More Than It Seems

Xiao You Ren sighed, returned to tidying up his work coat and looked at himself in the mirror.  Nervousness had started to invade his heart when he opened his eyes a few hours ago.  Imagining the morning that begins meeting face to face with someone is very strange for him.  He hadn't experienced anything like this in years, which made him flustered by himself.

Finished with the activity of arranging the appearance that had been done for the umpteenth time, he ventured to step out.  Finding no sign of any living things around, Xiao You Ren decided to move quickly to the kitchen and found nothing to eat.  Putting on a wry look, he decided to go first to the office after leaving a small note on the dining table, signaling his departure to the figure who was still silent in his room.

Even though it felt a little impolite, for leaving ahead of his superiors, but Xiao You Ren had no other choice.  After all, he don't know what time Wang Xian Wei will leave, and work is less than an hour away.

The first thing he found when he stepped into the company building was the strange look in each pair of eyes, as well as the whispers that competed with each other to evaporate into the air.  Already used to receiving such treatment, Xiao You Ren felt normal and was not bothered in the slightest.  Ignoring and returning to his path, entered the elevator and was surrounded by several girls who were staring at him uncharacteristically.

A man with a tall stature, openly gave an interested look.  Knowing this, Xiao You Ren went back to his college days.  Hateful gazes from women, as well as disgust from men.  But some of them seem interested in playing around.  The memory invites pain from the tips of his feet, even slightly blurring his vision.  An older woman nudged her elbow lightly and gave a brief smile, snapping Xiao You Ren out of his thoughts.

When they got out of the elevator, the woman walked beside him and asked, "You Ren, how long has it been?"

A subtle frown graced the man's forehead and a questioning look fell on the woman beside him.  This morning everyone looked unusual and gave him a strange look, it couldn't stop the hundreds of questions running through his mind.  The woman slightly tilted her head towards Xiao You Ren and had a posture as if she was whispering, but her voice was so loud that it could be heard booming in the hallway, "About the hot gossip that was spreading on the company employee forum. So, how long have you been like that and how many have stabbed you?  With a sword?"

Xiao You Ren's eyes widened perfectly.  The great surprise couldn't be hidden in the facial expressions.  Loud laughter rang out from the people around them, some even frankly giving words of hatred and disgust to people like him.  Pale face and life that seemed to be at the end of the crown, bowed his head and took wide strides towards his desk.

Sitting limply in his chair with eyes spinning, this incident seemed familiar.  Everything is like a series of stories that are repeated at different times.  Xiao You Ren closed his eyes and started massaging his temples vigorously, trying to get rid of the pressure that was creeping up inside him again.  He didn't want his fear to take over again and take over his body with pain that caused something else.

"You Ren!"

The call made him flinch.  Reflexively opened his eyes and saw Wang Huanling's face which gave a different look like the last time they met.  His expression was illegible and difficult to understand.

"Huanling, what's wrong?"  Xiao You Ren asked quietly.  His face looked calm knowing that person was Wang Huanling.  However, his collar was suddenly grabbed tightly and he was forced to stand up.

"Don't pretend you don't know anything!"  snapped Wang Huanling.  Now his face was filled with hatred and great annoyance.  He gripped the collar of Xiao You Ren's shirt tighter and his lips began to move to say, "Disgusting. You were so kind to me as if we were close friends, giving support and help when I needed it. Then acting sweet to everyone. Unexpectedly it turned out to be all for  cover up your true self, you're an obnoxious gay. Could it be that your kindness was also the reason for me to fall into your trap, huh?!"

Xiao You Ren's face was filled with disbelief, but that was the truth.  Wang Huanling even got caught in the gossip and made immoral accusations, making it a spectacle.  People stared at them like entertainment, various gazes pierced through them.  The tightness in Xiao You Ren's chest returned, his eyes were completely blurry, like the earth was starting to spin while he was in the same place motionless.  Unpleasant words began to hit his eardrums one by one, adding to the weight of his burden.

"Senior Zheng also moved because he was sticky, so it was uncomfortable!"

The scream broke through his defenses, becoming the last long sentence he heard before everything turned dark and silent.  Gradually his consciousness disappeared.

Not knowing what had happened after the incident at the office, Xiao You Ren opened his eyes and found a quiet white room.  The sun was shining fiercely.  He moved his head, drawing the attention of someone sitting not far from him.

"Ren Ren," Zhao Yuzi called worriedly with a strong sense of relief.  Moved closer to the ward and gripped the man's wrist tightly.  Smiling gently, he said, "Thank goodness you're okay. I was really worried."

Knowing that someone still cared about him, Xiao You Ren's heart started to feel warm.  His lips curled into a light smile and thanked the woman.  They also had a brief conversation about Xiao You Ren's condition, how the man ended up in the hospital.  Curiosity then well-developed in Xiao You Ren's heart and he couldn't take it anymore to keep silent.  "Yuzi, what do people mean by gossip?"  he asked with a curious look on his face.

On the other hand, Zhao Yuzi was worried about Xiao You Ren's condition if he heard the story about the company employee gossip forum.  The reluctance was too clearly imprinted on his slightly pale face.  Xiao You Ren realized that, but he was so curious that he insisted.  "Please tell me, Yuzi. It involves me, I need to know and not have to worry, I'm not that weak after all."

He smiled, that made Zhao Yuzi feel reassured.

The girl had no other choice but to tell Xiao You Ren everything, after all the man would find out sooner or later.  He took a deep breath, then began to compose precise and concise words.  "Someone uploaded a photo and explained about your perverted sexuality, it caused quite a stir. And it was also said that you were dating Liu Xuan."

Xiao You Ren widened his eyes again and looked very surprised at Zhao Yuzi's explanation.  This reaction made Zhao Yuzi feel anxious and afraid that something out of control would make Xiao You Ren's situation worse. She hastily said, "It's okay, You Ren. Being a gay isn't something disgusting, just ignore those who don't like you. I don't care what you look like, to me you are still Xiao You Ren and a good friend."

This time the wide smile on Zhao Yuzi's lips was filled with a slightly gloomy and guilty expression.

Seeing Zhao Yuzi looking so worried, Xiao You Ren smiled again and was slightly amused by the girl's exaggerated actions.  "I know. I just want to see the photo, I don't remember taking intimate photos with Liu Xuan, we haven't even seen each other for a long time," he explained.

For a moment Zhao Yuzi seemed to think about the truth of Xiao You Ren's relationship with the man in the photo, but didn't have the courage to question it at this point.  He chose to take out his cell phone and searched for the photo that had been in the news since morning and showed Xiao You Ren.

Seeing the photo, Xiao You Ren couldn't help but be surprised again.  It was him and Wang Xian Wei, not Liu Xuan.  How can the spreader tell if it's a different person.  Conclusions popped into Xiao You Ren's head, the photographer knew nothing other than Xiao You Ren who was gay.  It's quite a relief, but the stare leaves a sense of tightness.  He involved two people in the problem, how to explain to that person.

Then he sighed and looked straight into Zhao Yuzi's eyes.  Starting the explanation of the photo, "Everything is not what it seems. At that time I felt short of breath and it was very difficult to move out of the toilet. That person was only helping to give artificial respiration and he was not Liu Xuan."

Zhao Yuzi breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders gradually dropping and relaxing.  "I know you're not someone who would do something obscene in public," she said calmly.

 "So who is he?"  asked again, Zhao Yuzi put on a curious look filled with high spirits.  Free intake, his mind spoke.

Doubt was imprinted on Xiao You Ren's face, not wanting to tell the truth nor having a storyline to lie about.

"Don't tell me if you don't want to," Zhao Yuzi said with a knowing smile.  Can't force her curiosity on other people's romance.  After all, everyone has privacy.

After their long talk, Xiao You Ren was lost in his own thoughts.  Thinking about the reason he had to pass on to the two people who accidentally got into his troubles, and again about the gossipmonger.  His brain was really forced to think hard, looking for solutions as well as dealing with them.

Shortly after, Xiao You Ren decided to leave the hospital.  The condition is not bad, apart from the high pressure, there is nothing to worry about.  Everything that happened that morning was too sudden to cause bad memories to swirl in his brain again, so he was forced to adjust to the conditions.  However, now that everything was fine, Xiao You Ren could handle it much better.  After all, this kind of problem is not the first time experienced.

Out of that, he decided to return to the office and continue with his work, despite Zhao Yuzi's vehement opposition.  However, Xiao You Ren's determination was really big and hard to control.

"I've had too many permissions," he argued.  The number of days when he was absent was also mentioned one by one, even though it had passed and the number did not reach five fingers.

In the end Zhao Yuzi could only raise her hand and let out a rough sigh in agreement.  Bringing Xiao You Ren back to the office and making sure conditions are conducive for the man, then left Xiao You Ren's study.  Everyone who witnessed Wang Huanling's actions this morning could only glance with various meanings, not daring to ignore Xiao You Ren openly when the girl was there.

Of course, with a sharp mouth that doesn't hesitate to say sarcastic sentences, this morning when she helped Xiao You Ren, she crushed those people's pride.  Saying in front of Wang Huanling's face, "Even if Xiao You Ren was a gay, he wouldn't like a flabby guy like you who only has courage in front of so many people. The owner of a small item who can't even form a tent in his pants."

Those provoking words tore apart a man's pride and left enough satisfaction in Zhao Yuzi.

Like Xiao You Ren's belief in himself, he was able to overcome all the hardships of the day and ignore the scorn of those who saw him as trash.  Things like that are normal in his life, there is no need to feel discouraged that ends in pain.