Disobedience To Control chapter 37

Oyster Shell

In the late night of Jiangcheng, the empty apartment returned to tranquility.

Song Siheng had just poured himself a glass of water, but forgot to tightly close the tap of the kitchen water purifier.

Drip—drip—drip—drip—The sound of dripping water was like the persistent ticking of a stopwatch.

Alone in the dining room, Song Siheng looked up at the ceiling. The snow-white plaster was empty.

Song Siheng couldn’t digest everything Li Ke had said before leaving. He didn’t understand the significance of everything Song Qin had done, nor did he understand why Song Qin had gone through such great lengths just to deliver such a heavy blow to him.

For many years, they had kept to themselves, not interfering with each other. They weren’t exactly friendly, but at least they had peacefully coexisted for over twenty years. Why would Song Qin suddenly turn hostile towards him at this critical moment?

Perhaps the world itself is disorderly, and many things are difficult to explain with rational precision.

However, at this moment, his mind couldn’t store any more information. There was a faint figure appearing and disappearing in his mind.

Sometimes it was that clearly defined, slender hand, the wildly growing long eyelashes, the beautiful dark pupils. Countless details flashed by, leaving only the bouquet of red roses that had quietly laid in the study of the villa overnight.

Song Siheng abruptly stood up from his chair, put on his coat, and went straight to the parking garage. The black sports car pierced through the night.

The early spring in Jiangcheng was still moist. Halfway through the drive, dark clouds began to gather, and the inkiness of the sky became even denser. In just the time of a red light, it started to rain heavily outside. The windshield wipers automatically turned on, and rainwater scattered and fled across the glass.

The apartment was three intersections away from the convenience store.

Song Siheng encountered three red lights in a row, the car moving and stopping, almost losing patience. More than twenty minutes later, he finally arrived at the parking lot next to the convenience store.

Song Siheng casually parked the car, then hurriedly got out.

Outside, the rain was pouring heavily. He forgot to grab an umbrella from the trunk and rushed into the rain, instantly soaking his hair and shoulders.

With a ding, the electric door of the convenience store opened.

“Welcome!” The clerk inside greeted him with a smile.

Song Siheng shook his head, and when he looked up, he saw that the person behind the cashier counter was not Yang Xiaobei but a completely unfamiliar face.

In the late-night convenience store, there were only the two of them facing each other.

“Hello? What would you like to buy?” The clerk, seeing his poor complexion, leaned over and asked, “Or is there something you need help with?”

Water droplets flowed down Song Siheng’s hair onto his neck as he hesitated before asking, “Where’s the guy who was just here?”

The clerk seemed puzzled. “Huh? Which guy?”

“The cashier who was standing on your side just now.” Song Siheng didn’t have time to organize his words and gestured with his palm on top of his head. “The tall one.”

“Oh, you mean Xiao Yang? We just changed shifts. Are you his friend?”

Song Siheng quickly nodded. “Yes, where is he now?”

The clerk pointed in a direction outside. “Go check in the back. He just went to change his clothes. I’m not sure if he’s left yet.”

Song Siheng turned and ran outside, ignoring the clerk shouting behind him, “Sir! We have umbrellas here!”

The strong wind blew the rain like fine needles, piercing Song Siheng’s skin. He circled around the convenience store before seeing the familiar figure to the north.

Behind the convenience store building was a blue canopy. The person had already changed out of the deep blue uniform and was wearing the familiar black hoodie that Song Siheng recognized. However, there was another man standing next to him, and the two of them stood very close, looking like they were having a lively conversation.

Song Siheng’s originally hastened steps suddenly slowed down, and he stood in the rain, watching the two under the canopy.

He saw Yang Xiaobei take off one side of his earphones, lean in front of the other person, glance at the other person’s phone, and then say something, and the two instantly laughed heartily.

Thunder sounded not far away, and their conversation ended. Yang Xiaobei straddled the bicycle next to him. After bidding farewell, Yang Xiaobei was about to pedal away, but in the blink of an eye, he saw Song Siheng in the rain.

He then tossed the bike aside, opened an umbrella, and walked out from under the canopy.

“Why are you here?” Yang Xiaobei’s voice penetrated through the rain.

Song Siheng didn’t know how long he had been standing in the rain. He was soaked all over, and his vision was blurred.

Yang Xiaobei reached out and pulled him under the umbrella. Song Siheng remained silent.

The man behind him looked at Song Siheng. “Who is this?”

Song Siheng finally saw that this person also had a work badge pinned to his chest, and the two of them were probably colleagues.

Yang Xiaobei turned his head and replied, “My friend. You can go ahead.”

“Okay.” 

After speaking, the person walked away.

Song Siheng wiped the rainwater off his face and glanced down at Yang Xiaobei’s wrist.

“My watch?”

Yang Xiaobei was taken aback, raised his empty right wrist, and glanced at it. “What? Do you want back something you gave away?”

Song Siheng shook his head and then fell silent for a few seconds. “I just wanted to make sure you were taking care of it properly.”

Yang Xiaobei then smiled wryly. “Tsk.”

He unzipped the black hoodie and pulled out the watch from the inner pocket. Under the dim street lamp, the dark green dial still gleamed like new.

“With something so expensive, how could I throw it?”

Song Siheng finally relaxed his clenched fingers.

Two big men stood under a small umbrella in the pouring rain, which looked somewhat comical no matter how you looked at it. The rain continued to fall, and some drops still landed on them.

“Do you want to go for a drink?” Song Siheng didn’t explain the reason for his sudden appearance again.

“I don’t drink, you know that.” Yang Xiaobei shook his head and handed the umbrella to him. “You came by car, right? Here’s the umbrella, it’s late.”

Song Siheng was forced to take the umbrella. He wanted to grab Yang Xiaobei and ask him what had happened in the past, and more importantly, why he had gone to his study and what he was looking for.

But in the end, he only did one thing.

“Wait.” Song Siheng took out a bank card from his coat pocket.

“What’s this?” Yang Xiaobei turned back.

“I want to renew it.” Although Song Siheng’s tone was commanding, rainwater kept flowing down his hair, and his shirt collar had been soaked, making him look somewhat pitiful.

Yang Xiaobei looked at him, sighed lightly, and then reverted to his playful manner. “I’d love to accept it. You know I can’t refuse your money.”

Song Siheng handed the card closer, almost wanting to shove it directly into Yang Xiaobei’s hand.

“But our relationship has ended. Boss Song, those were your words.” Yang Xiaobei gently pushed away his hand.

Song Siheng’s face suddenly turned sour, his throat rolling, but he couldn’t say anything.

Yang Xiaobei placed a hand on his shoulder, with that bastard-like tone again. “When you want to keep me, you keep me. When you feel like kicking me out, you do and I’ll just go along with whatever you decide, isn’t that embarrassing enough?”

Song Siheng didn’t understand what he was trying to do. “So what do you mean?”

Yang Xiaobei smiled and patted his shoulder. “Since we’re not in a transactional relationship anymore, and you came all the way here to find me, I’ll treat you today.”

Half an hour later, the two sat in a McDonald’s outside two intersections. Yang Xiaobei found a seat by the window, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows beside them, and a huge golden “M” hung overhead.

“Is this how you treat your former sugar daddy?”

“Ha. I said I’m treating you, so it’s according to my rules.” Yang Xiaobei confidently walked to the counter and ordered by scanning the QR code on his phone.

Five minutes later, a hot drink and a box of Chicken McNuggets appeared in front of Song Siheng.

“Why didn’t you bring an umbrella when you came out?” Yang Xiaobei’s table was empty, and he turned to ask him.

“…,” Song Siheng didn’t know how to explain.

“Are you trying to keep me up at night with worry?” Yang Xiaobei used his finger to flick his cheek.

The sudden intimate gesture stunned Song Siheng.

“No, I just thought there might be some misunderstanding between us.” Song Siheng turned his head, and Yang Xiaobei was looking at him.

Those dark eyes were as usual, but perhaps because of the weather, Yang Xiaobei didn’t look as full and exuberant as before.

“I don’t care anymore.” Yang Xiaobei shook his head. “I told you, you can’t support me forever. Earning your money for a few months is already a win for me.”

Yang Xiaobei still didn’t stray from the topic of money. Song Siheng’s conversation was stuck in place.

Song Siheng hadn’t touched the food on the plate until the hot drink gradually turned cold.

“It’ll get cold if you don’t drink it soon.” Yang Xiaobei pushed the plate towards him again.

“Why did you start working again?” Song Siheng couldn’t help but ask.

“Ha.” Yang Xiaobei rested his chin on his hand. “I can’t just sit around doing nothing. Can’t just wait for another sugar daddy to show up.”

When Song Siheng heard the phrase “another sugar daddy,” he glanced at him. “So you’re thinking of finding someone else?”

Yang Xiaobei spread his arms casually. “I welcome all comers. Making money is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Song Siheng, who had just picked up the cup, put it back down. He never liked sweet things anyway. The cooled hot drink was even more unappetizing.

“Finished?” Yang Xiaobei pulled his hand away from his chin and stood up. “It’s late, I have training tomorrow.”

He smiled at Song Siheng and glanced towards the door, meaning clear that he was leaving.

But Song Siheng grabbed his arm, the force overwhelming, leaving fingerprints on his skin through the fabric.

“What is it?” Yang Xiaobei winced slightly, looking back at him.

“Do you have time this weekend?”

In the past, Song Siheng would never use such a phrase. They met in hotel suites, had trysts in suburban villas. It always started with Song Siheng’s imperative sentence and ended with Yang Xiaobei’s acquiescence.

The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected their silhouettes. Yang Xiaobei stood tall, his shadow enveloping the seated Song Siheng.

Yang Xiaobei suddenly smiled. “Then let’s meet this weekend.”

After saying that, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he unzipped his hoodie, took it off, and handed it to Song Siheng. He was left with only a thin black T-shirt.

“What does this mean?” Song Siheng looked up at him.

“It’s for you, it’s cold outside.” Yang Xiaobei pointed at Song Siheng’s soaked shirt collar.

The glass door of McDonald’s was pushed open, and the cold wind rushed in. Yang Xiaobei walked out. Soon, he got on his own bike. His black figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

It wasn’t until Yang Xiaobei completely disappeared at the end of the road that Song Siheng suddenly realized something. He looked at the black hoodie in his hand, reached into the inner pocket, and touched the wristwatch with the dark green dial lying quietly inside.

He sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window, not moving for a long time.

That stubborn, shameless, and insensitive little rascal seemed to have disappeared. He was like an oyster shell left on the beach after the tide receded, occasionally tempted by the saltwater, opening a crack to reveal its soft interior.

But most of the time, he would seal himself off and not reveal a single thought.

📢Author’s Note

Little Sheep: Hmph. In the past, you could boss me around with your money, but now you have to pay extra!