Chapter 320: Fourth World: Cold War

It had been an entire week already since Qie Ranzhe got caught with his pants down but he hadn't even got the chance to explain himself to Su Xin. He didn't know why he cared so much about this but one thing was for sure. With each passing second that he was misunderstood by Su Xin, he felt like he was losing a part of himself. Su Xin had treated him like air this entire week.

Qie Ranzhe slumped into a garden chaise dressed in a pair of shorts and a half-buttoned shirt. With one leg outstretched on the chaise and the other bent, Qie Ranzhe exuded a picturesque atmosphere straight out of the world's sexiest men magazine.

The maid brought over an ice-cold beer and she was about to pour it into a glass when Qie Ranzhe refused taking the bottle directly. During this exchange, Qie Ranzhe didn't take his eyes from the maze right opposite him. He normally didn't do such things as sitting idly on the patio for no reason but today it was different.

He actually chose to sit there just to watch Su Xin who was playing with Qie Xieling and the patio happened to provide the best view. To prevent any suspicions, he wore a pair of sunglasses giving off the illusion that he was sleeping under the shade but his piercing gaze was fixated on Su Xin.

One could argue that Qie Ranzhe had caught Su Xin in plenty of compromising positions in the past and that Su Xin had no right to be this upset but Qie Ranzhe didn't see it that way.

Su Xin had already expressed his intentions clearly and Qie Ranzhe had already decided to keep this man beside him. It was for that reason that his lawyer redrafted a spousal contract. There might not be feelings of love between them but that spousal agreement would mean there shouldn't be third parties in this relationship.

Once he decided on this there was nothing that would change his mind which meant he dropped his vigilance. He never had to guard against Kai Zi because they had already discussed it more than a decade ago that they should remain friends. Throughout the years, Kai Zi seemed to have accepted it with their friendship returning to its former glory but it turns out Kai Zi was just a great actor like his brother.

That night, Qie Ranzhe was blindsided by Kai Zi. He had just received an email with a finalised draft of the contract and printed it out to review the details when Kai Zi noticed. Who knew what was going on in Kai Zi's mind at that moment but his face turned a sickly pale with a slight tremble all over his body.

Concerned, Qie Ranzhe asked, "Are you okay?"

That question was the spark that ignited the repressed flames for the past decade because Kai Zi lost his shit right then and there. "What, what..... what the fuck is that? Ran-ge, hasn't this gigolo played you enough?" was Kai Zi's words back then.

Qie Ranzhe didn't get angry. He understood Kai Zi was just caring for him but who would have thought Kai Zi would take it a step further purposefully infuriating him.

Sentences like, "Ran-ge, if you like being abused this much then why not join a BDSM club," and, "Ran-ge, you must be fuckin stupid to fall for this vixen's schemes," were spat out by the usually gentle Kai Zi.

That quiet well mannered Kai Zi he grew up with seemed like an illusion. Qie Ranzhe was angered by his words but he could still hold back. At that time he stood up to leave otherwise he might end up in a physical fight with Kai Zi. Yes, he must have been crazy keeping such an untrustworthy person beside him but he couldn't help it.

His desire to conquer Su Xin had only multiplied to the point that it became unbearable. He felt like if he didn't get Su Xin he would completely lose his mind. He felt like his heart was blackening little by little and Su Xin was the cure. If he didn't attain him, he was afraid his mental capacity would crack.

Since Su Xin was willing, what was there to worry about? He honestly thought he would eventually get over Su Xin after eating his fill for a couple of years which is why he put this contract forward. But he couldn't say all this to Kai Zi besides, he wasn't obligated to explain himself to anyone.

With that in mind, he turned to leave but who would have expected the gentle Kai Zi would resurface again with a hint of lasciviousness. "Ran-ge, how about you give me a try. If, if it doesn't work then you can bind Su Xin... Please, please give me one more chance. I promise I am as good as he is," were the words of plea uttered by Kai Zi with bloodshot eyes.

Taken aback, Qie Ranzhe didn't let him carry on reprimanding him on the spot. "Zi, didn't we have this discussion before? At the time what did you say?" asked Qie Ranzhe in a stern voice.

Kai Zi looked lost glancing around as though trying to recall the exact words. His expression turned wan recalling that discussion but he would never admit it so he stammered, "I don't, I don't remember. Ran-ge yo-,"

"Answer me!" yelled Qie Ranzhe dangerously approaching the point of no return.

Kai Zi flinched as though frightened with a tear streaming down his cheek. "I agreed to remain friends but Ran-ge, I only agreed because I was afraid to lose you. I, I had n-,"

"I asked you if you couldn't do it then let me know so I can give you enough space to get over me but what did you say?.... You said it was just sex nothing else and that you didn't care only to bring back this shit a decade later," said Qie Ranzhe with his fist slamming the table, "You lied to me yet you are acting like I bullied you and led you on for so many years."

Kai Zi was at a loss on what to say. At that time he had taken advantage of Qie Ranzhe's drunken stupor and seduced him. Even then Qie Ranzhe tried pushing him away calling him Su Xin but the drunk Qie Ranzhe was no match for the sober Kai Zi. He easily subdued him and answered him as Su Xin. Being provoked like this by a person claiming to be Su Xin, Qie Ranzhe stopped fighting. That night Kai Zi experienced inexplicable bliss riding on Su Xin's coattails.

He had the delusion that Qie Ranzhe would accept him and take responsibility the following morning but who would have expected to be drenched with a bucket of ice-cold water once he woke up.

Half-awake Qie Ranzhe had wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him closer till their naked bodies were plastered together. He felt indescribable happiness but Qie Ranzhe kissed his ear whispering, "Xin-er, you came back to me? Promise me you won't leave me alone anymore."