Blue Cocktail chapter 66

The following should be silence because his words were incoherent, and he feared that saying more would only lead to more mistakes.

Cheng Shuo lowered his head, listless, like a stray cat in a thunderstorm. He thought that he was used to a solitary life, prepared for a drifting journey alone, like an orphan roaming the world. He wanted to travel thousands of miles, see more unseen landscapes, and use his brush to record the rivers and mountains in his eyes. This was his fantasy with all future possibilities, which used to be related only to himself.

Then Lu Huaiqian appeared. In fact, he had given Lu Huaiqian many chances to regret, including this time. As long as Lu Huaiqian said he regretted it, he would leave gracefully.

Because Cheng Shuo always felt that his suspicious nature was not suitable for a romantic relationship, he couldn’t learn to build intimate connections. He was not eager for love, always giving himself such hints. Over time, with the increasing frequency of these hints, he didn’t even know if he really didn’t desire it, truly didn’t care. Just like now, he was starting to suggest to himself again that he didn’t care if Lu Huaiqian abandoned him. In case he was abandoned, he wouldn’t be sad.

This seemed to have become a set of survival rules that Cheng Shuo had summarized over the years—As long as he could manage not to care, whether others abandoned, discarded, or betrayed him, he wouldn’t be hurt because he didn’t care, making him invincible.

But why, while waiting for Lu Huaiqian’s response, was he still anxious?

His heart seemed to beat faster, breathing became sparse, and every part of his body felt uncomfortable.

It was as if he was afraid he would hear a certain answer. However, he didn’t regret it. Today, he clarified with Lu Huaiqian. If the result turned out as he expected, it was better than enduring prolonged pain. After all, enduring long pain was worse than short pain.

“Have you finished speaking?”

He heard Lu Huaiqian’s calm and unruffled voice.

Cheng Shuo lowered his head, twisting his fingertips, trying hard to make his body not look tense. “Um.”

“You seem to have forgotten a sentence I said to you a long time ago.”

Cheng Shuo’s figure suddenly stiffened, and a fragment of a dormant memory revived. The voice in his ears overlapped with the memories, and past and present intertwined. He heard Lu Huaiqian repeating—

“It’s okay; I have confidence that you will completely trust me in the future.”

At that time, Cheng Shuo thought Lu Huaiqian was joking. Now it seemed not to be the case.

“I’m glad you can be frank with me,” seeing the strands of hair sticking up on Cheng Shuo’s head, Lu Huaiqian gently smoothed them down with his fingers.

“Our definitions of the word ‘trust’ are not the same. Perhaps you think that trusting me means publicly revealing your Weibo account. But I think trusting me is telling me why you are unwilling to publicize your Weibo account to me.”

“I may indeed be a person who seeks revenge for the smallest grievance, but have you forgotten a big premise?” Lu Huaiqian paused.

“Do you still want to keep me in suspense at a time like this?” Cheng Shuo’s voice sounded muffled.

“I said I like double standards. I will retaliate, but it’s only against people I dislike. You, on the other hand, are different from everyone else. Even if you hurt me, I love you, and I won’t retaliate against someone I love.”

Hearing this, Cheng Shuo turned his head away, avoiding Lu Huaiqian’s gaze. “Why would I hurt you for no reason?”

“I know you wouldn’t want to hurt me.” Lu Huaiqian smiled brightly.

“Don’t try to flatter yourself,” Cheng Shuo muttered under his breath.

“So, I think the key to this incident is not in the party that conceals information but in the one being concealed from. Your approach is completely correct. The key lies in my perspective. However, it seems like I disappointed you,” Lu Huaiqian smiled and spread his hands. “I’m not as harsh and stubborn as you think. On the contrary, I am very confident. Even if the artist’s account is a secret you cannot share with me, I believe you love me.”

Cheng Shuo suddenly realized that he had misjudged every reaction of Lu Huaiqian. He couldn’t help but silently laugh. “You are really confident.”

Lu Huaiqian raised an eyebrow at his words, deliberately saying, “You’ve known me for more than one day. Why are you sounding surprised? Did I say something wrong? Don’t you love me?

Cheng Shuo silently lowered his eyelids, playing dumb.

He could feel Lu Huaiqian’s intense gaze and he took a sneak peek. Judging by Lu Huaiqian’s posture, he wouldn’t leave without an answer—Cheng Shuo suddenly stood up.

Their gazes collided in a silent confrontation.

With determination, Cheng Shuo hooked his hands around Lu Huaiqian’s neck, their lips met. During the exchange of breath, he mumbled indistinctly, “I love you,” the lingering sound blending into the synchronized breath.

As expected, Lu Huaiqian inquired, “What did you say?”

Cheng Shuo’s body stiffened. “If you didn’t hear, forget it.”

He added in an attempt to cover up, “Anyway, I won’t say it a second time.”

“Okay, I heard it.”

“I love you too.”

With these words, Lu Huaiqian’s eyes deepened. He used his fingertips to trace Cheng Shuo’s lips, forcefully grazing over the lip lines. Just when he was about to break through the barriers, playing with the softness in between, Cheng Shuo pushed him away.

“No, I still have unfinished drawings to submit.”

Nothing is more disappointing than discussing work when the mood is romantic. Veins popped on Lu Huaiqian’s forehead. Patiently, he pulled Cheng Shuo closer, dominating and unrelenting in his affection for a while before Cheng Shuo seized the opportunity to break free.

“No, I can’t. I have to draw manga in the afternoon. If I don’t meet the deadline, I’ll be scolded, and it will affect my colleagues. Do you want that? When you’re working, you don’t want idiotic colleagues hindering your progress, right?” Cheng Shuo reminded.

“But I’m a bar owner. I don’t have colleagues,” Lu Huaiqian retorted.

“…”

Seeing the other person trying to approach for a kiss again, Cheng Shuo let him nibble and lick at his neck for a while. Then he resolutely pushed him away.

“Really, I have to draw manga this afternoon. If I don’t meet the deadline, my colleagues will be scolded.”

Lu Huaiqian sighed, “There’s something I need to get off my chest. I don’t mind you hiding the artist’s Weibo account, but I do mind that you’re always busy with work and have no time for me. I feel lonely.”

What…?

Cheng Shuo felt that his limit was being tested by Lu Huaiqian’s thick-skinned behavior.

He exposed the truth without mercy, “How haven’t I accompanied you? Apart from drawing, I spend all my time with you. I guess what you really want to say is that I haven’t accompanied you in bed, right?”

“Yes,” Lu Huaiqian’s tone was full of grievances.

Cheng Shuo: “…”

Stalemate for three seconds.

“Well, let’s do this. Tonight,” Cheng Shuo seemed to have made up his mind, “tonight… I will wear the maid outfit for you. Is that okay?”

He looked at Lu Huaiqian and said seriously, “I really have to go draw now, or else I won’t finish the drawing.”

Lu Huaiqian narrowed his eyes, “Are you negotiating conditions with me?”

Cheng Shuo touched his forehead, “Just pretend I didn’t say that. I just have to go draw now.”

“Okay, I accept your conditions!”

Cheng Shuo helplessly waved his hand, indicating that Lu Huaiqian could leave. He needed to “immerse himself in work” now.

Seeing this, Lu Huaiqian couldn’t help but sigh. Cheng Shuo was indeed so indifferent and ruthless. With a joking tone, neither took each other seriously. However, just a few steps away, he seemed to recall something, turned abruptly, suppressed his smile, and said, “Although you didn’t ask me, I think I need to say this.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t record audio, take photos, or videos. Tonight, apart from you and me, no one else will see anything.”