MAPF Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Male Companion – As Long As You Want

Time passed day by day, the summer heat waned, and early autumn brought a coolness to the city.

In early September, Xie Tian’an announced his divorce from Chen Ning. As soon as the news broke, Xie Shi Group was in an uproar, and rumors spread throughout the social circle.

However, Xie Tian’an ignored it, continuing to do what he needed to do. Within the company, he cleanly divided Chen Ning’s work and found others to take over.

Xie Shiwei, who was buried in his work, rushed home upon hearing the news, only to find Chen Ning packing her belongings. Large and small boxes filled the hallway, and a large truck waited outside the door for her to move out.

Xie Shiwei casually greeted Chen Ning.

Chen Ning turned to look at him, her gaze filled with undisguised resentment.

Xie Tian’an wasn’t there. Chen Ning walked towards Xie Shiwei step by step, stopping in front of him. She sneered and asked, word by word, “You have methods.”

“Thank you,” Xie Shiwei retorted.

Chen Ning continued to sneer, “Are you really him?”

“What do you mean?” Xie Shiwei asked coldly.

“You know what I mean.” Chen Ning saw Xie Tian’an pushing open the door and coming out, and raised her voice, “Xie Shiwei and you seem like two different people. You’re pretending too much; it’s not like him at all.”

Xie Shiwei heard Xie Tian’an’s footsteps. The moment Chen Ning exposed him, his heart raced, and he couldn’t help but clench his fist. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you have so much to say, you should talk to a psychiatrist.”

“Alright, don’t talk nonsense. Pack up and leave,” Xie Tian’an said, walking between the two of them, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Xie Tian’an, you’re heartless and ungrateful!” Chen Ning said angrily, looking at Xie Tian’an. “One day, you’ll be completely fooled by this swindler. If you don’t want to give me the family property, then leave it to this imposter!”

Xie Shiwei saw Chen Ning tearing off her mask and felt uneasy, but he couldn’t show it. He could only pretend to be innocent, his eyes filled with helplessness and grievance as he looked at Xie Tian’an.

Xie Tian’an patted his shoulder to reassure him. “Chen Ning, I’ve already been more than fair to you. The money in your card is enough for you to squander for ten years. You’re not incompetent; this money is enough for you to live well. I don’t ask you to be grateful, I just hope you don’t distort the truth.”

Chen Ning glared at both of them, then directed the movers to load everything onto the truck, cursing as she left.

As the person left, the tea grew cold, and the house fell silent.

“Dad,” Xie Shiwei took a breath, “Don’t mind what she said…”

Xie Tian’an looked at him, then smiled. “I know, Chen Ning’s mind has always been a bit twisted. I only listen to many of the things she says.”

Xie Tian’an’s phone rang; it was about work matters. After talking for a while, he asked Xie Shiwei to help him get a file bag from the bedroom.

Xie Shiwei obediently went to get it.

This was his first time going into Xie Tian’an’s bedroom. He didn’t often come to this house, and the few times he did, it was just for meals. He had never been to such a private place.

In the bedroom, the decor was walnut wood, and all traces of Chen Ning had disappeared, as if this person had never existed.

Xie Shiwei looked around and saw the kraft paper bag on the bedside table. He picked it up and was about to leave when a photo caught his eye.

The photo hung behind the door, framed in a delicate oak frame.

The man in the photo was handsome and dashing, and the woman was bright and generous. They stood hand in hand on the riverbank, with a crimson sunset behind them.

Was this Xie Tian’an and his original wife?

In other words, the original owner’s mother.

Xie Shiwei went closer to look. The woman in the photo seemed somewhat similar to Chen Ning.

Xie Shiwei understood.

It wasn’t that she looked like Chen Ning, but that Chen Ning looked like her. However, Chen Ning didn’t have the woman’s serenity and elegance, only utilitarianism and worldliness.

Xie Shiwei stared at the photo for a long time, then closed the door and went out.

Xie Tian’an took the file bag, sat down on the sofa, and took a small sip of tea. “Son, do you remember how angry you were at me when I first married Chen Ning?”

Xie Shiwei shook his head.

“At that time, you were only a little over ten years old. The first time you saw Chen Ning, you said she looked like your mother, and that I had betrayed her by finding a substitute, a counterfeit.” Xie Tian’an’s gaze was distant, and he shook his head self-deprecatingly. “You were right back then. I was blinded by grief, missing your mother so much that I tolerated Chen Ning standing by my side.”

“She has a face that looks a bit like your mother, but she’s scheming and manipulative. Chen Ning isn’t her. I should have woken up a long time ago, but I kept deceiving myself.” Xie Tian’an’s tone was self-deprecating. “Thank you, son. If it weren’t for you, I would never have realized that she wasn’t just greedy for money, but also had such a vicious mind. She could abandon such a small child when she first became a mother, and create a new identity. In the future, she might do something to retaliate against me because I don’t allow her to interfere with the company.”

“I’m sorry, son. This whole thing was Dad’s fault from beginning to end. I was busy with work and neglected you. It was only now that I realized Chen Ning’s intention of doting on you was to ruin you. Luckily, you’re smart and reacted first.” Xie Tian’an touched Xie Shiwei’s head. “Son, it’ll just be the two of us at home from now on. Keep it up.”

Xie Shiwei nodded emphatically. “Don’t worry, I’ll grow up.”

“But, Dad, won’t you be lonely?”

Xie Tian’an sighed, “I’m used to it.”

Xie Shiwei later understood that the reason he was used to loneliness was because since losing his beloved wife, Xie Tian’an’s life had already been as lonely as snow.

.

With Chen Ning’s matter resolved, the hidden danger of Bai An and He Qin joining forces to retaliate against the Xie family also no longer existed.

Xie Shiwei’s last worry was gone, and he felt comfortable all over. When he got off work and returned to his apartment, he would just laze around, watch movies, play games, and read books. He also often went out to play with Zhang Yingjun and the others.

The days passed slowly but pleasantly. Xie Shiwei counted down the days until He Qin’s divorce, looking forward to a free life after the divorce, but at the same time, he was a little ashamed to admit his reluctance.

He had to admit that he and He Qin had lived together in the apartment with no one else around for two months, and He Qin’s performance had been perfect.

In the midst of his busy schedule, he took over breakfast every day, and his cooking skills had improved. He ate with great satisfaction every time. When he came home early from work, he would bring him something delicious, and when he came back late, he would quietly wash up and wouldn’t disturb him at all. When he had time, He Qin would ask him to go downstairs for a walk, and the two of them would stroll slowly along the garden path in the apartment.

One evening, they passed a candied hawthorn stall. Xie Shiwei’s eyes were glued to the candied hawthorns for several seconds, and He Qin intended to go over and buy them, but Xie Shiwei grabbed his sleeve and said no.

“Why not? If you want it, just buy it. It’s just a candied hawthorn,” He Qin said.

Xie Shiwei was silent for a few seconds. “No, I don’t like to eat them.”

He Qin: “You don’t like them, but you’ve been looking at them for so long. What does candied hawthorn mean to you?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you tell me what it means?” He Qin continued to ask, his tone very gentle. He wanted to understand everything about Xie Shiwei so much. He hoped that one day Xie Shiwei could open his heart to him.

Xie Shiwei looked into He Qin’s eyes, as if he couldn’t bear to let the expectation in those eyes be disappointed, and began to talk about his childhood.

“My parents were gamblers, so they never cared about me when they were alive. When they earned a little money, they only cared about taking it to gamble. Once during Chinese New Year, someone was selling candied hawthorns at the entrance of the alley. I really wanted to eat them at the time, and I begged them for a whole day, but neither of them was willing to buy them for me.”

“But the children on the street all had candied hawthorns in their hands. They were all dressed very nicely, in bright red cotton-padded jackets, and their parents were leading them, eating them with relish.”

Xie Shiwei embarrassedly curled his fingers and touched the non-existent dust on his nose. “It sounds ridiculous, but I cried in anger at the time. From then on, I hated candied hawthorns. Later, I bought them myself, took two bites, and my teeth hurt from the sourness. I hated candied hawthorns even more.”

After speaking, Xie Shiwei had a candied hawthorn stuffed into his hand by He Qin after a while.

The candy shell shone with a crystalline light under the moonlight.

“Try it again. Maybe you’ll find that it actually tastes pretty good,” He Qin said, his gaze as gentle as the moonlight.

He Qin’s tone was like coaxing a child. Xie Shiwei was a little helpless, but he was moved by He Qin. He hmmmed and bit into a hawthorn.

The candy shell was very crisp, neutralizing the sourness of the hawthorn.

It seemed like it was actually pretty good.

Xie Shiwei bent his eyes and said it was delicious.

He Qin couldn’t help but rub his head. “You can buy whatever you like in the future.”

“If you’re embarrassed to spend Xie Tian’an’s money, you can spend mine.”

“Is spending your money any less embarrassing?” Xie Shiwei said as he gnawed.

“Of course.” He Qin’s eyes were deep. “As long as you want.”

As long as you’re willing to be with me.

.

On Friday night, He Qin pushed aside some non-urgent work and went home early.

Xie Shiwei had fallen asleep on the sofa, hugging a pillow, his cheek flesh squeezed into some red marks.

He Qin tiptoed over, lowered his eyes to look at Xie Shiwei, and his fingers unconsciously touched Xie Shiwei’s soft lips.

In an instant, He Qin’s thoughts were pulled back to that night.

The out-of-control Xie Shiwei set every cell in his body on fire. The memory of their lips and teeth intertwined was like a switch. As long as he thought of it, he would involuntarily feel hot and want to get close to Xie Shiwei, to continue that chaotic and intoxicating kiss.

He Qin held his breath, leaned over, and approached Xie Shiwei inch by inch, close enough to hear the other’s shallow and steady breathing, and to see the tiny, soft fluff on his face.

Just then, Xie Shiwei groggily opened his eyes. Their eyes met at close range, and he instantly widened his eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

He Qin was also flustered. In a rush, he saw a book on the cabinet behind Xie Shiwei and immediately found a reason for his actions, stretching out his arm to pick up the book, taking the opportunity to get up. “I’ll get a book.”

Xie Shiwei stretched lazily and nodded.

“There’s something I might need your help with,” He Qin said, sitting down beside Xie Shiwei and crossing his legs.

“What is it?”

“I’ve been invited to attend a summit in Istanbul, and it requires married people to bring their partners. I want you to attend as my male companion,” He Qin said.

“That’s simple. I’ll go with you,” Xie Shiwei agreed readily.

Free overseas travel; that wasn’t bad at all.

“When are we leaving?”

“Next Monday.”

“Next Monday? That’s the day after tomorrow!”

“Yes, it’s very rushed.”

“That’s still enough time.” Xie Shiwei asked Xie Tian’an for leave from the company and jumped up excitedly to pack his luggage, not noticing the meaningful smile on He Qin’s face.