Xu Ya, already in pain from Lin Xingchen’s words earlier, was left speechless after hearing Pei Qingjian.
He looked at Pei Qingjian, his eyes faintly glistening with tears.
Pei Qingjian was truly upset for Lin Xingchen, feeling wronged on behalf of the one he loved. His whole heart and gaze were focused on him, making Xu Ya’s role as a “friend” feel completely inadequate.
Xu Ya felt a burning pain on his face.
He had clearly acted out of concern for Lin Xingchen, hoping he would have a partner who loved him the most. But in the end, it felt like he had become the one who hurt him.
Why did it come to this?
Xu Ya couldn’t understand.
He turned to look at Lin Xingchen, but Lin Xingchen didn’t even glance at him. He walked to the coffee table, touched Pei Qingjian’s face, and comforted him: “Alright, don’t be upset. We won’t have lunch with outsiders today. Just the two of us.”
Only then did Pei Qingjian feel a bit relieved, nodding firmly. “Mm.”
He lowered his head, opened the lunch box, revealing pancakes, stir-fry, and seaweed egg drop soup.
“Drink the soup first.” Pei Qingjian had heated the food and served a bowl for him. “I’ll wash my hands and help you wrap the vegetables afterward.”
“Okay, I’ll accompany you,” Lin Xingchen said.
He took Pei Qingjian to the office suite bathroom.
From start to finish, it was as if Xu Ya didn’t exist in the room.
Xu Ya watched them leave, then glanced at the colorful, aromatic lunch on the coffee table.
He had brought it to share with Lin Xingchen himself.
It hit him like a slap in the face.
Xu Ya recalled yesterday’s lunch, and Pei Qingjian’s words that Lin Xingchen had gone to that meal for him—but Xu Ya left him at the hotel.
Before Pei Qingjian said this, before Xu Ya came to see Lin Xingchen today, he hadn’t felt he’d done anything wrong. He even had some hidden resentment toward Lin Xingchen. Even though Xu Jia Nian had been upset, Lin Xingchen still had the thought to eat, and Xu Ya had chased after him to comfort him.
But from start to finish, Xu Ya hadn’t considered Lin Xingchen at all.
He hadn’t considered Lin Xingchen’s feelings, being left to attend the meal alone because of Xu Ya’s suggestion.
Suddenly, Xu Ya remembered Lin Xingchen calling out to him then, calm and composed, with no anger or dissatisfaction.
Looking at him, his eyes were neither happy nor sad, completely serene. He said nothing except, “Pay for it yourself.”
At that moment, Lin Xingchen must have already been utterly disappointed in him.
So calm.
Pei Qingjian could still feel wronged for him, his eyes red with grievance, but Lin Xingchen no longer cared.
He had completely given up on Xu Ya.
That’s why he deleted him. That’s why he said, “We are no longer friends.” That’s why he placed him in the “outsider” category.
Xu Ya blinked, not daring to remain in Lin Xingchen’s space any longer.
He mechanically walked to his car, thinking about how Lin Xingchen would have introduced him, someone Pei Qingjian had never met, before the lunch.
He would probably say, This is my best friend.
That’s how Pei Qingjian knew Lin Xingchen had gone to that lunch for him.
But that good friend had left on the spot, leaving Lin Xingchen alone in the private room.
How embarrassed must Lin Xingchen have been?
Would he regret introducing Xu Ya in that way to his boyfriend?
Would he regret coming to a lunch he didn’t need to attend?
So who had the right not to like Pei Qingjian?
From Pei Qingjian’s perspective, Xu Ya was the one who should really dislike himself.
A friend who completely ignored the feelings of the person he liked—a friend unworthy of the affection Lin Xingchen had for him.
Xu Ya sighed, finally dispelling any resentment toward Pei Qingjian suddenly appearing in Lin Xingchen’s world.
Pei Qingjian could feel wronged for Lin Xingchen, could personally prepare lunch and bring it to him, could still accompany him to that meal despite knowing the others’ intentions.
His feelings for Lin Xingchen were passionate and sincere.
At least more sincere than Xu Ya’s current self.
Xu Ya stepped out of the elevator and got into his car.
He didn’t start the engine immediately, sitting quietly, pulling out his phone to message Fang Junhao on WeChat.
Pei Qingjian finished washing his hands and stepped out, looking at the empty office in surprise. “He’s… gone.”
Finally, someone was willing to practice exercises with him, and in the short time Pei Qingjian went to wash his hands, the other person had already left!
“That was way too fast!” Pei Qingjian complained, clearly dissatisfied.
He still had a second round of practice planned!
He had even thought of new scenarios to try!
Lin Xingchen: ???
“What’s with that tone? You’re really reluctant to let him go, aren’t you?”
Of course, Pei Qingjian was reluctant. “Didn’t you see how badly I performed just now? I didn’t even manage to cry!”
That’s exactly why he needed to go through it again!
Lin Xingchen: …
Lin Xingchen couldn’t help but smile at him. “I think you did quite well. I could vaguely see the tears forming.”
“That’s because you have a filter on me! A real actor can cry at will; they can control when the tears fall and how many. Me? I can’t cry at all. Let alone control when or how many tears fall.”
Lin Xingchen: “…Then what should we do?”
“Of course, practice more.” Pei Qingjian sighed. “When I go back, I’ll practice even harder. Next time I see him, I’ll cry beautifully and realistically enough that he’ll be desperate to hand me a tissue.”
Lin Xingchen: …
“You’re planning to see him next time?” Lin Xingchen asked.
Pei Qingjian paused, considering the current situation between Lin Xingchen and Xu Ya.
Forget it, he could find another practice partner—what mattered more was his benefactor, Lin Xingchen.
“Nope.” He snorted. “After the way he treated you, I don’t want to see him again.”
Lin Xingchen smiled and reached up to ruffle his hair.
“Besides, you won’t really have the chance to see him again,” he said. “I deleted him last night.”
“Ah?” Pei Qingjian was surprised.
Lin Xingchen guided him to sit on the sofa. “So now, we have no connections with him.”
Pei Qingjian: …
“You… cut ties?” he asked hesitantly.
“Mm,” Lin Xingchen replied softly.
Pei Qingjian hadn’t expected this.
Yesterday, Xu Ya had claimed they were best friends, and he was willing to go to lunch with someone he didn’t even like—but now, Lin Xingchen had deleted him and cut off contact.
More than twenty years of friendship, their best friendship, and even Lin Xingchen must have felt the loss in his heart.
Pei Qingjian felt a pang of sympathy at the thought.
He lowered his head, rolled a pancake, and handed it to Lin Xingchen. “Out with the old, in with the new. Maybe cutting ties with him will let you meet someone even better.”
Lin Xingchen looked at him, wondering if Pei Qingjian meant himself.
“When our contract ends, what will you do?” Lin Xingchen asked, taking the pancake but not eating it.
Pei Qingjian paused. “I… will go back to my grandparents’ place.”
He hadn’t rented out the apartment left by his grandparents, planning to move back there after a year when his contract with Lin Xingchen ended, so he wouldn’t be left without a place to live.
Lin Xingchen had no objection. He only said softly, “Then we can be friends after that.”
Pei Qingjian hadn’t expected this, and looked up at him.
“You don’t mind?” Lin Xingchen asked.
Pei Qingjian shook his head. He just hadn’t expected Lin Xingchen to plan their future like this.
“Are you serious?”
Lin Xingchen nodded. “Of course.”
“Good.” Pei Qingjian smiled, genuinely happy.
Before crossing over, he hadn’t had any close friends.
As a child, he was busy studying, and the other kids in the village were busy playing. Their activities and goals differed, so there wasn’t much interaction or closeness.
In college, he made some friends, but everyone came from different places, and after graduation, they went their separate ways. Pei Qingjian was unburdened and stayed locally while his roommates returned home, leaving him to live alone.
Now, Lin Xingchen was willing to be his friend, and Pei Qingjian felt genuinely delighted.
“You can’t back out, okay?” he said, a cheerful tone in his voice.
Lin Xingchen nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you like a little brother.”
Pei Qingjian thought that was unnecessary—just being friends was already wonderful.
He smiled at Lin Xingchen, then remembered something and nudged him. “Hurry up and eat before the food gets cold.”
“Okay.” Lin Xingchen picked up the pancake Pei Qingjian had rolled and slowly started eating.
“Delicious,” Lin Xingchen complimented.
“Then eat a few more,” Pei Qingjian said, rolling another for him.
Lin Xingchen chuckled. “Why don’t you eat some too?”
He handed the pancake he was holding to Pei Qingjian. “Here.”
Pei Qingjian glanced at him, then took a bite where Lin Xingchen had just bitten.
He recalled Lin Xingchen kissing him last night.
Could a relationship like theirs really become friends after the contract ended?
But there were plenty of couples who broke up and stayed friends—if even they could manage that, then maybe it would be fine for them.
Thinking this, Pei Qingjian finally relaxed a little and ate the pancake.
Lin Xingchen ate most of the box of pancakes.
Seeing that Lin Xingchen had eaten his fill, Pei Qingjian looked down at his phone and began cleaning up the lunch box, ready to leave.
“Continue working, I’ll head off first.”
“You’re not going to rest a bit?” Lin Xingchen asked quickly as Pei Qingjian prepared to leave.
Pei Qingjian glanced at the time—still before one o’clock. “Do you want to rest?”
Lin Xingchen hadn’t planned to rest; he still had things to finish today.
But Pei Qingjian had gone out of his way to deliver lunch, and it wouldn’t feel right to send him away immediately after eating.
“Mm.” He said, “You can stay with me and sleep for a while.”
Hearing this, Pei Qingjian didn’t refuse.
Lin Xingchen led him into the suite inside the office.
He opened the wardrobe, changed into his pajamas, and even handed Pei Qingjian a set of his own pajamas.
Pei Qingjian: ???
“You… want me to change too?”
“Of course,” Lin Xingchen said, looking at him. “Wouldn’t you be uncomfortable sleeping in jeans?”
He shoved the pajamas into Pei Qingjian’s hands.
Pei Qingjian had no choice but to turn and change.
Lin Xingchen was taller than him, so while the top fit fairly well, the pajama bottoms were a little long. But since it was only for sleeping, Pei Qingjian didn’t bother rolling them up. He just pulled back the blanket and lay down.
Lin Xingchen was already lying down. Seeing him settle, he wrapped an arm around him and said softly, “Sleep.”
Pei Qingjian responded with a quiet “Okay” and closed his eyes.
He thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but before long, he drifted into a dream.
Lin Xingchen made sure he was asleep, then carefully moved his arm and picked up his phone.
He put it on silent, opened his photo album, and began sorting through the pictures he had just taken.
Soon, he selected a few and sent them to his WeChat group.
Lin Xingchen: 【[picture][picture][picture][picture][picture][picture]】
Lin Xingchen: 【How’s that? Not bad, right!】
Fang Junhao quickly replied: 【Not bad. Did you make these yourself?】
Lin Xingchen: 【Of course not, I don’t have that skill! It was our Qingqing who made them [proud].】
Fang Junhao: 【Little Pei Qingjian can cook!!!】
Lin Xingchen: 【Yep~】
Fang Junhao: 【No wonder you’re living with him… You just want his cooking, right!】
Xie Siqi: 【Tsk tsk tsk, ill intentions!】
Chang Le: 【Looks so delicious, I want some! I haven’t had pancakes in ages!】
Lin Xingchen smiled: 【Then just imagine it.】
Fang Junhao: 【So, you didn’t go to work during lunch when you ate together?】
Lin Xingchen’s smile deepened: 【Of course I did. He made a heartful lunch and brought it to me~】
Xie Siqi: 【!!! He actually brought you lunch!】
Chang Le: 【Damn! Lucky you!】
Fang Junhao: …jealous. He was jealous!
When he was dating, his girlfriend never even brought him a meal.
Fang Junhao buried his face in his hands, yet Lin Xingchen tagged him: 【Fang Junhao, why so quiet? Got something against me?】
Fang Junhao: …
He fumed: 【Be reasonable! You’re so rich, and yet you let little Pei Qingjian make a meal and travel all this way to deliver it! How is that fair?!】
Lin Xingchen: 【Of course it’s not fair.】
Lin Xingchen sighed: 【But he insisted because he cares, no matter how many times I refused. He’s devoted and sincere. What else could I do but accept reluctantly?】
Xie Siqi: 【…Reluctantly?】
Chang Le: 【…Devoted and sincere?】
Fang Junhao: 【6】
After showing off, Lin Xingchen prepared to sleep but saw Fang Junhao had sent him a private message.
Fang Junhao: 【Why did you go to the hospital?】
Fang Junhao: 【Xu Ya just messaged me asking if you were okay, saying he saw you at the hospital. What happened?】
Lin Xingchen was surprised Xu Ya had contacted Fang Junhao.
Lin Xingchen: 【Nothing. I just went with Qingqing for a check-up.】
Fang Junhao: 【How were the results?】
Lin Xingchen: 【He’s fine. As for me, I need to take care of my stomach.】
Fang Junhao understood: 【So that’s why little Pei Qingjian made lunch and brought it to you. How thoughtful~】
Lin Xingchen looked down at Pei Qingjian, who was leaning against him, sleeping quietly. His cheeks had a faint rosy glow, warm and cute like an afternoon spring light.
Lin Xingchen: 【Mm.】 He replied. 【Very thoughtful.】
Fang Junhao asked: 【Do you want me to tell Xu Ya about this? About your check-up?】
Lin Xingchen saw no need: 【Forget it. I’ve already made it clear to him. From now on, we go our separate ways. That’s it.】
Fang Junhao paused at his words.
He had known Lin Xingchen since the time Xu Ya had always been around. They were childhood friends who grew up together.
No matter who else Lin Xingchen met later—Xie Siqi, Chang Le, or others—Xu Ya had been his closest friend. He never expected that even they would one day part ways.
Of course, this wasn’t Lin Xingchen’s fault. As their mutual friend, Fang Junhao knew all along Lin Xingchen was the innocent one.
He did nothing, and it was precisely because he did nothing that led to this outcome.
Xu Ya wanted Lin Xingchen to be with Xu Jiannian, insisting no one could love him more than Xu Jiannian. But Lin Xingchen didn’t need that kind of love.
Fang Junhao: 【Got it.】
He replied to Xu Ya: 【I asked for you, but Xingchen didn’t want me to tell you.】
He said: 【Xu Ya, is it really worth it for Xu Jiannian? If you truly care for him, and only want the best for him, why not respect his preferences? He clearly doesn’t like the kind of attention Xu Jiannian offers. He already has a boyfriend who treats him well and even takes the trouble to make meals and accompany him at work.】
【So why must it be Xu Jiannian? He’s never short of admirers. He has the right to reject others’ affections and not be emotionally coerced by you or Xu Jiannian.】
When Pei Qingjian woke up again, Lin Xingchen was no longer by his side.
He groggily grabbed his phone and glanced at it—and the next second, he was wide awake. How could it already be 2:40?!
He hurriedly threw off the blanket, got out of bed, and opened the bedroom door.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked Lin Xingchen.
Lin Xingchen turned his head: …
At that moment, the secretary who had just walked in toward Lin Xingchen froze: !!!
She was rooted to the spot, too afraid to breathe, caught between moving and staying still, wishing she could simply vanish.
Pei Qingjian’s sharp eyes caught the gaze coming from just behind him. He turned and saw a short-haired woman standing not far away.
It was none other than the secretary he had seen when he arrived earlier—Lin Xingchen’s secretary!
She noticed his look, and with a polite yet slightly embarrassed smile, nodded at him.
Pei Qingjian: ???
Pei Qingjian: !!!
Pei Qingjian: …
He spun around and dashed back into the room, slamming the door with a loud “bang.”
Ahhhhhh! How could this happen?! Why is there someone else here?!
And it was the same person he had just met!
What had he said to her earlier?
Pei Qingjian instantly remembered:
“Hello, I’m Pei Qingjian, Lin Xingchen’s friend.”
“I know. Lin has mentioned that you were coming with me.”
Who introduces their friend while they’re wearing someone else’s pajamas—and even the pajama bottoms!
Pei Qingjian glumly looked down—and saw that he was still wearing Lin Xingchen’s slippers.
Pei Qingjian: …
And the other person’s slippers too. QAQ
Pei Qingjian: He might as well just vanish. This is too socially mortifying!