Chen Cheng huffed, “He’s just lucky Jiajia has a good temper and didn’t want to make a fuss.”
Pei Qingjian peeked out a little, “That’s strange. Your friend didn’t get hurt; shouldn’t you be glad? Why pretend he got hurt? Don’t you care that your friend is safe?”
“Oh~” Pei Qingjian elongated the tone, “I get it. Just now, Lan Xingchen and I walked ahead, and you were behind him. You were right next to him, so you bumped into him.”
“You pushed him, didn’t you?”
“So that’s why you hoped he’d get hurt. Finally, the truth comes out.”
Chen Cheng didn’t expect Pei Qingjian to say that. He looked embarrassed.
“What nonsense! I would never wish Jiajia harm! I think you wanted him hurt!” he stammered.
Pei Qingjian shook his head innocently. “I don’t even know him. This is the first time I’ve met him. Why would I want him hurt?”
“Besides, the hospital should have cameras. If you pushed him, we could just check the footage, right?”
Chen Cheng instantly felt awkward.
He had only been trying to give Xu Jianian a chance to hold Lan Xingchen and naturally walk alongside him. He never expected Pei Qingjian to ruin the plan.
He instinctively glanced at Xu Jianian, who clearly understood.
He knew his friend wouldn’t harm him—probably just trying to create an opportunity between him and Lan Xingchen.
“No need to check the footage,” Xu Jianian smiled. “I’m fine. Aren’t we going to eat? Let’s go.”
He turned and started walking.
Xu Ya followed, concerned. “Really okay?”
“I’m fine,” Xu Jianian reassured him with a smile.
Chen Cheng finally relaxed, calling after him, “Jiajia!”
Xu Jianian looked back and said, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Pei Qingjian watched the three of them walk off harmoniously and felt a pang thinking of Lan Xingchen’s earlier words: “He used to be my best friend.”
In this scene, who would even think Xu Ya was Lan Xingchen’s friend?
“Used to be best friends.”
Pei Qingjian felt a little sorry for Lan Xingchen. He ignored Chen Cheng and had no interest in Xu Jianian, yet he was willing to eat this meal—likely just for Xu Ya, someone who should have been his best friend.
Yet Xu Ya’s eyes were only on Xu Jianian.
When Xu Jianian stumbled, Xu Ya panicked, repeatedly checking despite Xu Jianian saying he was fine.
But when Lan Xingchen appeared at the hospital, Xu Ya paid no attention at all.
People don’t come to the hospital for no reason. Yet since their encounter, Xu Ya hadn’t said a single caring word.
From the start, his eyes were fixed on Xu Jianian.
Compared to Lan Xingchen’s wellbeing, he cared more about Lan Xingchen’s romance—whether he had a boyfriend, or whether someone stole Xu Jianian’s former love.
He wasn’t fit to be Lan Xingchen’s friend, let alone his best friend.
Pei Qingjian huffed twice, hugging Lan Xingchen’s arm tightly.
Lan Xingchen looked at his puffed-up cheeks and smiled. “What are you doing? Didn’t you just win?”
“I still don’t like them,” Pei Qingjian said, especially Xu Ya.
“Then do you still want to eat with them?” Lan Xingchen asked gently, thinking Pei Qingjian might have been upset by Chen Cheng’s scheming. “If you don’t want to, we can leave.”
“Yes! Why wouldn’t I eat! I’ll eat them out of existence!” Pei Qingjian was angry.
He didn’t just want to eat; he wanted to annoy them!
Especially Xu Ya!
Hmph!
Lan Xingchen looked at him, his chin raised, almost laughing. He reached up, scratched his chin, and then patted his head amid Pei Qingjian’s puzzled look. “All right, then eat well. Whatever you want, eat it.”
“Mm,” Pei Qingjian agreed.
Xu Jianian and the others had left the hospital first and realized Lan Xingchen and Pei Qingjian hadn’t caught up.
The three could only wait at the hospital entrance.
Chen Cheng, feeling guilty toward Xu Jianian, wanted to make amends. As soon as Lan Xingchen and Pei Qingjian arrived, he hurriedly said, “Xu Ge, the hotel is nearby. Let’s go there.”
“How far is ‘nearby’?” Pei Qingjian asked.
He didn’t want Lan Xingchen and Xu Jianian lingering.
“About 25 minutes on foot,” Xu Ya replied.
“25 minutes!” Pei Qingjian feigned shock. “Your friend just fell, and now you expect him to walk 25 minutes? You’re really a great friend!”
Chen Cheng: !!!
He turned red with anger.
Xu Jianian quickly said, “I’m fine. 25 minutes is nothing. I can do it.”
“Even if you can, I can’t.”
Pei Qingjian said, raising his hand to shield from the sun. “It’s so hot today. Walking 25 minutes would mean being in the sun all that time. I care about Xingchen, so we’ll drive instead.”
Xu Ya glanced at him, his tone calm. “It’s fine, only about thirty degrees, not that hot. Besides, Xingchen doesn’t mind these things. Back when we went hiking together, it was even hotter, yet we still made it to the summit.”
Pei Qingjian, already irritated, let out a cold laugh, his words carrying a pointed undertone. “Is it him who doesn’t care, or is it you who doesn’t care?”
“Both,” Xu Ya said lightly, nodding. “You’re not his boyfriend, of course you don’t care. But I’m different—I do care, so I don’t want him to be in the sun.”
“You’re welcome to walk there if you want, I won’t stop you,” he added, then turned to Lan Xingchen, his eyes softening and a sweetness threading his voice. “We’ll drive. I don’t want you to get sunburned, okay?”
He gently shook Lan Xingchen’s hand, almost coquettishly.
Perfect! Of course that was perfect!
If the timing were right, Lan Xingchen would have clapped for Pei Qingjian on the spot. Look at those eyes, that performance—his little golden sparrow was amazing!
This was an actor’s skill, truly impressive.
“Okay,” Lan Xingchen said indulgently.
He glanced at Xu Ya. “You saw that too, right? Qingqing cares about me, and I can’t waste his kindness. So if you want to walk, go ahead. We’ll drive. Send me the address.”
Xu Ya paused, surprised that he actually agreed.
For some reason, he suddenly recalled Pei Qingjian’s words: “Is it him who doesn’t care, or is it you who do?” Could it be that Lan Xingchen really cared about getting sunburned?
No, Xu Ya corrected himself. What Lan Xingchen cared about wasn’t the sun—it was Pei Qingjian’s concern for him, which was why he agreed to drive.
Xu Ya glanced at Pei Qingjian: Was he really worried, or just unwilling to walk?
Before he could think further, Chen Cheng said, “Lan Ge, you’re driving? Then we’ll ride with you too; our cars are parked a bit far.”
Lan Xingchen: ……
Pei Qingjian turned to him innocently. “Weren’t you planning to walk?”
“Well, Lan Ge is driving, right? It’s been so long since we’ve met, of course we’ll go together,” Chen Cheng said, smiling. “And Jiajia just fell, didn’t he?”
“Oh!” Pei Qingjian feigned shock. “Now you suddenly remember he fell and can’t bear to let him walk?”
Chen Cheng: ……
Chen Cheng felt like he was being deliberately provoked.
“It’s not just you who can care for others. I’ve been friends with Jiajia for many years. Of course I care about him. Should I rely on you to care instead?”
Pei Qingjian nodded. “Of course, with so many years of friendship, you naturally care about Xu Jianian. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have suggested this.”
Chen Cheng smirked, “Glad you understand.”
“But why does caring about Xu Jianian involve Lan Xingchen? If you care so much, why not drive for him yourself? Why make Lan Xingchen the driver? You didn’t want to, or didn’t you?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why not drive your own car?” Pei Qingjian said, pretending to be vexed. “You have cars too, right? You can drive. But you insist on riding in Lan Xingchen’s car. Then after the meal, will you say again, ‘Our cars are a bit far, Lan Ge, can you take us back’? In the end, Lan Xingchen is the one who suffers. The good deeds are yours, the hard work is his. You really know how to ‘care’ for someone.”
Chen Cheng: ……
He was so angry his hand trembled. “What nonsense! I didn’t think that! I just thought our cars were far. Since Lan Ge was driving, we could ride with him. If we follow your logic, if you ride in his car, is he your chauffeur then? You wouldn’t feel bad for him?”
“Of course I would,” Pei Qingjian said earnestly without hesitation. “That’s why I’m going to drive the car over, so he can get in easily.”
He squeezed Lan Xingchen’s hand. “I couldn’t bear to let my husband drive. It’s too tiring, so of course I’ll do it.”
He looked at Lan Xingchen and said, “Hubby, wait here. I’ll bring the car over right now.”
Lan Xingchen: ……
He couldn’t help asking, “You can drive?”
“For you, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
Lan Xingchen smiled. “Forget it, I’ll drive.”
“No!” Pei Qingjian said, holding his hand. “You stay put. Your precious baby will bring the car over—quickly.”
Lan Xingchen: ??? This sounds so familiar…
The last time he heard this was in Zhu Ziqing’s Back View, right?
Lan Xingchen reached up and pinched Pei Qingjian’s cheek, leaning close to whisper, “Are you planning to buy me some oranges too?”
Pei Qingjian hadn’t expected this reference but laughed at the thought, his eyes curved in a grin.
Lan Xingchen pinched the flesh on his face and tugged slightly. “Wait obediently.”
Then he released his hand and went to get the car.
Pei Qingjian immediately followed, linking arms with him. “I’ll go with you, I’ll accompany you~”
Lan Xingchen thought about it. He really didn’t want Pei Qingjian to be alone with Xu Jianian and the others.
He glanced at Xu Ya. “Qingqing and I will drive. See you at the hotel.”
Xu Ya nodded. “Okay.”
Then he looked at Pei Qingjian, his tone slightly serious. “Little Pei, we’re all friends of Lan Xingchen. Our concern for him is no less than yours, so don’t say things like that again.”
“Exactly,” Chen Cheng immediately added, “Don’t act like only you care for Lan Ge. Jiajia and Xu Ge’s concern isn’t any less than yours.”
“Really?” Pei Qingjian asked, still a bit doubtful.
“Of course.”
Even Xu Jianian couldn’t help speaking up. “Little Pei, you may not be very familiar with us, but we really are very close friends.”
“Yeah,” Chen Cheng added with a smile. “When we first met, you probably didn’t even know where we were.”
Lan Xingchen’s expression showed clear surprise. He was about to speak when Pei Qingjian jumped in with a question.
“Really?”
Pei Qingjian looked at Chen Cheng. “Then if Xu Jianian and Lan Xingchen both fell into the water, who would you save?”
Chen Cheng: ??? Wait, why the sudden question?
Seeing no answer, Pei Qingjian turned to Xu Jianian. “And if Xu Ya and Lan Xingchen fell into the water together, who would you save?”
“Well…” Xu Jianian wanted to say Lan Xingchen, but worried that Xu Ya would feel hurt, or think he wasn’t valued anymore, and refuse to help him in the future, he found himself unable to answer.
Pei Qingjian had predicted this.
Finally, he turned to Xu Ya, the one who was supposed to be Lan Xingchen’s best friend. “If Xu Jianian and Lan Xingchen fell into the water together, who would you save?”
“Xingchen can swim,” Xu Ya replied.
“So you’d save Xu Jianian?”
Xu Ya was momentarily caught off guard. He instinctively looked at Lan Xingchen, only to see a teasing smile in his eyes.
He tried to cover himself. “That would never happen, and besides, Xingchen would save the one who can’t swim first.”
“Oh~” Pei Qingjian elongated the word, letting out a slow, satisfied laugh. “Got it.”
Xu Ya frowned at the smile and the loaded “got it.” Why did he feel mocked? Pei Qingjian hadn’t actually said anything, yet it felt sarcastic.
He opened his mouth to protest, but Pei Qingjian’s cheerful tone cut in. “Then ask me.”
Xu Ya refused. “This question is meaningless.”
Pei Qingjian’s smile only brightened. “Is it meaningless, or meaningless to you?”
Then he turned to Lan Xingchen. “Ask me.”
Lan Xingchen looked at him, seeing no reason to ask. “I don’t need to.”
“You do.” Pei Qingjian insisted.
“No matter when, if you and anyone else fell into the water, I would save you first. Whether you can swim or not, whether you want to be saved or not, you’d always come first. As long as you’re an option, it’s always you.”
“Really.” Lan Xingchen’s gaze met his, sincere and steady.
Lan Xingchen hadn’t expected him to say that, and for a moment, he froze.
He quietly looked at Pei Qingjian, whose eyes were so clear, so pure, like a tiny version of himself standing at the very bottom of those depths.
The world stilled in that moment, gathered in Pei Qingjian’s eyes, then flowed gently into his heart with the soft gaze.
He heard Pei Qingjian’s voice, gentle as a flower blooming beside his ear.
“I’m not lying to you,” he said.
Lan Xingchen’s lips curved into a sudden smile.
All the anger he had gathered just moments before dissipated in an instant.
He let out a soft “Mm,” not entirely serious, yet still touched by the words, “I know.”
He ruffled Pei Qingjian’s hair affectionately. “Got it.”
Pei Qingjian beamed. “Then let’s go get the car.”
“Mm,” Lan Xingchen replied.
Xu Jianian watched them, Pei Qingjian guiding Lan Xingchen, and opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
Chen Cheng, on the other hand, grumbled. “This isn’t fair at all. Jiajia, you’re my best friend, of course I care. Xu Ge feels the same. You do too. But Pei Qingjian… he barely knows us, and he’ll obviously choose Lan Ge without hesitation.”
“If it were Pei Qingjian and Lan Ge falling into the water, I’d obviously pick Lan Ge too!”
“Forget it,” Xu Jianian muttered. “Since Xingchen’s driving, let’s just go by car.”
He looked at Xu Ya, who nodded and walked with him toward the parking lot.
Pei Qingjian got into the passenger seat. The moment he closed the door, Lan Xingchen praised him.
“Not bad. True to an actor’s skill—professional.”
Pei Qingjian felt pleased with himself. “I’ll keep improving.”
He buckled his seatbelt, replaying his performance in his mind, thinking about how he could do even better next time, while also taking out his phone to search: What’s good to eat for someone with a sensitive stomach?
Lan Xingchen leaned over to peek. “You’re really getting into character.”
Pei Qingjian shook his head. “This has nothing to do with acting. Your stomach isn’t well, so you need to watch your diet. Don’t worry—I’ll balance it. I won’t say you can’t eat this or that. Health is important, but so is enjoying food.”
The key was that being too strict is like a tightly stretched rubber band—it only causes resistance.
Lan Xingchen didn’t take his stomach issue seriously to begin with. If Pei Qingjian imposed strict limits, Lan Xingchen would only grow impatient. He might still eat with him, but sneakily eat what he wanted.
Pei Qingjian didn’t want a future where Lan Xingchen would lie in a hospital bed, and he would say haughtily, “See? I told you not to eat this or that, and now look what happened.”
What he wanted was Lan Xingchen’s safety and health. So while managing his diet, he also needed to consider his mindset. A little flexibility was necessary.
Clear water has no fish. True care must be based on what the other person can accept to be effective.
Lan Xingchen hadn’t expected him to say that and laughed. “You really take this seriously, huh?”
“Of course,” Pei Qingjian said. “I want you healthy and safe.”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Alright. Since you’re cooking anyway, I’ll eat whatever you make.”
“Mm,” Pei Qingjian said happily.
The two of them—one driving, one searching for recipes—made for a very harmonious pair.
Before long, Lan Xingchen parked the car in front of the hotel that Xu Ya had chosen.
The two got out and headed toward the hotel.
Xu Jianian hesitated in the car, looking at Xu Ya. “Do we really have to go in for this meal? I feel like Little Pei doesn’t really like us. Maybe Chen Cheng and I shouldn’t go—Xu Ya, you go by yourself.”
“It’s fine,” Xu Ya reassured him. “You’re not the one having the meal with him anyway. Just ignore him.”
“Exactly,” Chen Cheng added. “If we don’t go, it’ll just look like we’re afraid of him.”
“But he’s Xingchen’s boyfriend,” Xu Jianian mumbled.
At that, Chen Cheng got more fired up. “That’s exactly why you can’t back down!”
Xu Ya nodded. “Weren’t you wanting to see Xingchen before? Now that you finally can, would you really give up?”
“Of course I wouldn’t, it’s just…”
“It’s fine.” Xu Ya patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”
Chen Cheng nodded. “Exactly. Jiajia, you can’t retreat. Look at Pei Qingjian. Do you feel comfortable letting Lan Ge be with him?”
Xu Jianian naturally didn’t feel at ease, nor was he willing to let it happen.
Since the first year of college, he had been drawn to Lan Xingchen, helplessly harboring a secret crush. How could he ever be willing to let someone else be with him?
“Come on, Jiajia.” Xu Ya opened the car door.
Hearing this, Xu Jianian finally unbuckled his seatbelt and got out.
He still felt some reluctance—at least he couldn’t accept losing to Pei Qingjian so ambiguously.
Chen Cheng, seeing his renewed courage, cheered. “That’s right! How could you just hand Lan Ge over to someone else? You’re the one who fits him best.”
He said that and then, spotting Pei Qingjian and Lan Xingchen’s backs from afar, immediately grabbed Xu Jianian and ran toward them.
“Lan Ge, wait for us!”
Pei Qingjian turned, seeing Chen Cheng pulling Xu Jianian toward them.
“Jiajia was worried in the car that you might not know which private room we reserved, luckily we found you,” Chen Cheng said, guiding Xu Jianian up to them.
Xu Jianian seemed a bit embarrassed. “I just didn’t want you guys to get lost.”
“Then you could’ve just sent us a WeChat message,” Pei Qingjian leaned on Lan Xingchen. “Or… you don’t have his WeChat?”
Xu Jianian: ……
He looked at Lan Xingchen. Of course he had Lan Xingchen’s WeChat, but ever since his confession in senior year failed, Lan Xingchen had stopped replying.
No matter what he sent, there was never a response.
If it weren’t for the fact that his messages always went through, Xu Jianian would’ve suspected that Lan Xingchen had blocked him.
“I do have it,” he answered.
He looked at Lan Xingchen, who didn’t look back.
He then turned to Pei Qingjian. “Let’s go.”
Pei Qingjian nodded, still slightly uneasy, pulling Lan Xingchen aside to quietly ask, “He really has your WeChat?”
“Mm,” Lan Xingchen replied, resigned.
Xu Jianian and Xu Ya had met in college; they were dormmates, with Xu Ya being the oldest. Naturally, Xu Ya took care of Xu Jianian, and they became friends.
Friends of friends are friends, so they often met up in groups, naturally exchanging WeChat.
“Does he ever message you?” Pei Qingjian asked.
“Occasionally.”
“And you reply?”
“I used to, but then I stopped.”
“How long has this ‘then’ lasted?”
“Three years, I guess.” Lan Xingchen paused, then asked curiously, “Why are you asking all this?”
“Of course, it’s strategic! Know your enemy, know yourself—never lose a battle!” Pei Qingjian had his excuse ready.
“But if you don’t reply, why not just delete or block him?”
Lan Xingchen chuckled. He had actually deleted him once, but the next day Xu Ya came looking for him, asking why he deleted Xu Jianian, explaining that Xu Jianian had cried for an entire afternoon because of it.
Lan Xingchen didn’t care much about Xu Jianian, but he couldn’t resist Xu Ya’s persistence. Xu Ya had pleaded, even appealing to his pride: “Xingchen, we’ve known each other since childhood, I’ve never asked you for anything. Just this once, can you do me a favor? Please?”
Lan Xingchen had been frustrated and speechless, but ultimately gave in.
Still, he didn’t want to interact with Xu Jianian, so even after adding him back, they never exchanged messages.
Xu Jianian had felt hurt, disappointed, and even asked: “If you don’t want to talk to me, why did you add me back? Why not just delete me again?”
Lan Xingchen had responded once: “You might as well ask Xu Ya.”
He then added: “Or you could just delete me yourself.”
But to this day, Xu Jianian hadn’t deleted him.
Lan Xingchen thought about this and felt slightly annoyed.
Pretty meaningless, he thought. Back then, Xu Ya’s favor might have mattered, but now? It was long gone.
“I’ll just delete him now,” Lan Xingchen said.
After all, in his heart, Xu Jianian had already been “deleted” for three years.
Pei Qingjian immediately nodded. “Block calls, block texts too.”
Lan Xingchen: ???
He tapped on his lock screen, pausing. “Are you being overprotective?”
“Of course!” Pei Qingjian nodded.
Protecting against these two thieves stealing your life!
Lan Xingchen laughed and opened WeChat.
He was just about to search for Xu Jianian’s contact when he heard footsteps approaching.
Lan Xingchen turned his head—it was Xu Ya.
“Done talking? If so, it’s time to eat.”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Sure.”
He put his phone away, draped an arm around Pei Qingjian’s shoulders, and walked forward.
Pei Qingjian, still thinking about deleting WeChat, whispered, “Did you do it?”
“Not yet. Earlier, I just blocked his messages because I couldn’t be bothered to check them. Now it’s a bit tricky to find.”
“No problem. We can handle it during the meal,” Pei Qingjian suggested.
“Mm,” Lan Xingchen replied.
Chen Cheng, seeing the two whispering back and forth, frowned. “Lan Ge, what are you two talking about?”
Pei Qingjian turned to him, smiling serenely. “Our love story! I’m so in love!”
Chen Cheng: …… he’s so mad!
Xu Jianian, curious, asked, “Really? Then why not tell us? I’m curious how you two got together.”
Pei Qingjian winked. “Such personal matters can’t be shared casually—they’re ours to treasure, for memories only.”
Xu Ya smiled. “We’re not outsiders here, so there’s no harm in sharing.”
Pei Qingjian sighed, then asked Xu Ya, “You’ve never been in a relationship, right?”
Xu Ya’s mind flickered with a certain figure, but he quickly pushed the thought down.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You wouldn’t understand the feelings of two people deeply in love, especially someone like me who adores him so much. Our meetings, time together, memories—wow!” Pei Qingjian cheered. “It’s indescribable. Words are wasted; it has to be savored in the heart.”
Beautiful! Lan Xingchen thought. Well said.
Xu Ya, seeing him so enamored, wondered: Could it be that he truly liked Lan Xingchen? Sincerely?
He was pondering this when a voice called out—“Jiajia.”
Pei Qingjian looked up. It was a man he didn’t know.
Chen Cheng excitedly said, “Tang Ge, you’re here too?”
“Mm,” Tang Wenzhen replied. “Just passing by.”
“Then let’s eat together,” Chen Cheng offered.
Xu Ya glanced at him, a hint of displeasure on his face.
Chen Cheng, feeling a little guilty under that look, quickly held Xu Jianian and said, “Tang Ge isn’t an outsider—he’s helped Jiajia before. Now that we’ve run into him, there’s no harm in having a meal together, right?”
He tugged Xu Jianian to signal him to agree.
Xu Jianian hadn’t expected Tang Wenzhen to appear, just as he hadn’t expected Lan Xingchen to already have a boyfriend.
While abroad, he had met Tang Wenzhen by chance. Tang Wenzhen had helped him several times. In a foreign land, with different skin tones and languages, he had inevitably developed a subtle affection for someone from the same homeland, speaking the same language.
Yet upon returning to familiar surroundings and seeing Lan Xingchen again, his four-year secret crush stirred, unwilling to let go.
He couldn’t say he didn’t care for Tang Wenzhen, but he also knew he hadn’t let go of Lan Xingchen.
At that moment, Xu Jianian felt torn, when Tang Wenzhen asked, “Is that okay?”
His voice was gentle, and given all the help he had provided, refusing seemed awkward.
Xu Jianian could only nod. “It’s okay.”
Tang Wenzhen smiled. “Great! I thought eating alone would be boring. I didn’t expect to run into you—what luck!”
Then, noticing something, he said with slight surprise, “Oh, Lan Zong is here too.”
However…
Tang Wenzhen’s gaze shifted to Pei Qingjian, who was being held by Lan Xingchen. Who was this?
He felt the face was vaguely familiar but couldn’t place it.
“Who’s this?”
“Lan Ge’s boyfriend. Pei Qingjian,” Chen Cheng replied.
Lan Xingchen’s boyfriend! Tang Wenzhen was shocked. He had thought Lan Xingchen liked Xu Jianian—but apparently not.
“I see,” Tang Wenzhen smiled. “I didn’t expect Lan Zong to already have a boyfriend. I better hurry then.”
Hearing this, Xu Jianian tensed, worried he might say too much. “Let’s talk in the private room. Standing here so long, the staff have already noticed us several times.”
“True,” Tang Wenzhen chuckled. “Let’s go.”
He spoke casually but glanced at Pei Qingjian.
Pei Qingjian: ???!!!
What? Why are you looking at me?!
Why not look at your own main character husband, but stare at me instead?!
Pei Qingjian ignored him, moving to the other side to wrap an arm around Lan Xingchen’s waist.
Tang Wenzhen noticed the gesture and waited, seeing that Lan Xingchen didn’t remove Pei Qingjian’s hand.
So he really was Lan Xingchen’s boyfriend, Tang Wenzhen thought. I should have returned to the country earlier.
The six of them, each with their own thoughts, walked into the private room.
Lan Xingchen picked a seat and Pei Qingjian naturally sat next to him.
Chen Cheng immediately dragged Xu Jianian to the other side of Lan Xingchen and nudged him into place.
“Tang Ge, you can sit here,” he said, pointing to the seat next to Xu Jianian.
Sometimes, what’s contested is what one cherishes.
Whether it was Lan Xingchen or Tang Wenzhen, both were outstanding. When something is too easily obtained, it isn’t valued. So someone else must provide a sense of urgency—reminding them that Xu Jianian isn’t indispensable, that there are other options—so they will value him more.
It also benefited Xu Jianian, as his friend.
“Alright,” Tang Wenzhen said, sitting down and smiling at Lan Xingchen across Xu Jianian.
Lin Xingchen: …
Lin Xingchen turned to look at Pei Qingjian. He was just about to ask him to switch seats when Pei Qingjian moved closer first.
“Let’s trade,” he said softly.
See? That’s what made his little canary so considerate.
Lin Xingchen gave him an approving look. “Alright.”
Chen Cheng noticed that he was about to ruin the seating arrangement he had carefully planned and quickly protested, “What are you doing? Everyone’s already seated—why switch now?”
Pei Qingjian glanced at him, his tone still gentle. “My boyfriend and I are switching seats. What does that have to do with you?”
Chen Cheng said, “If you do that, Jia-jia will feel awkward.”
Xu Jianian had already felt awkward when he heard Lin Xingchen wanted to switch seats. Now that Chen Cheng said it outright, he felt so embarrassed he could hardly sit still.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Chen Cheng, stop talking nonsense.”
“You heard him?” Pei Qingjian looked at Chen Cheng. “You really can’t compare to your friend. First you made him fall, now you’re trying to make him feel awkward. Compared to you, your friend is much better.”
“Thanks, Jia-jia. Otherwise I’d probably get blamed for making you uncomfortable again in a minute.” Pei Qingjian smiled.
Xu Jianian could only smile back. “It’s fine. Chen Cheng was just saying it casually. Don’t take it seriously.”
“Don’t worry. You’re all Xingchen’s friends, and I’m Xingchen’s boyfriend. Of course I won’t take it seriously.”
As if.
Hearing him say “boyfriend,” Xu Jianian almost couldn’t keep the smile on his face.
“Let’s order,” he said.
Before coming here, Pei Qingjian had planned to eat enough to bankrupt Xu Ya. But when he actually saw the menu and the prices on it, he was startled. In the end he only ordered a few mid-priced dishes he had never tried before.
Lin Xingchen: …
“Who was it that said he was going to eat him bankrupt?” Lin Xingchen leaned closer and whispered in his ear.
Pei Qingjian rubbed his ear and leaned toward him to whisper back, “In my simple spending philosophy, this is already very expensive.”
Lin Xingchen: ???
“You? Simple? You’re the one who once spent money on a fake boyfriend!”
Pei Qingjian leaned closer to his ear again. “That’s why I’ve turned over a new leaf, corrected my ways, and started a new life. I’ve abandoned consumerism and returned to a hardworking, frugal lifestyle.”
Lin Xingchen chuckled softly. “Alright then.”
After saying that, he proceeded to order everything from the most expensive section.
Pei Qingjian: !!!
“Why did you order all the most expensive dishes?!” He leaned over to Lin Xingchen’s ear again.
Lin Xingchen smiled and whispered back, “Of course it’s to use his money to raise you properly.”
Watching the two of them interact as if no one else existed, Xu Jianian felt so jealous his heart practically turned sour.
Xu Ya frowned even more.
Tang Wenzhen seemed to think of something and laughed softly, the meaning behind it unclear.
“President Lin and Xiao Pei seem to have such a good relationship. I wonder who pursued whom first? How did you two end up together?”
“Of course I was the one who chased him,” Pei Qingjian said, completely immersed in the role. “I love him so much!”
Tang Wenzhen nodded. “I see. Then before this, Xiao Pei, did you ever pursue anyone else?”
“Of course not,” Pei Qingjian replied without hesitation. “I only like Xingchen.”
Tang Wenzhen smiled again. “Is that so.”
Xu Jianian found it hard to accept. “You chased him, and he just agreed?”
Pei Qingjian looked blissfully sweet. “Yes. It’s mutual love.”
Xu Jianian could not understand it.
Why was it that when he confessed, Lin Xingchen rejected him…
But when Pei Qingjian confessed, Lin Xingchen accepted?
He wanted to ask Lin Xingchen what he lacked compared to Pei Qingjian, but with so many people around, he could not bring himself to say it.
Seeing the sadness on his face, Xu Ya wanted both to comfort him and to warn Tang Wenzhen to keep his distance from Xu Jianian. So he deliberately started talking about things from their college days to cheer Xu Jianian up.
Xu Jianian really did laugh. “Back then everyone was going wild. After we got back, no one wanted to sleep. We stayed up talking all night. I still remember that bonfire.”
“Me too,” Xu Ya said. “When I think about our college days now, it feels like it all happened yesterday.”
As he spoke, he turned to Lin Xingchen. “I still remember that time Jianian went to the library to study. Then it started raining. Xingchen was the one who walked him back. The rain was so heavy, but under Xingchen’s umbrella the books he borrowed from the library didn’t get wet at all.”
Lin Xingchen slowly lifted his eyelids and calmly shifted his gaze toward him.
Pei Qingjian keenly sensed the change in the atmosphere around him. He grabbed Lin Xingchen’s hand and gently rubbed the back of it with his thumb.
“Wow,” he exclaimed, sounding completely delighted. “As expected of my husband—so considerate of public property. Even protecting the library’s books.”
Chen Cheng: ??? Is the point really the books?
“And that other time,” Chen Cheng added, “second semester of freshman year. Jia-jia went out to eat. Afterward he was waiting alone by the roadside for a ride. It was dark and windy, but luckily Brother Lin happened to drive by and sent him home.”
Pei Qingjian went, “Wow,” again, his eyes bright. “As expected of my husband—so amazing. Already had a driver’s license in his freshman year.”
Chen Cheng: …Did you only hear the words “drive” and “freshman year”?
“And another time. Jia-jia ran into some thugs on his way home. Luckily Brother Lin stepped in just in time. Otherwise Jia-jia would have lost his belongings.”
Pei Qingjian slapped the table excitedly. “Wow! As expected of my husband—so awesome. Fighting is totally within his skill set.”
Chen Cheng: …
“Are you pretending not to hear on purpose?” Chen Cheng finally snapped. “Are you deliberately filtering out the words you don’t want to hear?”
Pei Qingjian looked innocent. “Was there something I should have heard but didn’t?”
He blinked. “I responded to every sentence you said, didn’t I? You’re the one who never responds to me, as if you can’t hear me. Isn’t that you deliberately filtering out the words you don’t want to hear?”
Chen Cheng: ???
“What are you talking about?!” he said angrily. “What did I filter out? When did I pretend?”
Pei Qingjian said calmly, “The first eight words of every sentence I said.”
After saying that, he deliberately repeated it, “Wow, as expected of my husband~”
“My~ hus~ band~” Pei Qingjian stared at him and enunciated each word on purpose.