Chapter 31: The Unveiling Truth

“Is everything handled? I’ll come pick you up,” Xie Xu messaged Guan Qing on WeChat.

It was a prominent psychology website, featuring a recently published paper.

From its title to its research methods and perspective, the paper bore an uncanny resemblance to another.

This was…

A chill swept through Xie Xu, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. With trembling hands, he dialed Jiang Lu’s number, and the moment it connected, he launched into a furious tirade without waiting for a reply:

“What is wrong with you? Didn’t you promise me—”

“My apologies,” Jiang Lu’s voice was still sickeningly sweet and soft, making one wonder if he had any backbone at all. “It was your mother again. She had agreed previously, but suddenly changed her mind.”

Xie Xu could barely comprehend what he was saying. His vision swam with black, and a severe ringing filled his ears.

How heartbroken Guan Qing must be by this.

He knew how much Guan Qing loved psychology, and how much he had sacrificed for it. So, when he heard Guan Qing was applying for graduate studies under a renowned professor, he was genuinely happy for him.

—Until he discovered that professor’s surname was Wang.

It couldn’t be such a coincidence, he tried to reassure himself.

Guan Qing’s foundation was not strong; his ideas were bold but lacked theoretical support, and he had neglected his studies for several years. He simply couldn’t compare to the talented, well-grounded high-achievers at S University.

Even with Ye Zi’s recommendation, Guan Qing shouldn’t have been so highly praised by Professor Wang, let alone have Professor Wang break protocol to reserve this spot for him. The coincidences were too numerous; Xie Xu couldn’t help but overthink.

Indeed, Guan Qing’s talent alone would not have been enough to make that professor lower his esteemed position.

But Wang Yun could.

That Professor Wang was clearly not someone who had transcended the pursuit of fame and fortune, as evidenced by the rows of antique paintings in his office.

Xie Xu knew he absolutely could not let Guan Qing find out about this. If Guan Qing knew, he would be devastated. His Guan Qing deserved to be happy, doing what he wanted and going where he pleased.

And besides…

If Guan Qing discovered that all this trouble stemmed from Xie Xu, how would he react?

…He would despise him, wouldn’t he?

His own status held no sway with Professor Wang, so he had been forced to use Jiang Lu’s connections, agreeing to some of Jiang Lu’s demands.

He had meticulously arranged everything. So, where had it all gone wrong?

Xie Xu’s mind was in utter chaos.

He was both agitated and disoriented, barely watching the road as he drove straight ahead, until he collided with something, startled by the deploying airbag.

A crowd gathered, pointing and gesturing at Xie Xu’s car. The SUV’s front end had smashed violently into a utility pole, completely deformed. Only then did Xie Xu abruptly snap back to reality.

He looked at the people outside. He had to get out, but if he did, it would cause an even greater commotion, leaving him in a dilemma.

Rain began to fall outside the car window.

The winter rain arrived suddenly, carried by the cold wind, stinging his face.

A person holding an umbrella pushed through the crowd and tapped on Xie Xu’s window.

Xie Xu opened the door and saw Guan Qing, his emotions a complex tangle of joy, guilt, and remorse. Ultimately, however, profound happiness took precedence. He said, “Qingqing, I…”

Guan Qing remained silent, his expression cold.

Xie Xu’s heart instantly grew cold. He even thought Guan Qing had discovered something, that Guan Qing found him troublesome, that Guan Qing…

Guan Qing removed his own scarf and, with his back to the crowd, wrapped it around Xie Xu, covering most of his face. His movements were almost rough, yet Xie Xu looked up throughout, gazing at Guan Qing with immense tenderness.

Guan Qing took his hand, pulled him out, closed the car door, and walked silently away from the crowd.

“I’m sorry, I…” Once they reached a quiet spot, Xie Xu hesitated before speaking.

*Smack*.

Xie Xu stared blankly, clutching his face, which had been slapped to one side by Guan Qing. His cheek quickly swelled, five red finger marks clearly visible.

“Do you think you’re so amazing?” Guan Qing pointed at him, his expression utterly cold, eyes red-rimmed, making him seem fierce. “You nearly threw your life away.”

It could have been a pedestrian, another car, or even a sheer cliff…

He dared not imagine.

When Ye Zi had driven him to the intersection, Guan Qing had just gotten out of the car when he saw Xie Xu’s vehicle speeding forward amidst the crowd’s screams, crashing into the utility pole.

Leading the bewildered Xie Xu away, the first emotions he felt were not the suspicion, helplessness, or sadness he had anticipated, but rather a surge of anger and profound fear.

—He had almost lost Xie Xu.

Guan Qing began to tremble uncontrollably.

“I…” Xie Xu lowered his head, cupping Guan Qing’s face with one hand, his thumb gently stroking the corner of his eye. “You’re here, I…”

“Even if a chasm lay ahead, I would still say.”

It was nearing dusk, and a rain shower had just passed, leaving the light hazy and indistinct, like a silent film from the last century.

Guan Qing’s entire body stiffened:

“You’re not afraid?”

“No,” Xie Xu lowered his head, intending to kiss him, but Guan Qing blocked him.

“But I am afraid,” Guan Qing said, looking down, no longer able to suppress his emotions. “Can you please stop being sad alone every day, feeling miserable alone, and telling me nothing?”

“I am your boyfriend. Can you trust me, just occasionally—

“Rely on me.”

Guan Qing’s voice was choked with tears.

“Am I really that bad?” Guan Qing asked, sobbing. “Is relying on me so shameful?”

It was as if his eyes had always been gently covered by a cloth, seeing nothing, hearing nothing. He knew his Xie Xu was ahead, enduring unpleasant, even cruel things, yet he was powerless.

He was human too; he also felt jealousy, distress, and worry.

He knew nothing, and could help with nothing.

Xie Xu never communicated with him.

“You don’t need to do anything,” Xie Xu’s voice was incredibly gentle, yet it sounded somewhat unfamiliar. “I will take care of everything.”

*I will let you do what you love, let you be happy your entire life, I will protect you well…*

“—You don’t need to know anything,” he said.

So… don’t leave him either.

Being with Xie Xu was no trouble at all. Xie Xu would be very obedient, Xie Xu would think of everything.

Don’t abandon him.

He had been abandoned once before. He lacked security, needing to find that tangible, graspable feeling through repeated acts of devotion.

In the not-so-cold twilight of winter, Guan Qing’s feet grew cold.

His heart, too, felt utterly empty.

“Is that what you truly think?” he asked, numbly.

This was like…

He was merely one of Xie Xu’s possessions, an appendage, an obedient pet—

But certainly not a lover.

It turned out Xie Xu truly hadn’t treated him as an equal. He had never believed it before, always deceiving himself.

Perhaps the original Guan Qing would have readily accepted it.

Back then, he was insecure, timid, and accustomed to avoidance. But Xie Xu himself had pulled him out of that mire, only to push him back in…

This was too cruel.

Guan Qing felt utterly drained:

“Do you… do you think I shouldn’t have applied for Professor Wang’s graduate program?”

“Tell me the truth,” Guan Qing added.

Xie Xu said nothing, yet his gaze made everything perfectly clear.

He watched Guan Qing, his eyes, reflecting the twilight glow, gentle and sorrowful.

“I’m not against your dream,” Xie Xu added. “I have my reasons.”

“Then tell me.”

Xie Xu displayed an awkward and helpless expression: “I can’t say for now.”

If he could have, why would he have dragged it out for so long?

How could he tell Guan Qing that his talent wasn’t enough, that Professor Wang was only interested in him to curry favor with Wang Yun, that all his misfortunes stemmed from Xie Xu, or even…

*Your mother is in danger because of Xie Xu.*

He knew he was too selfish, yet he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Then… did you touch my USB drive?”

“You—”

Seeing Xie Xu, so genuinely honest it was almost cruel, Guan Qing’s heart felt as if it were being gently sliced by a knife, a bitter, aching pain.

It hurt intensely, yet the sensation was so gentle it was almost intoxicating.

Still, he harbored a foolish glimmer of hope.

He looked up at Xie Xu: “Did you ever think about harming me?”

He could twist black into white, he could block out his five senses, he could ignore every clue.

“Just say it, and I’ll believe you,” Guan Qing looked up at him, full of expectation.

Seeing his clear eyes, Xie Xu’s heart throbbed with excruciating pain.

He didn’t want to lie to Guan Qing, yet he also didn’t want Guan Qing to leave. When Guan Qing smiled at others, or was with Ye Zi—

A bestial part of him would stir restlessly.

*Force him, possess him exclusively, destroy him.*

*He is yours, and he will always only be yours.*

Whether it was due to his alpha nature or his overly twisted love, such thoughts, which even he himself found shocking afterward, had indeed surfaced countless times.

And that one time… he had truly lost control and hurt Guan Qing. Such a wonderful Guan Qing, almost ruined by his own hands.

The two looked at each other.

The light in Guan Qing’s eyes gradually dimmed. Finally, he said:

“Okay, I understand.

“We should both calm down. Are we really… right for each other?”

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