Chapter 58 - Are you taking off your mask?
To begin with, Liang Liang’s voice had always been special and after paying an inordinate amount of attention to it, it had left a deep impression in Kang Shengzhe. Even if he did not hear it much, he was bound to recognise him the moment he spoke, and his gaze had slammed into You Liangxing’s as a result. The effect was instantaneous; it was as if someone had hurled a stone into a lake and caused his mood to ripple and soar.
At that instant, Kang Shengzhe understood why the beauties would usually fall in love with the heroes at first sight when they were saved. It was impossible to remain calm especially when the hero was outrageously handsome.
In the twenty years of his life, Kang Shengzhe had never been in a fight. With his lazy disposition, even arguments were too troublesome, and to say nothing of fighting. Although he had been challenged to one before, he had remained oblivious to it until someone had explicitly stated his intentions to start a fight half a month after the incident.
There was no meaning to fighting; it could neither bring him joy nor any feeling.... Yes, Kang Shengzhe did not know what kind of constitution he was born with but his pain perception was rather dull. Despite taking quite a beating after being surrounded today, he did not feel terrible.
It would be a lie if he said that he hadn’t struggled with all his strength when he was kicked down for the first time. He had gotten up and attempted to run, but after being kicked down the second time, he decided to just endure the beating while protecting his own head.
When he was being beaten up, his heart had been unusually calm. However, when You Liangxing appeared in the scene in an unexpected flurry, Kang Shengzhe became an utter mess.
Back then, due to the direness of the situation, You Liangxing had taken his hand before he made a run for it. Even though they had been running at high speeds, it felt like everything was happening in slow motion when it entered Kang Shengzhe’s eyes.
Then, You Liangxing had turned around to look at him while there was still light in the sky, and Kang Shengzhe heard his own heart beating which gave rise to the inexplicable desire to devote his entire body to him.
... He didn’t know if Liang Liang would dislike him for the fact that he was so big.
After Kang Shengzhe had raised his head, he had been deprived of the ability to speak, and he would sneak glances at him from time to time in the taxi. The more he looked, the greater the agitation in his heart was, as if he had been cut into thin slices and left to sizzle in an onslaught of hot oil under a small fire.
Along the road, Kang Shengzhe had intended to tell You Liangxing about his identity when they reached the hospital. However, he had given up on the stirring reunion he had been looking forward to after the nurse had helped him clean up his face.
... He was no longer the lovely as flowers fairy K; at the corner of his mouth, he had a ruthlessly large, ruthlessly large wound.... He had been disfigured!
Kang Shengzhe had silently put on a mask and refused the request that Liang Liang had sent on WeChat about finding him soon after. Even though he thought it was a great pity, he had clenched his stomach and rejected it.
He could not let Liang Liang know that he was KK yet, he had to pamper his face first!
Kang Shengzhe sighed deeply, his eyebrows making a downwards slant and his air of decadence grew more apparent. He flipped through his phone until he reached the chat with Liang Liang and stared at it seriously. After a short while, his brows gradually relaxed, and his visage started displaying signs of shyness.
He did not know when he would meet Liang Liang again.
The next time they meet, Liang Liang would definitely realise that he was the person he rescued. After all, it was impossible to conceal his height.
What would be his reaction then? Surprise? Or would it be....
Kang Shengzhe was abruptly seized by terror. The excitement in his heart had been so overwhelming that he had forgotten about this issue. Considering Liang Liang’s temper, he would probably be angry.
No, he absolutely would be angry!
He saved the person and yet the other party refused to acknowledge him, and it was uncertain whether he would explode on the spot. In retrospection, Kang Shengzhe’s feelings were beyond description when he stared at his phone.
Alas– what could be done?
At that moment, it just so happened that Liang Liang’s chat lit up with a message: — What are you doing?
Kang Shengzhe could not help but nervously respond: — Idling about.
[Liang Liang]: — Really? I’m idle as well.
[Liang Liang]: — Voice chat?
Liang Liang seldom spoke, and for him to want to voice chat without any rhyme or reason was abnormal. Kang Shengzhe could not grasp You Liangxing’s intentions in the least; why did he suddenly want to voice chat, did he realise something when he thought back about the incident, and he was trying to test him now?
While Kang Shengzhe was hesitating, You Liangxing called him on WeChat. The sound of the WeChat ringtone blared loudly, causing Kang Shengzhe’s hand to tremble and drop his phone onto the bed.
I can’t. Without even thinking it through, Kang Shengzhe immediately hung up. His mind moved at lightning speed and he replied: — I’m having a meal outside, it’s not convenient.
After sending the sentence, Kang Shengzhe remembered the time. It was later than ten, what was there to eat? But the other party seemed convinced by his reasoning and quickly replied: &#k2014; Really, apologies for inconveniencing you.
Kang Shengzhe replied: &#k2014; It’s fine, it’s fine. &#k3016;Cute Cat Face&#k3017;
As the message went out, his heart felt like it had just tided over a big calamity and it loosened. However, when he saw You Liangxing’s next reply, he tensed up again.
[Liang Liang]: — Does the injury in your mouth hurt when you’re eating?
Kang Shengzhe: — Doesn’t really hurt.
Kang Shengzhe only came back to his senses after the message had gone out. He retracted it in a hurry, frightened and praying that You Liangxing hadn’t seen that slip of a sentence.
He read You Liangxing’s question again carefully, only to realise the complete change in its taste.
Why did he suddenly ask about an injury in his mouth, did he really know that the person just now was him? But how did he... Kang Shengzhe made a last-ditch effort before his inevitable death: — En? What mouth injury?
The other party did not reply, and Kang Shengzhe’s heartbeat rose with every second. After a short while, You Liangxing typed two simple words.
— Go downstairs.
Kang Shengzhe: ......
Kang Shengzhe’s entire body froze over, and immediately after, he rolled over to the side and jumped out of bed. He put on his coat and wore his mask in a hurry even though the pulling of his muscles made the pain from his bruises feel particularly distinct all of a sudden. He looked in the mirror and combed through his hair before he darted out of the door.
He ran the entire way.
The elevator needed time, but Kang Shengzhe could not bear those two minutes so he ran down the stairs. To reach the first floor, he had to run down ten consecutive flight of stairs, and by the time he reached the landing, his hair was soaked with sweat and his breaths were coming out in quick pants.
Kang Shengzhe calmed his mind and his appearance returned back to its original state. As his heart continued to beat like a drum, he walked into the lobby, eyes scanning his vicinity before it homed in on a dashing figure who was bolted upright.
He walked over slowly, and the person seemed to be aware of his approaching presence as he turned around. Under the light, a particularly handsome face was unveiled.
His appearance was fine and his eyes were bright like stars; it was really him.
When their gazes met, they stared at each other for a long time. While Kang Shengzhe was staring deeply into the person’s eyes, a cold sneer poured from You Liangxing’s throat. “Ah.”
Something crashed with a sound.
Kang Shengzhe’s large frame shuddered. Despite knowing that he was in deep waters and scorching fire, his fingers bent and closed in on his chest.
Then.... He started to mime his crazy, beating heart.
You Liangxing: “......”
You Liangxing closed his eyes, angered to the point where he almost laughed.
Before this meeting, he had come with every preparation to beat someone up. However, he did not expect that Kang Shengzhe would gain the initiative by landing the first blow with a gesture to his heart, and it completely disrupted his rhythm in a blink of an eye.
Neither of them spoke, but their height and postures were extremely outstanding. The two young ladies at the concierge desk glanced at them from time to time as they stood in the lobby for a few seconds.
Kang Shengzhe’s throat was injured and he could not speak so he had to moved closer to You Liangxing. He took out his phone and typed.
— Liang Liang~
Since he had already gone downstairs, his identity was considered utterly exposed. Kang Shengzhe withstood the pressure and went up to meet it, and his hands fluttered as he typed quickly.
— Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~ Liang Liang~
When he raised his phone before You Liangxing’s eyes, he had deliberately bent down, showcasing a pitiable and fawning expression in his gaze.
Because he could not speak, the series of calls did not have an accompanying buzz to it which reminded You Liangxing of the fact that the person was already injured. Hence, You Liangxing’s anger started making a downward trend.
You Liangxing said coldly: “Have you finished your meal?”
Pity apparent in his gaze, Kang Shengzhe typed: — I was wrong.
You Liangxing glared at him coldly, and the longer he looked at him, the angrier he got. Weren’t you going to continue to pretend, weren’t you very keen on keeping your silence? As he thought about it, he shoved the bag into Kang Shengzhe’s arms.
Catching the familiar backpack on reflex, Kang Shengzhe inclined his head down and gave a pause. An epiphany flashed in his head, and he immediately knew how the ruse was dropped. However, now was not the time to be concerned about how the ruse had dropped; since it had fallen, let it fall, coaxing the other person was the most important.
Obediently, he lowered his head and took out the signed shirt and the tin of Small Sweet Hearts and gave it to You Liangxing.
— It’s for you.
You Liangxing twisted his head away and refused to accept it. Kang Shengzhe typed: Ying ying ying, ying ying ying, ying ying ying.
You Liangxing: “... Shut up!”
Are you poisoned?
You Liangxing took those things in anger and his head started aching. In his moment of inner turmoil, he was no longer clear as to what purpose he had when he had rushed over to the hotel in anger.
While You Liangxing was seething, Kang Shengzhe held his hand and placed his phone in his hand with a serious expression. – I’m sorry, I looked really wretched today and I didn’t want you to see it.
All the words that You Liangxing wanted to say were swallowed down his throat.
He stared at Kang Shengzhe for a while. If the person was wearing a mask, it was highly plausible that his mouth had an injury. He put himself in the other person’s shoes; having met under such circumstances, not wanting to admit to it was understandable...
You Liangxing moved away abruptly. As his ire subsided, his mind cooled. He paused for a moment before he said lightly, “I was too impulsive as well.” He sighed. “I’m leaving.”
After finally seeing the person, how could he let him go so easily? Kang Shengzhe pulled You Liangxing to a stop, and hurriedly typed: — Don’t go.
And subsequently added: — Go upstairs and sit for a while.
Kang Shengzhe might be twenty centimetres taller than You Liangxing, but he constantly shrunk his body down and tried to get close to him, attempting to win him over with his eyes.
His eyes were pleading as Kang Shengzhe typed: — We were supposed to meet today.
You Liangxing’s heart faltered, and he subconsciously nodded.
Kang Shengzhe had a smile in his eyes and he quickly pulled You Liangxing to the elevator by his hand. Absent-minded, You Liangxing did not notice the fact that they were holding hands.
Once they entered the elevator, the two ladies at the front desk exchanged looks.
A pair?
Her partner revealed a mischievous grin and gave her a thumbs up that was thick with meaning.
On the other end, the atmosphere surrounding the two returned back to normal within minutes. While it was a little strange for two tall men to walk along a hotel corridor late at night, the two in question were deep in their own thoughts and neither of them cared for it.
While they were walking, Kang Shengzhe suddenly turned his head back and typed on his phone: — Oh right.
You Liangxing: “?”
Kang Shengzhe: — When you ordered me to go downstairs just now, you really had the demeanour of a domineering president. I felt like a Mary Sue.
You Liangxing: “......”
Kang Shengzhe had a smile in his eyes and his shoulders started shaking.
When they were chatting in the past, You Liangxing could only sense Ah Sheng’s emotions through text. Whether it was complacency, pride, happiness, his shamelessness or his laziness, this was the first time he could feel them so close at hand.
Reality dawned on him slowly, and it was only at this moment where it sank in for You Liangxing that he and Ah Sheng had crossed over from the internet and really met each other. The person in front of him was Ah Sheng, and him having to type on the phone only served to further emphasise it. The sense of familiarity they had soon permeated their interactions.
It really was him, and he turned out to be... like this.
They entered his room as he was deep in contemplation. The room was still neat, and the medicine that he had bought at the hospital was at the corner of the bed. The topical ointment was still sealed, and he probably hadn’t used it.
Since Kang Shengzhe had to rely on his phone to communicate, the two of them stayed close.
Kang Shengzhe: — Sit, do you want you something to drink?
You Liangxing said: “No need. The group of people just now....”
He discontinued his sentence. You Liangxing was not fully aware of Kang Shengzhe’s circumstances, he did not know who he offended and he did not know if he should even be asking to begin with.
But Kang Shengzhe did not shy away from it: — They were probably hired to block me.
Having witnessed how comfortably those scoundrels had executed their actions, You Liangxing was not surprised by his answer. Other than beating him up, they even forced him to ingest an unknown substance; they were acts that would directly impact Kang Shengzhe’s live broadcasting work the most. You Liangxing asked, “Does your company not care?”
Kang Shengzhe: — I don’t know it about now, but they probably don’t care.
After typing the sentence, Kang Shengzhe did not further elaborate on what he meant by that. His gaze swept across You Liangxing’s visage, and he cupped his own face with both his hands.
— Hei hei hei, you’re so handsome.
You Liangxing: “......”
The change of topic was very abrupt and very in line with Ah Sheng’s character. Kang Shengzhe withdrew his smile and blinked: — You really dared to come upstairs with me, are you not afraid that I will plot something unlawful against you?
You Liangxing: “You, to me?”
Kang Shengzhe: — En.
You Liangxing spread open his hand and clenched it into a fist before raising it in front of Kang Shengzhe’s eyes.
Kang Shengzhe typed: — Actually, I’m not very afraid of pain.
You Liangxing: “Are you afraid of death then?”
Kang Shengzhe decided to change the subject.
The temperature in the hotel might not be warm, but it was not comfortable to constantly wear a mask. Up until now, You Liangxing had yet to see Kang Shengzhe’s face. Thinking that, he proceeded to ask: “Are you going to take off your mask?”
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