Chapter 6: Chapter 5-More Rumors

After his parents knew that Qiu Chen almost fainted they started to shower him with even more care. This day his parents went on a candle light dinner. Qin Shing was afraid his brother would be alone and cry a river because of loneliness, so he took him to a party that he attended. It was a homecoming party of one of Qin Shing’s childhood friends’. Almost all the upper class family’s young generations were invited.

“Xiao Shui!” someone screamed his name as soon as he entered the venue. It was Xiao Tan, second daughter of the Xiao family and Qin Shui’s only friend who knew about his background. It was also her who tried to set up Qin Shui with Bai Ling.

“Tantan” Qiu Chen greeted and went to her. Qin Shing knew that his brother wasn’t good at socializing and since he already found a friend here, he guessed he could stay with her.

“I’ll go meet my friends.” He told Qiu Chen.

“Brother Qin!” only now Xiao Tan noticed Qin Shing.

“Miss Xiao” Qin Shing nodded to her and walked towards the center where his friends were.

“Xiao Shui, I am sorry. If I hadn’t talked to Bai Ling for you, you wouldn’t have to suffer so much.” Xiao Tan looked really guilty.

“It’s not your fault. The ones who want to talk will always talk.” Qiu Chen knew that Xiao Tan looked really guilty.

“I’m transferring to your university next week. Say, are you happy?” Xiao Tan had an always smiling personality. She is that kind of person who can light up a dark room only with her smile.

Qiu Chen subconsciously smiled looking at her. He thought he could ask her to help him with the rumors a bit. He told her plan.

“You are awesome, Xiao Shui! I never knew that you were so poisonous!” Xiao Tan almost jumped up with excitement. Qiu Chen held her down by her wrist, still smiling. This scene was seen by Chang Shi. He is also a rich second generation, though his family is not powerful as Qin, Xiao, Qu or Qian family. Chang family could only be rated as second class at most.

Seeing Qiu Chen holding Xiao Tan’s hand so intimately and looking at her with a smile, he thought he came here with her and had a ‘special’ relationship with her. If Qiu Chen could hear his inner thoughts it would’ve made him roll his eyes. The original was into men for heaven’s sake!

Qiu Chen continued talking to Xiao Tan, or it could be said that Xiao Tan was talking nonstop and Qiu Chen was listening.

“May I talk to you alone for a moment?” they didn’t notice when Qu Yu came to them.

Though he was puzzled, Qiu Chen still went to a secluded corner with Qu Yu.

“Brother Yu” Qiu Chen indicated him to talk. Qu Yu looked into his eyes and sighed.

“You are not him. Who are you?” Qu Yu calmly asked.

“I don’t understand what Brother Yu is talking about” Qiu Chen tried to remain calm.

“Your eyes are different. Your eyes can’t make my heart race, his could. You don’t need to pretend anymore. I know you are not him. What did you do to him?” Qu Yu impatiently urged him.

Qiu Chen was shocked to speechlessness. “SYSTEM! What the hell is he talking about?” he roared in is mind.

“It seems like they are really soulmates. So he can recognize Qin Shui’s soul, and knows that you two exchanged.” System was a bit irritated to come out of his hibernation.

“You said soulmates cannot be separated. So what will happen to them?”

“After Qin Shui enters the reincarnation cycle, Qu Yu will be able to follow him. But remember, even for soulmates, strong willpower is needed.” System went offline finishing its oracle.

Qiu Chen looked at Qu Yu, brushing off his introvert persona. “Do you love him? Are you willing to follow him despite the hardship of life and death?”

This question startled Qu Yu. But he replied in a firm tone, “I can do everything for him.”

“It was Qin Shui who asked me to replace his soul in this body. After I finish granting his wish, he will enter reincarnation cycle. You can follow him then. But if your determination is a bit weaker, you won’t be able to follow him. I know what I said is hard to believe. But you have already seen through me. I don’t need to hide anything.”

“I believe you” Qu Yu was strangely calm now. “Can you tell me your name?”

“You don’t need to know my name.” Qiu Chen tried to walk away leaving this sentence.

“Wait a moment. Your brother told me to call you. You better go there with me.”

Qiu Chen nodded and followed him. On the way he took a piece of cake from the table. He knew that brother of his didn’t eat anything during this period, and drinking alcohol in an empty stomach isn’t good.

“Brother” Qiu Chen called Qin Shing in a sweet voice and handed over the cake. He went back to his introvert persona. He looked like shy little child this way.

“Xiao Shui brought the cake for me?” Qin Shing smiled with a smile in his voice. Qiu Chen nodded in reply.

“Afraid that I’ll get sick? Is Xiao Shui worried about brother?” Qin Shing continued to tease him and got another little nod from his baby brother.

All his friends present there laughed seeing their interaction. But a certain man’s eyes went dark. The man is named Qu Yi, Qu Yu’s cousin. Although he is younger than others, he sat with them with the identity of President Qu. Qu Yu was Qu Yi’s second uncle’s son and older than him by three years. His father was the eldest. He succeeded Old President Qu, his father at an early age because his father felt tired of official duties and went on a world tour to relax three years ago.

Sensing the gaze Qiu Chen looked over and saw a man whose facial features were similar to Qu Yu. It is said similar, but this man is way more handsome than Qu Yu or his brother. He has a cold domineering aura that tends to suppress anyone near him. He wore a black suit which enhanced his already broad chest and narrow waist. It can be easily seen that he is the most powerful man here who was thoroughly ignored by him just now.

But looking into those eyes Qiu Chen didn’t feel even a bit of discomfort, rather he felt at peace. It was like he was lying on a soft bed with no worries and no tomorrow, like he got everything he could ever want.

“Are you Qin Shui? Hello, my name is Qu Yi. Nice to meet you” Qu Yi tried to make his voice as soft as possible and extended his hand. Only he knows how hard he controlled himself not to pinch the chubby little man’s puffy cheeks. He wanted to poke and pinch them.

Qiu Chen held his hand dazedly. This person made him want to stay by his side. By the time he gathered his wits he already finished shaking hands and sat back down beside Qin Shing. Qin Shing stared at Qu Yi threateningly. He could clearly see his intentions towards his little brother. His brother was already hurt once due to love. He doesn’t want him suffer anymore.

Chang Shi observed the whole scene. But as he was far away, he couldn’t hear anything. He just thought that Qiu Chen was trying to hook up with different men. He tried to communicate with other boys who sat with him on the same table. These all are from second rated families. So they don’t have any actual connection with the young masters of the first rate families.

“Why is Qin Shui is with those bigshots?” Chang Shi asked disdainfully.

“Is his surname Qin? He must be here with President Qin then” one of the boys said.

“Having the surname means he’s from the Qin family? You don’t know he’s from our university. H has the habit of chasing men. He chased one in highschool. He must be here to chase men. Don’t look at his branded cloths. They must be copy. He usually wears cheap ones” Chang Shi sneered.

“How can anyone who is not a young master enter this party? The Qian family won’t allow it” another one tried to reason.

“Is it a Young Master or a 'Young Master'? Look how fat he is. It must feel good in bed” Chang Shi continued his disgusting talk. But this time no one responded to him. They can’t risk offending someone they shouldn’t depending on some campus rumors. To Chang Shi it seemed like they agreed to him.

Back to Qiu Chen, he was getting bored sitting with his brother and his friends. So he spoke to his brother and got up to find Xiao Tan. “That girl has a lot of friends. It will be hard to find her here” Qiu Chen thought.

“Qin Shui” Qiu Chen heard the voice he heard not long ago behind him. Something in that voice made him feel at peace just like those eyes did. He looked back.

“May I have your contact information? I’d like to get to know you” Qu Yi cautiously stated. He didn’t want to scare the boy.

“Why?” Qiu Chen asked.

“Do you have any problem? If you have you don’t need to” Qu Yi was afraid he still scared Qiu Chen.

“No, I mean, why would President Qu like to contact me? Your job must be with my brother.” Qiu Chen wanted to be sure. After all, this man made him feel weird.

“Do you want me to be direct?” Qu Yi asked. This boy didn’t seem as timid as he was earlier.

“Yes.”

“I want to pursue you” Qu Yi stated.

“Does President have the habit of pursuing random people? Sorry, I don’t want to give you my contact information.” Qiu Chen said coldly and proceeded to leave.

“Wait….” Qu Yi stopped abruptly as he sensed a hand putting pressure on his shoulder.

Qiu Chen didn’t look back and went away.

Qin Shing knew what was going on seeing Qu Yi leave right after Qiu Chen. So he quietly followed him and heard their entire conversation. When Qiu Chen said he didn’t want to contact Qu Yi, he decided to butt in.

“President Qu have some respect. Don’t bother my brother” Qin Shing snorted coldly.

“I want to pursue your brother in a STRAIGHT FORWARD way. As for why I acted so rushly, just look at your brother. Such a cute person,” Qu Yi’s eyes soaked with tenderness, “should I not be afraid of him being stolen by someone else? And Brother Qin has known me for so long. Are you not aware of my character?” Qu Yi’s confrontation made Qin Shing swallow back the words he prepared. Each of Qu Yi’s words seemed right.

“If you make my brother uncomfortable in any possible way, I’ll make you pay. And I am not your Brother Qin” Qin Shing heavily warned Qu Yi.

“Don’t worry, days like that won’t come” Qu Yi stood firmly, invisible current between two men.

Not far from them Chang Shi sneered again, “As expected of a male vixen, making two influential men fighting over him.” As usual, no one responded.

So, the next day rumor about Qin Shui hooking up with Second Young Lady Xiao as well as different influential eligible bachelors spread through the university. Qiu Chen heard all those sneers and disdains. Unlike past, today he was in a low mood. He felt bad after refusing Qu Yi yesterday. Now his mood was affected by these gossips. “They spread rumors even with my brother?” Qiu Chen thought as entered the class.

“Xiao Shui” Xiao Tan screamed joyfully. She also heard the rumors about herself and Qiu Chen, but she had confidence in Qiu Chen’s plan. So, it didn’t affect her mood.

But when she saw Qiu Chen in a low mood, she felt bad. She wanted to comfort him but he spoke first “Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to come a week later?”

“I wanted to surprise you” Xiao Tan pouted.

“You lied to me” Qiu Chen pouted back.

They weren’t deliberately loud, but the students from nearby seats could hear them clear. How could there be any shady relationship between these two? These two were definitely two little children sulking with each other. Not to mention, they never saw this adorable side of Qiu Chen. He seemed to be grim and aloof all the time.

Qiu Chen and Xiao Tan were actually like little playful children who were pranking others. So when they went to the cafeteria to have some coffee, they immediately entered the acting mode.

“Tantan, let’s go to the corner” Qiu Chen said in a down tone.

“Why? These tables are empty. We’re gonna sit here” Xiao Tan replied in an arrogant tone.

“But they will talk, they hate me” Qiu Chen looked like he was about to cry making Xiao Tan amazed by his acting skill.

“Let them hate you, you didn’t……….” Xiao Tan acted like she suddenly saw Bai Ling there and walked towards him.

Bai Ling was sitting with Tang Feng seemingly chatting, but his ears were perked up to listen to Qiu Chen and Xiao Tan. He noticed her walking over to him and looked up.

“Haven’t you hurt him enough with your ego?  Why are you using the whole university to hurt him now. It was me…..” Xiao Tan spoke upto this when Qiu Chen suddenly roared.

“TANTAN, STOP! PLEASE! STOP” he said this and ran out of the cafeteria. Xiao Tan looked pained. She casted a vicious glare to Bai Ling and followed Qiu Chen in a fast pace.

“Did I hurt him?” Bai Ling asked himself. Qiu Chen today really made him question his past behavior. Had he gone too overboard? Didn’t the boy only like him? How has it come to this point? But wasn't he always like this? Hooking up with men? He himself saw him coming to school in different expensive cars. He once even saw him a rich man old enough to be his father dropping him off not far from the school gate. There was also a handsome young man sometimes. Wasn't it clear enough what was going on? Wasn't this seemingly clean boy always like that?

Tang Feng looked at Bai Ling’s face. Growing up with this man he could easily read his thoughts from his face. He clenched his fist in a tight fist.

After Qiu Chen ran outside, his mood became even lower. He didn’t like to see that Bai Ling or Tang Feng. He decided not to go back to class. He sent a message to Xiao Tan informing her and decided to wander around to calm his mood down. He went to a bench beside the pond and sat down.

After a while someone sat beside him. “Did he hurt you so much? You can cry when you are sad” Qu Yi said affectionately putting his hand on Qiu Chen’s head.

This one touch made Qiu Chen loose the last bit of control on his mood. He started sniffing, tears pouring down like rain.

“I don’t love him. But they are too much. I also rejected you yesterday. What if I hadn’t met you again?” Qiu Chen blurted out all the truth.

“So, you are sad because you rejected me?” Qu Yi felt bewildered.

“I don’t know” Qiu Chen cried even harder. He wasn’t like this. He wasn’t a crybaby. But in front of the family and this man he doesn’t seem to have any restrain. He can understand about the family. It must be the original owner’s emotion. But what about this man? He doesn’t know.

Qu Yi could only pat the child’s head as he cried. He felt he should let him cry it all out. Though he hates to see him cry, sometimes it’s better to vent than bottling it up. But after today he’ll never let him cry.

Xiao Tan went back to class after receiving Qiu Chen’s message. She knew his character, it’s better not to bother him when he needed quiet. So she didn’t know Bai Ling also went to find Qiu Chen. When he found Qiu Chen he saw a picture he could hardly imagine. The little chubby young man was crying pitifully and a suited high profile handsome older young man was patting his head tenderly with a distressed expression on his face. He didn’t know who the man was but the background of the man seemed really noble. “Is he one of ‘those’ men?” Bai Ling thought. But despite this he couldn’t help but feeling lost, like he lost something valuable only to never get it back. He kept looking at them until the youth stopped crying and the man held his hand to lead him towards a Benz parked not far. He saw a professional bodyguard bringing an ice cream and handed over to the man. The man then delivered it to the youth’s mouth who absentmindedly took a bite and ascended the car. The man followed him in, the car started. Bai Ling kept looking at them until the car disappeared around the corner. He woke up from daze, but why did his chest hurts so much? He rejected him so many years ago, he always disdained him. Then why it felt like this now?