Deep Development 1×3 (H)

Chapter 42

Ovid, the last great Roman poet who was exiled, praised countless love affairs. He said, “Those who repeatedly say ‘I do not love’ are all in love.”

When you think about it, these “those” are indeed somewhat hypocritical. However, nowadays, such people are quite common. The more genuine the “love,” the harder it is for them to confess.

Take, for example, these three men from the Mo family. They never utter the word “love” as if they were not Americans. A casual “I love you” may seem simple, but for them, it carried immeasurable weight.

Of course, this was also a good thing. The heavier and more valuable something is, the more it is worth cherishing.

However, there are other ways to express love, and that is to be by the side of the person you care about, never leaving nor forsaking. However, for Wang Zihe, who is going through all this, these past few days have been unbearably bitter.

It was as if Mo Jian had taken the wrong medicine, clinging to him incessantly. More precisely, ever since Mo Xijue had to go to Italy because of an auction, and Mo Yi was not at home due to the nine-to-five routine, he naturally felt like a fish in water.

Mo Jian stuck to Wang Zihe like a piece of toffee, following him wherever he goes. Even when he goes to meet Mo Yi, Mo Jian tags along like a third wheel.

“Can’t you find something to do?” Wang Zihe rubbed his temples and looked at Mo Jian, who was sitting across from him, reading a newspaper.

“Can’t you see I’m reading a newspaper?” Mo Jian’s face revealed a sunny and brilliant smile at his helpless expression.

“Don’t follow me anymore!”

“I’ve heard that sentence fifty-eight times already. I suggest you come up with something new.”

“Forget it, if you don’t leave, I will.”

“I’ve heard that sentence thirty-nine times already. I suggest you come up with something new.”

“Fuck.” It was at this moment that Wang Zihe realized he truly had no way to deal with Mo Jian. Willful and rebellious youngsters always leave him at a loss.

“What’s so fun about Mo Yi, that facial paralysis? He’s old and boring. I’m much more interesting than him.” Mo Jian put down the newspaper and put on a pretentious helpless and unfortunate expression.

“Is that so? I think I’m older than you by a round. I’m even older than Mo Yi. Go play in the mud by yourself, brat!” Wang Zihe squinted his eyes, smirked, and stood up, throwing the book he had in his hand at Mo Jian before leaving the living room.

Watching Wang Zihe leave with a face full of anger, Mo Jian was first stunned, but then he burst into laughter and he quickly caught up with his steps.

He followed Wang Zihe to the indoor tennis court, watched him change into sports attire and passionately swing his racket against the wall.

“Are you joining in?” Wang Zihe looked at Mo Jian outside the court and asked.

“If I win, will you go on a date with me?” Mo Jian smirked with a hint of rogue charm.

“Talk about it when you win.” After saying that, Wang Zihe threw a tennis racket into his arms.

Then, they had a thrilling and exhilarating battle. Mo Jian was once again amazed. It wasn’t strange for Wang Zihe, who had always been into sports, to play tennis, but he never dreamed that Wang Zihe would be so skilled.

Feeling the gust of wind rushing past his hair, the sound of the tennis ball hit the ground with a resounding bounce, and a drop of sweat quickly slid down his temple, wetting his collar.

“Do you still think you can win?” Wang Zihe, who was slightly panting, raised an eyebrow and smiled at Mo Jian standing across from him, exuding unparalleled confidence.

“When it comes to sports, I never lose.” Mo Jian, who had already missed three balls in a row, gradually became serious. His greenish-amber eyes burned with the flame of battle. He slightly bent his knees, gripping the racket with both hands, assuming the most perfect fighting stance.

“I’ll be watching then.” After saying that, Wang Zihe once again tossed the ball high, and then, like a praying mantis launching an attack, he quickly leaped up and swung his racket in a seamless and fluid motion.

The tennis ball swiftly flew over the net in the middle, shuttling back and forth at an almost invisible speed. After countless rounds of exchanges, the two finally determined the winner. In the end, Mo Jian lost to Wang Zihe by just one point. (They didn’t keep score since it wasn’t a formal match.)

At this moment, both of them were soaked in sweat. They lay panting on the tennis court, looking at the high ceiling of the court adorned with steel beams, and burst into hearty laughter.

“Do you know? Just because I’m a football player, people always misunderstand me as a muscle-brained idiot. But how would those guys know that sports also require intelligence?” Mo Jian chuckled self-deprecatingly while catching his breath.

“Just like tennis, every move, from the grip to the serve, requires the brain to calculate and coordinate. It’s a combination of physical strength and intellect.” Wang Zihe nodded.

“People only believe what their eyes can see.” Mo Jian blinked and sighed, his smile gradually fading from his face.

“Only those who love you would want to know the unseen aspects of your being—your character, your hobbies, and your desires,” Wang Zihe turned his head to gaze at Mo Jian’s perfectly sculpted profile, as if carved by a divine hand.

“And what about you? Can you see into my soul through my flesh?” Mo Jian turned his head to look into Wang Zihe’s eyes, a rare seriousness evident on his face.

“Of course,” Wang Zihe stared into Mo Jian’s eyes, shimmering with greenish-amber light, and smiled.

“What is he like?”

“He is golden, like the newborn sun over the sea, like the first ray of light illuminating the earth, like a golden sword piercing through dark clouds, like a golden lake that can reflect shadows…,” Wang Zihe extended his hand, using his fingertips to trace the exquisite contours of Mo Jian’s face, starting from his full forehead, down to his prominent nose, and ending at his plump and delicate lips, finally descending to the protrusion of his neck where his Adam’s apple lay.

“I can see your soul too… Hmm, it is blue, like an endless sea, like the sky without boundaries that envelops the mortal world, like the universe studded with countless stars, like the morning star that reflects my own soul…” Mo Jian turned his body to the side, leaning closer to Wang Zihe’s face, and once again revealed a smile that was even brighter than before.

“You shouldn’t have become an athlete; it conceals too much of you. You should have been a poet, the greatest romantic poet of the 21st century, Mo Jian Shakespeare.” Wang Zihe couldn’t help but tease on hearing his words.

“Then you are the greatest aesthete playwright of the 21st century, Wang Zihe Oscar Wilde.” Mo Jian propped himself up and quickly planted a kiss on the tip of Wang Zihe’s nose, then he extended his hand to gently caress the sweat-soaked strands of hair on his forehead.

“The Victorian of the 21st century? Haha.” Wang Zihe looked up at Mo Jian, who was attentively wiping away his sweat, and suddenly felt some self-reproach. He had always seen him as a child, molding a superficial impression based on personal biases, from an adult’s perspective.

“Would you like to see Wilde’s ‘Salome’?” Mo Jian’s thoughts jumped quickly, and his eyes suddenly sparkled brightly, resembling an adorable puppy.

“Sure, but I won this match, and as the loser, you should face the consequences.” Wang Zihe sat up, leaning forward, and looked down at Mo Jian’s face with a mischievous smile.

“What kind of consequences? You’re not thinking of topping me, are you? Let me make it clear, I won’t ever play the bottom role.” Mo Jian pretended to be angry, furrowing his brows and speaking firmly.

“You have quite the imagination.” Wang Zihe couldn’t help but reach out and pat his head, rolling his eyes.

“I want you to obey my every command for the entire night.” He continued with his request.

“As long as it’s not being the bottom, anything is fine.” Mo Jian rubbed his head where he was patted, and once again, a smile appeared on his face.

“Let’s go, my sunshine boy.” Wang Zihe also rubbed his soft, slightly curly hair and then stood up, patting off the dust settled on his body.

Then he reached out and grabbed Mo Jian’s wrist, playfully running away from the tennis court together.

Unfortunately, despite their search, they couldn’t find the opera “Salome” anywhere. There were no performances of that play recently. In the end, they returned to the bar where they first met.

“Do you know? Hearing this kind of music again doesn’t make me feel young, I feel like my heart can’t handle it. Maybe I am getting old.” Wang Zihe stood at the bar and took a sip of his drink, speaking with a touch of melancholy.

“You’re right, you are indeed getting old. You’ve aged to the point where you only listen to classical music, wear reading glasses to read the newspaper, and sit under the sunset lamenting how youthful and handsome you used to be,” Mo Jian didn’t argue with him, instead sporting a gentle smile, painting a picture of growing old.

“Fuck you.” Wang Zihe, of course, knew that Mo Jian was teasing him, and a smile appeared on his face as well.

Being with Mo Jian felt different. His smile was like sunshine, able to illuminate your doors and windows, open up your heart, brimming with vitality and energy. Suddenly, it felt as if he had become ten years younger. Despite their significant age difference, it didn’t hinder their joyful and pleasant communication.

“There’s less than a week left until my vacation ends. I really don’t want to leave…” Mo Jian suddenly lowered his gaze, his voice becoming subdued.

“Will you come to my school’s opening ceremony?” He continued without waiting for Wang Zihe’s answer.

“Will the others be there?”

“They’re not important. You are. I hope you can come.”

“You shouldn’t have invited me.” At this point, Wang Zihe fell silent.

“Why?” Mo Jian furrowed his brows, puzzled.

Wang Zihe looked at his perplexed expression, reached out to caress his cheek, and then revealed a faint smile once again. “We’re not compatible.”

“You won’t know if we’re not compatible if you don’t even give it a try.”

“You’ll go back to university and have the most beautiful and free four years of your life, with a more brilliant future. You’ll meet countless handsome young men just like you. And I’m too old for you.” He finished his drink in one gulp, looked at Mo Jian’s youthful and handsome face with a gentle smile.

“I can apply to transfer to a university in Country C.” Mo Jian stared at Wang Zihe’s eyes intently.

“I’m curious. What made you change suddenly? You shouldn’t have such intense feelings for me yet.” Wang Zihe suddenly shifted the topic, looking at Mo Jian’s gradually serious expression.

“Fuck! It’s really noisy here!” After turning his head and finishing his drink, Mo Jian grabbed his hand and pushed through the crowded crowd, leaving the bar.

Breathing in the fresh air outside, both of them took a deep breath, feeling relieved.

They fell into silence, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment. After sighing, Wang Zihe took the initiative to speak, “Let’s go back.”

When they returned to the villa, Mo Yi hadn’t come back yet. He was probably working overtime.

They entered the elevator and stopped on the third floor, preparing to go back to his room. At this moment, Mo Jian didn’t want to face Wang Zihe. He had imagined many ways of being rejected, but he never expected it to turn out like this, just because of age? It’s absurd!

As he was about to step out of the elevator, Wang Zihe grabbed him and they went up to the fifth floor together, entered his room, and he locked the door behind them.

“I’m not in the mood right now.” Mo Jian stood at the doorway, frowning.

“You promised. Tonight, you’ll listen to my commands.” Wang Zihe sat on the soft bed and beckoned him over, as if he was commanding a pet.

“…” For some reason, despite Mo Jian’s anger, he couldn’t refuse. He obediently walked to the edge of the bed and sat down beside Wang Zihe.

“There’s something I need to tell you.” After speaking, Wang Zihe stood up and walked to the nearby wardrobe. He opened it, revealing a safe inside. He opened the safe and took out a yellow A4-sized file folder.

He sat back next to Mo Jian, handing him the file and gesturing for him to open it.

Mo Jian took out the documents from the folder and flipped through them. Then he stared at the contents and widened his eyes in astonishment, “You sold yourself to my father for one hundred million yuan?”

“I thought you were different from others!” Mo Jian suddenly stood up, angrily throwing the documents at Wang Zihe. Then he grabbed his collar with both hands, his expression fierce.

“I’m showing you these not to make you angry, but to tell you why we’re not compatible!” Wang Zihe allowed him to vent his anger, then he stared into Mo Jian’s eyes and let out a sneer. “Please, use that muscle-filled brain of yours to think. Think about the consequences if I hadn’t agreed. I still want my life.”

“Now, let go of me.” Wang Zihe’s face also showed a hint of anger. He glanced at Mo Jian with displeasure and gave him a command.

“Sorry…” Hearing his explanation, Mo Jian, whose anger had clouded his judgment, finally understood. He reluctantly released his hands that were gripping his collar, lowering his gaze.

After a moment of silence, Wang Zihe tidied up the scattered documents on the bed. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

Seeing his disappointed look, Mo Jian felt even worse in his heart. How could he have misunderstood him like this?

Suddenly, he raised his head, stepped forward, and embraced Wang Zihe, resting his chin on his neck. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, absorbing the fragrance and comforting warmth from him. “Recently, I’ve been having the same dream. I dreamt that I was standing on the edge of a cliff, hesitating and anxious. I looked at the deep blue sea below, it kept calling me, calling my name. It knew all my secrets, it knew everything I was thinking. It’s strange, I didn’t feel scared at all, just nervous and restless. I was afraid that it wouldn’t want me, so I jumped off the cliff with that uneasy yet excited feeling.”

“Then, I felt it. It was exactly as I imagined. So warm, so peaceful, so sweet. I knew that I liked it, I loved it deeply. In it’s embrace, I absorbed it’s warmth that was as hot as erupting lava. The scorching heat made my heart melt… Then I woke up.”

“When I lifted the blanket, I found my semen splattered everywhere.” At this point, he burst into laughter, followed by affectionately kissing Wang Zihe’s neck, appearing particularly intimate.

“It seems like you haven’t properly used the gift I gave you.” Wang Zihe couldn’t help teasing.

He slightly raised his head and gently bit Mo Jian’s earlobe, then let out a joyful laughter from his chest. “That is the most romantic confession I’ve ever heard.”

Feeling his body trembling slightly from laughter, Mo Jian couldn’t help but hold him even tighter, as if he wanted to fully embrace him within himself.

“When is your next football game?”

“Next February. I will send you the tickets. I’ll be waiting for you.”

A few days later, at the international terminal of the S City airport, the sight of two handsome and tall men tightly embracing each other caught the attention of many onlookers. However, the two of them seemed oblivious to the world around them, lost in their own embrace.

“Have a safe journey.” Wang Zihe gently kissed Mo Jian’s cheek.

“Please don’t forget me.” Mo Jian closed his eyes and pressed his nose against Wang Zihe’s.

“You should forget about me.” Wang Zihe reached out and lightly stroked the soft, slightly curly hair on Mo Jian’s forehead, sighing.

Mo Jian’s eyelashes trembled and he opened his eyes. There seemed to be a hint of watery shimmer in his crystal-clear gaze. Then, he lowered his head and smiled helplessly. “You truly are heartless, Wang Zihe.”

Hearing the slightly choked-up tone in Mo Jian’s voice, Wang Zihe felt a pang of sourness in his heart. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. After a brief silence, he lifted his head, looked directly into Mo Jian’s eyes, and suddenly cupped his face with both hands, kissing his lips.

The sight of the two passionately embracing immediately captured the attention of everyone around them. Many people even took out their phones and began snapping photos, as such a scene of two handsome and elegant men kissing was truly a rare sight.

“You should go now; the plane is about to depart.” Finally, Wang Zihe gently released their lips. A faint smile appeared on his face once again as he spoke.

“Goodbye, my sunshine boy.” With those words, he gave Mo Jian’s forehead a firm kiss before turning around and walking away with an air of elegance.

“Goodbye, my blue soul.” Mo Jian watched his departing figure and murmured softly, speaking in a voice only he could hear.

He gazed at the fading figure until it completely disappeared from sight. In that moment, he felt as if his heart had been torn apart, the pain rendering it unable to beat, he gasped for breath, feeling suffocated..