I Only Want You chapter 33
The video of Yan Lan being humiliated in person had a great impact on Xie Yun Zhi. Throughout the workday, unless he was busy, his mind would automatically replay the scene of Yan Lan being bullied whenever he had a moment of idleness. His heart felt sour and tingling, as if soaked in a barrel of vinegar. He had conflicting feelings – on one hand, he really wanted to see Yan Lan, but on the other hand, he was a bit hesitant.
His mind was in turmoil for almost a whole day. By the evening, around six o’clock, as he was leaving the company, the desire to see Yan Lan still dominated his thoughts. So, he instructed his driver to go to the art institute.
There was some traffic during the evening rush hour, and he took out his phone to send a WeChat message to Yan Lan.
[Xie Yun Zhi: Yan, are you in the dorm?] [Yan: Yeah, watching a TV series with Lele.] [Xie Yun Zhi: What series?] [Yan: Urban emotional drama, the one that’s currently popular.] [Xie Yun Zhi: Is it good?]Yan Lan raised an eyebrow at the question; it seemed a bit forced and unlike Xie Yun Zhi.
[Yan: It’s okay, the male lead is quite handsome.]Xie Yun Zhi didn’t want to discuss this with him and sighed.
[Xie Yun Zhi: I really want to see you. Do you want to see me?] [Yan: Didn’t we just meet yesterday?] [Xie Yun Zhi: That was a long time ago.] [Yan: Was it?] [Xie Yun Zhi: Yeah, the traffic is clear now. I’m almost there.] [Yan: … Where are you? South gate?] [Xie Yun Zhi: Yes, almost there.]Yan Lan quickly exited the chat and opened Lin Jianxing’s WeChat.
[Yan Lan: Junior, can you do me a favor?] [Lin Jianxing: Senior, feel free to ask.] [Yan: Are you free now?] [Lin Jianxing: I am.] [Yan Lan: My boyfriend just told me he’s on his way to the art institute. I mentioned to him earlier that the cheese beef roll sold at our school’s third cafeteria is especially delicious. Since he rarely comes here, I want him to try it. But it’s a bit far for me to run from my dorm to the south gate. I remember your undergraduate male dorm is quite close to the third cafeteria. Can you buy one and take it to the Blue Wisteria Flower?] [Lin Jianxing: No problem, I’ll be right there.] [Yan Lan: Thanks!] [Lin Jianxing: It’s my pleasure. It’s really delicious; I like it too. I’ll grab one for myself as well.]Yan Lan transferred money to him for three servings.
[Lin Jianxing: No Senior, let me treat you.] [Yan: Thanks, boss!]Yan Lan put away his phone, quickly washed his face in the bathroom, tidied his hair, and changed into a T-shirt.
Yang Xiaole looked at him with confusion, “What are you up to?”
Yan Lan opened the notebook on the table and hastily wrote a few words: “Yun Zhi is coming.”
Yang Xiaole made a long “Oh” sound, “Go ahead, go ahead.”
Yan Lan turned and left, running down the stairs. He headed towards the south gate, and when he was halfway there, the Blue Wisteria Flower was already in sight.
He stopped under a streetlight, leaned against the lamppost, and took out his phone. According to Xie Yun Zhi, he was already close to the art institute and would arrive in a few minutes.
Yan Lan felt a bit anxious, but since Lin Jianxing hadn’t arrived yet, he didn’t want to rush him and could only patiently wait.
After nearly ten minutes passed, Lin Jianxing rushed over holding a bag, shouting as he ran, “Senior!”
Yan Lan couldn’t conceal his excitement as he vigorously waved at him, walking towards Lin Jianxing from under the streetlight. He took the bag Lin Jianxing handed over.
Lin Jianxing straightened up, panting with hands on his knees. “Too long… haven’t run this fast in ages… almost embarrassing.”
Yan Lan looked at him with a smile, giving him a thumbs up, then pointed in the direction of the south gate.
Lin Jianxing miraculously understood his gesture. “Okay, I’ll walk with you.”
The two walked side by side in the shade of the trees. After a quiet stroll, Lin Jianxing scratched his head uncomfortably. “I was surprised, to be honest. I didn’t expect that Xie Yun Zhi was the one.”
Yan Lan turned to him, smiling.
Lin Jianxing shrugged awkwardly. “I rarely use social media, and I don’t discriminate against homosexuality. Honestly, I think you and Senior Xie are a good match. I noticed it backstage that day when he reached out to help you. The way he looked at me was also quite cold.”
Yan Lan just smiled.
Lin Jianxing struggled to find words. “Anyway, Senior, don’t be too upset because of those people. They’re just… complicated and overthink things. Your relationship is entirely your business; it has nothing to do with others. If they deny love solely because of differences in social status, that’s too arbitrary.”
As they spoke, the two had reached the electric sliding gate. Yan Lan absentmindedly glanced outside and saw the black Bentley and Xie Yun Zhi standing by the car.
Yan Lan waved to Lin Jianxing, as if indicating he was listening to him, then took a few steps back, turning around only when Xie Yun Zhi walked briskly towards him.
Yan Lan paused for a moment, his steps also coming to a halt. He looked at Xie Yun Zhi with a puzzled expression as Xie Yun Zhi approached, grabbed his wrist, and led him towards the car.
Opening the car door and letting Yan Lan get in first, Xie Yun Zhi followed. He then turned to the driver’s seat and said, “Excuse us for a moment.”
The driver gladly complied.
Once the driver left, only the two of them were in the car..
Xie Yun Zhi almost made Yan Lan lie down with the way he squeezed into the seat. Yan Lan looked at him with confusion and a hint of doubt on his forehead.
Xie Yun Zhi lowered his head, looking at the plastic bag between them. “What’s this?”
Yan Lan adjusted his posture, supporting himself on the seat. “Junior Brother bought it for me. He said it’s delicious.”
Xie Yun Zhi grabbed the plastic bag, threw it to the back without looking, and said, “Don’t eat things given by others.”
Yan Lan subconsciously followed the bag with his eyes, and Xie Yun Zhi tilted his head, blocking his view with his own face, “Don’t look either.”
Yan Lan made a helpless expression. “You shouldn’t waste food either.”
“I’ll give it to the driver.”
After saying that, Xie Yun Zhi turned back to pick up the bag, opened the car window, and handed it to the driver outside, fearing Yan Lan might have second thoughts.
Yan Lan deliberately glanced out of the window, looking regretful. “I really wanted to taste it. There’s cheese inside.”
Xie Yun Zhi grabbed his wrist and leaned in, lightly biting his lips. “If you like cheese, I’ll buy it for you. I’ll have it air-shipped from Italy. You can have as much as you want.”
Yan Lan felt a bit painful from the bite. He tilted his head to avoid it and, just like that, Xie Yun Zhi’s heart sank. He kissed Yan Lan more forcefully, his tongue aggressively entering the wet and soft mouth, making Yan Lan dazed. Only then did he pull him onto his thighs, lifting his face to suck on his lips while saying in a low voice, “Don’t avoid it. I won’t bite anymore.”
Yan Lan held onto Xie Yun Zhi’s shoulders with both hands, his eyes moist. To make it easier for Xie Yun Zhi to kiss him, he lowered his head, obediently opening his mouth.
Xie Yun Zhi’s chaotic heart finally calmed a bit at this moment. He tightly hugged the person sitting on his lap, affectionately pressed his cheek against Yan Lan’s, and whispered, “Yan, has anyone bullied you at school?”
Yan Lan shook his head.
“Really?” Xie Yun Zhi’s nose touched his, staring into his eyes.
After hesitating for a moment, Yan Lan didn’t nod or shake his head. Instead, he took out his phone and typed: It doesn’t matter even if there is. I have Lele and Junior Brother; they will help me.
Reading the short line, Xie Yun Zhi felt a heavy weight on his chest, as if a mountain was pressing down on him. “I will help you too. I’ll hire a bodyguard for you, someone who will stick close to you and protect you.”
Yan Lan looked at Xie Yun Zhi and suddenly realized that he knew about the cafeteria incident. This was the only explanation for his unusual behavior.
After a moment of contemplation, Yan Lan typed with his head down: No, everyone already dislikes me enough. If they find out you’ve hired a bodyguard for me, I’ll become the center of attention again. Besides, our school doesn’t allow unrelated personnel to enter.
Xie Yun Zhi suddenly felt very powerless because he realized that, no matter what he did, in the end, Yan Lan would be the one enduring rumors and gossip. This made him start to reflect. Was it a mistake to hype the fake relationship rumor with Yao Jinni for the promotion of Venus Jewelry? The benefits for him and Yao Jinni were immeasurable, but the consequences were different and proportional. Yao Jinni got emotionally involved, and he put the person he loved in an embarrassing situation.
Yan Lan hadn’t done anything wrong, and even if he clarified and made things public, people would always find various reasons to hurt and attack him. Money couldn’t shut those people’s mouths.
There was no backlash worse than this. In the end, it turned out that Yan Lan was the one enduring everything for him.
Given the current situation, no matter how much he regretted it, the events that had occurred couldn’t be changed. He had to learn from it, considering the process and understanding Yan Lan’s situation. He couldn’t ignore the fact that Yan Lan stood in a vulnerable position.
If he didn’t think more for Yan Lan and only saw what was in his eyes, Yan Lan would undoubtedly suffer humiliation, harm, and injustice in places where he couldn’t see or know.
External pressure on this matter was certain; if he didn’t feel it, it meant the pressure was all on another person.
“There will be a solution, there must be some way.” Xie Yun Zhi muttered softly, holding Yan Lan tightly in his arms.
On that day, Yan Lan spent nearly half an hour in Xie Yun Zhi’s car, while the driver outside played a game of mahjong to pass the time. As soon as he saw them getting out of the car, he quickly put away his phone and walked over.
Xie Yun Zhi stood by the car, silently watching Yan Lan’s figure. He watched him walk through the electric retractable gate and disappear from his sight. Yearning surged like a tide, unstoppable. He just wished he could see Yan Lan at all times.
Meanwhile, Yan Lan, who was walking towards the dormitory, wore a thoughtful expression. He wasn’t surprised that Xie Yun Zhi knew about the cafeteria incident. With so many people present at the time, and many capturing the scene on their phones, the video being posted online and seen by others was only a matter of time.
From Xie Yun Zhi’s reactions just now, it seemed that Lin Jianxing, whom he arranged for tonight, played a role.
Although it hurt a bit, for his sake and for Xie Yun Zhi’s sake, some things needed to be done.
They were different from others. The development of their relationship was relatively simple when summarized, but it was complex when delved into. Their progress was swift, but their interactions were insufficient. Moreover, the consequences of the significant difference in social status meant that the weaker side bore everything.
This was absolutely unacceptable. Yan Lan considered himself strong, but he was not invincible. If he wanted Xie Yun Zhi to realize this, he had to be ruthless when necessary. Only then could they have a future.
Breaking up was impossible. Still, what needed to be severed from the root also had to be cut off. Only by retaliating in the same way could Xie Yun Zhi deeply understand that he cared a lot, he cared immensely!
Starting from this night, Yan Lan would occasionally ignore Xie Yun Zhi, being hot and cold towards him. His responses on WeChat were delayed, and sometimes his attitude seemed a bit indifferent.
Xie Yun Zhi: [have you had your meal?]
Two hours later, Yan Lan replied, [Yes, I have.]
Xie Yun Zhi: [what are you doing?]
[Reading. How about you?] [Getting ready for a meeting.]Yan Lan didn’t reply again.
Xie Yun Zhi, after finishing the meeting, looked at the deserted WeChat, unable to help but wonder why Yan Lan didn’t reply. Was school really that busy? Was it because of studying or someone else?
Xie Yun Zhi: [?]
[Yeah, I’m here. Just played badminton with Jianxing Junior Brother.] [Jianxing Junior Brother?]Yan Lan opened his half-read book and replied earnestly.
[Yes, he has helped me a lot. We are friends.]Xie Yun Zhi still felt uncomfortable looking at those two lines.
Yan Lan quickly ended the conversation.
[I’ll talk to you later.]After sending the message, he turned off his phone, picked up the pen, and continued to study.
Xie Yun Zhii finally realized the problem late. If Yan Lan had been enduring pressure since they got together, he could choose to leave this environment completely.
Yan Lan had many suitors in the past, and he was never his only choice. In other words, Yan Lan could like someone else. As long as someone appeared who treated him even better, someone who could protect him well and make him feel less burdened, Yan Lan could completely shift his affections. And now, it seemed that this person had appeared, using the name of a junior and a friend to secretly approach Yan Lan, to protect him and even take him away.
An indescribable panic firmly gripped Xie Yun Zhi. While he seemed calm and composed on the surface, he was starting to feel a bit lost inside. Because he realized that even if Yan Lan changed his mind, he had no certainty of winning him back. He would only make Yan Lan angry and disappointed.
Yan Lan liked him because they had met five years ago, and that forgotten past was the reason why Yan Lan liked him. But was the him from five years ago the same as the present him?
If Yan Lan realized the difference, would he still like him?
Every time Xie Yun Zhi asked himself this question, his heart sank a bit. He couldn’t help but open WeChat again and ask Yan Lan.
[Yan Lan, do you have time tomorrow?]A few minutes later, he received a reply.
[Yes, I’m free after four, but I’ve already made plans to watch a movie with someone.]Xie Yun Zhi’s heart tightened, and he quickly typed with his fingers.
[We have found a new Chinese teacher for Tiantian.] [So fast?] [Yes, they will come to the company tomorrow afternoon. Will you come over?] [Since that’s the case, I’ll cancel the movie ticket and come.] [Okay, I’ll have the driver pick you up then.] [Sure.]After putting down his phone, Xie Yun Zhi quickly picked up the landline on the table and called Lin, his secretary, in, asking, “How is the interview for Tiantian’s Chinese teacher going?”
Secretary Lin looked apologetic, “Mr. Xie, we haven’t found a suitable candidate yet. There’s a girl who is actually quite good in all aspects, but managing Tiantian’s personality might be challenging.”
“In that case, go with her. Let her come tomorrow afternoon after four.”