14

Su Xingchuan got two bizarre messages today, one after the other. The first was from Yan Tao.

Yan Tao: [President Xu from Zhongjin Group has assigned you to handle the full financing project. Meeting at two this afternoon to go over the contract and the follow-up work details.]

What? Xu Zhengdong specifically asked for him?

Before he could reply, another message from Xu Zhengdong came right after: [Five o'clock, Sizhuan Restaurant on Changting Street.]

Su Xingchuan was completely stunned.

He was just about to go find Yan Tao when Zhou Jing suddenly burst in.

Zhou Jing had just found out that Xu Zhengdong had handed the Zhongjin Group project to Su Xingchuan, and was absolutely furious. He pointed at Su Xingchuan, calling him a sneaky bastard — breaking his word, saying one thing and doing another.

Xie Liang happened to pass by and hear it. He stormed in, planted himself in front of Su Xingchuan, and said mockingly, 'One thing to your face, another behind your back? Manager Zhou, you talking about yourself? That's pretty spot-on.'

Zhou Jing slammed the table. 'You!'

Xie Liang couldn't stand Zhou Jing, and since they weren't in the same department, he had no fear of him. Once he got going, he couldn't stop himself: 'Xingchuan took half a month of sick leave, and you spent that whole half-month whispering in President Yan's ear just to snatch this Zhongjin project. And what happened? You tried to scoop water with a sieve — nothing to show for it. Happy now?'

Zhou Jing was livid. 'Nobody asked you!'

Luckily Yan Tao stepped in between them, so they didn't actually come to blows. In the end, Zhou Jing had to slink back to his office in a huff.

That left Su Xingchuan alone in the office with a raging headache.

Once the contract was signed, Xu Zhengdong would be practically his boss.

For the foreseeable future, he'd see Xu Zhengdong every day — bowing and scraping to his love rival, sucking up...

He couldn't do it.

It was the first time he'd ever felt daunted at work. It wasn't that he was afraid to face Xu Zhengdong; he just didn't know what footing to face him on. If they were proper rivals for Li Xuan's affections, that would be one thing. But what was he now? The other man? A third wheel?

He couldn't even call himself that — Li Xuan never gave him so much as a decent look. He was just someone clinging to a scrap of feeling, refusing to let go.

Like a joke.

His mood was a knot, and his body wasn't doing well either.

He'd been utterly exhausted lately. After the surgery he hadn't rested properly, hadn't taken care of himself. Even though it was minimally invasive, it still drained his strength. He sat alone in his office chair, taking a long moment to recover.

When he felt like this, he'd think of Li Xuan especially, missing those lovely mornings when he used to wake up with Li Xuan in his arms.

He wrestled with himself all day, but in the end he grabbed his coat and drove to Sizhuan Restaurant on Changting Street.

At first, Su Xingchuan didn't notice the street name. It was only when he drove past the bar where Li Xuan had gotten drunk that night that it hit him — could it be... could Xu Zhengdong have found something out?

He tried to stay as calm as he could.

In the car, he straightened his collar and hair, then shut the door and walked toward the Sizhuan Restaurant Xu Zhengdong had mentioned. The restaurant's front entrance was unassuming — just a small wooden door in an old-fashioned style. Once inside, you realized it led to a secluded, enchanting space, a real hidden gem.

Su Xingchuan said to the waiter, 'I'm here for President Xu from Zhongjin Group.'

The waiter understood immediately and, with a warm smile, led Su Xingchuan to Private Room One. 'Right this way, Mr. Su.'

Su Xingchuan walked in. The large private room held only Xu Zhengdong, who looked up at the sound and seemed to have been waiting for a while.

'You're here,' Xu Zhengdong said.

Su Xingchuan didn't take a seat. He stood by the table, suppressing the jealousy and resentment burning inside him, trying his best to keep a pleasant, easygoing expression. He greeted him first: 'Long time no see, President Xu.'

'It has been a while,' Xu Zhengdong said, sizing Su Xingchuan up with that usual lofty, scrutinizing gaze. Then he curved his lips into a smile and asked, 'So what big thing have you been so busy with that you'd pass my project off to someone else?'

He'd brought up the project, so Su Xingchuan had no choice but to explain.

'Sorry, President Xu. I haven't been feeling well lately.'

'Not feeling well?'

Xu Zhengdong raised an eyebrow. 'Not feeling well? Then who was it that carried little Xuan out of the bar the night before last? Wasn't that you?'

Su Xingchuan's heart instantly started pounding.

His instinct was right — Xu Zhengdong really had found out!

Xu Zhengdong went on, unruffled. 'Xiao Xuan must be what, at least 1.76 meters? Picking up a grown man and walking off like it's nothing — honestly, I can't see where your health is supposed to be failing.'

Su Xingchuan's expression changed.

Xu Zhengdong knew. He'd checked the surveillance footage.

So that's why he chose Changting Street on purpose.

What else had he seen? Did he see Li Xuan lying on the sofa, burrowing into his arms? Or just him carrying Li Xuan away?

For a moment, Su Xingchuan couldn't even breathe properly.

Xu Zhengdong found his reaction amusing, cocking an eyebrow. 'Oh, right, I never mentioned — I'm Xiao Xuan's—'

Before Xu Zhengdong could finish, Su Xingchuan cut him off: 'I know what you are to each other!'

'How do you know?' Xu Zhengdong was puzzled.

Su Xingchuan clenched his fists, his eyes sharp with resentment. 'President Xu, that night I acted on my own. It had nothing to do with Li Xuan. He was drunk — nothing happened that night.'

Xu Zhengdong thought, Good, my judgment wasn't off.

Su Xingchuan paused for a few seconds, then made up his mind. 'But I like Li Xuan. I've liked him for many years!'

'Is that so?'

Xu Zhengdong was about to be satisfied when Su Xingchuan pressed on: 'President Xu, at work you're the client, my senior. I ought to value this job opportunity. But since I've said this much, I don't care about anything else. If you treat Li Xuan well, I'll never interfere with your relationship. But if you treat him badly, I'll definitely take him back!'

'... ...'

Xu Zhengdong fell silent.

What the hell?

What did he mean, 'interfere with your relationship'?

How could an uncle-nephew relationship be interfered with—

Xu Zhengdong suddenly caught on, and everything clicked.

Su Xingchuan had misunderstood his relationship with Xiao Xuan.

No wonder the kid had toiled on the financing project for three months, then suddenly chosen to give up in the last few days.

Xu Zhengdong sorted it out. Right now, work wasn't the main issue.

The main thing was, Xiao Xuan said he still liked Su Xingchuan, and Su Xingchuan said he still liked Xiao Xuan. That was a perfect match, wasn't it? Ideal.

Wait — he remembered, Su Xingchuan had a boyfriend.

The kid actually had a boyfriend?

Xu Zhengdong looked Su Xingchuan up and down.

What he admired most about Su Xingchuan was his ability to manage his emotions. He'd given Su Xingchuan a hard time at work before, stalling a document for days, and Su Xingchuan could digest that negativity and move on. Just like now — even though his emotions were teetering on rage, he was still reining them in with all his might.

His hands were still clenched into fists. He stood tall by the table, head up, back straight, no sign of irritated embarrassment.

Xu Zhengdong thought: Logically, he was a steady, grounded kid. That speech had been pretty heartfelt too. How could he then turn around and keep one hand in the bowl while eyeing the pot? Unless there was more to it.

Just then, Li Xuan arrived at the door.

He'd gotten a call from Xu Zhengdong right after getting off work.

Xu Zhengdong had said, 'Your uncle's having dinner with Su Xingchuan today. You want to see him?'

Usually when Xu Zhengdong asked him to dinner, he always said no. This time he didn't hesitate: 'Yes.'

After saying it, he was afraid Xu Zhengdong would laugh at him, so he covered himself by adding coldly, 'The hospital's busy. I might not be able to make it.'

Xu Zhengdong chuckled lightly, not calling him out.

Li Xuan repeatedly warned Xu Zhengdong: 'Uncle, don't say anything out of line. He has a boyfriend. Don't do anything unethical.'

In his younger days, Xu Zhengdong had a whole string of romantic scandals; in matters of the heart, he'd rarely done anything ethical. But for his nephew's sake, he decided to turn over a new leaf. 'Alright, your uncle won't give him a hard time.'

Though Xu Zhengdong had agreed verbally, Li Xuan was still a bit panicky. He was afraid Xu Zhengdong would knock Su Xingchuan out with one blow, tie him up, and deliver him to his bed — Xu Zhengdong was absolutely capable of that.

He rushed out of work, hailed a cab to the restaurant, asked the waiter, and sprinted straight toward the private room. But at the doorway he stopped short — Su Xingchuan was standing inside, his back to him.

Seeing Su Xingchuan's broad back, his head slightly bowed, he was suddenly seized by that familiar ache, that feeling of being close yet too shy to go in.

It was only when Xu Zhengdong called, 'Xiao Xuan, come in,'

that he jolted back to his senses. Su Xingchuan also turned to look at him.

Their eyes met, and a fleeting bitterness passed through Su Xingchuan's gaze. Li Xuan instinctively held his breath.

He'd seldom seen that look in Su Xingchuan's eyes. Most of the time Su Xingchuan was warm and cheerful, confident, in control, infinitely tolerant of all his childish little temper tantrums. Su Xingchuan rarely looked sad, except around the time they broke up.

When he'd insisted on breaking up, Su Xingchuan had looked at him with that same heartbroken gaze, asking over and over, why.

Seeing that look again, Li Xuan's heart clenched with a suffocating pain. His throat felt blocked, but what could he say?

Things had come to this point; what could he even do?

'Xiao Xuan, come sit down.'

The round table was meant for eight, so there was plenty of room for three. Li Xuan had planned to sit between Xu Zhengdong and Su Xingchuan, but Xu Zhengdong suddenly stood up, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him to his side. 'Come sit here.'

Xu Zhengdong whispered in his ear, 'Don't call me uncle.'

Li Xuan frowned. 'What?'

Xu Zhengdong murmured, 'Never mind why for now. Your uncle's doing recon for you.'

Li Xuan pressed his lips together and said nothing. He sat down next to Xu Zhengdong, and Xu Zhengdong said to Su Xingchuan, 'Xiao Su, have a seat.'

Su Xingchuan's expression was clouded, but he sat down anyway.

He was seated directly opposite Li Xuan. Their eyes kept meeting, then quickly darting away.

Su Xingchuan didn't want to watch the scene before him — Li Xuan sitting next to Xu Zhengdong. Though there was quite an age difference, Xu Zhengdong didn't look old; he was still handsome and charming, smiling warmly at Li Xuan, just the way Su Xingchuan used to all those years ago.

It was strange, really. Li Xuan always kept a cold face, like a haughty little cat that wouldn't give anyone the time of day, yet somehow he always drew smiles.

Su Xingchuan lowered his eyes, the fire in his heart burning hotter.

But beneath the jealousy, he sensed something wasn't quite right.

Why did Li Xuan's brows and eyes look a bit like Xu Zhengdong's?

Xu Zhengdong broke the silence, making a show of introducing them: 'Xiao Xuan, Xiao Su was your classmate in college, right? He's in charge of the Zhongjin Group financing project now. Very capable.'

Li Xuan was still ice-cold. He grunted 'mm' and toyed with the napkin folded into a sailboat shape, just with his fingertips.

Su Xingchuan thought: He's about to start folding the napkin.

Sure enough, the next second, Li Xuan yanked the napkin apart.

In uncomfortable situations, he'd soothe his irritation this way. Back then, he'd also fiddle with the hem of Su Xingchuan's clothes, repeatedly unbuckle his watch, or drape both legs over Su Xingchuan's lap and whisper, 'Let's go out and play.'

Li Xuan was always so childlike.

Xu Zhengdong and Su Xingchuan exchanged a few words about work while the waiters gradually brought out the dishes.

Xu Zhengdong made a show of fussing over Li Xuan, serving him food with exaggerated words. Li Xuan kept glancing at Su Xingchuan, who hadn't even picked up his chopsticks, his lips pressed tight, his expression dark and unreadable.

Seeing this, Xu Zhengdong cut straight to the point. 'Xiao Su, our Xiao Xuan tells me you have a boyfriend, and a colleague at that. When are you going to bring him out so we can all have a meal together?'

Su Xingchuan and Li Xuan both looked up at the same time.

Su Xingchuan had nearly forgotten that, to salvage his pathetic pride, he'd used Xie Liang as a cover. He never imagined Li Xuan would share every little thing like this with Xu Zhengdong.

Were they that close?

His confession and declaration earlier now felt like a complete joke.

Take Li Xuan back? He didn't even have the right to say such a thing.

Su Xingchuan felt like his heart was breaking so much he could barely breathe, but he kept his composure. He curved his lips into a smile and said, 'No problem. He's been wanting to meet you too, President Xu.'

Li Xuan's eyes immediately dimmed with dejection.

The napkin in his hand was crumpled out of shape.

Xu Zhengdong remembered the question Li Xuan had asked him earlier, so he asked on Li Xuan's behalf: 'Xiao Su, do your parents know you like men?'

'They know.'

'Do they approve?'

'I never brought it up outright, so I don't know if they approve. They probably would — my parents are fairly open-minded.'

Li Xuan lowered his head even further, his nose prickling with hurt.

Su Xingchuan didn't know anything.

Idiot.

Xu Zhengdong noticed Li Xuan's low spirits. He put a hand on Li Xuan's shoulder, rubbed it briefly, and asked Su Xingchuan, 'Is this boyfriend someone you got together with after starting work?'

Su Xingchuan didn't understand why Xu Zhengdong was asking these things.

This was way beyond the boundaries of boss-subordinate conversation. Even if they were rivals in love, there was no need to discuss this.

He looked up and saw Xu Zhengdong's hand on Li Xuan's shoulder, and instantly flared up in rage. He'd planned not to answer, but now he couldn't help saying in a low voice, 'No. We got together after breaking up in college.'

Li Xuan stared at him, stunned.

Su Xingchuan looked into his eyes and said, word by word, 'I have to thank my college boyfriend, actually. I always thought he was the one who turned me gay, but later I realized orientation like this is just inborn. I wouldn't only like—'

Before Su Xingchuan could finish, Li Xuan cut him off:

'Don't you dare say it!'

Even though he knew Su Xingchuan had a new boyfriend, he didn't want to hear it with his own ears, not a single word. Just like in the past, when Su Xingchuan went to the Debate Club, Li Xuan would say fiercely, 'Don't go!'

Li Xuan had a lot of 'don'ts', and Su Xingchuan had a lot of 'okays.' Even after seven years, Su Xingchuan still listened to Li Xuan like he used to.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Su Xingchuan and Li Xuan both fell silent.

Xu Zhengdong looked between the two of them, suddenly feeling a bit superfluous. After a beat, he cleared his throat, made a show of checking his phone, and said in a serious tone, 'Ah, something just came up at the office.'

Su Xingchuan was on pins and needles.

Xu Zhengdong stood up. 'I need to go check on it. You two go ahead and eat. Xiao Xuan, have some more shrimp.'

He grabbed his jacket and left. Su Xingchuan barely had time to stand and see him off before the door opened and shut. Su Xingchuan was dazed. What was going on? Xu Zhengdong had left him alone with Li Xuan — what was this supposed to be? Some kind of test?

The room was very quiet.

Li Xuan didn't want to waste this alone time with Su Xingchuan, but he didn't know what to say either. So he just kept his head down and ate shrimp.

It was just his luck that the salt-and-pepper shrimp today were being uncooperative. He struggled for ages and couldn't get a single whole shrimp peeled. Just as he was getting agitated, Su Xingchuan placed a bowl of peeled shrimp, coated in sauce, next to his hand.

Su Xingchuan had sat down beside him and, just like old times, was tirelessly helping him peel shrimp. He carried on nagging the way he used to: 'I've told you so many times and you still don't remember. Twist the shell when you peel shrimp.'

Li Xuan stared at him, dumbfounded.

Then he lowered his head and mumbled, 'I hate you.'

Su Xingchuan's hands stopped.