Qi Xu hadn’t seen the car yet, but early that morning, Xu Yichen arrived at the Xie household and saw the latest model sports car parked outside the Shen family’s gate. His face was full of envy as he shouted into the courtyard, “Qi Xu, is that your car?”
Qi Xu came out after breakfast, tossing the keys in his hand. “It’s mine.”
“My model hasn’t arrived yet. This must’ve been rushed with extra payment,” Xu Yichen said, waving at Qi Xu. Qi Xu tossed him the keys. “How much did it cost? If I’d known, I’d have tightened my belt and paid extra too—wouldn’t have had to wait forever like this.”
Xu Yichen eagerly opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat to check out the new ride.
“No idea. Shen Fengkai bought it,” Qi Xu said as he walked over and bent down to check the interior accessories.
Xie Huai and Fang Qian heard Xu Yichen’s loud voice from the yard and stepped outside. They saw the two of them chatting and laughing. Qi Xu casually leaned over the car door with one hand, showing off the spoiled rich kid vibe. “Mind if I lend it to Young Master Xu for a spin?”
Xu Yichen was surprised and flattered. He grabbed the steering wheel with both hands. “Better not. You own the car. I wouldn’t just hop in and drive without permission. A gentleman doesn’t steal someone else’s pleasure.”
Then he looked up and saw Xie Huai standing by the front of the car and honked at him. “I’ll just drive Ah Huai’s car. His garage’s got plenty of cars anyway.”
Hearing that, Qi Xu straightened up and stepped back. Xu Yichen suggested, “It’s been a while since we went out. How about we take a drive somewhere?”
Fang Qian’s foot was almost fully healed. She didn’t need her crutches anymore but still walked a bit slower than before.
“Been a while since going out? You got me and Qi Xu looking like this the other day, and you still want to go out?”
Xu Yichen got out of the car. “That’s the kind of thinking that gets bitten by a snake once and then fears a well rope for ten years. Besides, the trouble’s been dealt with. With me and Ah Huai always nearby, nothing bad will happen this time.”
Fang Qian, knowing about the news this morning, curiously asked, “Was it you guys who blew the whistle on Song Ruoming? You’re really taking care of the people.”
Xu Yichen wasn’t about to take all the credit. He nodded toward Qi Xu. “I’m the second mover; he’s the first. And that guy over there is barely third.”
Qi Xu looked at Xie Huai, genuinely unsure what role this guy played. “What did you do?”
Xie Huai said coolly, “Limited the article’s circulation and spent some money to promote it.”
Qi Xu was speechless.
Well, that’s quite the push and shove.
“Let’s go pick up Jiang Zimu. He’s been insisting on seeing Qi Xu. I’ll drive Ah Huai’s car. You two can share one ride.” Xu Yichen didn’t even ask and led Fang Qian to the garage.
Qi Xu was about to get into the driver’s seat when Xie Huai raised a hand to stop him. “Do you have a driver’s license?”
Qi Xu suddenly remembered: he was only 18 and hadn’t had time to get his license yet, wasting the whole summer before senior year.
“No.”
Xie Huai frowned. “No license and still want to get in the car? Planning to freeload on the government?”
Qi Xu walked over to the passenger seat. “Not interested. You drive.”
After getting in, Qi Xu saw a Maserati pulling out of the garage and asked, “Does Xu Yichen have a license?”
Xie Huai buckled his seatbelt. “Just got it last week.”
Qi Xu felt a bit envious. Actually, for an experienced driver, getting a license is the hardest part. Who doesn’t know how to parallel park or back into a spot perfectly after years of practice? It’s all based on experience. Now having to retake the test means forgetting all that experience and just focusing on passing.
“Jealous again?” Xie Huai glanced over at him.
Qi Xu nodded. “Yeah, jealous.”
It was rare to hear Qi Xu admit what he was thinking. Xie Huai said, “First-year college classes aren’t too heavy. You can learn to drive on weekends.”
Qi Xu planned it out in his head. “School starts in a week. I’ll sign up for the written test first.”
Whoever wants to do it can go ahead. Qi Xu pulled out his phone and registered himself.
Xie Huai followed the Maserati ahead. “In a hurry?”
“Yeah, otherwise how could you be the first to drive my new car on the road?” Qi Xu scrolled on his phone but thought to himself, I’m so jealous and envious.
Xie Huai corrected him, “You’re not the first. Your brother probably was.”
Qi Xu raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
When they arrived downstairs at the art studio building, Qi Xu watched Xie Huai skillfully parallel park like a pro driver, completely at ease.
Qi Xu vaguely remembered that Xie Huai liked racing games. In his past life, he saw Shen Zeyu holding several new racing outfits, asking Shen Fengkai’s opinion on which looked best, and on weekends, Xie Huai would take him to play racing games.
Qi Xu silently glanced at Xie Huai, who finished parking and turned around. Their eyes met, and neither said a word.
Their gaze locked, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment. Neither expected to hold eye contact for that long.
There was a strange feeling in the atmosphere for a brief instant.
Qi Xu instinctively touched his wrist but felt the emptiness again. Looks like buying another agarwood bracelet needed to be on his to-do list.
Outside the car, Xu Yichen tapped on the window. “Qi Xu, Jiang Zimu wants you to come up and meet him. You’re a grown man, and you still need someone to come get you? Fang Qian’s leg isn’t good, so I’m not going up. You’re on.”
The sound broke the awkward moment. Qi Xu unbuckled his seatbelt. “No big deal. What floor?”
“Sixth floor, Xunmi Art Studio.”
Qi Xu got out, and the driver got out too.
Xu Yichen looked at them and asked, “What’s up?”
“Bored. Going up to check it out,” Xie Huai said, closing the car door.
Xu Yichen looked at him curiously. “You don’t mean you have PTSD from that bar alley incident, and you don’t trust him alone, right?”
Xie Huai rolled his eyes. “I’m willing to pay for a language tutor for you. Please improve your reading comprehension.”
Xu Yichen had already been told twice by the top science student that his Chinese was poor. He started to doubt himself. “I scored 125 on the Chinese section of the college entrance exam. That’s above average, right? Is it really that bad?”
Xie Huai said nothing more. Seeing Xu Yichen was hopeless, he just nodded and then went into the building. As the elevator door closed, he stepped inside.
Qi Xu glanced at Xie Huai silently in the elevator, expressionless, leaning against the wall.
Jiang Zimu was waiting by the elevator door and rushed over when he saw Qi Xu. “Brother Xu, Brother Huai.”
Since the day Qi Xu protected Fang Qian in the bar alley, Jiang Zimu had started calling him “Brother Xu.” Among the five friends, Jiang Zimu was the youngest, so he called everyone “brother.”
“Sorry to take up a bit of your time. Can you come into the art studio with me for a bit? They don’t believe I found the perfect human model.”
Qi Xu had heard Jiang Zimu say this several times before, even when they first met. Jiang had wanted to draw him. Qi Xu didn’t know much about art and asked with some confusion, “Why are you so obsessed with drawing me?”
Jiang Zimu blurted out, “Because you were born to be drawn.”
He paused, suddenly noticing two pairs of eyes behind him—especially the last pair, which fixed on him with a sharpness that made him feel pressured.
“Of course, I wouldn’t draw you without your permission. I just want them to appreciate you.”
Maybe Jiang Zimu had already informed the people at the studio, because a group was waiting by the door. When Qi Xu appeared, he felt countless intense gazes on him—just like the first time Jiang Zimu saw him.
Qi Xu didn’t step any closer. Although those looks weren’t hostile, their heat was overwhelming. If you didn’t know better, you might think he was some kind of celebrity.
“Wow, his physique is perfect for a nude model.”
“He’d be great for oil painting too. His eyes are so beautiful.”
“Zimu, does your friend mind if I take a photo? His facial proportions are perfect for practicing portrait sketches.”
“If he were the model in my university figure drawing class, I’d definitely attend every session seriously.”
Jiang Zimu turned down the requests one by one on Qi Xu’s behalf. “I just wanted you guys to see him. You didn’t believe me. My friend won’t be a model, and I won’t let anyone draw him, let alone you guys.”
Someone laughed, “You’re worse off than us. We only saw him once. He’s your friend, but you see him every day and can’t even touch him. Must be driving you crazy.”
Jiang Zimu admitted, “Yeah, my hands do itch a bit. I want to draw.”
After giving the art studio people a glimpse of the perfect model, Jiang Zimu left with Qi Xu and the others.
Downstairs, Xie Huai said to Xu Yichen, “You two go up the mountain first. We’ve got something to take care of.”
Xu Yichen looked at them puzzled. “You two?”
At the same time, Qi Xu spoke up, “We?”
