Others' eyes were heavy. For the first time, Lin Sitao felt heavy about going to work. The exposure of his inner secrets was even more uncomfortable than streaking.
He can't use a loud speaker to defend himself.
But even if he was given a chance to explain, he would not tell irrelevant people how he met He Xian and fell in love with him. This was a private matter. No, he did not need others to understand. For this matter, it was enough for him to understand it and for He Xian to be moved by it.
In front of Chen Yi, his first reaction was to firmly deny the "support". But Chen Yi asked him back: "Is there really nothing going on between you and Mr. He?"
Lin Sitao didn't say anything.
He Xian did not support him, but he was not willing to completely deny his relationship with He Xian.
Chen Yi also felt embarrassed: "You are not... serious about He Xian?"
She said, "I haven't mentioned this to you before, but there's actually a rumor in the company that He Xian likes men, so he never got married." She paused and said, "It seems to be true."
Lin Sitao knew that Chen Yi cared about him. Chen Yi had always taken good care of him when he was in college. He still remembered that it was Chen Yi who took him to apply for a student loan. She had always been like an older sister.
"Are you just helping He Xian come out? Where did this rumor come from?" Lin Sitao asked her back.
Chen Yi shook his head: "Xiao Lin! He Xian is still He Xian no matter what, a member of the He family. Even if we talk about him eighteen times a day, he is still himself, and he will still get promoted and make money. It won't have any impact."
She said: "Now the company is affected by you. No matter how serious you are about him, whether he is serious about you or not - you don't have to answer me, I don't need to know. It's just... you have to protect yourself."
Lin Sitao said: "Thank you."
He had confidence in He Xian, but such words needed a more relaxed context.
When Lin Sitao talked to He Xian on the phone that night, he told him about this matter.
He Xian cursed, which meant greeting many people's families.
Lin Sitao thanked him for helping him curse it out.
"I almost went straight to the train station to buy a ticket and escape to your place," he said, "but I ended up wandering around for a while and then came back."
"Why not come? You can come anytime." He Xian said.
Lin Sitao said, "It's not like we're filming a movie. They'll gossip whether I leave or not." This is what made him depressed. He still had to work, and at least he couldn't be too busy during this period. He had no way to stop others from talking about him.
"I don't understand how they knew." Lin Sitao thought about it and wondered if he and He Xian were seen by someone when they were eating out. But He Xian and he were always very careful and never went to a hotel to book a room when they were in the local area.
"I think we were careful enough," he said.
He Xian said: "This is not a matter of being careful. We are not really in a secret relationship. As long as you are willing to find out, you will find out."
Lin Sitao felt that He Xian seemed to have a clue about who spread the news. He Xian hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "... I think it might be my stepmother."
Lin Sitao burst out laughing.
He Xian knew his joke: "Too cliché?"
Lin Sitao said: "It's so old-fashioned, just like a Hong Kong drama from the last century. Now I'm very glad that no one came to hit me with a car."
He Xian shushed him. Lin Sitao immediately realized that this joke was not a good one—someone who had a tangential relationship with the He family had died in a car accident not long ago.
"This is probably the only thing I've done that she could make a fuss about," He Xian explained, "and this isn't the first time."
He used to be really troubled by this, but now he can face it calmly.
When he was with Song You and Zhao Shuqing, his stepmother Sheng Qiuhua had helped promote them. After that, he and Zhao Shuqing settled down for so many years, and the He family knew it.
This time it happened to Lin Sitao again. He Xian thought that because of He Yan's recent affairs, Sheng Qiuhua would have no time to think about these things.
He Xian went back to Beijing during the National Day holiday and first visited his grandfather. He Zhongcheng was still busy compiling his memoirs. In the past six months, several of his old friends and colleagues passed away. When He Xian mentioned this, he couldn't help but sigh.
When he came back this time, He Xian specially had a meal with He Bu Tong and Sheng Qiuhua.
He Xian wanted to take Lin Sitao with him. Lin Sitao was unwilling and a little scared. If possible, he hoped not to have to deal with He Xian's father and stepmother for the rest of his life. Through He Xian's description, Lin Sitao really didn't have a good impression of these two people.
So He Xian went to eat this meal alone, and mentioned Lin Sitao during the meal.
"Xiao Lin is still in graduate school. When he finishes his graduate studies, I plan to arrange for him to follow me. Wherever I go, he will go with me."
He Bu Tong got a headache when he heard this. He always felt that if his son walked the right path, he should have gone further than he did now. However, he could not make the decision on He Xian's affairs.
"Whatever you want, alright. Whatever you want. As long as you think he's trustworthy."
He chattered, "You, too... The more you look, the lower you get. I heard that this guy is young, a draftsman at the design institute? Or he's from out of town. People like this are very snobbish and good at climbing up the social ladder. Just keep it in mind."
Sheng Qiuhua brought a cup of tea to He Bu Tong and said with a smile: "Children nowadays are very smart and know how to plan for themselves."
He Xian said: "He is from J City. He and my grandfather are from the same hometown."
He Bu Tong's expression was a little unnatural. He Xian continued, "I felt close to him as soon as I touched him."
He and He Bu Tong explained it directly, and from then on Lin Sitao was his man and he protected him.
"The kid is very nice and sensible. There is some gossip in the company right now, and he is worried that it will affect me. I told him not to worry about it, and that other people's gossip is their business, and those boring people can't affect me at all."
He Bu Tong was absent-minded, and Sheng Qiuhua's face looked a little unhappy. As soon as He Xian left, she complained to He Bu Tong: "Listen to He Xian, what are you talking about? He cares so much about a little boy, it's too embarrassing if it gets out, and you don't care about him."
He Bu Tong also knew Sheng Qiuhua very well. He just glanced at Sheng Qiuhua and said, "Okay. I don't care. His mother doesn't care. You don't have to care. He is responsible for his own affairs."
He Xian stayed in Beijing for three days before he had to go back. The night before he left, he gave Lin Sitao a Tiffany blue box.
Lin Sitao blushed, it must be because the color of the box was too girly.
"Although I have no plans to get married..." He Xian opened the box, "but I have made a promise to you."
Lin Sitao opened the box. Inside lay a classic platinum ring.
He Xian put the ring on him and he didn't say anything.
Talking would ruin the moment. He Xian held his hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. The ring and a kiss were imprinted on his finger at the same time.
He hugged He Xian and exchanged a deeper kiss with him. Then they fell on the bed, and He Xian stripped Lin Sitao naked. The only thing he was wearing was the ring.
After finishing, Lin Sitao asked in a low voice: "He Xian, what is the oath you are talking about?"
He Xian closed his eyes and kissed his back: "A lifetime. For a lifetime."