“I taught him how to defend against others, but he used it to defend against me.”
Lu Zhuonian was neatly dressed, sitting in front of the French window of the hot spring bar. Through the glass, he could see Chen Zemian downstairs, getting a spa treatment with Xiao Kesong.
He glanced for a couple of seconds, then retracted his gaze and turned to look at Ye Chen across from him. “Is it funny?”
Ye Chen knew he shouldn’t laugh.
But it was really hard to hold back—it was just too exciting.
Lu Zhuonian had a splitting headache and was too weak to get angry. He supported his forehead and looked at Ye Chen. “Are you done laughing?”
Ye Chen put his fist to his lips and coughed twice, trying to suppress his smile. “I think at least he—”
He stopped halfway, turned his head, and chuckled. “Sorry, give me another half minute.”
Lu Zhuonian gave a blank look.
Ye Chen took a sip of whiskey and continued, “At least he kept your words in mind.”
Lu Zhuonian wasn’t comforted. He sighed softly. “I don’t understand him.”
Ye Chen said concisely, with meaning, “Isn’t his attraction to you because he’s ‘difficult to understand’?”
Chen Zemian was like a handful of sand—impossible to grasp or hold. This unpredictability, this uncontrollable uncertainty, left Lu Zhuonian powerless and fascinated.
Born into a noble family with a distinguished lineage, Lu Zhuonian was used to calling the wind and rain, controlling everything.
But Chen Zemian was different from everyone else. He seemed to have stepped outside the three realms, untouched by the five elements. He was unpredictable, vivid, bright—every move surprised, horrified, and delighted Lu Zhuonian.
Good or bad, Chen Zemian stirred the stagnant waters, causing ripples in Lu Zhuonian’s peaceful life.
Chen Zemian was free and easy, like a gust of erratic breeze or a stream of vibrant spring water, injecting forcefully into Lu Zhuonian’s unchanging, stable, and dull existence—stirring up a storm.
Ye Chen poured himself a glass of wine; the ice cubes clinked pleasantly against the glass. “When he becomes easy to understand, you’ll find him boring.”
Lu Zhuonian wanted to say that maybe understanding him a little more would help—it was exhausting always being in this state.
He had never felt so tired before. It was an incredibly deep sense of powerlessness. He didn’t know what was wrong, but everything seemed off.
Despite the progress he and Chen Zemian had made—and the progress was rapid—when it came to feelings, everything was wrong.
It was like dealing with a buggy program that somehow still ran. Fixing it was impossible because he didn’t know where to start.
It could run without repairs, but any attempt to fix it would cause total paralysis.
Lu Zhuonian could only conclude, “Maybe I spoke at the wrong time.”
Ye Chen shook his glass and looked at him. “Want to hear the truth?”
Lu Zhuonian nodded. “I’m all ears.”
Ye Chen smiled. “There is no good time. It doesn’t matter when you speak.”
Lu Zhuonian picked up his glass and took a sip. “Go on.”
Ye Chen twitched the corners of his lips and said slowly, “He’s extremely unstable. It’s normal for him to avoid the constraints of a relationship. Besides, the one wanting to develop a relationship with you is a publicly unaccepted homosexuality. No matter when you speak, he’ll find a way to twist the topic.”
Lu Zhuonian remained silent.
Ye Chen continued, “He’s avoiding it subconsciously, so he makes excuses, covering his ears and stealing the bell—deceiving himself. He seems to evade you, but really, he’s fooling himself.”
Lu Zhuonian prompted, “Go on.”
Ye Chen, as an observer, saw clearly. “Anyone would be scared if a same-sex friend suddenly confessed. Think about it—if I suddenly told you I liked you, what would you think?”
“I’d think you’re crazy,” Lu Zhuonian replied. Then he hesitated, “But you and I are not—”
He paused, stopped abruptly.
Ye Chen raised his eyebrows. “Nothing?”
Lu Zhuonian answered lightly, “Nothing.”
Ye Chen looked at him meaningfully, then changed the subject. “Also, your identity is a problem.”
Friends can ignore differences in identity, but lovers cannot—especially homosexual lovers.
Ye Chen’s words were direct and objective. “Smart people don’t respond to the whims of those in high positions. Who would gamble their future on your affection? You might love someone today and not tomorrow. After you break up, you’re still the heir of the Lu family, prince of the Beijing circle. What about him? Is he still part of this world?”
Lu Zhuonian’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “What you said makes sense. I’ll solve this problem.”
Ye Chen said, “That’s just my personal take. Chen Zemian’s character… he weighs pros and cons, but he won’t give up his feelings because of this. The problem is he refuses to face it. Whatever you say, he’ll find reasons to mess with you.”
Lu Zhuonian agreed, expression unchanged. “That’s his character. What can I do?”
Ye Chen suddenly smiled. “You really don’t have any way.”
Lu Zhuonian glanced at him. “You have?”
Ye Chen leaned back, relaxed. “Force him to see clearly.”
Lu Zhuonian pushed his glass forward and abruptly changed the topic. “Is your cat still drinking water from your cup?”
Ye Chen: “Still drinking.”
Lu Zhuonian, expressionless, said, “Why don’t you make it drink from its bowl?”
Ye Chen: “…”
Lu Zhuonian said declaratively, “You can’t even force the cat, and you expect me to force Chen Zemian?”
Ye Chen looked at him speechless. “I told you there’s nothing you can do, but you insisted on asking.”
Lu Zhuonian: “Think of something else.”
Ye Chen thought a moment. “Go study abroad. You’re too close right now, and no one dares provoke him.”
In the circle, people flatter the powerful and trample the weak. When Lu Zhuonian leaves, those little rich second generations will just show off, and Chen Zemian will know how important it is to have someone protecting him.
Lu Zhuonian said sternly, “He can only beat up those people.”
Ye Chen chuckled. “Exactly. You can’t keep pulling the line when fishing. Studying abroad is ignoring him, waiting for him to bite.”
Lu Zhuonian: “Retreating to advance won’t work. He’ll just get angrier.”
Ye Chen looked at him playfully. “You know him so well and care so much—are you really not dating?”
Seeing Ye Chen joking, Lu Zhuonian scolded coldly, “Are you sick?”
“I mean, you two are no different from a couple,” Ye Chen lowered his eyes toward Chen Zemian downstairs, “Except you’re not officially dating. He can do anything with you, so why not just forget the label?”
Lu Zhuonian raised his dark eyes. “What do you mean, forget it?”
Ye Chen’s lips twitched, then he forced them down. He calmly said, “Don’t force a name.”
Lu Zhuonian picked up an orange from the fruit bowl and threw it at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen caught it and said, “Really, it’s better to have substance without a name than a name without substance.”
Lu Zhuonian said he would wait for Chen Zemian to figure it out and wouldn’t rush the result.
Many things in this world don’t have neat outcomes. Lu Zhuonian had experienced plenty of things since birth. No one gets everything smoothly or exactly as wished.
There will always be one or two unattainable things—obsessions or regrets.
No matter the final outcome, it doesn’t matter.
He believed Chen Zemian would figure it out.
Chen Zemian was indeed thinking about it.
For a long time.
So long that Xiao Kesong thought he and Lu Zhuonian hadn’t reached an agreement and the two had quarreled.
Chen Zemian shook his head and asked Xiao Kesong, “If your best brother said he liked you, would you believe it?”
Xiao Kesong was shocked. “You like me?”
“…”
Chen Zemian was speechless for half a second, then said, “Thank you.”
Xiao Kesong felt dizzy. “No, thank you. Can you find someone else to like? Although you’re very handsome, I’m not attracted to men. There’s no future for us.”
Chen Zemian glanced at him. “Thank you for treating me as your best brother.”
“If it’s not me, then…” Xiao Kesong began to understand, but before he could relax, he suddenly gasped, “That won’t work either! Who are you talking about? Ye Chen?”
Chen Zemian held his forehead. “No one! I mean if! But there’s no need to say ‘if’ now.”
Xiao Kesong’s reaction explained everything.
It wasn’t just difficult to accept—it was unbelievable.
Chen Zemian and Xiao Kesong had similar reactions. When he heard Lu Zhuonian liked him, he wanted to beg Lu Zhuonian not to like him.
Love was like a storm passing through—shaking the world and unforgettable in its grandeur. Afterwards, it fades like fireworks.
Too many people fail at “love.” When the passion fades, only scattered debris remains, and ultimately, even friendships are gone.
Chen Zemian didn’t think he would be one of the survivors.
Friendship could last a lifetime, but lovers rarely did. Upgrading a relationship meant change and uncertainty. Chen Zemian, single for years, didn’t know how to maintain love.
Friendship was simpler.
Purer and more stable—like the strongest safe in the world, storing all precious feelings like gold.
Love was a delicate flower. Chen Zemian was inexperienced and careless, afraid he couldn’t nurture it.
Scientific research showed love hormones last 18–30 months. Dopamine, secreted early on, gradually fades.
When the hormone subsides, the flower dies.
Friends could become lovers, but lovers rarely returned to friends.
There was no going back after a breakup.
But as friends, there was no such worry—they could always be good.
The more important Lu Zhuonian was to Chen Zemian, the more he wanted to classify their relationship as friendship, firmly stabilizing their feelings within the safe boundaries he was most comfortable with.
If you truly like someone, you can’t be just friends.
So it had to be fake love. It must be fake love.
He wasn’t questioning Lu Zhuonian’s sincerity—he simply couldn’t face it.
Otherwise, how could he say it? And what should he say?
Before leaving the hot spring club that day, Chen Zemian found Lu Zhuonian in the bar upstairs.
Lu Zhuonian was drinking with Ye Chen. When Ye Chen saw him, he seemed to know who he was looking for. He nodded and said, “You guys chat,” then got up and left.
For some reason, Ye Chen was holding an orange when he left.
Is this orange delicious?
Chen Zemian sat opposite Lu Zhuonian and became absent-minded, staring at the orange in the fruit bowl.
Lu Zhuonian didn’t say anything, but raised his hand to take the wine glass in front of Chen Zemian and asked the waiter for a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Chen Zemian snapped back to reality. “I’m not here to drink orange juice.”
Lu Zhuonian said simply, “Yeah.”
Chen Zemian swallowed nervously and looked up to observe Lu Zhuonian’s expression. “Are you angry?”
Lu Zhuonian pursed his lips into a faint arc. “Do you think I should be angry?”
Chen Zemian lowered his eyes and nodded gently.
“Why should I be angry?” Lu Zhuonian asked.
Chen Zemian lowered his head even further, his tone tinged with melancholy. “Because I’m talking nonsense.”
Lu Zhuonian laughed softly. “So you know everything, then.”
“I don’t,” Chen Zemian said anxiously, looking up at Lu Zhuonian. “I really hadn’t thought it through before. You said it all so suddenly—I was shocked, unprepared. My mind was confused, and everything I said was nonsense, because I don’t want to… don’t want to…”
Lu Zhuonian finished his sentence for him: “Because you don’t want to believe it, and you don’t want any other kind of relationship with me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want another kind of relationship with you. It’s the same with everyone else—I’ve never been in love, let alone with a man. I don’t even know how.” Chen Zemian stared steadily into Lu Zhuonian’s eyes and said carefully, “Lu Zhuonian, you are very, very important to me. I want to be friends with you for life—not lovers for a few months.”
Lu Zhuonian’s expression didn’t change at all; he didn’t even frown. “Okay.”
Chen Zemian was momentarily stunned. “What’s okay?”
Lu Zhuonian picked up an orange from the fruit plate and handed it to Chen Zemian. “Just pretend I didn’t say anything.”
Chen Zemian: “…”
Could things really still be like this?
Yes. It was okay.
Chen Zemian took the orange from Lu Zhuonian. “So we’ll be like before, going forward?”
Lu Zhuonian smiled in a way Chen Zemian couldn’t quite read. “As long as you’re willing.”
Chen Zemian was a little confused by Lu Zhuonian. He didn’t know what Lu Zhuonian was smiling at, but for some reason, he felt uneasy.
Especially after Ye Chen saw him eating the orange—he laughed twice inexplicably and glanced at Lu Zhuonian.
Chen Zemian was confused. What was wrong with this orange? It tasted quite sweet.
After leaving the hot spring club, Lu Zhuonian and Chen Zemian tacitly avoided mentioning where Chen Zemian would live.
The driver took them directly back to Shengfu Huating.
Chen Zemian moved back just like that.
Lu Zhuonian was very concerned about Chen Zemian’s stomach issues and specially hired a chef who prepared medicinal meals for his three daily meals.
Until his body recovered, Chen Zemian’s personal freedom was restricted.
Lu Zhuonian sent the Lu family’s driver to follow Chen Zemian—specifically responsible for picking him up and dropping him off. It was also a disguised way to control his whereabouts and prevent him from eating out.
Every morning, Lu Zhuonian had breakfast with Chen Zemian. After half an hour, he allowed the driver to take him out. No matter how busy Lu Zhuonian was during the day, he made sure Chen Zemian returned home for lunch.
Previously, when Lu Zhuonian had classes both morning and afternoon, he usually didn’t come home at noon—but knowing the driver couldn’t always control Chen Zemian, he drove home himself to eat.
At 9:30 p.m. sharp, the internet at home was cut off, and Chen Zemian’s electronic devices were taken away. The management was stricter than a dormitory.
With nothing to do in the dark, Chen Zemian soon fell asleep.
If Lu Zhuonian had homework or papers, he waited until Chen Zemian fell asleep before going to his study to work.
Chen Zemian didn’t have much to do these days. Whether he went to the shooting range or not didn’t matter; the new game had an operating team. Since he had to care for his health, there was no rush to promote the next project. Work was idle.
The game launched on a Friday night. Lu Zhuonian reluctantly allowed him to stay up an hour later. Watching the soaring download numbers, Chen Zemian’s heart raced, adrenaline surging. He had a vague feeling his fate was about to change. He felt like he was floating.
Every time the background data refreshed, a new miracle was being made.
If Lu Zhuonian hadn’t taken his phone later, Chen Zemian would have stared at it all night.
Peace Battlefield was a market-validated game. Chen Zemian had a hunch it would be popular—but not this popular.
The next morning, when his phone was turned on again, it was bombarded with calls from investment companies and sponsors.
Even at lunch, the phone kept ringing.
Because Lu Zhuonian was there, Chen Zemian ate honestly—no phone checking or answering calls, focusing on each bite, chewing slowly and thoroughly—but his eyes kept stealing glances at the phone.
Lu Zhuonian glanced at the invitation email in Chen Zemian’s mailbox and chuckled. “Mr. Chen is going to be rich.”
Chen Zemian replied modestly, “It’s only been half a day. Maybe users are just curious because they haven’t played it before.”
Seeing Chen Zemian fidgeting at the table, Lu Zhuonian handed him the phone.
Chen Zemian looked it over, then placed it back beside him.
Lu Zhuonian paused mid-bite. “Aren’t you going to answer?”
“I haven’t finished eating yet,” Chen Zemian said, already full, nibbling on a piece of taro pie. “Who seriously calls at lunch time?”
Lu Zhuonian said, “You don’t have to accompany me. Once you’re full, you can do your own thing.”
Chen Zemian raised his head with taro pie in his mouth. “No matter how busy you are, you still rush back every day to have lunch with me. I don’t mind cooperating.”
Lu Zhuonian’s lips curved slightly. “I’ll make up for the missed cooperation.”
Chen Zemian shook his head. “No. If you missed it, then we’re not meant to be together. You can’t force what’s not destined.”
Now it wasn’t the game afraid of missing sponsors—it was the sponsors afraid of missing the game.
Battlefield of Peace’s popularity was phenomenal.
In just 24 hours, downloads broke historical records and climbed into the top 100 on the game charts. Three days later, it broke into the global download growth list and revenue growth list, entering the top five downloads.
When things go smoothly, time seems to fly.
The next month, Chen Zemian felt like he was dreaming.
Advertising, sponsorship, and investment fees converted from the staggering downloads became an ever-growing stream of income.
Records were broken continuously; the game dominated the download charts.
Even Xiao Qiwu, far abroad, heard of Chen Zemian’s success and sent a congratulatory message wishing him well.
China and the U.S. were thousands of miles apart with several hours’ time difference. When Xiao Qiwu called, the sun was bright there, but it was late at night in China.
At ten p.m., Chen Zemian had already fallen asleep, and his phone was with Lu Zhuonian—so naturally, Lu Zhuonian answered.
When Xiao Qiwu heard Lu Zhuonian’s voice, he smiled and shifted from congratulating Chen Zemian to congratulating Lu Zhuonian.
Lu Zhuonian hung up expressionlessly.
The game’s rise was too smooth.
Smoother than imagined, as if aided by some divine force.
This rocket-like growth surprised even Mr. Zheng, who had seen a lot. He never expected the casually invested project for his son to become the biggest dark horse in the company’s investment plans this year.
If this trajectory continued, although the investment company only asked for a small dividend percentage at contract signing, it wouldn’t be long before they recovered their costs.
Directors who had opposed the project at the board meeting quickly flipped their stance, praising Director Zheng’s keen vision and foresight with a speed rivaling Sichuan opera.
Director Zheng’s influence in the company grew stronger; he looked several years younger. He even dyed his scattered gray temples black for the first time, giving him a gentler, more elegant appearance.
Zheng Huaiyu finally liked his father a little more and spoke to him patiently. He was even willing to meet his gaze and chose a belt to match his suit.
Director Zheng didn’t realize his son’s improved attitude was based purely on his appearance. He thought Chen Zemian had taught him well and bragged about it widely.
Chen Zemian had jumped from an unknown nobody in the second-generation circle to a respected mentor in the first-generation circle.
Invitations to dinners and banquets increased.
Not only did powerful bosses want him to discipline their unfilial heirs, but many sought cooperation and investment opportunities.
Celebration banquets came one after another.
However, while others raised full glasses of wine, Chen Zemian held a non-alcoholic carbonated drink disguised as champagne and toasted with everyone under Lu Zhuonian’s watchful eye.
Chen Zemian was a new upstart in the gaming world, protected by the eldest son of the Lu family, with the son of the capital boss Zheng as his secretary.
With such top-tier backing, no one dared even offer Chen Zemian a wine glass, let alone force him to drink.
Xiao Kesong and Ye Chen appeared occasionally; Xue Duo and Liu Yuebo joined when available.
With these noble young men escorting him, Chen Zemian was peaceful wherever he went.
Too many banquets bored him and wasted time, so he stopped attending later.
At the same time, countless interview requests flooded in like snowflakes.
Chen Zemian only accepted one interview—with CCTV. After it aired, he became a trending search topic for his handsome appearance.
Under the interview video, the most liked comment read—
“This game planner is so handsome. What kind of game is this? Play me.”
Whether the commenter was being serious remained unknown.
Chen Zemian was really the one being played.
His hands were tied with a dark gold-patterned tie; his eyes covered by a pure black blindfold. His thighs tingled numb and itchy.
Lu Zhuonian’s sexual appetite was fierce. Though relieved once, he was unsatisfied.
He turned Chen Zemian over and removed the blindfold.
Chen Zemian had just climaxed twice in a row, his mind still swimming in bliss. His scattered pupils slowly focused as he looked up at Lu Zhuonian.
Lu Zhuonian’s Adam’s apple rolled as he gently pressed his thumb, rolling it repeatedly. “Come back to your senses, Chen Zemian.”
The light calluses on his fingertips sent multiplied sensations through Chen Zemian’s body.
Chen Zemian made a short guttural sound, trembling all over. His thighs shook uncontrollably; his long black lashes were wet—sweat or tears, he couldn’t tell.
He twisted his waist, trying to regain control.
It was useless.
Chen Zemian’s chest heaved violently. He freed his hands from the tie and held down Lu Zhuonian’s hand. “Don’t do it again, or I’ll have to pee.”
Lu Zhuonian’s dark eyes fixed on Chen Zemian’s lashes. “I want it again, but it seems your legs alone aren’t enough.”
Chen Zemian nodded. “I don’t think it’s possible. If you rub again, my skin will break.”
Lu Zhuonian’s gaze fell on the red mark on Chen Zemian’s wrist, lingering for two seconds. “Then what should I do, Chen Zemian?”
*****
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