X
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Li Xiao’s voice dropped low:
“I’m good to you because I want to be. No other reason. No expectations of return.”
Jiang Yu looked into his eyes, which were brimming with sincerity and tenderness.
His heart began to race again.
“……I know.”
Jiang Yu’s voice was very soft.
“That’s good.”
Li Xiao smiled, his thumb gently brushing Jiang Yu’s cheek:
“So just accept it, okay?”
Jiang Yu gazed at him for a long moment, then gave a slight nod.
Li Xiao’s smile deepened with satisfaction.
He released his hand and leaned back, though his arm remained draped over the back of the sofa behind Jiang Yu.
“By the way, New Year’s Eve…”
Li Xiao suddenly spoke, his tone casual:
“Is there anything special you want to do?”
A glimmer of light flashed in Jiang Yu’s eyes, but it quickly faded:
“New Year’s Eve… I wanted to go see the cocktail competition at the bar. Even if I can’t compete, watching the pros mix drinks would be a learning experience.”
Li Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
He looked away and picked up the glass of water from the coffee table, taking a sip:
“That competition… it’s been postponed.”
“Postponed?”
Jiang Yu was taken aback:
“When? Why?”
“Just a couple days ago.”
Li Xiao set down the glass, his fingers tracing the rim:
“Seems there was a scheduling conflict with the judges, so they had to adjust on short notice.”
He said it casually, but Jiang Yu studied his profile, his brow gradually furrowing.
The air stilled for a few seconds.
“How did you know the competition was postponed?”
Jiang Yu’s voice was soft, but every word was distinct.
Li Xiao turned to meet Jiang Yu’s probing gaze, his heart skipping a beat.
Yet his face maintained a natural smile:
“When I went to the bar to pick up your stuff the other day, the manager mentioned it in passing.”
“Why would he bring that up with you?”
Jiang Yu pressed, his eyes sharp:
“Postponing the competition is an internal bar matter. Why would he specifically tell a customer?”
Cold sweat beaded on Li Xiao’s back.
He looked at Jiang Yu—those eyes were too clear, too piercing, as if they could see through any pretense.
“Just… casual conversation.”
Li Xiao tried to keep his tone light:
“You know how the manager is—he loves to talk.”
Jiang Yu didn’t respond.
He simply stared at Li Xiao, silently, for a long time.
So long that Li Xiao nearly broke under the pressure, ready to look away.
Then, Jiang Yu spoke slowly:
“Did you ask the manager to postpone it?”
Li Xiao’s heart jolted.
He opened his mouth to deny it, but the words caught in his throat.
Because Jiang Yu’s gaze was too certain.
“Jiang Yu…”
“Did you ask the manager to postpone it?”
Jiang Yu cut him off, leaning forward slightly, his eyes boring straight into Li Xiao’s as he repeated the question.
Li Xiao’s fingers clenched subtly at his side.
He took a deep breath and forced a smile:
“How could that be? I’m not the boss—why would the manager listen to me? And why would I want it postponed? What’s in it for me?”
“Because you know I really want to compete. Because you know that ten-thousand-dollar prize means a lot to me. Because you don’t want me to miss out because of my hand injury.”
Jiang Yu’s voice dropped low, but his eyes remained stubborn.
Li Xiao’s throat tightened.
He found himself unable to refute it.
Because every word Jiang Yu said was true.
“It’s really not…”
Li Xiao tried to struggle, but Jiang Yu’s gaze was like a searchlight, exposing him with no place to hide.
“Was that ten-thousand-dollar prize paid out of the bar’s own pocket?”
Jiang Yu suddenly changed the question:
“Even though ‘Lost’ does good business, to suddenly cough up that much money for a prize, plus cover all event expenses… the manager isn’t that generous.”
He paused, his eyes sweeping over Li Xiao’s face:
“Unless someone provided sponsorship.”
Li Xiao’s breath caught.
Jiang Yu was too smart.
Smart enough to unsettle him, and smart enough to make his heart race even more.
Jiang Yu continued analyzing, his logic terrifyingly clear:
“The manager is so deferential to you. With one phone call from you, my hourly wage went up by fifty percent, and I got a full schedule of weekend afternoon shifts…”
He lifted his eyes to meet Li Xiao’s:
“Exactly how much money did you invest in the bar?”
Dead silence filled the living room.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the winter sun shone brightly.
But Li Xiao felt as if he were standing on a judgment platform, being dissected inch by inch by Jiang Yu’s clear eyes.
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the panic and concealment were gone.
Only honesty remained, along with a trace of helpless resignation at being found out.
“Yes.”
Li Xiao’s voice was soft, but clear:
“I asked the manager to hold the competition. I provided the prize money. And the postponement… I told him to say that.”
He paused, looking into Jiang Yu’s eyes:
“Because I didn’t want your hand injury to make you miss this chance. Because I knew that if you couldn’t participate because you were hurt, you’d be upset.”
Jiang Yu’s fingers curled slightly.
He had guessed right.
But there was no trace of victory in his heart.
Instead, it felt heavy, like a stone pressing down on him.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
Jiang Yu’s voice was a little hoarse:
“Even if I couldn’t compete, I could accept it. Life is like that—not everything goes your way.”
“But I want things to go your way.”
Li Xiao leaned forward, gently taking Jiang Yu’s left hand in both of his:
“Jiang Yu, I know you’re independent, you’re strong, and you can accept all the unfairness and disappointment.”
“But I don’t want you to have to accept it.”
His fingers were hot, his palm firmly wrapping around Jiang Yu’s slightly cool hand:
“I want to give you the best of everything. I want you to know that there’s someone in this world willing to smooth every road for you, clear every obstacle.”
Jiang Yu’s eyelashes trembled violently.
He looked at Li Xiao, at the surging, undisguised affection and obsession in his eyes.
His heart felt as if it were drowning in a warm tide—bitter, swollen, yet scalding hot.
“Li Xiao…”
“I don’t want you to feel like you’re being handed charity.”
Li Xiao cut him off, his thumb stroking the back of Jiang Yu’s hand:
“I want to see you up on that stage, shining brightly.”
Jiang Yu’s throat tightened, unable to speak.
He looked down at their intertwined hands.
Li Xiao’s fingers were long and strong, his palm warm, holding his tightly.
“So…”
Jiang Yu’s voice was faint:
“On New Year’s Eve, the competition isn’t happening?”
“It’s not.”
Li Xiao shook his head, his gaze tender:
“We’ll hold it once you’re better.”
Jiang Yu was silent for a long time.
So long that Li Xiao worried he might be angry, and panic began to creep in.
Then, Jiang Yu suddenly looked up and asked an entirely unrelated question:
“Exactly how much money did you invest in the bar?”
Li Xiao was caught off guard, then broke into a smile:
“Not much. Just… enough to renovate the bar’s equipment and run a few events.”
He said it lightly, but Jiang Yu knew the figure was far from small.
“Li Xiao.”
Jiang Yu looked at him seriously:
“Don’t do this anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
Jiang Yu bit his lip, the tips of his ears flushing red, but his eyes remained determined:
“I don’t want to owe you too much.”
Li Xiao’s heart pounded heavily.
He tightened his grip on Jiang Yu’s hand, his voice low and husky:
“You don’t owe me anything. I did it willingly.”
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