Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 436: Jiejie

Qie Xieling pursed his lips struggling to say it. Even if he wasn’t saying it out loud he still struggled to say it.

’Come on... say it, say it, say it,’ said Jolie urging him on. Qie Xieling let out a deep sigh before saying, ’Jiejie,’

"Uh uh uh, say it louder," she said and Qie Xieling almost rolled his eyes at the back of his head.

’JIEJIE! There I said it. Now please open the door for me,’ he said and Jolie was finally satisfied.

’Okay,’ she said and with a click the door opened.

’Thank you,’ he said and entered the room.

Luo Muchen was startled. He clutched the sink’s edge and said, "Baby, for once listen to me and go out. For... for my sake please." He pleaded with Qie Xieling.

Qie Xieling paused his steps while tying the drawstring of the pants that he had picked. "Well, I am not going anywhere. You just left me on the bed with no explanation so of course I want to know what is wrong with you. Aren’t we in this together?" he asked and Luo Muchen’s pupils rippled with emotion. Even his own mother broke down in tears when he saw the scars running down the side of his face and his arm so how could Qie Xieling not react?

"Would you respect my boundaries and leave... please," he said and Qie Xieling chuckled softly.

"If I walk out of that door I will regret it. If I can’t even be there for you through your worst then how could you be there for me at my worst? If we can’t be there for each other at our worst then what’s the point of all of this?"

Luo Muchen couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth. If he insisted on Qie Xieling leaving it would confirm what he said. He took in several deep breaths and finally said, "I... you have to promise me that you won’t leave me no matter what." But after he said that Qie Xieling didn’t respond. His brow arched as he turned around only to find that Qie Xieling was gone.

Luo Muchen’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach. In a panic, he rushed towards the door to look for Qie Xieling. When he found him he was putting on a t-shirt with his back towards him.

"Lin Lin," he called out and Qie Xieling said,

"I will respect your boundaries. When you are ready to talk to me you know where you can find me," he said before grabbing a pair of sneakers and putting them on.

Luo Muchen watched helplessly as he finished putting on his shoes and grabbing a jacket. Just as Qie Xieling was about to turn around and walk away, Luo Muchen embraced him from behind with his strong arm.

Qie Xieling’s heart was ringing in his ear his heart grateful that Luo Muchen took the bait. Jolie was annoying half the time but she was right all the time. Her advice was something that should be monetized in a blog or something. It was that much good of an advice.

Luo Muchen tightened his embrace and nuzzled Qie Xieling’s neck his heart consumed by explicable anxiety. He was so afraid that if Qie Xieling walked out he might not see him again. This fear he had harboured since the day he first met Qie Xieling but at that time he didn’t associate the feeling with fear but anger.

"My scars... they are showing. I am afraid you will be scared away by me," he said his voice tremulous and filled with sadness.

Qie Xieling now understood why Luo Muchen was acting like that. It was because he was afraid he would be terrified and leave but Qie Xieling didn’t care about that. The physical was good but it wasn’t what he was attracted to.

"Let me see," he said and Luo Muchen tightened his embrace and whispered,

"No... I... promise me first."

Qie Xieling turned his head slightly and said, "I won’t promise. I want to see you first."

Luo Muchen pursed his lips and for a while, they stood like this in silence. When he was finally ready, Luo Muchen loosened his grip. With a deep breath, he took a step back ready to expose the scars that marred his once unblemished skin.

Qie Xieling turned and stared at him his expression shifting from worry to anger, his fists clenched tightly. The sight of Luo Muchen’s scars filled him with a burning rage that threatened to consume him. "Did he do this to you?" He said his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and fury, unable to comprehend the cruelty inflicted upon him. Which father would do that to their own son, in game or in reality? That bastard didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Luo Muchen. He needed to die.

Luo Muchen’s silence spoke volumes, his eyes glistening with unreadable emotions as he struggled to find the words to answer his question. The pain etched on his face revealed the truth that words could not convey.

"That evil bastard," Qie Xieling muttered through gritted teeth, his desire for vengeance palpable in the air. He turned to leave, his mind consumed by thoughts of retribution for the one who had caused such harm to Luo Muchen.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold Luo Muchen’s arms wrapped around his waist from behind, pulling him into an embrace. "Lin Lin, don’t go," he pleaded, his voice a whispered plea filled with vulnerability and fear.

Qie Xieling’s body stiffened, torn between his desire to seek justice and his urge to comfort Luo Muchen. He tried to push him away while saying, "Mu Mu, let me go," his voice tinged with anguish.

But Luo Muchen held on tighter, refusing to let him go. "Please," he whispered, his words a gentle caress against Qie Xieling’s ear.

Qie Xieling’s resistance slowly waned as he felt the warmth of Luo Muchen’s embrace and heard the vulnerability in his voice. He turned around to face Luo Muchen, his anger temporarily tempered.

"I can’t let him get away with this... he not only wanted to take your body but he even hurt you," said Qie Xieling touching his cheek. Luo Muchen closed his eyes slightly as he rubbed his cheek against Qie Xieling’s hand.

Qie Xieling on the other end was talking to Jolie internally. ’In five seconds, lock Luo Muchen in here. I just need ten minutes with that bastard,’ he said and Jolie laughed while saying,

’Kids these days are disrespectful. How can you forget to use honorifics?’

Qie Xieling, ’???’’Jiejie please lock him in,’ he said and Jolie loved the feeling of being called that.

’Don’t worry this older sister has your back,’ she said and Qie Xieling leaned in and kissed Luo Muchen’s lips before suddenly shoving him away and making a run for it.

By the time Luo Muchen realised what had happened the door had locked and it wasn’t responding to his commands.

AN: Next Chapter is ready. Enjoy!