Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 578: "See, it’s a perfect fit. Now you have no choice but to marry me."

"What’s next? Are you going to check if the slipper fits just like Cinderella?" he asked and Luo Muchen chuckled softly while removing his shoe. He took the white slipper and slipped it on Qie Xieling’s foot before saying,

"See, it’s a perfect fit. Now you have no choice but to marry me."

Qie Xieling couldn’t resist laughing out loud. Luo Muchen stood up with a smile reaching his eyes. He wanted to pinch himself as it felt like a dream but he didn’t want to wake up if it was.

He walked away with brisk steps trying to cool his burning cheeks. He was the one who teased Qie Xieling yet he was the one running away bashful like a new bride.

"Would you like something to drink?" asked Luo Muchen from the kitchen. Qie Xieling didn’t hear him. He was slowly walking towards the ceiling-to-floor windows while taking off his jacket.

The view from here was just as stunning as at the city view park. The city had long quieted down. The pool water illuminated by a blue light rippled softly from the breeze.

Luo Muchen came out from the kitchen looking for Qie Xieling. He found him standing by the ceiling-to-floor windows. He couldn’t help but walk over. He wanted to hug him from behind but he didn’t want to take advantage of him after being given an inch.

Instead, he called out, "Lin Lin," while standing behind him.

Qie Xieling turned around with a breathtaking smile that dealt a heavy blow to Luo Muchen. This was too much stimulation for one day.

"Yes?" asked Qie and Luo Muchen pointed at the kitchen almost stuttering.

"Drink... what would you like," he said and Qie Xieling who wanted to be sober for the rest of the night asked for juice. Luo Muchen nodded his head and brought back juice for the both of them.

He handed one glass to Qie Xieling and he drank it while enjoying the view. Meanwhile, Luo Muchen was also enjoying another view. He was staring at Qie Xieling like he was the centre of his universe, the only one that mattered. He couldn’t take his eyes off him.

Feeling that intense gaze, Qie Xieling turned to look at him with taunting words on his lips but when he met that soul-piercing stare he swallowed his words back. Luo Muchen stepped a little closer to him and asked, "How far can I go?"

Qie Xieling was a little confused. He turned half his body to face him while letting out a soft, "Huh?"

Luo Muchen reached out for Qie Xieling’s hand and held it tightly his pupils trembling. He lowered his head for a second as though trying to look for the right words.

After what seemed like an eternity he said, "I don’t think you understand. What I mean is that I have been restraining myself for a very... very long time. Now that we have pierced the paper window I need to know how far I can go without scaring you," his voice deep with a slight tremor.

Qie Xieling was now even more confused. How long exactly was this ’very very long time’ he had been talking about? Was it the game that made him realise his feelings just like him? But if Luo Muchen couldn’t remember anything of what they did in there then this reason didn’t apply? Or was it that he had feelings for him before all this went down?

"How long exactly is a very long time?" Qie Xieling asked and Luo Muchen rubbed his thumb at the back of his hand a little nervous.

"Since... I understood what love was."

Qie Xieling, "..."

"And when was that?" He asked his heart beating fast against his chest.

Luo Muchen took a deep breath before replying, "Since primary school," his voice was low but Qie Xieling heard it.

"Shit," cursed Qie Xieling in disbelief. He had no freaking idea that his frenemy had been carrying the torch for him for years.

Qie Xieling took his hand back and walked a few steps away his entire body shaking. He placed the half-empty glass down his mind racing.

Luo Muchen was afraid he would leave. He was afraid he would run away and never get this chance again but at the same time he didn’t want to scare him. He kept his distance but if one looked closely he was blocking Qie Xieling’s way out.

"So all those years you have just... Did you like me? Unbelievable," he said his eyes red with a slight quiver in his voice.

Luo Muchen thought since he had cracked the pot then why not smash it to the end? "Actually, it might have been longer than that," he said and Qie Xieling’s eyes widened.

"How far back? Since we were in diapers?" he said being sarcastic.

Luo Muchen chuckled lowly and said, "No... since... since the day you hit me."

"Fuck!"

Qie Xieling was going through a myriad of emotions from surprise, sadness, confusion and anger. He was angry with himself because he couldn’t see it. Luo Muchen liked him for all these years and he couldn’t see it.

Now that he mentioned it everything seemed to make sense. They were so close that they were practically dating without realising it. If he had started dating someone that would have broken the illusion and Luo Muchen would have felt an existential crisis and come out to confess his feelings.

"You are unbelievable you know that? You know I am so fuckin dense but you didn’t say shit to me. How was I supposed to know?" he said through gritted teeth. He was very much self-aware on that part.

Half the time he was living in his head and wouldn’t know when he was hit on unless it was blatant. He could flirt with no problems but when someone was flirting with him they had to make it obvious like hanging a neon sign board written ’I like you, let’s date’. Maybe not that obvious but obvious enough.

"You hated me half the time and if I said it... you wouldn’t even talk to me," said Luo Muchen and Qie Xieling exclaimed angrily,

"You...!" He wanted to say that he wouldn’t be that childish but when he recalled the way he treated Luo Muchen like a ghost for a long time he shut his mouth obediently. If Luo Muchen came out with the truth then he would have most definitely ghosted him.

"What about that guy BagerZ? You were cozying up in pictures and cute hashtags," said Qie Xieling feeling so sour one could sense the intense smell of vinegar lingering in the air.

Luo Muchen grabbed Qie Xieling’s arm causing him to stumble forward. He placed his hands on either side of Qie Xieling’s head and looked him straight in the eyes before saying, "It’s always been you. I have never loved anyone but you."