“Hello,” Pei Qingjian smiled faintly, as if nothing had happened, looking at the men before him.
Xu Jianian smiled slightly in return. “Hello.”
Chen Cheng clearly hadn’t expected Lan Xingchen to have a boyfriend. He glanced at him a few times, frowning. “Lan Ge, when did you get a boyfriend? How come we didn’t know?”
Lan Xingchen said nothing.
Chen Cheng wasn’t a friend of his; whether or when he got a boyfriend was none of his business.
Chen Cheng, realizing he wasn’t a priority, turned his attention to Xu Ya.
Luckily, Xu Ya responded in kind, frowning slightly. “I don’t remember you mentioning this.”
Lan Xingchen chuckled. “Now you’ve heard it.”
Xu Ya frowned, not entirely satisfied with that answer.
“It’s been a while since we met—what a coincidence. Let’s have dinner together.”
Lan Xingchen instinctively prepared to refuse but then smiled. “Sure.”
He patted Pei Qingjian’s head. “But first, I need to accompany Qingqing to the bathroom.”
Pei Qingjian: ??? Since when did he say anything about going to the bathroom?
“Let’s go.” Lan Xingchen slung an arm over his shoulder and turned.
Pei Qingjian cast him a subtle glance, wondering what he was planning.
They walked together to the restroom. At that hour, it was empty. Lan Xingchen closed the door and turned to Pei Qingjian.
“I have a mission for you.”
“What?”
“When we go back out, if you see them again, you must act like you’re utterly smitten with me.”
“Ah?”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Like, completely in love, head over heels, hopelessly devoted. Got it?”
Pei Qingjian was puzzled. “Why?”
He immediately thought of the original story. “You want Xu Jianian to be jealous?”
Lan Xingchen: ???
He looked disgusted. “Nonsense.”
“Then why have me do this?”
“To confirm his feelings by making him jealous.”
Lan Xingchen: … How to explain this?
“I can’t explain it all now. Just do it, okay?”
Pei Qingjian hesitated. “Xu Jianian isn’t right for you.”
“Of course I know we’re not compatible.”
“Forced melons aren’t sweet!”
Lan Xingchen chuckled. “Who am I forcing?”
“Xu Jianian.”
“Do I even need to force him?” Lan Xingchen felt his little goldfinch underestimated him. “I never planned to force him, let alone strong-arm him.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“I already said, I can’t explain it all right now. It’s not for Xu Jianian.”
“Then… for whom?”
Pei Qingjian thought for a moment, cautiously: “Xu Ya?”
It couldn’t be Chen Cheng; he didn’t even pay attention to him.
Lan Xingchen stayed silent.
So it really was Xu Ya, Pei Qingjian realized.
“Why? You like him?”
Lan Xingchen: ……
“Is liking him all you ever think about?”
“For example?” Pei Qingjian asked earnestly.
“For example, I’ve known Xu Ya for over twenty years. We grew up together—he used to be my best friend.”
“Used to be?” Pei Qingjian caught the key word instantly.
He recalled Lan Xingchen’s friend group; Xu Ya wasn’t in it.
“Did he do something to wrong you?”
Lan Xingchen remained silent.
Seeing he wouldn’t answer, Pei Qingjian didn’t press further.
As long as Lan Xingchen didn’t like Xu Jianian, everything else didn’t matter.
“I understand,” he said cheerfully. “When we go out, I’ll act like the world’s most devoted lover, my eyes and heart only on you!”
Lan Xingchen nodded slightly. “That’s better.”
“Mm,” Pei Qingjian responded, secretly cheering himself on!
Perfect timing—before his official filming, he could use this setup from Lan Xingchen to practice his role!
The thought made him excited.
It felt like getting a pop quiz right before the monthly exam.
Learning progresses through constant practice and tests!
Bring it on!
Not just a love-struck pure-hearted warrior? He could handle that!
Pei Qingjian’s heart raced; he was ready. “Let’s go out now!”
Lan Xingchen looked at him, eyes sparkling. Amusing little thing.
“All right, let’s go.”
As he turned to leave, Pei Qingjian grabbed him.
Lan Xingchen: ???
Pei Qingjian lifted his arm onto his shoulder, then wrapped his other arm around Lan Xingchen’s waist.
Lan Xingchen: !!!
“This is how we show intimacy,” Pei Qingjian argued. “I love you this much; of course we need to be close.”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “A promising pupil.”
Pei Qingjian agreed, hugging Lan Xingchen as they exited.
Xu Jianian watched them closely, their closeness spreading a mist of sadness over him.
Chen Cheng, annoyed, muttered, “Isn’t this too… public? Holding Lan Ge so tight—is this appropriate?”
Then he glanced at Xu Ya. “Xu Ge, is this really Lan Ge’s boyfriend? When did he even start dating?”
Xu Ya didn’t know either. During the bathroom detour, he had sent Fang Junhao a message about Pei Qingjian, but Fang was likely busy and hadn’t replied.
“Let’s go.” Lan Xingchen passed them, holding Pei Qingjian as they went downstairs.
Xu Jianian stared at their entwined figures, feelings of loss, reluctance, resentment, and confusion bubbling up.
Chen Cheng, pretending casual, nudged Xu Jianian.
Xu Jianian stumbled forward, instinctively reaching to grab Lan Xingchen’s shoulder.
Pei Qingjian, glancing to speak to Lan Xingchen, immediately saw Xu Jianian’s hand approaching him.
Without thinking, a reflex, he pulled Lan Xingchen toward himself, hands gripping his shoulders tightly, shielding him.
“Smack!” Xu Jianian hit the ground.
Xu Ya rushed over. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
Xu Jianian shook his head; the steps were low and flat. He had almost reached the bottom—just two steps left—so he wasn’t injured.
Looking up, he saw Pei Qingjian holding Lan Xingchen’s shoulders closely, standing on the last step.
Before he could feel sadness, Chen Cheng protested for him: “Pei Qingjian, what are you doing? If you hadn’t pulled Lan Ge, Jiajia wouldn’t have fallen!”
Pei Qingjian thought: As if I’d let Xu Jianian touch Lan Xingchen!
If that happened, Lan Xingchen might get dragged into Xu Jianian and Tang Wenzhen’s messy romance!
He wanted to keep his “golden benefactor” alive, not see him harmed!
Pei Qingjian blinked innocently. “I didn’t push him. Whether he fell has nothing to do with me.”
“Besides, what if he pulled Lan Xingchen down with him? Then Lan Xingchen would get hurt. You wouldn’t care if it wasn’t your boyfriend, would you?”
He then turned to Lan Xingchen, finally letting go of his shoulders to take his hand.
“I was just worried about you, didn’t want you hurt, so I pulled you. You’re not mad, right?”
How could Lan Xingchen be mad?
Lan Xingchen just wanted to applaud him!
Well done!
A true actor—already in character!
“It’s fine,” Lan Xingchen soothed him kindly. “It’s not your fault; you acted out of concern for me.”
Pei Qingjian nodded obediently, “Mm, mm.”
Chen Cheng was fuming. “Obedient? He’s not being considerate at all! Otherwise, how could Jiajia have almost gotten hurt?”
Lan Xingchen didn’t like that comment one bit.
“Wasn’t he fine?” Lan Xingchen said coldly. “Just now Xu Ya asked if he was hurt, and he shook his head, didn’t he?”
Pei Qingjian obediently nodded again. “Mm, mm.”
Chen Cheng: !!! Why are you still saying ‘mm, mm’? Are you acting as the straight man in a comedy routine?!