Chapter 17 - 1.17 What Do You Think Of Me?
Ever since Jing Xuehao held something over Ren Zexi, his life has turned a lot better, or at least he didn't have to feel inferior again in front of that teenager.
In the end, both of them were the same. They would go to such lengths to get whatever they wanted. Ren Zexi was even worse— for wealth, power and status, he would even seduce a man 25 years older than him. The more Jing Xuehao thought about it, the better he felt.
Since that day, everytime he locked eyes with Ren Zexi, he would think of that photo and give that teenager a sneer. Ren Zexi was more powerful, more well liked and more popular than him just because he had Lu Yizhou. If he, too, had someone like Lu Yizhou, he would also be able to stand at the same place as Ren Zexi.
Meanwhile, Ren Zexi who usually held zero care over his surroundings, started to get conscious of Jing Xuehao. Ren Zexi would give him a glare every time their eyes met. He was aware of how childish he behaved but he didn't know why either, whenever he saw Jing Xuehao, he was reminded of the gaze that teenager directed to Lu Yizhou and also the attention Lu Yizhou spared him.
Warning bells rang in his mind. From the years of staying together with Lu Yizhou, there were countless people who had tried to get close to that man — both men and women — yet Ren Zexi never felt anything whatsoever because he knew that Lu Yizhou wouldn't have given them his attention. But why...from Jing Xuehao, he felt a sense of danger he never felt before?
He felt so insecure. He was afraid that... Lu Yizhou would be taken away from him.
Thus, the two teenagers who were totally in different wavelengths started to compete in every single thing, totally consumed by the spirit of competitiveness. From the mock exam's scores, who was able to answer Teacher's question the most, who could run the fastest in PE Class, who could sing the best in Music Class — everything. It was to the point where the whole school gossiped about it.
"I really don't like him!" Ren Zexi grumbled one day after he returned home. Jing Xuehao and his mock exam's score was tied again — both got full marks in all subjects. With a belly full of anger and grievance, he leaned on Lu Yizhou's leg as the man sat on his chair by the fireplace, a book on his lap.
Hearing him, Lu Yizhou merely hummed and turned the page, totally immersed in it.
Ren Zexi felt even more wronged and started to tug on his pants. "Uncle Lu!"
"I heard you." Lu Yizhou said in an impassive tone and patted his head casually.