At five o’clock, Wen Ran and Luo Xiao were heading out for dinner and left Shang Ge’s place.
When they left, Luo Feng was still there, sitting cross-legged by the coffee table, seriously dotting blush onto dolls. Wen Ran and Luo Xiao both glanced at him.
On the sofa, Lu Wenwen, Shang Ge, and the others waved at Wen Ran. Shang Ge even shot him a look that clearly said: Don’t worry—your brother-in-law is our brother-in-law now. We’ll take good care of him.
Wen Ran’s eyes flicked toward Shang Ge: Enough with the abstract stuff.
Shang Ge chuckled: “Okay, okay~”
Wen Ran held Luo Xiao’s hand as they stepped into the elevator.
“I didn’t expect your brother to come too,” Wen Ran said.
“He’s the big boss; I thought he’d find our childish antics a bit… irritating.”
Luo Xiao grinned. “He’s the kind of guy who builds nests for squirrels, you know.”
“Spend enough time around him, and you’ll see. He looks mature on the outside, but at heart, he’s still very childlike.”
“Childlike?” Wen Ran was surprised Luo Xiao would describe Luo Feng that way. He asked, “What about you? Do you have any childlike traits?”
The two chatted casually all the way to the restaurant Zhang Zuming had booked in advance with their hiking friends.
Upon arrival, Zhang Zuming was standing at the restaurant entrance with his wife. Seeing Luo Xiao roll down the car window, he hurried over. “Xiao Ge! Been waiting for you!”
He noticed someone in the passenger seat and teased: “Not alone, huh? Bringing company? Let me see.”
When he caught sight of Wen Ran’s striking face, he was pleasantly surprised. Laughing, he gestured: “Drive ahead, there’s a parking spot. I’ll show you.”
After parking, Zhang Zuming greeted Luo Xiao warmly. “I was just talking to my wife about you.”
“My brother mentioned you weren’t at the repair shop anymore. I wondered if my brother hadn’t treated you well. It was just to pass the time, though.”
Luo Xiao and Zhang Zuming exchanged a few casual words.
Zhang Zuming’s wife, a young and beautiful woman, waved at Wen Ran from a short distance away. Wen Ran smiled back politely.
“Come on in,” Zhang Zuming said, holding his wife’s hand. “Most of them are inside already, drinking tea and chatting.”
As they walked in, Zhang Zuming nudged Wen Ran and Luo Xiao: “Boyfriend, huh? Really your boyfriend?”
He looked genuinely surprised and excited. “So you’re seeing someone, Xiao Ge? Why didn’t you say anything before? I thought you came alone.”
Riding the elevator up and entering the private room, the atmosphere was lively. Everyone clearly knew Luo Xiao. As soon as they saw him, people got up and greeted him.
“The master’s here! Been waiting for you.”
“Whoa, what’s the occasion? Xiao Zhang’s wedding and you’re looking so sharp?”
“Xiao Ge, brought a guest? Introduce them!”
Wen Ran scanned the group. Luo Xiao draped an arm around his shoulder and said confidently: “This is my wife, Wen Ran.”
“Hello, hello!”
“You’re so handsome.”
There were men and women, some with their own companions.
“Wife? Master, the rules say you have to be married to call her that,” someone teased.
Zhang Zuming added with a grin: “Yeah, Xiao Ge, you’re skipping steps. You can’t just claim the title.”
Wen Ran smiled, exchanging a glance with Luo Xiao. Luo Xiao declared openly to the group: “She’s my wife—we’ve registered. Just haven’t had the wedding yet.”
“Ah?”
“No way!”
“When did this happen?!”
“You’ve been hiding this too well!”
The room erupted in chatter. Wen Ran laughed quietly, presenting his non-abstract, polite self for the first time.
He noticed a young man sitting at a corner of the room who, upon hearing about the marriage registration, visibly tensed and avoided joining the teasing.
Wen Ran met his gaze briefly. The young man looked down quickly, embarrassed. Wen Ran understood immediately, showing nothing in return, and continued smiling at the group.
Seated, Wen Ran was on Luo Xiao’s left. Across from him at the table was a woman he didn’t know, who struck up conversation: “What do you do?”
“I paint.”
“An artist, huh?”
She was impressed. “That’s amazing.”
Wen Ran’s attention flicked back to the young man across the table, who glanced at him once Wen Ran mentioned painting. Wen Ran’s understanding deepened.
Cold dishes were on the table, and everyone chatted while eating—about Zhang Zuming’s upcoming wedding, a recently completed hiking trip, and more.
Wen Ran was there to accompany Luo Xiao, so he mostly stayed quiet, eating politely, occasionally whispering to Luo Xiao, and letting Luo Xiao serve him dishes while he returned the favor.
During conversation, the group recalled the time Luo Xiao had rescued Zhang Zuming. Wen Ran learned that Zhang had been in serious danger—hypothermic and abandoned by his companions. Although others helped, Luo Xiao’s use of a satellite phone to call a helicopter was decisive; without it, Zhang could have ended up brain-damaged.
Zhang Zuming expressed how lucky he had been to survive. His wife commented casually: “You shouldn’t have gone. Nothing would have happened if you hadn’t.”
The remark dampened the mood briefly. Wen Ran smiled and smoothed things over: “I don’t really know—walking and hiking aren’t that different, right? Luo Xiao just showed me once, and I understood.”
“Next time, you can join too,” he added playfully. “Your husband takes you, Luo Xiao takes me.”
Everyone laughed, and the awkward tension disappeared. Zhang Zuming’s wife looked at Wen Ran appreciatively. The discussion naturally returned to hiking.
Luo Xiao leaned in, whispering to Wen Ran while serving him food. They smiled, clearly sweet together.
Later, when people realized Wen Ran was a graduate of the country’s top art academy, a middle-aged couple at the table began asking him about their son, who was in 11th grade and studying art, inquiring about exams and scores.
Wen Ran, eating while replying, said: “I don’t remember exact mock exam scores, but mostly above 96.”
“98 or 99,” he added. “I was okay at painting.”
The woman in the couple was astonished: “96 is impressive, and you got 99? What about the entrance exam?”
Wen Ran recalled: “Full marks.”
The couple exchanged shocked glances. Full marks? What level of skill was required?
The woman got up, scrolling her phone, and said: “Can I add you on WeChat? My son is preparing for the art exam, and I’m so worried.”
“Sure.” Wen Ran added, “Where does he study?”
She explained about her mentor, who ran a studio for students preparing for top art schools. Wen Ran offered her the mentor’s WeChat for guidance. The woman was thrilled and sighed with relief.
Conversation continued around art exams, difficulty, and grading techniques, with Wen Ran explaining how experienced teachers could assess skill at a glance, even in two seconds.
Meanwhile, Luo Xiao whispered to Wen Ran: “How come I just found out you could get full marks in painting?”
Wen Ran teased: “And how did you end up at Stanford studying applied physics?”
They pressed their foreheads together and laughed.
By the end of the meal, the group dispersed—some chatting, some strolling. Wen Ran went to the restroom, and coincidentally, the young man he had noticed earlier emerged from the same door.
The two brushed past each other. The young man glanced at Wen Ran, and Wen Ran glanced back.
The boy showed no expression, while Wen Ran smiled faintly.
When Wen Ran emerged from the restroom, he saw the young man bending slightly near Luo Xiao, speaking softly. Wen Ran immediately suppressed a laugh—of course, with someone like Luo Xiao, even casual hiking trips over the years, how could he not have drawn attention?
Good people, like good things, are never discovered by only one person.
Wen Ran walked over and caught the tail end of the young man speaking gently about hiking routes. Luo Xiao, either unwilling or unsure, barely responded. As soon as Wen Ran appeared, Luo Xiao’s gaze snapped toward him.
Wen Ran cleared his throat deliberately, “Ahem!” The young man flinched as if startled, his ears turning red.
Wen Ran grinned mischievously and quickly sat down—good thing he was fast. Otherwise, with the gathering today and Luo Xiao coming alone, someone would surely have made a move.
He glanced at Luo Xiao, who was also looking at him.
Oh~~ he likes you, Wen Ran’s eyes teased.
Luo Xiao chuckled: “Relax, nothing happened.”
“What’s your name?”
Wen Ran’s eyes lifted to the boy standing by the chair.
The boy shivered slightly, face red: “Song… Song Xing.”
“You like Luo Xiao, huh?” Wen Ran asked bluntly, smiling teasingly: “Sorry, I got him first.”
“I pursued him for seven days straight,” Song Xing muttered.
“Now we already have the marriage certificate~~” Wen Ran said with a playful grin.
“Pretty fast, huh? I’m impressive, you know. And I’m great at dealing with rivals too.”
Song Xing was speechless.
Wen Ran looked back at Luo Xiao: “Hubby~~ you know him well? What were you talking about? Can’t I know~~?”
“Not well.”
“Nothing much.”
“Ah~ I see.”
Wen Ran waved at Song Xing with a sweet smile: “Bye-bye~”
Song Xing stormed off, scowling. Wen Ran quickly smoothed back his playful expression.
Phew, small matter.
Luo Xiao wrapped an arm around him. “What did you just call me?”
Wen Ran pushed his hand away, pouting: “Go away, you rotten egg with cracks!”
Luo Xiao leaned close, explaining softly: “Really, we’re not close, nothing happened.”
“He zipped my tent once, and I kicked him out.”
“Oh~~” Wen Ran smiled, adopting a teasing tone: “How many people have zipped your tent, hmm? Lots, I bet. Just zipping, nothing else~~?”
“Later I’ll deal with you~~”
Luo Xiao laughed, amused by Wen Ran’s playful jealousy.