Gentlemen's Friends

Chapter 47 Extra Story: Right to Choose (1)
While eating breakfast, Qu Ke suddenly asked, "Dad, what is your relationship with Uncle Ren now?"

Qu Tongqiu choked on a fried egg in his throat, and it took him a long time to swallow it. His face was still flushed and his neck was thick, and he said, "Uh, why are you asking this?"

Qu Ke pursed her lips: "I should have the right to know if he will be my new 'mother'?"

"..."

"Dad, it's been so long, don't you think I don't know anything?"

Although he knows that under the same roof, it is impossible for his daughter to be unaware, and he is mentally prepared to confess to her, but it still makes Qu Tongqiu a little embarrassed to talk frankly about such a taboo and fringe issue in front of a milk omelet. : "This, I, I can't tell... Otherwise, you can ask your Uncle Ren."

Fortunately, Ren Ningyuan went on a business trip and was not at the dinner table at the moment.

Qu Ke seemed dissatisfied: "I asked Uncle Ren a long time ago."

"Ah," Qu Tongqiu hesitated, "What did your uncle Ren say?"

"He said he was a friend."

"..."

Qu Ke put her hands on her cheeks, sullenly: "You adults are too cunning. I don't mind if I have an extra new mother or new father, but don't let me know until the last minute."

"..."

"The most cunning one is still Uncle Ren, why should he give you a title."

"What, what title, don't talk nonsense."

Qu Tongqiu panicked: "Kids, don't think about it. We have nothing to do. Eat your food quickly, it's time to go to class."

After sending Qu Ke away, Qu Tongqiu quickly packed his things and went to work.

Although his daughter was not satisfied with his answer, he was indeed not perfunctory and was telling the truth.

The relationship between him and Ren Ningyuan is a little hard to define.The way the two of them get along, speaking of it, he thinks it should be equivalent to family members.

Ren Ningyuan is very rational and a gentleman, and he has not treated or felt sorry for him in any way during the time we lived together.

He is a person who is used to living an ordinary life, and he feels that there is nothing to be picky about this kind of Ren Ningyuan and this kind of life.It's just that he couldn't answer Qu Ke's question.

Thinking carefully, why did Ren Ningyuan let him live here?He couldn't even answer that.

The reason why he stayed was because Ren Ningyuan and his daughter were the two most important people to him, and he felt that his life was quite complete with them.

As for Ren Ningyuan's retention, the reason was very vague, and he never asked in a ignorant way.

Naturally, Ren Ningyuan wanted to keep his only biological daughter, and Qu Ke would insist on living with his "father". This was probably the reason why Ren Ningyuan wanted to keep him.

Thinking of it this way made me even more at a loss.

But he didn't have much time to be dazed. Today is Friday and there are many things to do.Now that the takeaway shop has grown bigger and hired a special chef, he is no longer needed to cook the food himself, but he is still very busy.

In the evening, when Ren Ningyuan came back from a business trip, it was already late at night, and because of the hasty schedule, his face was also slightly tired.Qu Tongqiu hurriedly put the hot water on for him, and waited for him to take a shower.

Knowing that he flew to three places in one day, it was too hard to finish all the work together.Qu Tongqiu dried his hair and massaged his shoulders and back. He felt that the muscles under the skin were extremely tense. After pressing for a long time, he did not relax. Nothing, you don't have to work on weekends, why don't you just wait until tomorrow and come back?"

Ren Ningyuan smiled and didn't answer, just said: "Give me the towel."

The moment the man stood up from the water, even though he quickly wrapped himself in a towel, Qu Tongqiu's face was still hot, and he hurriedly looked away.

In his eyes, Ren Ningyuan is as handsome as a god, from head to toe, he is the most beautiful, just drying his body casually, and wearing a bathrobe is extremely sexy.

Ren Ningyuan glanced at him, pulled up the bathrobe, tied the belt, and said gently: "You are tired too, go to bed early."

Qu Tongqiu responded.

Ren Ningyuan treats Qu Ke and him very well, works hard and lives a good life.If he is not satisfied with the status quo, he is really too picky.

Following Ren Ningyuan out of the bathroom, Qu Tongqiu's chest began to thump when he saw the man put his legs up on the bed.

No matter how dull and unqualified he is, to him, Ren Ningyuan is really too good-looking.

The current Ren Ningyuan is not the same as the unattainable indifference of the student days, but the charming feeling has always been there, even stronger.

In the early years, he never dared to think about Ren Ningyuan in this way, it is impossible to have a blasphemous heart towards the "boss".

Looking at Ren Ningyuan sitting on the bed like this, handsome and clean, the whole person is low-key sexy...

Ren Ningyuan read the book for a while, looked up and saw that he was still standing far away, looking overly nervous, put down the magazine, smiled and said, "Come here."

Qu Tongqiu agreed, walked to the bed with a tense body, lifted the quilt and got in...

At this time, the phone rang, and after a while, it switched to message mode. After a beep, there was a little silence over there, and then a man's voice:
"Ning Yuan, it's me."

Qu Tongqiu shuddered suddenly, closed his teeth, and almost bit his tongue.

"Long time no see," there was a pause again, "It's been two years."

There seemed to be the noise of rain in the voice.

"I want to go back recently."

"The day after tomorrow is his second anniversary."

"I didn't get in touch with you this time last year. Sorry. I can't help it."

After a few seconds of silence, the voice said again: "At that time you asked me, did I treat him kindly? I'm telling the truth now, no."

"It was my fault."

"I always think, if he is still alive, I must treat him well. The more I think about it, the more I feel..."

There was another hasty pause, and then the man said:
"I've been thinking lately, I should go back and see him."

The voice sounded a bit fuzzy.

"Ning Yuan, I can no longer escape."

"Please help me."

The other party hung up the phone, and the room returned to silence.

Neither of them spoke or moved.

In the past two years, some people didn't know that he was alive, and some people didn't even know that he was "dead".Because he was silent when he "died", and he didn't make any movement when he came back to life.

Whether a small person like him is dead or alive, in fact, it only has special meaning to a few people, so he didn't bother to notify him.Anyway, for those who take this matter to heart, they can find out about his current situation with just a phone call, which is quite easy.

Some people still think he is dead, and he thinks it's fine.Start life again, who doesn't escape something.

Qu Tongqiu lay on the bed with some anxiety, and then felt that the man turned off the light and fell asleep beside him.

He thought that Ren Ningyuan would say something to him, but after waiting for a while, the man beside him seemed to be asleep.Qu Tongqiu was apprehensive for a while, and tentatively leaned over:

"Ren Ningyuan..."

"Ok?"

"Zhuang Wei is coming back..."

"Ah."

"Should I see him?"

There was no emotion in the man's voice, but it was still very gentle: "Do you want to see him?"

"...I don't really want to..."

"why?"

Qu Tongqiu didn't expect him to ask such a question, so he couldn't help being taken aback: "Ah..."

"Do you hate him in your heart?"

"No-no..."

"Are you afraid of him?"

"It's not..."

"If it's Chu Mo, will you meet?"

Qu Tongqiu thought for a while, and said honestly, "That would be..."

"Then why can't Zhuang Wei?"

Qu Tongqiu didn't expect the conversation to develop in this direction, so he couldn't help stammering: "I, I don't know..."

"It's okay, there are still two days left, think about it slowly," Ren Ningyuan said calmly, "Go to bed first."

Qu Tongqiu couldn't say anything more, he agreed, and closed his eyes against Ren Ningyuan, ready to sleep.

He could clearly feel the man's body temperature coming through the fabric, but the temperature seemed as far away as if separated by a wall.

Ren Ningyuan asked him to think about it, and he really thought about it seriously.

He was not a person who liked to think about the bad things of others, so the image Zhuang Wei left in his memory did not have any dark elements.

I just don't want to go back and face that person and those things.

During the time he and Zhuang Wei were together, everything happened and did everything, maybe they were together.However, they separated so suddenly...

In the middle, he died once and lived again, so many things happened.

Now it is too embarrassing for him to reveal all the unbearable things at that time and give an explanation.He has the power to avoid Zhuang Wei.

Although the current life is plain and gentle, he lives it willingly and cherishes it.He wondered if someone as sharp as Zhuang Wei would break anything.

He is now with Ren Ningyuan.If Ren Ningyuan had an old lover who was still alive, he would definitely be anxious.Then his reunion with Zhuang Wei may also make Ren Ningyuan uncomfortable.He wanted to be considerate of Ren Ningyuan's mood.

After thinking about it over and over for most of the night, Qu Tongqiu fell asleep in a daze when it was almost dawn, and had a dream.

In the dream, there were Ren Ningyuan, Zhuang Wei, and Chu Mo, who were noisy and chaotic for a while.

When he woke up, his side was empty. Qu Tongqiu stretched out his hand sleepily to touch it. It was cold and there was no warmth left. Ren Ningyuan should have woken up early.

There is nothing to do on the weekend, so it's okay to stay in bed.He really liked the feeling of lying in bed and doing nothing, but Ren Ningyuan didn't miss it, so he had to get up alone.

When I went downstairs, I saw Ren Ningyuan reading the newspaper by the window, with freshly brewed tea and refreshments on the table, it was quite leisurely, Qu Tongqiu went to greet him:

"Morning."

"Morning," Ren Ningyuan smiled, "What do you want to eat? I'll let the kitchen do it."

"Oh, the porridge is ready."

After the simple conversation, Ren Ningyuan continued to read his newspaper.

Ren Ningyuan usually doesn't talk much, but at this time, for some reason, he feels a little deserted.Qu Tongqiu sat for a while, then said, "Ren Ningyuan, about Zhuang Wei..."

"Well, are you ready?"

"I think it's better to tell him that I'm still alive. At least he has the heart to worship me. For this kind of affection, I can't let him think that I'm dead and suffer for nothing."

"Ah."

"But can I not have to meet him?"

Ren Ningyuan put down the newspaper: "Why do you avoid him?"

"Uh..." Qu Tongqiu was a little embarrassed, "I think you would mind..."

Ren Ningyuan smiled: "You worry too much. I don't mind."

Qu Tongqiu hurriedly said "Oh", suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and couldn't help rubbing his ears.

"Zhuang Wei is actually not a bad person, but he has a quick temper, and he thinks about things very rationally," Ren Ningyuan enunciated clearly, "I think it's better for you to meet him."

"what……"

"At that time, there were a lot of things that you didn't have time to say clearly, and now is also an opportunity."

Qu Tongqiu rubbed his ears again: "Yes, what should I say clearly..."

Ren Ningyuan looked at him with nothing but serious expression: "Zhuang Wei still likes you."

Qu Tongqiu felt that he was stuttering more and more: "No, no, no such thing..."

"it is true."

"..."

"Maybe you should also think about it." Ren Ningyuan's gentleness almost seemed to be a bit persuasive, "What do you really feel about him?"

Qu Tongqiu was about to say something else when the porridge was served.Once the conversation between the two was cut off, they couldn't pick it up again.

He lowered his head to eat porridge, Ren Ningyuan continued to read the newspaper, the two of them seemed to be separated by a layer of fog in the steaming heat.There seems to be no difference between this man's indifference and enthusiasm, they are both calm and gentle.

He suddenly realized that Ren Ningyuan wanted him to see Zhuang Wei, and maybe it was best not to come back after seeing him.

Under the previous situation, Ren Ningyuan kept him, and they also had a warm relationship for a while.Then he gradually got tired of it, but it was hard to make any big changes to drive him away.

Coincidentally, Zhuang Wei came back.

Qu Tongqiu suddenly had the urge to pack his bags and run away from home.He wanted to go far away, and don't let Ren Ningyuan think he is bad or boring, so he should give him to Zhuang Wei.

But running away from home is something young people do, and someone needs to be able to look for it, so that it makes sense to be awkward.He knew in his heart that Ren Ningyuan would never seek him back, and he was already discouraged and sad before he took action.

He is an easy-to-satisfy person, he followed Ren Ningyuan wholeheartedly, never asked Ren Ningyuan to give him anything, sweet talk, let alone food and clothing, he was very happy to be able to live together.

But Ren Ningyuan still doesn't want him anymore.

Qu Tongqiu packed a small bag sadly, and went out to take the subway with it.

After sitting all the way to the end, I changed buses, sat back and forth a few times, walked around the city, and looked at the scenery of the city.

This can only be regarded as a simulation of running away from home. He doesn't know how Ren Ningyuan will feel, but he himself feels uncomfortable first.

He has a bit of a loyal dog in his temperament, and he is unwilling to move if he guards a nest. Even if he is chased away, he may not be willing to leave, just like those rural dogs in the countryside who have been beaten by their masters and still walk around the door tearfully. .Let alone let him leave by himself.

It was already dark when we got off at the terminal station.

It was much colder at night than during the day, Qu Tongqiu was unprepared, shrunk from the cold for a moment, and was about to wait for the car home in disgrace when he vaguely saw a person standing opposite him.

Before he could speak, the tall man walked across the long street towards him.

"Ren, Ren Ningyuan..."

"You were outside all day, why did you even turn off your phone?"

There was no sense of blame in the man's tone, but his expression seemed to be in a hurry.This kind of anxiety made Qu Tongqiu somewhat comforted: "I... want to come out for a walk..."

Ren Ningyuan looked down at him for a while, and said gently, "Leave me a message in the future, otherwise you will be worried."

"Um……"

Ren Ningyuan took off his coat and wrapped it around him, then reached out and touched the tip of his nose: "It's so cold outside, let's go back."

This touch warmed his heart again.He didn't know how Ren Ningyuan found him, but the feeling of being brought home by Ren Ningyuan made him so moved and happy that his nose was sour.

After returning home, he took a hot bath, sat on the sofa with Ren Ningyuan, and Qu Tongqiu drank a cup of hot tea. His body was warm inside and out. Suddenly, Ren Ningyuan said: "Today I contacted Zhuang Wei. , and told him about you."

"..."

"He made a few more phone calls afterward, trying to talk to you, but you weren't there."

"..."

(End of this chapter)