His Honey Chapter 17

Chapter 17

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Xiao Yichi looked down, his gaze falling to his toes.

He was wearing Yu Zhinian's slippers.

For a moment, he was struck by the truth – He and Yu Zhinian, were bed partners.

"Xiao Yichi?" Yu Zhinian pushed the door of the study open further and saw Xiao Yichi with his head hanging down, lost in thought.

Hearing the call, Xiao Yichi raised his head. Yu Zhinian had already walked to a stone's throw away from him, "What's wrong? Not feeling well?"

Before he could answer, Yu Zhinian's palm had already covered his forehead to check his temperature, then he lowered his hand and pulled him out of the room, "It's better to measure your temperature."

If he wants to be good to you, then he can really be good to you.

But you don't always get him.

"Lawyer Yu." Yu Zhinian was pulled to a stop. He turned around, and Xiao Yichi was smiling at him, the corners of his mouth curved, as if the out of focus daze just now was a misreading on his part, "I'm fine, I'm just hungry and a little hypoglycaemic~"

"Really?"

Xiao Yichi nodded.

Yu Zhinian let out a sigh of relief, "Today's congee has added eggs and minced meat, eat more."

"Okay!" Xiao Yichi gave a thumbs up with one hand and an okay gesture with the other as he ate his breakfast, Yu Zhinian asked offhandedly, "... Tomorrow is the weekend, do you have any plans?"

Xiao Yichi thought for a moment, "Booked an appointment with Xilin." The next thing was a lie, "... The faculty gave me a lot of feedback on the first chapter of the course and I have to change it, so I have to spend some time looking for the information."

Yu Zhinian hummed, no longer saying anything.

Nightfall.

Xiao Yichi sat on the rattan chair on his balcony, his chin resting against his bent knees.

His hanging fingers were loosely holding a burning cigarette, and in the distance was a constantly changing, lively and flashing giant screen of adverts.

Auntie Pan once mentioned that Yu Zhinian's first love had hurt him deeply.

The rose in his heart, was it the same person?

Xiao Yichi raised his hand and brought the cigarette to his mouth to take a drag.

Whether it was the same person or not, the fact that Yu Zhinian had loved someone deeply existed. Perhaps, it's still going on even now.

At this time, it was unknown which family's children were doing their homework, but their mother's high-decibel scolding voice came over clearly, interrupting Xiao Yichi's thoughts.

If only all questions were like homework, with a definite answer.

Xilin's chat room had changed its aroma.

"Lan Rui Xiang?" Xiao Yichi had a sharp nose.

Xilin clapped and smiled, "Guessed right again this time."

Xiao Yichi spread his hands proudly, indicating that the more he learnt about the cultures of other countries, the more he wanted to learn about his own roots. Over the years, the effort he had put into Chinese culture was no less than that of a professional scholar.

At the end of their conversation, Xilin asked, "Yichi, is there anything else you want to discuss with me?"

Xiao Yichi pondered for a moment and spoke, "Xilin, can I ask you about your feelings?"

"Sure." Xilin smiled.

"I am, at the moment, in a bed partner relationship with a... Mr. Ya." Xiao Yichi briefly described to Xilin what happened between him and Yu Zhinian.

"In other words, you found out that Mr. Ya has loved, or is still in deep love with someone, so you want to ask what to do right?" Xilin listened and repeated his question.

Xiao Yichi nodded.

"Just now, you said that if Mr. Ya wants to be nice to someone, he can really be nice to that person, 'but you won't necessarily be able to get him'." Xilin looked at Xiao Yichi, "We might as well change our perspective. Yichi, do ‘you' want to get Mr. Ya? Not just physically."

"I," Xiao Yichi paused. His thoughts weren't clear, he wasn't sure; his throat felt like it was clogged with something that he couldn't spit out and couldn't swallow.

"Yichi, perhaps the long years of being a journalist have made you accustomed to observing and recording things as a bystander, or a semi-participant; whereas a relationship, to a certain extent, represents being deeply involved in every aspect of the other person's life. You might as well ask yourself, if you measure from zero to ten, how much do you want Mr. Ya? Regardless of the other person, it's important to understand and accept your own feelings first."

Xiao Yichi, do you want to be a part of Yu Zhinian's life? Do you want to be Yu Zhinian's partner?

Putting aside whether or not he was face-conscious and whether or not he had a rose in his heart, what are your most honest thoughts?

At night, Xiao Yichi lay on his bed, his eyes blinking, looking at the ceiling in a daze.

During the day, the marina garage.

Yu Zhinian was temporarily called out by Ye Zhaolin to choose a gift.

"Congratulations on being the only finalist in this year's senior partner selection for Fangda! As long as you go to the New York headquarters to debrief, the appointment will officially come down, right?" When they met, Ye Zhaolin smiled and said congratulations.

"Thanks." Yu Zhinian only received the notification when he returned to the law firm on Friday afternoon, "If there are no changes, yes, I will receive the appointment after the debriefing."

"There's no way there's going to be a change of heart. I wrote clearly in the client evaluation that if you can't become a senior partner, I'll end the cooperation with Fangda." Ye Zhaolin spoke in a domineering manner.

His and Miss Han's engagement banquet was lavish and noisy to the extreme, and was the talk of the town. The banquet was just a prelude, the cooperation between Ye and Han families was the next big event. Ye Er's faction has come out on top, and Ye Zhaolin was in high spirits.

Yu Zhinian had known him for many years, but did not have much emotion, he raised an eyebrow and responded teasingly, “Mhmm, I'm very touched."

Ye Zhaolin laughed, he liked Yu Zhinian's tone. "To celebrate your promotion, come and choose a gift. The new cars are here, see which one you want."

"I appreciate your good intentions, but it's just that it won't fit in my garage, so you shouldn't give it to me. Instead, if there's a suitable one, I'd like to buy one for a gift." Yu Zhinian looked around, it was all luxury cars. He frowned. A car like this, even if the style was low key, it would be inappropriate to drive it to school.

"Giving it away? To whom?" Ye Zhaolin was curious. He narrowed his eyes, "Let me guess... Mr. Xiao?"

Yu Zhinian glanced at him. Ye Zhaolin knew he had guessed correctly. "You and Mr. Xiao... are in love?"

"No."

"Then what do you mean by giving a car?"

"He doesn't have a car, it's inconvenient for him to get around." Yu Zhinian remembered pushing open the door to the study and seeing Xiao Yichi hanging his head lost in thought.

At that time, it wasn't as exaggerated as his entire heart, but just a little bit at the tip, somewhat twinged with pain. He reflected, could it be that he was pushing him too hard?

He just wanted to make amends, nothing else.

Ye Zhaolin wanted to roll his eyes when he heard this. This statement was full of flaws, it should not come from a senior lawyer's mouth. "This reason of yours, it's like something a love brain would say."

Yu Zhinian subconsciously wanted to retort, Ye Zhaolin made a stop gesture and directly asked, "Just answer me, do you have the slightest bit of feelings for Mr. Xiao?"

Yu Zhinian opened his mouth, but the word "no" froze as if it was stuck, he couldn't spit it out.

"... That means there is." Ye Zhaolin concluded. Yu Zhinian was unusually awkward when it came to feelings, and this Xiao Yichi was considered formidable. He thought about it and still intended to remind Yu Zhinian. After all, his words were good as his big wedding was approaching.

"Zhinian, I remember you said that Mr. Xiao is not your type. So, is your 'having feelings' a temporary thing, or do you think you're no longer face-conscious? In the past, I've introduced you to so many beautiful blind dates, and you weren't satisfied with any of them; now that there's Mr. Xiao who's outside of your type range, whether it's the novelty that's getting to you or whether you've found true love, you'd best think it through."

He continued, "Some people think it's okay to be with someone out of their range, but if it doesn't work out, they'll switch back next time. But given your high standards for relationships, I don't think you can do that. It's fine if Mr. Xiao doesn't think anything of you giving him a car, but what if he thinks you're courting him? Hypothetically, if you do get together, can you guarantee that you won't have another face control relapse and subsequent regret in a year, two years or even later? And what will Mr. Xiao do then?"

How lame. Yu Zhinian felt like a little kid being lectured by an adult. But he really wasn't good at this aspect of relationships, so all of a sudden, he was raked over the coals by the experienced Ye Zhaolin.

A pot of cold water splashed all over him.

Ye Zhaolin changed the subject, "Also, not long ago, when you should have been on a business trip, Zhao Huaimin came for an inspection. During that time, he met with Mr. Xiao alone. Do you know what this conveyed to those who could know his travelling schedule? This man, you can't touch him casually, treat him well. There's no harm in you being on good terms with him, but if it gets to the point where you're talking about a relationship, it's good if it goes well, maybe you'll be able to soar; but in the event that something goes wrong, your own career might suffer."

"Anyway, think it over carefully, whether you have feelings for Mr. Xiao in a way that you can fall in love with him or not."

The next day, Xiao Yichi went to the fitness centre to work out.

He hadn't slept well the previous night and his mental state was not good, so Da Shan only had him do some light exercises.

After the session, Da Shan asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Yichi hung the towel around his neck, "... Do you think, Lawyer Yu and I... are possible?"

Da Shan thought seriously, "Lawyer Yu's overall conditions are wonderful. Let's not talk about other things first, he can attract bees and butterflies just by standing there, and it's not that he can't resist the temptations in this way, but as his partner, do you have enough confidence and self-assurance that you won't be paranoid? If it were me, I'd be worried about whether he'd be targeted by someone else and move on." 

"Of course,” Da Shan added, "that's just my personal opinion. Your conditions are also very good. And the thing about falling in love, it's not just about the conditions, it's also about the feelings."

Da Shan asked him, "How do you feel about Lawyer Yu, what are your feelings?"

What does he feel towards Xiao Yichi?

At night, Yu Zhinian lay in bed, thinking. He turned his head and Snoopy, who had been cleaned up and sent back, was sitting next to his pillow.

Snoopy, do you remember your new friend Xiao Yichi?

It had only met him once.

And he and him, hadn't known each other for long.

It was neither love at first sight, nor a long relationship.

And he didn't fit his aesthetic.

Those impulsive desires would one day be consumed.

Yu Zhinian reached out, grabbed Snoopy, and held it in his arms. The two coincidentally did not contact each other in the past few days. As a senior partner finalist, Yu Zhinian had to go to the Asia Pacific headquarters first to prepare for the debriefing, and for this reason, he had to go to Pearl City for three days.

Before he left, he sent a message to Xiao Yichi, saying that he would meet him when he returned from his business trip.

Xiao Yichi read the message and vaguely felt that this meeting will be a turning point between them.

On the second day of Yu Zhinian's business trip, Xiao Yichi went to visit Auntie Pan.

In addition to visiting, he wanted to learn more.

After dinner, Xiao Yichi sat with Auntie Pan in front of the garden, drinking plum wine while enjoying the fragrance of the flowers.

"Auntie Pan," Xiao Yichi opened his mouth and asked, "... you once mentioned Lawyer Yu's first love, can you tell me about it?"

Auntie Pan didn't react for a moment, and then understood.

She frankly said, "Madam dismissed me when Zhinian was sixteen. He met his first love after I left. I deduced the general story from my fellow workers and Zhinian's words. I saw Zhinian again after he ran away from home. He came to my old house without knocking and just stood there; if I hadn't had to go out, I wouldn't have known he was here. He was in a very bad state at that time. It was only later that I learnt from my fellow workers that he had left his family for his first love, but the other party ended up abandoning him and going abroad with a ghastly lawyer."

Yu Zhinian's first love was a part-time model for his mother's modelling agency. Mrs. Yu held a Christmas party at her home and invited her staff to attend, and his first love was among them.

And so, they met.

Some things happen in the blink of an eye.

“Mr. and Mrs. Yu didn't notice, but the servants in the house all perceived it, the young master was like a different person."

The first love's family was in a bad condition, so Yu Zhinian quietly went out in the middle of the night to bring him things.

"The wind and rain were trivial. The servants advised him, but he threatened to fire them if they dared to say anything." Saying this, Auntie Pan paused for a moment. She couldn't help but tell the truth to Xiao Yichi, but she shouldn't be the one to tell him the rest.

"Yichi, I don't know where you and Zhinian have progressed to, if the time is right for you to ask him graciously, he'll talk. After all, it's all in the past."

Xiao Yichi smiled, "Okay. Auntie Pan, thank you."

Before leaving, Xiao Yichi asked one more time, "His first love, were they good looking?"

"I haven't seen him. But the workers who have seen him said that he is a mixed-race child, very good-looking."

Hearing this, Xiao Yichi nodded slightly, "I see."

Late at night, Xiao Yichi stood on the balcony, biting on a cigarette and looking at the skyscraper's giant advertisement screen, his mind emptied.

The traces of blue and red light from the advertising screen fell on his face as the colour darkened, and amidst the puffs of smoke he exhaled, he appeared to be in the decadence of the night.

Yu Zhinian returned from his business trip. He asked Xiao Yichi to meet him at his home.

Before the appointed time, he printed two documents in his study – a consent form for the dissolution of the relationship.

The "bed partner rules" had long been violated, and the consent form was just a formality. But he insisted on having it in black and white, so as to warn himself not to be carried away by his desires.

The doorbell rang.

Yu Zhinian's heart tightened sharply. He walked to the door and opened it.

"Hi, Lawyer Yu." Xiao Yichi smiled at him.

"... Come in." Yu Zhinian stepped aside.

The two walked down the entrance hall one after the other.

Not long ago, they had indulged in pleasure here.

"I asked you to come today... because I wanted to talk to you about this." Yu Zhinian picked up the document on the dining table and handed it to Xiao Yichi.

Xiao Yichi took it and lowered his head to read it. The smile on his face diminished, but he was not very surprised, as if he had already expected it.

He looked up, "... Can I ask the reason?"

At this point, Yu Zhinian's hand on the back of the chair unconsciously tightened, and he calmly said, "I think it's enough to stop here, there's no need to continue."

Xiao Yichi didn't ask anything more, he picked up the pen on the tabletop and signed his name on the two documents with a swipe. Yu Zhinian watched him sign it cleanly, and watched as he handed the pen over for him to accept. Yu Zhinian signed his name on it as well, and their bed partner relationship came to an end.

"... Actually, I came to see you today, also wanting to talk to you about ending the bed partner relationship." Xiao Yichi looked towards Yu Zhinian.

"... That's good, our goal was achieved." Yu Zhinian lowered his head to straighten the documents.

"Lawyer Yu, from now on, can I start a romantic relationship with you?"

Yu Zhinian, who was straightening the documents, froze, he thought he had heard wrong. He met Xiao Yichi's line of sight, and his own eyes were definitely stunned.

Listen carefully to other people's advice and make your own decisions from the heart.

The past ten years of journalism were more than just a few strokes on a resume. Listen to the heart and move forward with courage.

If war and death couldn't stop him in his tracks, what was so difficult about facing the reality of not being loved?

Xiao Yichi looked at the person in front of him and said sincerely, "Yu Zhinian, I like you."

Even though I'm not your favourite type, even though there is a rose hidden in your heart, my heart, I still want to convey it to you.

In an instant, Yu Zhinian felt like his heart was about to stop.

What happened between them, how could they say they liked each other?

That didn't make sense, that was impulsive.

He locked eyes with Xiao Yichi, or rather, confronted him.

His throat tightened and he swallowed several times before finding his voice, "... Xiao Yichi, do you know what you're saying?"

Xiao Yichi nodded, "Yes. I'm waiting for your answer."

......

Saying words is like spilling water. Everyone is responsible for what they say.

Yu Zhinian replied, "I'm sorry... I can't respond to your feelings."

This answer, Xiao Yichi also expected it.

He smiled slightly, "I understand."

What followed was a long silence.

Until Xiao Yichi said to Yu Zhinian, "Lawyer Yu, goodbye."

Leaving Xingyue Bay and standing beside the main road, Xiao Yichi looked up at the sky and laughed. It turns out that this is what it's like to have your confession rejected.

He lightly covered his eyes with one hand, then relaxed and took a deep breath.

Just in time, he could go to volunteer without any worries.

Beautiful Earth sent him an email a few days ago.

As the summer holidays were approaching, the other party sent a letter of enquiry, asking if he was willing to go to a poor mountainous area to work as a teacher and advocate for a month. The college was quite lenient with him and didn't plan to give him any assignments during the summer holidays.

Xiao Yichi took out his cell phone, opened his email, and replied to the other party.

Yu Zhinian's trip to New York was imminent, and the night before, he went to Auntie Pan's house for dinner.

"Zhinian, you haven't been in good spirits lately. This trip to New York, take care of yourself while you're away." Auntie Pan gave him a large piece of fish and warned worriedly.

"Don't worry Auntie, I will."

Auntie Pan slightly hesitated, but still spoke, "Are you and Yichi... okay?"

Yu Zhinian's hand that was moving the chopsticks paused. Sooner or later, he had to say it.

"He and I, I guess we won't see each other again in the future."

Auntie Pan was greatly surprised, "Why?" Without waiting for Yu Zhinian to respond, she first blamed herself, "I must have spoiled things. When you went to Pearl City on a business trip before, Yichi came to accompany me and asked me about your first love. I told him about it, so maybe he felt uncomfortable. Zhinian, what should I do? Do you need me to explain?"

"Auntie, don't be anxious... it has nothing to do with what you said. It's me who made the decision, if I want to blame someone, it's on me."

Auntie Pan was puzzled, "Why?"

When he was cooking, he had clearly adjusted the flavour and watched the fire, but now it tasted like mush, "... Maybe, he's not my type."

Hearing this, Auntie Pan sighed quietly and no longer said anything.

On the way home, Yu Zhinian stopped at a red light. The wait was a bit long, and he let his thoughts run wild.

It turned out that Xiao Yichi had learnt about his past.

Then what kind of feelings did he have to confess to him?

By the time he returned to his senses, he had already taken out his cell phone.

He tried to click on Xiao Yichi's friend circle.

The other party hadn't deleted him or blocked him.

So he saw the latest post – a photo of a suitcase with the caption: Ready to go. For the next month, it will be difficult to use a cell phone, so if you want to know how I am doing, go to the official Weibo account of Beautiful Earth!

Yu Zhinian knew about Beautiful Earth. When Fangda entered the domestic market, it was necessary to help in public welfare. In the early days of Beautiful Earth, Fangda was its international legal adviser, serving as a bridge to introduce them to a number of foreign counterparts, and also organised a number of visits and exchanges. To this day, Fangda is still one of the members of Beautiful Earth's legal advisory board.

Yu Zhinian breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time a little inexplicable loneliness.

He reminded himself that he had rejected many confessions of love in the past, so there was no need to be melodramatic now.

The light turned green, Yu Zhinian stepped on the accelerator and began to drive.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: January 30, 2024