Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 662: Rite of passage

"Can I have some?" he asked his voice a blend of challenge and curiosity as he gestured towards the bottle of expensive whiskey.

Qie Ranzhe looked up, his expression shifting as he met his son’s gaze. There was love and pride in his eyes, but there was also an unspoken amusement.

Qie Ranzhe laughed before asking him, "You sure?"

Qie Xieling who wanted to try something his father liked nodded his head. He had never drunk whiskey with his father thus he decided this was the right moment. Besides how bad could it be, right?

Qie Ranzhe poured out some for him and handed it to him. "Why does mine have ice and yours doesn’t?" asked Qie Xieling seeming dissatisfied.

Qie Ranzhe knew him to well. He wouldn’t be able to handle it without the ice.

"Trust me you don’t want to drink it straight," he said but Qie Xieling was determined to try it. The moment felt significant like a rite of passage. With a nod, he accepted the glass, the ice clinking gently against the sides.

The glass felt cool in Qie Xieling’s hand, the whiskey’s aroma rising to meet him. He brought the glass to his lips, the anticipation a tight knot in his chest. As the whiskey touched his tongue, his face contorted, eyes squeezing shut as if he had just swallowed fire.

Qie Ranzhe’s laughter filled the room, a rich sound that echoed off the walls. "You better not waste it" he teased, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

Qie Xieling set the glass down, his expression one of mock horror. "Shit... It’s like drinking poison," he gasped, reaching for anything to cleanse his palate.

With a chuckle, his father reached into a drawer and pulled out a piece of candy before tossing it to him. "Here, this should help," he said, still chuckling.

Qie Xieling unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth, the sweetness a welcome relief. He looked at his father and asked,

"Who would enjoy that? It’s torture."

Qie Ranzhe laughed even louder. Who would have thought his son would be this funny? "I warned you, didn’t I? Your father is always right. Remember that."

Qie Xieling smiled slightly staring in the blank space. He wanted to ask something but he didn’t know how to say it. "So are you right about Luo Muchen?"

Qie Ranzhe’s brow arched a little confused. "What do you mean?" he asked as he set his glass down.

"You don’t seem to like him. Is it that you see something I don’t see?" he asked and Qie Ranzhe sighed as he took another sip.

"It doesn’t matter who it is that you are marrying. I would still be overprotective even if they are perfect for you... You are my little dumpling and watching you grow up is hard for me. Soon you won’t need me anymore like you used to," he said and the room was filled with the unspoken words, father and son, each grappling with the tides of change. Qie Ranzhe drank the rest of the whiskey his heart feeling heavy.

Suddenly Qie Xieling stood up and hugged his father his eyes red. "Don’t ever think that. I will never not need you. You will always be my daddy," he said his voice brittle like he was about to break down crying.

"Fuck... I am a mess," said Qie Ranzhe as they separated. He didn’t want his son to see him crying but it was too late. He rubbed his eyes before grabbing the whiskey and drank it all down.

Qie Xieling was in awe. As nasty as that was his father just guzzled it all down. Seeing his expression Qie Ranzhe teasingly said, "Only strong men can handle it."

Qie Xieling took the bait trying to prove that he was a strong man. He brought the glass to his lips and his face turned ugly. Halfway through he gave up only for Qie Ranzhe to tip the bottom of the glass slightly while saying, "Keep going. Don’t waste it."

Qie Xieling finished it his face as red as a tomato. He coughed while cursing. His tongue and throat burned from the lingering taste.

"It’s freaking awful," he said as he grabbed a handful of ice and put it into his mouth.

"Congratulations. You are now a strong man," said Qie Ranzhe his voice laced with laughter.

Wen Qinxi who had been watching them through the crack of the door laughed internally before turning to leave. He had been so worried that they would argue but it turned out he had nothing to worry about. They were getting along just fine.

***

The interior of the car was bathed in the soft glow of the street lights. It was like a quiet cocoon that seemed to amplify Luo Muchen’s sense of loneliness. After they left him alone in the condominium, Luo Muchen was at a loss. He was excited about getting married but he didn’t even have a chance to celebrate with his lover before he was taken away.

He cleaned up the place while waiting for the driver to come back and pick him up. Now he was sitting in the back, his gaze locked on the phone in his hand. He had written Qie Xieling a couple of messages that went unread.

His thumb swiped down refreshing the chat interface but there was no new message or any signs that he read them still. The digital clock at the corner of his screen ticked away the seconds, a relentless reminder of the time slipping through his fingers.

He dialed Qie Xieling’s number his need to speak to him growing strong by the second. Once, twice, thrice... each call went unanswered. The voicemail greeting was a cold substitute for Qie Xieling’s voice. It was only on the fourth attempt that his call was picked up. The line clicked, and a voice broke through.

"Lin Lin?" he called out his voice a mix of relief and urgency.

But the response was not the one he expected. "It’s Danzhe," came the reply. "You should stop calling. Lin Lin’s phone will be confiscated until the wedding."

The words hit Luo Muchen like a physical blow to the face.