Don’t Ignite It chapter 101
Difficult to Escape Blame (Complete)
Xu Zhan and Qin Sheng continued to live together like this. Their relationship was private, but Xu Zhan’s family soon found out.
His older sister dragged him back home in a fit of rage. She was usually as calm as water, a person who rarely showed emotions, but at home, she smashed three vases, and the porcelain shards that flew around scratched Xu Zhan’s hand, leaving a small bloodstain.
However, his sister’s thunderous anger was all bark and no bite. She didn’t really lay a finger on him. Just like Xia Yu’s elder brother, her affection for him knew no bounds.
His sister didn’t like Qin Sheng, and there was no room for Qin Sheng to apologize. However, she ultimately didn’t stop him from being in a relationship. She turned a blind eye, pretending that Qin Sheng didn’t exist.
Everything seemed to have returned to how it was before. The only difference was that Qin Sheng would often travel abroad for work, then come back. Sometimes, when Xu Zhan woke up in the middle of the night and saw the empty side of the bed, he felt like he was in a long-distance relationship.
But Qin Sheng would occasionally come to listen to his lectures. Qin Sheng had already graduated, but he didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed to sit among the students. He didn’t pay much attention in class and would lazily smile at him.
Whenever he came to class, Xu Zhan would be somewhat distracted. The summer heat was intensifying, and the air conditioning had recently broken down, leaving only the whirring sound of fans in the classroom. The students below were too hot to focus on the lecture, using their books as fans.
But Xu Zhan was still impeccably dressed, with only one button of his shirt unbuttoned, and his sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing his fair, slender wrists adorned with a sandalwood bracelet.
Qin Sheng sat below and overheard a quiet conversation nearby.
“Professor Xu is truly amazing. It’s so hot, but he doesn’t seem affected at all. He hardly sweats, and leaning against him must be so comfortable. Maybe it’s even a bit cool, a natural air conditioner.”
Qin Sheng raised an eyebrow and gave the audacious student a glance.
The girl next to the one that spoke chuckled and said, “What are you thinking? Do you dare to lean on professor Xu?” But she also fanned herself while gazing at Xu Zhan with her own fantasies, “I think if professor Xu were in ancient times, he’d be a highly accomplished monk, and he looks… how do I put it, very detached from the world and uninterested in women.”
She laughed at her own string of comments but couldn’t resist adding, “But the more serene a monk appears, the more people want to see him act like an ordinary person.”
Several nearby students joined in the quiet laughter.
They didn’t have any ill intentions, but who doesn’t like to gossip about the good-looking and gentle teachers at school? However, the students were behind on the news. They knew Professor Xu was married but didn’t know that he had divorced. After a few gossipy comments, they moved on and started playing with their phones.
Only Qin Sheng scrolled through his phone, a mysterious smile on his face.
After class, the students flew out of the classroom like released birds, and Xu Zhan took a bit more time to tidy up his materials. However, the classroom quickly emptied, and a warm body pressed up against him from behind.
Xu Zhan was momentarily surprised but then turned his head slightly and said, “Don’t play around.”
Of course, he knew who was behind him.
Qin Sheng nuzzled his face affectionately, his hands restlessly holding Xu Zhan’s waist. “A week without seeing me, and you welcome me like this?”
Xu Zhan was taken aback and looked towards the classroom door, only to realize that at some point, the door had been closed. This was a classroom with high windows, making it hard to see inside. It was also dinner time, and the teaching building was nearly deserted.
Qin Sheng held him in place, forcing him to turn around. They faced each other, and then, with a bit of force, Qin Sheng placed Xu Zhan on his desk. He pressed his hands on either side of Xu Zhan’s body, leaned forward, and trapped Xu Zhan in his embrace. He tilted his head slightly, aiming to give Xu Zhan a kiss.
But Xu Zhan was a bit flustered. “Don’t fool around; this is a school. There are surveillance cameras.”
Qin Sheng replied, “Don’t lie to me. The surveillance in this classroom has been broken for a while and hasn’t been fixed.”
With that said, he tilted his head and kissed Xu Zhan. Their lips met, and they shared an affectionate moment.
Qin Sheng softly spoke, “I wanted to do this during your class earlier, Professor Xu. What if I were really your student? Would you like me?”
Xu Zhan was too breathless from the kiss to answer the question.
“I think it would have been difficult because Professor Xu is known for his integrity and would never make a move on a student,” Qin Sheng smiled. “But I’m different; I wouldn’t care. I’d definitely fall in love with you the moment I laid my eyes on you.”
Xu Zhan’s heart trembled. He knew that Qin Sheng’s words were purely hypothetical, but he couldn’t help but be stirred.
“I’d confess to you, but you’d probably reject me sternly or ask me to wait until graduation. But I wouldn’t be able to. I’m afraid I’d become a criminal, stalking you, invading you, and making you beg for mercy,” Qin Sheng deliberately spoke in a provocative manner, whispering into Xu Zhan’s ear.
Xu Zhan’s knees felt weak. At that moment, he suddenly felt the scorching heat of the summer, even though it was late in the evening.
Qin Sheng gently blew air against his ear. He remembered the conversation of the two students from earlier, saying that Xu Zhan was like a highly accomplished monk. Maybe he really was. Perhaps in a previous life, he was a monk, reciting scriptures in a temple, pure and noble, untouched by the world, but then he was abducted by a demon like him, entangled in the chaos of worldly desires.
He lifted Xu Zhan’s chin and kissed his soft lips.
It wasn’t until it was almost time for the evening class to begin that Xu Zhan emerged from the classroom.
Qin Sheng didn’t go too far and didn’t do anything out of line. But from that day onwards, whenever Xu Zhan taught in that classroom, he couldn’t help but recall that warm evening breeze seeping in through the window and Qin Sheng, who looked like an enchanting demon with his deep, dark eyes, watching him with a smirk.
In the following year’s winter break, Xu Zhan and Qin Sheng visited Northern Europe once again. After a year, they finally returned to this place together and went to see the Little Mermaid. When they arrived, the sky by the sea was gloomy, and there were many tourists. The Little Mermaid statue didn’t look as bright and charming as Xu Zhan had seen in childhood illustrations; it was made of bronze and had legs rather than a fish tail.
Xu Zhan commented, “I’ve seen it once before, and I’m a bit disappointed because she has human legs rather than a fish tail. But after looking at her for a while, I think she’s quite beautiful.”
As a child, he used to snuggle under the blankets while his sister read fairy tales to him, and he always thought the Little Mermaid’s fish tail should be beautiful. The illustrations depicted a blue fish tail, sparkling like a pearl in the sea.
Qin Sheng held him, wrapping him in his down jacket to keep him warm, concerned that he might get too cold. He didn’t have a particular attachment to the Little Mermaid, but Xu Zhan did. Even at this moment, he didn’t have much appreciation for the statue. He just found Xu Zhan’s red nose, despite being thirty years old, endearingly cute as he pondered what the mermaid’s tail looked like.
Qin Sheng planted a soft kiss on Xu Zhan’s nose. Xu Zhan, feeling dazed, looked up at Qin Sheng, wondering why he had been kissed, but it was a pleasant surprise.
In the evening, the two of them soaked in a hot spring. The hotel sent over cool fruit wine with a relatively low alcohol content. Xu Zhan had a bit to drink, and he couldn’t tell if it was the warmth of the spring or the effect of the wine, but his face turned slightly rosy.
As he later reminisced about their trip to Northern Europe, Xu Zhan realized that what he remembered most was not the glaciers, landscapes, or the Northern Lights. Instead, it was a moment in front of a certain post office where Qin Sheng had been writing a postcard. He had lifted his head and smiled at him.
Qin Sheng was writing a postcard to him. “I sent you one last time, and it somehow got lost at the post office. But this time, I’ll make sure it reaches you.”
When Qin Sheng traveled alone to Northern Europe previously, he had sent Xu Zhan an anonymous postcard. But it had probably been lost in the vast expanse of the sea, and Xu Zhan had never received it. There was nothing written on that missing postcard, only a rose stamp on the back, serving as a signature for a letter without words. It was a moment when all the feelings, regrets, and struggles that couldn’t be put into words were expressed through the rose.
…………………………
In the third year of being together, Xu Zhan flew abroad and met Qin Sheng’s mother, Ruan Xiaoxiao. Ruan Xiaoxiao had ultimately divorced Qin Sheng’s father, and now she was living alone. She seemed to be in good spirits and had a healthy complexion. Recently, she was working on her own cooking brand, and she even cooked a meal for Xu Zhan. The two of them didn’t talk much about Qin Sheng. Instead, they got along well, discussing plant care and perfume blending.
Qin Sheng sat beside them, feeling drowsy but oddly comforted. Raindrops fell like a waterfall on the glass dome above them. He sipped his coffee, listening to Xu Zhan discussing the cultivation of garden roses and the blending of fragrances with his mother. He felt that the moment was truly beautiful.
Xu Zhan also met the legendary Aurora and Qin Sheng’s siblings. Qin Shaoyu and Qin Shaoyuan were very friendly toward him. They came to Ruan Xiaoxiao’s place for dinner and even brought Xu Zhan a gift. However, they spent most of the time teasing Qin Sheng.
“Living with this guy must be tough,” Qin Shaoyuan sympathetically consoled Xu Zhan. His exquisitely cold and elegant face even showed a bit of tenderness. “Don’t feel bad; if you ever want to return him, just let us know.”
Qin Shaoyu chimed in, “Our little brother knows what he’s doing, Mr. Xu. We appreciate your willingness to accommodate him. You’re really tolerant and kind.”
Qin Sheng was infuriated but maintained half of his composure. He just wanted to kick these two people out.
The siblings argued and bickered, creating a lively atmosphere, even more so than at the Qin family mansion. Xu Zhan couldn’t help but smile.
“No, Ruan Shen is very good, and I’m happy to be with him,” Xu Zhan replied.
Qin Shaoyuan shook his head and regarded Xu Zhan with even more sympathy, as if he were looking at a patient on their deathbed.
On the other hand, Aurora watched the family dispute with amusement, propping her chin on her hand and enjoying a dessert.
In the fourth year of being together, Qin Sheng changed his name back to Ruan Sen.
This matter took some effort, but he persisted, and his family eventually went along with it. He spun Xu Zhan around and looked at him with bright eyes. When they first met, he introduced himself as Ruan Sen. Now, after some twists and turns, he had finally reclaimed that identity.
The name Qin Sheng no longer held significance, and he no longer harbored much resentment. It had dissolved like paper in seawater, drifting away. He ultimately used the name Ruan Sen to register their marriage, in their sixth year of being in love.
That year, Xu Zhan’s adopted child, Xu Shaoshao, had reached an age where he could be a ring bearer. Xia Yu and Lu Zhao had also gone through difficulties and finally welcomed a little princess.
The wedding was simple, a beachside party arranged according to Xu Zhan’s wishes, with only close friends and family in attendance. During the wedding, Ruan Sen wore an emerald bracelet on his wrist.
In front of all the guests, Xu Zhan’s family and Ruan Sen’s family witnessed the couple’s union. Xia Yu clapped his hands the hardest, crying until his eyes turned red, attracting the curious glances of onlookers, who suspected he was still attached to his ex-husband. Lu Zhao’s face was dark, but he smiled helplessly and wiped Xia Yu’s tears.
Ruan Sen sincerely recited his vows. “Through poverty and wealth, sickness and health, I will never be separated from you.” He then kissed his groom. The lush green of the emerald bracelet on his wrist, a vivid reminder of summery days, along with the words of love spoken under the flower arch and the promise to never part, were all sealed within the beads.
THE END.