[It’s you.]
He Xiaoyuan saw the message and immediately laughed.
What was this? Teasing him again?
He never actually thought that Lu Chen’s “love at first sight and secret crush” would be him. But somehow, subconsciously, seeing those words—“It’s you”—made him laugh like he’d been playfully caught, a mix of joy in the smile.
Sitting on the sofa, he held his phone, chuckling: [Teasing me again.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Little dinosaur wagging tail.jpg]
Lu Chen: [How am I teasing you?]
Lu Chen: [I’m not, really.]
He Xiaoyuan laughed again.
He Xiaoyuan: [Fake.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Never mind, no pressure, Ge.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Little dinosaur is obedient.jpg]
Lu Chen: [No pressure, not fake.]
Lu Chen: [I said it, really.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Really what?]
Lu Chen: [Really, it’s you.]
He Xiaoyuan held his phone, smiling so widely he couldn’t stop.
Meanwhile, Xu Ruomeng, finally done trying on the bag after half an hour, sat back on the sofa, sipping water and watching: “What’s so funny?”
He Xiaoyuan shook his head, saying nothing, but typed back to Lu Chen: [Don’t believe it.]
Then, thinking better of it, he retracted and sent: [Oh, so it’s me.]
Flipping the teasing around to Lu Chen:
He Xiaoyuan: [Lu Zong, what did you see in me?]
He Xiaoyuan: [My looks?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Or just because I’m young and naive?]
Lu Chen corrected: [That’s called being young and full of energy.]
He added: [That’s my business.]
He Xiaoyuan looked at his phone, snickering. Xu Ruomeng, curious, peeked several times but didn’t see anything; she focused on her bag, searching for its brand name on her own phone.
He Xiaoyuan, still grinning, sent: [Tell me then.]
He Xiaoyuan: [How can it be your business?]
He Xiaoyuan: [You said it was me, of course it concerns me too.]
Lu Chen: [So, do you accept it?]
He Xiaoyuan laughed, seeing how playful this had become. [You tell me what you like about me, then I’ll answer if I accept.]
Meanwhile, Lu Chen, at a VIP jewelry show with Yang Yun and Guan Xingping, looked at his phone, seeing “You tell me first… then I’ll answer,” and quietly smiled—an unmistakably happy smile.
Normally, He Xiaoyuan’s WeChat messages were straightforward, “what you see is what you get.” This was the first time he played a teasing, almost ambiguous style.
Lu Chen sensed some subtle flirtation in the exchange.
Lu Chen: [You first.]
Lu Chen: [Then I’ll answer.]
He Xiaoyuan: [You first.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Move over for me.]
Lu Chen laughed. Just that “Move over for me” made him melt: [Okay.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Then you say it.]
Lu Chen: [Honestly, your looks.]
Lu Chen: [And youth.]
He Xiaoyuan waited, curious if Lu Chen would elaborate—he didn’t. Only two lines.
He Xiaoyuan: [? That’s it?]
He Xiaoyuan: [No other merits?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Nothing else you like?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Just looks and youth?]
Lu Chen: [All of it.]
He Xiaoyuan: “Hm?”
Lu Chen: [I like everything about you.]
Lu Chen: [Appearance, body, personality, ability.]
Lu Chen: [Everything.]
Lu Chen: [I like it all.]
He Xiaoyuan was first surprised, thinking, Does Lu Ge really know how to flatter someone? Can he say all this?
Then he laughed again, shy but happy, thinking it was all playful, yet it felt real enough to make him blush.
But why be embarrassed? It was just teasing.
He Xiaoyuan’s ears flushed. Seeing the final “I like it all,” he couldn’t help laughing, very happy.
He was about to reply when Lu Chen typed: [I’ve said it, now it’s your turn.]
Lu Chen: [Do you accept it?]
Still playing? He Xiaoyuan laughed.
Lu Chen repeated: [Do you accept it?]
Lu Chen: [Answer.]
He Xiaoyuan’s finger hovered over the keypad. He typed, paused, deleted, thought again, and finally sent: [Depends on how you behave.]
The five words made Lu Chen chuckle aloud on the other end of the chat, drawing curious glances from Yang Yun and Guan Xingping, who were nearby browsing jewelry. They wondered what could be so funny.
Lu Chen’s mood was uncommonly bright. At thirty-three, it was the first time he’d found chatting in circles over WeChat this enjoyable.
Lu Chen: [Looks like I need to try harder.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Little dinosaur shrugging shoulders.jpg]
Lu Chen: [If I do well, you’ll consider accepting me?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Little dinosaur shrugging shoulders.jpg]
Lu Chen: [Answer me.]
He Xiaoyuan: [I guess so.]
Lu Chen: [“Guess so”?!]
He Xiaoyuan: [Depends on my mood.]
Lu Chen: [Hm?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Who said the decision’s not in my hands?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Little dinosaur spinning in a grass skirt.jpg]
He Xiaoyuan, leaning against the sofa, laughed nonstop at his own antics. This playful teasing was surprisingly fun. Lu Chen on the other end probably had no idea what to make of it.
Laughing, He Xiaoyuan eventually called Xu Ruomeng over, who plopped down beside him and reached for his phone, curious: “Why are you laughing so much? You’ve been holding that phone like an idiot, grinning for ages.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed and dodged her hand, not letting her see the screen. Xu Ruomeng teased: “He Xiaoyuan, you’re not dating anyone, right?”
That made He Xiaoyuan laugh even harder.
Xu Ruomeng laughed too, patting him: “Seriously, what’s so funny?”
Meanwhile, Lu Chen was in a particularly good mood, even glancing at jewelry he normally had no interest in. His eyes lingered on a brooch on the table; he focused for a moment, prompting someone wearing white gloves to pick it up and present it delicately: “This is this year’s new design…”
That evening, He Xiaoyuan stayed for dinner at Xu Ruomeng’s. The two of them ate and chatted like old times, relaxed and happy.
Somewhere along the way, Xu Ruomeng started scrolling her phone in the group chat, grabbing red envelopes, while He Xiaoyuan returned to chatting with Lu Chen.
Lu Chen: [Photo]
He Xiaoyuan opened it and saw a bejeweled leopard, about a third of a palm’s width—a piece of jewelry.
He Xiaoyuan: [Brooch?]
Lu Chen: [Mm.]
He Xiaoyuan, having never seen it before, assumed Lu Chen had bought it and complimented: [Looks nice.]
Still holding the phone, he smiled unconsciously. Across the table, Xu Ruomeng, done grabbing red envelopes, noticed him smiling at his screen.
She picked up some food with her chopsticks and glanced at him, puzzled: who was he so happy texting? Could he really be in love?
She finally asked directly: “Xiaoyuan, who are you chatting with?”
He Xiaoyuan looked up from his phone. Pausing, he said casually: “Lu Ge.”
“Oh, it’s Lu Ge,” Xu Ruomeng remarked.
“What are you talking about that’s so funny?” she asked.
He Xiaoyuan, taking a bite, replied nonchalantly: “Just chatting.”
Xu Ruomeng: “You two are pretty close now, right?”
He Xiaoyuan nodded: “Very familiar.”
They chatted about celebrating the New Year together and the fun night out with friends the night before. Xu Ruomeng nodded: “Yeah, you’re quite close. Lu Ge is really nice.”
He Xiaoyuan: “Yeah.”
Xu Ruomeng studied him briefly, then added: “You seem in good spirits too.”
He Xiaoyuan looked up, bright eyes glimmering: “Really?”
Xu Ruomeng: “Yeah. It’s important to be friends with outstanding people. Look at you these past six months, thriving like you just married into wealth and beauty.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed: “Where would I even marry a wealthy beauty?”
Xu Ruomeng raised her brow: “Let Lu Ge introduce you?”
He Xiaoyuan chuckled, shaking his head, knowing she was teasing.
Xu Ruomeng, half joking: “Should I introduce someone to you?”
He Xiaoyuan: “You mind your own business first.”
After dinner, they cleared the table together. He Xiaoyuan, busy in the kitchen and dining area, held his phone to his lips: “Just finished eating.”
“And we’ll leave soon, still have work tomorrow.”
Xu Ruomeng, glancing over, knew immediately he was sending a voice message—most likely to Lu Ge.
She thought to herself: these two really do talk constantly. He Xiaoyuan had been glued to his phone all afternoon, chatting while eating and even after dinner.
She mused: anyone unaware might think they were dating.
Soon, He Xiaoyuan grabbed his coat, ready to leave. At the entrance, changing shoes, his phone rang. He picked it up: “Changing shoes, almost done.”
Xu Ruomeng, curious: “Don’t tell me Lu Ge came to pick you up?”
He Xiaoyuan put on his coat: “He’s downstairs.”
“Wait… you’re dating? He always picks you up?” Xu Ruomeng blurted in shock. “Since when are you gay?! How come I didn’t know?”
Stepping out of the elevator, He Xiaoyuan wore a smile.
Stepping out of the building and sliding the door shut behind him, He Xiaoyuan got into the car, his smile unwavering.
Lu Chen, in the driver’s seat, glanced over: “So happy?”
He Xiaoyuan let out a soft chuckle—dating Lu Chen? Only Xu Ruomeng could think of that.
He didn’t reveal the real reason, instead smiling as he said, “Yeah, seeing you makes me happy.”
Lu Chen knew it was just a casual excuse, but he still couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at his lips.
“And isn’t it supposed to be because of how I perform?” he asked, teasingly. “I haven’t done anything yet—how come you’re already happy?”
He Xiaoyuan: a pause, a smile. Then he turned toward the driver’s seat and asked, “Not over yet?”
The playful exchange from earlier that afternoon?
Lu Chen, half serious, half teasing, turned back: “You don’t think it’s fake, do you?”
He Xiaoyuan had wanted to say, “Isn’t it?” but the words froze on his lips. No sound came out.
A thought struck him, and he placed his hand on the central armrest, silently covering Lu Chen’s right hand, which was also resting there.
The warmth of his palm touching Lu Chen’s cooler hand sent a light, thrilling tone through the car. He Xiaoyuan whispered, almost teasingly: “So… it’s not fake?”
Just half a second, and Lu Chen felt his heart spike.
To someone like Lu Chen—whose perception, awareness, and foresight were always keen—this was a rare, disarming moment. He was used to anticipating events and maintaining composure in nearly every situation, and he had long known that winning He Xiaoyuan’s heart would require patience and careful steps, especially this Spring Festival.
But last night, with He Xiaoyuan drunk, clinging to him, so close and intimate, even planting a kiss—the logic, the careful control, the foresight—all of it collapsed.
It was like trying to reach the moon: normally he would climb a ladder slowly but steadily, but now, captivated by the beauty of the moonlight, he wanted to shoot straight up with a rocket.
That sudden, instinctive rush of emotion—loving someone so intensely—was foreign to him after more than thirty years of life.
His senses went blank. In that instant, all that existed was He Xiaoyuan and the warm hand covering his own.
Years of composure allowed him to maintain an outwardly calm demeanor. His hand still rested on the armrest as he looked at the passenger, expression measured and composed.
But his mind was anything but calm.
Seeing Lu Chen so still, He Xiaoyuan instinctively withdrew his hand, pretending to be worried: “I’m joking.”
Lu Chen’s eyes didn’t leave him. His gaze deepened subtly, thinking: joking? I hope not.
After only half a second of silence, Lu Chen spoke, low and steady: “Joking? Don’t you want to hear my answer?”
He Xiaoyuan: “Hm?”
Lu Chen slowly curled his lips and lifted the hand that had been covered by He Xiaoyuan’s, reaching out to grasp the boy’s left hand. His gaze fixed on He Xiaoyuan, voice serious and velvety: “Of course it’s not fake.”
He Xiaoyuan: “……”
Lu Chen continued, eyes soft yet intent: “So… will you consider it?”
It felt like a confession, right there in the car.
He Xiaoyuan froze—skin prickling with goosebumps. Lu Chen released his hand, chuckling, fully aware of the boy’s red face.
Lu Chen teased: “So shy?”
Completely honest.
He Xiaoyuan, however, was flushed from head to toe, speechless, acting like a bashful bride.
He pressed his lips together, trying to contain himself—realizing he had been outperformed in acting Lu Chen, and had been played in turn.
Feeling a bit indignant, He Xiaoyuan opened his mouth to retort, only to notice Lu Chen’s gaze shift past him toward the passenger window.
He turned to see Xu Ruomeng pressed against the glass, hands framing her eyes, staring inside.
He Xiaoyuan didn’t know when she had started watching, what exactly she’d seen, or how long she’d been there. Her whole face, pressed to the window, was full of shock, mouth wide open—as if she’d witnessed something she wasn’t supposed to see.
He Xiaoyuan: “……”
He Xiaoyuan quickly pulled the zipper and pushed the door open. At the same time, Lu Chen in the driver’s seat asked, “Your friend?” and reached over to press the button, rolling down the passenger-side window.
He Xiaoyuan got out, closing the door behind him. His tall frame immediately blocked Xu Ruomeng’s view. She was holding a large paper bag, craning her neck toward the car, eyes wide, mouth open in surprise as she tried to see inside.
He Xiaoyuan: “Why are you down here?”
Xu Ruomeng’s head was still tilted, eyes slanted toward the car, muttering: “I forgot to—”
She stopped mid-sentence, abruptly changing tack: “Who’s that? Lu…?”
Could it really be a boyfriend?!
Inside, her mind was in total chaos: He Xiaoyuan is straight, so why is he touching another man’s hand? Why is that man touching him back? And then… pinching his face?
He Xiaoyuan noticed her stare and finally looked back at her, understanding immediately from her wide-eyed expression what she was thinking.
He Xiaoyuan: “……”
As they stood close together, their long friendship gave them a near-instantaneous, almost telepathic response:
Xu Ruomeng: “Your boyfriend?”
He Xiaoyuan: “No.”
Xu Ruomeng: “Then why were you holding his hand?”
He Xiaoyuan: “Just playing around.”
Xu Ruomeng: “And he…?”
He Xiaoyuan: “Also just playing around.”
Xu Ruomeng: “……”
Finally, their answers didn’t overlap, and Xu Ruomeng asked: “Do you think I’d believe that?”
He Xiaoyuan: “……”
Xu Ruomeng: “???”
He Xiaoyuan, caught between laughter and exasperation, murmured again: “Really, it’s not true.”
Xu Ruomeng’s entire expression—eyebrows, eyes, mouth—conveyed her disbelief: Not true? Are you sure? After all that, don’t lie to me.
Her gaze flicked toward the car. She caught sight of something, and her features immediately tensed.
He Xiaoyuan turned and saw Lu Chen stepping out of the driver’s side.
“Hello,” Lu Chen said politely as he walked around the front of the car, addressing Xu Ruomeng with calm, gentlemanly composure.
Xu Ruomeng: “Hello.”
She was momentarily struck by the man’s presence and appearance, thinking: This must be Lu Chen, Lu Zong? So… manly.
She stared for a few moments, then, as Lu Chen neared, she quickly handed He Xiaoyuan the paper bag, blurting out: “It’s late, you have work tomorrow, you should go. I’m heading up.” She waved at Lu Chen, finishing her greeting before hurrying into the building, leaving He Xiaoyuan amused.
Lu Chen came to He Xiaoyuan’s side, both of them watching Xu Ruomeng walk toward the elevator. Lu Chen asked knowingly: “Your friend… did she misunderstand?”
He Xiaoyuan turned to him, smiling: “Thanks to you, Lu Zong.”
Lu Chen replied calmly: “Want to explain it?”
Explain? He Xiaoyuan just smirked—she’s being teased.
He turned back to the car: “Let’s go.”
His ears were still flushed from earlier. Lu Chen noticed and pressed his lips together to hide a smile.