Xia Zichen’s internship at Shengchen was going quite smoothly. He also got along well with his colleagues. After all, it was an online game company, and most of the employees were young people who were energetic and lively, making the atmosphere throughout the company especially relaxed.
The company had almost no requirements regarding clothing. Except for the weekly Monday meetings and occasions when business partners came to visit, where everyone had to dress appropriately, employees could wear whatever they wanted at other times. The only rule was that they could not come to work wearing slippers.
Although Xia Zichen was only an intern and his working hours were shorter than the others, the employees in the company had already accepted him as one of their own. Whenever they ordered food or arranged gatherings, they always included him. When speaking to outsiders, they only said that he was a junior from A University like Gu Xu and the others. They did not publicly reveal their relationship as lovers.
Gu Xu himself was not afraid of others knowing, but considering Xia Zichen’s feelings, he decided to keep it quiet for now.
As an intern, Gu Xu hoped that Xia Zichen could slowly integrate into the company. He did not want their relationship to affect how others viewed Xia Zichen’s abilities. After all, Xia Zichen himself had been working extremely hard.
After finalizing a new cooperation project, everyone in the company finally relaxed. Xia Zichen came to work as usual, but there was not much for him to do. He flipped through his textbooks, browsed the internet, and passed away the afternoon.
Just as he was considering whether he should log into the game, the phone in his oversized pocket rang.
Xia Zichen took out his phone, originally thinking it was Gu Xu. However, when he looked at the caller ID, he was surprised to see that it was Luo Ji.
“Hello?”
“Where are you doing?” Luo Ji asked with a laugh. From his tone, he sounded like someone who had nothing to do and was bored.
“Nothing much. I don’t have anything to do.”
In the finance department, only the few days at the end of the month when accounts were being closed were extremely busy. The rest of the time was relatively relaxed.
“Come have afternoon tea. Big brother’s treating.”
“Wouldn’t that count as skipping work?”
Although Luo Ji’s suggestion was tempting, it was still working hours.
“It’s fine. If you don’t believe me, open the door and go outside right now. I guarantee half the people are playing games, and the other half are shopping online.”
Luo Ji spoke with absolute confidence.
Xia Zichen sighed inwardly. Why did he feel like, according to Luo Ji’s description, the company would go bankrupt sooner or later?
“There’s a newly opened café across from the company. Their desserts are pretty good. Come try them.”
Whenever food was mentioned, Luo Ji was naturally an expert.
“I’ll tell Young Master Gu later and have him come directly to the café after work to pick you up.”
Xia Zichen checked the time. It was already two-thirty in the afternoon. Eating something to pass the time was better than sitting there doing nothing.
“Alright. See you downstairs.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
After hanging up, Xia Zichen told his supervisor that Luo Ji wanted to see him. The supervisor nodded and let him leave.
Since it was still working hours, there were not many people in the café. Gentle music decorated the warm space, blocking out the bleakness of autumn leaves and chilly winds outside. Along both sides of the road, the ginkgo trees had already turned completely golden. Some displayed their final brilliance, while others had already withered and fallen onto the sidewalks, creating scenery unique to autumn.
Luo Ji ordered the café’s signature chocolate cake and coffee. Xia Zichen also ordered a cup of coffee and did not choose any other dessert. The signature chocolate cake here was large enough that the two of them could easily share it.
The coffee and cake were quickly served. Luo Ji took a bite and revealed a satisfied smile.
The chocolate cake was coated with pure dark chocolate sauce, so it was not overly sweet. After the slight sweetness of the cake itself entered his mouth, the rich bitterness of the chocolate slowly spread out. It was not greasy, nor was the bitterness unpleasant. Xia Zichen also liked it very much.
After taking a sip of coffee, Luo Ji asked:
“How are things between you and Young Master Gu? Are you enjoying living together?”
Because the company had been busy recently, Luo Ji had not had time to drag Xia Zichen out and dig for gossip. He also did not dare directly ask Gu Xu. Now that things had finally slowed down, he naturally wanted to check on them.
“Pretty good.”
Xia Zichen did not avoid the topic, but he also did not know how to describe it.
“Honestly, ever since the day I met Young Master Gu, I always thought someone like him would stay single forever.”
Luo Ji laughed.
“He gives people the feeling that he looks down on everyone. I never expected him to actually meet someone like you.”
“He only looks a little cold on the outside.”
Thinking back, if Gu Xu was not Can Mo Wu Hen, perhaps Xia Zichen himself would never have dared to imagine such a possibility.
“Some people are just like that. They look cold and distant, but once you get close to them, you realize they’re actually very gentle.”
When talking about Gu Xu, Xia Zichen thought of himself as well.
Wasn’t he the same?
He had grown accustomed to loneliness and indifference. Slowly, that became the impression he gave others. But he happened to meet Gu Xu. That person walked into his heart, and in front of Gu Xu, he gradually lowered his defenses and revealed a gentleness that even he himself had almost forgotten.
Slowly, he learned how to like him and how to nurture their love.
“Speaking honestly, compared to those couples who are deeply in love, I feel like the two of you don’t seem to like sticking together that much.”
“Neither Gu Xu nor I are that type of people.”
Xia Zichen raised his eyebrow.
“You and Senior Mo Xiang aren’t together every day either.”
“At least I often drag him out to eat and take pictures.”
Xia Zichen smiled and did not answer.
Although he and Gu Xu always appeared calm and reserved, they occasionally had some intimate moments. Gu Xu would also take a camera and chase him around the house taking pictures. The two of them would hold hands while walking, kiss each other, and even try different places when making love…
But those things belonged only to them. There was no need to take them out and talk about them.
“Actually, love isn’t about whether it’s ordinary or passionate. The important thing is that two people love each other and sincerely treat each other well. Without that foundation, everything else is meaningless.”
Xia Zichen lifted his coffee and took a sip.
“Everyone’s view of love changes at different stages of life because they meet different people and experience different things.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Before meeting Gu Xu, I had actually already decided to stay single for the rest of my life.”
Even though he had once liked Shen Yicheng, he had never thought he could spend his whole life with that person. That was why he had always silently kept his feelings to himself.
“Meeting Gu Xu in the game made me feel happy every day, and it gave me something to look forward to.”
Thinking back to the days when he first met Gu Xu in the game, Xia Zichen still felt that it was a wonderful coincidence.
“Now that we’re together, every day feels peaceful and stable. I think this kind of quiet and steady love is also very good.”
“Every day, there’s someone waiting for you to come home, or someone going home with you. Someone to eat with, chat with, watch movies with, or play games with. The things you need to worry about have already been quietly handled by him. And if you occasionally give him a gift, he’ll be happy for a long time.”
Thinking of how Gu Xu was still using the signature pen he had given him, Xia Zichen unconsciously smiled deeper.
Luo Ji quietly looked at him.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly, as if he could feel Xia Zichen’s happiness.
“Actually, no matter what form love takes, love itself is the foundation. True love does not hurt people.”
Xia Zichen had never said these words to anyone before. Perhaps because the person sitting across from him was Luo Ji—someone who, like him, had a same-sex partner—he was able to openly share these thoughts.
Even someone as calm as Gu Xu would occasionally do childish things.
For example, when Gu Xu woke up earlier in the morning while Xia Zichen was still asleep, he would take out the camera, point it at Xia Zichen, and take a whole series of pictures before kissing him awake.
There were so many photos like that at home that Xia Zichen could not even count them anymore.
Although not all of them looked perfect, every single one recorded happiness.
Bit by bit. Minute by minute.
A little piece of happiness.
“Tsk.”
Luo Ji laughed and teased him.
“Alright, I get it. You’re very happy. Did you really have to show off in front of me?”
Happiness was something that could not be faked.
True happiness could be passed on and influence others. Luo Ji could feel it, and he deeply agreed with what Xia Zichen said.
Although Xia Zichen was younger than him, he saw through many things more clearly than most people.
Xia Zichen helplessly shrugged.
Clearly, Luo Ji was the one who asked.
“You and Senior Mo Xiang are doing pretty well too.”
He had encountered the two of them kissing in the car several times.
Given his personality, he usually would have pretended not to see and quietly walked away. But sometimes when he was with Gu Xu, Gu Xu would pull him over, walk to the car window, and knock twice on the glass.
Of course, it had only happened twice.
After all, Gu Xu himself was not someone who liked interfering in such matters. Besides, it was not his place to interfere. Everyone had the freedom to pursue their own relationships.
The first time it happened, Luo Ji had been startled. However, both Luo Ji and Mo Xiang had strong adaptability. After experiencing it once, they remained completely calm the second time.
“Right now, things look pretty good.”
Luo Ji smiled.
But there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
After remaining silent for a while, he continued:
“However, we have pressure from our families.”
“Hmm?”
Xia Zichen had never heard Gu Xu mention this before.
“Mo Xiang and I came out to our families several years ago, but they didn’t agree.”
Luo Ji pursed his lips. The bitterness in his smile became more obvious.
“Actually, Mo Xiang and I have basically already run away from home. If it wasn’t for Young Master Gu helping us, we might have already starved to death, or perhaps we would have given in to our families.”
Xia Zichen had heard many stories about same-sex relationships.
However, most endings were not very good.
Family opposition was the biggest problem. Many people were forced to marry women because of it, and in the end, they only hurt themselves and others.
Thinking about it, Xia Zichen felt extremely grateful that his own father had been able to accept his sexuality.
At least he did not have to struggle with that problem.
Otherwise, with Gu Xu on one side and the father who raised him on the other, no matter which side he gave up, it would have been incredibly painful.
“I heard from Young Master Gu that your family has no problem with it.”
Luo Ji asked.
“Yeah.”
Xia Zichen answered softly and did not say more.
He did not want Luo Ji to feel too much contrast. That would only make Luo Ji’s bitterness seem even heavier.
“As for the Gu family, it seems there’s no need to worry either. Young Master Gu seems very confident.”
“We’ll see after meeting them.”
Although Gu Xu said there would be no problem, until he actually met Gu Xu’s father, Xia Zichen still felt there was some uncertainty.
“Don’t worry. With Young Master Gu’s personality, he definitely made all the arrangements before letting you meet them.”
Based on what Luo Ji knew, Gu Xu had never been an impulsive person. He would not let emotions control his decisions.
“Let’s hope your words come true.”
Naturally, Xia Zichen also hoped everything would go smoothly.
The two of them continued chatting until after work before heading back.
Luo Ji needed to return to the company to clock out before leaving. Since Xia Zichen was only an intern and did not need to punch in, he went directly to the underground parking lot, planning to send Gu Xu a message and ask him to come down.
Just as he entered the parking lot, he saw from a distance that a car had just driven in and happened to park beside Gu Xu’s car.
The driver’s door opened, and a very attractive woman dressed in a sexy outfit stepped out. She walked directly toward Gu Xu.
At that moment, Gu Xu was standing beside his car holding his phone, seemingly preparing to make a call.
When the woman stood in front of him and blocked his way, Gu Xu looked up.
His face showed no expression, as if he did not care at all.
Xia Zichen stopped walking.
Although they were some distance apart, he still recognized the woman.
She was the same woman who had entered the nightclub with Fan Jiayue that day and had later appeared at Gu Yan’s birthday banquet.
The woman did not know what she said to Gu Xu.
Gu Xu slightly frowned but did not say anything.
The woman seemed anxious. She took a document folder out of her bag and tried to hand it to him.
Gu Xu’s frown deepened, and he did not reach out to take it.
The woman failed to notice.
When she released her hand, the document folder fell onto the ground with a soft sound.
Gu Xu walked around her, placed his phone against his ear, and within a few seconds, Xia Zichen’s phone began ringing.
The ringtone echoed strangely through the empty parking lot.
Although it was not loud, it still caught Gu Xu’s attention.
Seeing Xia Zichen standing there, Gu Xu hung up the call and walked over.
“I heard from the finance department that Luo Ji called you away. I was just about to go pick you up.”
“I was just about to call you too.”
Xia Zichen glanced at the woman behind him.
The woman remained standing there and did not pick up the document folder.
Gu Xu knew who he was looking at.
“Don’t overthink it. I don’t even know her.”
Xia Zichen raised an eyebrow.
“Then why did she come looking for you?”
Gu Xu helplessly sighed.
“It’s definitely not a good thing. Get in the car and I’ll explain.”
“I came a little later, and maybe I could have witnessed a cheating scene.”
Xia Zichen glanced at the woman staring at him.
To be honest, he did not understand what use there was in the woman glaring at him.
“My Zichen has always been rational. You wouldn’t accuse someone without knowing the truth.”
Gu Xu revealed a faint smile.
“Stop saying sweet things.”
“You should at least give me a chance to explain.”
“If there’s really nothing going on, then what is there to explain?”
Xia Zichen was not angry.
From beginning to end, he had seen everything clearly.
“That’s true.”
Gu Xu nodded.
“Then, Young Master Xia, would you please honor me by coming home with me?”
“Drive.”
Xia Zichen stood there with one hand in his jeans pocket.
“Alright.”
Gu Xu turned toward his parking space. However, just as he opened the car door, the woman grabbed him.
“Would Young Master Gu really want the fact that he’s gay to become known by everyone?”
The woman raised her voice.
Xia Zichen, standing nearby, heard every word clearly.
Xia Zichen slightly frowned and walked toward Gu Xu.
“I also don’t like threatening people. I only hope you’ll take a look at our proposal. We hope to have a chance to cooperate.”
Seeing Xia Zichen approach, the woman revealed a smile that carried a hint of confidence, as if she had already won.
Xia Zichen did not mind his own homosexuality being known by his family. However, making it known to everyone was a different matter.
Moreover, with Gu Xu’s status, it was better to avoid getting involved in this kind of situation as much as possible.
Gu Xu frowned.
But soon, his expression relaxed.
He walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and motioned for Xia Zichen to get in.
Xia Zichen hesitated for a moment, then silently sat inside.
Gu Xu closed the door, walked back around to the driver’s side, opened the door, and said in a low voice:
“If you want to tell people, then go ahead. You don’t need to tell me.”
“I’d actually be happy if everyone knew. There’s nothing shameful about me and my lover. Whoever wants to know can know.”
After a pause, the corner of Gu Xu’s lips lifted into a cold smile.
“However, Miss Lei’s own history is much more interesting than mine. Tell me, if both of us were exposed at the same time, who do you think would attract more attention?”
After saying that, Gu Xu got into the car, closed the door, started the engine, and drove away.
The tires rolled over the document folder on the ground, leaving behind a muddy mark.
The woman left behind stood there with a pale face.
She stared fiercely in the direction where the car disappeared.
Her expression was filled with shock, but her eyes also revealed an uncontrollable anger…