Huh?
Huhhh???
Prosecutor Lin, who had made countless defense attorneys break down in court, was now utterly speechless, momentarily unsure where to even begin his rebuttal.
Especially since this ex-boyfriend of his was now looking at him with red-rimmed eyes, clenched teeth, and a face drained of color—playing the role of a heartbroken victim to perfection. He looked as if he were the devoted wife cruelly abandoned after years of hardship, while Lin Hening was the fickle playboy who had tossed him aside the moment he got bored.
If he had known his morning would start with such a dramatic spectacle, he wouldn’t have drunk so much last night—no matter what.
Hangovers impair brainpower and directly weaken combat effectiveness!
Just as Lin Hening was organizing his thoughts, he heard Gu Fei say, “Dr. Xia, you had already moved on before you even broke up. Your ability to be fickle is truly unparalleled. Lin Prosecutor and I can only applaud you.”
Lin Hening’s eyes widened.
Damn. Boss Gu usually kept his words to a minimum, not because he was dull but simply because he couldn’t be bothered to argue with people. But when he did speak, he struck straight at the heart—just look at how Xia Zhile’s face had gone from pale to an ugly shade of green.
“What did you just say?!”
“Dr. Xia, is there a problem with your hearing?”
Xia Zhile was so enraged that his chest heaved. “Gu, what are you so smug about? You’re just a damn restaurant owner!”
Gu Fei let out a cool chuckle. “Exactly. And since you’re so above us common folk, why don’t you just stop eating altogether?”
Xia Zhile’s face turned crimson from sheer frustration. Panicked, he turned to Lin Hening with a pitiful expression.
Lin Hening: “?”
Oh, come on! Not only did Dr. Xia have hearing issues, but apparently, his vision was impaired, and his brain wasn’t functioning properly either.
But since they had once loved—so deeply, so passionately—he would show him no mercy.
Just then, a cleaning lady entered with a garbage cart, preparing to collect trash from the building. Lin Hening called out to her, pointing at the bag in Xia Zhile’s hands. “Take that one too, thanks.”
Xia Zhile’s pupils shrank in shock, his body momentarily frozen, as if resisting the instinct to dodge.
Then he looked at Lin Hening, as if silently pleading: You better not regret this. There’s the pillow we bought together in there, and the Shaun the Sheep plushie I gave you. I know you’re sentimental—don’t be so reckless! I’ll give you three seconds.
One.
Two.
Three.
Lin Hening snatched the bag and handed it to the cleaning lady himself. She, in turn, casually dumped it into the trash bin, sending it off to its final resting place.
Xia Zhile’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Lin Hening, are you really this heartless?”
Excuse me? He was the heartless one?
Lin Hening actually laughed. “I strongly suggest you see a neurologist. I mean it.”
Xia Zhile’s chest rose and fell violently. “I admit, I was in the wrong. But we were together for so many years—are you seriously not even a little sad? Not even the slightest bit upset? You—you even have the appetite to eat wontons?!”
Lin Hening glanced down at the innocent little wontons.
So, what was he supposed to do?
Sink into depression and stop eating altogether?
Maybe binge-eat out of self-punishment, then stay up all night singing tragic breakup songs? Or better yet, go for the ultimate drama—slitting his wrists or jumping off a building?
Would that be enough to prove how much Xia Zhile had meant to him? Would that prove his true feelings?
Oh man, he was dying laughing.
“You really think too highly of yourself,” Gu Fei interjected.
Lin Hening looked over—Gu Fei had actually said what he was thinking.
It was as if Xia Zhile had been punched in the face. He let out a laugh of disbelief. “I knew it! You never took me seriously. If you weren’t just fooling around with me, then why do you look so fine? What kind of person gets cheated on and still walks around like nothing happened? Hair neatly combed, clothes freshly ironed—hell, you don’t even have dark circles under your eyes!”
Lin Hening was astounded.
He had never seen anyone justify cheating with such an air of self-righteousness—so brazen, so shameless, and yet, so purely ridiculous!
So sorry to disappoint, Dr. Xia. He hadn’t gone unwashed and unkempt for days, wearing the same clothes from three nights ago. He hadn’t drowned himself in alcohol, red-eyed and wrecked, calling Xia Zhile in the dead of night, begging to take him back.
Oops—guess that hurt the great Dr. Xia’s ego!
Forget “crying and begging for me back in three days”—he hadn’t even been mildly downcast.
Honestly, all Lin Hening was thinking about was how he and Jian Xiaoxi had plans to go out for skewers after work tonight.
Tsk. This was annoying.
He hated people who dragged things out endlessly. They had already broken up—why was Xia Zhile still clinging to this mess? Wasn’t he tired?
Turning to Gu Fei, Lin Hening said, “You’re heading back to the restaurant, right? I need to stop by the security office.”
Gu Fei raised an eyebrow. “What for?”
Lin Hening sighed. “At this moment, I truly feel like I wasted my money on this so-called top-tier security service—advertised as globally elite protection. And yet, they let in any random stray off the street?!”
Xia Stray Dog Zhile took a direct hit. His face went from red to an ugly shade of blue-gray.
Lin Hening smirked inwardly. You pushed me to this. You brought this on yourself.
Lin Hening wasn’t just all talk—he actually went to find the security manager.
So, when Xia Zhile was kicked out of the residential complex, his face was practically purple with rage.
A highly respected doctor, someone who basically kept a whole network of ticket scalpers fed, was unceremoniously thrown out by three or five security guards like a stray dog. His tie was even yanked askew. Climbing into his car, Xia Zhile was absolutely fuming.
It wasn’t the mere security guards that made him this angry—it was Lin Hening.
Xia Zhile knew that Lin Hening wasn’t a heartless person. Most of the accusations he threw at him that night were at least 70% fueled by anger. But what he saw with his own eyes? Lin Hening, carefree and cheerful, laughing and chatting like he wasn’t someone nursing a broken heart!
Xia Zhile felt a little wronged—because he had the proper appearance of a heartbroken man. Restless, unable to eat or sleep, tossing and turning, three whole days without a good night’s rest!
He had been worried that Lin Hening would spiral into despair, become a complete wreck, and throw his life away. After all, he was such a proud person. Witnessing his boyfriend cheating on him firsthand—there was no way that wouldn’t have been devastating.
Not that Xia Zhile regretted going off on him that night. But still, they had loved each other deeply—he was even his first love. It was only natural to be concerned. So, after racking his brain for a reason to visit, he finally settled on the excuse of “returning an old item” just to check on him. And what did he see?
That damn Lin Hening, laughing and joking around with that restaurant owner—even touching him!
Xia Zhile slammed his fist against the steering wheel in frustration.
That night, after Lin Hening left, he hadn’t kept An Nian around either. An Nian didn’t linger, only saying, “I’ll head back now,” before walking away, turning back every few steps.
They hadn’t been in contact since.
Xia Zhile called An Nian, and the other end picked up almost immediately.
“Senior.”
That soft, gentle voice, like a little kitten, instantly melted Xia Zhile’s heart and made his chest tighten.
He had confessed to An Nian the same night he broke up with Lin Hening. Since the words were already out there, it really wasn’t right for him to ignore him like this.
Xia Zhile apologized over the phone. An Nian didn’t blame him—instead, he gently comforted him. That only made Xia Zhile feel even guiltier. So, he stepped on the gas and drove straight to An Nian’s place.
The Lotus Dismemberment Case had new evidence added and was once again submitted to the prosecution. Lin Hening had been handling this case recently, running around with his assistant, Xiaowei—visiting the detention center, interviewing witnesses, and even re-examining the crime scene.
While they were chewing on some bread outside a convenience store, discussing the victim’s degenerate father—who was a drunk, a gambler, and a frequent patron of brothels—Lin Hening suddenly remembered that his dad’s flight back to Yunzou was today.
Since their investigation had just wrapped up, Lin Hening headed to the airport. After waiting for about ten minutes, he spotted Lin Youyu walking out of the VIP exit with his secretary.
“Son!” Lin Youyu hollered from a distance, his beer belly bouncing as he jogged over, looking absolutely ridiculous.
His two secretaries behind him were already used to the sight.
Chairman Lin carried himself like a king outside, but the moment he stepped into his own home, he’d be kicked into submission without a peep. When he was younger, his wife had him firmly under control. Now that he was older, it was his son’s turn.
Just last year, Lin Hening had confronted his father with his high cholesterol test results and strictly ordered him to eat nothing but radishes and greens. Chairman Lin, a lifelong carnivore, went into a complete frenzy from withdrawal. He secretly devoured two pounds of braised pork belly—only to get caught red-handed. Before Lin Hening could even say anything, Chairman Lin immediately cowered, crouching next to the table with his hands over his head.
The esteemed billionaire chairman of the Lin Corporation, reduced to a pitiful old man.
Honestly, sometimes it was hard to tell who was the father and who was the son.
Especially after business trips—he’d always come running back like a little kid rushing to his parents after school.
It made sense, though. Ever since Madam Wen Zhi left, it had been just the two of them.
Come to think of it, when Lin Hening first met Xia Zhile, he found him adorable—probably because his childish tendencies reminded him of his dad.
His parents had a purely business-driven arranged marriage. They didn’t even get to chat before getting engaged—just exchanged photos and that was that.
And his dad? He took one look at Wen Zhi’s photo and fell head over heels.
Not that anyone could blame him. Chairman Lin was a total sucker for a pretty face, and Wen Zhi was stunning—cool and elegant like a chrysanthemum, hitting every single one of his weak spots. He was madly in love and, after marriage, became her devoted servant.
Unfortunately, Wen Zhi wasn’t having any of it.
She had someone in her heart—a first love she could never forget. Even though that first love had unilaterally broken up with her years ago, she still held onto him. And then—guess what happened?
That’s right, she ran into him again. And lo and behold, he was in a wheelchair!
Turns out, he had been in a car accident years ago, paralyzing him from the waist down. He had broken up with her back then not because he stopped loving her, but because he didn’t want to burden her. So he left for America, enduring his injuries in silence. Even now, though he had built a successful career, he remained alone—because in his heart, there was only her.
Come on, who wouldn’t be moved by that?
It was like an old-school romance drama come to life. If this got turned into a prime-time TV series, it’d sweep the ratings!
That very night, Wen Zhi confronted Lin Youyu and, the next day, ran off with her first love—abandoning both her husband and son.
Now tell me, how is it that China is so big, yet these “accidental reunions” keep happening?
Yeah, you’re right—it wasn’t a damn coincidence. Every “long-lost reunion” is a carefully calculated, premeditated scheme!
Her first love had known she was married. He had suffered in silence, struggled, agonized—and then, he booked a ticket home. Not because he wanted to break up her family—oh no—he just wanted to take one last look at his beloved Wen Zhi from afar, just to make sure she was doing okay.
Lin Hening couldn’t help but draw parallels between Wen Zhi and her first love, and Xia Zhile and An Nian.
He had once seen a photo of Wen Zhi’s first love on her phone. And you know what? That delicate, melancholic air—the fragile, heartbreaking vibe—it was eerily similar to An Nian.
Back at their villa—perched on a mountaintop overlooking all of Yunzou and its vast coastline—Lin Youyu opened a box of caviar to share with his beloved son.
Wen Zhi used to scold Lin Youyu during fights, calling him “childish” and “overly sensitive.” Coming from the country’s top criminal defense lawyer, those words hit hard.
Lin Hening had only cried for one day when he lost his mother. Lin Youyu, on the other hand, lost his wife—and spent an entire year wailing like a ghost, drowning in misery, teetering on the brink of despair.
Lin Hening felt heartbroken, but he was also helpless—because he was only five years old at the time! A five-year-old little kid facing a sobbing, 200-pound grown man—how was he supposed to handle that?
Faced with such an unreliable father, what could a kid do? Naturally, he had to grow up overnight, act ten years older, and comfort his devastated dad.
While other kids his age were riding on their fathers’ backs, playing “horsey,” what was he doing? Holding a jar of caviar he didn’t even like, pretending it was the most delicious thing in the world, spooning it into his mouth one bite at a time while coaxing, “Daddy, don’t cry. Hè Hè is here.”
Eventually, his father pulled himself together, hugging him tightly while sobbing, “Hè Hè, you’re all I have.”
Back then, Lin Hening didn’t fully grasp the weight and seriousness of the phrase “you’re all I have.”
At the office, some of his coworkers who were moms of two would occasionally share bits of family wisdom. One of them once said, “When looking for a partner, avoid men whose fathers passed away early or whose dads cheated and left them to be raised by a single mother. Because in those cases, the mom will see her son as her whole world—and she’ll see her daughter-in-law as the enemy.”
Lin Hening never expected that the same logic could apply to a father as well!
The night he came out was absolute chaos, a nightmare he’d rather not revisit.
Thank goodness they lived in a villa—at most three stories high—so even if his dad jumped, his body fat would probably cushion the fall.
Otherwise, with how his father reacted to any bit of hardship by threatening to die, he would’ve splattered on the pavement at least 800 times by now.
From initially gritting his teeth in fury at Xia Zhile, wishing he could grab a knife and cut him up, then perching on a windowsill, wailing about how his son didn’t want him anymore—to now, where he actually felt reassured when Xia Zhile was mentioned and even brought him little snacks whenever he traveled for work.
Lin Hening had to admire his own ability to mediate between them, and he was equally impressed by Xia Zhile’s persistence—especially how, during the period when the Lin family was on the brink of bankruptcy, Xia Zhile stayed and took care of his father.
It was this sincerity and devotion that won Lin Youyu over.
And it completely moved Lin Hening as well.
So even though his breakup with Xia Zhile was messy and unpleasant, he couldn’t deny that they’d shared good times. During those exhausting, crisis-ridden days, he was grateful for Xia Zhile’s support and companionship.
Lin Hening wasn’t the vengeful type. No need for revenge—just part ways peacefully.
He didn’t tell his father about the breakup. He was too tired lately, and he didn’t have the energy to deal with his dad’s dramatic reactions.
After dinner, Lin Hening took the snacks his dad had bought him and headed home.
The next morning, on his way to work, Lin Hening drove past Xinghua Restaurant. Gu Fei happened to see him and stepped out to greet him.
Lin Hening rolled down the car window and said, “I’m skipping breakfast. I still feel sick from all that caviar last night. Oh, here—share these with everyone.”
A big bag stuffed with snacks.
“Wait a sec.” Lin Hening opened the car door and got out.
Xia Zhile was standing on the sidewalk, waiting for the traffic light to change.
He knew that Gu Fei’s restaurant was less than a hundred meters to his right, so he stubbornly refused to look in that direction. But the more he tried to suppress it, the more rebellious his instincts became.
Using the excuse of “just stretching my stiff neck,” he stole a glance—and froze.
A Bentley Mulsanne.
Lin Hening?
Xia Zhile stood there, stunned.
He saw Gu Fei holding up a giant bag of snacks while Lin Hening rummaged through it like an excited kid on a treasure hunt.
It had to be tomato-flavored chips!
Sure enough, Lin Hening pulled out a bag of tomato-flavored chips, grinning at Gu Fei with satisfaction.
Back when they used to shop for chips, they’d often buy those three-in-one discount packs that included tomato, cucumber, and barbecue flavors. Lin Hening only liked the tomato ones, so they had a system: divide and conquer.
Then, Lin Hening pulled out a can of nuts.
Xia Zhile, whose vision was ridiculously sharp, immediately recognized the brand—it was an obscure foreign one, not available in the country. He knew it well because he loved those nuts, and Lin Youyu always brought them back for him whenever he went on business trips.
The light turned green, and the crowd surged forward to cross the street.
Only Xia Zhile stood frozen in place, feeling as if his soul had left his body.
He heard Gu Fei ask, “Coming over tonight?”
Lin Hening: “Mhm.”
Gu Fei: “What do you want to eat?”
Lin Hening: “I’ll let you surprise me.”
Gu Fei chuckled. “Looking forward to it.”
Lin Hening hadn’t been expecting much, but Gu Fei’s words had somehow piqued his curiosity.
Appetite—it was one of the most primal, instinctive desires of human nature!
Finally, after a long workday, Lin Hening headed straight to Xinghua Restaurant.
The route was surprisingly smooth. From the prosecutor’s office, it was just a straight shot—no turns, no traffic.
From now on, he could leave home in the morning, have breakfast at Gu Fei’s place, then head to work. After work, he could go back to Gu Fei’s for dinner before heading home.
Convenient and delicious—what’s not to love?
Lin Hening parked his car. The clear night sky, with the bright moon hanging high, was just as beautiful as his anticipation for a good meal.
And then—bam, out of nowhere—he ran into a picture-perfect couple.
Damn it.
His good mood instantly dropped by 70%.
“Mr. Lin, what a coincidence!” An Nian smiled innocently, looking as if he were basking in the moonlight, holding onto Xia Zhile’s arm. He even affectionately rested his head on Xia Zhile’s shoulder.
One was 183 cm, the other 170 cm—a perfect height difference.
Unlike him, standing at 185 cm, with Xia Zhile only two centimeters shorter, even getting close felt awkward.
Lin Hening glanced toward the kitchen, where Gu Fei had just walked out. His eyes lit up.
Oh? He actually looked pretty good standing next to Gu Fei!
Gu Fei, seeing Xia Zhile and An Nian enter the restaurant right behind Lin Hening, darkened his gaze.
Zhou Zhou, mid-bite into a sugar tangerine, forgot to swallow. The fruit got stuck in his throat, making his eyes roll back. Damn, this was a battlefield.
The Fatty beside him was already prepared to perform the Heimlich maneuver, while simultaneously feeling secondhand embarrassment for everyone involved, his toes metaphorically curling so hard they could dig a penthouse suite into the floor.
Three, two, one—let’s hear from Contestant #1.
“Oh? Even the great doctor has come to experience the common folk’s food?” Lin Hening quipped.
Xia Zhile was well aware of, and even admired, Lin Hening’s vengeful nature and refusal to take a loss. But this time, the knife was aimed at him on Gu Fei’s behalf, and that stung a little.
To everyone’s surprise, Lin Hening didn’t turn around and leave. Instead, he casually stepped inside, found an empty seat, and sat down, ready to eat.
Contestant #2, Gu Fei, was about to speak when Lin Hening beat him to it: “This is a business, right? If a customer comes in to spend money, are you gonna kick them out?”
Gu Fei thought to himself, I’m the owner, I make the rules. Not only could I kick them out, but I could ban them for life.
But, since Lin Hening wasn’t leaving out of spite, everything was fine.
Zhou Zhou and the Fatty watched in awe, giving silent applause to Lin Hening’s composed, couldn’t-care-less attitude toward the awkward scene unfolding.
Seeing that Xia Zhile was also about to sit down, An Nian panicked. “Weren’t we going to have Western food?”
Xia Zhile had already taken a seat. “Haven’t had Chinese food in a while.”
“But I want Western food.” An Nian stood behind him, pouting. “Even if we’re having Chinese, we should at least go to XX Restaurant, right? This little place… can their food even be eaten? Who knows if they use gutter oil or rat meat?”
Honestly, Xia Zhile thought the same thing.
These days, some unscrupulous businesses would do anything for profit—dangerous additives, recycled oil, even zombie meat. No wonder hospital visits were skyrocketing and people’s health was deteriorating. These restaurants were definitely part of the problem!
As a doctor, Xia Zhile found it heartbreaking. He couldn’t change the world, but at least he could keep himself away from all this junk and live healthily. He was particularly cautious about food safety. Ever since he could afford better, he only bought organic produce and only dined at trusted places. Even the breakfast stand across from the hospital, though serving unhealthy fried dough sticks, at least used reputable peanut oil, changed daily. Could Gu Fei compare to that?
He had even checked online reviews of this restaurant in advance. Suspiciously, every single one was five stars. Anyone with half a brain would know they were fake.
Reviews claimed the food was “incredibly delicious” and “so good, I keep coming back for more.” What, did they lace it with illegal additives? Or worse, something downright criminal like opium shells?
Realizing he was basically conducting a health inspection on behalf of the entire city, Xia Zhile felt a deep sense of duty.
Since he refused to leave, An Nian reluctantly sat down as well. When the server brought out complimentary stir-fried celery and fried peanuts, he wouldn’t touch them, as if they were poisoned.
The server asked what they’d like to order. Xia Zhile, unsure, just said, “Whatever the restaurant’s specialties are.”
The Fatty spoke up: “No more apricot blossom ribs.”
Xia Zhile glanced at Lin Hening’s table and saw the braised beef with tomatoes. “Then I’ll have that. The same dish.”
The Fatty snorted. “That’s a special dish our boss made just for Prosecutor Lin. Even I don’t get to eat it, let alone you.”
Xia Zhile held back his irritation. Fine, whatever. This is an investigation, after all.
He pointed at a promotional picture on the wall. “How about the braised chicken rice?”
The Fatty grinned. “Sure, but I’m the one making it.”
What the hell does that mean?
If the Fatty was making it, did that mean Gu Fei wasn’t?
Gu Fei had gone back to the kitchen. When he returned, he carried two dishes—stir-fried eggs with tomatoes and braised tofu with tomatoes.
Lin Hening blinked, then couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You…”
Gu Fei smiled. “Want some tomato and loofah soup?”
Lin Hening didn’t hesitate. “Of course! Even your dishwater tastes amazing.”
Xia Zhile felt a pang in his chest.
He was an excellent cook himself, especially when it came to making soups. He had made countless soups for Lin Hening, but he had never received such high praise!
Xia Zhile angrily popped a peanut into his mouth—Damn. That’s actually pretty good.
Gu Fei brought out the soup.
Xia Zhile frowned so hard his face practically folded in on itself. What the hell is so special about this guy?
A mute. Rude. Looked intimidating as hell. Massive, probably ate like a pig. Basically, just a big dumb brute with zero redeeming qualities.
And now he’s serving Lin Hening soup?
Oh, right. Lin Hening was his creditor. No wonder he was acting all servile and attentive.
Now he’s even handing Lin Hening chopsticks?
Seriously? Did Lin Hening not have hands? Could he not grab chopsticks himself?
And Lin Hening was smiling? Enjoying himself, huh?
Oh, I get it now. No wonder he didn’t storm out earlier. No wonder he insisted on staying for dinner.
He’s showing off for his ex.
“NeNe, give me your hand.”
Xia Zhile gently wiped An Nian’s hands with a wet wipe while looking at Lin Hening with a half-smile.
I’m happy too! Whoever feels down over an ex is a loser!
Lin Hening: “…”
What the hell is wrong with this guy?
The steaming-hot braised chicken rice was served, and Fatty reminded them, “This is our specialty braised chicken, made with our boss’s exclusive secret recipe. Take your time and be careful not to choke on how good it is!”
Xia Zhile sneered inwardly. How good could it possibly be?
It’s not like he’d never had braised chicken at high-end international restaurants before. And that guy, Gu Fei—could he possibly compare to a five-star internationally certified chef?
The way they hyped it up was ridiculous. And just look at this presentation—completely average. Those five-star reviews had to be fake!
Xia Zhile scooped up a spoonful and stuffed it into his mouth. As he chewed, he froze.
What the hell???
His eyes widened in shock. He scooped another bite, chewed again, and—
What the actual hell???
An Nian had deliberately eaten less at lunch to save room for dinner, and now he was starving. Watching Xia Zhile devour bite after bite, barely pausing to talk, made his stomach growl. Reluctantly, he picked up her spoon and took a bite. Then another.
Holy—?!
Unbelievable. Mind-blowing. A culinary masterpiece!
What the actual hell!!!
Impossible, impossible, impossible—how could it taste this good? It was so fragrant, so flavorful! There was no hint of artificial additives or flavor enhancers, and no artificial coloring tricks, yet somehow, it was unbelievably delicious!
Screw it, even if it was gutter oil or rat meat, it was worth it!
Xia Zhile finished more than half the plate in one go.
And this wasn’t even made by Gu Fei himself—it was just using his secret recipe.
Then…
Xia Zhile and An Nian simultaneously turned to look at Lin Hening’s bowl of tomato-braised beef.
They could hardly imagine how it tasted. It had to be even more incredible!
So, that big guy wasn’t completely useless after all. At the very least, he could cook!
On the way back, both Xia Zhile and An Nian felt unsettled.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You just wanted to see Lin Hening.”
Xia Zhile almost stepped on the gas too hard.
He figured it out?!
“No way. Your publishing house, the prosecutor’s office, and Gu Fei’s restaurant are all in the same area—it’s hard not to run into each other,” Xia Zhile said.
An Nian studied his face, half-believing, then said, “That’s true… But it wasn’t a total loss. Gu Fei’s food was really amazing. No wonder Lin Hening keeps going there.”
Xia Zhile’s scalp tightened, and he forced out a dry chuckle, gripping the steering wheel even harder.
An Nian huffed and turned to look out the window, her expression aggrieved.
“Senior, where are we going next?”
“Senior, how about a movie?”
“Xia Zhile!”
“Huh? Oh, whatever you want,” Xia Zhile replied distractedly.
An Nian exploded. “What are you thinking about? Lin Hening, right? Pull over!!”
He was so agitated he looked ready to jump out of the car. Xia Zhile quickly pulled over and chased after him, calling, “NeNe, don’t be mad! I wasn’t thinking about Lin Hening—okay, fine, I was, but listen to me.”
“Baby, you know Lin Hening was my first love. But I swear, the one I love now is you.”
“I was the one who broke up with him, so I feel guilty. I just… I worry about him.”
An Nian sneered. “So, you’re blaming me for being the homewrecker who ruined your relationship?”
“Of course, I blame you,” Xia Zhile said, pulling her into a hug. “You’re too charming, too adorable, too kind. It’s all your fault.”
An Nian’s anger instantly melted away.
“Fine, I get it,” he murmured, lowering his curled lashes. “You two were together for so many years, and you were the one who ended things. It makes sense that you’d be concerned about his well-being. If you had just turned completely heartless and cut ties with him, I’d actually be questioning my own taste in men.”
Xia Zhile sighed in relief and kissed her. “Baby, you’re so understanding. Stop overthinking it, okay? Can’t you tell? Lin Hening is with Gu Fei now. Even if Gu Fei wasn’t in the picture, there’s no way I’d rekindle things with him.
“Honestly… I was being a bit selfish tonight. I just wanted to check out Gu Fei and see what kind of person he is. I had to make sure he wasn’t some gold digger trying to scam Lin Hening out of his money.”
An Nian thought, As if Lin Hening, that cunning fox, could ever be scammed by anyone.
Xia Zhile hugged her tightly and kissed her again, finally smoothing things over.
Lin Hening didn’t go to Xinghua Restaurant that night. Instead, he had dinner at the cafeteria in his office compound so he could free up extra time to organize materials for a court hearing the next day.
After a quick shower at home, he lay in bed scrolling through his phone. In the “Fox Friends” group chat, everyone was enthusiastically discussing New Year’s Eve plans. A friend suggested going to the beach to watch the waves, then heading to city hall to ring in the new year. They tagged everyone: “Who’s in?”
Everyone responded—except for Lin Hening and Jian Xiaoxi. Naturally, the group leader spammed them with direct mentions.
[@PickWatermelons @Hening Beach trip—yes or no?]
[@PickWatermelons @Hening Beach trip—yes or no?]
PickWatermelons: [Crime scene—yes or no?]
[…]
[…]
Hening: [Detention center—yes or no?]
[…]
[…]
The group had quite a few members, all close friends who joked around freely. The group leader was Lin Hening’s former college classmate, who had since switched careers to run a business.
Most of the friends in the group were couples. Watching fireworks on the beach while counting down to midnight would be a romantic and sweet atmosphere. But as a single guy, Lin Hening felt a little out of place.
And since the only other single person, Jian Xiaoxi, wasn’t going either, he didn’t even have a companion.
New Year’s Eve arrived quickly. At work, colleagues excitedly discussed their post-shift plans.
Chen Jie, a mother of two, said, “Taking the kids to their grandma’s for a family dinner. What about you, Xiao Lin?”
Everyone turned in unison to look at Lin Hening.
Bad news travels fast—somehow, the entire prosecution department already knew that Lin Hening had broken up with his boyfriend.
Who even leaked that information? And where were they getting their sources?
Thinking back to past New Year’s Eves, he had always spent them with Xia Zhile.
Facing the well-intentioned but concerned and sympathetic gazes of his colleagues, Lin Hening said, “I’ll head home and spend time with my dad.”
Yeah, right. His dad had flown overseas ages ago to discuss business deals.
Getting off work earlier than usual, Lin Hening checked the fridge. The eggs and cheese were still within their expiration dates. Not wanting to waste food—and honestly, just being bored—he got the sudden urge to attempt baking a cake again, despite having failed numerous times before.
But failure is the mother of success.
By some miracle, he ended up making the most perfect cake sponge he had ever baked.
“I’m so good, I even scare myself!”
While waiting for the cake to cool, his phone blew up—99+ messages in the “Fox Friends” group. Everyone was sharing their locations and meeting up, filling the chat with lively banter.
Then, the real madness began. Some cruel soul started posting pictures with their girlfriend to flaunt their relationship. Seeing this, others followed suit, turning the chat into a brutal “massacre of the singles.”
In the past, the ever-competitive Lin Hening would have joined the bloodbath.
But oh well. This kind of fun wasn’t meant for him this year.
Most of the time, being single felt great—free and unrestrained. But on special occasions like this, the loneliness hit harder.
Lin Hening wasn’t the stay-at-home type. He loved lively crowds and had spent past New Year’s Eves partying all night. But this year was different—he just didn’t have the energy for it. So, staying home and scrolling on his phone in warmth seemed like the better choice.
He hopped into a few group chats to snatch red envelopes and managed to grab enough money for breakfast. Feeling pretty pleased with himself, he started scrolling through his feed. It was filled with happy families and festive vibes.
The only exception? Captain Jian, who posted a picture of instant noodles with a dramatic caption, “😭😭😭.”
That made Lin Hening laugh, so he sent a message of support to the hardworking public servant.
Then, as he scrolled further, he suddenly froze.
Xinghua Restaurant: [Looking for a New Year’s Eve buddy. Hurry up!]
Even Boss Gu didn’t have anyone to spend the night with?
Lin Hening suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie—two lonely souls adrift in the world. Since he was just idly scrolling on his phone at home while the city outside buzzed with concerts and fireworks, it would be a shame not to go out and experience it.
He found Gu Fei on WeChat and sent a message:
[Did you find a New Year’s buddy yet?]
Gu Fei must have been glued to his phone, waiting expectantly—he replied instantly.
[No.]
Wait, that post was three hours ago, and no one responded?
Not to brag, but if he had posted something like that in his feed, his notifications would’ve exploded with 99+ messages in minutes.
Feeling an overwhelming sense of pity, Lin Hening typed:
[Then how about the two of us?]
Gu Fei: [Okay.]
[I’ll come pick you up.]
As the one being “invited,” Lin Hening was genuinely touched by Gu Fei’s initiative. That was some real gentlemanly, considerate behavior. Given that Lin Hening lived in the complete opposite direction of the fireworks show, the normal response should have been, “I’ll wait for you to come over.”
He quickly changed into fresh clothes and headed downstairs—only to step out of the lobby and see Gu Fei already waiting.
What the hell?!
Was this guy The Flash? Could he fly? Or was he Doctor Strange with some teleportation spell?
How did he get here so fast on New Year’s Eve, when traffic was supposed to be an absolute nightmare?
Did he run all the way here on foot?!
Lin Hening climbed into Gu Fei’s van. The inside was warm and toasty, with the heater blasting at full power.
“Happy New Year,” Gu Fei said.
Lin Hening tossed his backpack in the backseat and replied, “Happy New Year.”
Gu Fei wasn’t much of a talker. He rarely spoke first, but if you asked him something, he would always answer. So, Lin Hening casually asked about Zhou Zhou and Pangzi.
Gu Fei explained that since they got half a day off for New Year’s, one had gone to meet up with an online girlfriend, while the other had returned to Xinghua Village.
Lin Hening didn’t pry further with intrusive questions like “Why didn’t you go back to Xinghua Village to spend New Year’s with your parents?” That would’ve been crossing a boundary.
The road to the beach was a nightmare—traffic jam after traffic jam. They crawled at a snail’s pace for nearly an hour before finally arriving.
Fortunately, they still had about ten minutes before the fireworks show started.
The beach was packed, even more so than last year. People were shoulder to shoulder, the air filled with excited chatter. A rock band was performing, and the music was booming, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Somewhere in the chaos, Lin Hening and Gu Fei got separated.
He tried calling Gu Fei’s name, but his voice was swallowed by the thunderous blast of the lead singer’s microphone.
Turning around to look for him, Lin Hening suddenly burst into laughter—he just couldn’t hold it in.
At 6’4″ (193 cm), Gu Fei was way too way too noticeable—impossible to miss!
Towering over the crowd like a lone mountain peak amidst rolling hills.
Lin Hening waved at him, and Gu Fei, clearly also searching for him, effortlessly pushed through the “little chicks” around him and strode over.
And suddenly, Lin Hening got it.
No wonder Gu Fei had been looking for a New Year’s buddy for three hours with no takers.
It was because he was huge, had a naturally intimidating face, and walking next to him made anyone even slightly shorter or thinner look like a kidnap victim.
“If you’re being held against your will, just blink!”—yeah, that’s probably what the good citizens around him would say.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Not everyone could handle standing next to a guy like that. Good thing he wasn’t just anyone.
Standing at a solid 6’1″ (185 cm) barefoot, 6’2″ (187 cm) with shoes, Lin Hening might be on the leaner side, making him look a bit dainty next to Gu Fei, but his face had enough presence to hold its own.
Heh! My earlier estimate was right—our height difference is actually kinda perfect!
Wait… who just grabbed my hand?
Lin Hening looked down, following the trail of a black leather glove up to a well-defined, muscular arm—even through the thick winter coat, he could tell it was strong.
Gu Fei, eyes straight ahead, said, “Too crowded. Don’t get separated.”
Oh.
Like how little kids hold hands so they don’t get lost?
Amused, Lin Hening clasped Gu Fei’s hand in return—only for Gu Fei to freeze and snap his head around to look at him.
“…What?” Lin Hening blinked, confused.
Gu Fei stammered, “N-Nothing.”
Oh? Why was he suddenly stuttering?
Before Lin Hening could poke fun at him, a familiar voice yelled, “HENING! GU FEI—holy shit, it is you guys! Why didn’t you say anything in the group chat?!”
A guy—fondly nicknamed “Universe’s Hottest Stud”—fought his way through the crowd, nearly losing his glasses in the process. He was the type who got chummy fast—on their second meeting, he was already calling Gu Fei “Old Gu.” Lin Hening glanced at Gu Fei, checking if he was irritated, but seeing no signs of rejection, he turned to greet his rowdy friends who were catching up.
The Stud’s gaze dropped to their firmly clasped hands, and his thick-lensed eyes widened.
“Ohhhhhh~”
The group echoed in unison, “Ohhhhhhhhhh~”
Lin Hening: “?!”
“No wonder you turned down my grand invitation,” the Stud gasped dramatically. “You already had plans! My deepest apologies—we didn’t realize we were intruding on your private couple’s moment. Prosecutor Lin, I have sinned! I repent!”
Lin Hening promptly punched his shoulder.
“Cut the crap. I’m single, so you can’t start rumors. Gu Fei, on the other hand—”
Gu Fei: “I’m single too.”
Lin Hening froze.
The group erupted into more whistles and cheers.
Lin Hening instinctively looked at Gu Fei, only to find Gu Fei looking back at him at the exact same moment. Their eyes met.
“Oooohhh, Gu Fei’s getting defensive real fast, huh?”
“Damn, Old Gu, that clarification was way too quick. Don’t worry, I’ll keep spreading the rumors!”
Having known these troublemakers for years, Lin Hening was more than familiar with their antics. They loved to stir the pot—60% of it was just for fun, 30% was about making things lively, and maybe, just maybe, 10% had a shred of truth.
Lin Hening himself was always game for playful banter—he and Jian Xiaoxi made a great comedy duo in the group. But Gu Fei was new. Their friendship wasn’t deep enough to tell if he’d be comfortable with this kind of teasing.
Yet, instead of looking uncomfortable, Gu Fei actually laughed—and not just that, he had the expression of someone saying, Go on, let’s see what you’ve got.
Lin Hening instantly relaxed.
Oh.
So Gu Fei just looked stern and unsociable, but deep down, he actually enjoyed messing around. Turns out he was another social butterfly—just one in disguise!
Well then. If he was cool with it, Lin Hening sure as hell wasn’t holding back!
With a dramatic flourish, Lin Hening lifted their still-interlocked hands into the air.
“Alright, everyone, feast your eyes! Big hand holding little hand—so much security, so much comfort!”
The group burst into laughter.
“Let me formally introduce my dear Xiao Fei! Male, 29 years old, superhuman strength. Can casually carry a 200-pound bag of rice with one hand. His cooking? So good, you’ll end up searching for your own tongue on the ground—because it’ll have escaped your mouth in its eagerness to taste his food.”
The group howled with laughter, whistling and snapping photos.
One friend held up his phone like a reporter. “My dear, ever-proud Lin Hening, I hereby declare that in the ‘Fox Friends & Scoundrels New Year’s Couple Showdown,’ you two have a strong chance of making it to the Top 3.”
Gu Fei tilted his head. “What’s a ‘Couple Showdown’?”
Without another word, the troublemakers yanked Gu Fei into their group chat.
Lin Hening couldn’t help but think, Damn, their photography skills suck! If they even had a chance at ranking in the top three, it was all thanks to the perfect tension captured between his and Gu Fei’s hands.
Just then, the crowd erupted into cheers—the rock band’s grand finale was about to start.
Lin Hening looked toward the stage, but even with his height advantage, the sea of waving glow sticks and countless heads blocked much of his view.
“Lin Hening.”
Hearing Gu Fei call his name, he turned to ask what was up—only to suddenly feel his legs being lifted.
And then—he ascended.
No exaggeration. He was literally lifted off the ground!
In an instant, he shot up nearly three feet, now towering over the crowd with a crystal-clear view of the distant stage.
At the same time, massive fireworks exploded across the sky, showering everything in a cascade of dazzling colors.
Blazing trees of fire, streaks of silver and gold.
So close, it felt like he could reach out and touch them.
His heartbeat pounded in his chest, surging with an uncontrollable rush of exhilaration. Unable to hold back, Lin Hening let out a loud shout.
Under any other circumstances, he might’ve worried about being too heavy, about whether the person lifting him could handle it.
But this was Gu Fei.
Gu Fei, who carried him as effortlessly as if he were lifting a three-year-old toddler.
Gu Fei, who even asked, “High enough? If not, you can stand on my shoulders.”
Hell no! This was already insane—did he not see how many people were staring at them?
If he actually stood on Gu Fei’s shoulders, never mind whether it was polite or not, they’d instantly transform into a 6’5” + 6’1” human skyscraper. Lin Hening did not want to make the front page of the Yuncheng Evening News.
“Put me down.”
Sure, he wasn’t that heavy, but still over 100 pounds—making Gu Fei carry him like this felt kind of… unfair?
But instead of putting him down, Gu Fei lifted him even higher, his strong arms easily supporting Lin Hening’s hips. “Not until the fireworks are over.”
With how firmly Gu Fei’s solid arms held him up, Lin Hening practically sat on his forearm. And there was no doubt—Gu Fei could hold him like this with just one arm without breaking a sweat.
Lin Hening’s heart thumped wildly.
Suddenly, he overheard an annoyed voice from a nearby girl:
Because of their obnoxiously eye-catching display, other girls had started demanding their boyfriends do the same.
But reality was cruel—some of the guys were so scrawny that they barely lasted three seconds before collapsing. Others gritted their teeth and managed to hold on for a whole three minutes, only to end up panting in exhaustion, arms aching, while their girlfriends fumed:
“Look at him! Then look at you!”
Of course, there were a few strong guys who could hold on for five minutes or more—but none of them could lift as high, or as easily, as Gu Fei.
In that moment, an unexpected wave of pride surged through Lin Hening.
He looked down at Gu Fei, and for some reason—maybe it was the fireworks’ soft glow, or the dazzling colors reflecting off his face—Gu Fei’s usually cold, serious features appeared strikingly gentle.
Sensing Lin Hening’s gaze, Gu Fei glanced up at him.
That familiar expression returned, as if the warmth from before had been just an illusion.
By the time the fireworks ended, half an hour had passed.
Gu Fei had held him up the entire time.
Lin Hening had tried to get down, but Gu Fei hadn’t let him.
Now, he finally understood the meaning of what goes up, doesn’t always come down—because no matter how hard he struggled, against absolute strength, resistance was futile.
On the walk back, Gu Fei, now trailing half a step behind him, spoke up.
“I sent you the photos.”
…What photos?
Lin Hening opened WeChat—and was instantly stunned.
It was a selfie Gu Fei had taken while holding him up, perfectly capturing the moment just as the fireworks exploded in the background.
The angle? Flawless.
The timing? Impeccable.
The lighting, the composition—so cinematic it looked like a freaking movie poster.
When did Gu Fei even take this?! Lin Hening had no clue he’d been photographed!
Gu Fei casually added, “If you want to win that ‘Couple Showdown,’ this is your best shot. Your call.”
Lin Hening’s heart skipped a beat.
Honestly? If he actually had a boyfriend, there was no way in hell he wouldn’t go for the championship.
It wasn’t about the competition itself—he just wasn’t used to coming in second. Ever since he was a kid, anything less than perfection felt like underperformance.
There was no way he could let those grainy, low-quality, landline-camera-level photos be their submission. Even an ant walking by would scream “RIGGED!”
…So what was this? A one-night-boyfriend situation?
Lin Hening felt a chuckle rising in his throat.
Without hesitation, he dropped the photo into the group chat.
[HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!]
[This is pure, breathtaking romance. Just from a single photo, I’ve already imagined a 300,000-word love story—who else gets it?!]
[So romantic… lifting him up so high… this is peak boyfriend material.]
[Who’s the guy underneath? That sheer strength is INSANE!]
[Damn, Gu! The tension in this shot is unreal. Lin, you’re one lucky guy, LOL.]
In the photo, Gu Fei lifted Lin Hening higher than anyone else in the crowd.
Lin Hening, fully absorbed in the stage performance, was illuminated by the stage lights, his elegant, striking smile as radiant as ever.
Meanwhile, Gu Fei gazed up at him, and in his eyes—Lin Hening shone brighter than the fireworks, more breathtaking than the chimes of the New Year’s bell.
“!!!”
Turns out, Xia Zhile was in the group chat too.
But as the group’s perpetual lurker, everyone had long forgotten about him.
