Chapter 29
The days that followed were peaceful.
The troubles Shen Yan had been worrying about didn’t happen. Shen Jiaqi hadn’t sought him out, Duan Yang hadn’t appeared, and it seemed his identity still hadn’t been exposed on Duan Yang’s side.
Moreover, Su Yunzhe also hadn’t reached out to him.
Oddly enough, Su Yunzhe’s lack of contact reassured him more than the absence of interaction with Duan Yang or Shen Jiaqi.
His new novel had successfully been signed, made it onto the rankings, and seemed to be performing well.
As a result, he had been focusing all his attention on plotting the next chapters recently.
When he had downtime, he would play games, read books, or order takeout when he got hungry, barely stepping out of his house.
Late August remained swelteringly hot, and he was in no mood to leave his home.
This stretch of time turned out to be quite relaxing and leisurely for him. While there were occasional bouts of boredom, overall, it wasn’t bad at all.
One day, near the end of August, Shen Yan unexpectedly received a phone call from Qin Mofeng.
This caught him off guard.
Qin Mofeng would occasionally reach out to him, but usually through WeChat and rarely for anything serious. Most of their conversations were trivial banter—complaining about his boss or sharing anecdotes from his school days with Su Yunzhe. More often than not, it involved praising himself for being handsome and poking fun at Su Yunzhe.
It was the first time Qin Mofeng had ever called Shen Yan out of the blue.
When Shen Yan picked up, Qin Mofeng’s voice carried a tone of helplessness.
“Yan-meizi, are you free tonight? Come have a drink with your big brother.”
“What’s wrong, Feng-ge? What’s making you want to grab a drink all of a sudden?” Shen Yan asked.
Qin Mofeng sighed, his voice even more listless. “It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to talk to someone and realized I don’t have anyone to call. You tell me, why did Old Su have to pick this particular time to go abroad? I’ve been feeling so stressed lately and just wanted someone to drink and chat with, but he decides to leave now of all times. Doesn’t he consider me a good brother? It’s like he’s completely abandoned me. It’s inhumane, don’t you think, Yan-meizi?”
Shen Yan paused for a moment. “President Su went abroad?”
“Huh? You didn’t know?” Qin Mofeng sounded surprised, then immediately began complaining. “What’s wrong with Old Su? He didn’t even inform you about his whereabouts? Isn’t that against the rules? Let me tell you, Yan-meizi, you can’t let this slide. Take this chance to lay down the rules and make it clear who’s in charge of the household. Understand? Oh, and guess what? He went abroad with Lin Qiao. You know her, right? That woman has been chasing him for eight years, ever since university. Think about it, the two of them, alone, abroad—what could they possibly be up to? When he gets back, make him kneel on a washboard!”
Shen Yan chuckled and was about to clarify that he and Su Yunzhe weren’t in that kind of relationship. However, the words stopped at his lips, and he changed course. “I’m free tonight. Where are you, Feng-ge? I’ll come find you.”
Qin Mofeng replied, “I feel bad asking you to come out, but my classes run late, and I’ve got a pile of papers to grade tonight. So, I might have to work overtime. There’s a barbecue stall near my school that’s really good. I took Old Su there once and wanted to invite you along, but Old Su said you were busy. Oh, right, it’s the same place I mentioned before—the one where we ran into someone who looks almost exactly like you. Let’s go there.”
Shen Yan knew exactly which place he was talking about—it was Chen Rongbiao’s barbecue stall.
There was no way he could go there with Qin Mofeng.
Last time, he had already had a hard time dealing with running into Su Yunzhe and Qin Mofeng while in male attire. This time, was he supposed to dress as a woman and risk running into Chen Rongbiao again?
Was he actively trying to expose the fact that they were the same person?
Feigning hesitation, he said, “Um… a street stall? Feng-ge, aren’t those places unhygienic? I never go to them.”
Qin Mofeng was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on, laughing. “My bad! I forgot you girls like things clean. Alright, we’ll switch places. There’s a small restaurant near my school that’s pretty good. It’s a bit cramped, but the food is great. I’ll send you the address. You can take the subway straight here.”
After the call ended, Shen Yan tidied himself up a bit and headed out when the time came.
On the subway, he kept wondering what could have prompted Qin Mofeng to call him so suddenly.
After all, in Qin Mofeng’s eyes, he was supposed to be Su Yunzhe’s girlfriend.
Despite Qin Mofeng’s carefree demeanor, he wasn’t the type to overstep boundaries or disregard propriety with his best friend’s girlfriend.
Unable to make sense of it, his thoughts drifted to Su Yunzhe.
So, Su Yunzhe had gone abroad. No wonder he hadn’t been in touch lately.
Then again, even if Su Yunzhe were in the country, it wasn’t as if he had to contact him. Their relationship was strictly professional—a contractual agreement that specified Shen Yan was to be on-call whenever Su Yunzhe deemed it necessary.
Perhaps Su Yunzhe simply didn’t think it was necessary for them to meet.
Shen Yan let out an unconscious sigh, thinking that if that were the case, it was fine.
But his hands betrayed his thoughts, opening his phone’s search page and typing in the name “Lin Qiao.”
Shen Yan didn’t usually follow entertainment news and was entirely unfamiliar with this world’s celebrities. While he’d heard Lin Qiao’s name, he had no impression of her.
It was said that she was beautiful and very popular.
Looking at the photos that came up, Shen Yan thought she was just average. Nowadays, most actresses looked the same to him, so he couldn’t tell if she was particularly attractive.
Apart from photos, there were numerous articles about Lin Qiao’s recent activities. It seemed she was currently abroad filming a reality show, with many paparazzi photos circulating online.
As Shen Yan scrolled through the pictures, he thought to himself: What’s this about being alone with a man? Clearly, she’s just a single woman abroad.
Besides, if Su Yunzhe had truly been interested in Lin Qiao, would he have let her chase him for eight years?
Qin Mofeng was just spouting nonsense.
But Shen Yan, why the hell are you even bothered by this? What does it matter to you who Su Yunzhe went abroad with or what he’s doing?
Realizing his unusual reaction, Shen Yan quickly exited the search page, put his phone away, and focused on thinking about his novel’s plot. He tried hard to empty his mind of anything related to Su Yunzhe.
At 9 p.m., he followed the address Qin Mofeng had sent and found a small restaurant serving rustic dishes. It was right next to Seventeenth High School, and the entire street was lined with eateries and snack stalls.
This was about the time when senior students were getting out of their evening self-study sessions, so the street was filled with groups of students in school uniforms, laughing and chatting, radiating youthful energy.
Watching them, Shen Yan’s mind wandered back to his own high school days, and the corners of his mouth curled up without him realizing it.
“Hey, hey, hey, Yan-meizi, watch yourself! Don’t go charming these teenagers. Their focus should be on their studies right now. If you keep smiling like that, you’ll end up distracting them!”
Qin Mofeng hurried over, only to see several boys blushing from Shen Yan’s smile—a shy and happy reaction typical of meeting someone they secretly admired for the first time.
He quickly chimed in, as if afraid that the students’ academic ambitions would be derailed by that single smile.
Messing with their futures? That’s a sin that would surely bring divine retribution!
Shen Yan had no idea he possessed such an effect. He thought Qin Mofeng was joking and greeted him with a laugh. “Feng-ge, long time no see!”
“Long time no see, indeed! Your Feng-ge’s been crazy busy lately—lesson prep, supervising morning and evening self-study sessions. And to top it off, I’ve got a few troublemakers in my class causing problems daily! Kids these days, you can’t hit them, you can’t scold them, and they just wear you down. Oh, speaking of troublemakers, there’s Su Yingying. A while back, Old Su gave her a call, and she was pretty obedient for a while—attending school on time, not causing disruptions in class. My expectations for her aren’t high. Whether she gets into college or ends up jobless, her family’s rich enough to support her anyway. All I want is for her to stop giving me headaches. But lately, she’s back at it—skipping classes, showing up occasionally just to provoke teachers and stir up trouble. Honestly, I don’t want to deal with her anymore. Old Su wouldn’t blame me if I gave up. But then there’s Ling…”
Qin Mofeng suddenly stopped mid-sentence, looking a bit awkward and regretful. He quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, Yan-meizi, let’s head inside. This restaurant may not look like much, but the food is excellent.” With that, he led the way in.
Shen Yan pretended not to notice his discomfort and followed him inside, smiling. “Is it really that good?”
The restaurant was indeed small, about 40 or 50 square meters, with a few tables in the main dining area. The menu was plastered on the wall, and customers just pointed to what they wanted.
Qin Mofeng was clearly a regular. After checking if Shen Yan had any dietary restrictions, he expertly ordered all their signature dishes and found them a table. He even sterilized the utensils with hot water and poured her a glass of water.
By this time, the restaurant was mostly empty, so the dishes came out quickly. In no time, the table was filled with food.
Qin Mofeng also ordered a box of beer, popped open two bottles, and handed one to Shen Yan before downing an entire bottle in one go.
The way he drank screamed of using alcohol to drown his sorrows.
Shen Yan didn’t press him about his troubles.
It was obvious that while Qin Mofeng was clearly troubled, he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—put it into words.
Lately, Shen Yan could relate to that feeling. He himself often felt inexplicably irritable but couldn’t pinpoint the reason behind it.
In that sense, he and Qin Mofeng were kindred spirits.
However, unlike Qin Mofeng, Shen Yan couldn’t drink much. He only took a few polite sips while focusing mainly on the food.
Qin Mofeng didn’t seem to be looking for a heart-to-heart. He spent the evening mostly drinking and saying trivial things.
He talked casually, and Shen Yan listened casually. And just like that, they whiled away the evening.
As the clock neared 11 p.m., Shen Yan, worried about missing the last train, stood up to leave.
Qin Mofeng had drunk a lot, but his tolerance was high, and he wasn’t visibly drunk. He immediately thought of Shen Yan heading home alone late at night and offered to escort her. “I’ll walk you home. If Su Yunzhe finds out I let you go back alone, he’ll kill me.”
Shen Yan laughed. “No need, it’s just a short walk to the subway. Besides, Feng-ge, you’ve been drinking—you can’t drive. Are you planning to take the subway with me? Don’t worry, I’ll text you when I get home. You should go rest.”
But Qin Mofeng insisted. He called the owner over to settle the bill, then walked out with Shen Yan, pulling out his phone to call for a driver. “I’ll get a driver to take us. I’ll see you home first and then come back.”
“Really, it’s not necessary, I—”
Shen Yan hadn’t finished her sentence when she saw Qin Mofeng’s expression change drastically. He was staring at something behind her with rare anger and a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.
Shen Yan, puzzled, was about to turn around when a warm, pleasant voice with a hint of amusement interrupted, “Well, what a coincidence, Teacher Qin is here too.”
The voice was calm and refreshing, like a summer breeze that instantly put people at ease.
Ling Sicheng?
Shen Yan turned around and, sure enough, saw Ling Sicheng approaching them.
Although Shen Yan had only seen Ling Sicheng in photos, his striking features were unforgettable.
And in person? He was even more stunning than in the pictures. Dressed in a simple white T-shirt, he exuded a natural elegance that set him apart from everyone else.
Ling Sicheng noticed Shen Yan as well and greeted him with a warm smile. “A friend of Teacher Qin? Hello, I’m Ling Sicheng. I work at the same school as Teacher Qin.”
Shen Yan found himself liking Ling Sicheng immediately, perhaps because of his good looks.
From the photos alone, Shen Yan had thought Ling Sicheng seemed completely different from how Qin Mofeng often described him. Seeing him in person only reinforced that impression.
However, Qin Mofeng clearly did not share the same opinion.
Before Shen Yan could respond, Qin Mofeng stepped forward, positioning himself between Shen Yan and Ling Sicheng, his gaze sharp and voice laced with icy anger. “He’s my friend. Stay away from him!”
Compared to Ling Sicheng’s warm and friendly demeanor, Qin Mofeng’s hostility was jarring.
But Ling Sicheng didn’t seem bothered. He maintained his gentle tone. “I was just saying hello. Nothing more.”
Qin Mofeng’s tone only grew harsher. “Who knows what your real intentions are? Isn’t scheming against others your specialty? Just seeing you disgusts me. Stay the hell away from us!”
Shen Yan stared at Qin Mofeng in astonishment, wondering if he had misheard.
Never before had he heard such harsh words from Qin Mofeng.
Though Qin often complained about Ling Sicheng behind his back, it was always lighthearted venting—not outright insults.
Now, he was cursing Ling Sicheng to his face, using the most cutting language possible.
Shen Yan couldn’t help glancing at Ling Sicheng to gauge his reaction. To his surprise, Ling Sicheng simply smiled faintly, nodded at Shen Yan, and brushed past them into the restaurant, completely ignoring Qin Mofeng’s outburst.
Yet this seemed to enrage Qin Mofeng even more. He turned to follow Ling Sicheng into the restaurant, only to stop abruptly after taking a few steps.
Then, without a word, he spun around and stormed back to Shen Yan. His tone was rushed and anxious. “Sorry, Yan-meizi. Can you take a cab home? I’ll flag one down for you. Call me when you get there.”
Shen Yan hadn’t planned on letting Qin Mofeng escort him home in the first place. But seeing Qin Mofeng’s current state, Shen Yan wasn’t sure whether to leave or stay.
Qin Mofeng seemed unusually agitated. He had been the one hurling insults, yet now he looked as though he’d been scolded instead.
Qin Mofeng didn’t wait for Shen Yan to process his thoughts. He quickly hailed a taxi, practically pushing Shen into the car.
After a moment of hesitation, Shen Yan finally got in and left.
Though Qin Mofeng’s behavior was odd, Shen Yan reasoned that even after spending the entire evening together, Qin Mofeng hadn’t confided in him at all. Staying wouldn’t make a difference.
Besides, Qin Mofeng was an adult. Whatever the issue was, he would figure out a way to handle it.
Still, during the ride home, Shen Yan debated whether to tell Su Yunzhe about it.
Though Su Yunzhe always dismissed Qin Mofeng’s endless complaints, Shen Yan knew their friendship was genuinely close. Qin Mofeng’s claim that they had “grown up wearing the same pair of pants” wasn’t much of an exaggeration.
If something serious was going on with Qin Mofeng, Su Yunzhe would undoubtedly be worried.
Lost in thought, Shen Yan didn’t notice the car parked at the mouth of the alley until he got out of the cab.
It wasn’t until he pulled out his phone to use the flashlight that he saw not only the car but also a figure leaning against it.
The faint glow from his flashlight illuminated a tall, lean silhouette. The person was leaning casually against the car door, head slightly lowered, a cigarette between their lips. The tip of the cigarette glowed dimly in the darkness.
“Su… Yunzhe?” Shen Yan called out tentatively.
The figure stirred at the sound of his voice, snuffing out the cigarette and tossing it into a nearby trash can.
As the person stepped into the light, a flawlessly handsome face came into view.
It really was Su Yunzhe.
Shen Yan stared blankly at him, his mind in a daze. Wasn’t Su Yunzhe supposed to be abroad? What was he doing here at this hour?
Su Yunzhe noticed Shen Yan’s stunned expression and let out a soft chuckle. He stepped closer, holding out a paper cup. “I got this just for you. Drink it while it’s still warm.”
Still confused, Shen Yan took the cup reflexively. “What is it?”
Su Yunzhe’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “Brown sugar water.”
Shen Yan froze for a moment before realizing what he meant. His cheeks grew hot, and he glared at him. “How long do you think Aunt Flo (menstruation) has been visiting?!”
Su Yunzhe feigned innocence. “I’m new to this, okay? So… are you done?”
