Chapter 22

Editor: SleepyMango123

Proofreader: Lore

Mr. Feng glanced at the chips on the table, and someone exchanged the same for him.

He let the people clear the table, and said with a smile, “The value of these chips are not small, let’s just play a round?”

“Up to you.” Xia Tian took off the outer layer of his baseball jacket, tucked his necklace into the T-shirt and said lightly, “I can afford to lose.”

Han Cheng thought about the pocket money Xia Tian had which was less than one chip and sighed softly.

Han Cheng turned his head and asked the waiter softly to help him exchange chips.

Since he said he could afford to lose, he had to really make it as though he could afford to lose.

At most I’ll just help him win it back later on.

Mr. Feng explained the rules and grabbed a glass of wine. After two sips, he said, “Don’t throw the dice. Let’s follow the formal rules.”

Xia Tian agreed. He picked up the cue, walked to the pool table and put the cue on the side of his neck as he turned his neck and wrist.

The two hit the ball in order, and Xia Tian’s cue ball was closer to the table.

Xia Tian kicked-off the match.

“You don’t look like a novice.” Mr. Feng stood beside Xia Tian and smiled. “Did Han Cheng teach you? He has good skills.”

Xia Tian quietly looked at the billiard balls on the table, silently calculating the angles of incidence of a few balls, and said nothing.

They played nine goals, which would be more beneficial to Mr. Feng depending on the kick-off situation.

Seeing that Xia Tian did not speak, Mr. Feng thought he was nervous. He raised his eyebrow and waited next to the table with his wine glass.

Xia Tian moved his lips lightly, muttering something silently. He walked to the pool table, leaned down, and put the cue on his thin fingers.

As soon as he calmed down, he moved his cue lightly and hit it into the hole in one stroke.

Mr. Feng was not in a hurry. He was a veteran and thought the other would definitely not be able to hit the number four ball at a glance. The maximum time Xia Tian would play should be for another five minutes and then he’d have to be replaced.

Xia Tian walked to the other side of the pool table, changed positions twice, and hit the ball successfully again. Xia Tian pursed his lips, pausing for less than half a minute before scoring another goal.

Mr. Feng put down the wine glass and picked up the club.

Xia Tian walked to the other side of the pool table, took the chocolate powder and wiped his skin. He raised his foot slightly, as he leaned against the table lightly.

Mr. Feng narrowed his eyes.

Xia Tian silently counted the hit points, took a breath, and suddenly exerted force. The cue ball jumped over the No. 7 ball and sent the No. 4 ball into the hole.

“Amazing!”

Du Ze looked at Han Cheng and laughed. “This… I have never heard of it before, where did Young Master Xia play previously?”

“He won’t be coming out to play.” Han Cheng fixedly looked at Xia Tian. “You think when someone can do something, they just show it off all day?”

Mr. Feng, who was not far away from Han Cheng, felt his smile fade as his fingertips slightly clenched.

“If this were to be in our club…” Du Ze praised, “Is Young Master Xia not willing to come out to play?”

Han Cheng glanced at Du Ze and said, “Not willing.”

Du Ze expressed regret, “It’s a pity…”

“What’s a pity?” Han Cheng sneered, “You are letting my husband play with those people?”

Without a care about his image, Du Ze gave a smile. “Just kidding. It’s nothing much. We are all friends…”

“If it’s friends, why did you bring those people here today?” Han Cheng’s voice gradually became colder, as if carrying ice thorns in it. “Du Ze, do I really place myself too highly? I thought if I were to come here to play, you would give me some face. I didn’t expect that this face would be lost, and instead, you’d prepare such a great gift for me.”

“This…” Du Ze remembered what happened just now, and in a moment, was in no mood to watch Xia Tian play. He couldn’t help but want to grow ten mouths, as he hurriedly explained, “Master Han, I don’t know you were bringing out your husband to play! The stupid assistant only told me that you were coming, but didn’t tell me who you were bringing! How would I have known that it was Young Master Xia who was coming.”

“Heaven and Earth Conscience!¹It means to have a clear conscience and be upright. I prepared for you one week in advance! I heard that you were busy recently and was tied up after getting married. Since you couldn’t play in the city, I thought it’d be wise to invite these people to come and save one round for you. I…”

Du Ze was almost swearing. He lowered his voice and said anxiously, “Think about it, what can I do if I offend Young Master Xia? Am I crazy enough to deliberately provoke you?!”

Du Ze saw that Han Cheng’s expression was still terrible and said, “I was not a good host this time. Please tell me how I should be punished? What about… let the others play casually today, and it will be paid to my account, how about it? No, no, no… yours too. It’s on my account too, is this all right?”

Han Cheng looked at Xia Tian quietly and said coldly, “No need, you can explain to him clearly later on, I won’t help you carry this broken pot.²Shoulder the blame.”

“Of course it is necessary.” Du Ze had read the news before and didn’t take it too seriously. He now knew that Han Cheng really cared about Xia Tian. After seeing the trouble he’d gotten into, he hurriedly said, “In a while, I will be making amends to Young Master Xia.”

In front of the pool table, Xia Tian couldn’t hear Han Cheng and Du Ze. With almost instinctive proficiency, his body automatically calculated the angle, planned the path, and found the most suitable location.

The No.6 ball entered the hole.

Xia Tian’s expression was calm but his heart was overwhelmed.

After playing ball for a while, he had managed to calm down.

He still couldn’t understand why Han Cheng requested others to come.

Didn’t they agree that this trip was to reward him for the hard work he had put in for the midterm exam?

Didn’t they agree that this trip was for him to relax?

Only God knew how much Xia Tian had looked forward to today.

Han Cheng’s usual care for him was not fake. Xia Tian knew that Han Cheng would not deliberately embarrass him.

So how…

The No. 7 ball entered the pocket.

Xia Tian leaned down and squinted slightly. Remembering the embarrassment of seeing everyone when he got out of the elevator, his heart ached again.

Xia Tian gently applied a bit of force.

The eighth ball entered the hole.

He took the chocolate powder and rubbed the skin lightly.

The last shot.

A layer of fine sweat appeared on Mr. Feng’s forehead. His face paled instantly as he listened to the crowd’s low praise and turned to look at Xia Tian uneasily.

Xia Tian walked to the cue ball, adjusted its position, and swept his eyes across the table to the side-two stacks of chips were placed on the table. One stack belonged to him and the other belonged to Mr. Feng.

His stack was given to him by Han Cheng.

He originally wanted to use those chips to…

Xia Tian closed his eyes and readjusted his position.

Even so, I still like him.

Xia Tian shot the last ball into the hole and he won without any suspense.

“Marvelous!”

“One shot and it cleared the table! Beautiful!”

Everyone was in a daze at this moment. They almost forgot about the gambling and were amazed. Xia Tian pressed his lips tightly, picked up his jacket without saying a word, gathered up the two stacks of chips on the side table and put them leisurely in his trouser pocket. He then walked towards Han Cheng.

Although I still like him.

Although he doesn’t know I like him at all.

Although the embarrassment just now was not caused by him.

Although Mr. Feng was in the past, before Han Cheng knew me.

Although it is just a fake marriage, Han Cheng is not responsible for me at all.

Xia Tian looked at Han Cheng, strode towards him, faster and faster…

Han Cheng looked at Xia Tian and subconsciously reached out to him. Unexpectedly, Xia Tian, who was less than three meters away, suddenly used force and banged the billiard cue at his feet!

The people around Han Cheng were shocked, and several girls screamed!

The well-made billiard cue was made of exquisite materials. No one knew how much burning anger he had that it was smashed into two pieces in front of Han Cheng!

The crowd scattered with fright, but Han Cheng didn’t move.

Xia Tian’s lips trembled slightly. He gritted his teeth, looked at Han Cheng for a second before he turned and left the scene.

There was a sudden throbbing pain in Han Cheng’s heart.

He saw tears welling in Xia Tian’s eyes just now.

Of course, he would not cry here, but Han Cheng felt that his tears were dripping onto his heart and his internal organs were burning.

Accompanied by the loud bang of the swing, Han Cheng’s heart was thumping in shock.

“Mr. Han…” Mr. Feng had lingering fears. He hadn’t lost at the table for a long time and had never seen anyone who dared to give Han Cheng such a big attitude in front of so many people. Today, he was filled with shame. His face paled. Unwilling to yield, he tried to start a fire, “Young Master Xia… has a big temper.”

Han Cheng glanced at Mr. Feng and said indifferently, “I happen to like his wild temper so I am willing to let him fire his temper at me.”

Han Cheng didn’t have time to settle accounts with Du Ze and Mr. Feng. He gave Du Ze a warning and the other party hurriedly signaled that he understood.

Han Cheng picked up the club that had been broken into two pieces on the ground.

Du Ze laughed dryly. “No, it’s okay, Master Han, don’t pick it up… If the young master hasn’t alleviated his anger, we still have so many more for him. If this one is broken, so be it. You… Well, why are you picking this up?”

“He didn’t throw it at me, but I’m afraid his anger has yet to dissipate.” Han Cheng took the broken club, pushed Du Ze away, and strode with big steps to follow Xia Tian.

Everyone looked at each other.

Du Ze wiped his perspiration that had accumulated on his forehead… This was the first time he had seen such a dire situation where someone was that afraid of his own husband.

• 1
  It means to have a clear conscience and be upright. ↩︎
• 2
  Shoulder the blame. ↩︎