Chapter 35 What a Feudal Relic

Facing Liao Xubai’s provocative smile, Lu Er turned to look at Song Jingmo in disbelief.

Song Jingmo actually told him to leave—something that had never happened before.

Did he think Lu Er was just in the way, interfering with his private sweet moments with Liao Xubai?

Lu Er was so angry he felt like smoke would come out of his head. He lifted his long legs, ready to slam the door and storm out.

But then he paused. Why should he listen to Song Jingmo?

Song Jingmo could tell him to leave, but did he care about his pride?

Besides, Aunt Wang had instructed him to make sure Song Jingmo finished his meal.

He hadn’t completed that mission yet—so he wasn’t going anywhere.

Lu Er retracted his step and watched as Liao Xubai skillfully opened the lunch box and politely handed the chopsticks to Song Jingmo.

A surge of anger shot straight to his head. He snatched the lunch box from Liao Xubai, his tone sharp:

“Aunt Wang specially made a nourishing soup. You never know if outside food is clean or whether it contains gutter oil.”

Liao Xubai blinked in surprise, then frowned: “I specifically ordered this from a Michelin restaurant. Hygiene is absolutely not an issue.”

“Michelin or not, who knows if the kitchen’s clean?”

Lu Er refused to yield. He placed the meal brought by Liao Xubai heavily on a distant tea table. “This is our family matter. As an outsider, you have no business interfering.”

“Outsider?” Liao Xubai scoffed. “I’ve been Song Jingmo’s classmate through undergrad, graduate school, and PhD, and we’ve worked abroad together for six years. We’ve always been the best partners.”

“In these six years, we’ve performed thousands of surgeries together. On a battlefield, that would make us brothers-in-arms. And you? What kind of family are you?”

Yeah.

What kind of family was he, really?

It was only because he had been so stubborn that Ms. Leng had worried he would go astray, so she had asked the two top students of the Qu family to guide him onto the right path.

The Qu and Lu families had some business dealings and were friendly neighbors. Especially Song Jingmo and Qu Weiwei—they had always been model children, skipping grades and advancing effortlessly.

Even with Song Jingmo’s help, when he got into A University, he still came last in his class every year.

To Song Jingmo, he was just a flea on a luxurious robe.

Lu Er felt that pain immediately. His face darkened: “What happens between me and him is none of your business. And you, always doing things that make people imagine all sorts of things, aren’t even afraid of being called out?”

Liao Xubai’s tone was calm, with a hint of mockery: “Compared to you, a big star, who flirts with male actors one day and spreads rumors with female actresses the next, I’m practically pure.”

“You—!” Lu Er clenched his fists in anger. “I…”

He wanted to argue, but had no way to counter.

Media outlets eager for traffic, deliberately suggestive shots, endless speculation, and co-stars posting things to generate buzz…

As a public figure, especially a celebrity, these were sacrifices that had to be made.

He couldn’t enjoy fans and traffic bonuses while forbidding any outside curiosity or speculation.

Liao Xubai raised an eyebrow: “No words, big star?”

Lu Er glared at the smug man: “You’re no good either. You have ulterior motives toward Song Jingmo!”

“Ulterior motives?” Liao Xubai sneered. “That’s a huge accusation. Is it wrong for me to care about my partner?”

“And you, recently tangled with a young actor and went trending, now flirting with a rising actress, and today acting all tender here—don’t you feel hypocritical?”

“Who I tangle with is none of your business!” Lu Er almost shouted. “I love acting tender, what’s it to you? Whether I’m hypocritical or not isn’t for you to judge.”

The tension in the ward thickened. Both were on edge, neither willing to back down.

Song Jingmo felt a headache coming—he was exceptionally irritated.

Liao Xubai took a deep breath, then turned to Song Jingmo with determination: “Since it’s come to this, I won’t hide it anymore.”

He then looked straight at Lu Er, speaking slowly and clearly: “I like Jingmo. I’ve liked him since we were students. I hope you understand: if you can’t give him what he wants, don’t always occupy him. Learn to let someone else have their happiness.”

Lu Er froze, instinctively retorting: “Song Jingmo has someone he likes! As long as I’m here, you dead gay won’t harm him!”

The words left his mouth, and Liao Xubai’s smile turned especially sarcastic.

Lu Er turned to Song Jingmo. He remained silent, eyes complicated.

“Big star, you’ve wasted your entertainment career? Even civilized society discriminates against homosexuality—what a feudal relic.”

After the remark, Liao Xubai chuckled lightly. “After living together all these years, you still don’t even know his preferred gender?”

Lu Er felt as if struck by lightning, staring at Song Jingmo, voice trembling: “Is it true? You… you like men?”

Song Jingmo lifted his eyes, quietly looking at Lu Er, neither confirming nor denying.

But the silence itself was the answer.

Countless memories flashed in Lu Er’s mind: Song Jingmo always rejecting girls’ confessions, ignoring the school beauties’ admiration, being unusually cold to pursuers.

So everything had signs all along.

“So… you really like him?” Lu Er’s voice was barely audible. He pointed at Liao Xubai, eyes full of disbelief. “Why him?”

Finally, Song Jingmo spoke, his voice chillingly calm: “This is my private matter. It doesn’t concern you.”

The words struck Lu Er’s heart like a blade.

He belatedly realized that Song Jingmo hadn’t defended him earlier—not because he was angry, but because he sided with Liao Xubai.

Lu Er staggered back two steps, eyes darting between Song Jingmo and Liao Xubai, before finally settling on Song Jingmo’s face: “I understand. I’m sorry.”

In the corridor, Lu Er leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

His mind was in chaos: Song Jingmo was gay, and he liked his arch-enemy, Liao Xubai.

Lu Er felt like the sky had collapsed.

More than Song Jingmo being gay, what he couldn’t accept was that Song Jingmo liked Liao Xubai.

A wave of inexplicable frustration and grievance surged.

He didn’t understand—what was so great about Liao Xubai?

Pretentious, fake, always acting like a genius.

No. He absolutely could not let them be together.

Teeth clenched, Lu Er felt a strong urge to destroy.

Though he didn’t know why, just imagining Song Jingmo and Liao Xubai together made his chest feel tight.

Lu Er blamed it all on Liao Xubai—this person was too despicable, always bullying him.