Control Freak - Chapter 25

Even though Ye Zhou knew that he and Yue Shu were incomparable, being completely different types of people, he still couldn’t resist going online to look up Yue Shu’s background.

Yue Shu’s parents were both very famous figures, so finding information about his family background and personal accomplishments wasn’t difficult.

Ye Zhou found many reports about Yue Shu, from his first public appearance on stage with his parents as a child to his frequent participation in competitions, where he consistently won classical music awards. By his teenage years, he was already a leading violinist and had toured internationally as a special guest with world-renowned orchestras, boasting an impressive and stellar resume.

There weren’t many childhood performance photos of Yue Shu, but reports from his high school years became more prevalent, likely because that was when his talents were shining the brightest, making him a media darling. In one photo, 17-year-old Yue Shu, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, appeared slender and delicate, but his gaze toward the camera was full of youthful pride and arrogance, as if surrounded by an aura of genius.

After that period, reports about Yue Shu suddenly dwindled. When he reappeared in the media a few years later, his entire demeanor had transformed. He became more gentle and humble. The arrogance of his youth hadn’t disappeared, but had become more restrained, giving him a unique and even more captivating charm.

At this point in his life, Yue Shu was open about discussing his low points during interviews. He would talk about his mentors, the key people who helped him, and the ordinary yet interesting aspects of his school life, which had become a source of inspiration for him.

The genius hadn’t been defeated but had returned to the stage, shining even brighter. Such an outstanding person truly seemed well-suited for Guan Heng.

When Ye Zhou read this, he sighed deeply. Even though he had long known that the gap between people could be immense, it was hard not to feel discouraged. However, Ye Zhou didn’t allow himself to be consumed by these emotions. He might not measure up to Yue Shu in many ways, but relationships weren’t built solely on external conditions; otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood a chance in the first place.

Although Yue Shu had mentioned that he would come to see Guan Heng again, Ye Zhou hadn’t encountered him since. He wasn’t sure if Guan Heng had turned him down or if they had arranged to meet privately elsewhere.

To Ye Zhou’s surprise, Yue Shu didn’t go directly to Guan Heng but sought him out instead.

One afternoon, after the restaurant had just finished a busy period and the staff had a brief moment to rest, another customer arrived.

Ye Zhou was about to greet them when he looked up and saw Yue Shu: “It’s you…”

The restaurant wasn’t crowded, and it was clear that Yue Shu had chosen a quiet time to visit. He approached Ye Zhou and said, “I’d like to talk to you about something. Is now a good time?”

Having recently read the articles about Yue Shu, Ye Zhou couldn’t help but feel a little conflicted upon seeing him. Perhaps due to his profession, even in casual settings, Yue Shu dressed impeccably. He was wearing a tailored, casual suit that wasn’t overly formal, emphasizing his slim waist and long legs, and his overall demeanor was refined. More importantly, Yue Shu had a delicate, handsome appearance, and Ye Zhou’s coworkers, likely misunderstanding the situation, were all casting curious, gossip-filled glances at him.

Ye Zhou: “…”

Ye Zhou had indeed admired people like Yue Shu in the past, but that was a different time. Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to dislike him. Ye Zhou wasn’t the type to avoid confrontation; what was meant to happen would happen. “Sure, it’s convenient. I’m working, so I can’t leave. Can we talk here?”

“That’s fine.”

Ye Zhou glanced around the restaurant and led Yue Shu to a quiet corner. “Please, have a seat. Have you eaten? Or would you like something to drink?”

Yue Shu was a bit surprised, not expecting such a question from Ye Zhou. Last time they met, it was because Guan Heng was present, so Yue Shu had assumed Ye Zhou was just being polite for Guan Heng’s sake. Now, with just the two of them, there didn’t seem to be a need for Ye Zhou to treat him so courteously.

Noticing Yue Shu’s lingering gaze, Ye Zhou felt a bit awkward and smiled. “What’s the matter?”

Yue Shu withdrew his gaze and shook his head. “Nothing, I just thought…”

Ye Zhou cut in directly: “You thought I hated you?”

Yue Shu blinked, clearly taken aback.

Ye Zhou smiled again. “Sorry, I’m not great at overthinking things, so if you’ve got something to say, feel free to be direct.”

Yue Shu didn’t order anything, but Ye Zhou thoughtfully ordered him a fruit tea. Even though they were love rivals, Yue Shu was still a guest, and there was no need for things to become tense. “You’re here because of Guan Heng, right?”

Yue Shu looked at Ye Zhou, starting to understand why Guan Heng might have chosen him. Yue Shu wasn’t the type to beat around the bush, so he asked directly, “You and Guan Heng… are you two together?”

Yue Shu had come specifically to ask this. If they were already together, he wouldn’t interfere or try to be the third party.

When Ye Zhou heard the question, he could tell that Yue Shu still wasn’t over Guan Heng. Although Ye Zhou had confessed his feelings to Guan Heng and they had kissed, Guan Heng hadn’t given him a definite response. Ye Zhou had told Guan Heng to take his time to think about it, so he didn’t want to pressure him or make it seem like he was forcing a decision. He didn’t want to make things awkward for Guan Heng. Even though their relationship had progressed, Ye Zhou chose to be honest instead of lying to make Yue Shu give up. “No. We’re not together yet.”

Yue Shu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, though he didn’t fully relax. It was clear from Ye Zhou’s response that he was actively pursuing Guan Heng, making them rivals. However, there was something Yue Shu still couldn’t quite understand. It was an awkward question, but one he felt he needed to ask, hoping it could be a breakthrough. “I don’t mean to pry into your private life, but… you don’t seem like someone who’s, well, on the bottom.”

While it’s not something you can judge based on appearance alone, Ye Zhou’s demeanor and the way he carried himself didn’t fit that assumption.

Ye Zhou blinked, surprised that Yue Shu would ask something so personal. It reminded him of a time he had joked about this with Fang Ji, who had been awkwardly embarrassed. Now, it was Ye Zhou who felt a bit awkward. But there was no reason to hide the truth. Ye Zhou admitted, “You’re right, I’m not.”

“Then… are you willing to…?” Yue Shu hesitated, not knowing how to continue. Asking further would be too intrusive—it was, after all, someone else’s private matter.

Ye Zhou, however, answered quite frankly, “I don’t know.”

He had always been the type to think things through before getting into a relationship, and that naturally included matters like this. Especially for men, a relationship couldn’t be purely emotional; physical compatibility was also important. But this was the first time he couldn’t think things through rationally before pursuing someone. No matter how much he tried to resist, he couldn’t stop being drawn to Guan Heng. Since it was out of his control, overthinking wouldn’t help; he would just have to let things happen naturally.

Yue Shu looked directly at Ye Zhou and said, “But I can tell you for sure, Guan Heng would never be… on the bottom. He… he’s just not that kind of person.”

Yue Shu trailed off, struggling to find the right words. “He’s not like what you might imagine.”

Ye Zhou had seen this expression on Yue Shu before, during their breakup in front of the scrapyard. Yue Shu was the kind of well-mannered person who rarely spoke badly of others, even if he had harsh things to say, he’d say them gently. But Ye Zhou didn’t quite understand what he was getting at, so he asked directly, “Then what about you? If you think he’s so intimidating, why are you trying to get back with him?”

Yue Shu’s face turned pale, and he stared at Ye Zhou in shock.

“Sorry, don’t misunderstand me,” Ye Zhou quickly explained. “It’s not that Guan Heng told me anything. It’s just that the first time you came to see him… I overheard by accident.”

Yue Shu lowered his gaze and took a moment before looking up again. From Ye Zhou’s reaction, it wasn’t hard for him to deduce that Ye Zhou hadn’t yet seen Guan Heng’s private side—otherwise, he would have understood what Yue Shu meant. Yue Shu felt conflicted, but at the same time, gained a bit of confidence. Not everyone had seen that side of Guan Heng, which meant there was still hope for him. “I said some harsh things before. I admit, there were aspects of our relationship where we didn’t quite fit… but I still can’t let him go. As you’ve probably guessed, I want to win him back. I regret what happened, but I know I’m not really in a position to say anything. It’s just that your situation is different… It’s not that there’s anything wrong with you, but you don’t really understand the real Guan Heng. You two… aren’t quite suited for each other. You’re not even the type he usually prefers…”

Ye Zhou listened calmly as Yue Shu finished speaking before asking, “So, you think ‘you’ are the one best suited for Guan Heng?”

Yue Shu suddenly fell silent, perhaps realizing that he had overstepped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any harm.”

Ye Zhou looked at Yue Shu without getting angry, and maybe he couldn’t even if he wanted to. Whether or not they were suited for each other, or whether he was Guan Heng’s ideal type, there was one thing Yue Shu said that was true: Ye Zhou hadn’t yet truly reached Guan Heng’s inner world. Guan Heng liked him and was affectionate, but he wasn’t entirely open. Ye Zhou hadn’t even been to his home.

After seeing Yue Shu off, Ye Zhou sat behind the cashier’s counter, lost in thought.

The gossipy staff quickly gathered around. “Boss, who was that? So classy! Isn’t he just your type?”

“And what about that handsome guy from last time…”

“Boss, even though both of them seem great, you can’t be indecisive. Don’t be a player.”

What are they even talking about…

Ye Zhou almost burst out laughing in frustration. “What nonsense are you all spouting? That guy isn’t… He’s my love rival.”

The staff froze in unison.

After saying it, Ye Zhou also found it unbelievable. The type of person he used to admire and want to pursue had now turned into his love rival.