Chapter 11
“Zhile-ge, you don’t usually drink this much.”
An Nian quickly grabbed the half-finished beer from Xia Zhile’s hand before he could pour himself another glass.
Xia Zhile considered asking for it back, but when he saw An Nian’s nervous expression and worried gaze, the beer on his tongue suddenly tasted bitter. He forced a small smile. “It’s just two bottles, not that much.”
An Nian propped his chin on his hand. “Back at our graduation ceremony, we younger classmates threw a send-off party for you seniors, remember? You got drunk off one bottle.”
“That was back when I was still a rookie. Now I’m a veteran.” Xia Zhile huffed, feigning offense. “You think two measly bottles can knock me out? Come on, don’t underestimate me.”
An Nian smiled too.
But as he smiled, he couldn’t help but worry. “Zhile-ge, are you upset? It’s the middle of the day, and you’re drinking.”
Xia Zhile: “Not at all.”
“Did you have a fight with Mr. Lin?” An Nian boldly guessed.
Xia Zhile hesitated, giving a vague smile—neither confirming nor denying it.
An Nian understood immediately. A fleeting glimmer of joy flashed through his eyes, but more than that, he was genuinely concerned about Xia Zhile’s well-being. “Zhile-ge, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Why did you argue? Was it because of me? Because I called you last week—was that why he got upset?”
Xia Zhile instinctively raised his voice. “Of course not, it has nothing to do with you.”
…But actually, it did have something to do with An Nian.
Xia Zhile’s mind was a mess. Without thinking, he blurted out, “That night, I was supposed to have dinner and watch a movie with him. It was our two-year anniversary.”
An Nian’s face instantly turned pale. “I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t know—that must be why Mr. Lin was mad. It’s all my fault!”
Xia Zhile’s heart softened in an instant. “I already told you, it’s not your fault. You were being stalked and watched by Wang Tu—that was dangerous! Of course, you should have called me. If something had happened to you, I’d have felt guilty for the rest of my life!”
An Nian’s eyes turned red, even the tip of his nose flushed.
Xia Zhile panicked, fumbling for tissues. He yanked out three sheets and handed them over, then picked up a crispy, golden piece of guo bao rou (sweet and sour pork) and placed it in An Nian’s bowl.
An Nian wasn’t actually crying. He tossed the tissues onto the table and grinned. “Come on, if something had happened to me, why would you need to feel guilty for life?”
Xia Zhile realized his wording was off and laughed awkwardly.
An Nian ate the guo bao rou and then asked, “Zhile-ge, how did you and Mr. Lin meet?”
Thinking back on his relationship with Lin Hening, there were sweet moments, bitter ones, and everything in between.
They first met in the library—Lin Hening was wearing a crisp white shirt, sitting by the window.
Think about it—white shirt, handsome young man, library, sunlight filtering through the trees… everything was straight out of a romance novel!
Xia Zhile fell in love at first sight.
Even now, when he recalled that breathtaking moment, his heart still fluttered.
Lin Hening was stunning—exquisite features, porcelain-white skin, and an air of quiet elegance as he read under the sunlight. When he sensed someone watching and looked up, his natural nobility and subtle, commanding presence made him seem like a prince—his charm instantly skyrocketed.
But instead of glaring coldly or acting aloof, he smiled—warm, gentle, effortlessly graceful.
In that instant, it was as if the snow melted and spring arrived.
Xia Zhile once vividly described Lin Hening as a cup of morning black tea—
Not overly sweet like milk tea,
Not harsh and stomach-churning like green tea,
And without the sharp bitterness of coffee.
No matter the season, taking a sip of black tea in the morning was always warm and invigorating—light, fragrant, and enough to fuel an entire day with energy.
“That’s so romantic.” An Nian listened intently, his expression tinged with envy and a trace of melancholy.
He smiled and said, “You two are a perfect match.”
Xia Zhile’s expression stiffened.
An Nian caught the change immediately. “What’s wrong, Zhile-ge?”
The phrase “perfect match” was supposed to be a compliment, a blessing. But to Xia Zhile, it felt more like criticism—almost mocking.
Xia Zhile’s family wasn’t poor. His father ran a small business—not wildly successful, but stable enough to keep them comfortable. His mother was a teacher, and thanks to her good genes, Xia Zhile had always been an intelligent child. He grew up with a sense of superiority—handsome, effortlessly winning scholarships, adored by teachers, praised by neighbors, envied by classmates, and the pride of his parents. He thought he was top-tier. But as he gained more experience in the world, he realized there were always people more exceptional than him—and Lin Hening was one of those people, someone far beyond his reach.
The only son of one of Yunzhou’s wealthiest families, a prodigy who skipped grades so often it made others dizzy, a graduate of the country’s top university, and Yunzhou’s youngest prosecutor.
And on top of all that, he had the kind of striking looks that outshone even celebrities.
In front of Lin Hening’s brilliance, Xia Zhile’s little bit of pride dimmed to nothing.
Because of this inferiority complex, he harbored a secret crush on Lin Hening for years without daring to act on it. The time Lin Hening caught him eating plain noodles to save money, he was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear. When Lin Hening confessed his feelings, Xia Zhile felt a mix of joy, shock, and fear.
And because of this same inferiority complex, he threw himself into his career, determined to shine, to succeed, to prove himself—to stand tall in front of Lin Hening, to even surpass him.
There was something Xia Zhile had never dared to say out loud—and probably never would.
When Lin Hening’s father made a bad investment, pushing their company to the brink of bankruptcy, Xia Zhile had felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.
When Lin Hening told him, “I’m about to go from a rich heir to a debt-ridden pauper,” Xia Zhile had felt sympathy, but also relief—maybe even a little bit of secret glee.
It was ironic—the most stressful, crushing period of Lin Hening’s life was actually the time when Xia Zhile felt the most valued, the most alive, the most confident and driven.
But it didn’t last. Lin Hening’s father, Lin Youyu, was a shrewd businessman. Even though he went through hell, he pulled through in the end.
Of course, it wasn’t like Xia Zhile actually wanted Lin Hening’s family to go bankrupt. He was happy for Lin Hening.
It was just that… Lin Hening had returned to being that carefree, untouchable, golden prince again.
What was that saying?
👉 Financial status determines household power.
In the past, Xia Zhile always felt small in front of Lin Hening. But when he finally landed a prestigious job at Ruitan—the dream hospital for medical students—everything changed.
He was suddenly respected, successful, making five or six times Lin Hening’s salary.
He had finally “risen from the ashes”. For once, he could stand straight-backed in front of Lin Hening.
Xia Zhile admitted it—at first, he had definitely flaunted it a little.
But after holding back for so long, didn’t he deserve that? Just a little bit of indulgence?
Xia Zhile gave An Nian a vague smile and nudged a dish toward him. “Enough about that. Eat before the food gets cold.”
An Nian set down his chopsticks, reached into his backpack, and pulled out a glass container. “Zhile-ge, here…”
Inside was a cheesecake.
An Nian’s fingers tensed slightly as he hesitated. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I just made too much by accident. It’d be a waste to throw it away, so… can you help me eat it?”
Xia Zhile hesitated.
An Nian had asked him to lunch today, and on the way over, he’d made up his mind—he was going to set things straight.
Whether the confession at the bar was a moment of drunken honesty or just reckless nonsense, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was already with Lin Hening.
But now, looking at An Nian—the slight redness around his eyes, the careful, almost self-effacing way he was offering the cake—Xia Zhile suddenly felt…
Why should he have to cut An Nian off?
Even if An Nian did have feelings for him, did that mean they couldn’t even be friends?
Was he seriously not allowed to eat a damn piece of cake?
Xia Zhile took the container. “Then I won’t hold back. It looks great—it must taste amazing too.”
An Nian smiled. “Does Mr. Lin ever make things like this for you?”
Xia Zhile: “He can only fry eggs and make instant noodles.”
Lin Hening had never liked overly sweet pastries, and he had an even stronger aversion to cheesecake. He always said cheese had a strange taste—like stinky feet.
An Nian blinked. “But I remember, Xuezhang, that cheesecake used to be your favorite. At the graduation ceremony, I saw you eat two big slices.”
Xia Zhile froze for a moment. Unbidden, a memory surfaced—the night at the bar.
An Nian had been slightly drunk, leaning against him like a delicate bird, his eyes filled with deep, unspoken emotions. With a voice full of quiet sorrow, he had confessed—
“Xuezhang, I liked you since the very first day of high school.”
Xia Zhile wasn’t deaf or blind—of course, back in school, he had noticed the dazzling An Nian.
But both An Nian and Lin Hening shared one thing in common—they came from wealthy families.
An Nian was the only son of a famous publishing house. He was chauffeured everywhere, always accompanied by seven bodyguards. Someone like Xia Zhile, a poor kid with nothing to his name, had no place in that world.
So he had never even dared to entertain the thought.
He had no idea that he had already been secretly loved for years.
And honestly? No one could remain unaffected upon learning that someone better than them had been secretly in love with them.
Xia Zhile was shocked, and his heart softened.
He scooped a bite of cheesecake, letting the rich, creamy flavor melt on his tongue.
“I remember eating one slice, and when I left to perform on stage, my plate was empty. But when I came back, there was another piece.”
An Nian: “I put it there.”
Xia Zhile stared at him in astonishment. “You?”
An Nian lowered his gaze, nodding shyly.
Xia Zhile felt a warmth bloom in his chest. “Nian Nian, if I hadn’t been such a coward back then—if I had been bold enough to pursue you—would we have already been together?”
The moment he said it, he realized he had messed up.
But… it was already out there. He wasn’t going to take it back.
Let’s just blame it on the beer.
An Nian’s clear eyes shimmered with emotion, but he only gave a bitter smile. “But now… you have Mr. Lin.”
Xia Zhile murmured, almost dazedly, “Yeah… I do.”
Meanwhile.
Zhou Zhou placed the final dish—glazed sweet potatoes—on the table. “All the food’s ready.”
As he passed the cashier counter, he noticed Gu Fei staring fixedly at Xia Zhile’s table.
His face was cold. His eyes dark and stormy, his whole demeanor a little scary.
“Fei-ge, what’s wrong?” Zhou Zhou asked cautiously.
Gu Fei withdrew his gaze. “He’s blind.”
Zhou Zhou had been holding it in for a while, but now he finally exploded. “Exactly! Mr. Lin must be blind to fall for someone like that!”
Gu Fei shot Zhou Zhou a look, then glanced at An Nian.
He tossed the abacus into the drawer.
“The blind one is Xia Zhile.”
Chapter 12
The cat was gone.
Lin Hening often complained about the cat being disobedient, about how it never let him pet it. He had even sworn that one day he’d throw the little ingrate out.
But despite all his grumbling, he never actually did it. He still made sure the cat was well-fed, well-cared for.
Even in the sweltering summer, when no one was home, he left the air conditioning on just for the cat, worried it might overheat.
And now?
Lin Hening thought bitterly, I’ve been treating you so well, and you still ran away? Do you even have a conscience?
That night had been… a lot.
It was his anniversary. Then there was An Nian, Wang Tu, Gu Fei. And after all that, he’d had a massive fight with Xia Zhile at the front door.
By the time he collapsed into bed, he was mentally drained.
And he forgot to close the door.
When he woke up the next morning, the door was wide open—just enough for a cat to slip through.
Lin Hening’s face drained of color.
He grabbed his slippers and ran outside to look for the cat.
Damn. Emotions are getting messy.
Xia Zhile is wobbling. An Nian is playing his cards carefully. Gu Fei is watching from the sidelines with a judgmental glare. And now the cat is missing?!
He lived on the 18th floor—one apartment per floor.
For security reasons, the elevator was programmed to stop only at the resident’s floor. No one could access any other level.
The cat couldn’t use the elevator.
Which meant it had to have taken the stairwell.
Lin Hening bolted down the stairs.
He had read about this before—runaway house cats don’t usually go far. Since they’re unfamiliar with the outside world, they tend to stick close to the building, often wandering around the hallways.
But after running down 18 flights of stairs—no cat.
So he went up instead.
From the first floor to the thirty-third, he searched every level.
Still—no cat.
Out of options, Lin Hening rushed outside.
He went straight to the property management office to check the surveillance cameras.
For three whole hours, he stared at the screens, his eyes burning with exhaustion—until finally, he spotted his cat near the bushes.
That spot was only three meters away from the residential compound’s outer wall.
If the cat jumped over the wall and ran outside…
That would be it.
It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Heart pounding, Lin Hening sprinted toward the “crime scene,” desperately searching for clues.
Just as he was about to check outside the community gates, someone called out—
“Hè Hè!”
Lin Hening turned around.
Jian Xiaoxi was sticking his head out of a police car window.
“Why are you out here dressed like this?! And barefoot? What happened?”
Lin Hening didn’t even have the energy to explain. “Your godson is missing.”
Jian Xiaoxi: “What?!”
Lin Hening glanced at the handcuffed man sitting in the back of the police car. “You go handle your case. I’ll keep looking.”
As the car drove off, Jian Xiaoxi shouted out the window—
“Don’t just keep searching—go home and put on some clothes first! You’ll freeze!”
But Lin Hening didn’t go home.
He was afraid that if he went back and forth, he might miss the cat.
He searched all day.
Nothing.
Even the old property manager told him to give up.
When Lin Hening finally returned home, everything was still in place—
The cat food.
The canned treats.
The litter box.
The toys.
But no cat.
His fingers moved on their own.
He called Xia Zhile.
“Zhile, the cat’s gone.”
“What?”
“The cat’s gone.”
“How?!”
On the other end of the call, there was a lot of background noise—clinking glasses, loud conversations, booming music.
He was probably at some fancy banquet.
Lin Hening suddenly felt restless. “I forgot to close the door. It ran out. It’s been missing for a whole day and night.”
“How could you be so careless?!”
The frustration in Xia Zhile’s voice was sharp. “Go find it! Winter’s coming soon—how do you expect it to survive out there, cold and starving?!”
Lin Hening wanted to say—
I already did.
I searched all day.
I called its name until my throat burned.
Right now, between him and the cat, he was the one starving and freezing.
His throat felt like it was on fire.
He didn’t want to talk anymore.
Lin Hening hung up.
Rested his head against the couch pillow.
Closed his aching eyes.
Shit, this is rough.
Not only is Lin Hening physically exhausted, but now Xia Zhile is yelling at him instead of helping.
And the cat? Still missing.
