s heart ached.

She didn’t want to make things difficult for her brother. If Xu Zhan had fallen in love with a decent and kind person, even if it meant apologizing to the Xia family and Xia Yu, she would help Xu Zhan clean up the mess. But whom had Xu Zhan fallen in love with?

It was a phantom, a play constructed by someone else, and her foolish brother had earnestly fallen into it.

Xu Ping shook her head, not knowing what to say. As the eldest daughter of the Xu family, she had been in politics for many years, keeping her emotions hidden. But at this moment, her anger and pain were almost impossible to conceal.

She asked Xu Zhan, “Do you still think he loves you?”

Just a moment ago, Xu Zhan had been filled with anxiety but had firmly stated that he had fallen in love with someone and wanted to divorce Xia Yu for that person. He believed that person loved him back.

But now, he couldn’t answer that question.

Up until today, he would have unequivocally and joyfully said yes.

Ruan Sen had accepted his emerald bracelet, and when they kissed, it was filled with such intensity that they would hold each other all night, drowning out Xu Zhan’s wandering thoughts.

But the one who had done all of this with him was named Ruan Sen, not Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng had never said he loved him.

“I don’t know,” Xu Zhan said, holding onto a faint glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, Qin Sheng did have some genuine feelings for him.

But Xu Ping scoffed.

She told Xu Zhan, “I don’t know how you two get along, but the young master of the Qin family started dating at the age of fourteen. He has had more lovers than the students you’ve taught. People like him probably continue to play around even after they’re married. Such things aren’t uncommon in wealthy families. Think about it, do you really mean that much to him?”

Xu Zhan’s fingers trembled.

Was he really that special to Qin Sheng? Probably not.

He closed his eyes, and a tear rolled down his cheek, falling perfectly on the illuminated iPad screen, where Qin Sheng’s expressionless face stared into the camera, exuding an air of arrogance and superiority.

Just two days later, at a gathering on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, far away from thousands of miles.

Qin Sheng had managed to make time to attend a pool party organized by his friends but politely declined the advances of a curvaceous beauty who had approached him. People nearby teased him, saying he now seemed like a chained wolf, but he just laughed and casually tossed a lighter at the person teasing him.

But many people showed up at this party, including some new acquaintances. One of them, a fellow alumni from the University of Pennsylvania who came from Xiangshi, China, his name was He Zhinyin.

Qin Sheng was feeling restless because he had sent many messages to Xu Zhan in the past few days, all of which had gone unanswered. This gave rise to a strange sense of panic, making him wonder if something had happened to Xu Zhan.

He glanced at his phone for a while, feeling agitated, and then stuffed it back into his pocket. However, he was bumped by someone nearby, causing his phone to slip out and land right next to the alumni from Xiangshi.

He Zhinyin instinctively picked it up. The phone screen hadn’t turned off, and he saw Qin Sheng’s screen. It was frozen on a particular photo.

It was a silhouette of a man, handsome and gentle, looking up from under a tree, his smile warmer than a spring breeze. He Zhinyin couldn’t help but stare in surprise.

Qin Sheng, noticing the man was holding his phone and staring at it, furrowed his brow and impatiently snatched it back, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the intruder.

Startled, He Zhinyin realized his behavior had been inappropriate and hurriedly explained, “Sorry, Qin, I just saw someone I know and got lost in thought.” He Zhinyin smiled kindly, his round face full of goodwill. “Do you also know Professor Xu?”

Qin Sheng raised an eyebrow. “You know him?”

In the following days, Qin Sheng deeply regretted asking that question. He scolded himself, almost masochistically, thinking that he should have never asked. He shouldn’t have been curious. That way, he wouldn’t have known that Xu Zhan was already married, and he wouldn’t have turned into a pitiful, heartbroken man. He could have continued deceiving himself.

Until Xu Zhan sorted everything out and fabricated sweet lies to tell him, they could have continued. But he had asked, and he had even taken a drink and chatted with the youngest son of the He family for half an hour. During their conversation, he learned that the person he had solemnly declared his love for, Xu Zhan, had been married for three years, happily and deeply in love according to everyone around them. 

Author’s Note

I won’t repeat the details of the divorce and the events leading up to the New Year; I’ve summarized them briefly. If you want to know more, you can review the chapters in the main text.