Crown Prince

Late 2011.

Li Ying hurried to the station with a bag of vegetables, squeezed onto the last bus No. 07 at 30:108, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.Tomorrow is Sunday, but today he still has to work overtime. Fortunately, he went to the supermarket to buy some groceries during his lunch break, otherwise he could only make do with instant noodles when he went back at night.

It gets dark early in winter, there is only a faint light in the bus, and it is also a time when there are many people.Relying on the fact that he is not short, Li Ying directly grasped the crossbeam of the suspension ring, clutched the environmental protection cloth bag tightly in his left hand, and swayed back and forth with the crowded people around.Just after three stops, there was a buzzing vibration in the pocket of his trousers.

This handsome young man couldn't help but frowned impatiently, just staring out of the dark car window, ignoring the phone.

The person who called was obviously very patient. The vibration stopped for about 30 seconds, and then it started to vibrate again after seven or eight seconds.Li Ying lives in a place closer to the new urban area, and the bus stopped and stopped for about [-] minutes before arriving. When he got off, there was no one in the bus.

The phone that had just stopped for a while vibrated again.Li Ying walked quickly to the sidewalk, exhaled whitely, and then reached out and took out his Nokia phone.

"Xu Bing," he answered the phone with a sullen face, "what are you doing?"

"Where are you?"

Li Ying sarcastically said, "You are about to get married, why don't you act like we are familiar with each other?"

"Where are you?" the person on the other end of the phone asked stubbornly.

"You fucking care about your girlfriend—it's none of your business where I am!" Li Ying rushed to his head angrily, and hung up immediately after cursing.

He looked up and found a passing girl glanced at him, blushing in embarrassment, but fortunately, the street lamp was still a few meters away.Li Ying quickly took a deep breath, using the cold air to cool down.

To tell you the truth, it was a pleasure to scold like I did just now.

He grinned, but found the corners of his eyes burning.

The phone didn't vibrate anymore.

Li Ying habitually squeezed out a piece of jade from the collar, the slight temperature made him feel much better and he calmed down.It's nothing, as early as when he was in love with Xu Bing, he knew that this relationship would not bear fruit.

Although... people sometimes have a fluke mentality, thinking that the cruel future is too far away from them, and it will happen to many people...but not including themselves.Unfortunately, what he encountered was the worst possible outcome.

Li Ying walked forward slowly, the cold wind came in from the gap in the scarf, making him shiver, and goose bumps appeared on his neck.He frowned slightly in a daze, one hand was still pinching the jade ring around his neck, the familiar touch seemed to have melted into his skin, without any sense of disobedience.This piece of yellow jade has been with him since he was born, and his adoptive father once asked someone to look at it for him, it turned out to be an ancient piece of jade, quite valuable.

Because of this, he has always believed that abandoning his family should actually be very rich.That means that he was not abandoned because his parents were poor or physically disabled... If he grew up beside his biological parents, wouldn't he have the chance to know Xu Bing at all?

Or, he wouldn't be sad at all because of Xu Bing's departure at this time?After all, he who has nothing will suffer because his only lover left him.

Li Ying was thinking about his thoughts in a low mood, stroking the warm jade ring with his fingertips.I don't know since when, when he was in a bad mood or had too much emotional ups and downs, touching this piece of jade would quickly calm him down.It has become a habit.

You see, a piece of jade is more useful than a person.

Li Ying lived in a small high-rise in a newly built high-end residential area nearby. When he lived with Xu Bing, he rented a whole apartment.The rent is actually not expensive, mainly because it is a rough house, and the community is relatively remote, and the surrounding convenience facilities are not yet fully built, so life is not very convenient.

This makes the neighborhood look a bit deserted.

Li Ying took the elevator up to the tenth floor, and the door on the innermost side of the corridor on the right was his rented house.He stuffed the jade back into his clothes, then took out the key and opened the door.

The light bulbs look dim, but the furnishings inside still look very comfortable.Before Li Ying left her adoptive father's house, she lived a good life, so her requirements for the quality of life were not low.He and Xu Bing rented this three-bedroom house, and the rent didn't cost much, and all the money was spent on buying second-hand furniture and adding some small items.The living room has a fabric sofa, a TV, and two dark blue floor lamps. The master bedroom has a big bed, a wardrobe, a bedside table, and a computer desk. His easel and Xu Bing’s fitness equipment are placed in the second bedroom. In the study room is a bookshelf sofa and an old desktop computer.The kitchen is well equipped and he bought a small mini fridge.

He put on his slippers and sighed towards the quiet house, first went to turn on the air conditioner in the bedroom, and then went to the kitchen to wash rice and cook.

Twenty eight.

Li Ying dragged the TV to the bedroom, checked the door lock one last time, and returned to the bedroom.The quilt was only dried when the sun came out the day before yesterday, so at the moment he is very warm in the quilt, changing channels boringly in front of the TV.The lively voices on the screen further set off the silence in the room and his loneliness.

But he has to get used to it sooner or later, it is the long-term pain that is worse than the short-term pain.

His gaze unconsciously shifted to the computer desk, Xu Bing didn't take that notebook away... Also, now that he is rich, he will be powerful and powerful after marriage, with his lovely wife by his side.Everything in life should be there.

What is a notebook?

Li Ying suddenly realized that his whole body and mind were suffering from pantothenic acid, just like a woman who was having a fight, and couldn't help feeling sick.

Is there?

He stroked his flat belly nervously, then rolled into the quilt frantically and rolled himself into sushi.If he really did, he would have to go to Xu Bing's wedding with a full stomach——you!It's you!He even gave up on me from beginning to end! ! !

asshole! ! !

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

"No!" He lifted the quilt abruptly and sat up, "How can I be so decadent?!"

After five minutes of mental struggle, Li Ying decided to indulge in a nearby bar.As soon as he said it, he immediately turned over and got out of bed, opened the closet and searched for clothes—well, he has been a good student since he was a child, and he never wore clothes that showed the parts below the neck and above the elbows, and the shorts were all knees, Xu Bing once said If he was a girl, he would definitely be an ancient virgin.

As soon as the wardrobe was opened, there was a clear distinction, the left row was filled with brightly colored and fashionable designer clothes, and the right row was filled with shirts, jeans, and suit pants, so it was obvious that Xu Bing's on the left and Li Ying's on the right.

"There's still my money in it..." He stared at Xu Bing's clothes for a moment, muttering depressingly.It's not just about money. Is there anything he hasn't ironed for Xu Bing?When the two were in a strong relationship, he never felt wronged by cooking or ironing for Xu Bing, but now, he is not worth it for himself.

How can he be like this in this age, who is neither an old lady nor a helper but serves him every day with food, drink and clothes?Of course, he had to admit that Xu Bing was also in charge of repairing all the household appliances, changing light bulbs, drying clothes, washing dishes... Xu Bing was very good, very good.

It just doesn't belong to him anymore.

Li Ying wiped away his tears fiercely, finally took off his clothes and changed into them, and went out with the keys and wallet.

The house was too quiet for him to stay.

There isn't much entertainment around here, but there is a surprisingly large and nice bar.In the past, when Xu Bing's company had a year-end party, he used to bring him along in the name of his cousin to join in the fun. The venue of the party was often chosen in several famous bars in the city center.However, the land in the city center is expensive, and those bars are often not big, unlike the one near Li Ying's house, which not only occupies a large area, but also has a variety of elegant styles. It has both the bustle of a bar and the tranquility of a private space.Because several sets of large apartment walls from the first floor to the third floor have been opened, there is actually a nice small garden outside, and they even participated in open-air parties in summer.

This is a G bar.

Li Ying pushed open the heavy door, and the noise inside was heard immediately, it was like two worlds.

"Jay, bring me something strong enough!!" He sat down in front of the bar and shouted loudly to the bartender who was lowering his head to wipe his glass amidst the loud music.

Jie raised his head, revealing a gentle and handsome face.He is tall and tall, with short, neat hair with dark purple highlights, fair complexion, and a straight nose. He looks very gentle when he smiles.

Li Ying has always felt that Jie's temperament is not in line with the bar, but the latter has worked as a bartender here for more than four years, and he turns a blind eye to the lewdness after twelve o'clock every day, so calm.Li Ying likes Jie, so much that he always thinks that if Jie is in love with him, they will definitely not break up so easily like him and Xu Bing.

"Xiao Li," Jie slowly picked up a coffee pot from one side, poured a cup of thick hot milk from it, and pushed it in front of Li Ying: "Those who don't know how to drink, don't ask me for a drink in a natural tone drink, can you?"

Li Ying looked down at the milky white mug, her delicate eyebrows could not help but frown.He always wanted to ask, what is it about him that would make a bartender think that he - a man who has grown up for a long time - can't touch alcohol at all?He even prepared a mug for drinking milk for him?

Look at the kitten on it, tsk tsk.

Jie looked at the young man in front of him, his clean thick black eyebrows frowned, and his clear and beautiful eyebrows revealed strong dissatisfaction with his milk.He couldn't help laughing.

"What about Xu Bing? Didn't he forbid you to come to the bar alone?" Jie asked casually.

Li Ying paused when he drank the milk, he hesitated for a while, and finally put down the glass and said in a low voice, "He... well, we broke up."

Jie was stunned for a moment, then continued to pick up the wine glass on one side and began to wipe it, and replied casually: "...Oh."

Li Ying raised his head to look at him in confusion, but the elder's expression was still very calm... Could it be that his voice was too soft just now, and the surroundings were too noisy - that's why Jie didn't hear it?

He pursed his lips unconsciously, thinking a little dissatisfied, shouldn't he be comforted?For example, give him some strong alcohol that a man should drink?

"You're still young, Xiao Li." At this time, Jie suddenly spoke again: "It's time to wake up from this dream...and then find a man or woman who can really live with you."

Li Ying's eye sockets suddenly turned red.But he wasn't worried, the light on the bar was weird blue, and Jay wasn't looking at him at all...so no one would notice his embarrassing scene.

Yeah, why don't you wake up?

He clearly knew that Xu Bing was such an ambitious and family-minded person, so what if he was born gay?He must return to the right way and marry a woman who can hold his arm in an upright manner, who can bear him children, and who can give him a home in the ordinary sense, a woman.

That would definitely not be him, not Li Ying, a man.

He should be sober, just like Xu Bing has always been sober.During the years when they were in love, Xu Bing had always been very kind to him, but Xu Bing never said he loved him, and never gave him any guarantees.Li Ying couldn't explain why he liked Xu Bing, he didn't really like men that much, but he still held that man's hand without hesitation, and walked into a completely strange world.

The charm of love?

Or the charm of unrequited love?

Jie An calmly wiped the expensive wine glass in his hand to make it brighter and more delicate, so that the wine contained in it would be crystal clear.Perhaps the human heart should be more like this, and beauty can only be achieved through hardships.

"I'm already awake. Jie." Li Ying sniffled his nose, and his nasal voice sounded a little cute: "But where is the person who can live with me?"

The bartender smiled softly, and glanced at the VIP area of ​​the bar. There were half-open boxes, half covered by exquisite crystal curtains. If they needed, there were more private rooms upstairs.From his angle, he could see that in the box closest to the bar, there was a man watching Li Ying's back.

He is no stranger to that man, he just wonders - why does that man always catch Xiao Li when he is around?After all, there are too many such coincidences, Li Ying and Xu Bing always come in together, Xu Bing goes to dance, Li Ying sits here and talks to him...then the man just sits there, watching Xiao Li until they leave.

Only this time, Li Ying was alone.

"Who said there is no..." Jie said softly, and added some milk to Li Ying.

Li Ying looked at him again with puzzled eyes, his eyes were not big, but his pupils were round and dark, so when he looked at people like this, he would always appear innocent.Jay could hardly hold back his own smile.

If it was that man, Jie had no objection to Li Ying trying it out.After all, in this circle, who can be sure that a relationship can flow through each other's years smoothly and without worry?That man seemed rich and powerful, but he didn't try to get in between Li Ying and Xu Bing. During those nights of silent watching, Jie not only saw patience—predators are usually very patient—he also felt There was a kind of tenderness.

In such a noisy environment full of all kinds of desires, the kind of gentleness lingers around Li Ying, even like a kind of protective layer, which is enough to isolate Li Ying from the smoky atmosphere around— ———

'...I really think too much. Jay suddenly felt amused at his wild brain.