Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 646: Eavesdropping on the in-laws

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding and Qie Ranzhe stepped out, his face a storm of irritation. Luo Muchen winced slightly from the discomfort. He hadn’t felt it all this time but he most definitely felt it now. He glanced into the sideview mirror and witnessed his future in-laws have a mini argument.

Qie Ranzhe had no idea that their lover’s quarrel had been seen by Luo Muchen of all people. What his son said had pushed every button, every limit, and now his patience was threadbare. He should have been so happy that his son was happy but why was he so eager? Qie Ranzhe had forgotten how he was when he realised that he couldn’t live without Wen Qinxi. He had been just as eager too.

He strode across the underground parking, the echo of his steps a sharp contrast to the silence around him. He was so angry that he didn’t hear Wen Qinxi calling him and telling him to wait for him.

Wen Qinxi tried to keep up with him. Because of his shorter legs, he worked double time, but it wasn’t enough. With a sigh he stopped, standing still amidst the rows of cars. He crossed his arms on his chest and watched his man walk away without him.

Qie Ranzhe soon realized that something was up when he got to the car. He immediately turned back and said, "Baby, let’s go," but his baby who rarely got angry with him didn’t move an inch. He just glared at him his eyes so fierce that it scared him.

His heart softened at the sight of his husband’s unhappy face. "Xi Xi," he called gently, the anger from before completely gone.

Wen Qinxi stood there looking irritable. "I am not going," he said, his voice firm, "since you don’t want me and are ignoring me you can go by yourself."

Luo Muchen couldn’t hear what he was really saying but he could tell that Wen Qinxi was upset.

Qie Ranzhe sighed before walking back. "I am sorry," he whispered his voice soft like he was coaxing him. He reached out to hold Wen Qinxi’s hand but Wen Qinxi took a step back and turned to walk away like he was really leaving him behind.

Luo Muchen who was hiding, "..."

This was good. His father-in-law was teaching him how to coax a man. This could serve as a teaching moment.

"I was just angry. Come on, let’s go home," said Qie Ranzhe.

"Why are you so mad about it? We agreed that you would be civil with him but noooo you just had to chase him around," Wen Qinxi replied unable to fathom what exactly about this was making him so upset. Their son was happy and that’s all they wanted for him.

Qie Ranzhe’s voice echoed, a soft plea cutting through the silence. "I know. I just... can we talk about this at home," he said as he took a step forward but Wen Qinxi took a step back for every step he took completely avoiding him.

"Come on, Xi Xi," he continued coaxing, his voice a mix of frustration and concern. "Let’s talk about this at home... not here."

But Wen Qinxi was not ready to yield. With a swift move, he dodged to the side, putting more distance between them. "No, we are going to talk about it here because when we were home you didn’t say anything. Why? Why does this piss you off so much," he said, his voice firm yet tinged with an emotion Qie Ranzhe couldn’t quite place.

He stopped, running a hand through his hair. He knew he had to tread carefully otherwise he might sleep in the guest bedroom tonight. That alone was torture.

"Okay, I will tell you," he conceded feeling quite embarrassed. "I... I will no longer be the number one... man in his life. When he needed something he always ran to me. If he got bullied he would tell me. Remember when he kept putting on his shoes on the wrong feet and he would come find me for help?"

Wen Qinxi’s anger instantly vanished his posture softening. "I remember. And when I tried to help him he would say only daddy can do it right," he replied recalling how Qie Xieling would stubbornly sit outside the bathroom door when Qie Ranzhe was in the shower claiming that he would wait.

The thought weighed heavily on Qie Ranzhe’s heart. It was as if time had slipped through his fingers, leaving behind an ache of nostalgia.

"Every night, he would wait for us to return from work ready to share the day’s adventures," he continued to say unable to look straight into Wen Qinxi’s eyes lest he saw that the corners of his eyes were red.

"And even when you were tired you would sit beside him, listening to his tales about his teachers and playground beef," said Wen Qinxi stifling his laughter. Qie Ranzhe seemed to find it very funny. He let out a soft chuckle before saying, "Remember most of his complaints were about Luo Muchen. He would complain that he kept staring at him in pre-school and that he would always follow him. When they had group work he was always in the same group as him," he said and Wen Qinxi’s smile grew bigger.

"Funny how they ended up together despite all that," said Wen Qinxi finding it rather amusing.

"Yep, that kid is persistent. I honestly thought after he left he would forget about Lin Lin but I was wrong. He came back for him," said Qie Ranzhe his hand reaching over to hold Wen Qinxi’s hand. Their fingers intertwined the tension from before completely gone.

"You are just as persistent. You did that on purpose bidding on my employee contract when I was about to work with your competitor and I didn’t even know you liked me," said Wen Qinxi recalling the time when he graduated and got accepted into the company he interned at only for him to receive and irresistible offer from GameX.

"He will always be our son," he said his voice a whisper. "And we will always be his fathers."

Qie Ranzhe turned to look at Wen Qinxi’s his eyes a little red. "I know," he said. "But it’s hard Xi Xi. It’s hard letting go."

Wen Qinxi smiled, a wistful curve of his lips. "Maybe," he said, "but we’ve given him roots and wings. Now it’s time to watch him soar with someone who loves him."