Your Rival in Love Gets Prettier Every Day

Chapter 32: Face Slapping

After hanging up on a call, Yan Qiuchi was about to call Yan Yaoxuan. He felt uneasy. Despite being strict with Yan Yaoxuan, he actually loves his younger brother very much.

Yan Yaoxuan was a few years younger than him, but he had always been taken care of by his older brother since he was a child. Due to stern management and good protection by Yan Qiuchi, Yan Yaoxuan developed no bad habits, but he became a bit silly and naïve.  

He has always been a fan of Shen Jintai and it would be too easy for Shen Jintai to take advantage of him. Yan Qiuchi knew Yan Yaoxuan was an adult now and should have his own social rights, but his constant pining was indeed inappropriate.

 As he was hesitating whether he should call Yan Yaoxuan, Gao Qiao name appeared on his phone.

“President Yan!” Gao Qiao said anxiously.

Yan Qiuchi replied with a “Nn”.

Gao Qiao: “I just saw Yaoxuan drunk and being helped upstairs by Shen Jintai. It seems they had gone to his room.”

After speaking, Gao Qiao held his breath. He didn’t sense any reaction from President Yan. He only got the usual response: “I see.” and he hung up the call.

Yan Yaoxuan was drunk?

His younger brother had been drinking thousands of glasses since he was a child. He was best at holding his liquor. It was himself who had the poorest ability to hold his liquor in the family.  Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for Yan Yaoxuan to be drunk. Unless there was some deliberate attempt.

Yan Qiuchi immediately picked up his coat and went out. Fortunately, he wasn’t staying at home today. It took about 20 minutes by car from his hotel to where the hotel the crew was located. On his way there, he dialed Yan Yaoxuan’s number. He heard standard female voice on the phone saying: “The number you dialed has been turned off.”

 ……

What was Shen Jintai planning?! You couldn’t blame him for thinking too much. The sudden change in Shen Jintai’s personality could not reverse the inherent image that he left all these past years.

“Drive faster.” Yan Qiuchi said lightly to the driver.

—

Shen Jintai put Yan Yaoxuan down on the sofa with the help of the hotel clerk. After sending away the handsome clerk, he went to pick up a glass of hot water, sat down by the sofa and patted Yan Yaoxuan: “Are you thirsty? Would you like a glass of water?”

Yan Yaoxuan laid motionless on the sofa. His usually combed back hair fell loose making his handsome face look even more childish as he slept. Although they were brothers, he and Yan Qiuchi were completely two different types.

The young man was barely twenty.

Shen Jintai drank the glass of water by himself. The sound of swallowing was obvious in the silent room.

Yan Yaoxuan’s heart beated faster.

What are you going to do! Why are you so unlucky running into Gao Qiao! God help me!

He will have to go abroad in a few days. There wasn’t much time left.

Yan Qiuchi’s mandatory order gave him the courage to desperately break the cauldron and sink the boat*.

*Break the cauldron and sinking the boat (破釜沉舟) = idiom refers to desperate determination. It’s a metaphor for not leaving a way out of doing things decisively. It derives from the historical records: The Benji of Xiang Yu.
*Benji of Xiang Yu: (for those who are interested) is the story where Xiang Yu ordered to break the pot and scuttle the boats so the soldiers he led could not retreat from the Battle of the Giant Deer.

Wine can strengthen courage. With his stuffy chest full of pride, he inteded to take advantage of the situation and pretended to be drunk. People who are drunk, no matter what they say or do, can be forgiven. They can even confess through their drunkenness. If Shen Jintai rejects his feelings, the awkwardness can be resolved afterwards.

His plan was perfect. Yet who would have thought he would run into Gao Qiao at the elevator. If Gao Qiao knew, then it would be equivalent to his big brother knowing.

He was in a difficult position. If he immediately sat up and left, he’ll exposed the fact that he pretended to be drunk. But if he doesn’t leave, stay here and sleep with Shen Jintai… His older brother will skin him alive, right?

Yan Yaoxuan struggled internally for a long time. As time passed, he couldn’t sit still anymore. In the end his lust for Shen Jintai was defeated by his fear of his older brother. He pretended that he sobered up and sat up.

The silly and pure Yan Yaoxuan was able to try acting for the first time in his life.

He squinted his eyes slightly, rubbed his head, then opened his eyes and looked around only to realize Shen Jintai was no longer in the room. He was bewildered as he sat up and looked around. He heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.

Yan Yaoxuan spirit was revitalized. He thought Shen Jintai was showering. Thinking of such thoughts made the heat rise to his head. Selfish desire trumps reason.

He could pretend to be drunk and call out Shen Jintai’s name. If Shen Jintai hears him calling out constantly in his drunken state, he should be able to understand his intentions.

At this moment, there was a heavy knock on the door outside, and the sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped. Yan Yaoxuan got so frightened he immediately lied back down.

Shen Jintai went to the bathroom and was washing his hands when he heard the sound of knocking coming from the front door. He had call Xiao Tang and asked him to dropped by so he figured it must be him.

He came pretty fast.

He quickly dried his hands and ran over to the door. As he opened it, he didn’t see Xiao Tang, but instead a tall, cold, and rigid figure of a young man standing there with a slightly gloomy expression on his face.

It was a handsome and indifferent gentleman. It was Yan Qiuchi.

“Is Yaoxuan with you?” Yan Qiuchi said.

Shen Jintai nodded, a little embarrassed, and said: “He drank too much.”

When Yan Qiuchi came in, he found Yan Yaoxuan lying on the sofa. His clothes were quite neat. He came just in time.

He frowned and glanced at Yan Yaoxuan and asked Shen Jintai: “How did this happen?”

Shen Jintai: “He came to visit the crew this morning. After work, we went to dinner and drank some wine, but he drank too much and got drunk.”

Yan Qiuchi didn’t want to expose anything, so he just said: “Sorry to have bother you. I’ll take him away.” He stretched out his hand and touch Yan Yaoxuan: “Yan Yaoxuan.”

“He probably drank too much and fell asleep.” Shen Jintai said quickly.

Yan Yaoxuan’s eyelashers were quivering.

I’m dead. I’m dead.

At this point he could only pretend to be drunk.

Yan Quichi had grown up watching his younger brother. How could he not understand his own brother? Seeing his trembling eyelashes, everything became crystal clear.

It turned out that it was not Shen Jintai’s problem, but his younger brother’s problem. This kid actually pretended to be drunk. In front of Shen Jintai, Yan Qiuchi didn’t reveal his farce and only helped Yan Yaoxuan up.

Yan Yaoxuan was so afraid that he cooperated willingly that it didn’t take much effort for Yan Qiuchi. Shen Jintai had wanted to come help but retracted his hand when he saw that Yan Qiuchi didn’t need any help. He also felt Yan Qiuchi might not want to have any contact with him. 

Yan Qiuchi’s majestic aura became a layer of haze. He nodded at Shen Jintai and then dragged Yan Yaoxuan away. On the way to the hotel, he had asked Gao Qiao to book a room for him on the same floor. When they reached the room, Yan Yaoxuan was pushed in as the door closed.

Yan Yaoxuan was still pretending to be drunk as he sat on the sofa leaning against the wall.

“Reload*.” Yan Qiuchi said sternly.

*Translation help: He’s saying (再装). I think it’s slang to mean recharge but I’m not entirely sure the context behind it.

Yan Yaoxuan finally opened his eyes. His face was red as he sat straight up.

Yan Qiuchi: “What are you trying to do? Are my words falling onto deaf ears?”

Yan Yaoxuan was embarrassed and afraid, so he lowered his head and said nothing. Yan Qiuchi pulled open the neckline, took a bottle of mineral water from the small refrigerator and unscrewed it. He raised his head and took a sip. The cold water couldn’t quench his thirst. After drinking it, he turned to look at Yan Yaoxuan: “Acting dumb?”

“I…” Yan Yaoxuan stammered and said: “I really drank a lot of wine…”

“Why are you pretending to be drunk?” Yan Qiuchi asked.

Yan Yaoxuan stopped talking.

Yan Qiuchi: “Go home now and the day after tomorrow, you’re going to Britain.”

Yan Yaoxuan turned his head and started to leave. When he touched the door handle with his hand, he suddenly turned his head around and walked directly to Yan Qiuchi. It looked like they were about to fight: “I… I like Xaoi Jin. I want to chase him!”

He finally said it to his brother. As soon as those lines were spoken, he felt exhilarated. He had made a declaration of love to his feudal parents*.

*Clarity: remember Yan Yaoxuan sees Yan Qiuchi more as a father figure than as a brother.

Yan Qiuchi’s expression was gloomy, and Yan Yaoxuan said: “You don’t like it? Are you not allowing me chase him? He had an unrequited love for you but has finally let go. You two have nothing to do with each other now. Am not allowed to love him?”

“Does Shen Jintai knows?” Yan Qiuchi asked.

Yan Yaoxuan was surprised. He didn’t expect this response from his brother: “I haven’t told him yet. I was going to confess tonight.”

Yan Qiuchi sneered and said: “Confessing while still dependent on pretending to be drunk? How capable you are.”

Yan Yaoxuan said: “I am an adult and I am free to fall in love. You don’t need to worry about how I want to confess.”

Yan Qiuchi: “Anyone else will do, but absolutely not Shen Jintai.”

Yan Yaoxuan: “Why not?! Just because he used to like you?”

“Because he had already climbed into my bed.” Yan Qiuchi tore open his collar revealing the bite marks that have almost faded: “He begged me to fuck him, and he bit my neck. Do you think it’s appropriate to have such a person as your partner?”

Yan Yaoxuan’s face flushed.

He knew about how Shen Jintai had chased after his brother. On the one hand, he was sad and jealous. On the other hand, he admired him for daring to love and hate. He just didn’t realize the extent of what Shen Jintai had said and done.

But his brother would never lie about this.

He was speechless. He didn’t know how to respond and just said: “But he… he has changed now. Even you can see that he has…”

“There are things that you can change, but you can never change the past.” Yan Qiuchi said: “Unless you no longer recognize me as your big brother, do not think about this anymore.”

Yan Yaoxuan wanted to cry. All his excitement had been completely drained.

It was too easy for Yan Qiuchi to control the situation. He had just slapped him and then gave him a sweet jujube*. He eased his tone and said: “You are not suitable for him. He will not like you.”

*Slap and give a sweet jujube/date (打个巴掌，给颗甜枣) = refers to giving punishment and reward together (aka carrot and stick method) but in this case, punishment comes first.

Yan Yaoxuan’s tone was aggrieved: “How do you know that he won’t like me…”

“You should know the answer in your own heart.” Yan Qiuchi said. 

No one knew what kind of man Shen Jintai likes better than him. Shen Jintai’s fascination with Yan Qiuchi was sincere and enthusiastic. He couldn’t lie about it. What Shen Jintai liked was the type like Yan Qiuchi. While he was completely different.

Shen Jintai had changed and no longer stalked his brother, but a person preference will not change. It’s impossible that he likes spicy food yesterday but suddenly likes sweet food the next morning.

Yan Yaoxuan’s eyes were red. He already knew the answer long ago deep in his heart. It was just that Shen Jintai suddenly didn’t like his older brother anymore and was available again. He felt that he should at least give it a try.

“But I still want to give it a try.” He looked at Yan Qiuchi and asked: “Brother, please let me try. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. You may not know this, but I have been secretly in love with him for many years.”

Yan Qiuchi had already expected this, but hearing it come out of Yan Yaoxuan’s own mouth surprised him. His lips tightly pursed and he remained silent. The muscles under his chin moved slightly. His eyebrows furrowed.

Yan Yaoxuan: “Since he used to like you, I dare not speak out. But now he no longer has feelings for you, and there’s no one I like around me. Even if I’m unsuccessful, at least I won’t have regrets in the future. I like him no less than he had liked you.”

“You know many things that has happened between me and him.” Yan Qiuchi said: “Knowing all that, you still won’t hold any grudges?”

Yan Yaoxuan said nothing.

Yan Qiuchi glanced at him, feeling a little irritable, and said: “Do as you please. I have said everything that needs to be said.”

“Then I will chase him.” Yan Yaoxuan said.

“You can go confess now.” Yan Qiuchi said: “Let’s see how he will reply to you.”

Yan Yaoxuan walked out when he heard this. He really wanted to find Shen Jintai and confess.

When Yan Yaoxuan left, Yan Qiuchi lit a cigarette. He suddenly worried that Shen Jintai would agree.

It was no longer possible for him and Shen Jintai. He made it perfectly clear during their last encounter. Shen Jintai must have also come to this realization as he went to erase the tattoo and had stopped pestering him. He even changed his looks.

But Shen Jintai’s giving up was too passive. According to his personality, he might truly not have given up. He was also willing to do anything, so it wouldn’t be impossible to use Yan Yaoxuan’s feelings to retaliate against him.  

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had made a mistake just now and shouldn’t have let Yan Yaoxuan confess. He still believed Shen Jintai was still in love with him.

How could a person suddenly stop loving someone? Shen Jintai had madly loved him for such a long time. How can those feelings just vanish in just a few days?

Yan Qiuchi felt that he was not ruthless enough just now. He should have been more forceful and made Yan Yaoxuan listen to him then sent him abroad. Time can always cool things down.

He smoked one cigarette after another irritably, then raised his hand and looked at his watch. It had been more than ten minutes. He opened his door and prepared to go to Shen Jintai’s room. As he walked out, he saw Yan Yaoxuan sitting on the sofa corridor, lost in thought, with his head burried in between his knees.

He was taken aback for a moment and walked up to Yan Yaoxuan.

Yan Yaoxuan raised his head, his eyes were red, and his expression was very hurt.

Yan Qiuchi: “Did you confess?”

“Yes.” Yan Yaoxuan said. Shen Jintai had rejected him.

Yan Qiuchi’s resolute chin twitched slightly. He was surprised.

“Brother…” Yan Yaoxuan stretched out his hand and grabbed his trousers and as tears fell. He was not only sad, but he regretted it. He regretted that he confessed on an impulse and then ate behind closed doors*.

*Closed door ( 闭门羹) = idiom refers to refusing a guest to enter the door and letting them eat at the door. The English equivalent is given the cold-shoulder.

“Okay, stop crying and chirping. Let’s go. I’ll take you home.” Yan Qiuchi said.

Yan Yaoxuan stood up and followed him in the direction of the elevator.

When the two walked past the door of Shen Jintai’s room, they discovered that Shen Jintai was half-concealed, standing at the foot of the door. His face looked a little embarrassed.

Yan Yaoxuan stopped. Yan Qiuchi also looked at Shen Jintai.

Shen Jintai stood up straight, looking extraordinarily upright. Yan Qiuchi was still immersed in the consternation that Shen Jintai had rejected his younger brother. Looking at Shen Jintai again, he couldn’t help feeling it was really a different person. Even his face was unfamiliar.

Shen Jintai really didn’t like him anymore. On the contrary, it was him who remained in the past and seemed self-conscious. He felt that seeing everything that happened today, and all the thoughts that he had, he was slapped in the face by reality.  

The two Yan brothers sat in the car and didn’t say a word to each other. Both of them were in a very heavy mood.

Yan Qiuchi thought that he wasn’t a self-indulgent person. Since he was a child, countless people had liked him, and he was aware of their feelings. He had thought the other party had liked him, but in fact, they held no such feelings. This was the first time in his life he ran into this situation.

At this moment, he received a message from Shen Jintai.

Yan Qiuchi looked at it as the screen lit up his eyebrows.

The message reads: “You can rest assured.”

The author has something to say：

The first time you encountered this kind of thing? Then you still have many firsts.

Yan Qiuchi: I don’t feel relieved right now.

Kinky Thoughts: Happy New Year everyone. Let’s start off the new year with a bang! 5 Chapters incoming.

Awww Yan Yaoxuan!!! My heart breaks for you! I really like Yan Yaoxuan. So cute! So cuddly! I think I would be happy for a Shen Jintai x Yan Yaoxuan pairing! If it hadn’t been for the previous Shen Jintai I think Yan Yaoxuan would really have a good chance!

Perhaps he’ll find love with Bai Qingquan. I’m still rooting for that pairing as well.

And oof damn! Shen Jintai hitting back with the shade!!! That is some nice face slapping right there~ Yan Qiuchi gonna be chasing that wife for a longgggg time in the crematorium.

Side note: How can you not love Yan Yaoxuan! He’s the most adorable! Look at that face!! I just what to squeeze it!